'A Wombling Winters Tale'

As I have stated here before, my Christmas Youtube video single for 2013 is my version of David Essex classic 1982 hit 'A Winters Tale'. Surprisingly, there are very few covers of 'A winters Tale' in existence and so, loving the song, I thought I should have a go at it myself. As when covering any classic hit, however, you are always setting yourself up for a fall artistically when you do a new take on  another recording artists work because usually the original version will always remain the best in most hearts and minds. The best reason then to record one of your favourite songs is to do it because you want to for yourself. If anyone likes your interpretation then great but if not you had a lot of fun recording it and trying to bring a little of yourself to it. http://youtu.be/__GTj_-wrCs

Click on the link above to see my video for 'A Winters Tale'

'A Winters Tale' is not as easy a song to sing as it sounds. While there are no real soaring heights to reach nor depth to try and get down to the song has a wistful, wintery feel to it and David Essex's rugged yet whispery vocal style is absolutely perfect for the song. I'm no professional singer and I have never had any vocal training or coaching so I try best I can to sing songs by feel. In all honestly, I'm not 100% convinced that I managed to capture the emotion within 'A Winters Tale' and like most performers I'm a bit paranoid about sounding a bit flat here and there. Still, until I win the lottery or Simon Cowell bashes on my front door promising to make me an intergalactic megastar, I will just have to be content with doing the best I can with the voice and techniques I've got.

'A Winters Tale' was of course co-written by Mike Batt - the man responsible for the recording career of The Wombles. 'Wombling Merry Christmas' is an especially poignant festive hit for me as, like Wimbledon's finest, I volunteer lots of my time to going out clearing up the streets of where I live in Hollington. I have given myself the monicker of 'The Clean Up Man' and am an active campaigner when it comes to trying to highlight the problems of litter in our communities. Have a listen to that classic Wombles hit and then take a look at one of my 'Clean Up Man' videos to see what I'm faced with on a daily basis!

'December '73'

I had a great day yesterday in the recording studio with Harvey Summers and have now completed a decent demo of another Christmas song, 'December '73'. The song is not as Christmassy as some of my others in  traditional respect (there are no sleigh bells or church bells on the record) but it has got a bouncy, 70's pop feel about it and plenty of baritone sax blasts which give it a 'Wizzardy' feel a la 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday'. I am trying (over time) to record enough songs for a Christmas album but unemployment and dwindling savings will probably put paid to that project unless I can get back to earning decent wages again... Still, for now, I will just try to record the odd thing here and there to keep my hand in and see what happens.

My Youtube Christmas single (I 'release' one every Christmas) this year though is now likely to be a cover I did of David Essex' 'A Winters Tale'.

I have already put together a video for my version and will upload it to my Maybrick44 channel first week of Dec. Even though I love Christmas I do dislike the way all of the trees and decorations are put up in public places long before December. If those who currently say they hate Christmas hate it for one thing with a passion it is because the whole thing now starts earlier and earlier each year and has become so commercialised. I have to agree with them about that and think we really all ought to campaign more for Christmas to be confined to December.

Now, I know that is going to sound hypercritical seeing as I started this blog in the middle of October this year but I wanted to have plenty of festive musings here for those who catch on to this blog by the time Christmas actually comes. Christmas is as much about the build up as it is the BIG DAY and I just wanted to connect with a few like minded individuals to share in that build up.

I guess to be fair though that is the dilemma that faces most of the big companies and town councils as far as decorations go. I mean, if they leave it until the Christmas rush is beginning they don't have the time to put up the decorations or cope with it all, do they?

Oh well, ONE CALENDAR MONTH to the big one tomorrow! I hope you are doing well with getting all your presents in order early? I've only got two or three more to sort out so I'm relatively stress free! Hoping to spend next Sat in Battle, East Sussex enjoying the spectacle of Santa's arrival and the switching on of the Battle Christmas lights so Nov 30th will be when the official Christmas season starts for me this year!

Love to all. xx