It's not even October but a slew of holiday music-centered releases loom. Here is a roundup of a number of highly-anticipated Christmastime titles set to arrive this fall...Robert Kinsler
Just in time for the holidays, Omnivore Recordings will release Buck Owens’ A Merry ‘Hee Haw’ Christmas (out on November 13, 2020). The original title, released in 1970, combined Owens’ two Christmas albums for Capitol (Christmas With Buck Owens and His Buckaroosand Christmas Shopping) as one package. Now, in its CD and digital debut, A Merry ‘Hee Haw’ Christmas is augmented by four bonus tracks: “All I Want for Christmas Is My Daddy,” “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy (Daddy Looked a Lot Like Him),” and two Toys for Tots public service announcements originally issued on a 1972 Capitol promotional single.
Alvis Edgar Owens Jr. (August 12, 1929 – March 25, 2006), better known as Buck Owens, was one of the pioneers of the Bakersfield country sound, along with Merle Haggard, Susan Raye and Jean Shepard, and arguably its most consistent hit-maker. Owens co-hosted the prime-time comedy variety show Hee Haw with Roy Clark. The inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame operated Bakersfield’s Crystal Palace music venue, which continues to present live country music long after his passing.
Buck Owens and His Buckaroos were untouchable in the 1960s. Their classic Bakersfield brand of country sent hit after hit up the charts, even Christmas tunes weren’t safe from the Buckaroos magic. Buck and his band recorded two classic Christmas albums for Capitol: First Christmas With Buck Owens and His Buckaroos in 1965, and Christmas Shopping in 1968. Not only did both albums make the Billboard Christmas Album Chart (Christmas With charted multiple times — #12 in 1965, and #23 in both 1966 and 1967, and #31 for Christmas Shopping), but they both threw off charting singles as well. “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy (Daddy Looked a Lot Like Him),” drawn from Christmas With, proved to be so popular a holiday favorite it charted twice, hitting #2 in 1965 and two years later, in December ’67, revisiting the charts and making it to #18. In 1968, it was the title track of the second classic Christmas offering, Christmas Shopping, which made it to #5.
Going back to the holiday well in 1970, Capitol cashed in again with a double LP distillation of the two albums called A Merry ‘Hee Haw’ Christmas, which would chart at #34. For that compilation, two songs were omitted, one from each original album, and they’ve been reinstated for Omnivore’s reissue. “All I Want For Christmas Is My Daddy” was left off the Christmas Shopping disc, while “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy (Daddy Looked a Lot Like Him)” was lost from the Christmas With album — a curious omission since it was the most successful Christmas single ever offered by Buck.
Grammy®-Nominated- and Award-winning producers Patrick Milligan and Cheryl Pawelski produced the CD with Estate approval. Newly remastered from the original analog master tapes by Grammy®Award-winning engineer Michael Graves, these holiday favorites sparkle and shine like never before. Omnivore is proud to contribute to your happy holidays!
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For the gift-giving season, Omnivore has replenished its stock of Buck Owens vintage vinyl. While supplies last, original vintage LP pressings of select albums are direct from the vaults at Bakersfield’s Crystal Palace, and are sealed LPs from Buck’s original stock. Each record includes a certificate of authenticity. They can be found here: http://omnivorerecordings.com/bucklps/
A Merry ‘Hee Haw’ Christmas track listing
1. Christmas Shopping
2. Christmas Time Is Near
3. The Jolly Christmas Polka
4. All I Want For Christmas Is My Daddy
5. Merry Christmas From Our House To Yours
6. Good Old Fashioned Country Christmas
7. One Of Everything You Got
8. Home On Christmas Day
9. Christmas Schottische
10. A Very Merry Christmas
11. It’s Not What You Give
12. Tomorrow Is Christmas Day
13. Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy (Daddy Looked A Lot Like Him)
14. Blue Christmas Lights
15. Christmas Ain’t Christmas
16. Jingle Bells
17. All I Want For Christmas Dear Is You
18. Santa’s Gonna Come In A Stagecoach
19. Christmas Time’s A Comin’
20. Blue Christmas Tree
21. Here Comes Santa Claus Again
22. Christmas Morning
23. It’s Christmas Time For Everyone But Me
24. Because It’s Christmas Time
25. Toys For Tots (Version 1) [Bonus Track]
26. Toys For (Version 2) [Bonus Track]
Multi-platinum, four-time GRAMMY-nominated rock band Goo Goo Dolls are celebrating Christmas early this year with the release of their first-ever holiday record It's Christmas All Over. Arriving October 30, 2020 via Warner Records, the album is filled with cover renditions of iconic holiday songs such as "Let It Snow" and "Hark The Herald Angels Sing", as well as two new originals that capture the warmth and nostalgia of classic Christmas favorites.
Produced by frontman John Rzeznik in addition to the band's longtime collaborators Brad Fernquist and Jimmy McGorman, the record was recorded during lockdown this year. On October 2, the band will debut "This Is Christmas", the first official single from It's Christmas All Over. Pre-orders for the album will also be available beginning that day via Goo Goo Dolls' website HERE and complete track-listing information can be found below.
IT'S CHRISTMAS ALL OVER TRACK-LISTING
1. Christmas All Over Again
2. Shake Hands With Santa Claus
3. This Is Christmas
4. Christmas Don't Be Late
5. Better Days
6. You Ain't Getting Nothin'
7. Let It Snow
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
10. The Christmas Party (Feat. The Union Square 5)
It's Christmas All Over will arrive on the heels of the deluxe edition release of the band's acclaimed 12th studio record Miracle Pill. The special iteration features the trio of brand new tracks "Just A Man", "The Right Track" and "Tonight, Together", as well as the smash title hit "Miracle Pill", the haunting slow-burn "Autumn Leaves" and the band's latest single "Fearless." Available now on digital streaming platforms everywhere, Miracle Pill is an engaging body of work that remains as timely as ever with themes that explore our need for human connection and the constant change we go through as people. Upon its release in September 2019, the record was described as "potentially the biggest Dolls album released to date [Planet Rock]", as well as one that "easily stands alongside the best of their career [PopMatters]." With over 30 years together as a group, over 12 million albums sold, and 14 number one and Top 10 hits at Hot AC, Miracle Pill finds Goo Goo Dolls at the top of their game and in a league of their own among rock bands.
Goo Goo Dolls are currently in the studio crafting a new album and are also slated to hit the road for an expansive North American tour in summer of 2021. Kicking off on July 22, 2021 in Boise, ID at Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater, the nation-wide tour will visit numerous amphitheaters throughout the US and Canada such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado and The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Ticket information can be found at the band's website HERE.
Seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner and five-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Carrie Underwood, released the track list and special guests for her first-ever Christmas album, My Gift, available globally on digital and CD on September 25 and on red vinyl on October 30. In anticipation of the Fall album, Underwood has also released the new original song, “Let There Be Peace,” which is available now and as an instant grat track when you pre-order the digital album here.
My Gift features a combination of beloved traditional favorites celebrating the spiritual nature of the holiday, as well as several originals. Two of the new original songs are written by Underwood, frequent collaborator Brett James (“Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Something In The Water”), and her Cry Pretty co-producer, David Garcia. In addition to a very special appearance by Underwood’s 5-year-old son, Isaiah Fisher, on the holiday classic that inspired the album title, “Little Drummer Boy,” My Gift also features her first collaboration with GRAMMY®, Emmy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winner John Legend, on the original track, “Hallelujah,” written by Legend and Toby Gad (“All of Me”).
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Carrie Underwood / Photo: Joseph Llanes
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Carrie Underwood
My Gift Track List
1. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Traditional)
2. O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional)
3. Let There Be Peace (Carrie Underwood, Brett James, David Garcia)
4. Little Drummer Boy (featuring Isaiah Fisher) (Harry Simeone, Henry Onorati, Katherine Davis)
5. Sweet Baby Jesus (Carrie Underwood, Brett James, David Garcia)
6. Hallelujah (with John Legend) (John Stephens, Toby Gad)
7. O Holy Night (Traditional)
8. Mary, Did You Know? (Buddy Greene, Mark Lowry)
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin)
10. Away In A Manger (Traditional)
11. Silent Night (Traditional)
GRAMMY® Award-winning producer, mixer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Greg Wells produced and arranged the album. He has written and produced some of the best-selling and highest charting tracks of the past 15 years for such artists as Adele, Celine Dion, Keith Urban, and P!nk, as well as the worldwide smash The Greatest Showman soundtrack. My Gift features a world-class orchestra, led by the pre-eminent arranger, composer, and conductor David Campbell, whose many credits include iconic recordings by artists including Linda Ronstadt, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Josh Groban, and his son Beck.My Gift is mixed by 14-time GRAMMY® Award winning mixer, Serban Ghenea. Acclaimed gospel quartet The McCrary Sisters, who have performed backing vocals on previous Underwood songs including “Choctaw County Affair” and “The Champion,” will also be heard on the album.
My Gift can be pre-ordered in various formats here starting August 28. Additionally, an exclusive version of the My Gift CD and special white vinyl, with a bonus Christmas card from Underwood, will be available only at Target. New merchandise bundles are also available in the official My Gift Pre-order store. Watch the My Gift album trailer here: https://umgn.us/MyGiftTrailer.
Underwood released her sixth studio album, Cry Pretty, in 2018, which she co-produced with David Garcia. The Platinum-certified Cry Pretty features five RIAA certified singles, including the Platinum-certified “The Champion,” and the Gold-certified “Cry Pretty,” “Love Wins,” “Southbound,” and “Drinking Alone.” She packed arenas in 2019 with her critically-acclaimed Cry Pretty Tour 360 and The Cry Pretty Tour UK. Earlier this year, Underwood’s first fitness/lifestyle book, FIND YOUR PATH: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life, became an instant national bestseller, not only on the prestigious New York Times list, but also hitting #1 on Amazon, Publisher’s Weekly and other prestigious Bestseller lists. She also launched her new fitness app, fit52, a wellness platform designed to encourage and support users on their personal wellness journey, and celebrated her 5th anniversary as founder and lead designer for her fitness and lifestyle brand, CALIA by Carrie Underwood. Apple Music recently announced XO Radio, a monthly radio show hosted and produced by Underwood, which premiered on the newly-launched Apple Music Country on August 18. This Fall, she returns for her eighth season as the voice of primetime television’s #1 program, NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
Dolly Parton is shepherding in the holiday season as she releases the second track from her upcoming A Holly Dolly Christmas album, available everywhere on October 2. For her latest release, Dolly is taking on one of her childhood favorites, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," as only she can. LISTEN: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
"I have always loved 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' because it’s a song I heard growing up," says Dolly. "I wanted to do something for the kids and I think it's a real cute little song. I have a child-like spirit and I love everything about Christmas!"
Shop brand new merch bundles including “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” thermal top and PJs here:
http://smarturl.it/dolly-parton-shop
The song follows Dolly's first release from her holiday album, "Mary Did You Know?," which joins an impressive series of faith-based music Parton has released throughout her career, including her recent Christian chart-topper with Zach Williams, "There Was Jesus."
For A Holly Dolly Christmas, Dolly collaborated with some of her dearest friends on the 12 track collection including Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, Billy Ray Cyrus, Michael Buble, Willie Nelson, and a special duet with her brother, Randy Parton.
A Holly Dolly Christmas is available now worldwide for digital pre-add/pre-save/pre-order, exclusive pre-order bundles, and physical pre-order here.
Recently, Dolly also announced her partnership with Chronicle Books to release Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics. The visual memoir and annotated songbook will give an intimate look at Dolly's enduring career as a songwriter, musician, and Country legend. Fans will have access to the stories behind the lyrics in Dolly's own words with never-before-seen photographs and memorabilia, bringing them closer to her work than ever before. The Recorded Books audiobook form and CD of Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics will be available on November 17, 2020 and is currently available for preorder on Amazon.
Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics will be available November 17th, 2020.
To pre-order, please visit: Dolly.ChronicleBooks.com.
For additional information on all things Dolly Parton, please visit:
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Varèse Sarabande Records is thrilled to announce the upcoming first-ever LP release of The Holiday Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Academy Award®-winning composer Hans Zimmer. The Holiday was released by Sony Pictures on December 8, 2006, and has since become a modern-day annual holiday classic for movie enthusiasts around the world.
Of Zimmer’s timeless soundtrack, Screen Rant says, “Utilizing strings and pianos to perfection, the music really does blend together nicely.” The LP will be pressed on snow white vinyl discs, perfect for any record lover’s holiday collection. Varèse Sarabande will release the first-ever LP edition of The Holiday on November 6, 2020, with pre-order available today, September 15, 2020.
Hans Zimmer has scored more than 200 projects across all mediums, which, combined, have grossed more than 28 billion dollars at the worldwide box office. Zimmer has been honored with an ACADEMY AWARD®, two GOLDEN GLOBES®, three GRAMMYs®, an American Music Award, and a Tony® Award. His work highlights include Gladiator, The Thin Red Line, As Good as It Gets, Rain Man, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Thelma and Louise, The Last Samurai, 12 Years A Slave, Blade Runner 2049 (co-scored with Benjamin Wallfisch) and Dunkirk. In 2019, Zimmer scored the live-action remake of The Lion King, for which he received a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. Zimmer’s films for 2020/2021 include Wonder Woman 1984, the James Bond film No Time to Die, Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, Top Gun: Maverick and The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Zimmer has completed highly successful tour stops for his Hans Zimmer Live concert all around the world.
Pre-order:
Vinyl Art:
Music:
TRACK LISTING
Side One:
1. Maestro (3:54)
2. Iris and Jasper (3:24)
3. Kayak for One (1:30)
4. Zero (2:44)
5. Dream Kitchen (1:36)
6. Separate Vacations (1:48)
7. Anything Can Happen (0:48)
8. Light My Fire (1:14)
9. Definitely Unexpected (3:35)
10. If I Wanted to Call You (1:51)
11. Roadside Rhapsody (1 :40)
Side Two:
1. Busy Guy (1:28)
2. For Nancy (1:27)
3. It’s Complicated (1:00)
4. Kiss Goodbye (2:33)
5. Verso E Prosa (1:59)
6. Meu Passado (1:25)
7. The 'Cowch' (2:42)
8. Three Musketeers (2:45)
9. Christmas Surprise (2:32)
10. Gumption (3:45)
11. Cry (2:40)
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ABOUT VARÈSE SARABANDE RECORDS
Founded in 1978, Varèse Sarabande is the most prolific producer of film music in the world, releasing the highest quality soundtracks from the world’s greatest composers. From current box office hits and top television series to the classics of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Varèse Sarabande’s catalog includes albums from practically every composer in every era, covering all of film history; from Bernard Herrmann, Alex North and Jerry Goldsmith to Alexandre Desplat, Michael Giacchino and Brian Tyler. Varèse Sarabande Records, LLC, is a Concord company.
