Kinda Memorable Bluegrass for Christmas
This year’s crop of new holiday releases has been one of the weakest in recent memory, but even in the strongest years THE ROYS' delightful BLUEGRASS KINDA CHRISTMAS would be a standout.
December 2014
Pt. I: ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ & The Lost Punctuation Mark
What Americans hear when they listen to 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' is not anything like what the English peasants meant when they first sang this song more than 500 years ago. So claims best selling author ACE COLLINS.
Pt. 2: ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’ and The Dickens Connection
Ever wonder what is the Christmas carol of Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'? Evidence points to 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' as the carol in question. We make our case herein.
Hark the What? Ironies of a Beloved Carol
REV. MARK D. ROBERTS knows 'If you don’t want to tick people off, then don’t change the words of the hymns and carols.' As he explains, 'HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING' is a perfect example of this maxim.
How Mr. Chokepear Keeps A Merry Christmas.
From a December 25, 1841 issue of the British humor and satire magazine PUNCH, a story satirizing a heartless one-percenter's self-absorbed Christmas rituals.
The ‘Quiet Ecstasy’ of Harry Simeone’s ‘Little Drummer Boy’
The story behind THE HARRY SIMEONE CHORALE's classic 'THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY' begins in 1941 with KATHERINE KENNICOTT DAVIS'S 'CAROL OF THE DRUM' and includes a classic Christmas album featuring the oft-covered seasonal favorite.
Christmas in Verse, 2021
Timeless Christmas poems by ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, DOLLIE RADFORD, ROBERT SOUTHWELL, et al. plus Christmas music videos featuring THE POGUES, THE PRETENDERS, THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN, THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA and THE SUPREMES.
A Half-Century+ of Classic Animated ‘Rudolph’
On Dec. 6, 1964 NBC premiered an animated version of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER with BURL IVES as host. It drew a 50 share and was an instant holiday classic. From a 50 share to 50+ years as a holiday staple, we pay tribute to…
The Deep Roots 2016 Yuletide Baedeker
A guide to the Christmas content published over the years in TheBluegrassSpecial.com and Deep Roots, including our 2016 Christmas album picks.