CD SHOWCASE MEMORIES

HOLIDAY EDITION
From now until 01/06/2016, the regular features of “Wednesday Wrap: CD Showcase Memories” (9p US central) & “CarTunes Saturday: CD Showcase Memories” (8a US central) are pre-empted by highlights from the “CD Showcase – Holiday Edition” radio shows I hosted 12/24/2009, 12/24/2010 & 12/24/2011.

This entry features 3 songs from the 2nd hour of my 12/24/2010 radio show: Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Christmas Eve-Sarajevo”, Collin Raye’s “What If Jesus Came Back Like That?” & Kenny Rogers’ “Christmas Is My Favorite Time Of Year”. Also featured: passionate-purple Plymouth, photographed by OC,SHer MEL K, Pumpkin Run, 11/07/2015….

#1 “Christmas Eve-Sarajevo” | Trans-Siberian Orchestra
This instrumental medley of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” & “Carol Of The Bells” was 1st released on Savatage’s 1995 album ‘Dead Winter Dead’. Then, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a side project of several Savatage members, re-released the song on their 1996 debut album ‘Christmas Eve & Other Stories’. The piece, near & dear to my heart since I play the cello, describes a lone cello player playing a forgotten Christmas carol in war-torn Sarajevo. It has become 1 of my favorite Holiday tunes.

#2 “What If Jesus Came Back Like That?” | Collin Raye
Debuting 11/25/1995, this song spent 22 weeks on the country charts & peaked at #21 in early 1996 for this DeQueen AR-native singer-songwriter-guitarist, who notched 4 chart toppers & 17 more Top 10 tunes during his 1990s career. My most-vivid memory of hearing this song came in late January 1996. I’d just returned to college after Jan term break & was “out for a late-night drive” on the backroads just north & west of N Manchester IN. It was dark, but the snow falling was like stars flying at the car’s windshield. I don’t remember why, but I wasn’t particularly happy. Then, the Fort Wayne IN station DJ said, “This next song, I want you to really hear & listen to the words.” I’d heard it before, of course, but that night, in that setting, it just spoke to me more.

#3 “Christmas Is My Favorite Time Of Year” | Kenny Rogers
From his 1981 album ‘Christmas’, this song (& others on the album) always takes me back to my childhood. My grandparents (Mom’s parents) had a vinyl copy of this record, which I now have. Gram loved this song; my favorite on the album, though, is “Kentucky Home Made Christmas”, Rogers’ 1st official holiday single. The entire album peaked at #10 on the country charts & #34 on the overall charts. Other favorite songs on the album include “Carol Of The Bells”, “Kids”, “White Christmas”, “My Favorite Things” & “O Holy Night”.