CD SHOWCASE MEMORIES

REQUESTS: Please advise if…
…you are a member of a singing group or band & would like to be featured
…you would like me to feature a favorite song of yours not played on the radio

HOLIDAY EDITION
Until 01/06/2016 (next week!), 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 12/24/2011 radio show: Ricky Skaggs’ & James Taylor’s “New Star Shining”, Amy Grant’s “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” & Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s “Carol Of The Bells”. Also featured: orange-red Dodge Challenger, photographed by OC,SHer CHRIS L S at the 2015 Ocean Gate Car Show….

#1 “New Star Shining” | Ricky Skaggs & James Taylor
I don’t have much info about this song. It was originally released in 1986, the same year Skaggs notched his 10th chart topper, 1986’s “Cajun Moon”. That year, Taylor’s best-charting single was 1986’s “Only 1” (#6, Adult Contemporary chart). I have this tune (which has become 1 of my many holiday favorites) on a couple different holiday compilation CDs, & I found a vinyl record of it online, with the B-side of “Walkin’ In Jerusalem”.

#2 “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” | Amy Grant
This carol, written by Charles Wesley, 1st appeared in the 1739 collection “Hymns & Sacred Poems”. At the time, Wesley requested & received slow-solemn music for his lyrics, far from the joyful renditions enjoyed now. Today’s versions come from music adapted in 1855 by William H Cummings to fit the lyrics, from an 1840 cantata Mendelssohn composed to commemorate Johann Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press. I don’t think a bad cover of this song exists, but Grant’s voice (along with others, of course) lends itself well to the tune & feel of the song, in my opinion.

#3 “Carol Of The Bells” | Mormon Tabernacle Choir
During the show, I played a version of this song from a Philharmonic Orchestra that utilized only bells. As a high schooler, I played in the church’s handbell choir (all lower octave bells), & this was my absolutely favorite song to play. I loved the sound of the bells with this song. I wanted to get a similar version to play for you here, but this version will do! The song itself was composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914 with original lyrics (later revised in 1936) by Peter J Wilhousky.