Tag Archives: Audio Files

AUDIO FILES: Listen to Run-DMC

Run-DMC got into the Christmas music biz for a good cause. (Contributed Image)

The first Christmas album I ever bought was the original “A Very Special Christmas.” I remember getting it when it came out on cassette back in 1987 when I went Christmas shopping with my grandmother. I was supposed to be shopping for others, so I ended up with a lecture about why it’s better to give than to receive when I got home.
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AUDIO FILES: Listen to Billy Squier

Andy Warhol did the cover art for Billy Squier’s “Emotions in Motion.” (Contributed Image)

There really aren’t enough blogs out there talking about Billy Squier. I’m aiming to change that today.

You know what the guitarist taught me? He taught me that Christmas is the time to say “I love you.” And for all of you kids who don’t remember Nina Blackwood, Martha Quinn and the glory days of MTV, here you go. (Speaking of that, Martha Quinn is so on my bucket list of people to interview and a bonus like to all of you who can name the rest of the original MTV VJs).
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AUDIO FILES: Listen to Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon, The Roots

Mariah Carey joined Jimmy Fallon and The Roots for a new take on “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” (NBC/Contributed Image)

All hail the melodica. The instrument isn’t just for Idyllwild’s Casey Abrams anymore. The Roots and Jimmy Fallon channeled its power along with a children’s xylophone and one of those recorders we all had to play in elementary school* to breathe new life into Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
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AUDIO FILES: Listen to Wham!

Wham! The other outtakes from the “Last Christmas” single are even more disturbing. (Contributed Image)

Happy Dec. 1. I love Wham! I own “Make It Big” on cassette and CD. I once forced my friend to dress up like George Michael from the “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” video for a Halloween video for PE.com. (Yes, I played the part of Andrew Ridgeley. And we had “Choose Life” shirts that I made.)
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AUDIO FILES: Listen to The Paper Crowns

The Paper Crowns recently released the album “See You Tonight.” (Mod Photography/Contributed Image)

Let’s settle into this rainy Friday evening with some incredibly talented local musicians.

Nicole Pond and Spiro Nicolopoulos are the crux of The Paper Crowns, a folk-inspired combo whose songs range from bluesy to rootsy Americana to rock. Both are incredibly talented as songwriters (you might remember Nicolopoulos from the dearly departed Rolling Reunion) and they recently put out their album “See You Tonight.”
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