Observing life in Glasgow, Scotland, the UK, Europe and Worldwide; be they movies, tv, travels, food or eccentricities. . .
What an interesting album, most are self-penned, with the only cover being Jingle Bells, I think, hell, there is even an instrumental, Christmas Morning.
But if you like it twangy, this is for you.
CB
What a day! Typical West of Scotland weather; howling wind, driving rain, and water everywhere!
This was interesting, meandering down a completely dead High Street, with a variety of shops, most empty or even boarded up, with naturally, a huge Asda around the corner – and they wonder why High Streets die!? That said, there are some interesting shops here, from a veggie cafe, to an arts & crafts place, that also has workshops.
After the High Street, we rounded about to come to the promenade, with accompanying dreadful weather! There was a somewhat, brutal bleakness, that depending on your taste, is either terrible or atmospheric.
The bleakness!
It would be interesting to come back in the summer, as I was told, when the sun is out, the “vibe” is completely different!
CB
This, released late last year, when he also made a delightful visit to Saturday Kitchen on the BBC to plug it; is the best Christmas album to show for some very long time.
Many are self-penned and are of a trad-jazz meets pop – The Jolly Fatman, meets swing – Hang your Lights (being a standout track), and all contain a huge feelgood factor.
There are too many to pick from, but I still don’t know why the first single, Turn on the Lights, was not a smash hit?
Turn on the Lights – Jamie Cullum
For the week that comes, will finish my report to Ardrossan, and also report on the latest in Glasgow’s Christmas illuminations in George Square.
CB
A standard album, that may be one of the biggest selling Christmas albums of all time.
There are all of the usual ones here, and of course he covers “The Christmas Song” by Mel Torme, as so many did and continue to do.
Interesting, that some of his most played songs on Spotify, are from his various Christmas albums (I believe that it is five in total?); in this case, Sleigh Ride is included here, with almost 30,000,000 streams!
CB
I went to meet an old friend in the very cold and wet, coastal town of Ardrossan, on the West Coast of Scotland – It was even colder than I thought it would be.
You have to understand the weather in this part of the world, physically and technically, it is not REALLY that cold, but when it’s 7 celsius (42 f), and is humid, and has a 20+ mph wind in your face – it goes down to your bones.
Equally, it’s a rather strange, small place, with three to four train stations! Surely some kind of record for such a low population of about 10,000+?
We ate at the delightful and functional (excellent, friendly service!), Cecchinis, at the marina. It’s a modern Italian place, and is swift, clean and quality – quite full at this time (and weather) and place.
Afterwards, we hiked about the high street, and promenade (more tomorrow), but lastly, there’s palm trees there!
CB
This seems to me, to be one of the go to albums, though will have to listen to again as it was with Spotify, and was a combination of several of FS’s CDs.
Some were from the 50s / 60s (he did make an album with Bing Crosby in 1963 with a Christmas theme), which is in my opinion when he did his best stuff ever; swing, collaborations with Nelson Riddle and Quincy Jones, but others seemed to me, to be from his early period, where the arrangements were a wee bit schlocky and had a post-war naivete to them. I believe it is his Christmas Album, from 1948, “Christmas Songs by Sinatra”.
Though it must be said, that something as good as his interpretation of Mel Torme’s, The Christmas Song, is irresistible.
CB
Did a search for this on Spotify, and this showed up; pure class, and his phrasing is spot on as well.
Some are “sophisticated” and some are just plain, old Willie with a guitar.
Personal faves were Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and just like REO Speedwagon yesterday, he for some reason includes Blue Christmas – and nails it!
The final entry, What a Wonderful World, is here for some reason? Though I’ve never understood why. It was released in September 1967 originally (by Louis Armstrong), but somehow actually fits here.
4/5
CB
Why not do this, listen to a different Christmas album each day of this Yuletide season?
And why not start with some of the more obscure ones, as the above certainly is. In addition, it is actually the last album (to date?) from the boys from Champagne, Illinois.
The album, including bonus tracks, has 18 tracks on it, and should really be listened to, to be believed! At times, I literally didn’t know that Kevin Cronin was still in the band and singing; his once bright voice is simply gone, but then again, they all must be pushing 180 years of age, so give then an A+ for effort.
The problem, and hopefully will not rear its ugly head in the coming weeks, is that there is nothing really “REO” about the album, and is distinctly regular at times. Though an original, the downbeat, adult contemporary, “I Believe in Santa Claus”, by Cronin and Hall, is a very passable new song.
C’mon lads, you are a very talented group of musicians, and some of the arrangements should have been more diverse and unique. Though at the end, God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen and Blue Christmas make the album very enjoyable at times.
3/5
CB
Another walk in the West End (I really need to go to the city centre more often, and I did, last Friday to see the illuminations in George Square, report to follow), and I came across a couple of new works, apparently from the same street artist, “Silva”?
Silva’s Work
Not really sure what to make of it, though there has been a glut of this during the recent lockdowns, but have been unable to ascertain just who they are? Though to the left, there appears to be some address; @silva.project, which is apparently their Instagram account; worth a look.
Though they do, apparently, like the female form.
CB
Closing my review of the delightful (to me at least!), we look at the southern or eastern part of the village (I think?) and a few titbits of trivia.
After the “central” part of the village, said with a cheek, looked at the “residential” area of the village; which ranged from a new development of luxury flats, only 4 in total, which seems to be about the right number (not too many that is) and replaces the old Black Bull hotel, which sadly was sold?:
To the oldest part of town:
To a very small gallery, the Panik Gallery:
To maybe the most exact hedge trimming I’ve ever seen; a “shopping arcade?” and delightful callbox / library.
CB
