It's Halloween! Guising, the origin of trick-or-treating

Guising

Of the remaining traditions of Samhain (SOW-in or SAH-win), the most famous has to be Guising. The meaning of which suddenly becomes clear when you know that the origins of guising lie in dressing up children (and adults) to disguise them from the returning dead who might seek to exact revenge on anyone who had wronged them in their life.

Disguised children could wander among the spirits of the dead visiting the feasting houses on Halloween, where they would receive an offering of nuts or fruit to ward off evil. Now, Halloween guising is still a common practice, although fruit and nuts would be less popular among the youth of today. Guising in Scotland consists of kids dressing up and singing to willing doors in exchange for sweets and money.

Source

Scots Tablet, or Fudge

Most Scottish households keep supplies of fudge, often homemade, for the guisers who come knocking at the door on Halloween night. This is a foolproof recipe:

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups/2 lb/900 g sugar

1 cup/8 fl oz/225 ml milk

1/4 cup/2 oz/55 g butter

2/3 cup/7 oz/200 g sweetened, condensed milk

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Method

• Put the sugar, milk, and butter in a large, saucepan and stir over a very low heat until the sugar is completely melted. There should be no scratching sound as you stir.
• Bring to a boil and add the condensed milk carefully. Keep stirring all the time and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Take the pan off the heat and test the fudge. Drop a teaspoonful into a glass of cold water and wait for it to cool, then feel the consistency. If it forms a soft ball, the fudge is ready. If it does not, return the pan to the heat and simmer for an additional 5 minutes: test again. Don't overcook.
• When the soft ball stage is reached, take the pan off the heat, then stir in a few drops of vanilla extract and pour the fudge into a shallow buttered pan. While it is still slightly warm, mark it into squares with a knife and leave it to cool.
• This produces about 3 lb (1.3 kg) of fudge, which is usually all eaten by the end of the day. Scots Tablet is extremely versatile and you can add different flavorings, including chocolate powder, raisins, or liquor (such as dark rum) to make your own variation.

Source: The Real Halloween: Ritual and Magic for Kids and Adults by Sheena Morgan

HAPPY HALLOWEEN...BLESSED SAMHAIN!!!

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Two Days 'til Halloween - Old World Samhain Recipes

Fuarag, or Hidden Charms

Fuarag was originally made in the north of Scotland and was a cooling drink of oatmeal mixed with water. Over time, it evolved into a dish of whipped cream and oatmeal, in which was hidden a ring, a button, a wishbone, and a coin. At Samhain, a large idsh of fuarag was made and everyone present ate communally from one large bowl. The finder of the ring would marry and whoever found the coin would become rich. Finding the wishbone meant that hopes for the future would come true, but the button meant poverty. 

While Fuarag is rarely eaten in Scotland today, it is still eaten in Eastern Nova Scotia at Halloween. There are numerous recipes for fuarag, but this one includes whiskey, honey, and toasted oats.

Ingredients

1/3 cup/2 oz/55 g oatmeal 

(as fine as you can buy)

1 1/4 cups/10 fl oz/300 ml cups fresh heavy cream

3 tbsp honey

3 tbsp Scotch whiskey

A coin, a button, a wishbone, and a ring

(The wishbone should be well cleaned and dried and, like the charms, wrapped in waxed paper)

Method

Toast the oats under a broiler for several minutes, or until they are crisp and a pale golden brown. Whip the cream until very stiff and then stir in the honey, Scotch whiskey, and the charms. Place layers of cream and toasted oatmeal in a large glass bowl, hiding the charms in different layers. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Serve the fuarag by giving everyone a spoon (traditionally wooden) and inviting them to find the treasure. *Do not assemble the Fuarag more than three hours before eating.

Har Cakes or Thor Cakes

A Yorkshire recipe that my date back to the Vikings, these cakes were originally baked in honor of Thor, Norse God of thunder and lightning. They were traditionally made around the beginning of November. This old recipe makes about 4-5 lb (1.8-2.25 kg) of cookie dough, but you can easily halve the quantities. It is interesting to note that the biscuits contain fennel and coriander seeds, both traditionally associated with good luck, long life, and protection, in this life and in the journey to the Underworld. 

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups/12 oz/50 g butter

2 3/4 cups/1 lb/450 g oatmeal

3 1/2 cups/1 lb/450 g all-purpose flour

2 cups/1 lb/450 g sugar

1 cup/1 lb/450 g molasses

1/2 cup/2 oz/55 g candied peel

2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt

1 tsp mixed coriander seeds and fennel seeds 

1 tsp ground ginger

Method

Rub the butter into the dry ingredients. Warm the molasses, then add and mix to a fairly stiff dough. Roll out until the dough is about 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) thick and cut into rounds. Sprinkle with extra seeds and bake in a preheated oven, 350 degrees F (180 degrees C), for 10 minutes.

Source: The Real Halloween: Ritual and Magic for Kids and Adults by Sheena Morgan

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Three Days 'til Halloween - The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
“’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more.”

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
“Sir,” said I, “or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you”—here I opened wide the door;—
Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?”
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!”—
Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
“Surely,” said I, “surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore—
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;—
’Tis the wind and nothing more!”

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door—
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door—
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning—little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door—

Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as “Nevermore.”

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—
Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before—
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”
Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
“Doubtless,” said I, “what it utters is its only stock and store
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore—
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of ‘Never—nevermore’.”

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore—
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking “Nevermore.”

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er,
But whose velvet-violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o’er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted—
On this home by Horror haunted—tell me truly, I implore—
Is there—is there balm in Gilead?—tell me—tell me, I implore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore.”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

“Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!” I shrieked, upstarting—
“Get thee back into the tempest and the Night’s Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!—quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted—nevermore!

******

...and read by Vincent Price, Christopher Walken, James Earl Jones, and Christopher Lee

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Four Days 'til Halloween - Fairies and the story of Tam Lin

The Fairies

Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl’s feather!

Down along the rocky shore
Some make their home,
They live on crispy pancakes
Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
Of the black mountain-lake,
With frogs for their watchdogs,
All night awake.

High on the hill-top
The old King sits;
He is now so old and grey
He’s nigh lost his wits.
With a bridge of white mist
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys
From Slieveleague to Rosses;
Or going up with the music
On cold starry nights,
To sup with the Queen
Of the gay Northern Lights.

They stole little Bridget
For seven years long;
When she came down again
Her friends were all gone.
They took her lightly back,
Between the night and morrow,
They thought that she was fast asleep,
But she was dead with sorrow.
They have kept her ever since
Deep within the lake,
On a bed of fig-leaves,
Watching till she wake.

By the craggy hillside,
Through the mosses bare,
They have planted thorn trees
For my pleasure, here and there.
Is any man so daring
As dig them up in spite,
He shall find their sharpest thorns
In his bed at night.

Up the airy mountain,
Down the rushy glen,
We daren’t go a-hunting
For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
And white owl’s feather!

~William Allingham, 1850

Tam Lin, Carterhaugh

"O I forbid ye, maidens a',

That wear gold on your hair,

To come or gae by Carterhaugh,

For young Tam Lin is there."

In a beautiful mossy forest in the Scottish Borders, lies a little piece of folklore history, tucked away and forgotten by many but held dear by those who know the legend of Tam Lin. Most of the forest has long been cut down but part remains, together with a mossy old well hidden among the ferns, and marked with the name of 'Tamlane's Well' though it is well buried beneath the undergrowth and hidden from those who do not seek it.

The legend goes that a young man named Tam Lin or Tamlane was out hunting with this grandfather Roxbrugh when he fell from his horse and was taken away by the Queen of the Fairies herself who dwells in the green hill. She made him a knight of her elven companie and set him the task of guarding the forest of Carterheugh, where according to local townsfolk he would only let those young maidens pass who gave him a token of treasure or else their maidenhood. Despite the warnings, young Janet ventured into the forest, with her green kirtle held above her knee and her wild blonde hair braided. As she was passing the well she came across a milkwhite steed, and she took rest and picked a wild rose growing near the well, and pulled a branch from the tree. At once, Tam Lin appeared and cried:

"Why pulls thou the rose, Janet,

And why breaks thou the wand?

Or why comes thou to Carterhaugh

Withoutten my command?"

Janet is a stubborn young lady and stands her ground, telling him that Carterhaugh belongs to her, a present from her father, and that she will come and go as she pleases without asking his permission. Little is said of what happens next, and how Tam Lin charmed young Janet into giving up her maidenhood, but Janet returns to Carterhaugh and as the days pass her father discovers that she is with child. She refuses to let the blame lie with a knight of her father's company, and stubborn Janet tells her father:

"If that I gae wi child, father,

Mysel maun bear the blame,

There's neer a laird about your ha,

Shall get the bairn's name.

"If my love were an earthly knight,

As he's an elfin grey,

I wad na gie my ain true-love

for nae lord that ye hae'"

Janet returns to Carterhaugh, some say to collect herbs to cause miscarriage, and once again she finds Tam Lin's milkwhite steed stood at the well. Once again she pulls a rose, and Tam Lin appears, enquiring to know:

"Why pu's thou the rose, Janet,

Amang the groves sae green,

And a' to kill the bonny babe

That we gats us between?"

She demands that Tam Lin tell her where he comes from, and he reveals his mortal past to her, telling her that fairyland is a pleasant place but at the end of every seven years the fairy folk must pay a tiend to hell, and he fears that he has been chosen. It is the night of Halloween, when the veils between the faerie lands and mortal realm are lifted, and Tam Lin tells Janet that at the midnight hour the fairy folk will ride past Miles Cross and she may rescue her true love and win him back from the Fairy Queen. She must first let pass the black horse, and then the brown, and then quickly run to the mlkwhite steed and pull the rider to the ground, as this fairy knight shall be none other than Tam Lin. He warns her that he will be turned into all manner of beast and horror, including a newt, a snake, a bear, a lion, a red hot iron, then a burning coal or gleed when at once she must throw him in to well water, and then finally he shall turn into a naked man. At once she must cover him with her green mantle and hide him out of sight. She does exactly as told, freeing Tam Lin, much to the anger of the Fairy Queen:

"Out then spak the Queen o Fairies,

And an angry woman was she,

"Shame betide her ill-far'd face,

And an ill death may she die,

For she's taen awa the bonniest knight

In a' my companie."

"But had I kend, Tam Lin," said she,

"What now this night I see,

I wad hae taken out thy twa grey een,

And put in twa een o tree."

This final verse seems to suggest the Fairy Queen wishes that she had taken out Tam Lin's grey eyes and replaced them with wood, taking away his sight of the fairies and perhaps never allowing him to have fallen in love with Janet. Another version of the tale has the Fairy Queen wishing she had taken out his heart and replacing it instead with stone.

Read more here: The Faery Folklorist

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Five Days 'til Halloween - Traditional Halloween Tricks

Halloween, or "Mischief Night," was one of the few occasions in the year when children could get away with being naughty. Adults expected tricks, and they mostly thought them humorous. Expressing anger over the tricks only made the mischief-making worse for the rest of the night. If you've ever seen the classic film, "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944) you probably remember on Halloween night, Tootie was elected to "kill" the Brokoffs (neighbors who lived down the street). This was the bizarre tradition (trick) of throwing flour on individuals, those individuals then being said to have been "killed." 

A possible origin of trick-or-treating may have been based on adults, expecting Halloween raids on their kitchens, would stock in cakes, pies, and candies which were easily accessed by the children through doors and windows left open for that purpose. This eventually evolved in the United States to threats of a trick unless there was a promise of a treat. I remember once when my sister and I were trick-or-treating, a woman made us do a trick before she would give us candy. I was dressed up as a cheerleader so, of course, I had to perform a cheer. 

Now, on to the traditional Halloween tricks...

Burnin' the Reeky Mehr

This was a much-loved routine among younger children in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, because it provided the maximum amount of upheaval and annoyance with the minimum effort. The trickster hollowed out a cabbage stalk or "custock," and then filled it with slightly damp sheep's wool. This was set on fire, creating a lot of thick smoke. One end of the stalk was placed against the keyhole of the victim's door and the trickster then blew hard, with the result that the house was instantly filled with thick, evil-smelling smoke.

Brackin' Glaice

This was a favorite among rowdy gangs of Scottish and Irish youths at the end of the nineteenth century and is still played on Halloween to this day in Scotland. 

Two boys run up to the window of an unsuspecting victim. The first boy starts hammering on the window and shouting. When the hammering reaches a crescendo. the second boy drops an empty bottle. The victim thinks his windows have been broken and rushes outside. He is confronted with lots of broken glass, but, to his relief, is left with his windows still intact. 

Dirlin' on Windies

Children in the northeast of Scotland were great exponents of this particular Halloween caper in the 1920s. 

First, they prepared their weapons by hanging nails and pins into empty, wooden cotton spools. Next, they fitted a pencil into the center of the spool and wound a length of string around the whole contraption. The spools were placed against the windows of a victim's house and held in position with the pencil. Then the string was pulled sharply. As the string unwound, the spool revolved and the nails and pins made an extremely loud rattle against the window. 

The final part of the trick involved the children dodging out of sight quickly as possible to avoid the angry homeowner. 

Source: The Real Halloween: Ritual and Magic for Kids and Adults by Sheena Morgan

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Our yearly tradition with Ken from the Sounds of Christmas - New holiday music for 2022

Well, we're officially two months away from Christmas. Time really flies! This date in October is always fun because each year we have Ken from the Sounds of Christmas sharing new music for the upcoming holiday season. So, without further ado...

Thanks so much for once again inviting me back to your blog, Michelle!

As usual, I am very excited about the upcoming season for the Sounds of Christmas (which starts on November 1, which is next Tuesday)!

We’re actually already on, of course. Actually, we’re always on. These days, we’re playing Halloween music through the end of October, as the Sounds of Halloween. For the last fifteen Christmas seasons, I’ve played a huge variety of Christmas music, and I’ve worked hard to play thousands of songs, without repeating the same song and the same artist. This way, you won’t hear “Jingle Bell Rock” twice an hour, and you won’t hear Mariah Carey over and over.

I have just always felt that there’s so much good Christmas music out there, and more and more coming every year, there’s no reason to play Bing’s “White Christmas” every other hour.

I’m doing the same kind of thing with Halloween music, spreading out different versions of “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and others, as well as separating out the songs by the same artists. You won’t hear “Monster Mash” over and over (and I have multiple versions of that in rotation, including one I finally found that was recorded by Vincent Price!).

By the way, if there’s a spooky song you’d like to hear, you can certainly let me know and I’ll do my best to play it for you!

So, what’s new in Christmas music this season?

Once again, there is a lot of terrific new music this year, much of which is already out! I’m sure I won’t be able to get to it all of it in this blog, and there are always surprise releases that show up as the season gets going!

First, here’s some of what’s already been released…

One of the first releases of the season happened back in August. The folks that do the “Now That’s What I Call” series of compilations released “Now That’s What I Call A Wonderful Christmas." I don’t believe there was anything brand new on this one. It has 6 or 7 recent songs, including tunes by Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and Pentatonix, as well as another dozen much older songs, including tracks by Nat King Cole, Burl Ives and Andy Williams.

In September, we had a new EP from Disney’s a cappella group DCappella called “Home For The Holidays."

Lyn Stanley released a set called “Novel Noel: A Jingle Cool Jazz Celebration”. I think there are some new tracks on this one, alongside some that she’s previously released, but now you can get them all on this one collection.

Dave Koz released “Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Ballads (A 25th Anniversary Collection)”. I think this is all-new, and it includes a guest appearance by Rebecca Jade, who sings a John Lennon medley of “Happy Xmas” and “Imagine."

Joss Stone released her first Christmas album, “Merry Christmas, Love” at the end of September. It includes a couple originals and a bunch of covers, but it’s all new.

Jazz vocalist Sarah Partridge released her first Christmas album, “Partridge In A Pear Tree” at the beginning of October.

Lindsey Stirling has also released her second Christmas album, “Snow Waltz”. And if you’re a completist, hold out for the CD at Target, where there will be an extra 2 songs.

The Backstreet Boys have been promising a Christmas album for years, and they finally delivered their “A Very Backstreet Christmas”, after putting out their cover of “Last Christmas” in September as the first single. And like Lindsey Stirling, Target’s CDs will have two extra songs.

Jim Brickman released his latest, called “A Very Merry Christmas," and if you’re a fan, you should know that you can order an autographed copy of it through his website!

Gloria Estefan and Chris Isaak both released their second Christmas albums earlier this month.

Gloria’s is a family affair, with the majority of the songs performed with her kids, Emily Estefan and Sasha Estefan-Coppolla. Gloria does perform one solo track, her cover of “Christmas Time Is Here."

Chris Isaak’s album is called “Everybody Knows It’s Christmas." It’s a mix of covers and originals, and as on his first album, some of those originals showcase his sense of humor.

Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton are both revisiting Christmas past with their releases this month.

Reba released “The Ultimate Christmas Collection," which features tracks from her previous Christmas albums, along with her single from last year “I Needed Christmas."

Dolly has given us an even more expanded version of her 2020 release “A Holly Dolly Christmas." This one features all the tracks from that album, plus the bonus tracks from last year’s Deluxe Edition, plus two songs she’s contributed to the 1997 animated movie “Anabelle’s Wish." as well as “A Smoky Mountain Christmas” which came from the 1980s TV-movie of the same name (and that song has never been released), and this new set also includes her duet with Rod Stewart of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” that was for Rod’s album “Stardust…the Great American Songbook, Volume III” in 2004.

Elizabeth Chan returns with her latest Christmas release “12 Months Of Christmas." And if I did the math right, this is the tenth year in a row that she’s released new Christmas music!

Norah Jones surprised us with a deluxe version of her album from last year “I Dream Of Christmas." This one has lots of bonus tracks, including the single of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and many tracks from her Christmas performance last year at the Empire State Building!

American Idol finalist Olivia Rox released her first Christmas album, called An Olivia Rox Christmas. Her previously released single “It’s Christmastime” (which features Warren Hill) leads off this album.

Andrea Bocelli has a new one, in a similar vein as Gloria Estefan’s. It’s called “A Family Christmas" features collaborations with his son Matteo and daughter Virginia. And the Target version will have two bonus songs.

Celtic Thunder returns with “Celtic Christmas Morning," the follow up to last year’s “Celtic Christmas Eve." I don’t know if this is all-new music, or re-recordings of previously released songs (which they’ve done before).

Canadian jazz singer Holly Cole has combined her previous Christmas album “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and her EP “Christmas Blues” into one big release called “Baby It’s Cold Outside and I’ve Got The Christmas Blues." In addition to containing all the tracks from those two previous releases, there is one previously unreleased song - her version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town."

Debbie Gibson has been talking about a Christmas album for a while, and like the Backstreet Boys, this year she delivers. It’s called “Winterlicious." and you can order an autographed copy of this one from her website.

Country singer Jamie O’Neal has released “Spirit & Joy," her first Christmas album. She had a Christmas EP last year with “Christmas You," "White Christmas,” and “River” – and all of those appear on the new album, along with duets with Collin Raye and Rodney Good.

Closing out October, we’ll get a 2-CD release from Neil Diamond, compiling tracks from his four previous Christmas albums. Laurie Berkner is set to release her second Christmas album, aptly titled “Another Laurie Berkner Christmas," featuring a mix of covers and originals.

Jazz vocalist Jane Monheit also delivers her second Christmas album this Friday. It’s called “The Merriest” (her previous Christmas album “The Season” came out in 2005). “(Christmas) Stay With Me” is the first single, and it’s already out, so you can get a little taste of what’s to come right now.

Pentatonix also has a new on due this Friday. “Holidays Around The World” has a tie-in to an upcoming special on Disney Plus, and the album is rumored to feature some guest stars, including Meghan Trainor (but that is just a rumor).

American Roots artist Grant Maloy Smith is releasing “The Christmas Heart” in November. Sounds of Christmas listeners might like to know that Judy Pancoast is one of the background singers for this one! And you can order an autographed copy (autographed by Grant, not Judy) through his website.

Switchfoot will be releasing their first Christmas album next month, and I think the tracks are split half and half between originals and covers. The first single, “California Christmas," is already out.

Nelson is releasing a compilation called “A Nelson Family Christmas," which will not only include the songs from their previous Christmas releases, but it will also include two rare Christmas songs from their dad, Ricky Nelson, and a version of “Jingle Bells” from Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra (no word on whether Harriett makes an appearance)!

Australian singer Rhonda Burchmore has a swinging, big band Christmas album on the way called “A Red Hot Swingin’ Christmas." This one’s been in the works for the last couple years, and when you hear it, you’ll know it was worth the wait!

Alicia Keys just announced on social media recently that she’s releasing her first Christmas album in early November, and it’s called “Santa Baby." Not a lot of details for this one, yet, but there’s supposed to be an original single coming this week!

Loreena McKennitt has a new 2-CD album coming in a few weeks. It’s called “Under A Winter’s Moon” and it promises seasonal songs alongside seasonal readings (which includes a six-part version of “A Child’s Christmas In Wales”).

While you may have seen the trailer for “Spirited," the upcoming twist on “A Christmas Carol” that stars Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, you might also like to know there will be a soundtrack that features both actors, and it’s due just before Thanksgiving!

Sir Cliff Richard will release “Christmas With Cliff” in late November, his first Christmas album since 2003.

And David Foster and Katharine McPhee have teamed up for “Christmas Songs”, a seven-song album featuring covers, and I think their version of “Jingle Bell Rock” is due soon!

There are plenty of Christmas albums being re-issued this season, but one I want to make sure to tell you about is Ray Charles’ outstanding Christmas album “The Spirit Of Christmas." This one’s been out of print for a while, and while I don’t think there’s anything new being added to it, previously unreleased tracks or different versions of the songs originally included, it’s still worth your time to check it out.

The other thing I want to mention is that many artists are making their releases available on vinyl this year. Some are new releases, and some are from artists who’s Christmas albums came out years ago.

Some of these include Louis Armstrong, the Backstreet Boys, James Brown, Belinda Carlisle, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Cheech and Chong, Kelly Clarkson, Holly Cole, Judy Collins, Charlie Daniels, Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond, the Four Seasons, Debbie Gibson, the Vince Guaraldi Trio, Chris Isaak, Greg Lake, Mannheim Steamroller, Mantovani, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Reba McEntire, the Miracles, Leslie Odom Jr, Dolly Parton, the Platters, Elvis Presley, Kenny Rogers, Savatage, William Shatner, She & Him, Sia, Jessica Simpson, Frank Sinatra, Slade, the Smithereens, Brynn Stanley, Shakin’ Stevens, Lindsey Stirling, Joss Stone, Rob Thomas, Scott Weiland, Trisha Yearwood.

And also for collectors…

Urban Outfitters has an exclusive vinyl version of the "Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack.

And out earlier this month, there’s a special 30th anniversary picture disc of the soundtrack to “The Muppet Christmas Carol."

I am sure I’ve missed some, and I apologize if I skipped one of your favorites. Hundreds of new releases come across my desk (and into my email) every year, and I try to get to as many as I can. Unfortunately, every year, I come across truly wonderful songs that I don’t actually discover until January.

Plus, there are always surprises. Usually, these are surprise singles, or even EPs. Every once in a while, there’s a surprise Christmas album, but that’s pretty rare.

The Sounds of Christmas shifts back to Christmas music on November 1. I know not everyone is ready for it that early, but we’re here for those who are. And we’ll be here, playing all your favorites alongside the tunes I mentioned here, whenever you are ready for Christmas music!

Hope you’re able to spend at least some of your holiday season with us!

And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

Ken
http://www.SoundsofChristmas.com

A big thank you to Ken for keeping up this Yuletide tradition with us! Be sure to tune in to Sounds of Christmas on November 1st, and all season long. I have a link to the Sounds of Christmas in the right sidebar so you can listen while you're online. Look for the Sounds of Christmas Christmas tree, click the image and you'll be taken to the site where you can listen. Also, Sounds of Christmas has an app on Google Play so you can listen on the go...and it's free! You can find it in the Play Store here.

There are many on this list I want to buy. There goes the budget! 

Curious about our name change here on the blog. Check out my post about it here. 

Always in spirit...

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