Lowe describes how 'Quality Street' came about in a short video below, and I have to say I'm surprised about one of his comments. He says holiday albums are really an American thing, and that those in the UK find the concept a bit naff. Any of my British pals care to comment? This American loves holiday albums, and I eagerly take 'A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector' off the shelf the moment I begin cleaning the Thanksgiving dinner dishes. I put 'Quality Street' in that upper echelon of Christmas classics, alongside the Beach Boys, Booker T & the MG's and several others. I don't seem to be alone. Rolling Stone already ranks 'Quality Street' in the top 20 of its list of 40 Essential Holiday Albums. We are receiving another gift from Lowe and Yep Roc Records this holiday season. 'The Quality Holiday Revue Live' LP is set for a Black Friday release. The album was recorded in Boston last year with Los Straitjackets in tow.
Here are the 2015 dates and a few interesting clips, including a video for "Christmas at the Airport." That's the one you may have heard last year while in the shops searching for gifts. The second video is Lowe's rockin' appearance on Letterman, and the third one is the aforementioned making-of 'Quality Street' mention.
Dec. 2: Durham, N.C. – Bryan Center Reynolds Industries Theater
Dec. 3: Charlotte, Va – Visulite Theater
Dec. 4: Atlanta – Variety Playhouse
Dec. 5: Nashville – City Winery Nashville
Dec. 9: Solana Beach, Calif. – Belly Up Tavern
Dec. 10: Los Angeles – El Rey Theatre
Dec. 11: San Francisco – The Great American Music Hall
Dec. 12: Napa, Calif. – City Winery Napa
Dec. 14: Sacramento – Harlow’s Restaurant and Nightclub
Dec. 16: Portland, Ore. – Aladdin Theater
Dec. 18: Seattle – Neptune
Dec. 19: Vancouver, B.C. – The Vogue Theatre
5 comments:
I'd agree with Nick that, on the whole, on this side of the pond we do find the concept of the single artist Christmas LP a bit naff, or at least phenomenally devalued in recent years. It seems as though every big name in the music industry is expected to churn one out and it invariably contains the same old predictable schmaltzy songs. Fair play to Nick for shaking up the formula though. These are the first tunes I've heard from his effort, having previously avoided it precisely because it is a Christmas album, and it sounds a lot of fun.
We do love a good Christmas single over here though. And Phil Spector's Christmas Album. And I'm personally quite partial to the early Motown Christmas Album. So it's not all 'Bah! Humbug!'
Happy Holidays!!!
That's really interesting, Swede. Honestly, I had no idea before today that the Christmas album was an American thing. Actually, I know of plenty of folks over here that don't like Christmas albums either.
Not me! I LOVE Christmas songs!! Deck the halls!!
Def frowned on a bit in the UK. However Tracey thorns recent one was a thing of joy
Completely with you, FORW. Certainly gets lots of plays during the season.
Kevinpat, Like the Swede, I bet you spin that Motown collection quite a bit at holiday time.
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