Christmas Songs 2011, Part III

I think it's time to wrap up my Christmas/holiday song links for 2011 seeing as it's barely 48 hours until the celebrating starts. In case you missed any of it, here are links to:

Christmas Songs 2011, Part 1
Christmas Songs 2011, Part 2
Christmas Albums 2011, Part 1 (Kids Music)
Christmas Albums 2011, Part 2 (Non-Kids Music-Specific)
Kris Kindie, the kids music Christmas benefit compilation
Tips for caroling with kids

And with that, let's get rolling.

So, speaking of Kris Kindie, a couple of the tracks on the album are available elsewhere here on the Interwebs.

The Hipwaders appeared on Northern California radio this morning, playing a couple tracks off their fun Kindie Christmas album. They played "Wake Up (It's a Christmas Surprise)" (yes, it's on Kris Kindie) live in-studio. Good to hear DJ back in the fold. (Listen to "Yes, It's Christmas" here.)

Debbie and Friends also contributed a song to the compilation -- the new tune (and Spin Doctors-inspired) "Santa and Baby." No, she didn't create the video just for the compilation -- that would be a little much to ask for in just a week, but it's kinda cute anyway.

Debbie and Friends - "Santa and Baby" [YouTube]

Oh, you think we're done here?... we're busier than a shopping mall the last Saturday before Christmas.

I liked Todd McHatton's Christmas Songs album back when it was a kindergartner with just 5 songs. Now it's a pre-teen, with 10 whole songs, including another duet between the radio and video stars of "I Think I'm a Bunny." (That would be on "Put the Star on Top.") Download the album for just $1.99...

I like this rendition of "Little Drummer Boy," a song that's hard to cover without getting tiresome, from Papa Crow.

Papa Crow - "Little Drummer Boy" [YouTube]

While "Itsy Bitsy Spider" isn't a Christmas or holiday song by any stretch of the imagination, Alison Faith Levy (of the Sippy Cups) has Phil Spector-ized the song and I must admit that it does sound very holiday-ish. (By the way, Levy's new album will be out in the spring.)

Itsy Bitsy Spider by Mystery Lawn Music

Other notes:

-- Dan Zanes' guitarist and occasional duet partner Sonia de los Santos is offering up a free download of her take (with Zanes) on the traditional tune "Himno Guadulupano". (It's from Zanes' Welcome Table collection.)
-- James Coffey is giving away a free download of his song "A Magical Christmas Train"; pick it up here. If they're not so into trains, your kids may also like his video for "Reindeer Blues".
-- Kurt Gallagher offers up a video for "Chubby Little Snowman".
-- I am not a good rapper. Or wrapper. And while I appreciate Ryan SanAngelo's enthusiasm, his video for "The Christmas Rap" suggests I may be in the middle of the pack(aging) in that regard.

-- Finally, this is a year old, but the message still counts. Thao Nguyen has a "Gift Card" for you. I heartily suggest you use it. A bit dry for the kiddoes, but the adults will understand perfectly.

Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you're celebrating this time of the year!

Announcing Kris Kindie: Christmas Music for Kids and Families

It all started innocently enough -- someone makes a comment on Facebook about how there should totally be a kids' music Christmas compilation album. For charity, maybe. (Note: I cannot vouch for the veracity of the word "totally" in there.) Then somebody (I'm lookin' at you, Jeff) suggests that I should head up the effort. Next thing I know I'm downloading WAV files and uploading them to Bandcamp and pondering tracklist order.

So, today, less than one full week after the original suggestion, I'm happy to present Kris Kindie, a collection of 27 Christmas- and holiday-themed tracks from 27 different kids' musicians. In this case, I don't feel like I'm a producer (though I'll call myself that) as much as I am a coordinator -- folks sent me tracks, and I put 'em together in a handy single format. (And got Jeff to do the album art.)

Some were recorded especially for this compilation, some are new, some are old, some are reverent, and some are... less so. But I'm pretty sure that most folks will be able to find at least 5 tracks they like, which is great, because for just $5, not only do you get those 5 tracks (and the other 22), you know that all the net proceeds (which are all purchases minus Bandcamp and PayPal processing fees) will go to KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to creating "great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities" and, eventually, "a place to play within walking distance of every child in America."

Thanks to Jeff, Bill, Gwyneth, and Deb, who helped out, and most of all, thanks to the musicians who contributed. Listen below, and if you like it, I hope you'll consider purchasing the download.