Bye-bye to 2014 with a Kate Bush Christmas Card

And as we wave goodbye to 2014 already a week gone we thought we'd share a surprise Christmas card that arrived just before Santa did.
The card is from Ormond Yard Press/Snap Galleries in London. Snap had a exhibition of photos of Kate Bush to coincide with her run of sold out shows this past autumn. And while we attended one of the shows AND visited Snap Galleries we never got around to delivering our promised report on the show.

Snap Galleries will publish a book of Kate Bush photos taken by Gered Mankowitz (cover in the lower right corner of the card) and also have books with photos of Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix arriving January/February.

If you're interested in rock/pop photography and in London a visit to Snap Galleries is highly recommended!
And thanks to Snap for the Christmas card. A slightly modified version of the photo from the cover of her 1978 album Lionheart.

Happy Holidays!

As our social media feeds fill up with Xmas greetings we can somewhat smugly call ourselves ahead of the loop.

Stationed in Sweden Radio Dupree has the privilege of starting the holiday celebrations for real already on Christmas Eve.
So we've seen Santa arrive and leave, and we've eaten and drunk to our hearts content.

But to all you a late arrivals we say "welcome to the Holidays and enjoy it as much as we are."

Cheers!

Weekend video: 4'33 silence UK Christmas #1 in 2010?

The above video of John Cage's piece 4'33 is to give you a glimpse what might become the 2010 Christmas number one in the United Kingdom. Our question is how it will play on the radio? We promise to add the upcoming recorded version to the Radio Dupree Xmassy playlist! :)

Read more here:
This year's comedy Xmas No. 1 contender: Silent song 4'33"

Dukes of September private party

Or at least by invitation only.

December 11 will see Lisa Blue-Baron, a Dallas lawyer, throw a Christmas party where Sheryl Crow and The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue will play.

Wall Street Journal article.

An old friend returns...

I lent my copy to a friend a few years ago ... and there it stayed. You know how it sometimes is.
But today it was returned. And it was nice to have it back: The DVD Audio version of Two Against Nature.

All's well that ends well...

And I'm happy I didn't have to buy it again. A new copy is $107.77 on amazon.com or £76.99 on amazon.co.uk. A used copy goes for a mere $37.50 on amazon.com or £35 on amazon.co.uk.

Come to think of it, this would make a nice gift for your friend who's into Steely Dan and haven't heard the "96 hHz/24 bit advanced resolution multi-channel surround sound" version of this great album.

Tomorrow: What you shouldn't buy for your Steely Dan fan friend this Christmas. (OK, so it took until January 4 to get that post posted ... but there you have it!)

Zappa & Berlin current chart topper

On the eve of the 20 anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall it is our privilege to present a special almost-middle-of-the-month chart of listeners favourites.

Here's what the current Top 10 looks like as of today ... and for today. Tomorrow it will have changed:

1. Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention
Holiday In Berlin, Full Blown - Burnt Weeny Sandwich

2. Mahavishnu Orchestra
Open Country Joy - Birds Of Fire

3. Yes
Sweetness - Yes

4. Steely Dan
Show Biz Kids - Countdown To Ecstasy

5. Steely Dan
Reelin' In The Years - Can't Buy A Thrill

6. Steely Dan
Only A Fool Would Say That - Can't Buy A Thrill

7. The Beatles
It Won't Be Long - With The Beatles

8. Genesis
The Fountain Of Salmacis - Nursery Cryme

9. Jean-Luc Ponty
Music For Violin And Low Budget Orchestra (edit) - King Kong

10. Howlin' Wolf
I Asked For Water - Frank Zappa's Jukebox (various artists)

We hope you noticed that Berlin was featured in the title of our number 1 here and now. And it's interesting reflecting on the fact that although we do add stuff from recent years as well as by less familiar artists, the most popular seem to be the older and most well known.

Keep watching this blog for some pre-Christmas news that concerns YOU!

Dylan Xmas Album

If you haven't already you can see what the cover of Bob Dylan's Christmas Album looks like here.

Out October 13 it will feature songs like Here Comes Santa Claus, I'll Be Home For Christmas and Winter Wonderland.

God Jul! (*)

(*) That's "Merry Christmas" in Swedish.

And as Santa in Sweden delivers the gifts in person on Christmas Eve already, we're in the middle of the festivities here at Radio Dupree. Outside the snow is fluffy, plentiful and white (as you can see by the pic included in this post).

Just one thing to add, and that's a Christmas recording from 1968. A favorite. The Rotary Connection and Silent Night Chant. Click that link to hear in on another blog.

God Jul!

Donald Fagen on Jean Shepherd

I can't say I've seen the movie A Christmas Story from 1983, but apparently Donald Fagen (and a whole lot of other Americans) have. In an article titled The man who told a Christmas story Donald writes about the man behind the movie; Jean Shepherd. A guy who worked on the radio and Donald used to listen to back in the day.
A great read, even if you haven't seen the movie ;)

XMas: Jimi Hendrix Christmas Medley

Since the Radio Dupree Album of the Month is Axis: Bold As Love from The Jimi Hendrix Experience, we found it quite natural to present this "video" of pictures set to the Christmas medley of Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne recorded back in 1969.
The picture of Jimi in a Santa outfit was originally taken to promote Axis... in UK music magazine Record Mirror, but was also used for a 1999 vinyl release of this medley.

XMas: Pogues & Kirsty MacColl

Let's get ready for Christmas with a few videos! And the first one is a classic; Fairytale of New York where The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl teamed up. Here's the original video version and a live version from 1988. Enjoy them both and be back in a couple of days for another Christmas video.