Blogs

Clyde McPhatter had one of the sweetest and most powerful tenor voices in all of Rhythm & Blues and early Rock n’ Roll. His issue throughout his 22 year recording career, was getting the recognition he thought he deserved. After singing memorable leads on many hit records for Billy Ward & The Dominoes, Clyde left because Billy Ward wouldn’t put his name on the records or pay him a fair share of the profits. Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records was ready to sign McPhatter and give him his own group, The Drifters.

And it came to pass that there were almost 24 hours before voting closed.

And so it was that the wise men were busy at the myrrh shop buying myrrh, which is in short supply these days. In their absence, a little blind man with a funny accent emerged from the Ether and said,

"Hark!". And because he couldn't think of anything else to say, he said, "Hark!" again, just to give himself time to think.

Hark! Yes hark at once I say! Because things are really ramping up for Christmas now. So hark! I mean man! In just two weeks, I’ll be coming to terms yet again with not getting, yet again, the present I most want, yet again, a Sonos in the bathroom. Meh.

And of course in just one week, one week from this very moment, we’ll be counting down the top 100 holiday songs as voted for by you. Have you voted yet? You’d better hurry up if not, or I’m gonna tell Santa on you. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.

While the holidays are not quite here yet, I find myself in a Christmasish mood just now. So, in addition to some of the usual Celtic music on Come By The Hills this week, I will again be flavouring the show with the sounds of Christmas. We've got carols, songs and other wintry fair on the menu, including a folky version of a beloved holiday novelty classic in "Celtic Covers" and a lovely Gaelic carol from Scotland in "What's That About."

The Drifters would become the most successful vocal group in history, charting hit after hit for over 20 years, with no less than a dozen different lead singers. This week, the “Juke In The Back” spotlights The Drifters’ first chapter with the great high tenor of Clyde McPhatter out front. The group was created by Atlantic Records in order to showcase McPhatter’s beautiful and powerful voice after his 2 year stint with Billy Ward & The Dominos ended.

Yes, it's me, Sara Hillis, back again and this time in shameless self-promotion mode. I wanted to let you know that if you've heard my sequel to "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" called, funnily enough, "I Got a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and are just dying to have it for yourself, or even if you haven't heard it and would like to hear it, it's available for the holidays for free from my web site. Steve Cutway has nominated it for his top pick for the Mushroom FM Christmas Count-down. Want to know why?

I do love the holiday sentiments of peace on earth and good will and all that, but if you're sick and tired of all that comfort and joy, tune into the Sara Hillis Show all next week, because we're going to battle it out Christmas style!

Christmas has come a bit early to Mosen Towers with the arrival of a new baby. Now now, we don’t want to kick the rumour mill into fever pitch, this baby is of the tiny laptop variety. It’s here it’s here. It’s powerful, the battery life is insane, it’s thin and light…and it now has all the software installed on it that I use on a daily basis. The big question is, can we broadcast live with it? Can we? Will it smoothly sail through four hours of fun, festive, unpredictable unforgettable Internet radio, or will smoke start billowing from its virtual ears?

It is not officially winter here in the northern hemisphere, but it is December, the month in which winter begins. It is also, of course, the month of Advent, the month of expectation and anticipation leading up to Christmas proper. So, as this month of seasonal change and hopeful waiting begins, I thought we'd celebrate both winter and the coming holiday season with songs about Christmas and about winter itself.

The holidays are all about traditions and rituals. Turkey, mistletoe, Santa and more. Once again, it's time to prepare for one such special tradition.

The Mushroom FM Holiday Countdown and Christmas party is back yet again for 2016, where we're making a list, checking it twice, and presenting a 10-hour extravaganza of the top 100 holiday songs as determined by our listeners.