December 1, 2020
Tech Rap: What’s New & Holiday Music Suggestions
I thought I would close out 2020 by asking that musical question posed by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Linda Ronstadt, and others…What’s New? There have been many exciting changes here at Como Audio over the last few months, most of which you are probably not aware of. Let us review what has been happening at your favorite MA startup audio company and then survey the Christmas music landscape.
New Como Audio USA Office and Warehouse
At the end of July, we relocated our main office from Boston’s Seaport District to Braintree, MA. Our new facility has more space, an actual kitchen, plenty of free parking, a 4,000+ square foot warehouse with three raised loading docks, and for most of us, a much more manageable commute. I for one will not miss the daily hour-plus slog in and out of Boston. Operating our own warehouse affords us more accurate inventory management and better oversight of shipping. Our new facility also has a dedicated “demo” room, so if you live locally you can come in and listen to our products and receive a personal tutorial from one of our Customer Service Advisors (we just ask that you make an appointment with us ahead of time, wear a face mask, and socially distance). The move was a lot of work (in the heat of summer) and it created some unforeseen hiccups, but we have settled in nicely and we really dig our new digs.
Trivia: Braintree, MA is located nine miles south of Boston and is the birthplace of President John Adams, President John Quincy Adams, and John Hancock.
New Como Audio Employees
Our Founding CEO, Tom DeVesto, is serious about creating decent paying American jobs, so we took advantage of our larger office space to expanded our Customer Service team by adding new employees, expanding our existing team. With the addition of Ryan Gallagher and Alec Gervais, both of whom hold undergraduate degrees in Sound Recording Technology from the University of Massachusetts, we will be able to serve the needs of our customers and prospective customers even more effectively. Our Nick Dussault has been with Como Audio about one year and holds q degree in Sound Recording Technology. Philip Vecchiarelli has been with us for nearly four years and was promoted last month to Senior E-Commerce Manager. “PJ”, as he is affectionately known, is now in charge of our Customer Service Department among his other responsibilities.
As for me, I continue with my Dissociative Identity Disorder as General Manager, Logistics Manager, V.P. of Product Development, and Tech Rap author. I will celebrate my fifth Anniversary with Como Audio in two months. I also recently received my commission as a MA Notary Public.
In the way of a Customer Service staff introduction, here is a hit-and-run Q&A with some of our team:
Nick:
Plays: Drums, Guitar
Currently listening to: Wand and Slow Pulp
Favorite Internet station: KEXP & WUML
Little known fact: He’s an experienced recording/mixing engineer
Favorite Christmas dinner side dish: Eggnog (Wait. Is eggnog a side dish?)
Ryan:
Plays: Guitar, Bass, Modular Synth
Currently listening to: Bochek, Oneohtrix Point Never, and Nino Rota
Favorite Internet station: Magic 106.7
Little known fact: Shares the same Birthday with Drake and Jeff Mangum
Favorite Christmas dinner side dish: Roasted Brussel sprouts
Alec:
Plays: Bass Guitar, Drums
Currently listening to: The Beatles’ Love
Favorite Internet station: Radio Swiss Jazz
Little known fact: Played bass in The Funkodactyl’s- a high school funk band that did Chicago, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind and Fire covers
Favorite Christmas dinner side dish: Mashed potatoes
Peter:
Plays: Failed at Piano and Accordion. Do you know the difference between an onion and an accordion? No one cries when you chop up an accordion.
Currently listening to: You will find out when you read January’s Tech Rap…
Favorite Internet station: Atomic City. Warning: Don your gamma radiation suit before listening.
Little known fact: When I was a sophomore in college minoring in Political Science, I was selected out of hundreds of applicants to intern for 1 week in Washington, DC with Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI).
Favorite Christmas dinner side dish: A liberal helping of my famous homemade green bean casserole (with a secret ingredient). I also make a pretty mean no-bake strawberry cheesecake.
Trivia: Pecan pie has nearly 550 calories thanks to the butter, sugar, and nuts. Plop some vanilla ice cream on top and the count jumps to 700 calories. Have a slice and you will need to work out after you pig out.
New Como Audio Website
In late September, we launched our completely redesigned website which we had been toiling over for most of the year. It is still being tweaked here and there, but the majority of it is finished. We tried to streamline things to make the information a little easier to digest. Since we are a web-based company, our website serves as an introduction to our products, so it is important to us to make a favorable first impression. We hope you like our new site. If you have any comments or suggestions, we would love to hear your constructive feedback.
Trivia: According to History.com, the first-ever website was launched on August 6, 1991. The site explained the world wide web and how to use it.
New StartEngine extension
Our StartEngine equity crowdfunding campaign is not new, but our extension is. Our campaign was set to end last month, but you now have a few more weeks to get in on the action. For a minimum investment of $250 you can join over 250 other smart investors and become part owner of Como Audio. As of this writing we have raised $174,000, which is fantastic, but if we are to achieve our goal of developing American manufacturing and creating more new jobs, we still have a long way to go. Can we count on your generous support before our campaign expires next month?
Trivia: Having collectively raised over $200 million for hundreds of companies, StartEngine is the biggest equity crowdfunding platform.
New Financing
Occasionally, we receive emails from prospective customers inquiring about financing options. We heard you, so we added a new service from Bread to pay for your Como Audio music system over time. 12-Month, 0% APR financing is available. Look for the Bread option when you select your purchase on our website*.
*The term is for a loan to finance a purchase. Rates range from 0% to 29.99% APR, resulting in, for example,12 equal monthly payments of $83.33 at 0% APR or 24 equal monthly payments of $45.22 to $55.91 at 0% to 29.99% APR, per $1,000 borrowed. Your terms may vary and are subject to credit approval. Down payment may be required. Bread® loans are made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey Chartered Bank, Member FDIC.
Trivia: In 1950, Diners Club was the first to issue a general-purpose charge card according to Experion.
New Como Audio Products
Somehow, despite our major office and warehouse relocation, COVID-19, totally redesigning our website, hiring and training new staff, and servicing an equity crowdfunding campaign, we managed to steal some time to design some new products. It goes without saying, any of these would make a much better holiday gift than a George Foreman grill or a Richard Simmons Chia pet. Just be sure to place your order soon so your purchase gets delivered in time for the holiday. With the dramatic increase in on-line ordering due to the pandemic, UPS is even busier this season and has earlier cut-off times than previous years. Plus, if a COVID vaccine starts shipping in December, that could inflict further delays. The bottom line from the experts is if you want something in time for Christmas, the earlier you order, the better chance you have of getting it in time. Also consider a Como Audio gift card to avoid shipping delays and let the lucky receiver pick out his or her own gift.
New Como Audio Amico Carry On
For Amico, our popular portable model, we have a new, hard-sided travel case. The 0.19-0.34” thick injection molded, textured rigid case is custom designed specifically for Amico and its accessories. The precision die cut foam interior includes customized compartments for one Amico (with or without its Protective Cover), a spare battery pack, a remote control, the external power supply, and several snap-in regional adapter plugs. Featuring an integrated handle, the Amico Carry On travel case provides light duty protection and splash resistance while maintaining a professional look, and will fit comfortably in an airplane’s overhead bin (thus the name Carry On). Best of all, as part of our commitment to try to bring manufacturing back to the states, our new case is 100% made in the USA. Keep Calm and “Carry On”.
New Como Audio Turntable Analog
The success of our Como Audio Bluetooth Turntable led us to develop a second model for those looking to spend a little less and can do without Bluetooth. Though it has a lower retail price, our new, belt-driven Turntable Analog retains the same build and sound quality as its big brother and is made in the Czech Republic. Custom-designed in partnership with Austrian-based turntable experts Pro-ject, Turntable Analog includes a switchable Phono/Line output and an MDF plinth wrapped in premium walnut vinyl or piano gloss black vinyl. It includes a large steel platter set atop a sub-platter and supports 33 1/3 and 45 RPM speeds via a single, side-mounted speed control switch. The newly developed DC motor with TPE (ThermoPlastic Elastomer) damping provides speed stability without adding vibration. An Ortofon OM5e cartridge comes pre-mounted and balanced, meaning no adjustments are necessary…just plug n’ play. A removable transparent dust cover, Como Audio slip mat, high-quality audio cable using “dual twisted pair” technology, and a 100-240V universal power supply with regional plugs are all included. Take your record collection out for a spin on Como Audio’s new Turntable Analog.
New Como Audio Global Editions
How could we make our models even better? We made universal versions. They might look the same as our standard models, but our Solo/Duetto/Musica/Amico Global Editions include both a US and a CE power cord, support for DAB/DAB+ (digital broadcasting as used in most European countries), and finer tuning of FM stations in the US. Global Editions also have stricter certifications like CE, CB, and DRUK (for DAB). This is in addition to all the standard features like Internet radio, Bluetooth, Auxiliary input, Spotify Connect, dual alarms, a two-year warranty, free technical support, etc. Note not all finishes are available in Global Editions. Music is universal. Now your Como Audio music system can be as well.
New Como Audio Solo/Duetto Pop Colors
As handsome as our models are with their real wood and piano gloss finishes and aluminum accoutrements, we can now make your piano gloss white Solo or Duetto music system purchase even more special by customizing it with your choice of five colored grilles and knobs. One, small example of our effort to bring manufacturing back to the states, the grille/knob customization is carefully performed by hand in our Braintree, MA office by our own staff. Choose from grille/knob sets in Sea Foam Green, Blush Pink, Salmon, Baby Blue, and Primrose (yellow). These matte colors add a real “pop” of color against Solo and Duetto’s high gloss white finish, so we called them Pop Colors. The pastel colors were jointly selected by our Founding CEO, Tom DeVesto, and Italian Designer Ilaria Marelli. Best of all, this Solo/Duetto customization comes at no additional charge, but our exclusive colored grille and knob supplies are extremely limited, so act fast to add a little pop to your music.
Trivia: According to Wikipedia, the first traditional radio station to broadcast over the Internet was WXYC in North Carolina in 1994.
Happy Holidays!
There certainly has been no shortage of holiday programming on television starting as early as October. I caught Food Network’s A Very Brady Renovation Holiday Edition. I just could not resist seeing all of the Brady Bunch “siblings” reunite to decorate the iconic Brady house and then gather together to enjoy a 1970’s-inspired traditional holiday meal (fondue mashed potatoes, onion soup mix turkey, Jello with a surprise inside). Carol, Mike, and Alice would have been proud (and Kitty Carryall, too). If you want to make your Christmas a Very Brady Christmas, check out 1970’s Merry Christmas from the Brady Bunch, an album of holiday tunes sung by the actual Brady’s themselves. Groovy, man.
Trivia: In the December 19, 1969 episode of The Brady Bunch, the only Christmas episode of the entire series, Carol gets laryngitis, preventing her from being able to sing solo at the Christmas church service. On Christmas Eve, Cindy asks a department store Santa to restore her mother’s voice. Spoiler alert: Carol gets her voice back in time for her performance. Awwww.
‘Tis the Season for Recommended Streaming
You will find a roster of free Holiday Internet radio stations on your Como Audio music system to get your Christmas on. Always on the lookout for something different, I scoured our extensive Internet radio data base in order to recommend some fine holiday stations from around the world. Each of these honor Christmas in their own unique musical way and are very Tech Rap-worthy of your consideration:
Klassik Radio – Christmas (192 kbps, MP3, non-commercial): I do not have much on my Bucket List at present, though I am sure my list will become more congested as I grow older. One thing on my list is to spend a Christmas in Germany. For the time being, Klassik Radio- Christmas will have to do. This station from Hamburg streams a joyous mix of holiday classical music with an occasional vocal performance thrown in for good measure. According to what COO Richard Goerlich told me, Klassik Radio is the largest private station in Germany with a combined worldwide listenership of six million, most of whom are over forty and well educated. Frankly, I am not a big classical music fan, but I have been enjoying this holiday station quite a lot. I suppose if a trip to Germany does not pan out, there is always “Little Bavaria” in Michigan or Bavarian Village in Washington state.
Trivia: From parkersymphony.org: “William Henry Fry holds the distinction of being the first composer born in the United States to write for a large symphony orchestra. His Santa Claus Symphony was written in 1853 and was very well received by audiences. It may be the first orchestral use of the saxophone which was invented just barely a decade before.”
SomaFM – Xmas in Frisko (128 kbps, MP3, non-commercial) In the words of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and now for something completely different. The first time I heard this station I asked myself, what in the wide, wide world of sports is this? I knew this station was for me when I read the description of the music they play: “offensive”, “raunchy”, “nasty”, “silly”, and “childish”. Perfect! Even the station artwork is bizarre. But hey, the station is from San Francisco, so what do you expect from the left coast? I, along with about 5,000 other daily listeners, have not been able to stop listening. Xmas in Frisco has been streaming since 2001 but did not come into its own until 2004. Some of the politically incorrect songs that greeted my virgin ears: Fruitcake Makes Me Puke, I’ll Be Stoned for Christmas, I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus, Rudy, the Big Booty Reindeer, Santa’s Pissed Off, Daddy Drank Our Xmas Money, It’s the Most Fattening Time of the Year, Deck the Halls with Parts of Charlie, and I’m Getting Sued by Santa Claus. You will even hear songs that skewer Hanukkah and Kwanza. No one is safe from Xmas in Frisco. There are sprinklings of TV & movie holiday-related soundbites as well. Needless to say, this is not a station to play when the little crumb crunchers are within ear shot. You will laugh! You will cry! You will kiss three bucks goodbye! Actually, you will not kiss any money goodbye since this station is free (but they accept donations).
I reached out to the station’s General Manager and Music Director, Rusty Hodge, with some questions about the unique (to say the least) format:
PS: What gave you the idea for this unconventional format?
RH: I’ve always collected strange/non-traditional Christmas music, and after a while I realized I had a lot of it! And I was inspired by the “SantaCon” event, where people would get dressed up as Santa and parade around the city being drunk and obnoxious (and usually quite funny). “Merry F*****’ Christmas” and “Ho Ho F*****’ Ho!” were things the drunk Santa’s would say. I thought there needed to be a holiday soundtrack with this same kind of fun, irreverent and sometimes offensive attitude. I mix in a few “traditional” popular Christmas songs (like Mariah Carey) just to offend the people who aren’t offended by the NSFW [Not Suitable For Work] themes.
PS: What is up with the station artwork of the two young ladies?
RH: It was born out of an invite to a “Be the Tree” Christmas party. It’s a collage, the dresses, hats, etc. all came from various places. And thinking how the “Tree models” looked like the Transamerica pyramid in SF, which itself was Christmas-tree shaped. Wacky, eclectic, San Francisco.
PS: Do you have a favorite naughty Xmas song?
RH: I would rather not say 🙂
PS: What is your favorite Christmas dinner side dish?
RH: Usually mashed potatoes.
Trivia: In 2017, Spin.com ranked the thirty weirdest Christmas songs. Topping their list was “Weird Al” Yankovic’s ‘Christmas at Ground Zero’ from 1986.
Celtic Radio- A Celtic Christmas (128 kbps, MP3, non-commercial): I find Celtic music soothing to the soul. It has a kind of spiritual quality. Perhaps that is why Celtic and Christmas music seem to blend together so naturally. As A Celtic Christmas states on its website, “Celtic music has character, it has grace, depth and inspiration.” This station streams out of Toronto, but you could close your eyes and swear you were in Ireland. A few of the artists I heard during my listening session include, Moya Brennan, Enya, Raven, Celtic Thunder, Blackmore’s Night, Matt and Shannon Heaton, and Mannheim Steamroller. Celtic music was 5,000 years in the making. Surely you can set aside a few hours this holiday for A Celtic Christmas (and don’t call me Shirley).
Trivia: Every year, a handful of brave swimmers go for a dip in the freezing Irish sea on Christmas morning in Sandycove, a suburb of South Dublin.
Aloha Joe Christmas Radio (24 kbps, MP3, non-commercial): This is a perfect example of the advantage of Internet radio. You would never find a station on FM like this. As the station’s name hints, Aloha Joe plays traditional holiday music performed in English and Hawaiian primarily by Hawaiian artists. J.E. Duke (aka Aloha Joe) is a popular DJ and novelist and has been broadcasting this stream since 1995 after breaking up his main Aloha Joe Radio into several different stations. As Joe told me in an email, the Internet is too slow on the Islands to stream his stations on location, so he does his thing from an undisclosed location in southern California. However, you would swear this station was streaming from the big island. Ginai, Ozzie Kotani, Gordon Borad, Teresa Bright, Brothers Cazinero, the Maui Prep Student Choir, and Leilani Rivera Bond are just some of the artists I heard during my listen. Unfortunately for me, I have never been to Hawaii (maybe I should add that to my bucket list just above Germany), and I am not familiar with any of their musicians, yet I find myself frequently accessing Aloha Joe in My Favorites list. Ordinarily I would refrain from recommending a station with less than stellar streaming quality, but the unique programming more than compensates for the low bit rate. Mix yourself a Piña colada, don a Hawaiian Lei, and welcome Aloha Joe into your home for the holidays. Mele Kalikimaka.
Trivia: Many Hawaiians forgo Turkey on Christmas in favor of the Kalua Pig which is roasted for hours in a pit containing hot rocks and banana leaves.
Christmas Radio Philippines (65 kbps, AAC, non-commercial): You like trying different ethnic foods, so why not try some ethnic food for your ears? CRP broadcasts out of the Philippines and celebrates the holidays with seasonal songs performed in English and their native language, Tagalog. Some the artists I encountered during my musical trip to the Philippines: Boney M, Karayama, Alpha Music, Apo Hiking, DJ Sammy, Bayani, and Jose Mari Chan, but I also heard holiday recordings by Kenny G and Connie Francis. About ninety percent of Filipinos are Christian, so Christmas is an especially important holiday to them. You will definitely get that feeling when listening to CRP.
Trivia: During the Christmas season, Filipino streets and homes are adorned with Parol, a colorful, star-shaped lantern made from bamboo sticks and capiz shells.
Metal Xmas (128 kbps, MP3): In the mood for a headbanging holiday? Rumor has it when Santa gets some rare alone time away from Mrs. Claus and the Elves, he puts on his red leather jacket and cranks this station on his Como Audio Musica. Metal Xmas is based in Germany and features merry metal and punk. Yes, you will hear guttural vocals and scorching guitars, but there are also more mainstream songs (to the extent metal goes mainstream). Thrill to the heart-warming sounds of Twisted Sister, Warrant, Steel Panther, Guns N’ Roses, and Type O Negative. Santa wishes you a Metal Christmas.
Trivia: From Wikipedia: “Several case reports can be found in the medical literature which connect excessive headbanging to aneurysms and hematomas within the brain and damage to the arteries in the neck which supply the brain.”
Happy Christmas Radio (320 kbps, MP3, Canada); Merry Christmas Radio (192 kbps, MP3, USA); Magic Christmas (127 kbps, AAC, UK); If you are a traditionalist and prefer to stay with the usual Christmas music fare, these three stations should satisfy, and they all stream in excellent quality.
Trivia: According to Wikipedia, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas is the best-selling Christmas song of all time with over fifty million copies sold worldwide.
To tune any of these outstanding stations on your Como Audio music system, go to Station list > Stations > Genre > Seasonal-Holiday, and find them in the list. Save them to a preset or add them to My Favorites for easy access all month long. Fill your home with the sounds of the season by grouping together multiple Como Audio models via the free Como Control app or in the unit’s menu: System settings > Multiroom > Create new group.
Holiday Vinyl & CDs
With COVID-fatigue setting in, we should all really appreciate this holiday season more than ever, even if we cannot be with our loved ones because of the pandemic. Music is an excellent way to get in the mood and this year there are a bunch of artists with new holiday albums including the Goo Goo Dolls, Carrie Underwood (including a track with John Legend), Jim Brickman, Megan Trainor, Leslie Odom, Jr., Brian Bromberg, Tori Amos, Dolly Parton (with guest appearances by Jimmy Fallon and close friend, Billy Ray Cyrus), and an Annie Lenox remastered re-issue. Most of these new releases are available on vinyl as well as CD, so you can spin them on your Como Audio Turntable or in your Musica’s CD player. And those that are not, you can wirelessly stream the digital files to your music system via UPnP or Bluetooth. If you are Christmas music insecure this season, there is no shortage of options.
Trivia: Dolly Parton is Miley Cyrus’ Godmother.
Jingle All the Way
Soundtracks often get overlooked, and Jingle All the Way (TVT Records, 8070) from 1996 is no exception, especially since the film was panned by the critics and only performed so-so at the box office. The soundtrack can be had cheap on eBay and contains a nice mix of classic holiday songs and a couple of tunes performed by the great Brian Setzer Orchestra. I own an Intrada special collection CD limited to 1,500 pressings. It features music composed by David Newman for the film, none of which is included on the regular soundtrack CD.
This also happens to be one of my favorite family-friendly holiday movies despite Arnold Schwarzenegger’s dreadful acting. If you are seeking a departure from A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, give Jingle All the Way a watch this holiday.
Trivia: Jingle All the Way was Phil Hartman’s final film before he died.
A Walton’s Christmas
Though not a soundtrack per se, A Walton’s Christmas: Together Again (Page Music, 7072200)is about as close as you will get to one for this quaint, Emmy Award-winning TV show that aired from 1972-1981 on CBS. I remember my grandmother watching this show religiously every Thursday night. I am more a seasonal fan, watching mainly during the holidays. This 1999 CD should not be confused with The Walton’s Christmas Album from 1974 which was a shameless attempt to cash-in on the popular series. That album cover showed the Walton’s cast gathered in front of their long kitchen table before a huge Christmas feast. Yet, with the exception of Grandpa Walton who recorded his Christmas wish, none of the cast appeared on that album. All of the songs on the record were performed by the “Holiday Singers”, members of whom were never identified (but they were not any of the Walton’s characters).
Contrast that with A Walton’s Christmas: Together Again, where all of the songs are sung by the original cast (sans the actors who portrayed Grandma and Grandpa Walton whom had both passed away by then), with character banter included. This CD opens with a remake of the Walton’s TV theme and ends with the cast wishing each other goodnight just as they did at the conclusion of every episode. John Boy, whom played an aspiring writer on the series, recites ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. There is even an Applesauce cake recipe included in the CD booklet. The CD was produced by the actor who played Jason Walton, who in real life is a musician. A Walton’s Christmas will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside and you will look forward to playing it each and every Christmas. Oddly enough, the original CD was recorded in Dolby Surround Sound (though it will play just fine in your Como Audio Musica). The CD was re-issued in 2003 in stereo only. Both versions have long been out of print but can be found on eBay (link at the end of this article).
Trivia (from Hallmarkdrama.com): “The “Walton House” was located in Warner Brothers studios in Burbank, CA. “Walton’s Mountain” was actually a slope of the Hollywood Hills directly south of the Warner Brothers lot.”
A Chaise Lounge Christmas
Being the admirer of vintage lounge music I am, I was delighted to recently discover A Very Chaise Lounge Christmas (Modern Songbook Records) from 2012 (better late than never). The album cover has a sort of strange vintage look and hints at the fun inside that awaits the listener. This retro group from Washington, DC puts a lounge twist on some great original Christmas tunes mixed in with more traditional renderings. Chaise Lounge is Marilyn Older, Charlie Barnett, Tommy Barrick, Jeff Gray, Joe Jackson, and Pete Ostle, and they will jazz up your holiday.
Some of the standouts: Mister Santa’s lyrics are creatively set to the hit, Mr. Sandman. The Man with the Bag gets an appropriately kitschy treatment. December 25 is a jazzy little gem. Snow Day celebrates the days when schools closed because of snow, not because of a virus. Cool Yule is a throwback to beatnik times: “He’s gonna have a bag of crazy toys / To give the gonest of the girls and boys / So dig / Santa comes on big”. Backing Chaise Lounge’s Marilyn Older’s delightful vocals is a mosaic of instruments including accordion, trombone, saxophone, flute, clarinet, piano, drums, bass, and guitar.
“The songs all sound like they were recorded in 1959 at Capitol records”, Chaise Lounge band member Charlie Barnett told me in an email. “The band always sounds like this, but never more so than on our holiday albums. The song, Snow Day, should have been a hit. And if it was 1959 it would have been. The cover was made by taking photos of the band, then making cut-outs of the photos and placing them on a ‘set’ that I built out of vintage dollhouse furniture and cotton batting. I only mention this because one person reviewing that record thought it was some terrible photo-shopping. The picture on the cover is actually a picture of the pictures of us delicately balanced on that set. I was really proud of its artistic goofiness. Marilyn, of course, sounds delicious on this record. I always thought this was our best-sounding record. Until the new once, Out Under the Sky. The only thing the new one is missing is a vinyl release.”
A Very Chaise Lounge Christmas is a sextet of pleasures for the ears. Do not be a flat tire. Get out of squaresville, man, and get your own record in red or green colored vinyl (link provided at the end of this article).
Trivia: (Everybody’s Waitin’ for) The Man with the Bag was originally written in 1950 and was made popular by jazz/pop singer Kay Starr.
Silent Nightclub
Continuing my holiday lounge theme, Richard Cheese is an acquired taste (no pun intended). With Silent Nightclub (Surfdog Records), the tuxedo-clad Cheese and his merry band of three take Christmas lounge music to the extreme. Like a drunk driver on Christmas Eve, the music on Silent Nightclub is all over the place…from classics such as Jingle Bells and Silent Night, to “lounge-ified” versions of Ice Ice Baby, Imagine, and Like A Virgin, to originals like Christmas in Las Vegas: The wise men are rolling sevens / The elves are doubling down / Light a candle and pull the handle / I love that jingling sound. There is nothing else out there like this, at least not with such an abundance of cheese baked-in.
Cheese has managed to keep his unique lounge act going for twenty years without it turning all green and moldy. All I can say is this music is as deliciously cheesy as a plate full of hot Mozzarella sticks left out for Santa. Definitely not for the lactose intolerant.
Trivia: Cheese (real name Mark Jonathan Davis) has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel, Anderson Cooper 360, Last Call with Carson Daily, Howard Stern, Fox & Friends, and Opie & Anthony, and has released over twenty CDs.
Music Box Christmas
Let us transition from cheese to Porter Music boxes out of Vermont (also known for cheese) whom sells recordings (CD’s and downloads) of holiday music as played by their music boxes. Porter has been making hand-crafted music boxes since 1974. Co-founder Mary Porter told me they only make about 24 music boxes a year, so you know the quality must be very high. Mary and her husband, Dwight Porter, are still both active in the company.
Music box music seems especially suited for Christmas. I have had one of Porter’s Christmas CD’s I bought my Music Box Christmas (Porter, PMBD18) CD well over thirty-six years ago (!) at The Breakers mansion gift shop in Newport, RI, of all places. The music is especially unique because the particular dual-disc music box model used for the recording costs $15,000. The recordings for all of their CDs were conducted at a studio in Vermont and were produced by Mr. Porter himself. Celtic Radio- A Celtic Christmas, an Internet radio station I recommended earlier in this article, often plays music from these Porter CDs.
Trivia: Geneva watchmaker, Louis Favre, is largely credited with making the first music box in the late 1700’s.
Christmas by the Numbers
The Top 10 American Christmas albums through 2016 according to a list published on Wikipedia:
- Elvis’ Christmas Album / Elvis Presley
- Miracles: The Holiday Album / Kenny G
- The Christmas Song / Nat King Cole
- Mannheim Steamroller Christmas / Mannheim Steamroller
- A Fresh Aire Christmas / Mannheim Steamroller
- Noël / Josh Groban
- Merry Christmas / Mariah Carey
- These Are Special Times / Celine Dion
- A Christmas Album / Barbra Streisand
- Merry Christmas / Johnny Mathis
Trivia: According to Goldmine Magazine, the most expensive Christmas album ever sold was an original 1957 copy of Elvis’ Christmas Album on red-colored vinyl that sold for $18,000.
A Very Zoom Christmas
If you plan to connect with family or friends this holiday remotely via zoom because of the virus, you can hear the sound through your Como Audio music system. You can either connect an audio cable from your computer to the Auxiliary input, or pair and connect your computer to your Como Audio system wirelessly via Bluetooth. Then open the drop-up menu in zoom next to the microphone icon and under “Select a Speaker”, select your Como Audio model. You will still use the microphone in your computer.
Trivia: According to The Verge, Zoom exceeded 300 million daily meeting participants as of April 2020.
A Very Como Audio Christmas
Enjoy a free, specially curated collection of holiday sounds from Como Audio via Spotify Connect. All of our models support both the free and premium versions of Spotify.
A Very COVID Christmas
Christmas will certainly feel different this year. Some examples: There will be no legs a kicking by the New York Radio City Rockettes thanks to the pandemic. The Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting will still happen but without in-person spectators. Here in MA, the Boston Pops’ annual Holiday Pops performance will be virtual, or as they call it, “digital”. Boston’s First Night New Year celebrations also go virtual.Brian O’Donovan’s A Christmas Celtic Sojourn will be another concert gone virtual.The Enchanted Village display at Jordan’s furniture in Avon is closed due to COVID.
Take heart. Not everything has gone virtual. Old Sturbridge Village and Plimouth Plantation are both open this month. The Polar Express Train ride in Buzzard’s Bay will delight children once again this holiday. LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro, MA flipped the light switch to the on position last week for their annual, eye-popping Festival of Lights (face masks and social distancing required) as they have done since 1953. Given these profoundly dark times, I applaud La Salette for literally bringing some much-needed (and deserved) positive light into our lives. Hint- Be there when they first turn on the lights at 5pm. It is amazing.
Trivia: According to WJAR-TV, La Salette’s ten-acre Christmas display requires over 300,000 lights.
That concludes Tech Rap for December, wrapped up in a big red bow just for you. From all of us at Como Audio, we hope you have a safe, happy, and healthy holiday, and enjoy the (holiday) music. See you next year.
Want more holiday music and Internet radio station recommendations, and want to learn about aluminum Christmas trees? Check out last year’s fun Kitschy Christmas Tech Rap.
Tech Rap Voting Results
Last month we asked you to vote for your favorite Tech Rap article. After a flurry of court challenges and manual recounts, we have officially certified the Tech Rap article with the most votes. The winner is our Birthday Celebration articles for the Cassette, 8 Track, Mini Disc, and Phonograph. Coming in second was our Recommended Internet Stations articles. Thank you to all of you who voted. We look forward to bringing you a new year full of interesting Tech Raps.
Next Tech Rap: Recommended Songs
General Manger Peter Skiera lives in southern MA, worked in radio broadcasting throughout New England, and also worked for Cambridge SoundWorks, B&W Loudspeakers, and Tivoli Audio for 15 years before joining Como Audio in 2016 as Vice President of Product Development. In addition to Tech Rap, Peter also writes for his own blog, www.RecommendedStations.com. He can be reached directly at pskiera@comoaudio.com
Links:
A Walton’s Christmas, Together Again
A Very Chaise Lounge Christmas
Richard Cheese, Silent Nightclub
> Since I mentioned The Brady Bunch, I could not help but end by posting this pic autographed by Barry Williams (aka Greg Brady).
