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Credits for this CD

Liner Notes for this CD

About Songs for this CD

Lyrics for this CD

FRONT ROOM MUSIC CATALOG
COOL ST. NICK

Songs for the Winter Solstice & Christmas Season

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COOL ST. NICK

TEXAS MISTLETOE lyrics

LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

A' SOALIN'

CHRISTMAS IN DENVER video

SONG FOR SCOTT

RUDY THE REHAB REINDEER

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES

CHRISTMAS CAROL lyrics

WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM

LEATHER-WINGED BAT

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

CREDITS

Produced by Jim & Leslie Stricklan for Kokobilly Music Recordings ~ A subsidiary of FRONT ROOM MUSIC ~ U.S.A.

Bonus Tracks:
Recorded live @ the Stricklan home in Austin, TX by George Coyne ~ Dec 5, 2009
Additional recording and overdubs @ Parrot Tracks Studio Manchaca, Texas 2010 ~ mixed & mastered by George Coyne
All non-traditional songs used by permission



Track 3: Little Drummer Boy – performed by Kyle Pratt / traditional

Track 4: A’Soalin’ – performed by Eric Amelang & Doug Taylor / written by Peter Yarrow

Track 7: Rudy the Rehab Reindeer – adapted & performed by Sally Townes / written by Johnny Marks

Track 8: Christmas in the Trenches – performed by Phil Jones / written by John McCutcheon

Track 11: Leather-winged Bat – performed by David Romero / traditional

Track 12: We Wish You A Merry Christmas – The Creekline Christmas Chorale, featuring: Leslie & John Gould, Shirley Hughes, Kyle Pratt, Linda Longoria, Angie Potter, Doug & Darlene Taylor, Dorothy Capek, Jim & Leslie Stricklan, Eric & Mary Ann Amelang, Phil & Debi Jones, David Romero, Sally Townes, George & Kathleen Coyne, JC & Charlene Nichols


Session Tracks: Written and performed by Jim Stricklan © 2010 Front Room Music / BMI

Track 1: Cool St. Nick
Jim Strickan – vocal & rhythm guitar, Doug Taylor – bass, Floyd Domino – piano, Rick McRae – solo guitar, Kevin Hall – Drums

Track 2: Texas Mistletoe
Jim Stricklan – lead vocal & rhythm guitar, Pauline Reese – backing vocal, Doug Taylor – bass, Greg Lowry – lap steel, Richard Bowden – fiddle

Track 5: Christmas in Denver
Jim Stricklan – vocal & acoustic guitar, Frank Kammerdiener – cello & viola

Track 6: Song for Scott (holiday mix)
Jim Stricklan – vocal & steel string guitar, Doug Taylor – bass, Greg Lowry – nylon string guitar & triangle

Track 9: Christmas Carol
Jim Stricklan – vocal & acoustic guitar, Doug Taylor – bass & mandolin, Jaime Hilboldt - keyboards

Track 10: Wise Men Still Seek Him
Jim Stricklan – lead vocal & acoustic guitar, Doug Taylor – bass, Leslie Stricklan, Doug & Darlene Taylor – backing vocals

Heartfelt thanks to Sally Townes, Dave Romero, Kyle Pratt, Phil (and Debi) Jones, Eric Amelang, and Doug Taylor, for sharing their considerable talents on this record. Thanks to George (and Kathleen) Coyne, for attending our celebration and recording a glorious chunk of it! And thanks to all the special folks who've come A'Soalin' at our door every December for so many years. Finally, the biggest thanks go to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for giving us the greatest reason of all to celebrate every day and each holiday season. Regardless of your religious belief, musical tastes, or political affiliation, may your days be merry and bright!!
PEACE ON EARTH and GOODWILL to ALL WOMEN and MEN.


LINER NOTES

For more than a decade I've considered making a holiday album; not for the reason that most artists traditionally have done it, but because Christmas is my favorite time. First and foremost...like my favorite bumper sticker says "Real Men Love Jesus." Christmas is a season of Joy, and many of my Christmas songs reflect that joy...some in a purely spiritual way, others in a fun-loving manner...like "Texas Mistletoe" and "Cool Saint Nick."

Christmas is about giving and sharing, and in that spirit, Leslie and I have invited friends each December to join us at our annual Christmas on Creekline holiday party, to sing and celebrate. This has been going on for about twelve years, if memory serves me. Last year, we thought it would be a good idea to have our studio wiz pal George Coyne record some of the performances 'live' in our front room. To summarize, it worked out well, and half the tracks on this CD showcase those guest performances. We wanted to reflect the atmosphere of our Christmas on Creekline parties; therefore, some songs are more in tune with Winter Solstice, while others are, in fact, of historical and cultural significance..."Wise Men Still Seek Him," "Christmas in the Trenches," etc. We cherish all the performances and believe you will enjoy them as well. ~Jim & Leslie, Xena & Feather~


ABOUT THE SONGS Of particular interest to Colorado friends: "Christmas in Denver" was recorded early one snowy morning (before dawn) at the KBRQ studios on Deleware Street. I played my old Martin D-35. That was around 1985. I later commissioned Frank Kammerdeiner to add cello and viola tracks to this song and "Lady Rain," for the Travelogue cassette collection.

"Christmas Carol," came to me in an old ghostly room at the (century-old) Luther Hotel in Palacious, Texas...on the Gulf coast. We barely made it home, as a flood pounded south and central Texas. I drove to Parrot Tracks the following week and recorded it with my Martin D-15; Doug added the gorgeous mandolin part on the track.

The Onion Creek Ramblers, featuring Doug & Darlene Taylor, myself and Leslie {Larry was absent from this track} recorded "Wise Men Still Seek Him" at Flashpoint in downtown Austin, back in the 90s. It originally appeared on Spirit Catchers.

I wrote "Song for Scott" for my pal Scott Maiers, whose birthday follows Christmas. I dig the visual poetry in these lyrics and the jazzy chord progression. The original was on my first Daydreamer CD. This version (the Holiday Mix) features jingle bells and a nice guitar solo by Greg Lowry.

"Texas Mistletoe," with Pauline Reese on backing vocals, was cut at Parrot Tracks and has been a popular holiday radio single for several years. It orginally appeared on the Country Man CD.

Last, but not least, "Cool St. Nick," is my most recently penned Christmas-fun tune. It's on island time, with 'samba santa' surfing on the smooth jazz piano waves of Floyd Domino, and a tropically-inspired guitar solo by Rick McRae. This is the new single on the block and I'm especially proud of it.




SELECTED LYRICS

TEXAS MISTLETOE
Words and music by Jim Stricklan © 2004 Front Room Music

Put on your dress and comb your hair,
Girl there’s Christmas in the air—
We’ll take the truck down to the mall,
Might do some shopping after all.

We’ll decorate an ol’ hill country cedar tree
Come here, honey—come sit on Santa’s knee;
Yea, turn them pepper lights down low—
And we’ll have fun beneath the Texas mistletoe.

Sure ‘nuff’s my favorite time of year,
So many folks are full of cheer—
Hey don’t the neighbors’ kids look cute,
Glad they’re not ours, aren’t you?

Let’s do the two-step to Deck the Halls,
Hear Ernest Tubb say Merry Texas Christmas you all!
It’s true we don’t have too much snow,
But we’ll have fun beneath the Texas mistletoe.

A cup of coffee and some pecan pie,
Hitch up the raindeer—there’s a twinkle in your eye,
We don’t have very far to go—
To have fun beneath the Texas mistletoe.

It’s true we don’t have too much snow,
But we have fun beneath the Texas mistletoe


CHRISTMAS CAROL
Words and music by Jim Stricklan © 1998 Front Room Music

Christmas Carol – she was born on Christmas eve--
On the edge of Amarillo, in a late December freeze;
Raised up in an orphans’ home, just 16 and all alone,
When she had to take her leave--
They reminded Christmas Carol…”it’s better to give than to receive”

Ragged Carol – slowly swept the kitchen floor,
Wondered why the kids were laughing,
Peeking at her through the door…
When all she wanted was a friend, but they’d run away and then
She’d wipe her tears upon her sleeve--
Don’t them children know…”it’s better to give than to receive”

Every year it was the same,
Love by any other name
Couldn’t satisfy her soul—
Lost out in a winter’s storm,
Trying so hard to stay warm
But there was no one true to hold

Lonely Carol – people thought her kind’ve slow-
Women said she’d never go far,
Men knew how far she would go…
When the hunger came around, she’d lay her body down,
She was easy to deceive—
They’d tell Christmas Carol…”it’s better to give than to receive”

Sunday morning – 26 years to the day,
As a children’s’ choir was singing, Christmas Carol passed away;
In a musty motel room, an empty bottle and a broom,
With only strangers there to grieve—
Christmas Carol gave up trying to believe

Christmas Carol – she was born on Christmas eve--
On the edge of Amarillo, in a late December freeze;
Raised up in an orphans’ home, just 16 and all alone,
When she had to take her leave--
They reminded Christmas Carol…”it’s better to give than to receive”


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