Thom Ryerson/Michael Winegarden – Christmas Memories (31.10)
The Songs:
01) Frosty The Snowman (2:15)
02) Silver Bells (2:25)
03) Here Comes Santa Claus (2:11)
04) Jingle Bell Rock (2:04)
05) Let It Snow! (2:08)
06) Christmas Memories (3:41)
07) Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree (2:18)
08) Blue Christmas (3:20)
09) Do You Hear What I Hear? (2:40)
10) Three Ships (2:29)
11) Gloria In Excelsis Dio (3:01)
12) The Lord’s Prayer (3:28)
01) Frosty The Snowman is a popular Christmas song written by Walter "Jack" Rollins and Steve Nelson, and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950 and later recorded by Jimmy Durante in that year. It was written after the success of Autry's recording of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" the previous year; Rollins and Nelson shopped the new song to Autry, who recorded "Frosty" in search of another seasonal hit. Like "Rudolph", "Frosty" was subsequently adapted to other media including a popular television special. This song is special to Thom because of the cartoon featured on TV beginning in 1969. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on August 19th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Walter Rollins/Steve Nelson, pub Chappell-Co Inc.) CMRRA #00035184
02) Silver Bells is a Christmas song composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. The song is started by William Frawley, and then sung in the generally known version immediately thereafter by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the motion picture The Lemon Drop Kid, which was filmed in July and August 1950 and released in March 1951. The first recorded version was sung by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards on September 8, 1950, with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra and the Lee Gordon Singers. The recording was released by Decca Records in October 1950. After the Crosby/Richards recording became popular, Hope and Maxwell were called back in late 1950 to re-shoot a more elaborate production of the song. Thom always loved Elvis’ 1971 version of this song, and wanted it included here. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on July 30th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Jay Livingston/Ray Evans, pub SONY ATV Harmony) CMRRA #00102335
03) Here Comes Santa Claus is a popular Christmas song written and originally performed by Gene Autry, with music composed by Oakley Haldeman. Autry's original recording (in which he pronounces Santa Claus as "Santy Claus") was a top-10 hit on the pop and country charts; the song would go on to be covered many times in the subsequent decades. Autry first recorded the song on August 28, 1947; released as a single by Columbia Records, It became a No. 5 country and No. 9 pop hit. Autry performed the song in his 1949 movie The Cowboy and the Indians. He re-recorded it again in 1953 for Columbia, and once more in 1957 for his own Challenge Records label, which released it on more than one album that year. Thom has always loved the 1957 Elvis version of this number. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on July 30th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Gene Autry/Oakley Haldeman, pub Gene Autry’s Western Music) CMRRA #00043084
04) Jingle Bell Rock is an American Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas season since then, and is generally considered Helms' signature song. "Jingle Bell Rock" was composed by Joseph Carleton Beal (1900–1967) and James Ross Boothe (1917–1976), although both Helms and session guitarist on the song Hank Garland disputed this. Beal was a Massachusetts-born public relations professional and longtime resident of South Ocean Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Boothe was an American writer in the advertising business. This is just one of those Christmas songs that Thom has always enjoyed. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on August 26th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Joseph Beal/James Boothe, pub Chappell & Co) CMRRA #00061565
05) Let It Snow! is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in Hollywood, California, during a heat wave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions. The song was first recorded that fall by Vaughn Monroe, was released just after Thanksgiving, and became a hit by Christmas. Despite the lyrics making no mention of any holiday, the song has come to be regarded as a Christmas song worldwide due to its winter theme, being played on radio stations during the Christmas and holiday season, and having often been covered by various artists on Christmas-themed albums. In the Southern Hemisphere, it can be played during the winter months of June, July, and August; and in New Zealand, some play it at Matariki. This is just another one of those Christmas songs that Thom has always enjoyed. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on September 2nd 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Jule Styne/Sammy Cahn, pub Quaytor Productions LLC & Cahn Music Company) CMRRA #00066822
06) Christmas Memories is an original composition by Thom Ryerson and his 1st cousin Michael Winegarden. The lyrics are based on the family tradition of three sisters, Deanna Winegarden, Louise Ryerson and Anne Dixon, who celebrated Christmas with each other’s family at their particular home on Boxing Day on a rotating basis. Every three years it would be held at a particular sister’s home. It’s thought the tradition began in 1975 at Louise’s house, with the last one also being held at Louise’s house in 1984. Thom wrote the first set of lyrics, and then Michael brilliantly tweaked them. Michael also composed the music for the song. Watch for the custommade video to soon be featured on YouTube. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on September 17th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Thom Ryerson/Michael Winegarden, pub Mouton Music Canada)
07) Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958; it has since been recorded by numerous other music artists. By the song's 50th anniversary in 2008, Lee's original version had sold over 25 million copies around the world with the 4th most digital downloads sold of any Christmas single. This is just another one of those Christmas songs that Thom has always enjoyed. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on September 17th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Johnny Marks, pub St-Nicholas-Music Inc.) CMRRA #00096573
08) Blue Christmas is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson and most famously recorded in 1957 by Elvis Presley, although it was first recorded by Doye O'Dell in 1948. It is a tale of unrequited love during the holidays and is a longstanding staple of Christmas music, especially in the country genre. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on July 30th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Billy Hayes/Jay W. Johnson, pub The Judy J. Olmstead Trust & Universal Polygram International Pub Inc.) CMRRA #00012304
09) Do You Hear What I Hear? is a song written in October 1962, with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne. The pair, married at the time, wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of Christmas. It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artists. This is just another one of those Christmas songs that Thom has always enjoyed.Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on August 19th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Noel Regney/Gloria Shayne, pub PW 3 ASCAP SONGS) CMRRA #00025309
10) Three Ships is an English Christmas carol, listed as number 700 in the Roud Folk Song Index. The earliest printed version of "I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In" is from the 17th century, possibly Derbyshire, and was also published by William Sandys in 1833. The song was probably traditionally known as "As I Sat On a Sunny Bank", and was particularly popular in Cornwall. Thom has always loved the 1985 version by Jon Anderson, but for his own version Thom went traditional. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on September 2nd 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Traditional/Public Domain/Mouton Music Canada)
11) Gloria In Excelsis Deo (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest") is a Christian hymn known also as the Greater Doxology (as distinguished from the "Minor Doxology" or Gloria Patri) and the Angelic Hymn/Hymn of the Angels. The name is often abbreviated to Gloria in Excelsis or simply Gloria. The Latin translation is traditionally attributed to Hilary of Poitiers (c. 300–368), who may have learned it while in the East (359–360); as such, it is part of a loose tradition of early Latin translations of the scripture known as the Vetus Latina. The Vulgate Latin translation of the Bible was commissioned only in 382. Thom first heard this carol as featured in the 1974 slasher film ‘Black Christmas,’ and has loved it since then. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on August 19th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Traditional/Public Domain/Mouton Music Canada)
12) The Lord’s Prayer is a pop rock setting of the Lord's Prayer with music by Arnold Strals recorded in 1973 by the Australian nun Sister Janet Mead. Mead was known for pioneering the use of contemporary rock music in celebrating the Roman Catholic Mass and for her weekly radio programs. It also became the only song to hit the Top 10 in which the entire lyrical content originated from the words of the Bible. More specifically, it is the only Top 10 hit with words attributed to Jesus Christ. Thom has always loved this song, and thought it would be a great addition to his first Christmas album. Recorded by Thom Ryerson & Michael Winegarden on August 26th 2023 in Preston, ON at Winegarden Music. (Arnold Strals, pub ALMO Music Corp. ) CMRRA #00162799
The Players:
Thom Ryerson – Voice Michael Winegarden – Instruments Produced by Michael Winegarden Recorded at WinegardenMusic.com - Preston, ON July 30th – September 17th 2023
Exterior photos taken Sunday September 17th 2023 by Janice Stevens.
Christmas Memories (Written Sept 5th 2023)
(Verse 1)
As it gets cold and the wind blows and covers the summer grass
I let my mind slip back in time to the Christmases past
(Verse 2)
Long before us cousins grew up, and went our separate ways
Our whole family was just an hour away
(Chorus)
Our Christmases together were such a special time
Fun frolic and laughter was all we had in mind
Our family revelled in the warmth and the glow
Good food and great company with all of those we love
(Verse 3)
It was a time that I’d look forward to every year
Us kids would have a glass of pop and the folks would have their cheer
(Verse 4)
There were three sisters, one of them my mom
They took turns hosting in each of their homes
(Chorus)
(Verse 5)
Old stories told and laughter flowed echoed around the house
Tears fell as we recalled those loved and lost
(Bridge)
As all things do, Christmas day came to an end
Us kids headed on out the door with our gifts in hand
Sad to say that through the years, traditions have changed
But the memory of those times forever remain
(Chorus)
Good food and great company with all of those we love
Songwriters: Thom Ryerson / Michael Winegarden © Mouton Music Canada
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