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December
2005
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Queer
Xmas Music Special #2
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Playlist
(airdate 12/26/05) internet show 76:02 *
= on internet shows only Many photos may have photos "behind" them, pass your cursor over them to see
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Show #2  |
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El Vez is sometimes called the Mexican Elvis, but his talent goes way beyond impersonation, as he rocks out in a number of albums, at least two of the Christmas related. And I'm pleased that after a hiatus Dave Hall is back giving us his wonderful music. His Christmas CD is from this year, and you can hear my interview with him on my April 2001 show. He's shown below left with another talented artist, Steve Cohen. I featured Cam Clarke on my January 2001 show, and got to meet him in 2002.
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The trio Betty came out with a Christmas CD last year, but I pulled their version of "Jingle Bells" from my favorite of the Broadway Cares Christmas albums, "Cabaret Noel," from 1993. In 1963 Dora Bryan released a novelty 45 in the UK called "All I Want for Christmas Is a Beatle," but I am more interested in the flip side, "If I Were A Fairy." And it's hard to believe that with all her releases Dusty Springfield did not release a Christmas album. Her musical contribution to the holidays was limited to the 6-song EP with her first group, The Springfields, and a benefit 45 of "O Holy Child."
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Above, the very prolific duo Vontanner with their Christmas CD single and behind it, their new release. Photos of them are elusive, but Chris Vontanner sent me this one. Below is Mike Rickard, as seen at the Outmusic Awards Nominee Showcase in Chicago last June. His CD "Stirred Not Shaken" was nominated for Outstanding Debut Male Recording. |
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No You Turn - A Christmas Song I want to thank an artist named Dave Montana for sending me this song, and the album art. In 1988 he was drummer for a technopop band called No You Turn. On their album "Puppet's Frustration" was a track called "A Christmas Song," with gay lead singer George Andujar (above). That CD is pictured at right, with Dave's CD "Such Things As Love And Pain" beneath it. |
Dave Montana's music is evolving, and so is his name. While his last album, "Such Things As Love And Pain," was released under his name, he regrets being confused with the UK country singer Dave Montana, or, for that matter, the 70's porn star. So his future releases will be under the name Storybox.
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The hunk above is openly gay Dutch singer Gerard Joling, whose been releasing albums for years. Below is Christian singer Shawn Thomas and three of his releases. And below Shawn is cabaret singer Tom Grounds who will release his second full-length early in 2006. A 4-song holiday EP came out in time for this Christmas.
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A very nice version of the Joni Mitchell song "The River" appeared on the 1995 Indigo Girls live album "1200 Curfews," and the same year a fave of mine, Lisa Koch, gave us "You'll Never Melt My Heart," from her album with the classic title "You Make My Pants Pound." Hear an interview with Lisa in my Spotlight Artists Section. Below, Ann Reed and Leah Zicari are both prolific artists. I featured a mini-interview with Ann on my June 2002 QMH, and on my June 2001 show you can hear Leah talk about her gay anthem "Glory Glory." Also, Leah just told me that the song I featured on this show by her just placed second in the International Original Christmas Song Contest. Neat!
Below, I got to meet Ann at the 2001 Houston Women's Festival, and to meet Leah at the 2004 Outmusic Awards
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Freeway Dreams "Freeway Dreams" was billed as an "L.A. Musical," and was released in 1997. It was co-written by Michael Greer (known for the movies "The Gay Deceivers" and "Fortune in Men's Eyes) and Wayne Moore, on whose Ducy Lee label it was released. Also in the case was Lee Lucas, Brian Miller, Brenda Silas-Moore, and Deborah Tranelli. Their "Bette Davis Chorus" is, well, wonderful. Sadly, Michael Greer died of lung cancer on September 14, 2002, at age 64, and Lee Lucas died of AIDS at age 43 on August 31, 2004. Lucas gave us one wonderful cabaret album, "The Big Strappin' Fag Show," with biting sharp humor and good vocals.
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and, Jimmy James...
The remarkable Jimmy James, with two of her best albums shown above. I'm especially partial to her Christmas one, as her reading of Bette Davis doing "Feliz Navidad" has become a QMH tradition. But the 1999 album also has memorable renditions of songs as they might be done by Judy Garland, Eartha Kitt, Patsy Cline, Mae West, Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand and Cher.
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Haven't had
enough queer xmas music yet? |
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Two holiday covers from groundbreaking lesbian publication The Ladder |
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