|
Step Into Christmas
"Step into Christmas" is a Christmas song written by English musician Elton John and songwriter Bernie Taupin, and performed by John. Released in November 1973 with "Ho, Ho, Ho (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas)" as the B-side, the song peaked at No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart, reaching a new peak of No. 8 on the same chart in 2019. In the United States, the single reached No. 56 on the ''Cash Box'' Top 100 Singles chart and No. 1 on the '' Billboard Christmas Singles'' chart.Whitburn, Joel. ''Top Pop Singles 1955–1996'' (1997):316 "Step into Christmas" was later included as a bonus track on the 1995 remastered reissue of the album ''Caribou''. It also appears on the albums '' Elton John's Christmas Party'', '' Rare Masters'', '' To Be Continued'', ''Diamonds'', and various Christmas themed compilations. Two versions with different vocals are known to exist: the original single mix and a version recorded for John's 1973 performance of "Step into Christmas" on '' The Gilbert O'Sul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin is one of the most successful in history. John was the 19th EGOT winner in history. He has sold over 300 million records worldwide, making him one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling music artists of all time. John learned to play piano at an early age, winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. In the 1960s, he formed the blues band Bluesology, wrote songs for other artists alongside Taupin, and worked as a session musician, before releasing his debut album, ''Empty Sky'' (1969). Throughout the next six decades, John cemented his status as a cultural icon with Elton John albums discography, 32 studio albums, including ''Honky Château'' (1972), ''Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'' (1973), ''Roc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rare Masters
''Rare Masters'' is a compilation album by Elton John that was released in 1992. It includes all A-side and B-sides released by John between 1968 and 1975 that were not included on original studio albums or on '' Elton John's Greatest Hits Volume II''. However, some of the tracks here previously appeared on the '' To Be Continued...'' box set released in 1990. The album also includes five outtakes, recorded in the same time period, that had previously been unreleased. It is also the only place where the soundtrack to the 1971 movie ''Friends'' has been made available on CD. When the Elton John back catalog from 1969 to 1975 was remastered and released in 1995, many of these songs were released on those albums as well, also in remastered form. Track listing All songs written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin Bernard John Taupin (born 22 May 1950) is an English lyricist and visual artist. He is best known for his songwriting partnership with Elton John, recognised as one o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nigel Olsson
Nigel Olsson (born 10 February 1949) is an English drummer, best known for being a lifelong member of the Elton John Band. He has had an equally long career as a session musician and composed, recorded and produced albums as a solo artist. Career Early years Olsson was born to John and Elsa Olsson in Wallasey, Cheshire, England, the second of five boys. His family were originally from Gothenburg and he spent his early life living in Sunderland, where he worked on the pilot boats on the River Wear. He began his musical career playing the guitar in small bands, including the Sunderland based Fireflies; and took up the drums at a gig where the drummer did not show up at the last minute. His first appearance on a record album was in the band Plastic Penny, which released ''Two Sides of a Penny'' on Page One Records in 1968. Olsson was spotlighted on one song on that album, "I Want You," performing both lead vocals and a drum solo. In 1969 he played drums on the "flower power" po ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Watford F
Watford () is a town and non-metropolitan district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in Hertfordshire, England, northwest of Central London, on the banks of the River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Colne. Initially a small market town, the Grand Junction Canal encouraged the construction of paper-making mills, print works, and brewery, breweries. While industry has declined in Watford, its location near London and transport links have attracted several companies to site their headquarters in the town. Cassiobury Park is a public park that was once the manor estate of the Earls of Essex. The town developed next to the River Colne on land belonging to St Albans Abbey. In the 12th century, a charter was granted allowing a market, and the building of St Mary's Church, Watford, St Mary's Church began. The town grew partly due to travellers going to Berkhamsted Castle and the royal palace at Kings Langley. A mansion was built at Cassiobury House, Cassiobury in t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tubular Bells
Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the Percussion instrument, percussion family. Their sound resembles that of church bells, carillons, or a bell tower; the original tubular bells were made to duplicate the sound of church bells within an ensemble. Each bell (instrument), bell is a metal tube, in diameter, tuned by altering its length. Its standard range is C4–F5, though many professional instruments reach G5. Tubular bells are often replaced by studio chimes, which are smaller and usually less expensive instruments. Studio chimes are similar in appearance to tubular bells, but each bell has a smaller diameter than the corresponding bell on tubular bells. Tubular bells are sometimes struck on the top edge of the tube with a rawhide (textile), rawhide- or plastic-headed hammer. Often, a sustain pedal will be attached to allow extended ringing of the bells. They can also be bowed at the bottom of the tube to produce a very loud, very high-pitche ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boa (clothing Accessory)
A boa is a fashion accessory that is usually worn wrapped around the neck like a scarf. Feather boas are most common, although modern boas are most often made with synthetic feathers. Construction A boa can be made of fur, but it is usually made instead from various types of feathers. Ostrich, marabou stork, and turkey are the most common feathers used, although non-feather boas are also available. The feathers go through bleaching or dyeing processes and are glued and stitched into lengths called "ply". Sometimes more natural boas are produced. A lightweight chandelle boa might only weigh , whereas a 24 ply ostrich boa can weigh as much as . The more ply, the fluffier and thicker the boa. Boas are generally measured by weight (grams), length (centimetres), and ply. Boas are available through novelty, costume, or lingerie shops, as well as online. With the development of "fun fur" or "eyelash" yarns in the late 20th century, an adept craftsperson can knit a boa of one solid ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Ronettes
The Ronettes were an American girl group from Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City. The group consisted of the lead singer Veronica Bennett (later known as Ronnie Spector), her older sister Estelle Bennett, and their cousin Nedra Talley. They had sung together since they were teenagers, then known as "The Darling Sisters". Signed first by Colpix Records in 1961, they moved to Phil Spector's Philles Records in March 1963 and changed their name to "The Ronettes". The Ronettes placed nine songs on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, six of which became Top 40 hits. Among their hit songs are " Be My Baby", which peaked at No. 2, their only contemporary top 10 hit, " Baby, I Love You", " (The Best Part of) Breakin' Up" and " Walking in the Rain". In 1964, the group released their only studio album, '' Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica''. That year, the Rolling Stones were their opening act when they toured the UK. The Ronettes opened for the Beatles on their ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
''A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records'' (later renamed ''A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector'', also known as ''Phil Spector's Christmas Album'') is an LP album, album of Christmas songs, produced by Phil Spector, originally released by Philles Records, Philles in November 1963. Spector treated a series of mostly secularity, secular Christmas standards to his "Wall of Sound" production style, and the selections feature the vocal performances of Spector's regular artists during this period. One month after its release, the album peaked at No. 13 on ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' magazine's special, year-end, weekly Christmas Albums sales chart. In 2003, the album was voted No. 142 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list. In 2017, it was ranked the 130th greatest album of the 1960s by ''Pitchfork (site), Pitchfork''. In 2019, it was ranked the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wall Of Sound
The Wall of Sound (also called the Spector Sound) is a music production formula developed by American record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios, in the 1960s, with assistance from engineer Larry Levine and the conglomerate of session musicians later known as " the Wrecking Crew". The intention was to exploit the possibilities of studio recording to create an unusually dense orchestral aesthetic that came across well through radios and jukeboxes of the era. Spector explained in 1964: "I was looking for a sound, a sound so strong that if the material was not the greatest, the sound would carry the record. It was a case of augmenting, augmenting. It all fit together like a jigsaw." A popular misconception holds that the Wall of Sound was created simply through a maximum of noise and distortion, but the method was actually far more nuanced. To attain the Wall of Sound, Spector's arrangements called for large ensembles (including some instruments not generally used for en ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phil Spector
Harvey Phillip Spector (December 26, 1939 – January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter who is best known for pioneering recording practices in the 1960s, followed by his trials and conviction for murder in the 2000s. Spector developed the Wall of Sound, a production technique involving a densely texture (music), textured sound created through layering tone colors, resulting in a compression (music), compression and chorus (effect), chorusing effect not replicable through electronic means. Considered the first ''auteur'' of the music industry, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop music history and one of the most successful producers of the 1960s. Born in the Bronx, Spector relocated to Los Angeles as a teenager and co-founded the Teddy Bears in 1958, writing their chart-topping single "To Know Him Is to Love Him". Mentored by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, by 1960, he co-established Philles Records, becoming the youngest U ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barry Morgan (musician)
Jerome Morgan (June 1931 – 1 November 2007), better known as Barry Morgan, was a British drummer for Blue Mink, CCS and other bands. He was the owner of Morgan Studios. Personal life and career Morgan was born in London, England in June 1931. He played drums on the British merchant fleet cruise ships in the early 1960s, and later for singer Tom Jones for ten years. Barry and his wife operated the Arena Theater in Houston. AllMusic lists 185 credits between 1964 and 2012. His son Brett Morgan also became a session drummer. Discography As leader/co-leader *1971: ''Bass Guitar and Percussion, Volume 1''. Volume 2. *1979: ''Percussion Spectrum'' - Barry Morgan and Ray Cooper *1983: ''Patterns In Rhythm'' *'' Wonderin''' As sideman With Blue Mink and C.C.S. * '' C.C.S.'' With Gullivers People, Electric Coconut and Elton John * '' Step into Christmas'' * ''Madman Across the Water'' * '' Tumbleweed Connection'' * ''Elton John'' With the Walker Brothers * '' No Regrets'' * '' Li ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ray Cooper
Raymond Cooper (born 19 September 1947) is an English musician who has worked as a session and road-tour percussionist. During his career, Cooper has worked and toured with numerous musically diverse bands and artists including Elton John (as a duo and as a member of his band), Harry Nilsson, Billy Joel, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Art Garfunkel. Cooper absorbed the influence of rock drummers from the 1960s and 1970s such as Ginger Baker, Carmine Appice and John Bonham. Incorporation of unusual instruments for rock drummers of the time such as cowbells, glockenspiel and tubular bells, along with several standard kit elements, helped create a highly varied setup. Continually modified to this day, Cooper's percussion set offers a large array of percussion instruments for sonic diversity such as the tambourine, congas, crash cymbals, cowbells, rototoms, tubu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
