GA Russell

Let's review some headlines since the Grey Cup. The Montreal Carabins won the Vanier Cup, to go along with the Als winning the Grey Cup. https://3downnation.com/2023/11/25/make-it-a-montreal-double-carabins-win-58th-vanier-cup-16-9-over-ubc-thunderbirds/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/27/ferguson-five-takeaways-from-the-2023-vanier-cup/ ***** A position-by-position look at the upcoming free agents. https://3downnation.com/2023/11/26/a-position-by-position-look-at-2024-cfl-free-agency/ ***** Ottawa free agent analysis. https://3downnation.com/2023/11/26/opinion-10-free-agents-the-ottawa-redblacks-should-bring-back/ ***** Final 2023 Power Rankings https://3downnation.com/2023/11/27/3downnation-power-rankings-als-climb-to-the-top-of-the-fking-mountain/ ***** There will not be a Touchdown Atlantic game this year. Instead, it will be Touchdown Pacific! The Lions will host the Redblacks in Victoria, BC, Aug. 31. https://3downnation.com/2023/11/29/touchdown-pacific-b-c-lions-ottawa-redblacks-to-play-cfl-regular-season-game-in-victoria/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/29/touchdown-pacific-2024/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/29/west-coast-vibes-touchdown-series-heads-to-victoria-in-2024/ ***** The Alouettes sold 700 *new* season tickets in less than two weeks following the Grey Cup. https://3downnation.com/2023/11/29/montreal-alouettes-add-700-season-tickets-holders-after-grey-cup-win/ ***** More free agent analyses. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/27/oleary-five-free-agency-game-changers/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/28/ferguson-my-top-20-pending-national-fas/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/28/costabile-five-pending-fas-that-need-to-stay-put/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/29/cfl-cas-top-30-pending-free-agents-9/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/30/cauz-five-under-the-radar-pending-free-agents/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/12/01/ferguson-pending-free-agents-on-every-teams-priority-list/ ***** The Riders have hired Corey Mace to be their new head coach. https://3downnation.com/2023/11/29/saskatchewan-roughriders-hire-corey-mace-as-head-coach/ https://3downnation.com/2023/11/30/i-want-this-fcking-job-corey-mace-went-all-in-to-become-riders-head-coach/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/30/report-riders-hire-corey-mace-as-head-coach/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/12/01/nye-corey-mace-ticks-all-the-boxes-in-riderville/ ***** League analysis https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/30/oleary-off-season-storylines-to-follow/

A travelling salesman walks up the driveway, and knocks on the door. After a while the door opens, and a little boy, about 9, stands with a glass of whisky in one hand and a cigar in the other. The salesman says, “Oh, hi. Is your mummy or daddy home?” The little boy looks at his whisky and his cigar, and says, “Does it look like it?”

# Artist and Track Title Time 1. Norah Jones, Laufey - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 04:18 2. Norah Jones, Laufey - Better Than Snow 02:47 NORAH JONES & LAUFEY COLLABORATE ON A COZY PAIR OF NEW HOLIDAY SONGS CHRISTMAS WITH YOU TWO-TRACK SINGLE FEATURES THEIR ORIGINAL “BETTER THAN SNOW” & “HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS” WATCH PERFORMANCE “HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS” “BETTER THAN SNOW” AIRED: NOVEMBER 27th Norah Jones and Laufey have collaborated on a cozy pair of new holiday songs with their two-track single Christmas With You, available now. Two artists who seamlessly blend jazz and pop sensibilities, Norah and Laufey combine their distinctive sounds on two vocal duets—a delightful version of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and their playful new co-written original “Better Than Snow.” The songs were recorded in an intimate setting with Norah on piano and Laufey on guitar and cello. Christmas With You is out digitally on Now with 7” vinyl to follow on December 15 including a red color variant which is available exclusively via official artist stores and the Blue Note Store. The credits for Christmas With You are as follows: 1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (4:18) Written by Ralph Blane & Hugh Martin Norah Jones – vocals & piano Laufey – vocals & cello ISRC: USUM72315028 2. Better Than Snow (2:46) Written by Norah Jones & Laufey Norah Jones – vocals & piano Laufey – vocals & acoustic guitar ISRC: USUM72315026 Produced by Norah Jones & Laufey PHOTO BY ELI RITTER * * * ABOUT NORAH JONES: Norah Jones first emerged on the world stage with the 2002 release of Come Away With Me, her self-described “moody little record” that introduced a singular new voice and grew into a global phenomenon, sweeping the 2003 GRAMMY Awards including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Since then, Jones has become a nine-time GRAMMY-winner, sold more than 52 million albums, and her songs have been streamed ten billion times worldwide. She has released a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful solo albums—Feels Like Home (2004), Not Too Late (2007), The Fall (2009), Little Broken Hearts (2012), Day Breaks (2016), Pick Me Up Off The Floor (2020), the live album ‘Til We Meet Again (2021), and her holiday album I Dream Of Christmas (2021)—as well as albums with her collective bands The Little Willies, El Madmo, and Puss N Boots featuring Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper. The 2010 compilation …Featuring Norah Jones showcased her incredible versatility by collecting her collaborations with artists as diverse as Willie Nelson, Foo Fighters, Outkast, and Herbie Hancock. In 2022, Jones launched her podcast Norah Jones Is Playing Along which features candid conversations and impromptu musical collaborations with some her favorite musicians. ABOUT LAUFEY: Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) was raised between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C. with annual visits to Beijing. She grew up playing cello as well as piano and became hooked on the jazz standards of Ella Fitzgerald after digging through her father’s record collection. In 2020, while still a student at Berklee College of Music, Laufey released her debut single “Street by Street,” which went on to top the Icelandic radio charts. Following the release of her 2021 Typical of Me EP, Laufey was named Best New Artist in Jazz and Blues at the Icelandic Music Awards. Laufey’s 2022 debut full-length, Everything I Know About Love reached #1 on Billboard’s Alternative New Artist Album chart, and she was the most streamed jazz artist on Spotify that year. Her new album, Bewitched, broke the record as the biggest debut for a jazz album on Spotify in history. The album debuted at #2 on Spotify’s Global and U.S. Album Charts, as well as #23 on the Billboard 200, #1 on Billboard’s Independent Albums Chart, #1 on Current Traditional Jazz Albums Chart and #3 on Vinyl Albums Chart. It has been praised by the likes of The New York Times, Variety, Los Angeles Times, Vogue, NPR, Pitchfork, The Washington Post and more. Her North American "The Bewitched Tour" sold-out in minutes, following sold-out runs in Asia and Australia. Today, Laufey has over 1 billion streams across all platforms. Stelios Kerasidis, Katerina Stikoudi Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Format(s): Christmas, Holiday, Jazz, Vocal This is a subversive collaboration, where classical with the 11-Year-Old Piano Prodigy Stelios Kerasidis, meets pop with one of the biggest Greek female pop stars Katerina Stikoudi, and the result is an impressive festive duet on the timeless song, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, originally first performed by iconic Judy Garland and then by legendary music figure Frank Sinatra . In this sense, both Katerina & Stelios put us in the Christmas mood this year, with the cutest possible way! # Artist and Track Title Time 1. Stelios Kerasidis, Katerina Stikoudi - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas) 02:42 Caro Emerald & Metropole Orkest Something For Christmas (2023 mix) Impacting December 15th, 2023 Format(s): Holiday ‘’Something For Christmas" evokes a warm, nostalgic holiday feeling. The song is a contemporary and flirtatious twist on the timeless Christmas classics by the likes of Eartha Kitt and Etta James. It combines the lush orchestration of the Metropole Orchestra and the electronic beats that catapulted Caro Emerald to global stardom. Watch "Something For Christmas (2023 mix)" video here Connect with Caro Emerald Artist Website DELUXE EDITION OF VINCE GUARALDI TRIO’S CLASSIC HOLIDAY SOUNDTRACK A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS ARRIVES IN SPATIAL AUDIO Available in Dolby Atmos®, Hi-Res, and standard digital, the beloved holiday album features a recently upgraded stereo mix, plus 13 outtakes and highlights taken from Guaraldi’s 1965 sessions With timeless selections “Christmas Time Is Here” and “Linus And Lucy,” A Charlie Brown Christmas continues to be one of America’s most popular holiday albums with a 5x platinum certification and a No. 2 spot on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart last year Last holiday season, fans of A Charlie Brown Christmas were given an unparalleled behind-the-scenes look at the making of the classic soundtrack through a selection of never-before-heard studio outtakes in Craft Recordings / Concord’s Deluxe and Super Deluxe Editions. Now, The 24-track Deluxe Edition arrives in spatial audio, allowing listeners to seemingly place themselves inside the studio with the Vince Guaraldi Trio, as they create iconic selections like “Linus And Lucy,” “Christmas Time Is Here,”“Skating,” and “O Tannenbaum” to accompany the beloved 1965 PEANUTS animated TV special. Available now in Dolby Atmos, hi-resolution, and standard digital audio formats, A Charlie Brown Christmas (Deluxe Edition) includes the original 11-track album—featuring an upgraded 2022 stereo mix from the original two-and three-track sources by the GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer, Paul Blakemore—plus 13 studio outtakes and highlights from Guaraldi’s sessions, all of which make their debut in immersive spatial audio. Last year, A Charlie Brown Christmas reached new heights—nearly six decades after its debut. In May 2022, the album was certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA, while over the holidays, it reached its highest placement ever (No. 2) on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, beating its previous peak of No. 6 in 2021. A perennial favorite, A Charlie Brown Christmas ranked as the US’ top-selling holiday album on vinyl from 2012–2021, while it remains the best-selling jazz album of all time, alongside Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue. Among other honors over the years, it was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame and was added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry. When A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired on December 9, 1965, no one expected just how monumental the half-hour animated special would be. Based on Charles M. Schulz’s immensely popular PEANUTS comic strip, the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning special captured nearly half of America’s TV audience that night. It would soon go on to become an essential holiday classic and launch one of the 20th century’s most popular franchises. Helmed by veteran TV producer Lee Mendelson, A Charlie Brown Christmas featured an engaging score by the Bay Area jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. A fast-rising star—best known at the time for his GRAMMY-winning instrumental crossover hit, “Cast Your Fate to the Wind”—Guaraldi paired original cues (“Skating,” the instantly recognizable “Linus And Lucy” theme, and the Yuletide essential, “Christmas Time Is Here,” among them) with traditional holiday fare (including his spirited takes on “O Tannenbaum,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and “What Child Is This?”). Now, with recently discovered audio from Guaraldi’s five 1965 sessions, fans of A Charlie Brown Christmas can hear his creative process—as he worked alongside Mendelson and director Bill Melendez to craft the timeless score. Joined by bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey for many of the sessions, as well as bassist Fred Marshall and drummer Jerry Granelli for others, Guaraldi can be heard performing multiple takes of “O Tannenbaum,” “Christmas Is Coming,” and “Christmas Time Is Here,” while a rehearsal of the vocal track (featuring young singers from San Rafael’s St. Paul’s Church Choir) is also included. Additionally, listeners will delight in out-takes of such festive favorites as “The Christmas Song,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Linus And Lucy.” Music critics around the globe were taken with the Deluxe Edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas upon its release on CD and LP in 2022. Audiophile Review wrote, “The new mix retains the heart and soul of what this best-selling…album was always about, but delivers more air and presence around the instruments and an overall greater sense of detailing…it does sound like you’re closer to being in the studio with the band!” The UK’s Record Collector noted that the bonus material “Allows the listener to be a fly on the wall as pianist Guaraldi and his trio finesse their material with multiple takes in the recording session.” Paste Magazine hailed the album as “Vital for a collector...[It] offer[s] fans a chance to hear how Guaraldi developed his solos and his approach to standards like ‘Greensleeves’ and ‘O Tannenbaum.’ And there’s something wonderfully humanizing about hearing the metronome and false start in the first take of ‘Linus & Lucy.’” Stereophile praised, “Blakemore’s remixes sound great…any student of Guaraldi’s unique approach to jazz will surely find all the bits and pieces interesting,” while JazzTimes declared, “For Guaraldi fans, hearing his different improvisational ideas take shape qualifies as a holiday year-round.” Click here to experience A Charlie Brown Christmas (Spatial Audio Deluxe Edition) About Peanuts: The characters of Peanuts and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide, which is 41% owned by WildBrain Ltd., 39% owned by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., and 20% owned by the family of Charles M. Schulz, who first introduced the world to Peanuts in 1950, when the comic strip debuted in seven newspapers. Since then, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang have made an indelible mark on popular culture. In addition to enjoying beloved Peanuts shows and specials on Apple TV+, fans of all ages celebrate the Peanuts brand worldwide through thousands of consumer products, as well as amusement park attractions, cultural events, social media, and comic strips available in all formats, from traditional to digital. In 2018, Peanuts partnered with NASA on a multi-year Space Act Agreement designed to inspire a passion for space exploration and STEM among the next generation of students. About Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc.: Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP) is the publisher of the Vince Guaraldi musical catalog associated with Peanuts. LMFP is also the producer and co-owner of the celebrated, classic Peanuts television specials, including Emmy® and Peabody winning A Charlie Brown Christmas, It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (celebrating its 50th anniversary), along with the Hollywood animation studio Bill Melendez Productions. LMFP also produced over 50 other network Peanuts specials, 12 prime time Garfield specials, 121-program series “Garfield and Friends” and many other film and television animated, documentary and entertainment specials. Founded by the late Lee Mendelson in 1963, Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc., has received 11 Emmy Awards (from 45 nominations) and four Peabody Awards, as well as Grammy and Academy Award nominations. About Craft Recordings: Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian, and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, HITCO, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers. # Artist and Track Title Time 1. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Linus And Lucy (2022 Mix) 03:06 2. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal / 2022 Mix) 02:46 3. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Skating (2022 Mix) 02:26 4. Vince Guaraldi Trio - O Tannenbaum (2022 Mix) 05:10 5. Vince Guaraldi Trio - What Child Is This (2022 Mix) 02:24 6. Vince Guaraldi Trio - My Little Drum (2022 Mix) 03:12 7. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental / 2022 Mix) 06:06 8. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Hark, The Herald Angels Sing (2022 Mix) 01:55 9. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Is Coming (2022 Mix) 03:25 10. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Für Elise (2022 Mix) 01:05 11. Vince Guaraldi Trio - The Christmas Song (2022 Mix) 03:21 12. Vince Guaraldi Trio - O Tannenbaum (Take 2 / September 21, 1965) 01:01 13. Vince Guaraldi Trio - O Tannenbaum (Take 3) 00:57 14. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Greensleeves (Take 6 / October 28, 1965) 05:27 15. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Linus And Lucy (Take 1) 03:29 16. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental / Take 1) 02:38 17. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal / Rehearsal) 00:24 18. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal / Take 4) 01:32 19. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Skating (#7, Take 1 / September 22, 1965) 04:20 20. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Jingle Bells (#3, Takes 1-4 / September 21, 1965) 01:59 21. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Is Coming (Take 3 / September 17, 1965) 03:47 22. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Is Coming (#1, Take 3 / September 21, 1965) 03:05 23. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Für Elise (Takes 1-2) 01:51 24. Vince Guaraldi Trio - The Christmas Song (Take 8 / October 28, 1965) 01:50

The CD is now out.

My initial memory of Benson was that upon Montgomery's death, Benson was heavily promoted on the radio as the next Montgomery.

Thanks for the Horace Silver, Moms! Double, Double You was a favorite of mine. I haven't thought about it in years.

There is an article about poutine in the November issue of Readers Digest. https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-poutine/

Chief Noc-A-Homa has died. RIP. https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-braves/levi-walker-jr-who-portrayed-chief-noc-a-homa-dies/EVWZBW5FHBEEZLGUFNJWGHJTEM/

Season Wrap-Up https://doorfliesopen.com/2023/11/23/cfl-beat-203/ ***** Grey Cup Wrap-Up https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/grey-cup-110-expanded-report-takeaways-ways-every-starter-impacted-the-game-expanded-unofficial-defensive-stats-grey-cup-clink-awards/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/24/steinberg-six-unsung-heroes-of-the-110th-grey-cup/ ***** Winnipeg's upcoming free agents https://3downnation.com/2023/11/22/the-winnipeg-blue-bombers-pending-2024-free-agent-list/ ***** Harald Hasselbach has died at 56. RIP. https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/23/stamps-mourn-the-passing-of-harald-hasselbach/ https://3downnation.com/2023/11/23/former-stampeders-broncos-dl-harald-hasselbach-passes-away-at-56/ https://www.tsn.ca/nfl/super-bowl-and-grey-cup-winning-defensive-lineman-harald-hasselbach-dead-at-56-1.2039928 ***** Montreal's upcoming free agents https://3downnation.com/2023/11/23/the-montreal-alouettes-pending-2024-free-agent-list/ ***** Free agency will begin Feb. 13. https://3downnation.com/2023/11/24/save-the-date-cfl-unveils-official-list-of-2024-pending-free-agents-date-and-time-for-opening-for-free-agency/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/mathieu-betts-brady-oliveira-among-stars-set-for-cfl-free-agency-1.2040390 ***** Ten possible Ottawa quarterbacks for next year. https://3downnation.com/2023/11/24/save-the-date-cfl-unveils-official-list-of-2024-pending-free-agents-date-and-time-for-opening-for-free-agency/ ***** This thread's view count stands at 228,900, which is an increase of 1,800 in the past fifteen days!

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope he is up and around soon!

NEW LIVE Brubeck Quartet Recordings from 1959 Dave Brubeck Quartet Live from The Northwest, 1959 Jazz, Non-Com, AC, Live from the Northwest, 1959 In April 1959, sound engineer WALLY HEIDER packed his AMPEX 350-2 tape recorder in his station wagon and headed to Portland, Oregon to create some of the very first high-quality remote recording of the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet. This was just 4 months before the rhythmic invention and hallmark sound of the quartet’s historic “TIME OUT” took the world by storm. Captured with exceptional sonic clarity on April 4, 1959, in the popular Multnomah Jazz Club and on April 5th in the auditorium at nearby Clark College, the Quartet was playing-in some of the repertoire for the upcoming Gone with the Wind sessions later that month. WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN - 6:38 BASIN STREET BLUES - 6:43 THESE FOOLISH THINGS - 7:14 GONE WITH THE WIND - 8:10 MULTNOMAH BLUES - 8:40 TWO PART CONTENTION - 11:45 LONESOME ROAD - 7:38 P Website: BrubeckEditions.Com

BIG BAND CHRISTMAS One O'Clock Lab Band, Canadian Brass Ray Brown's Great Big Band Jazz Notes for Christmas Holiday/Jazz/NPR/AC Ray Brown Based in Northern California since 1975, Ray Brown has played with or arranged for numerous groups, including: Stan Kenton Bill Watrous Frank Capp & Nat Pierce, Bill Berry And The LA Band Full Faith & Credit Big Band JINGLE BELLS - 2:27 CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE- 4:16 A CHRISTMAS LOVE SONG - 4:41 HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS - 3:05 THE CHRISTMAS SONG - 3:09 BONUS TRACKS THE CITY MEDLEY - 7:16 AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL- 4:27 "It's as if the Canadian Brass put out a big band record" Keats Palmer - Nashville Music Review Website: SummitRecords.com TEDDY PENDERGRASS’ BELOVED 1998 HOLIDAY ALBUM THIS CHRISTMAS (I’D RATHER HAVE LOVE) AVAILABLE DIGITALLY NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME! The long-out-of-print title finds the legendary late R&B star putting his own special touch on holiday classics and soulful originals, including “Happy Kwanzaa” and “Christmas and You” Craft Recordings / Concord is thrilled to announce the digital debut of This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love), the sole holiday title--and final studio album--from the incomparable R&B star Teddy Pendergrass. Available now, the long-out-of-print album, which turns 25 this year, offers a soulful blend of original songs (“Happy Kwanzaa,” “Christmas and You”) plus an array of festive classics, including “Little Drummer Boy,” “Oh Holy Night” and “The Christmas Song.” Throughout his nearly four-decade-long career, Pendergrass was celebrated with a variety of honors, including five GRAMMY® nominations and a 1979 American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist. In 2021, he was inducted posthumously into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Pendergrass is the first Black Artist to have FIVE consecutive Platinum albums. When he began writing his first-ever Christmas album, Pendergrass was fresh off a starring role in the touring gospel musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God and was readying to publish his autobiography, Truly Blessed. It was certainly a joyful time for the artist—and that radiates throughout This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love). Working with frequent collaborators like the GRAMMY®-winning songwriter/producer Reggie Calloway and songwriter/producer Jim Salamone, Pendergrass recorded an array of original material, including “Happy Kwanzaa” and the hip-hop inspired “Having a Christmas Party” (both written by Calloway). Other highlights include the Pendergrass/Calloway original “I Won’t Have Christmas,” while slow jams “Christmas and You” and “This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love)” blend romance with the holiday spirit. Pendergrass also put his special touch on a slew of traditional holiday songs: from a grooving “Joy to the World” and Afrobeat-tinged “Little Drummer Boy” to soulful renditions of “We Three Kings,” “The Christmas Song,” “Oh Holy Night” and the John Lennon / Yoko Ono classic “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).” Upon its release in September 1998, This Christmas (I’d Rather Have Love) debuted at No. 83 on Billboard’s Top R&B Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2010, following Pendergrass’ death, it surged in popularity again, peaking at No. 43 on the Holiday Albums chart. The album, which marked Pendergrass’ 14th and final LP, was also received warmly by critics, including AllMusic, which proclaimed, “Pendergrass' smoldering vocals make This Christmas (I'd Rather Have Love) one of the most romantic seasonal records on the market.” Album producer, Jim Salamone shares “What a thrill to realize that Teddy's album is being re-released! So many great memories are attached to the creation of this timeless work. It will be very satisfying for people to be able to enjoy this record every Holiday season.” Adds Daniel Markus, Pendergrass’s co-manager “Teddy was very proud of this album. He put it all together himself with some help from the Calloway Brothers (of Midnight Star fame) and Jim [Salamone].” *** Multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter Teddy Pendergrass (1950–2010) was one of the most successful R&B artists of his era, despite enormous obstacles and a life-altering tragedy. Born in South Carolina and raised in Philadelphia by a single mother, Pendergrass was heavily involved in church as a child—not only training his voice in the choir but becoming an ordained minister at just 10 years old. At 20, he became the lead singer of the long-running Philadelphia soul group Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Within months, they signed to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s legendary Philadelphia International Records, scoring their first major hit, “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” in 1972. The now-classic song, which topped Billboard’s R&B chart and peaked at No.3 on the Hot 100, was the first in a string of bestselling singles for the group, including “The Love I Lost,” “Bad Luck” and “Don’t Leave Me This Way” (also famously recorded by Thelma Houston in 1977). As the group’s breakout star, Pendergrass embarked on a solo career, releasing his self-titled debut in 1977. An immediate bestseller (thanks to hits like “I Don’t Love You Anymore” and “The Whole Town’s Laughing at Me”), Teddy Pendergrass marked the first of five consecutive Platinum-selling albums for the singer-songwriter, making him the first Black artist to achieve such a feat. Among them was 1978’s Life Is a Song Worth Singing (featuring the R&B No.1 “Close the Door”) and 1979’s Teddy, which topped the R&B Albums chart, thanks to the sultry “Turn Off the Lights” (one of his signature “bedroom ballads”). By the end of the decade, Pendergrass was one of R&B’s biggest stars and a bona fide sex symbol, who was known for his popular “women-only” concerts. He continued the momentum as the new decade began, with Top 20 albums like TP (1980) and It’s Time for Love (1981), as well as Top 5 R&B hits like “Love T.K.O.” and the Stephanie Mills duet “Two Hearts.” But his life was forever changed in March 1982, when a car accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. It was a long road to recovery for Pendergrass, who underwent years of physical therapy. In 1985, he made his triumphant return to the stage during Live Aid, appearing in front of nearly 100,000 fans (and countless others via satellite) at Philadelphia’s John F. Kennedy Stadium. A year earlier, he recorded his first album since the accident, Love Language (featuring “Hold Me,” a duet with a then-unknown Whitney Houston). In 1988, he was back at the top of the R&B charts with his enduring hit “Joy” (the title track to his GRAMMY®-nominated 10th studio album), while the following decade would find him enjoying a regular schedule of releases. In 2006, Pendergrass announced his retirement from the industry, turning his focus to his charity, The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, established to help others with spinal cord injuries rebuild their lives. Four years later, amid failing health, the singer-songwriter passed away at 59, leaving behind a rich musical legacy. About Craft Recordings: Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian, and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, HITCO, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers. Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. # Artist and Track Title Time 1. Teddy Pendergrass - Joy To The World 05:01 2. Teddy Pendergrass - Little Drummer Boy 04:08 3. Teddy Pendergrass - Christmas And You 04:09 4. Teddy Pendergrass - The Christmas Song 04:09 5. Teddy Pendergrass - Having A Christmas Party 04:36 6. Teddy Pendergrass - I Won't Have Christmas 03:16 7. Teddy Pendergrass - We Three Kings 05:29 8. Teddy Pendergrass - Oh Holy Night 04:20 9. Teddy Pendergrass - Happy Kwanzaa 05:13 10. Teddy Pendergrass - This Christmas (I'd Rather Have Love) 03:47 11. Teddy Pendergrass - Happy Christmas 05:39 Staci Griesbach You and Me at Christmastime Impacting November 3rd, 2023 Format(s): Holiday Ring in the holidays with the perfect new original upbeat hit for your Playlists! “You and Me at Christmastime” is the lead single off Staci Griesbach's fourth studio album CHRISTMASTIME (Out Nov 10th). The playful original song features a "Meghan Trainor meets Katy Perry" vibe including du-wop background vocals and a catchy hook that will top this year's holiday playlists! “The holidays are such a special time of year, and I’m thrilled that my first original song leads the way for this album. ‘You and Me at Christmastime’ seemed to write itself and really kicks off the album in a fun, upbeat pop-forward way,” said Griesbach. “I’ve also chosen some of my absolute favorite holiday standards to fill out the record. As a child, it wasn’t really Christmas until we broke out Elvis Presley or listened to Karen Carpenter sing, and, of course, my country music idols are represented on this album with covers of classics by both Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson." For more, visit www.StaciGriesbach.com Contact Staci Griesbach stacigriesbach@gmail.com

Grey Cup Plays of the Week https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/20/incredibly-clutch-plays-highlight-the-timber-mart-plays-of-the-week/ ***** more Grey Cup articles https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/20/mmqb-un-autre-match-incroyable/ https://3downnation.com/2023/11/20/montreal-alouettes-win-grey-cup-for-first-time-in-13-years-and-seven-other-thoughts/ https://3downnation.com/2023/11/20/francophone-pride-alouettes-victory-in-110th-grey-cup-boosts-year-over-year-tv-ratings/ https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/kabion-ento-on-feelings-of-winning-grey-cup-meaning-for-quebec-players-covering-dalton-schoen/ https://pifflespodcast.com/blog/saving-the-best-for-last-grey-cup-was-excellent-end-to-2023-cfl-season/

Early Grey Cup reports Montreal 28....Winnipeg 24 I think my biggest surprise of this upset was that Winnipeg did not force Montreal to settle for field goals.` https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/19/110th-grey-cup-recap-montreal-28-winnipeg-24/ https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-blue-bombers-montreal-alouettes-grey-cup-nov-19-1.7033256 https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/19/au-septieme-ciel-alouettes-win-the-110th-grey-cup/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/19/3-stats-that-defined-the-110th-grey-cup/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/20/costabile-four-memorable-moments-from-the-110th-grey-cup/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/20/philpot-als-offence-step-up-to-win-110th-grey-cup/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/20/ento-delivers-big-plays-in-key-moments-for-als-in-110th-grey-cup/ https://www.cfl.ca/2023/11/20/oleary-lifted-by-legendary-qbs-fajardo-breaks-through/ https://3downnation.com/2023/11/19/winnipeg-blue-bombers-denied-dynasty-in-grey-cup-loss-to-montreal-alouettes-13-other-thoughts/ https://3downnation.com/2023/11/19/boulevard-of-broken-dreams-montreal-alouettes-upset-winnipeg-blue-bombers-in-110th-grey-cup/ https://3downnation.com/2023/11/20/inside-the-play-call-that-won-the-montreal-alouettes-the-110th-grey-cup/ https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/montreal-alouettes-rally-to-beat-winnipeg-blue-bombers-to-take-grey-cup-1.2038100 https://cflnewshub.com/cfl-news/cfl-result-montreal-alouettes-triumph-over-winnipeg-blue-bombers-28-24-in-110th-grey-cup/

Yes, I think it is fair to say that winning three times makes you a juggernaut! Brooks, your package is on its way!

And that's it! This is the fourth big Grey Cup upset in the past seven seasons. This is the second time that I have won the contest, but since I do not win my own contests, the winner is...BFrank! Congratulations Brooks! This is your three-peat! Brooks, 1) please DM me your current address. 2) This year, you have a choice - jazz CDs or a Canadian football book. Please let me know which you prefer. Thanks for playing everybody! What a game!

With 13 seconds to go, Tyson Philpot has caught a TD pass to put the Alouettes ahead 28-24. And so now I'm in the catbird seat!

Winnipeg's Prukop has scored on a sneak with 5:12 left to give the Bombers a 24-21 lead. And so Felser now is in the catbird seat!

After three... Winnipeg 17 Montreal 14 Montreal scored a quick touchdown to make up for their failing to score at the end of the second quarter. Winnipeg again dominated the the time of possession. Montreal's defense is slowing down Winnipeg's offense, but they are not shutting down Winnipeg. And sgcim is still in the catbird seat! ***** Montreal's Austin Mack has caught a touchdown to give Montreal a 21-17 lead with 10:56 to go. So goodbye sgcim, hello Dub Modal!

At the half... Winnipeg 17 Montreal 7 Winnipeg again dominated the time of possession. Montreal almost scored with 8 seconds left, but Winnipeg had a great goal line stand. The halftime band is Green Day. I admit I have heard of them, so they must be superstars. The Canadians are very, very excited to have them perform at the Grey Cup. sgcim is still in the catbird seat!

After one... Winnipeg 10 Montreal 7 Winnipeg dominated the time of possession. Late in the quarter, they scored a touchdown following a bad call. Montreal then went 77 yards in four plays to score. So sgcim is in the catbird seat!

Last call! The contest will close at the top of the hour. I cannot see the Als winning a shootout. If they win a low-scoring game, Jim looks good at Montreal - 10. Winnipeg winning a low-scoring game gives sgcim a good chance. His tiebreaker would be anything less than 33. It appears that the league's website (to watch the game) does not like my VPN. If you tune in, try turning off your VPN first. https://www.cfl.ca/2022/11/12/gc110-winnipeg-blue-bombers-vs-montreal-alouettes/ I am currently listening to the Montreal radio pre-game show. https://www.tsn.ca/radio/montreal-690 Parlez vous francais? Try... https://www.985fm.ca Good luck everyone!