A Merry West End Christmas
By +West End+
Credits
Spare Time and +West End+ extend our special thanks to the elves:
Bobby Ogdin: Piano, Organ, Bass, Arrangements
Billy Contreras: Violin
Tom Hemby: Guitar Tracks 1, 6, 12, 13
Charlie McCoy: Harmonica
Roddy Smith: Guitar Tracks 8 and 10, Ukulele
Joe Wright: Steel Guitar
Travis Turk: Engineering, Mixing
Tim Smith: Additional Engineering
Thanks also to:
Big Boy Bond: Drums, Percussion, Bells
Dr. Ron Footbridge: Accordion
Recorded at Spare Time Studios (TN) and Groovehouse (TN).
Mastered by Glenn Meadows at Mayfield Mastering.
(p) Spare Time Records 2021.
All arrangements © 2021 Spare Time Partners LLC.
Produced by Spare Time Partners.
Artwork and Spare Time logo by Lynne Brislane.
In 2018, West End began recording the first of several concept albums (three so far) with pickers in Tennessee and in Ireland. As our second offering, we opted for an instrumental Christmas album as an unexpected year-end treat for our listeners.
We will leave it to Spare Time Music Director Bobby Ogdin (and the arranger on this wonderful album) to provide the liner notes:
“The musicians I called upon to play the various featured instruments on the Christmas album are all professional recording musicians who have performed on countless Christmas albums for major recording artists. I have found that, for the most part, those albums often have such lavish and intricate arrangements that, while making the artist sound terrific, often overshadow the song itself, or lose its spirit and emotion (and this is understandable when the artist is the feature of an album).
“We determined, however, that by not having a vocalist, we could more closely reflect the nature of each song itself, albeit without any lyrics.
“Once I determined the general approach for each song, and had created a basic musical track, I called on some of my closest musician friends to participate and bring the tracks to life with their talents — sometimes a simple ukelele rhythm, sometimes a lovely melody, etc. These additional recording sessions were like social events, as we all clearly enjoy being in the recording studio together.
“I think the results demonstrate our musical respect, and our affection for each Christmas song, and also for each other.”
And that pretty much encompasses how we like to work at Spare Time Records, from inception to recording, through mixing and mastering.
“Like listening to caramel,” says one devoted customer.
Oh yeah — the elves have left the building. Merry Christmas!
CD UPC No.: 00860003443774
Spare Time Records Catalog No.: STR-719
Track Lineup
Click song title for link to YouTube.
The Christmas Song
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Silver Bells
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Here Comes Santa Claus
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Blue Christmas
O Holy Night
Mele Kalikimaka
Silent Night
White Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas