A Christmas song
The last time I did a Christmas post on this blog, in which I listed my seasonal favourites, William Brown wrote in to mention his choice, which comes from a live radio concert by Laura Nyro in 1990. I’ve been listening to Laura for 50 years, since the release of Eli and the Thirteenth Confession in 1968, and she’s more important to me with each passing year. Since I’ve written about her before, at some length, I won’t repeat my thoughts. I’ll just let her wish everybody reading this, on my behalf, a merry Christmas — and, although she doesn’t mention it, a happy new year.
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thebluemoment.com 
Oh Richard. I could not agree more! Christmas begins for me once I have played ‘ Christmas in my soul’ through the headphones as loud as I can, several times. Every year it still remains as relevant as ever and every year the sound of the bells building in the last few seconds of the song moves me, beyond words. Happy holiday and a happy new year to you. Liz
And the same to you Richard! Thanks for all the good reads, and the inspiring year end list.
Don
Marvellous and affecting. Aside from her own writings, She knew how to read songs of others perfectly, for me. Thanks, Richard
Nice stuff as usual, Richard. For me Presley’s Blue Christmas. Followed now by the Wexford Carol, from 2008, by Alison Strauss and Yo-Yo Ma. I like a bit of the old stuff.
To you too Richard.
Merry Christmas, Richard, and thank you for another year of pieces always well worth reading, both here and elsewhere.
One Christmas song that always touches me is Billy Mackenzie’s heartbreaking version of ‘The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7GaGqevQhc
Merry Christmas Richard & all who read the Blue Moment.
Only one! https://youtu.be/JrIHEdKa0x0
Thank you, Richard.
What is it with Laura Nyro? A woman who was responsible for, ‘Eli & The 13th Confession’, ‘New York Tendaberry’ and ‘Christmas & The Beads Of Sweat’, three outstandingly original, innovative albums, barely gets a mention anywhere these days and I never meet anyone whose even heard of her.
It seems a good time to say that the introduction you gave me to Laura Nyro’s music in the MM all those years ago remains one of the best presents I have ever received.
And that’s a very nice thing to hear. Thanks, Rick.
Thanks, Richard – a (joyful) Christmas Eve breakfast tear. Many year-end greetings to you!
Thanks, Richard – just wonderful. I tried valiantly to get ‘Christmas in My Soul’ onto a Radio 5 programme the other night but failed – the lyrics read as though she wrote them in the last month in terms of America’s fall.
Anyway, Happy Christmas to you and the family.
Oh, and if you go to http://www.cordings.co.uk you’ll see what shop Eric Clapton’s backing – more Bryan Ferry, I’d say.
Best,
Stan
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Happy X, Stan. Top of the league, eh?
Thanks for resurrecting the blog once more, the reviews as always encourage following up. Of all unlikely people (for me) Francoise Hardy and ‘Personne d’autre’ was the surprise melodic album of the year. Narrowly ahead of the poignant Girl from the North Country in the West End. OK you reviewed that recently but the outcome is the same. Happy Christmas.
as enlightening and enriching as ever, richard . . . as you were on bbc aretha obit which i watched for the first time last night . . . tears, tears and more tears . . . my contribution to xmasness . . . each year, i do a seasonal collation . . . here is a link to this year’s . . . https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bwqh1vg3ndieo5a/AAATTKvrbAOxl2fy2gDRLloOa?dl=0