This month we go dark and look at the 20017 album "From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas)" from ex-Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen. We also have a short listen to three obscure songs brought to us from a listener.

28 - Tarja Turunen: From Spirits and Ghosts

The Tinsel Tunes podcast goes into great detail about Christmas music. Full of fun and interesting facts, it will get you into the Christmas Spirit! 

Hear about classics, modern songs, songs you love, and even those songs that you dislike. We go deep into the history of Christmas songs, explore the compositions, and play lots of music!

Music

Music History

This month, Duane and Scott listen to the First to Eleven album “A Very First to Eleven Christmas”


Songs played:

 The Most Wonderful time of the year 
 All I want for christmas is you
  Feliz Navidad
  Underneath the tree
  Santa tell me
  Christmas C’mon
  This Season
  Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree
  Santa Baby
  Last Christmas
  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas



YouTube playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nsU4GMbxY8_UnN59fMO5NBD8CsC0HOgvI




64: A Very First to Eleven Christmas

This month, Duane and Scott listen to Christmas songs about trains.
Article on the History of trains and Christmas
Songs played on this episode:

 Tom Hanks and the children cast - The Polar Express Theme
 Blake Shelton - Santa's Got a Choo Choo Train
  Sarah Connor - Christmas Train (Destination Hope)
  Patty Loveless - Santa Train
  James Coffey - Magical Christmas Train
  Roger Miller - Old Toy Trains
  Carey Bell - Christmas Train 1996
  Brett Dennen - Christmas Train
  The Tractors - Santa Claus Is Coming (In a Boogie-Woogie Choo-Choo Train)
  Bet Smith and the Currie Brothers - That Christmas Train
  Paul Kelly and Vika Bull - Christmas Train


63: Christmas Songs About Trains

This month, Duane and Scott discuss the carol "Angels We Have Heard on High".
Versions of the song played on this episode:

Angels We Have Heard on High (fingerstyle guitar)
Les Anges dans nos Campagnes (version complète)
Angels from the Realms of Glory by Matthew Green’s Orchestral Rainbow
Angels from the Realms of Glory, David Archuleta and the Tabernacle Choir
Angels from the Realms of Glory (1967 version)
Gloria (Piano version) by Hymns, Chorales & Classics On Piano
Punk version by Reliant K
Acapella version by Home Free
Metal version by Dan Vasc
Ska version by On the Upbeat
Rock version by Bayside
Country version by Josh Turner
Chiptune version by Peter Hunter
Instrumental version by the Piano Guys
​​Big Band/Rockabilly version by Brian Setzer Orchestra

62: Angels We Have Heard on High

This month, Duane and Scott listen to some new (and new to them) Christmas Music submitted to them by artists in 2023.

Songs played:

1. Jingle Punx punk cover of Last Christmas by Wham:
https://jinglepunx.bandcamp.com/track/last-christmas-wham-cover
2. Christmas Cheer by Rob Lawlor:
https://robertlawlor.bandcamp.com/track/christmas-cheer
3. Santa's Takin' Over the Town by Rehya Stevens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQfo7ek8Kws
https://rehyastevens.com
4. Recipe for a Merry Christmas Eve by Alicia Stockman:
https://aliciastockman.bandcamp.com/track/recipe-for-a-merry-christmas-eve
https://aliciastockman.com/recipe-epk
5. Christmastime in Maine by Kevin Scott Hall and Judy Pancoast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_caQzjJySyo
https://open.spotify.com/track/0qEaAJp6TKdYcpB1MfwmHA
6. Oh Chanukah by Sukey Malloy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOkkLXkk6Ks
https://www.sukeymolloy.com/shop/sukey-music/
7. Ugly Sweater Time by The Sweaterettes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjE6GNepR-o
https://thesweaterettes.hearnow.com/ugly-sweater-time
https://www.instagram.com/uglysweaterpartyla/
8. O Come, O Come, Emanuel by Joe Beier:
https://joebeier.bandcamp.com/track/o-come-o-come-emanuel
9. What's a Christmas Eve Without My Baby? by Lee Langdon:
https://leelangdonmusic.bandcamp.com/track/whats-a-christmas-eve-without-my-baby
https://linktr.ee/leelangdon
10. Christmas Wish by Gregory Porter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHIwCTLe_ns

61: New Christmas Music for 2023

This month, Duane and Scott look at the carol "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear".

Songs played in this episode:

Choral version by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Noel version by St Michael's Singers
Orchestral version by The London Symphony Orchestra
Barbershop version by Julien Neel
Acapella by Home Free
Reggae version by CHRISTAFARI
Country version by Highway 101
Hard Rock version by The Beautiful Distortion
Chiptune version by MixSound
Solo guitar instrumental by R.L. Solberg
Duet version by The Hound and the Fox


For copyright reasons, we couldn't play these versions, but you should definitely check them out:

Ella Fitzgerald
Anne Murray
Frank Sinatra
Johnny Mathis
Burl Ives
Josh Groban

28 - Tarja Turunen: From Spirits and Ghosts

Download our free app to listen on your phone