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The HEARTLAND Tour 'what we've learned' through M&G's Thread

Since I'm reading EVERY recap I can find, sometimes there is information that is expecially interesting.

This is part of a recap from New Brunswick, 12/6/07.

"Clay was asked if he would do another Christmas album. This is where the conversation-or rather I should say, the monologue- became very interesting".

MCWL 71)Clay was asked if he would do another Christmas album. He told us he did not like his Christmas album, "Merry Christmas with Love." He continued by saying that he wanted to re-do, or re-package the original album by changing and adding to the new one.

72)He did not want to sing “Joy to the World” or “Silent Night” on MCWL, and those songs would not be on his next Christmas album. He felt that “Silent Night” was too much like a church choir song, and very possibly- I’m not quite sure (Clayfog!)- he might have sung a few bars from “Silent Night” to demonstrate the choir-like sound that he doesn’t like.

73)He thought the tempos of “Winter Wonderland” and “Sleigh Ride” were too slow, and the phrasing of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was too straightforward and stilted. He sang HYAMLC by singing it in a straight, box-like manner, using his hands to demonstrate the rigid tempo and phrasing that were recorded. He wants to re-do those songs and is very, very definite about the styles and tempos he wants to use.

74)He wants to add all the songs from the “All is Well” album and his new song, “Welcome to My World.” He did say there are no other Christmas songs left for him to record, some were too religious, others too secular.

75)He said he has all of the songs for his new Christmas album on his computer and are “ready to go.” He also said that those songs are “all over the place.”

76)He said that he likes the Walter Afanasieff, and wants him to produce his next Christmas album. He also said that other producers don’t want to do this album because the songs would not be performed in the traditional manner; the producers are afraid of change and fear they will be struck down.

77) Clay’s concern is that the song changes don’t warrant a new album at all, and the public might think he’s looking for a fast buck by re-packaging the album. Also at issue is that there are too many songs to put on one CD and not enough for a dual-disc set.

78)Clay reiterated again and again how much he disliked the production of some of the MCWL songs. But, he is very insistent that he wants to record a new Christmas album and is very definite about how he wants to record the songs.