Robbie On The RadioRobbie France Online, All the Time, Broadcasting From the Balcony

Well, Folks, it’s time for my Christmas Special already. Doesn’t time fly?

There lots of everyone’s favourites in this show, so I hope you stay with me all the way through.

Here’s the playlist:

Amy Grant - Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Andrea Bocelli - Silent Night
Anne Murray - It came upon a midnight clear
Anne Murray - Joy To The World
Bon Jovi - Please Come Home For Christmas
Brenda Lee - Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir- Carol of the Bells
Choir Of Westminster Abbey - Ding Dong Merrily On High
Chris Botti - First Noel
Chris Botti - Silent Night
Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas
Coldplay - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Dean Martin & Doris Day - Let It Snow
Diana Krall - Jingle Bells
Diana Krall - Sleigh Ride
Donnie Hathaway - This Christmas
Ella & Bing - Rudolph
Enya - Christmas Secrets
Garth Brooks - Silent Night
Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
Harry Belafonte - Mary’s Boy Child
Hayley Westenra & The Choirboys - Do You Hear What I Hear
Jackson 5 - Give Love On Christmas Day
James Taylor - In The Bleak Midwinter
Jim Reeves - Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
Josh Groban & Lili Haydn -Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring
Josh Groban - Oh Holy Night
Josh Groban - The Christmas Song
Judy Garland- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Kings College Choir - Sussex Carol(On Christmas night)
Lieutenant Kije, Troika
Lesley Garrett - Ave Maria
Luther Vandross - Please Come Home For Christmas
Michael Ball - When A Child Is Born
Mormon Tabernacle Choir - The First Noel
Mormon Tablernacle Choir - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Nat King Cole - Deck the Halls
Nat King Cole - Joy To The World
Ozzy & Jessica - Winter Wonderland
Perry Como - God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen
Sarah McLaughlin & Barenaked Ladies - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Sarah Mclachlan - TheFirstNoel/Mary Mary
Secret Garden - I Know A Rose Tree
St. Georges’ Choir Winnipeg - Once in Royal David’s City
Sting & Luciano Pavaroti - Panis Angelicus
Sting - I Saw Three Ships
The Beach Boys - We Three Kings of Orient Are
The Choirboys - Away In A Manger
The Drifters - Im Dreaming Of A White Christmas
The Moody Blues - December - In the Quiet of Chritmas Morning
Tori Amos - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Robbie x

Yes! It’s that time of the year. Dust off your favourite Xmas tracks. Take the Chrimbo albums out of those mothballs and whack up the volume.

Over the years we’ve listened to so many tracks together at Xmas, I’ve lost count. However, I’ve put a little Xmas ‘Wish List’ together for us to have a gander at, using, with your permission, the songs and albums I know you love by sheer weight of requests and comment. So…here we go!

I’ve included brief review of the albums here and, as a special treat, I’ve also included links to Amazon if you want to buy the album for yourself or someone special (please note - we’re getting close to Christmas now and Amazon may not be able to deliver in time).

[UPDATE - I've written longer reviews for some of these albums, and put the links below]

Chris Botti – December

With his interpretation of ‘Silent Night’ a perennial favourite with the folks, not to mention the classic renditions of many of the standards from the festive season, this is a must for any lover of cool yule music. The Blue Nile-esque ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’, for example. Great stuff.

» Read the full review of Chris Botti’s December «

Sarah McLachlan – Wintersong

Mere words are not enough to describe the beauty of this lady’s voice. Worth the price of a download or the album simply to hear her sing ‘The First Noel/ Mary Mary’. A sweeping piece, moving from basic voice to an Arabic style montage of rhythm and sonic passion.

» Read the full review of Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong «

Josh Groban – Noel

My favourite American Male Vocalist in progress! Always has been, ever since I first played him all those years ago. When it was released last October, I chastised the record label for being too early for a holiday album. It went on to be one of, if not the biggest selling albums of 2007!

» Read the full review of Josh Groban’s Noel «

Frank Sinatra – The Christmas Album

This does exactly what it says on the tin. Frank at his coolest. Track 6 is one of your faves, judging by the amount of requests for his rendition of ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ I receive every year. Just one of those albums you play when good friends are over for a glass of mulled wine.

James Taylor – James Taylor At Christmas

James’ distinctive voice adorns this selection of winter tracks like a warm familiar blanket on a cold and wintry evening. His take on ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ is an essential to anyone’s yuletide listening. It’s not just the voice, it’s the overall atmosphere of this album which makes it one of my ‘specials’.

I Love Xmas – Various
With the squillions of compilation albums out there, you can easily be confused, spoilt for choice, bamboozled… and ultimately disappointed. Do not fear! This is a Christmas cracker of an album. One of those CDs that you whack on when friends arrive for Christmas dinner. You just set & forget.

» Read the full review of I Love Christmas «

(NOTE: This one has been discontinued on Amazon, so I guess you’ll just have to listen to the Christmas shows to hear some of these great tracks).

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Robbie x

Hi Folks - here’s the playlist from Robbie France’s My World of Music from Costa Calida Radio for Sunday 14th December 2008:

Chris Botti - Miami Overnight - Night Sessions
02 - You Take My Breath Away
Indigo Girls & Sarah McLachlan & Jewel & Meredith Brooks - Big Yellow Taxi (Lilith Fair)
B.B. King & Bonnie Raitt - Right Place Wrong Time
Babyface - Nobody Knows It But Me
Boz Scaggs - Harbor Lights
Brian Mcknight - One Last Cry
Carlie Simon - Ive Got To Have You
Carlos Santana - Twisted (Feat. Andy Hamilton)
Celine Dion & Josh Groban - The Prayer
Chicago - Does Anyone Really Know What Time it Is
Chris Botti - Pennies From Heaven (Feat. Renee Olstead)
Classical John Williams - Schindler’s List Theme (violins by itzhak perlman)
Dead Can Dance - The Carnival Is Over (Labrynth)
Def Leopard - Photograph
Diana Krall - Just the way you are
Dirty dancing - havana nights - Salsa Cubana Mix
Dolly Parton - Just When I Needed You Most
Eva Cassidy - Time After Time
Eva Cassidy - True Colours
Frank Sinatra - When I Was Seventeen
Goo Goo Dolls - Better Days
Ive Mendes - Lua
Ive Mendes - Casticais
James Morrison - You Give Me Something
Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
Joe Cocker - You Are So Beautiful
Josh Grogan & Lara Fabian - For Always
Josh groban - Remember Me (Troy Soundtrack)
Journey - Who’s Crying Now
KD Lang - A Tribute To Cole Porter - So In Love
KD Lang - Case Of You
Katie Melua - Faraway voice (for Eva Cassidy)
Katie Melua - The Closest Thing To Crazy
Living Color - Cult of Personality
Martin Solveig - Jealousy
Mary J. Blige & Aretha Franklin - Ain’t No Sunshine
Mattafix - Big City Life
Michael Franks - I Don’t Know Why I’m So Happy I’m Sad
Michael MacDonald - It Keeps You Running
Micheal Buble - Song For You (Feat. Chris Botti)
Tony Bennett - The Way You Look Tonight -
Ornella Vanoni - L’Appuntamento - Ocean’s 12 Soundtrack
Paul Anka - Black Hole Sun
Paul Simon - Father and Daughter
Percy Sledge - A Whiter Shade of Pale
Prefab Sprout - Hallelujah
Queen & George Michael - Somebody to Love (Live at Wembley Band aid - Feddy Mercury Tribute)
REM - Man On The Moon
Ricky Martin, Carlos Santana & Jose Feliciano - Light My Fire
Rod Stewart - Handbags And Gladrags
SARAH MACLACHLAN & EMMY LOU HARRIS - Angel (live)
Sarah MacLachlan - Do What You Have To Do
Simple Minds - Belfast Child
Soggy Bottom Boys - Man Of Constant Sorrow
Starsailor - Alcoholic
Steely Dan - Deacon Blues
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Tin Pan Alley
Sting - Stolen Car (Take Me Dancing)
The Corrs & Josh Groban - Canto Alla Vita
The Killers - Mr. Brightside
The Pretenders - I Go To Sleep
Toni Braxton - Another Sad Love Song
U2 & Luciano Pavarotti - Miss Sarajevo
Van Morrison - These Are The Days
Van Morrison - What’s Wrong With This Picture
Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry - Seven Seconds
Gotan project - My Funny Valentine

Enjoy!

Robbie x

Unlike the other Christmas albums I’ve reviewed this year, I Love Christmas is a compilation by the obligatory Various Artists.

Read the rest of this entry »

I went on air just before the release of Josh Groban’s Noel and berated the label for releasing it too early. Dope! You’ve never let me forget that. ‘Noel’ went on to be the best selling album of 2007 in the USA. Not surprising, really. All the faves are there, plus the classic David Foster production and that extraordinary voice.

Read the rest of this entry »

I often say ‘If you’re gonna do a cover version of something, stamp your authority and style on the darned thing, or it may be consigned to the musak shelf in the album collection.’ You never have that fear with Sarah!

Read the rest of this entry »

Chris Botti’s December is one of the albums of the festive season for us all. A simple treasure of a collection of the irresistable holiday classics. The delight I get in Chris’s playing is not just his beautiful tone, but he knows when to play that trill or that run and most of all… that note.

Read the rest of this entry »

…as John Lennon once sang. My favourite time of year. Christmas in our home is celebrated with such a wonderful sense of joy, it’s easy to forget I’m an atheist.

For me Christmas is about being part of humanity. It’s a time when all people come together with a hopeful and warm spirit which transcends belligerency, prejudice and scorn. And I love the music which traditionally accompanies this season with a passion. We can all name our favourite carol; however young or old; whichever nationality. Mine is the Austrian carol, ‘Silent Night’. I have so many versions of this song. Dozens, if not more than a hundred collected over the years! Yet this carol could have been lost for eternity if not for a stroke of serendipity.

The music was written by Franz Xaver Gruber. The lyrics by the local priest, Josef Mohr from Oberndorf, Austria. Now, there are so many legends regarding this piece of music, it makes your head spin. However my favourite has to be the one where they rock up to the gig at the Church of St. Nicholas to find the organ not working, so Father Mohr tells Gruber to whiz back to his gaff and grab his guitar. Job done, they proceed with the performance… and the rest is history. Pure rock ‘n roll! However in 1818 there weren’t any cassette or video tapes to record the performance and the song could have been lost, consigned to the mists of time.

However, as recently as 1995 a manuscript in Mohr’s handwriting was found and authenticated showing he wrote the words in 1816. It is, quite simply, the most played, recorded (and bastardized!), carol of all time. A song which briefly brought together the troops on the frontline during World War One in 1914, which was a story I was taught at school to represent all that is good in mankind.

So. From myself, Karen and my little boy Max, we’d like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous, but above all else…healthy 2009.

Tune in on the 21st of December at 1.30 pm for my usual ‘My World Of Music’ Christmas Special. I’ll post the playlist online around the 22nd this year and if you’d like to request or dedicate a track? It would be a pleasure.

Keep listening and I’ll see you next year!

Robbie x

This article is printed in the December 2008 edition of Beachcomber magazine.

Hi Folks - here’s the playlist from Robbie France’s My World of Music from Costa Calida Radio for Sunday 7th December 2008:

Barbara Streisand - Kiss Me In The Rain
Cheryl Lynn (feat. Luther Vandross) If This World Were Mine
Chris Botti - Ever Since We Met
Dana Winner - Try To Remember
Dandy Livingstone - Suzanne Beware Of The Devil
Danny Elfman - The Little Things (Wanted Soundtrack)
Dave Matthews with Santana - Love Of My Life
Diana Krall - Only The Lonely
Etta James - I’d Rather Go Blind
Frank Sinatra - Sentimental Journey
George Michael - December Song (I Dreamed Of Christmas)
Harry Manx - Death Have Mercy
Henry Rollins Band - Liar
John Barrowman - Please Remember Me
John Martyn - Baby please come Home
John Mayer - Vultures
Johnny Mathis - Theme From Summer of ‘42 (The Summer Knows)
Jon McLaughlin - Beautiful Disaster
Joni Mitchell - Cherokee Louise
Jools Holland & Sting - Seventh Sun
Jose Merce-Lio
Josh Groban - Cinema Paradiso
Julia Fordham - Falling Forward
Keane - Perfect Symmetry
Laura Veirs - Wandering Kind
Leon Jackson - Creative
Maxine Brown - Oh No Not My Baby
Myleen Klass - Rachmaninof - Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini
Nancy Wilson & Grover Washington Jr - I Can’t Make You Love Me
Neil Young - The Way
Nina Simone - I Put A Spell On You
Paul Anka - Waiting For A Girl Like You
Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong - Silent Night
Scott Matthews - Passing Stranger - Eyes Wider than Before
Screw Coco - Empiezo a Olvidar(I start To Forget)
Social Code - As Good As It Gets
Stereophonics - The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack Cover)
Steve Earle - Way Down In The Hole
Stevie Nicks - Rooms On Fire
Stevie Wonder - I Believe When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever
Suzanne Vega - Gypsy
Sweet - Alexander Graham Bell
Switchfoot- You (A Walk To Remember Soundtrack)
System Of A Down - Toxicity
The Band (With Dr. John) - Such A Night (The Last Waltz)
The Magic Numbers - Tonight
The Singhsons (Indian Simpsons) - 12 Days Of Christmas
Thomas Dybdahl - From Grace
Tracey Chapman - Mountains Of Things
Walter Huston - September Song (1944)
Wang Chung - Wang Chung - Big World
Wyclef Jean and the Fugees - No woman no cry
Yasmin Levy - Perdono
Yes - I’ve Seen All Good People

Don’t forget, I love to hear from all you listeners, and if you drop me a line either through this Web Site (Click on Contact at the top of the page) or at the Radio Station, I’ll dedicate a favourite song to your or someone special live on air.

Enjoy!

Robbie x