Merry Christmas....

So here it is... our first christmas EP called Joy Of Every Longing Heart is ready. So again, the story here is that for the last few years as we are learning/writing christmas songs for our christmas eve service at ORB, we've been recording them (rather quickly). So this year we decided to actually finish 3 of them and do a short run of CDs that we can give out and make them available for free download. These were intended to be quick little productions, without super polished performances, weeks worth of mixing and proper mastering, and all that other stuff that is sometimes gone after when making CDs. So anyway, below is the inside story of each tune, open the download page on the ORB site and listen while you read about them.

1) Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.

Most songs we do (as the New Ancients) are old hymns that we rewrite the music to and do our own arrangement. Long Expected was actually more of a "cover" in that the main inspiration for our version came from Bill Mallonee's version of the song. In particular, the main acoustic part in the beginning. The ends of each of the stanzas are all New Ancients of course... but i have to give credit where it's due... this song is a tip of the hat to the great Bill Mallonee. So on this Christian is on the background vocals, Emily and Leah doin the girls parts... Rob and Matt P. on horns, Tim electrics, and i'm playing piano, acoustics, percussion, bass and singing the lead.

2) I Heard The Bells.

The feel of this one is due in large part to Rob's swanky lap steel guitar and hammond organ playing. The guy can play it all. If you listen closely to the track you can hear the organ cracklin here and there. It's in need of serious servicing, but who do i get to come to my place and fix a 50 year old organ? Em and Leah again on all the Oooos, Aaaahs and Haaas. Anthony did some sweet guitars, and I did the bass, more guitars, vocal (done as a scratch vocal over a year ago btw), and drums (using only 2 mics, playing my son sammy's mid 60's ludwig orange sparkle kick drum and a same era rogers snare).

3) Song For a Shepherd.

So this is actually an all original New Ancients song. Words and all. I wrote this based on a sermon that my brother did last year based on the Shepherds and the Christmas story from their point of view. The song is done from a shepherd's point of view... i imagined a young guy sitting on some cold rocks in the hills thinking about how lonely it was, how he had the lowest job you could get, how no one respected the shepherd, etc. But deep down these guys knew that King David was also a shepherd, and that was something to be proud of. Then this one night something wonderful happens... the hope of the world is made known finally to men. But not to the professional wonder teachers and priests in the city below, but to the lowly shepherds. Fascinating. I thought there would be a great song in that. Not sure if this one qualifies as a great song... but it is what it is. I did this one all myself except for the super-spooky guitar line that Tim played. The drums for this were done over a year ago. Everything else was done within this past week. It may seem a bit dark... but think of it as if you are a young shepherd. I was dressed like one when i wrote it. that helped.

Finally, the artwork and layout for the actual CD (which is being manufactured now hopefully!) was done all by hand by Brian Jones. A Big Thanks to him for knocking this out so quickly!

So there it is... maybe next year we'll try this again with another 3.

Merry Christmas!

-pete and The New Ancients