When my sister and I were teens, we performed a set of Christmas music with our mother in the living rooms of family friends and neighbors. In 2003 we rekindled that tradition and recorded a new xmas album for family & friends. We had so much fun putting that project together in only 72 hours, we thought it would be fun to take a little more time and preparation and record a "bigger & better" sequel. Unfortunately, we had to abandon the uncompleted project due to holiday-related time constraints.
In 2005 we decided to revisit the project and start anew, this time including my nephew Gaige Bailie (then just three months shy of his 4th birthday). We started by scrapping most of the instrumental work from the prior year (with the exception of Little Drummer Boy), and all of the vocals, save one. A serendipitous find from 2004 revealed a fun possibility for demonstrating the transition from child to adult!
Zachary recorded vocals for "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in 2004 while he was still a 12 year-old boy soprano. In the following months his adolescent voice "cracked", rendering him a sudden baritone/2nd tenor. The version we've included on this album is a duet performed by 13 year-old Zachary with his 12 year-old former self. I think this is what is referred to as a "happy accident". :)
Todd C. South
December 19, 2008
Merry Christmas from the South Family Singers
Original album artwork penciled by Christopher W. South, colored by Lisa L. South
| Notes | |
| * | Gage was quite the diva during recording. Tracks 1, 7, and 12 were entirely his idea! |
| ** | Arrangement & acoustic guitar by Todd South, bass guitar by Zachary South |
| *** | Arrangement, guitar, bass, djembe, shaker by Todd South |
| **** | Arrangement, guitar, keyboards, percussion by Todd South, bass by Zachary South |