Sangre de Cristo Christmas - Richmond and Clemmer
Don Richmond and David Clemmer are two long time friends and musical collaborators, who also happen to be founders of Howlin' Dog Records. Don is the primary engineer and multi-instrumentalist producer of hundreds of projects at HDR, and both Don and David are dedicated singer-songwriters and musicians in their own right. They have released two earlier projects on Howlin' Dog, Promised Land and Holy Roller and a Rolling Stone. Over the years of their collaborations in the studio they have written and recorded a number of Holiday and Christmas themed songs, giving them the superb acoustic folk- Americana production for which Howlin' Dog is known, and they feel like it's time to send them out to meet the world!
Some of the Richmond and Clemmer songs ("Sangre de Cristo Christmas", "New Mexico Moon", "El Nino Christmas") are regionally themed, celebrating the rich culture and the dramatic landscape of their homeland of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Other originals ("Come Home for Christmas", "Make Room for the Magic", "Kindness Is Your Guiding Light", "The King", and "A Fevery Little Girl Christmas") speak of many of the things that make the Holidays a time of celebrations - love, light, fond memories, and the joy of family and friends. "Having a Vegan for Christmas" is a light-hearted romp through the traditions of Holiday meals.
Then Don and David sprinkled several familiar old friends in the song list - some as brief interludes ("Jolly Old St. Nicholas", "White Christmas", "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"), and some as full-blown productions ("Deck the Halls", "Here We Come a Wassailing"). The collection closes with a hauntingly beautiful rendition of "Away in a Manger", played on hammered dulcimer and pennywhistles.
Howlin' Dog Records joins Don and David in wishing everyone the very best of the Holiday season, and hope that this unique collection of original and traditional Holiday songs adds a bit of extra warmth and sparkle to your celebrations!