HAVE YOURSELF A KEAGGY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays to one and all. Well...Tis Da Season. This is being written the day after Thanksgiving...the day when we not only are full of turkey...but full of thanks...and we give it to the Father.

Before we check out the Keaggy Christmas stuff...one last thought about Thanksgiving. I wrote this on my Facebook profile and I think it really sets the tone for me...for having a truly Merry CHRISTmas and Happy HOLYdays.


"Happy Thanksgiving Day after Thanksgiving Day: Are ya still full of THANKS...are ya still giving it? Let us purpose to GIVE THANKS everyday until the next Thanksgiving Day. In a paraphrase of John Lennon's song Imagine..."Imagine all the people...living life in THANKS... ooo who."


NOTE: The first picture is a picture of two of my favorite people...Brian Mason of The Brian Mason Show on Mix 92.9 on Sunday mornings from 6:00 to 10:00 (you can listen from the radio website if you are not in Nashville)...and Phil Keaggy. I live vicariously through Brian...and his relationship with Phil as a friend. Brian's show has journeyed with me through much of my Christian walk since 1980-1983 at WSM to WLAC for 15 years 1993-1998 and at Mix 92.9 from 1998 until now. Go to http://www.brianmason.com/ to hear a 2 hour interview with Phil about multiple topics including his new Christmas project called Welcome Inn.


Phil has 4 Christmas projects...some available...some not. The first project I got back in 1998 called A CHRISTMAS GIFT. If memory serves me correct...I purchased this from the Phil Keaggy Fan Club. It was a great collection of songs...kicking off with I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. It has a great version of Jingle Bells...and a Irish sounding of Greensleeves.


In the words of Phil...who performed the percussion "I had a good time banging, shaking, and jingling! Most of all, I hope the album adds to your Christmas a truer sense of that Holy Night when Christ was born; He's our light and Saviour. The meaning of Christmas is worth deeply considering."



NOTE: The pictures do not go along with the albums that I am writing about...but that's the nature of me not knowing what I am doing on this thing when loading pictures.


The next Christmas project released...and I think it was also released from the fan club...was AN ANGEL'S CHRISTMAS. This is one of the few projects that I do not have in my collection. It is Carols performed on Acoustic guitar. Some are the same songs on the previous project with other goodies added.

NOTE: The Christmas projects that Phil has released have a progressive...growing nature to them....especially the first three projects from A CHRISTMAS GIFT...to AN ANGELS CHRISTMAS... to the rich and lush MAJESTY AND WONDER (Phil with the London Festival Orchestra).

Phil + Guitar Instrumentals + Christmas Carols = Christmas Spirit.

NOTE: This is the largest picture I could find for A CHRISTMAS GIFT. The picture of Phil as a young lad is worth the price of the project itself. "Christmas songs often evoke memories of my childhood--like when I was in the fifth grade, as I am pictured on back of the album. There aren't too many of those sorts of pictures around! At any rate, I had a great time making the album...a Christmas album is long overdue." (Phil Keaggy)

The next stage of progression in the Christmas genre' is Phil along with the London Festival Orchestra on MAJESTY AND WONDER (An Instrumental Christmas). Again, many previous songs on the two previous projects are recorded...with a fresh spin of the London Festival Orchestra playing along. Other songs not on the previous projects includes...Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Nativity Suite (with Visitation, Shepherds' Song, and Flight Into Egypt).

The song that grabs me every time...and sends chills up and down my spine...is SILENT NIGHT. There is just something about the swell and ebb and flow of the strings on this...that reminds me of a Gerry and the Pacemakers song (Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying).

This brings us to the latest project called WELCOME INN (A Phil Keaggy Christmas). The artwork alone is worth the price of the project. In the bleak, cold winter... there is a warm, inviting respite from the harshness of this world. So it is with this project.

Once again...this is a reflection of Phil's past Christmas memories... but this time...more vocals are included, including his daughter Olivia and his son Ian singing along on some of the songs. There are also some fine musicians including Johnathan Willis (strings, horns and pennywhistle), Catilin Evenson (violin), Cathy Chalmers (drums), Tom Howard (piano and string arrangements), Pedro Eustache (duduk), John Catchings (cello),.

NOTE: Tom Howard...passed away on January 2010 of a heart attack while walking in a Nashville park. He has a great musical heritage in early Jesus music and on up to the time of his death. When I hear him play on this project...brings a tear to my eyes...of sorrow for us left behind...and of joy for Tom...in the presence of the Father...well done good and faithful servant.

The first song is Best Christmas Morn...but as I type I am listening to the Brian Mason interview with Phil... and Phil reveals that in retrospect... he wishes the song Welcome Inn was the first song. According to Phil... this song sounds like mix of a Chieftan's Christmas song and Paul McCartney's Martha My Dear (off The Beatles White Album about his English Sheepdog Martha). This is one of my favorites on the project (hard to pick just one)...as it is so inviting. Again, according to Phil it is an invitation to the "listener, traveller, pilgrim" for warmth, acceptance, nourishment...that you find in the Father's Inn/house. The Father WELCOMES us IN to the INN.

Other songs that draws me in...AN ON THAT DAY (along with Olivia)...GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN (with Olivia and Ian...previously recorded with Kim Hill) and of course SHADES OF GREEN AND RED...based on SHADES OF GREEN.. (always a crowd pleaser in concert).

NOTE: This song was on Phil's mind when he woke up...and with the final cut...the ending was just as he had imagined. When you listening to SHADES OF GREEN AND RED...you want to have yourself a Merry Irish Christmas.

All in all...you have a wonderful portrait of the Incarnation of God entering planet earth via a baby...who grew up to manifest the will of God on planet earth as it is in heaven...and to die in my place because of my sins...to reunite me with my heavenly Father.

In a world that is becoming so politically correct...where people would rather see Santa Claus or an Easter Bunny hanging on a cross...rather than the reality of Jesus...Phil points out in one of his songs about the story of Christ..."should they ban the carols in the public square...and freedom seems lost in the land of the free..."

Thanks to Phil...and also Brian for singing about the reason for life. As you have your self a KEAGGY LITTLE CHRISTMAS...realize that Phil is pointing to the true reason for the season... hand how you can have a Merry CHRISTmas...and Happy HOLYdays.

If you would like a copy of WELCOME INN go to www.philkeaggy.com or Itunes, or CD Baby or Walmart.

Love and Merry Kisses
Rodney "Tis Da Season" Boyd

CRIMSON AND BLUE by Phil Keaggy

Greetings and Rockin' Salutations my friends. I hope you are doing well. Today...the Ruminatin' Rod's Record Review...is again...one of my favorites.

Today, I review...CRIMSON AND BLUE by Mr. Phil Keaggy. As many of you know...and if you didn't know.. now you do know...I am a big fan of the music of Phil Keaggy. Well...I say the music of Phil Keaggy...but really the man himself. I first heard of Phil Keaggy when the bass player, friend, brother in the Lord...Mark Webster gave me a copy of Phil Keaggy's WHAT A DAY. I had never heard of Phil so I put it on the old turntable and gave it a spin. I was NOT impressed. It seemed a little to mellow for me. At the time I was listening to music by RESURRECTION BAND (from the Jesus People USA Community in Chicago)..."Music To Raise The Dead." This lukewarm reception by me to Phil's music quickly changed. I fell in love with the mellow/tender side of Phil...but later on...after listening to syndicated radio shows like the SCOTT ROSS SHOW...JESUS SOLID ROCK (with Jerry Bryant)...and hanging out at Koinonia Bookstore...I heard more and more about Phil.

Phil was in a band in the early 70's called GLASS HARP. They were a power trio...who were up and coming. They were signed to the EPIC LABEL...and managed by Van Morrison's manager. They were recording in Jimmy Hendrix's Electric Ladyland studio...and were opening up of whoever was popular at the time.

Glass Harp consisted of Daniel Peccio on bass.. John Sferra on drums...and a young guitarist by the name of Phil Keaggy. The group was famous for their jams. Originally from the Youngstown Ohio area...they were contemporary of people like the James Gang (Funk # 49, Walk Away). They played at Kent State...and were scheduled to play at Kent State but were not allowed to set up by the National Guard because of the tragic riots.

Glass Harp went on to record three studio albums...and a live project GLASS HARP LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL (opening up for the Kinks). There was a synergistic quality with the three...and driven by the guitar gymnastics of Phil. An oddity at the time was the spiritual bent to their songs. Phil had become a Christian (the others later)...and Phil eventually dropped out and began recording Jesus Music (later to be dubbed CCM...Contemporary Christian Music). Phil would do a lot of studio work and tour with people like Honeytree, 2nd Chaper of Acts, Paul Clark, etc...and then eventually ended up in Freeville New York at the Love Inn Christian Community (See the book Scott Free by Scott Ross). He played in the community band called the Phil Keaggy Band...played with Ted Sanquist and recorded a songs of worship...along with the afore mentioned project WHAT A DAY. It was also at this time that Phil recorded LOVE BROKE THROUGH and EMERGING. He also recorded a ground breaking project...THE MASTER AND THE MUSICIAN (instrumental). NOTE: Wow...I didn't mean to ramble on about the history... but I did find it refreshing to remember the roots of Phil.


I have 50+ projects by Phil...ranging from instrumentals, Spanish, Blues, Rock, and every genre in between. If I had to choose a favorite album...I would have to choose...CRIMSON AND BLUE. It is this project...that captures the guitar genius of Phil. Sure his other projects have Phil on guitar...and they are amazing...but nothing really captures the essence of Phil like he is in concert.

NOTE: Another reason this holds a special place in my heart is my Dad. I had ordered this project and received it on a Saturday...and played it and was blown away by it. A little later on...my Dad stopped by and picked me up and we went to Eagleville Tennessee for a chitlin' supper. (Chitlins being the intestines of pigs...cleansed...boiled...and fried...also NASTY!) The project was released in 1993...and Dad passed away in October of 1993 of pancreatic cancer. CRIMSON AND BLUE always reminds me of this bitter time in my life...and helped me cope with the death of my dad. As with all of Phil's music...it becomes touchstones in my life to encourage me, lift me up, point me to Jesus.

As I said...this project showcases Phil's guitar genius...more than any of his other projects. If you notice their are different CD covers all with the CRIMSON AND BLUE LINK. Phil released one called BLUE which as the Limited Editon Rock Version of CRIMSON AND BLUE. There were extended jams...and a couple of extra songs (The Further Adventures Of, All Our Wishes, and a cover of Badfinger's Baby Blue). This was released for distribution by Word on EPIC (Glass Harp's original label).

There was also som other goodies in a project called REVELATOR (after the song John the Revelator)...with "a few variations on the themes in Crimson and Blue, celebration of life, reunion, restoration and forgiveness. It's also a peek into some of the fun, unrehearsed moments in the studio with some of my oldest and best pals." (Revelator Liner notes)

The band on the project includes: Phil Keaggy (guitars and lead vocals), John Sferra (drums),
Wade Jaynes (bass), Phil Madeira (Hammond B-3 and background vocals), Lynn Nichols (Background vocals and guitar) NOTE: Phil Madeira and Lynn Nichols were with Phil in the Love Inn Days and in The Phil Keaggy Band on the album EMERGING).

I saw the group in Nashville on the Crimson and Blue tour at 328 Performance Hall and it was flawless rock and roll.

Well...from the opening field drum beat of the song SHOUTS OF JOY to the electrified version of the old blues song JOHN THE REVELATOR....to the ending, tender instrumental of NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS (the true crimson in our lives) this project draws me into the presence of the Father...via the blood of Jesus.

I give CRIMSON AND BLUE...an enthusiastic 5 MOO-MOOS.

Love and Solid Rock and Roll Kisses because of the Solid Rock Jesus
Rodney "Shouts of Joy" Boyd