'Tis The Season: New CDs

For Musical Gift Ideas, Bill Flanagan Suggests Some That Haven't Gotten The Attention They Deserve

(CBS)  'Tis the season for giving music, ideally something a little unusual. That's where MTV's Bill Flanagan comes in:

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The trouble with buying CDs as Christmas gifts is, you don't know what the music fan already has.

So I'm going to make a gift list of CDs that have not gotten the attention they deserve. You know, like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree:

Ian McLagan is one of the great old British rockers. He was the keyboard player in the Small Faces, and the Faces with Rod Stewart, and later played with both Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.

This year he released a knock-out of an album called "Never Say Never," full of alternately rowdy and poignant love songs for his wife Kim. What I did not know then was why Mac's love songs were so inspired: Kim died in a car accident two years ago. These wonderful celebrations of married love where written and sung by a new widower. It's a good reminder to all of us to treasure what we have while we have it.

If you want to celebrate family and friends over the holidays, you can't do better then "Rambling Boy" by Charlie Haden. Haden has been a towering figure in jazz for fifty years, but this album is a return to his childhood roots as a country singer with his parents' group. Charlie's own wife and children are all accomplished musicians, and on this remarkable CD they play and sing traditional country, gospel and bluegrass songs with emotional dedication, musical clarity and pure love.

Speaking of giants of jazz, Sonny Rollins has a new collection gathered from his concerts all over the world. Rollins is one of our great romantics, and there's plenty of romance on "Road Shows," but also the whimsy and exuberance that is always part of a Sonny Rollins concert. "Road Shows" is a surefire gift for anyone over the age of teenybopper.

The Hold Steady are a Brooklyn band who manage to combine the hold-onto-your-hat instrumental drive of the Clash with the locution, passion and eye-for-detail of the very early Springsteen and the barroom lyrical drama of the Replacements. Their latest album is called "Stay Positive."

The first time you hear it you'll say, "This is okay." The third time you'll say, "This is pretty good." The fifth time you'll say, "I love this band!"

What about those meditative moments sitting in front of the fireplace after the kids have finally gone to bed and you need a little break from the Christmas carols? Toumani Diabate is the master of the Kora, a kind of African cross between a harp and a sitar, and he has a beautiful new album called "The Mande Variations." After a tough day looking for a parking space at the mall, this album will bring you back to a spirit of peace on Earth.

It's been a tough year for a lot of people but this season always brings new hope. If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a great one. As that old holiday favorite Stephen Colbert sings, "There are much worse things to believe in."

[davej147]

LAllen735

It''s available on iTunes.

Lynne (and anyone else reading), I''ve listened to Ian''s album twice today - it really is a gem...and money (very well) spent! I will leave feedback on your site after the new year...as well as on iTunes.

Merry Christmas,

Dave

[lynney07]

Dear Sunday Morning viewers, here are more details on the CD and how to order your copy:

Listen to sounds and pick up your signed copy at http://www.maniacrecords.net.

Come celebrate at the official release of %u201CNever Say Never%u201D with 00:02:59 Records on March 3, 2009 at B.B. King Blues Club, NYC. Catch the Bump Band on tour in the New Year, and visit www.ianmclagan.com/gigs for gig dates and ticket info.

Never Say Never is also available at iTunes, CDBaby http://cdbaby.com/cd/imtbb3 , and Proper Records in the UK/Europe.

Ian McLagan Says %u2018Never%u2019
In December of 2007 Ian ''Mac'' McLagan and Glyn Johns, his old pal from Small Faces and Faces days, met at Sphere Studios in London to mix and master Ian McLagan''s beautiful and emotionally raw CD, Never Say Never. The self produced and directed album features McLagan''s award winning Bump Band: ''Scrappy'' Jud Newcomb, Don Harvey and Mark Andes, and includes all original songs written by one of the best-loved musicians of our time. Patty Griffin graces Never Say Never with her soulful vocals and she and the Tosca Strings can be heard on the final track, the heart wrenching When The Crying Is Over. McLagan recorded and produced Never Say Never at The Doghouse Studios in Manor, Texas, and recorded Where Angels Hide on the Steinway in The Edythe Bates Old Chapel at The International Festival-Institute in Round Top, Texas.

Happy Holidays!

Lynne
www.ianmclagan.com

[lynney07]

We want to extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to Bill Flanagan, Ramon Parkins, and all the lovely folks at CBS Sunday Morning. The segment on Angels was truly befitting, as Kim was Mac%u2019s angel. This was the most amazing Christmas gift we could ever receive, and we are so honored that Bill selected Ian McLagan%u2019s %u201CNever Say Never%u201D to share with all of you.

davej147: Thanks for your support! This is a gem of an album, especially in the spirit of the holiday season. Please enjoy it, and we welcome your feedback at www.ianmclagan.com.

Happy Holidays!

Lynne
www.ianmclagan.com

[nonesuchrec]

The Mandi Variations, the new Toumani Diabati album recommended by Bill Flanagan, is available in North America from Nonesuch Records and elsewhere from World Circuit Records. More on Toumani and the album can be found at http://nonesuch.com/albums/the-mande-variations, where the CD can be purchased with the album MP3s included.

[nonesuchrec]

The Mandi Variations, the new Toumani Diabati album recommended by Bill Flanagan, is available in North America from Nonesuch Records and elsewhere from World Circuit Records. More on Toumani and the album can be found at http://nonesuch.com/albums/the-mande-variations, where the CD can be purchased with the album MP3s included.

[nonesuchrec]

The Mandi Variations, the new Toumani Diabati album recommended by Bill Flanagan, is available in North America from Nonesuch Records and elsewhere from World Circuit Records. More on Toumani and the album can be found at http://nonesuch.com/albums/the-mande-variations, where the CD can be purchased with the album MP3s included.

[lallen735]

to Davej I have tried to download the Diabate album but I can not find it. Where did you find it? Thanks in advance for your answer.

[davej147]

Thank you for the recommendation of these five outstanding CDs. I checked out Ian''s website this morning, and then bought his CD from iTunes. It''s fantastic! I then bought the equally fantastic album from Toumani Diabate. And, most likely my wife will buy the album from The Hold Steady.

Many, many thanks - and Christmas Blessings on you, too.

[anneuns]

I really enjoyed the segment about unappreciated musical artists. I went to your website to find a list of those you mentioned. Surprise!! No list, just the partial text of the broadcast. I had to paste and copy all the info I wanted and I think I''m missing a couple. Come''on guys! I can''t watch/listen and write too. If you''re going to recommend a product or products, please list them for us.

[eang88]

I caught this story as broadcast this morning - and I cannot believe you could post a music review without its video, or at least the audio! The text without its music? OH! so sad!

[golfnutte]

I enjoyed this segment of those artists who weren''t awarded top celebrity. That makes them all the more enjoyable as we will have "special" artist that others haven''t heard that much. Can''t wait to acquire these CD''s. Especially Diabete. Thank''s

[spirit881]

I think I was catching the part right before the Yule Log Video when something was mentioned about recordings of old radio shows - Does anyone know what they were called?? Thanks~~

[fezziwig49]

A thousand thank yous for your wonderful recommndations I just ordered two Diabete CD''s, and will probably order Sonny Rollins. You have great taste in music, and thanks for finding these gems.