A Christmas Drum Sound Mystery

[benton netty]

Hello and Happy Holidays, all.

I was in Pier One buying coffee mugs for my wife when I suddenly heard an AMAZING kick drum sound in one of the Christmas songs playing over the store stereo. It seriously stopped me dead in my tracks. I started making mental notes, trying to memorize a key lyric so I could go and look up the song later. And then my phone rang. I answered it, and by the time I was off the line, the song was gone, and, with it, whatever clues I had as to what it was. Except for this: it sounded 60's, and I wanted to say it involved James Brown or Tina Turner. And, I'm telling you, the drums sounded like John Bonham at his Bonhamiest, even though I know it wasn't him. But it was a totally choice, roomy sound.

Does this ring any sort of (Christmas) bells for anyone? I never heard that song before, and I'm afraid I never will, again. Oh, also: I don't think it was a well-known standard. It was a song I was unfamiliar with, I think. Also: it wasn't Phil Spector's Christmas album. I checked already. This recording was much less wall-of-sound, methinks.

I figured if anyone would be able to help me, I should try this place first.

Thanks!

[CraigS63]

I bet Shazam, Midori or an audio recording app on your (i) phone would've come in handy. You don't know if it was a male or female singing? I'll guess - Eartha Kitt. RIP Catwoman.

[cgarges]

Eartha Kitt. RIP Catwoman.

I heard. Man, that bummed me out. She was great.

So, it WAS a Christmas tune, right? James Brown recorded a bunch of Christmas tunes, but none of them sound very ambient or Bonham-esque to me.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[benton netty]

Yep, definitely a Christmas tune. I hate to say James Brown and then plant that seed, but I felt like I was hearing him. But Tina Turner also came to mind. I almost thought it was some kind of duet with the two of them. This is while I'm having a phone conversation, so it may be totally off-base.

The kick drum just sounded so great on it right from the top -- a real room-sounding, heavy kick.

I know this is virtually nothing to go on, but I was hoping someone else had noticed the same thing about this particular song...

[chris harris]

Go back to Pier One and ask them what they were playing. Maybe it's some "Pier One Holiday disc" that you can buy in the store.

[vvv]

Or find out if and then what radio station they had on.

Some ('XRT in Chicago, for instance) publish their daily play-list.