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Holly Jolly X'masu

Dec 31, 2020

Welcome to Episode 12 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this special bonus episode, I talk about the pitfalls and pratfalls associated with collecting foreign records. In particular, I discuss a pair of albums I thought were Christmas albums but turned out not to be.

This episode was completely unplanned. I’ve had the idea...


Dec 25, 2020

Welcome to Episode 11 of Holly Jolly X'masu! For my first Christmas episode, I’m discussing one of the most amazing albums ever created, Jun Fukamachi’s Now Sound Christmas. It truly is remarkable. It showcases Fukamachi’s wide-ranging musical talent and is a listening experience unlike any other.

As I mention in...


Nov 25, 2020

Welcome to Episode 10 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I discuss the fantastic 1986 compilation, Winter Lounge. Compiled by musician and producer Mari Sugi, it’s one of the best Christmas compilations to come out of Japan in the 1980’s—a decade during which the Japanese music industry excelled at...


Oct 25, 2020

Welcome to Episode 9 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about an overlooked classic from 1972, “Merry Christmas From Sellstars,” by Takao Hirata and Sellstars. This is an album I discovered quite by accident. Its unassuming cover, which looks like a big square of loose-leaf paper, is one I passed by...


Sep 25, 2020

Welcome to Episode 8 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the phenomenal 1968 album, “Christmas Tenor Mood” by the Nakamura Hachidai Quintet and Hidehiko Matsumoto. I’ve been looking forward to this album, not just because of how great the music is, but because of its pedigree. As I doing my...