Every Friday night we smooth our way into the weekend with music, the universal language. These selections demonstrate that despite what is being passed off as art today, there is plenty of really good music available. Come along and enjoy.

We’ve done this the past several years. We highlight some brand new Christmas CD releases, some you may want to go out and purchase before anyone else does. Let’s get started.

OK. I admit it. We’re cheating a bit on the opener. It’s technically nothing new. It’s the re-release of a 1998 Christmas album that featured Christmas songs from 1964. Hope you followed.

The vocalist who had a golden throat was best known for singing the theme song for…

This is perfect Christmas music, nostalgic with a sound that fits any Christmas setting. The old songs are the best Christmas songs. If you believe that, you’ll love this.

Alright. Seriously let’s get to the real new material.

If you’re country you’d naturally want to incorporate the pedal steel guitar in your repertoire. The pretty Kacey Musgraves does just that with this remake of a tune done by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters.

Next a professional a cappella group which originated in 1996 at Indiana University. Their popularity has grown and grown. And they have a new CD for the new season.

We all know and love Charlie Brown’s Christmas. The soundtrack from that TV classic 50 some years ago is a musical masterpiece. Musicians ever since have been putting their own touches on selections from an annual holiday favorite. And this next one’s a gem.

Here’s contemporary jazz pianist Bob Baldwin with a memorable piece from Lee Mendelson’s TV production of ” A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Now we really get nostalgic.

I had no idea one of my childhood favorite TV celebrities made a Christmas album.

Bob Keeshan, an American treasure.

That’s it for this week.

Good night.

Sleep well.

Have a great weekend.

More wonderful Christmas, and yes, it’s CHRISTMAS music next Friday night.

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