released December 1, 2007

1. Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time

Written by: Paul McCartney
Piano: Ray J
Vocals: "Everybody!"
Sleigh Bells/Arrangement: Chad Roxxit

My first reaction to doing this song was "I f'n hate that song, no goddamn way will I sing it." Of course, that would probably go for just about every holiday tune out of the late 70s/early 80s. Luckily Mr. Roxxit has a very convincing way of turning us all around. This was one of the last tracks we did and it was a bit of a one-take wonder. The concept: let's all sit around the piano like we're doing a christmas carol so people know that we actually recorded this album. Believe it or not, this was a problem last year; lots of folks thought it was a compilation of pre-recorded tunes and didn't know we performed EVERY track. Which I suppose is a huge compliment, but also sad for us. So we crowded around a couple of mics, lyrics in hand and belted it out. Sure, there were some mistakes, but I like to call mistakes "character adders" or "jazz". In the end, I really liked how it came out. Almost has a "Peanuts" vibe to it... and you know, we ain't half bad at singing in a group. Fun Fact: the sleighbells were homemade--Liz and Kolle dissected a perfectly good wreath to create them.

2. Let it Snow

Drums: Jimmy Boom
Piano/Tubular Bells/Synth: Ray J
Guitars: Vic
Bass/Arrangement: Chad Roxxit
Vocals: Liz

Part of our self-criticism of 2006's holiday CD was that it didn't have enough rockin' in-your-face tunes. One late night, Roxxit was on another YouTube binge and got inspired by that new tune from Silverchair, hence this arrangement of Let it Snow was born. Now, I must say the band Silverchair has changed a lot since my 90s flannel days. Who could forget such profound lyrics such as "I hate you and your apathy, and I want you to know that I want you dead. You're late for the excecution. You can leave you can leave I don't want you here!" (from "Isreal's Son" off Frogstomp). They really have taken a different direction since the angsty 90s years, now with their pretty-boy looks and outfits and more evolved modern rock sound... good for them! Back to the song: this tune started off as a piano riff and quickly evolved from there. I took inspiration from some shoegaze rock and that one Killers tune thats on the radio a lot to lay down some effects-soaked spacey guitar work. This was all done with plugins since I don't have a rockstar pedalboard (yet!). I really love Liz' vocals on this one, they have this sort of non-chalance that works really well. Please tell her this when you see her, because she always trash-talks her tracks!

3. Run Rude Rudolph

Written by : Chuck Berry
Drums: Jimmy Boom
Vocals/Organ/Arrangement: Ray J
Guitar/Trombone/Percussion: Chad Roxxit
Bass/Lead Guitar: Vic

The decision to go rude for this track was sorta last minute. We played around with some more old school traditional ska styles that we're used to, but they fell flat. Out of nowhere, Ray suggests 2-tone style and after a few bars jamming on it we were decided. There's something about 80s ska that totally explains all the absurd behavior you see at ska shows now. When you hear good ol' 2 tone, theres this inexplicable urge to run in place, chant "rude boy" for no reason, and paint checkers on everything. Roxxit does a great Rico impersonation with the trombone fills... and Ray's vocals seriously channels his inner Brit, innit? I think my hand is still recovering from trying to do those disco basslines. Sir Horace must have had calluses of steel.

4. White Christmas

Bass/Lap Steel/Guitar/Ukulele/Percussion/Arrangement: Vic
Glockenspiel: Ray J
Vocals: Rommy

This arrangement is shamelessly bitten from steel guitar legend Speedy West's "Sunset in Waikiki". See what I did there? I admitted my plagiarism before I can be called out on it, even though it's ultra-obscure! +2 post-modernity points for me. I take every opportunity to include the Glockenspiel in a track because its fun to say "Glockenspiel". I did a million takes of lap steel before it sounded right. I have a huge appreciation for steel players. It's sorta a pain in the ass to play because A. no one can agree on a standard tuning ("whatever works for you man!" doesnt cut it for me... I need STRUCTURE) B. I'll never get used to those weird finger-pick/talon things. Rommel's voice is sooo sweet in this tune. He does that vibrato thing that, in the words of Ray J, "will make Filipino grandmothers everywhere swoon". He's like Phillipine Elvis: Phelvis. Ewww that sounds gross.... its like a mix between "Phallus" and "Pelvis". Sorry Rommel.

5. I'll Be Home For Christmas

Drums: Jimmy Boom
Guitars: Vic
Organ/Bass/"It's me baby, open the do'"/Arrangement: Ray J
Trombone: Chad Roxxit
"Who is it?": Kolle

We all like old school reggae a lot so here's a straight-from-yard version of this classic tune arranged by Ray J. It's the only instrumental on the CD. Not sure why we decided to do less instrumental tunes this year, but I think it's a good thing. There are lots of folks (such as my mom) who think that a song without vocals aren't "real" songs. In fact, when my mom found out I was lead chipmunk in 06's album, she was seriously stoked... more so than with anything else I've recorded as a lowly guitarist on. My poor brother had to listen to that track on repeat. Imagine hearing chipmunk voices on repeat. That would suck, even if that chipmunk IS your bro. Chad's Canadian brass trombone arrangement reminds me of the great north. And that full speed leslie on the organ towards the end takes me places. I did my best to do some Lyn Taitt style lead but that triplet stuff he does is insane! Next time maybe I'll just get him to do it (he still lives in Canada!), but I guess I'll have to talk him into moving into Strange Manor first.

6. To Heck With Ole Santa Claus

Written by/Arrangement: Loretta Lynn
Percussion/Piano/Background Vox: Ray J
Bunkhouse Bass/Guitar/Ukulele/Lap Steel/Percussion: Vic
Angry Santas: Ray, Vic, Jimmy, Chad
Vocals: Kolle

Kolle is a cowgirl at heart and when she suggested doing this tune we all thought "well, no doy, of course" ("no doy": bring it back!). It's one of my favorites on this CD, I only wish it was longer than 2 minutes. Jimmy Boom is worried that the younger folks will be offended by this one: "To heck with santa"? That's like blasphemy to a kid. That's like telling a kid that fruit rollups ain't delicious. But "happy holidays" is apparently all about a war on Christmas and hating our freedoms according to the conservatives so we'll remain true to that spirit, using their own beloved country music against them... HA! But seriously, country music is awesome. If I hear another hipster say "I like everything but country", I'm gonna seriously wikipedia their ig'nant-ass with the goods. Back to hating Santa: if you didn't get what you wanted this year then this song is for you. But you should probably still consider being good next year... because Karma, dude.

7. Santa Claus Go Straight To Strange Manor

Written by/Arrangement: James Brown
Drums: James Boom
Bass/Horn Section: Chad Roxxit
Guitars: Vic
Piano/Vocals: Ray

When Ray J heard this song, he knew it had to be on this year's CD. Why? Well it's about places like Richmond, the type of city Santa skips on his route. Did you know that Richmond has 5 times the national average murder rate? For more fun Richmond statistics see this website. Who are we kidding though, Strange Manor is in the Richmond heights, which is hardly a tough part of Richmond. You're probably more likely to step on a possum than get a dirty look from somebody. Heck, it's by wildcat canyon park, and I've never even seen a wildcat. This neighborhood is often mistaken for El Cerrito, whose murder rate is 0% of the national average. You know what that means? NO MURDERS. So please, come to our BBQs if that's what has been scaring you off. They are quite safe. It's not like you have to pick a color to wear, but you might have to wear a fake moustache, depending on the theme of the day.

8. Christmas Baby Come Home

Arrangement/All Intruments/Vocals: Chad Roxxit
Background Vocals: Ray J

Chad wanted to go for a Social D type sound on this one, which I was skeptical we could pull off. Boy, did he prove us wrong by doing it all by himself! You see, rock n' roll is actually not easy for jazz nancy boys like myself. I might be sounding facetious saying that, but I really think its true. I tried to play in a rock band a few years ago and I got kicked out for not rocking hard enough. I was probably unconsciously "swinging" everything, which is lame and doesn't rock. Anyway, Chad's attention to detail on this track prompted the division of Strange Manor into Studio R (for Christmas Baby Come Home related production), and Studio V (everything else). Productivity soared and the golden age of Strange Manor studios began. Some say if you listen close on a moonless night you can hear the lonely reverberated guitar line eminating from Studio R... spooky.

9. Winter Wonderland

Beats/Arrangement/Boss DJ: Ray J
Vocals: Liz

This is the track that's gonna make you dance and freak out and buy a strobe light for your room. Ray whipped out some Erasure-infuenced beats and they came off brilliantly. Liz initially wasn't crazy about the "Cher effect" that we put on her voice. But after much deliberation, I slammed my fists on the mixing console and remarked, "Do you want a HIT or not?! Thumpy bass + robot voice + DJ toasting = hit. It's that simple, folks!"

10. Last Christmas

Written by/Arrangement: Wham!
Beats: Ray J
Vocals: Rommel
Drunks: Everyone else

This one is for all the fine folks at the Melodee and Sea Mi. Great lengths were taken to get the karaoke bar ambiance for this track. Ray painstakingly recreated the backing track in all it's cheesy synthy glory, then we used a hasty pitch shift to get it into Rommel's key. Finally, the Strange Manor living room was literally converted into a karaoke bar: it was outfitted with a cheap PA with too much reverb, lights were dimmed, and real stiff cocktails were mixed in order to provide a convincing "drunk" atmosphere. We only had to do one take with room microphones, but in the end found that the song is pretty darned long. Chad and I decided that 6 minutes of Wham! (even Wham! mockery) is just too much, so we had to chop it. I DARE you to find the splice! By the way, if you haven't gone to Karaoke with Rommel, it's always amazing. He'll do some Barry Manilow that will bring you to tears. Even the regulars start to get visibly uneasy, swirling their glasses, and staring their stacks of homemade Karaoke CD's thinking "I've wasted my life...".

11. Marshmallow World

Written by: Carl Sigman
Vocals: Lady K
Piano/Percussion/Arrangement: The Mighty Manta Ray
Ukulele/Bass: Lord Wong
Congas: The Original Angeles Himself

How fortunate that we discovered this rare side from the mysterious Mento/Calypso singer Lady K! Not much is known about her, but in an era of predominately male calypso singers she definitely stood out. Who could forget such Lady K classics as "Don't Touch Mi' Apple Pie" and "Surfin' Richmond CA". This was recorded directly from an orignal 45 vinyl record using state of the art studio transfer techniques. Sure, it may not be us, but we still couldn't resist putting on this CD. Hope you like it!

12. Christmas All Over Again

Written by/Arrangement: Tom Petty
Drums/Percussion/Phil Spector Impersonator: Jimmy Boom
Bass/Trombone section: Chad Roxxit
Piano/Harpsichord/Percussion: Ray J
Guitars, Vocals: Vic
Special Guest: Sonny

To be honest, we weren't even sure that making this CD would be a possibility this year due to scheduling conflicts and a general lack of motivation. Sad but true! I think that early jamming on this song is really what turned it all around--it's a rocker! This tune was a high production number and has a lot of tracking going on. And every day, Ray J would add some more: 8 tracks of Timpani? Not cool, dudes. I started to run out of space in Pro Tools and it became necessary to bounce down submixes down to keep the CPU happy. Once we got all these layers on the song, it came down to, "well who's going to sing it?" (this actually happened with several songs). No one was up for the task, so I said "aw shucks, I'll do it", and retreated into Studio V one late night to lay it all down. Warning: some animals may have been slighty irritated (but certainly not abused) in the recording of this track.