Americana Highways brings you this video premiere of Anthony St. James’ song “Christmas Parade,” recorded at home by Anthony St. James and friends; and mixed and mastered by Ryan Douglas Rose at Secret Summit Studios, Williamsport PA. It was co-produced by Ryan Douglas Rose and Anthony St. James and distributed by Crotalus Records (US) and Aldora-Britain Records (UK).
“Christmas Parade” is Ryan Douglas Rose on keyboards, and Anthony St. James on vocals, acoustic guitar, and acoustic bass. The video was assembled by St. James, and the photo is courtesy of Patrick Gavlin. Put your feet up, breathe and listen to this this pretty, wistful, songwriting. It’s a Christmas song with sleigh bells masking a lot of pain and gut wrenching.
Christmas is a celebratory time, but I think it’s important to remember it’s not that way for everyone. There was a paper mill that supplied most of the jobs for the small Pennsylvania town I grew up in, and when it closed, a lot of people were out of work. Drugs were suddenly everywhere. I remember parents making deals while waiting to see Santa, and encouraging their kids to grab candy by any means necessary, like it was all they’d have to eat that day. After my parents split up, I spent some holidays in Baltimore with my mom, in a row house that looked a lot like the one in the video. Some of the neighborhood kids had never believed in Santa because their parents knew there’d be no money for presents. It all really changed the way I view the season; there are a hell of a lot of people out there who are a lot less lucky than I am. — Anthony St. James
https://anthonystjames.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-anthony-st-james
http://www.crotalusrecords.com
Try more new music here on our New Americana Music playlist: “New Americana Music” playlist by Americana Highways