The Bigfellas have been aiming to put out a Christmas record for years.
Every year around early November we think of it again and then there’s not enough time to do it.
Then we finally started in earnest last year in early summer of 2024.
Then tragedy struck when Shay died suddenly.
Shay was in the studio with me a couple of weeks before he died.
It’s so eerie to have so much audio and video from him.
In 2026, Rick Bowman of Backyard Green Films is going to put together footage of The Bigfellas traveling in Ireland in 2023 and our recording.
Also coming is a lot of music.
I’ve honestly been in shock and a long, funky state since Shay died and frankly haven’t felt up to finishing off the recording and mixing.
But I’m feeling ready now.
We’ve got over 80% done on TWO albums - a full 12-14 song Bigfellas originals affair, plus the Christmas EP we’ve been meaning to do.
The Xmas Record We Owe You
We’ve got 5 tracks coming on this.
1) "The Shittiest Christmas" (original)
2) "Mele Kelekimaka" (cover of Hawaiian holiday song)
3) "Fum, Fum, Fum" (version of old Catalonian Christmas song, royalty-free and public domain by the way)
4) "Morgen, KInder" (old 19th German Christmas song, also public domain!)
5) "The Man Upstairs (original instrumental)
We love going back in time to yank out unknown foreign Christmas songs and laying some new English verses and translations in there.
Can’t wait to share them - although we’ve waited this long.
So, we’ll let that go until late 2026.
Mele Kelekimaka
Meanwhile, here’s a little preview of one, "Mele Kelekimaka".
Not quite finished or mixed but damn close.
On a festive note, have a great Christmas.
And take a lesson from Shay leaving us too soon: reach out to those people you’ve been missing and try to see your friends and family as often as you can while we’re all still around.
And to Pam, Shay’s widow, and his whole family: We love you and miss you.
