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TIMES/BEAVER NEWSPAPER--November, 1994 TAYLOR'S NEW CD TERRIFIC
In the search for sounds to put in the CD player this Christmas, don't overlook
the local boys.
Because if you were one of those who were bowled over by non-traditional Christmas
stuff like the "Fresh Aire," offerings of Mannheim Steamroller, you ain't
heard nothin' yet. "B. E. Taylor Christmas" will absolutely bury you. THE
HERALD STAR--December, 1994 CLASSIC CAROLS WITH A DIFFERENT TWIST
There's only one way to sing a Christmas carol . . . unless you're B. E. Taylor.
The longtime Pittsburgh favorite injects R&B, pop, reggae and calypso into
"B. E. Taylor Christmas," a collection of 12 traditional Christmas carols
done to not-so-traditional arrangements.
The result?
New interpretations of old favorites, ones that make a listener want to jam
and rock to the beat at the sound of "Joy to the World," "We Three Kings"
and "Mary's Boy Child," unlikely candidates for toe-tapping.
The holiday offering (cassette and CD formats, Chrishae Records) marks the
Beaver Valley native's first full-length recording project since 1986. And
it's a work likely to please fans who've trailed Taylor's musical path through
three major label releases of the now-defunct B. E. Taylor Group, which toured
from 1982 through 1987.
Perhaps the group's best-known work was a song called Vitamin L, a 1984 regional
smash and national hit that got a lot of air play on MTV. The song was written
by Weirton's Rick Witkowski, the group's guitarist, songwriter and producer
whose home-based Studio L is where he and Taylor co-produced this holiday
work.
Several songs on "B. E. Taylor Christmas" started as selections that Taylor
worked up in his capacity as music director for LightMusic, a contemporary
Christian/positive mainstream video show. LightMusic airs on more than 1,000
cable systems, 60 broadcast stations and four satellite networks.
"A few of the songs I had already done on the TV show, and some I had in mind,"
said Taylor. "Ricky and I saw that the old traditional songs were really working
in this new light."
The holiday album originally was going to be a project for The HIT Men, HIT
being an acronym for the surnames of Pete Hewlett, formerly with Billy Joel;
well-known artist Donny Iris; and Taylor, all three good friends. The trio
recorded "Silent Night " in 1991 as part of a Pittsburgh-based fund-raising
effort for the homeless and got a lot of positive response.
The next year the trio recorded "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."
But conflicting schedules made it impossible for the three to continue a holiday
album project so Taylor and Witkowski decided earlier this year to forge ahead.
While those two earlier recordings are part of the album, the other 10 Christmas
carols were recorded mostly this spring and summer at Studio L. The weather
was often in the 90's but the two were stayed in a December frame of mind.
Although Taylor is lead vocalist on the songs, he's not alone. One song, "O
Come All Ye Faithful," is a family effort involving the voices of his wife,
Veronica, and children B. C. and Tahnee.
The first pressing of "B. E. Taylor Christmas" was 20,000 and the album was
released from Cleveland to Morgantown. A campaign already is in progress for
a national release next year.
"The reason we didn't get in the full swing this year is because some people
buy as early as March for Christmas, and we didn't really start selling to
distributors until the end of summer."
Taylor's favorites? He describes "Joy to the World" as a joyous, upbeat rendition
and likes the version of "What Child is This." But overall he's happy with
the whole project, which is getting air play on Ohio Valley radio stations,
from WOMP-FM to WDVE in Pittsburgh.
"We put down on tape what we had in our minds and hearts. Hopefully, that
fun transcends to the listeners when they're in their car or home and embracing
the true meaning of Christmas." EXPRESSION--December,
1994 START THE LIGHTMUSIC BAND AND STRIKE THE CHORUS
Lightmusic musical director, B. E. Taylor, has released a new Christmas album
on cassette and CD. It's going to make Christmas merrier for many this year.
B. E. has recorded a collection of 12 classic Christmas favorites with classic
rock sensibilities.
Taylor is joined on the songs by such top Pittsburgh musical talent as Donnie
Iris, Pete Hewlett, Tom Green, Denise Graves, Toni Turner, and the album's
producer, and guitar wiz, and all-round good guy, Rick Witkowski. The musicianship
and production values are a reason to celebrate. However, the album could
never have been completed without the tireless effort of Veronica, Taylor's
gorgeous wife, whose faith in the gifted singer has provided the support essential
to completing the project.
The couple's two children, B. C. (9) and Tahnee (7) sing with both their parents
on O Come All Ye Faithful, making this a truly family centered project. The
arrangements are sure to surprise you and keep you listening. You will certainly
know all the songs, but some of them well take a few listenings before you
are actually able to sing along. Angels We Have Heard on High is done with
a big fat vocal arrangement and a string arrangement that sounds like it was
borrowed from Magical Mystery Tour. I love listening to it. The unique arrangement
caused me to listen to the lyrics with fresh ears.
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear starts with a more traditional sounding acoustic
guitar and Tom Green's haunting recorder, providing a subtle backdrop for
Taylor's rich tenor. By the end of the song B. E. has made it his own adding
a creative choral coda.
Whether rocking to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (a trio with Taylor Isis, and
Hewlett, collectively known as the Hitmen) relaxing to the jazz-influenced
What Child is This, or groovin' to the R & B favored We Three Kings, this
album is "Taylor-made" for celebrating the birth of our Lord.
