Does anybody remember (music question)

[lukasahero]

Hi all. Back around 1985/6, I was working at Strawberries records and distinctly remember a tape (ha!) called "Christmas Presence of Mind" that was put out (I think) by BCN.

It featured Christmas tunes by Boston artists and there was a version of God Rest Ye' Merry Gentlemen that just knocked me out. I'm pretty sure it was a female vocalist if not a full-on all female band but I can't remember the name of the band and cannot find the album anywhere (and I have been trying for like 7 years.... :( )

Am I imagining this or does anyone here remember it too?

[Kat45]

1. That title sounds familiar.

I'm not really remembering anything, but I'll take a look through my old stuff in case I have it. Did you say it was a tape? (I actually do have a lot of old tapes, many local.) I also have a few Facebook friends who I knew from the music scene back in the day; I'll ask them if they know it too.

[Kat45]

2. You won't believe this--I have the tape!

I found it! It was put out by WBCN. The song is by a band called Down Avenue. I don't remember that band at all (and that was the time period when I was out in clubs all the time), but they apparently won the WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble in 1985. The vocalist was a black man. I also noticed that the tape had a cut called "I Hate Christmas" by one of my favorite bands back then, Rick Berlin: The Movie.

Which Strawberries did you work at? A friend of mine worked there in the eighties, though I don't know if it was at the same time as you or earlier in the decade.

[lukasahero]

3. OMG OMG OMG

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!

I have seriously been looking for this song for almost 10 years! You are my frackin' hero!!!! I don't suppose you know how to transfer tape to mp3 do you?

"The vocalist was a black man"? I knew I was doing too many drugs in those days. ;) I was playing the club scene in RI so didn't get out to see many bands at the time but I loved the version of the song.

I worked at the Strawberries in Providence and would have been there around 85 - 87 (don't exactly remember the dates - a hazard of working in a record shop ;). So I wasn't in Boston but I just remember that one song (which, of course, I'm sure as soon as I hear after 25 years will pale to my memory). I'm sure if I heard the rest of the tape it would all come flooding back though.

I lost the tape when my car was broken into when I was working in Quincy. I was so mad because it was almost 10 years later and I knew I would never find the tape again not to mention they took tapes from my college performances that are even more irreplaceable.

If you have any means to transfer that tape to mp3 or any desire to sell it, please contact me via pm as I would be very happy to compensate you well for it. :)

[Kat45]

4. I know nothing about transfering tape to mp3 but I'll ask a friend who might know

If--and that's a big if--I can figure it out, are you interested in just that song or the whole tape? (I'll pm you if I am able to do it.)

[lukasahero]

5. Either way

I'd be most interested in the one song but would love to have the whole tape as well.

If you do not have the means to do this, and you are a trusting soul, I'd be willing to do it for you. If your friend can't help you, I can do it but would have to have the tape... I'd send it back but that's your call.

Whatever happens, I appreciate you looking for it and am somewhat glad just to know I'm not insane after all these years. ;)

[Kat45]

6. My friend told me he does know how to do it.

I don't know when he'll do it for me but I'll pm you after it's done. I'll have to ask him to show me how to do it; I think it could be useful to know how.

[lukasahero]

7. Awesome! Thank you so much

and your friend too!

Doing such is fairly easy but you need the right equipment. If you have as many tapes as I think you do, you'd probably do well to put them to digital.

You're a peach. I'd like to do something to thank you for your kindness. Is there a charity you're particularly fond of?