[danews]CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM TERRY
danews@lists.danielamos.com
danews@lists.danielamos.com
Tue, 20 Dec 2005 17:31:59 -0600
>>DANIEL AMOS DELUXE REISSUE
We want to start with a quick update on this release... the final bit of
work is finally coming together. The album itself has been remastered and
is just awaiting approval. We haven't heard it yet ourselves, but we're
told it sounds great. The preorder disc is also finally together and should
be finished being mastered very soon. If all is approved, we're expecting
to start manufacturing very soon - hopefully no later than January.
Because of the long, unexpected wait on this reissue, we are going to be
putting together a special bonus gift for those of you that have ordered or
will order prior to January 1st, 2006.
If you can't remember if you've already preordered, we have a list
available to you online at the following location. Please check it and make
sure you are listed if you believe that you have preordered. Due to the
amount of time that has past since preorders began, it's very easy to make
mistakes on addresses or names, so please help us work through any
potential problems now before shipping begins. For example, if it's at all
possible that you have moved since you preordered, go ahead and take a
moment to make sure we have your current address on file. If you believe
you should be listed and do not see your name - don't worry. We have highly
detailed records of every single order that has ever been made through the
website and any preorder will be easy to track down. Simply send us a note
and we will find it if it's there.
http://www.danielamos.com/preorders/da.html
For current information on the Swirling Eddies release, see Terry's special
Christmas Message below. If you'd like to make sure you are on the Swirling
Eddies preorder list, you can check the following link:
http://www.danielamos.com/preorders/eddies.html
>>A CHRISTMAS NOTE FROM TERRY...
Firstly, I'd like to wish you the fans, along with your families and
friends, a truly blessed Christmas. That I cherish all of you goes without
saying, but it's especially during the holiday season that I take stock of
all my blessings, and I truly count you among the many gracious gifts God
has lovingly and lavishly bestowed upon me.
Our little house in Southern California is fully decorated now, thanks in
no small part to my incredible wife, and the immediate family is blessedly
all together. However, we greatly miss our dear departed Papa, especially
now at Christmas. Mom has come in early from Palm Springs to stay with us
through the rest of the year, and we were planning our annual pilgrimage
after Christmas to the Bay Area to briefly visit Deb's family.
Last Saturday night Debi, Andrew, Noelle, and I attended the Pasadena
Playhouse's theatrical presentation of "It's A Wonderful Life," which is a
clever re-enactment of the 1947 Lux Radio broadcast of the original
screenplay. The presentation is complete with commercials for Lux Soap, and
the play features one member of the cast on stage playing various
percussion instruments and devices to supply sound effects as we, the
crowd, play the part of the in-studio audience. The actors were all
excellent, the radio studio set was authentically retro, and we all left
floating on a cloud of Christmas cheer and a heightened sense of the wonder
of the season. Outside of the Gospels themselves, in my opinion there are
no better films as agents of Grace or depictions of the power of repentance
and redemption than "It's A Wonderful Life," and "A Christmas Carol" both
films subtlety pointing the way to the wonder and glory of Emmanuel, God
with us, the child in the manger.
On Christmas Eve, it's a tradition for our family to select 2
Christmas-themed DVDs to watch-among them are the two films mentioned,
along with "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (which we watch every year) and "A
Christmas Story" (FRAGILE!), Miracle on 34th Street, and Pinnochio. Always
a tough decision, but whatever the selection, we can be assured of a good
dose of holiday warmth and contentment. To end the evening, maybe this year
we'll watch Psycho or Day of the Dead, just so we can keep ourselves from
slipping to deeply into sloppy sentimentality.
Anyway-assuming you're at all interested, my present reading includes some
"Father Brown" (Chesterton), "Lanterns in the Snow" by Susan Hill, which is
a bi-annual Christmas read. and which I believe is out of print but worth
tracking down if you want a great Christmas story along with a good cry, "A
Classic Christmas Crime," edited by Tim Heald, "Father Joe," a
autobiography by Tommy Hendro (of Spinal Tap fame--he played the band's
manager), and various selections from "The Fireside Book of Christmas
Stories," edited by Edward Wagenknecht, unfortunately also out of print and
probably the best Christmas anthology ever published. I first purchased
this back in 1978 and have never missed a year since in choosing a few
selections for reading from the extensive number of classic Holiday stories
it has to offer.
So there you have it. A lot of reading, I know, but I sneak it in on
Catscratch breaks and bedtimes.
Music recommendations for the season? Brian Wilson's new What I Want For
Christmas (excellent....will put a smile on your face and is highly
recommended). The new Sigur Ros, Garrison Keillor's " The Christmas
Companion," and of course, the standards: Sinatra, Elvis, Perry Como, Nat
Cole. My favorite Christmas song? Hands down "O Holy Night:"...'till He
appeared and the soul felt it's worth..." With it's radiant truth and
poignancy, the words and melody never fail to choke me up and cause me to
lift my heart in worship to our gracious and merciful Lord.
This year has been a good one for the Lost Dogs. We toured very
successfully back East (thank you to all the fans who came out to see us!)
and, along with our good friend Theo Obrastoff, had a great little tour of
Washington and Oregon. The Dogs also played Knott's Berry Farm last week
and the new year seems to be shaping up exceptionally well for us (we'll
keep you posted on this front as the year progresses).
As far as Daniel Amos is concerned, we've presently got some avid fans who
are passionately after us to do a reunion concert somewhere here in the
States next year, and we'll just have to wait and see how this develops.
Unfortunately, the odds are against it because of our various schedules and
other logistical hurdles, but one never knows. My hope is that, at the very
least, D.A. will do a new record in 2006.
Speaking of new records, I would like to offer my humble and deepest
apologies to the fans for the new "horrendously delayed disc"-the Swirling
Eddies' record. As you guys probably know, my time has been eaten up with
work on Catscratch. The schedule has been brutal, and we are soon going to
move into work on the second season. I know that your patience has been
exhausted on all this, and if I had known that Catscratch was going to fall
into my lap when it did, I would have never committed so early to doing a
new Eddies album. Unfortunately, all I can do is occasionally whittle away
at the new songs and hope for enough of a break from the cartoon schedule
so that we can begin the recording process in earnest. There are indeed
some schedule gaps coming up, and I hope to take advantage of this and will
do my best to fulfill my commitment to the project and you, the
long-suffering fans.
In the meantime, be assured that this will be a great Eddies record (I'm
really pleased with the songs thus far), and we'll do something extra
special for all of you who so long ago sent in your pre-orders. Again, my
deepest heart-felt apologies, and I sincerely ask that you put aside any
criticism of my dear friends Jason and Eric Townsend in this matter. They
are just as frustrated as you guys are, I assure you, that this record has
been so slow in materializing. They've done all that they can do in trying
to move me and the project along towards completion, but all of us are
against a fairly immovable object in Catscratch. With Jason and Eric, I
couldn't ask for two more faithful and hard-working men, and no one is more
anxious than they in their desire to keep commitments and please the fans.
There is no profit financially whatsoever for them-they do what they do for
love alone, and for that I am always grateful and consider them both to be
the very definition of "unsung heroes." I take full responsibility and
blame in the interminable delay, and ask that you graciously give these two
dear people the support of your goodwill, just as you have done so
graciously over these many years.
Lastly, please pray for the Townsends, and for me and my family, as we pray
for you and yours. As long as God allows, and as long as you give your
gracious support, I will continue to make music and hopefully bless and
challenge you with my efforts.
As you may know, I had a health scare this year, and I am confident your
prayers and good will helped get me through it. I am happy to report that I
am doing well and feeling more fit than I have in years. My son is now
assisting me in my work and prayers for him would be sincerely appreciated.
Be sure and check out Myspace for downloads and a spiffy little personal
bio, which Andrew helped put together. (myspace.com/terryscotttaylor.) Also
pray for my dear friends Ken and Michelle VanEgmond and their family. In
every possible way, they have been a source of infinite joy, comfort, and
undying support for me and my family. I cherish these wonderful, wonderful
people. Again, it would please me to no end if you would pray for the
VanEgmonds, who are seeking the Lord's specific direction concerning
ministry in their lives.
Lastly, many of you knew our dear friend Dwight Ozard who passed away
recently after a long, courageous fight with a deadly disease. He will be
sorely missed. Dwight was a diligent and passionate warrior in defense of
the less fortunate, and you can honor him and his memory by doing your bit
to help those who are unable to help themselves, especially during the
Christmas season. What could be more basic to us as the body of Christ than
our obedience to the great commandment: " Love your neighbor as you love
yourselves." I highly recommend supporting the Salvation Army in this
regard. They are an honest and tireless force of grace and good in this
often merciless world.
Again, blessings to all of you, and may you all experience the abundant joy
and peace of Christ during this Christmas season and throughout the coming
New Year. I love you all.
In the service of our Blessed Lord,
Terry Taylor