The Maine Christmas Song 20 Year Later

It's hard to believe that the Maine Christmas Song has been around for twenty years, but it's already established as a tradition here. The anniversary is being celebrated with the release of a new CD.The Christmas in Maine 20th Anniversary CD is now on sale at credit unions throughout the state.

This CD features Maine artists like Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary, Schooner Fare, Dave Mallett, Windham Chamber Singers, Joan Kennedy and more. The CDs are priced at $15 each with $4 from each CD going to the Maine Credit Unions’ Campaign for Ending Hunger.

Con Fullam wrote the Maine Christmas song and produced the CD which features a rendition of the Maine Christmas Song by Windham Chamber Singers, as well as a special original version of the song, and a French version performed by twelve-year-old Melanie Dorice Saucier of Fort Kent. It is also filled with traditional Christmas songs, as well as new songs.

Aroundmaine.com asked Con Fullam about the new CD.

It's hard to believe the Maine Christmas Song is 20 years old? How do you see it now? Has it done what you expected? What is singer Malinda Liberty up to today?

I wrote this song at the request of Bob Elliot who was doing a classic Elliot piece on, "the same old Christmas music." He called me on the Wednesday before Christmas '88 and asked me to write a Christmas song for the State of Maine. I suggested that that could be a good bit of fun and we should talk about it next August so as to have time to produce it for the holidays. He told me that he needed it for Friday and so I should get to work. With no time to think about it I just sat down and wrote it, thinking that it would be over and done with after the Friday airing.

Neither of us had any inkling that it would become a Maine tradition and still be played and sung 20 years hence. Were Elliot alive today he would be walking around with a classic Elliot grin after hearing the piece on National Public Radio the other day that was most complimentary about a state that had its very own Christmas song. Who'd of ever thunk?

As for Malinda she still lives in Lewiston and still plays out after all these years. As a side note I have been invited to attend the Christmas festivities at the Songo Lake Elementary School in Naples where the song has been sung every year since it came out.

How did you determine the other artists and tracks to be included in the CD?

I have worked, in some capacity, with most of the artists on the CD and certainly admire all of them. I chose the tracks because they are great performances and serve to accent the talent and diversity of music made in Maine.

What were you looking for in originals?

Good songs.

Were all these tracks recorded for this project, have the appeared in other places?

A bit of both. Both new versions of the Maine Christmas Song, and I Heard The Bells On Christmas Eve, were recently recorded for this project.I Saw Three Ships, and Magic In Memories were re-releases from the original Christmas In Maine CD that I produced back in 1993, and the other tracks were chosen from pre-existing CD's that the artists had released themselves.

A number of Maine radio stations are going all Christmas music. How have radio stations been responding to this CD?

The response has been very positive with many of the stations not only playing the CD but promoting it--and where it can be purchased. All of the stations report that they receive requests for the song year after year. By the way, they can be purchased at all Maine Credit Union locations, Bull Moose Music, Mr. Paperbacks, Reny's, Vogels Hallmark in the Maine Mall and several gift stores throughout the state.

Some of these folks are becoming the Elder statesman of Maine singer/songwriters. How have they influenced a follow-up generation locally?

I would leave that up to the follow-up generation to weigh in on. But if you consider the craftsmanship that is apparent in the writings of all of these artists one would be well served to listen and learn.

How did you select the charity to become involved with? Did the music come first and then you picked a beneficiary or vice versa?

I knew that I was going to produce the CD for this 20th anniversary and I also knew that, because of the content of the song, it would be important to attach the project to a charity. As it turned out, Jon Paradise and I have sat on the board of the Maine Children's Cancer Walk for several years together, and so when it came to identifying a partner I called Jon and asked if he had any suggestions. After hearing about the Maine Credit Union League's project to End Hunger in Maine I felt that it would be a perfect fit for the CD. And with the cost of gas and heating fuel being what it is this winter we all sincerely hope that this cd does well enough to provide some Maine families with the ability to eat AND stay warm without having to make a choice between the two.

Does the world need more Christmas Music?

I'll leave that up to the world to decide. It is my job to produce it and hope that it resonates positively with those who choose to listen.

Aroundmaine. com
December 10, 2007