Suggested Listens December 1, 2017

Hi everyone, here are our six musical recommendations for the week; five streaming suggestions and one recommended album on CD.

(Click on the photo of the album you’d like to hear to stream or request the album)

Freegal Streaming Suggestions*

I’m on a super nostalgic kick this week and am not offering any suggested listening titles that are less than 30 years old!

This weeks’ suggested listening titles include:

 A various artists LP titled NOW That’s What I Call The 80s which includes songs I remember from my high school years;

The Best of the Liverpool Five a short lived mid-sixties band that played in a British Invasion-Garage Band style.

George Winston’s December, which is a perfect album for the season as the songs are both festive in keeping with the holiday season and, the music is played in a way that allows the listener to easily conjure up images of snow falling and peaceful snowy landscapes.

Herb Albert’s Lonely Bull album which was his first LP and put his music, and that of the influential label he co-founded (A&M Records), on the map. The mariachi based instrumentals, collectively, have a reflective, wistfulness to them and are a prefect compliment to any leisure activity (my favorite is reading!)

Classic country artist Charlie Reed’s Set Me Free LP which harkens back to an era when acoustic instruments could be frequently heard front and center in country, folk, blues and pop recordings.

And our CD listening suggestion for the week is a friendly and warm album by guitarist Charlie Hunter and drummer Leon Parker simply titled Duo. It is one of those recordings where you can tell the musicians are truly friends just by listening to their playing. And indeed, in his AllMusic review of the album Rich Anderson described the album as a “wonderful, warm rewarding album.”

NOW That’s What I Call The ’80s by Various Artists (Genre: Pop, Rock):

Songs on the LP include: Uptown Girl by Billy Joel, Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! and Who Can It Be Now? by Men at Work.

The Best of Liverpool Five by Liverpool Five (Genre: Classic Rock, British Invasion, Garage Band):

Songs on this classic rock collection include: If You’ve Gotta Go, Go Now, She’s Mine, That’s What I Want, Just a Little Bit and Heart.

December by George Winston (1982) (Genre: Piano, New Age, Jazz, Holiday):

Songs on this mellow LP include: Thanksgiving, Joy, Carol Of The Bells, The Holly and the Ivy and Peace.

The Lonely Bull by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (1962) (Genre: Easy Listening, Jazz):

Songs on the album include: The Lonely Bull, El Lobo, Tijuana Sauerkraut, Never on Sunday, Struttin’ with Maria and Let It Be Me.

Set Me Free by Charlie Rich (1968) (Genre: Country, Classic Country):

Songs in the set include: Set Me Free, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Just Like Old Times, Very Much Alone and Got to See My Baby.

CD of the Week:

Duo by Charlie Hunter (1999) (Genre: Jazz):

Song on the LP include: Mean Streak, Do That Then, You Don’t Know What Love Is, Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) and Calypso for Grandpa.

Videos of the Week:

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!

That’s What I Want by Liverpool Five

The Holly and the Ivy by George Winston

Acapulco 1922 by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Set Me Free by Charlie Rich

Mean Street by Charlie Hunter and Leon Parker

References:

Artist Biography & Discography Information:

http://www.allmusic.com/

The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn (Billboard Books. New York. 2009.)

P.S. If you have any questions about how to download or stream free music through the Freegal Music service to a desktop or laptop computer or how to download and use the Freegal Music app let us know! Drop by the library or give us a call at: 607-936-3713

*You must have a library card at a Southern Tier Library System member library to enjoy the Freegal Music Service. Your card can be from any library in the system, and the system includes all public libraries in Steuben, Chemung, Yates, Schuyler and Allegheny Counties and includes our own Southeast Steuben Count Library in Corning, New York!

Library cards are free if you live in our service area. And you can obtain a card by visiting the Circulation Desk and presenting staff with a form of ID that features your name and your current address.

Catching Up On New York Times Bestsellers: December 1, 2017  

Hi everyone, here are a selection of books that have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list in the last month.

To find out more about a book, or to request it, click on the photo of the book you’re interested in which will re-direct you to the StarCat request page*

And without further ado, here’s the list of bestsellers for December 2017!

FICTION:

ARTEMIS by Andy Weir Crown:

A small-time smuggler living in a lunar colony schemes to pay off an old debt by pulling off a challenging heist.

A COLUMN OF FIRE by Ken Follett:

A pair of lovers find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict while Queen Elizabeth fights to maintain her throne.

COUNT TO TEN by James Patterson and Ashwin Sanghi:

Santosh Wagh investigates the appearance of dissolved human remains in a South Delhi state government house.

END GAME by David Baldacci:

Jessica Reel and Will Robie fight a dangerous adversary in Colorado.

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke:

Laurie Moran investigates the murder of a wealthy widow who was pushed from the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

FUTURE HOME OF THE LIVING GOD by Louise Erdrich:

As giving birth becomes a matter of state security, a pregnant woman travels to find her Ojibwe family.

HARDCORE TWENTY-FOUR by Janet Evanovich:

When a homeless man is murdered, the bounty hunter Stephanie Plum searches for the killer.

MIDNIGHT LINE by Lee Child Delacorte:

Jack Reacher tracks down the owner of a pawned West Point class ring and stumbles upon a large criminal enterprise.

MILK AND HONEY by Rupi Kaur:

Poetic approaches to surviving adversity and loss.

NOEL DIARY by Richard Paul Evans:

A romance writer delves into a stranger’s past when his estranged mother leaves her extremely stuffed house to him.

OATHBRINGER by Brandon Sanderson:

The third volume of the Stormlight Archive. The War of Reckoning ends and the Voidbringers return.

ORIGIN by Dan Brown:

A symbology professor goes on a perilous quest with a beautiful museum director.

THE ROOSTER BAR by John Grisham:

Three students at a sleazy for-profit law school hope to expose the student-loan banker who runs it.

SILENT CORNER by Dean Koontz:

An F.B.I. agent investigates an alarming surge in suicides, including her husband’s.

SLEEPING BEAUTIES by Stephen King and Owen King:

Women who fall asleep become shrouded in mysterious cocoons while the men battle one another.

SUN AND HER FLOWERS by Rupi Kaur:

A new collection of poetry from the author of “Milk and Honey.”

TWO KINDS OF TRUTH by Michael Connelly:

While he investigates the murder of two pharmacists, an old case comes back to haunt Harry Bosch.

TYPHOON FURY by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison:

Juan Cabrillo chases a Filipino insurgent during a megastorm.

UNCOMMON TYPE by Tom Hanks:

Seventeen short stories, each incorporating a typewriter, by the Academy Award-winning actor.

NON-FICTION:

ANDREW JACKSON AND THE MIRACLE OF NEW ORLEANS by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger:

Major General Jackson takes on the British in Louisiana.

ASTROPHYSICS FOR PEOPLE IN A HURRY by Neil deGrasse Tyson:

A straightforward, easy-to-understand introduction to the laws that govern the universe.

BOBBY KENNEDY by Chris Matthews:

The New York senator’s journey from his formative years to his tragic run for president.

ENDURANCE by Scott Kelly:


A memoir by the retired astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station.

GOD, FAITH, AND REASON by Michael Savage:

The conservative radio host shares moments when he has experienced glimpses of the divine.

GRANT by Ron Chernow:

A biography of the Union general of the Civil War and two-term president of the United States.

HACKS by Donna Brazile:

An account of the Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee and the fights within the party during the 2016 campaign.

KILLING ENGLAND by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard:

Major events and battles during the Revolutionary War are told from several perspectives.

LEONARDO DA VINCI by Walter Isaacson:

A biography of the Italian Renaissance polymath which connects his work in various disciplines.

OBAMA by Pete Souza:

More than 300 pictures of the former president by his White House photographer, with behind-the-scenes stories.

PROMISE ME, DAD by Joe Biden:

The former vice president recalls his toughest year in office, as his son battled brain cancer.

SISTERS FIRST by Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush:

How the twin daughters of former president George W. Bush grew up in the public eye.

TROUBLEMAKER by Leah Remini and Rebecca Paley:

The actress describes her life in Scientology and the aftermath of her break with the church in 2013.

WHAT HAPPENED by Hillary Rodham Clinton:

An inside look at her campaign and how she recovered in its aftermath.

WHAT UNITES US by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner:

A collection of essays that define the historical changes and essential institutions of America to suggest ways to overcome divisions within the country.

Our Catching Up On New York Times Bestsellers posting comes out on the first day of each month.

Have a great weekend,

Linda, SSCL

*If you don’t have a library card you can get one at the library. Just bring a form of ID with your name and current address to the library, fill out a short form and presto — you’ll have a library card in less than five minutes!

Daily Digital & Print Suggested Reads: Friday, December 1, 2017

Hi everyone, here are our recommended titles for today.

(Note: Click on the photo of the item you’d like to request or check out)

Our digital suggestion for today is the ebook: 

In This Moment by Karen Kingsbury:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes a brand-new Baxter Family novel about a beloved high school principal who starts a Bible Study to improve the lives of his struggling students, only to become the national focus of a controversial lawsuit.

Hamilton High Principal Wendell Quinn is tired of the violence, drug abuse, teen pregnancies, and low expectations at his Indianapolis school. A single father of four, Quinn is a Christian and a family man. He wants to see change in his community, so he starts a voluntary after-school Bible Study and prayer program. He knows he is risking his job by leading the program, but the high turnout at every meeting encourages him.

A year later, violence and gang activity are down, test scores are up, and drug use and teen pregnancy have plummeted. The program is clearly working—until one parent calls the press. Now Quinn faces a lawsuit that could ruin everything.

With a storm of national attention and criticism, Quinn is at a crossroads—he must choose whether to cave in and shut down the program or stand up for himself and his students. The battle comes with a high cost, and Quinn wants just one attorney on his side for this fight: Luke Baxter. In This Moment is an inspiring, relevant story about the nuances of religious freedom and how a group of determined people just might restore the meaning of faith in today’s culture.

A Secret Sisterhood, The Literary Friendships of Jane Austen, Charlotte Brontë, George Eliot, and Virginia Woolf by Emily Midorikawa and Emma Claire Sweeney:

Male literary friendships are the stuff of legend; think Byron and Shelley, Fitzgerald and Hemingway. But the world’s best-loved female authors are usually mythologized as solitary eccentrics or isolated geniuses. Coauthors and real-life friends Emily Midorikawa and Emma Claire Sweeney prove this wrong, thanks to their discovery of a wealth of surprising collaborations: the friendship between Jane Austen and one of the family servants, playwright Anne Sharp; the daring feminist author Mary Taylor, who shaped the work of Charlotte Brontë; the transatlantic friendship of the seemingly aloof George Eliot and Harriet Beecher Stowe; and Virginia Woolf and Katherine Mansfield, most often portrayed as bitter foes, but who, in fact, enjoyed a complex friendship fired by an underlying erotic charge.

Through letters and diaries that have never been published before, A Secret Sisterhood resurrects these forgotten stories of female friendships. They were sometimes scandalous and volatile, sometimes supportive and inspiring, but always—until now—tantalizingly consigned to the shadows.

And our print book suggested read for the day is:

You can request physical items, i.e. print books, DVDs & CDs, online via StarCat:

or by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc.

The Digital Catalog (OverDrive)

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

Freegal Music Service

This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day:

RBDigital

Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available.

About Library Apps:

You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Daily Digital & Print Suggested Reads: Thursday, November 30, 2017

Hi everyone, here are our recommended titles for today.

(Note: Click on the photo of the item you’d like to request or check out)

Our digital suggestion for today is the downloadable audiobook:

I Was Here written by Gayle Forman and narrated by Jorjeana Marie:

Cody and Meg were inseparable.

Two peas in a pod.

Until . . . they weren’t anymore.

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything–so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, and some secrets of his own. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open–until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

I Was Here is Gayle Forman at her finest, a taut, emotional, and ultimately redemptive story about redefining the meaning of family and finding a way to move forward even in the face of unspeakable loss.

And our print book suggested read for the day is:

The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg

 

“I dare you to read this novel and not fall in love with Arthur Truluv. His story will make you laugh and cry, and will show you a love that never ends, and what it means to be truly human.”—Fannie Flagg

An emotionally powerful novel about three people who each lose the one they love most, only to find second chances where they least expect them

“Fans of Meg Wolitzer, Emma Straub, or [Elizabeth] Berg’s previous novels will appreciate the richly complex characters and clear prose. Redemptive without being maudlin, this story of two misfits lucky to have found one another will tug at readers’ heartstrings.”—Booklist

For the past six months, Arthur Moses’s days have looked the same: He tends to his rose garden and to Gordon, his cat, then rides the bus to the cemetery to visit his beloved late wife for lunch. The last thing Arthur would imagine is for one unlikely encounter to utterly transform his life.

Eighteen-year-old Maddy Harris is an introspective girl who visits the cemetery to escape the other kids at school. One afternoon she joins Arthur—a gesture that begins a surprising friendship between two lonely souls. Moved by Arthur’s kindness and devotion, Maddy gives him the nickname “Truluv.” As Arthur’s neighbor Lucille moves into their orbit, the unlikely trio band together and, through heartache and hardships, help one another rediscover their own potential to start anew.

Wonderfully written and full of profound observations about life, The Story of Arthur Truluv is a beautiful and moving novel of compassion in the face of loss, of the small acts that turn friends into family, and of the possibilities to achieve happiness at any age.

You can request physical items, i.e. print books, DVDs & CDs, online via StarCat:

Or by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc.

The Digital Catalog (OverDrive)

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

Freegal Music Service

This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day:

RBDigital

Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available.

About Library Apps:

You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Birthday Blues Suggested Listen!

I’m a huge fan of the British blues musician and band leader John Mayall, who turns 84 years young today (11/29).

He is most famous for the albums he recorded in the sixties with a whole host of great musicians, some of whom have since became world famous including: John McVie, Mick Fleetwood (albeit in his case briefly), Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Mick Taylor.

In the seventies he moved to California and he has continued to play concerts and record albums in all the years since then – and despite the concentration of great musicians who went through his band in the sixties — the man is a first rate musician and singer all on his own!

His 2017 release is titled

Talk About That 

And if you like the blues you might give it a listen on his birthday!

Songs on the LP include: Talk About That, It’s Hard Going Up, The Devil Must Be Laughing, Gimme Some of That Gumbo, Blue Midnight and You Never Know.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

P.S. Being a modern man, John Mayall even has an official website which is found at: http://www.johnmayall.com/

Daily Digital & Print Suggested Reads: Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Hi everyone, here are our recommended titles for today.

(Note: Click on the photo of the item you’d like to request or check out)

Our digital suggestion for today is the ebook:

A Cherry Cola Christmas by Ashton Lee:

Christmas is coming to the small town of Cherico, Mississippi, and there’s no better way to prepare than with the Cherry Cola Book Club’s feast of good food, good books—and good people…

Cherico’s newlywed librarian Maura Beth Mayhew is back from her honeymoon and she and Jeremy McShay are settling into married life. Maura Beth’s father has even given them the down payment on a charming cottage. But as the holidays approach, Cherico’s economy is struggling. Beloved local shops have closed, jobs have been lost, and there’s even a mysterious crime spree afoot. Amid the gloom, Maura Beth decides what the community needs is a healthy dose of Christmas cheer—which means a special meeting of the Cherry Cola Book Club…

Along with the delicious potluck offerings everyone has come to expect, Maura Beth has invited members and the public to share their most uplifting stories—and share they do. From poignant stories of grief and renewal to joyful stories of love and new life, Cherico’s residents infuse the gathering with so much hope and courage they just might inspire a culprit’s confession, and conjure a holiday miracle that could save the town—and Christmas…

“A Cherry Cola Christmas is filled with the quirky, funny and charming characters we’ve grown to love and whose poignant tales become the true blessings of Christmas. This book belongs under every tree this season.”—Christa Allan

“An intrepid librarian, a book club feast, and a cozy, heart-warming Mississippi mystery—what’s not to love?”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

And our print book suggested read for the day is:

Jade City by Fonda Lee:

 

FAMILY IS DUTY. MAGIC IS POWER. HONOR IS EVERYTHING.

Jade is the lifeblood of the island of Kekon. It has been mined, traded, stolen, and killed for — and for centuries, honorable Green Bone warriors like the Kaul family have used it to enhance their magical abilities and defend the island from foreign invasion.

Now, the war is over and a new generation of Kauls vies for control of Kekon’s bustling capital city. They care about nothing but protecting their own, cornering the jade market, and defending the districts under their protection. Ancient tradition has little place in this rapidly changing nation.

When a powerful new drug emerges that lets anyone — even foreigners — wield jade, the simmering tension between the Kauls and the rival Ayt family erupts into open violence. The outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones — from their grandest patriarch to the lowliest motorcycle runner on the streets — and of Kekon itself.

You can request physical items, i.e. print books, DVDs & CDs, online via StarCat:

Or by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc.

The Digital Catalog (OverDrive)

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

Freegal Music Service

This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day:

RBDigital

Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available.

About Library Apps:

You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Daily Digital & Print Suggested Reads: Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Hi everyone, here are our recommended titles for today.

(Note: Click on the photo of the item you’d like to request or check out)

Our digital suggestion for today is the e-book:

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker:

A New York Times bestseller

The first sleep book by a leading scientific expert—Professor Matthew Walker, Director of UC Berkeley’s Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab—reveals his groundbreaking exploration of sleep, explaining how we can harness its transformative power to change our lives for the better.

Sleep is one of the most important but least understood aspects of our life, wellness, and longevity. Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why we suffer such devastating health consequences when we don’t sleep. Compared to the other basic drives in life—eating, drinking, and reproducing—the purpose of sleep remained elusive.

An explosion of scientific discoveries in the last twenty years has shed new light on this fundamental aspect of our lives. Now, preeminent neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker gives us a new understanding of the vital importance of sleep and dreaming. Within the brain, sleep enriches our ability to learn, memorize, and make logical decisions. It recalibrates our emotions, restocks our immune system, fine-tunes our metabolism, and regulates our appetite. Dreaming mollifies painful memories and creates a virtual reality space in which the brain melds past and present knowledge to inspire creativity.

Walker answers important questions about sleep: how do caffeine and alcohol affect sleep? What really happens during REM sleep? Why do our sleep patterns change across a lifetime? How do common sleep aids affect us and can they do long-term damage? Charting cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, and synthesizing decades of research and clinical practice, Walker explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood, and energy levels; regulate hormones; prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes; slow the effects of aging; increase longevity; enhance the education and lifespan of our children, and boost the efficiency, success, and productivity of our businesses. Clear-eyed, fascinating, and accessible, Why We Sleep is a crucial and illuminating book.

And our print book suggested read for the day is:

The People vs. Alex Cross by James Patterson:

 

The charges: explosive

Alex Cross has never been on the wrong side of the law-until now. Charged with gunning down followers of his nemesis Gary Soneji in cold blood, Cross is being turned into the poster child for trigger-happy cops who think they’re above the law. Cross knows it was self-defense. But will a jury see it that way?

The evidence: shocking

As Cross fights for his professional life and his freedom, his former partner John Sampson brings him a gruesome, titillating video tied to the mysterious disappearances of several young girls. Despite his suspension from the department, Cross can’t say no to Sampson. The illicit investigation leads them to the darkest corners of the Internet, where murder is just another form of entertainment.

The People vs. Alex Cross: the trial of the century

As the prosecution presents its case, and the nation watches, even those closest to Cross begin to doubt his innocence. If he can’t convince his own family that he didn’t pull the trigger with intent to kill, how can he hope to persuade a jury? But even with everything on the line, Cross will do whatever it takes to stop a dangerous criminal…even if he can’t save himself.

You can request physical items, i.e. print books, DVDs & CDs, online via StarCat:

Or by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc.

The Digital Catalog (OverDrive)

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

Freegal Music Service

This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day:

RBDigital

Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available.

About Library Apps:

You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

A Selection of Holiday Music To Stream Through Freegal!

Hi everyone, the free Freegal Music Service* offers oodles of holiday albums from vintage to classical and jazz to vocal, pop, rock and more!

Here are a few titles you might enjoy during the holiday season including a couple that have nothing to do with any holiday at all – they simply have a connection to the winter season!

And if you’re in a browsing mood, check out the Freegal Music Catalog and search for some of your favorite artists – you’ll discover, while searching for songs and artists a cornucopia of cool music of all genres!

To access the browser based version of the Freegal Music catalog click here:

You can also download the Freegal Music app from the Apple or Android app stores and then listen to the music through the app.

And without further ado here is a sampling of the holiday music available through Freegal:

16 Most Requested Songs – Christmas Encore! by Various Artists (Genre: Traditional Pop Orchestral/Vocal):

Songs include: O Tannenbaum! by The Norman Luboff Choir, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep by Rosemary Clooney, Toyland by Doris Day, Jingle Bells by Patti Page, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Ray Conniff & The Ray Conniff Singers & It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas by Johnny Mathis.

21 Christmas Classics by Various Artists (Genre: Traditional Pop Orchestra/Vocal):

Songs Include: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams, Winter Wonderland by Aretha Franklin, A Marshmallow World by Dean Martin, Must Be Santa by Bob Dylan, The First Noel by Earth, Wind & Fire and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Hank Snow.

30 Instrumental Christmas Songs by The O’Neill Brothers Group (Genre: Instrumental w. stringed instruments): 

Songs Include: Silent Night, Silver Bells, Adeste Fideles, The Gift of Love, Jolly Old St. Nicholas and Pachelbel’s Little Star.

Acoustic Christmas by Various Artists (Genre: Classic Rock, Folk, Country): 

Songs Include: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by T Bone Burnett, Let It Be Me/The Christmas Song by Laura Nyro, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Rosanne Cash, Silent Night by the Hooters & O Come All Ye Faithful by Art Garfunkel.

Beautiful Day by Kurt Elling (Genre: Jazz): 

Songs Include: Sing a Christmas Carol, Star of Wonder, We Three Kings, Little Drummer Boy and Same Old Lang Syne.

A Blue, Blues Christmas – A Timeless Collection of Blues Songs for Christmas with Fats Waller, Leadbelly, John Lee Hooker, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Lightnin Hopkins, And More! (Genre: Blues, R&B, Pop): 

Songs Include: Silent Night, Holy Night by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Merry Christmas by Lightning Hopkins, Christmas Time Blues by Jimmy Dawkins, What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve by The Orioles and Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells by Fats Waller.

Carols from Royal Holloway by the Choir of Royal Holloway (Genre: Classical/Choral):

Songs Include: A Tender Shoot, Gabriel’s Message, Sussex Carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger and O Little One Sweet.

Celtic Solstice by Paul Winter & Friends (Genre: New Age, Jazz):

This new age album offers up songs that complement the Winter Solstice coming up on Thursday, December 21.

Songs include: Golden Apples of the Sun, Hollow Hills, O’Farrell’s Welcome to Limerick, The Minstrel’s Adieu and Farewell to Govan.

Children’s Christmas Songbook St. Josephs Youth Choir (Genre: Classical/Choral/Children’s Music):


Songs Include: We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Colors of Christmas, Deck the Halls, The First Noel & Jingle Bells.

Nuestra Navidad by Various Artists: 

Songs Include: El Burrito De Belen by Julio Preciado, Ven A Mi Casa Esta Navidad by Banda Superbandido, Noche De Paz by Trio Los Panchoes, Regalo De Reyes by Javier Solls and Lioraras En Navidad by Pablo Montero.

Christmas by Harry Belafonte (Genre: Vocal, Pop, International, Folk):

Songs Include: A Star In The East, The Son Of Mary, Medley: The Joys Of Christmas/O Little Town of Bethlehem/Deck The Halls/The First Noel, Christmas Is Coming and The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Christmas Album by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (Genre: Easy Listening, Jazz, Pop):

This is the classic 1968 Christmas album by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass not to be confused with his new 2017 Christmas album!

Songs on the LP include: Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells, My Favorite Things, The Christmas Song, Sleigh Ride, Las Mananitas, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow and Jingle Bell Rock.

Christmas Caravan by Sultans of String (Genre: International, Acoustic):

Songs Include: Turkish Greensleeves, Sing for Kwanzaa, Jesous Ahatonhia, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, The Little Drummer Boy, A Django Christmas and Niel Gow’s Lament.

Christmas LIVE! by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (Genre: Vocal, Pop): 


Songs Include: Every Light That Shines at Christmas, White Christmas, If It Doesn’t Snow on Christmas, Heat Miser and Thank God For Kids

Christmas Rap (Genre: Rap):

Songs Include: Christmas in Hollis by RUN-DMC, Ghetto Santa by Spyder-D, Christmas In The City by Sun King and That’s What I Want For Christmas by The Showboys

Christmas Together by The Piano Guys (2017) (Genre: Easy Listening, Classical):

Songs Include: Angels from the Realms of Glory, O Holy Night/Ave Maria, Ode to Joy to the World, What Child is This and I Saw Three Ships.

Christmas with Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (2017) (Genre: Pop, Rock, Classical):

Songs Include: Santa Claus Is Back In Town, White Christmas, Here Comes Santa Claus, Blue Christmas, Winter Wonderland and Merry Christmas Baby.

Christmas With Ray Conniff (Genre: Easy Listening):

Songs Include: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Christmas Bride, Sleigh Ride, Greensleeves, Silver Bells and Frosty the Snowman.

Classic Christmas by Johnny Cash (Genre: Country):

Songs Include: Joy to the World, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful and Little Gray Donkey.

Decade the Halls, Vol. 1 Tenth Avenue North (2017) (Genre: Pop, Vocal):

Songs Include: Good King Wenceslas, Deck the Halls, We Three Kings, Go Tell it on the Mountain, Mistletoe and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

December by Chris Botti (Genre: Jazz, Easy Listening):

Songs include: Winter Wonderland, Ave Maria, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, I Really Don’t Want Much For Christmas and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

Dr. Elmo’s Twisted Christmas by Dr. Elmo (Genre: Comedy):

For fans of Christmas humor…

Songs Include: Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer, Christmas Won’t Be, Santa Ain’t Comin’, Christmas Millionaire and Junk Bond Christmas Blues.

Elvis’ Christmas Album by Elvis Presley (1957) (Genre: Rock, Pop):


Songs Include: Santa Claus Is Back In Town, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Silent Night, Blue Christmas and Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me).

The Essential Hank Snow (Genre: Country, Traditional Country):

This album has nothing whatsoever to do with winter or holidays of any sort! Except of course, for the fact that the late & great country singer and guitarist had a name that is perfect for winter– Snow!

Songs on this cool collection, which offers tunes from all phases of Hank Snow’s career, include: My San Antonio Mama, Brand on My Heart, The Rhumba Boogie, Confused with the Blues and A Fool Such As I.

Evening Guitar Chill Out by Various Artists (Genre: Acoustic, Instrumental, Easy Listening):

Acoustic Sunset by Eric Walters, Humble Love by Dvir Silverstone, Green Hills by Gary Wolk and Someday by Michelle Qureshi.

A Festival Of Carols by Robert Shaw (Genre: Classical, Orchestral, Vocal):

Songs Include: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, Shepherd’s Carol, I Wonder As I Wonder, My Dancing Day and Carol of the Bells.

From The Sony Vault: Christmas With The Big Bands by Various Artists (Genre: Swing, Jazz, Pop):

The songs on this album were recorded between 1932 and 1965 and If you like Swing than this collection is for you!

Songs include: Sleigh Ride by Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle & The Modernaires with Paula Kelly, Little Jack Frost Get Lost: (78rpm version) by Frankie Carle with Marjorie Hughes, Snow Fall: (78rpm version) by Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra, There’s Frost On The Moon by Artie Shaw & His Orchestra, Winter Weather by Richard Himber and His Orchestra and I Want You for Christmas by Russ Morgan and His Orchestra.

Gonna Have a Really Soulful Christmas: 40 R&B and Soul Gems (An Alternative Yuletide Celebration!) (Genre: Soul, R&B, Blues, Pop):

Songs Include: Crazy Santa Claus by The Debonaires, We Wanna See Santa Do the Mambo by John Greer, Wish You a Merry Christmas by Kim Weston, Santa Claus Boogie by The Voices and I Hear Jingle Bells by Freddie King.

Hanukkah by Jon Simon (Genre: Piano, Jazz):

Songs Include: Eight Candles, Rock of Ages (Italian), O Hanukkah, O Hanukkah, Candle Blessings, Rock of Ages (Traditional) and A Candle for Me.

Hanukkah Songs for Preschool & Kindergarten by The Kiboomers  (Genre: Kids Music)

Songs Include: Nine Little Candles, When the Maccabees Come Marching In, I Like to eat Latkes Song, Dreidel Hokey Pokey and Hanukkah Oh Hannukah.

Hanukkah Swings by Kenny Ellis (Genre: Jazz, International):

Songs Include: Swingin’ Dreidel, Hanukkah Candles, Ocho Kandelikas, Children of the Macabbees and ‘Twas the Night Before Hanukkah.

Here We Come A-Caroling by Ray Conniff (Genre: Easy Listening):

Songs Include: Here We Come A-Caroling, God Red Ye Merry, Gentleman, Joy To The World, Adoramus Te, O Tannenbaum and It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.

Hotel Café Winter Songs by Various Artists (Genre: Pop, Vocal):

Songs include: Winter Song by Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson, The Heartache Can Wait by Brandi Carlile, Blue Christmas by Nicole Atkins, Maybe Next Year (X-Mas Song) and Auld Lang Syne by The Hotel Cafe Medley Band

Instrumental Christmas Music – Relaxing Christmas Music (Genre: Piano, Easy Listening):

Songs Include: Silver Bells, Little Drummer Boy, Most Memorable Christmas, Coming Home, Do You Hear What I Hear and Christmas Chimes.

Instrumental Christmas by the Northquest Players (Genre: Easy Listening, Instrumental, Brass, Jazz):

Songs Include: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Joy To The World, Away in a Manager, The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland and I Saw Three Ships.

An Irish Christmas by Jeff Taylor, Jim Prendergast and Bill Verdier (Genre: Irish, Acoustic):

Songs Include: Christmas Eve, Silent Night, Wassail Song, Freeze Britches (Connaughtman’s Rambles), I Saw Three Ships and Rose in the Heather.

Irish Christmas by Alisa Jones, Mark Howard, John Mock and Stuart Duncan (Genre: Irish, Acoustic):

Songs Include: The Endris Nyght, Once In Royal’s David’s City, The Friendly Beasts, As Lately We Watched and Carol Of The Bagpippers.

It’s Christmas Again by Various Artists (Genre: Pop, Vocal, Easy Listening):

Some of the songs in this 48 song collection Include: I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Frank Sinatra, Winter Wonderland by Ella Fitzgerald, Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt, Jingle Bells by the Randy Van Horne Singers, Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Nat King Cole, Zat You? Santa Claus by Louis Armstrong, The Secret of Christmas by Bing Crosby, The Christmas Waltz by Peggy Lee, Silver Bells by Johnny Mathis, Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms and We Wish You the Merriest by Les Brown

James Galway’s Christmas Carol by James Galway (Genre: Easy Listening, Classical, New Age):

Songs include: Shepherd’s Pipe Carol, Fantasia On “I Saw Three Ships,” Greensleeves, Zither Carol, Past Three O’clock and Christmas Oratorio.

Kwanzaa (Genre: R&B, Soul, Folk, International):

Songs Include: Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba, Tell It, Sing It, Shout It by Mahalia Jackson, Swahili Song by Teddy Greaves, Kwela Kong by Mackay Davashe & Skokiaan by Louis Armstrong.

Last Christmas – Wham! (Genre: Pop): 

Songs on the EP are: Last Christmas, Last Christmas (Pudding Mix) and Everything She Wants.

Merry Christmas with Odetta (Genre: Blues, Folk):

Songs Include: Ain’t That A-Rocking, Go Tell It on the Mountain, Beautiful Star, Shout For Joy and Children, Go Where I Send Thee.

Native Seasons by Jessita Reyes (Genre: Folk, Easy Listening, New Age):

This album, by Native American flutist Jessita Reyes, features songs for all season including: Fall Approaches, Winter Night, Echoes in the Fall, Mid-Winter’s Dawn and Clear Winter Sky.

On a Cold Winter’s Day – Early Christmas Music and Carols from the British Isles by Quadriga Consort (Genre: Classical):

Songs include: A Wassail, a Wassail, ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime, The Moons Shines Bright, The Holy and the Ivy, To Shorten Winter’s Sadness and On a Cold Winter’s Day.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Genre: Pop, Rock, Classical):

Songs Include: Santa’s Gonna Rock and Roll, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree, First Letter/Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, Toyland Ball, Welcome Christmas and The Man With The Bag.

Six String Christmas John Harbison (Genre: Acoustic, Guitar):

Songs Include: We Three Kings, Frosty The Snowman, White Christmas, Christmas Past, Father Christmas and Auld Lang Syne.

Surf ‘N’ Swing Fret ‘N’ String Christmas by Nokie Edwards & The Light Crust Doughboys with Tom Brumley, The Dallas Banjo Band, Smokey … (Genre: Classic Rock, Guitar):

Songs Include: Christmas Carol Rock, Swan Lake Christmas, Deck The Halls, The Toy Yodeler, The Bell’s Of St. Mary’s and New Year’s Rendezvous

Twisted Christmas: Live by Twisted Sister (Genre: Rock, Heavy Metal):

Songs Include: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The Fire Still Burns, You Can’t Stop Rock & Roll, White Christmas and Heavy Metal Christmas.

Very Sixties Christmas (Genre: Pop, Rock):

Songs Include: Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Winter Wonderland, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day, The Christmas Song and Let It Snow by the Groovy Christmas Players, Sugar Sugar by The Archies, Thank You by Sly Stone and Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison.

Vintage Christmas by Various Artists (Genre: Pop, R&B, Vocal):

This album features 47 classic Christmas songs recorded between 1915 and 1949.

Songs Include: Christmas Bells at Eventide by Gracie Fields, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Rosemary Clooney, Auld Lang Syne by Billy Vaughn, Savoy Christmas Medley by New Mayfair Orchestra, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by The Platters, I’ll Walk Alone (Through Every Christmas) by Dinah Shore and Cool Yule by Louis Armstrong.

White Christmas by John Schneider (Genre: Country, Pop):

A classic country album by singer and actor John Schneider!

Songs on the LP include: Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells, The Christmas Song, Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer, Katey’s Christmas Card and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Windham Hill Holiday Guitar Collection by Various Artists (Genre: New Age, Acoustic, Guitar):

Songs include: Songs include: Winter Wonderland by Tuck Andress, The Holly And The Ivy by Alex de Grassi, The Christmas Song by Steve Erquiaga, Christmas Time Is Here by Sean Harkness and Carol of the Bells by Steve Morse.

Winter by Barbara Dickson (Genre: Vocal, International, Folk):

Songs include: Winter’s Come, In the Bleak Midwinter, The Silence of the Dawn, The January Man and Winter’s Song.

Winter Evening by Winter Evening Jazz (Genre: Easy Listening, Jazz):

Songs on the album include: Chill Baby, Cha Cha Charlie, Waltz for Joshua, Cloudburst, Chocolate and Round Midnight.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

*Freegal is free – library card required! You can get a library card at any Southern Tier Library System member library. Just take a form of ID that includes both your name and your current address and you’ll have a card in hand in a matter of minutes!

Daily Digital & Print Suggested Reads: Monday, November 27, 2017

Hi everyone, here are our recommended titles for today.

(Note: Click on the photo of the item you’d like to request or check out)

Our digital suggestion for today is the e-book:

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carré:

In the shadow of the newly erected Berlin Wall, Alec Leamas watches as his last agent is shot dead by East German sentries. For Leamas, the head of Berlin Station, the Cold War is over. As he faces the prospect of retirement or worse—a desk job—Control offers him a unique opportunity for revenge. Assuming the guise of an embittered and dissolute ex-agent, Leamas is set up to trap Mundt, the deputy director of the East German Intelligence Service—with himself as the bait. In the background is George Smiley, ready to make the game play out just as Control wants.

Setting a standard that has never been surpassed, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is a devastating tale of duplicity and espionage.

And our print book suggested read for the day is:

End Game by David Baldacci:

 

#1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci returns with his most breathtaking thriller yet!

Will Robie and Jessica Reel are two of the most lethal people alive. They’re the ones the government calls in when the utmost secrecy is required to take out those who plot violence and mass destruction against the United States. And through every mission, one man has always had their backs: their handler, code-named Blue Man.

But now, Blue Man is missing.

Last seen in rural Colorado, Blue Man had taken a rare vacation to go fly fishing in his hometown when he disappeared off the grid. With no communications since, the team can’t help but fear the worst.

Sent to investigate, Robie and Reel arrive in the small town of Grand to discover that it has its own share of problems. A stagnant local economy and a woefully understaffed police force have made this small community a magnet for crime, drugs, and a growing number of militant fringe groups.

But lying in wait in Grand is an even more insidious and sweeping threat, one that may shake the very foundations of America. And when Robie and Reel find themselves up against an adversary with superior firepower and a home-court advantage, they’ll be lucky if they make it out alive, with or without Blue Man . . .

You can request physical items, i.e. print books, DVDs & CDs,  online via StarCat:

Or by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

Online Catalog Links:

StarCat

The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc.

The Digital Catalog (OverDrive)

The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos.

Freegal Music Service

This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day:

RBDigital

Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available.

About Library Apps:

You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Tech Talk is a Southeast Steuben County Library blog.

Non-Fiction DVD Recommendations 11 24 17

Happy Black Friday everyone!

Here are our three recommended non-fiction DVDs for this week!

(Click on the photos to request the DVDs)

The Hudson Riverkeepers:

Description: “The Hudson Riverkeepers” tells the stirring and dramatic story of how two generations of Hudson River fishermen and environmental activists fought a decades-long battle to protect one of the nation’s great rivers, the Hudson.

“Beautifully photographed, dramatic … uses the history of environmental activism on the Hudson to show how individuals can have a real impact on their communities.” NEW YORK DAILY NEWS.

Featuring Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.; as well as excerpts from Walter Cronkite’s classic 1965 documentary, “The Majestic Polluted Hudson,” this important film brings to life one of the great environmental achievements in American history. It is also the story of the one of the landmarks in the U.S. environmental movement — because the fight to clean up the Hudson River went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and its favorable ruling helped paved the way for many of the great environmental laws passed in the 1970s, such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Dewey Number: DVD 333.91 HUD

About Hudson Riverkeepers:

Eastern Philosophy:

Description: Eastern Philosophy is an informative and entertaining three-part program that discusses the topics of spiritual enlightenment and religious thought. The series poses questions such as: Does God exist?, How can a person live a life of virtue? and examines it in relation to religion and spirituality. It explores the genesis of spiritual thought and investigates the central doctrines of Confucianism, Shinto, Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam.

This unique series provides an insightful look at the major Eastern religions and their impact upon the modern world.

Dewey Number: DVD 181 EAS

Trailer: N/A

Carols From King’s College:

Description: Favourite Christmas carols filmed in the breathtaking candlelit chapel of King’s College, Cambridge from December 2000 with true live surround sound. Features the world premiere of Bob Chilcott’s The Shepherd’s Carol.

Works: Once in royal David’s city; Riu, riu, riu; Quem pastores laudavere; O little Town of Bethlehem; Angels from the realms of glory; Thou must leave thy lowly dwelling; In the bleak mid-winter; I wonder as I wander; Quittez, pasteurs; Small wonder the star; While shepherds watched; Sussex Carol; Silent night; Gloria in excelsis Deo; The Shepherd’s Carol; God rest ye merry gentlemen; The Angels and the Shepherds; Hark the herald angels sing

Dewey Number: DVD 781.723 CAR

In The Bleak Mid-Winter from the DVD:

Have a great weekend and don’t forget the library is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays!

Linda, SSCL