100 Greatest Musicals album Out Now!

Just a quick note to let you know that the "100 Greatest Musicals" album on which I feature singing "All I Ask of You" with performer Gaynor Ellen is out now in all major music shops and online. You can download the songs off the album individually at Amazon.

It's a great album and features some amazing performers like Lesley Garrett, Dave Willetts etc.
And with 6 CDs is a bargain :)

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let... wait... that's enough!

Wow, it's been a crammed couple of months. Fun but majorly crammed. And to top it all of, I've been sick with the flu. Got it quite bad this time. I'm actually out the other side now and feeling so much better than I did (spare you the details), but could really have done without it!

Busy-ness and illness got me well behind on letting you all know that there is now a New 2nd Edition of my Christmas album "His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful" available. This time with SIX extra recordings! This will now replace the first edition on my site and is available for download on Amazon too.

Well, I have always adored the snow, but our little spell of freak Arctic weather conditions here in the UK at the moment have certainly caused a little bother!
It was the United Voice Choir's Christmas concert this last Saturday and it was touch and go as to whether it would even go ahead. The snow was BAD here!!
We did go ahead (reduced choir, reduced audience, no sound guy, no lighting guy etc - good job I have such a game and supportive family to fill the gaps), but it was FABULOUS :)

(Better images to follow - this one kindly taken on
Christine Wright's mobile:)


The choir excelled themselves and put on a fantastically festive musical evening. It was a wonderful start the Christmas and well worth the struggle to get it up and running.
I was so proud of everyone and also so proud of those who were unable to get out of their housing estates, but understood that "the show must go on!"

Well deserved Happy Christmas for all! :)

A catch up on recent events...

Been a bit absent blog-wise of late. You know that feeling... when you're so busy with things and your mind is so full that you feel like you've already told everyone all about it... but haven't?!

Guess I owe you a few blog updates!

Well...

Had a great time going down to London (Angel Studios) to record "All I Ask of You" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" for the upcoming release of the "100 Greatest Musicals" album.

The journey on the train was pretty uneventful (which is always good), except for the fact that more people than usual seemed to have coughs and colds... not the greatest thing when already paranoid as to whether your going to have a voice or not when you get there!

I did make a brief trip to the loo to check if my voice was still working... but contrary to the article about the recording in The Stage newspaper, I didn't spend the whole journey singing in the toilets!! :)

The weather was particularly nasty that day and my heart sank when I came out of Angel Tube Station to see it absolutely pouring down... and me... a complete man, forgetting his brolly!

Well, I wasn't toooooo wet when I got to the studio, but boy was I glad to be inside and dry out :)

It was so much fun walking into the studio and meeting the people there, who were all really nice. Producer James Fitzpatrick was the man in charge. Also there, were Rick Clark (Media Manager of Silva Screen Records) and David Kaplan of Pure Solo.

I loved the fact that we got stuck straight into things and was really pleased that it sounded good when they played it back for me to listen without mixing it yet. Except for a brief moment of emptying loose change out of my pockets and removing my watch to try and remedy some clicking noises, it all went very smoothly!

It was lovely meeting Lalayn Baluch of The Stage and Times Newspapers and having a surprise visit from Helena Blackman of BBC's "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" who came to give her support and was lovely. All in all a crackin' day! :)

You can actually preview a clip on Amazon mp3 downloads at the moment, but it will be available as mp3 download and on CD on Oct 18th... Hmmmm.... my brother's birthday... Haha! Guess who's getting it as a gift!

Will post links here and on my site when it's all available.

In the studio with Producer James Fitzpatrick:

Big cheesy grin from me... (hearing the recording back for

the first time on their ultra-fab studio monitor speakers):

Of course you have to listen with your eyes closed!

Being interviewed for The Stage by Lalayn Baluch:

With Helena Blackman:

Me and Helena again with Rick Clark of Silva Screen Records

(Left of the two fellas) and David Kaplan of Pure Solo (Right):

"Sweet Is the Work" receives special recognition!

I'm very excited that on the first year of entering, my very own version of "Sweet Is the Work" was awarded 'Special Recognition' in the Annual Church Music Submission 2010. Yay!

Some of you will remember that this song made it's debut on my last album "How Can I Keep From Singing?" and I'm really thrilled that it received a special recognition, as the submission receives entries from all over the world! Cool huh?!

You can click (here) to see the list of all the 2010 entries.

You can hear a recording of "Sweet Is the Work" on the "Listen" page of my website (top player) and on the "Shop" page underneath the picture of the "How Can I Keep From Singing?" album, or you can download the sheet music free of charge on my "Sheet Music" page (all at www.jamesloynes.com)

Guess it's time to get back to writing then :)

Thanks so much for your continued support everyone!

Woohoo!...

Just a quick blog post to say thank you so much to all those who voted for me and showed their support during The Stage/Pure Solo - "Mad About Musicals" competition... which I...

**drum roll**... WON! Yay!

I'm really thrilled. The prize is to feature as a vocalist on Silva Screen's "100 Greatest Musicals" album along side stars of the theatre, such as Dave Willetts and Lesley Garrett!

Entrants had to record a vocal for one of three song choices and post it to their "puresolo.com" profile so that members of the public could vote and give however many "hearts" they thought the recording deserved. I chose to sing the "Raoul" part for Andrew Lloyd Webber's "All I Ask of You" from The Phantom of the Opera.

The first stage of the competition was determined by public votes alone and then the top ten were judged by a panel including Helena Blackman (BBC's "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?"), Rick Clark (Manager of new Media and Music Production at Silva Screen Records) and The Stage Newspaper's assistant editor Scott Matthewman.

Runner up in second place was Melissa Cavanagh, singing "Over The Rainbow" - Wonderful company as she has a fantastic voice. You can hear her singing a brilliant version of "On My Own" from Les Miserables on her YouTube channel (click here).

It's very cool to have been chosen as winner from a long list, to record with such well known and respected performers and I can't wait to find out what song they have in store for me!

Thank you again for your votes everyone, I'm so very grateful!

Wish me luck :)

PS - I have recently recorded some songs from musicals, which can be found on my YouTube channel or for MP3 Download at my website (www.jamesloynes.com/music)

Happy Father's Day!

Looks like my latest blog posts are on a theme!

Well, it's Father's Day this weekend and I wanted to make a brief post to tribute my own Father. I honestly couldn't ask for a more supportive and generous Dad, who would do or give anything to see that his children have all they stand in need of to be happy and successful.

But not only has he always been so generous, he has always made his love for the Saviour so clear and as my brothers, sister and I grew up, we always knew how important Jesus Christ is to my Dad.

Recently I had the great honour to be the first to perform composer Sally DeFord's new song (a tribute to Father's) "I Knew My Father Knew" - A song which explains that of all the great treasures we can pass on to our children, the most wonderful is that of faith and a testimony of our Saviour Jesus Christ, a thing that will become more precious (and useful) as time goes on.

Thank you Dad and all other Dad's who understand that to grow closer to our children we need to grow closer to the Lord.

Happy Father's Day! I hope your day is as special as you are to your loved ones.

Many thanks to YouTube user 'ElsieBird68' for providing this video for "I Knew My Father Knew"

Happy Mother's Day! (Majorly late!)...

Here's an extremely late Mother's Day treat...

A while back, I stumbled upon a song, which I think has real charm. The song was originally intended to be used in Disney's movie, 'Aladdin," but was ultimately cut due to changes in the storyline.

In the song, Aladdin sings to his Mother of how one day he will make her proud.

I love this song, because I think it sums up how most of us feel towards our parents and how really, when it comes down to it, we all want to make them proud of us (whether we'd like to admit it or not!)

Bless my Mum, when she heard this recording, she called up to say that she hoped I knew she was proud of me. I know it without a doubt and I'm so grateful for it. We must all remember to tell each other how much we love each other and how proud we are of each other... never assume that someone knows how much you appreciate them... sometimes we just need to hear it.

Thanks Mum (and Dad) for being proud of me.

Here's to all you other special Mum's (or Mom's) depending on which side of the pond you reside! Hope you are treated to the luxuries a Mum deserves :)