Merry Axemas "Merry Axemas Vol. 1"

Merry Axemas "Merry Axemas Vol. 1"

album cover

Merry Axemas
Merry Axemas Vol. 1
The Story
"Merry Axemas Vol. 1" offers brand new recordings from ten of the world's leading rock guitarists. In the words of executive producer Steve Vai, "Whether it's joy, spiritual devotion or the proverbial good cheer, the holiday vibe inspires some of the warmest , most sacred--and yes, cornballest--melodies even written. And what better instrument to praise these profound melodies than the guitar? The challenge was to invite special kinds of guests to this particular Yuletide extravaganza: players who could coax, caress or slam out a unique voice from the instrument ,and unite the spirit of Christmas with the beautiful tones of silver strings."
The Music
03:58 Kenny Wayne Shepherd "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" Instrumental
03:40 Eric Johnson "The First Nowell" Instrumental
03:14 Jeff Beck "Amazing Grace" Instrumental
02:17 Brian Setzer Orchestra "Jingle Bells" Instrumental
07:20 Joe Satriani "Silent Night/Holy Night Jam" Instrumental
04:31 Steve Morse "Joy To The World" Instrumental
04:22 Steve Vai "Christmas TIme Is Here" Instrumental
03:55 Joe Perry "Blue Christmas" Instrumental
03:25 Alex Lifeson "The Little Drummer Boy" Instrumental
02:32 Richie Sambora "Cantique De Noel (O' Holy Night)" Instrumental
04:48 Hotei "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" Instrumental
The Artists
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Guitar, Production
Eric Johnson Electric, Lap-Steel & Acoustic Guitars, Production, Arrangement
Jeff Beck Guitars, Production, Mixing
Brian Setzer Guitar, Arrangement
Joe Satriani Guitar
Steve Morse Guitars, Sound Effects, Production
Steve Vai Guitars, Production, Engineering, Mixing, Album Concept
Mike Keneally Keyboard, Rhythm Guitar
Joe Perry Guitars, Production, Mixing
Alex Lifeson Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Drum Programming, Production
Richie Sambora Guitars, Production
Tomoyasu Hotei Guitars, All Instruments, Production
Jimmy Wallace Keyboards
Sam Bryant Drums
Robby Emerson Bass
Steven Barber Keyboards, Synthesizer, Arrangement
Roscoe Beck Acoustic Bass
Tom Brechtlein Drums
Sara Nelson Cello
Leigh Mahoney Violin
Margaret Ayer Franch Horn
Brad Dutz Percussion
London Choral Society Voices
Stuart Hamm Bass
Eric Caudieux Keyboards, Programming
Jeff Campitelli Drums, Percussion
Mike Mangini Drums
Philip Bynoe Bass
Bryan Beller Bass
Marti Frederiksen Bass, Drum Programming, Percussion, Additonal Production, Mixing
Jamey Evans Drums
Annie Belanger French Voice
Junji Ikehata Percussion
Hiroshi Okazaki Harmony
Tamaki Okazaki Harmony
Bill Pfordresher Production
Kevin Page Engineering
Tom Lord-Alge Mixing
Richard Mullen Engineering, Mixing
John Stainer Additional Arrangement
Healey Willian Additional Arrangement
Tony Hymas Arrangement
Steve Jackson Engineering, Mixing
Phil Ramone Production
Ray Herrmann Arrangement, Orchestration
Allen Sides Engineering
Jim Wirt Addtional Engineering, Mixing
Mike Fraser Production, Engineering, Mixing
Kent Matcke Engineering Assistance
Zac Allentuck Mixing Assistance
Marcello Gomes Engineering Assistance
Pam Dancy Production Assistance
Perry Margouleff Additional Production, Engineering, Mixing
Don Was Production
Richie Supa Production, Orchestra Arrangement, Sequencing
Wayne Hood Orchestra Arrangement, Sequencing
Rail Jon Rogut Engineering, Mixing
Kunihiko Imai Engineering, Mixing
Takeshi Fujii Computer Programming
Hidehito Satake Guitar Tech
Leslie Langlo A&R Coordination
George Marino Mastering
Frank Harkins Art Direction
Gary Taxali Illustration
"Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" recorded at the House of Blues Studios, Memphis, TN. Mixed at South Beach Recording Studios, Miami Beach, FL.

"The First Nowell" recorded at Saucer Sound, Austin, TX. Additonal recording and mixing at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA.

"Amazing Grace" recorded at Angel Studios and Mayfair Studios, London, mixed at Mayfair Studios, London.

"Jingle Bells" recorded and mixed at the Village Recorder, Los Angeles.

"Silent Night/Holy Night Jam" recorded at The Plant, Sausalito, CA. Mixed at the Coast Recorders, San Francisco, CA.

"Joy To The World" recorded at M.O.R. Studio, Ocala, FL.

"Christmas Time Is Here" recorded at Westwind Media, Burbank, CA. Mixed at The Mothership, Hollywood, CA.

"Blue Christmas" recorded at The Boneyard, Boston, MA. Slow version mixed at The Boneyard. Slow version drums recorded at Pie Studios, Long Island, NY. Fast version mixed at The Mothership, Hollywood, CA.

"The Little Drummer Boy" recorded at Lerxst Sound, Toronto, Canada.

"Cantique De Noel (O' Holy Night) recorded at Creative Audio Studios, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Chomsky Ranch, Los Angeles, CA.

"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" recorded at Paradise Studio, Tokyo, Japan. Mixed at Onkio Haus, Tokyo, Japan.

Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York.

Addiitonal voices by the London Choral Society.