Search - Michael Smith and Jamie O'Reilly :: Michael Smith's The Gift of the Magi

This is a Christmas album with year long appeal. Shimmering, polished performances by the celebrated musical team of Smith and O?Reilly and a stellar musical ensemble, as they perform on 15 exciting tracks! 13 danceable tunes, written for the Svalander-Begley Americana Ballet, from waltzes to swing, a soft shoe, a foxtrot, a gypsy dance, witty novelty songs and tender love duets, all written with signature Smithish charm. Michael reads several excerpts from the O.Henry story. The CD is set in a lush and lovely Vaudeville style Old New York poster design. Songs are performed on a variety of guitars, violin, cello, bass and piano. Jamie and Michael provide the lead vocals. Recorded at Dr. Caw Recording, Northbrook, IL. Produced and distributed by J. O'Reilly Productions. The songs on the recording hearken back to the halcyon days of parlor songs and vaudeville- the pre-radio era- when novelty songs and waltzes could be heard wafting through the air in the 'tin pan alleys' of overcrowded New York City, and even the poorest of young lovers had a song in his heart! It is the story of Della-who sacrifices her long hair for Jim-who pawns his heirloom pocket-watch for Della, and it celebrates true love's triumph over adversity. Set in an era of economic hardship and struggle -turn of the century New York City, the music draws from the rich music hall tradition that was New York in 1905. The lyrics tell of a city boasting modernization and new invention, from the trolley to the telephone and of neighborhood flats bursting with activity. They tell of the dashed dreams of wide-eyed innocents and off-the-boat immigrants, and the colorful characters they do business with: Madame Sofronie, once a gypsy princess in old Russia now relegated to making wigs for society ladies, the sly, deal-making Pawnbroker whose watches are all set to the time of President Lincoln?s death, and Jim and Della, the down-on-their luck newlyweds taking refuge in the wonder of Christmas.