December was certainly an interesting month in the top 20 of the All Brass Radio playlist.

As it was the festive season it started with a few Christmas tracks, but by the 13th, about 50% had a familiar Christmas sound. By the 19th however it was up to 75% from various bands and performers, with a peak reached on Christmas Eve when every one of them had a flavour of the special time of the year.

New play list

A new playlist started on Boxing Day — with 383 tracks uploaded for listeners to choose from once again.

And once again, the wonderful Kirsty Abbotts claimed top spot with her beautiful playing of the Josh Groban hit 'You Raise Me Up', with Paul Lovatt-Cooper's passionate International Staff Band commission 'Fire in the Blood' just behind.

Perhaps it was seen on the television over the Christmas period, but the 1981 film hit 'Chariots of Fire' retained its place in the podium slots, whilst new tracks to the Top 20 include a sparkling new arrangement of 'Stars and Stripes Forever' played by the Brass Band of Central Florida — and featured on their recently released new CD.

Send your CD too us

Christmas classics such as 'Little Drummer Boy', 'Christmas Swing' and 'Russian Christmas Music' made it into the New Year, as did and the 'Ukrainian Bell Choir' by a band who donated their CD, Western Reserve Brass Band from America.

It shows that if you send one in it can make a huge mark with the All Brass Radio listeners.

Meanwhile, one piece that sticks out is 'The 12 Days of Christmas' — a comedy put in the playlist just for fun and sung brilliantly by the men's acappela group Straight, No Chaser from the University of Indiana.

December 2018 Top 20:

1. You Raise Me Up (Carlton Main Frickley Colliery)
Soloist: Kirsty Abbotts (cornet)
2. Fire in the Blood (International Staff Band)
3. Chariots of Fire (Brass Band de Waldsang)
4. Live Ablaze (International Staff Band)
5. Dundonnell (Brighouse & Rastrick)
6. Love Changes Everything (Desford Colliery Caterpillar)
7. The Four Seasons (Cory)
8. A Space Voyage Special (East of England Co-op)
9. Bolero (Brighouse & Rastrick)
10. Buglers Dream and Olympic Fanfare (Froschl Hall)

11. PolySteel Band (Benedictus from the Armed Man)
12. Stars and Stripes Forever (Brass Band of Central Florida)
13. Mars, The Bringer of War (Black Dyke Mills Band)
14. Gettysburg Reunion and Finale (Atlantic Brass Band)
15. Fat Bottom Girls (Ebbw Valley Brass)
16. The Little Drummer Boy (Brass Band de Waldsang)
17. Christmas Swing (Willebroek Brass Band)
18. The 12 Days of Christmas (Comedy) — Straight, No Chaser
19. Russian Christmas Music (Brass Band of Battle Creek)
20. Ukrainian Bell Carol (Western Reserve Brass Band)

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