By Kellie Houx
KHoux@cherryroad.com
SMITHVILLE — Mark Murtha believes in going big, especially when he gets a chance to record and produce a Christmas album. His labor of love is titled “Mark Murtha’s Christmas Party in Kansas City,” recorded and produced in his home studio in Smithville.
For the most part, the 40 artists that appear on the album hail from the metropolitan area including Kansas City-North, Parkville, Independence and Smithville. Artists include Brad Athey, Glen Bridger, Roger Boyd, Barb Ely, Joe Evans, Jill Francis, Eddy Jones, Joe Lewis, Todd Pettygrove, Colin Ridge, Stephen Riker, Darren Walker and Carl Worden.
If music lovers out there are looking for new takes on classic Christmas songs and a few originals, this album might be just right.
Murtha plays with the band Head East. Initially, he planned for a band Christmas album, but after talking with friends, the idea changed to a compilation.
“It’s not a new idea, but it’s a love letter to Christmas and to local musicians. All the musicians played for free,” he said. “It came together in 15 months. It took time to get it mixed and mastered.”<n> Susan Hiland, communications director for North Kansas City Schools district, helped Murtha find local nonprofits to place the album.
“None of the musicians are taking any money from the project. We are placing the CDs at nonprofits and letting the nonprofits keep the proceeds,” he said.
In the Northland, charities selling the albums are KC Pet Project’s Zona Rosa Adoption Center, 8731 N. Stoddard Ave.; Northland Animal Welfare Society, 6972 N. Broadway St., Gladstone; Mimi’s Pantry, 2255 NW Vivion Road, Riverside; and the TWA Museum at 10 Richards Road, Kansas City.
“I wanted to make sure we put out an album that’s robust and diverse,” Murtha said. “It’s got a good selection. Initially, I was looking at 12 tracks and it kept growing. Once I got Johnny Rampage to do lead vocals on ‘Please Come Home for Christmas,’ it was just one thing that led to another.”<n> In 1996, Murtha got to record with Infinity Records.
“My philosophy for London Drive was that this could be our one chance to record so we recorded 18 songs. If I do something, I give it my all,” Murtha said. “My thinking on this was might as well go big. Everyone had a great time.”
His wife, Lisa Murtha, had a hand in producing as well as singing on many numbers including “Christmas Time is Here” from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Murtha can be heard playing on most of the songs, including the instrumentals on Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” Vince Guaraldi’s “Skating” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.”
“We have some jazz infusion to Christmas,” he said, chuckling. “It’s a celebration of friendships with the local music community. It’s a gift to my friends and the community.”
If you would like to purchase the CD and are not near any of the sale locations, an order can be placed with Supersonic Music online at supersonicmusic.com.
