FROM ENDLESS SUMMER QUARTERLY – THE BEACH BOYS PUBLICATION OF RECORD

By Amanda May Metzger

If you’re looking to strike just the right chord at your next Christmas get-together, add Scott Totten Presents A Wire Choir Christmas to your playlist. This isn’t your typical collection of Christmas carol covers — these instrumental tracks are full of depth and destined to be much more than background music. With their rich, guitar-driven sound, they’re not only a delight for anyone who loves a great melody but also a treat for those who can appreciate the intricate chord work woven throughout the arrangements. These renditions of Christmas classics are conversation pieces.

It’s like a choir of angels proclaiming the good news: you’ve now got a new seasonal staple to add to your holiday music rotation, and this one has shuffled to the front of my playlist. From the first track, it’s clear that this is a special listening experience, one that captures the magic of the season. If you’ve ever wondered what Motown meets The Beach Boys sounds like at Christmas (and if you haven’t, you’re wondering now), Totten’s “Little St. Nick” delivers that festive fusion. Totten knew he wanted to reimagine The Beach Boys’ “Little St. Nick” and was inspired by his listening to Martha and the Vandellas’ “Jimmy Mack” for the arrangement.

You might notice that Totten’s version of “Little St. Nick” features a guitar lick similar to “The Way You Do the Things You Do” by The Temptations. And if you listen closely, you’ll hear that Totten uses a baritone guitar — tuned down a quarter step from a standard guitar — to play the melody, mimicking Mike Love’s iconic parts. Be sure to check out Totten’s social media as he counts down the “10 Days of Wire Choir Christmas.” You’ll get a glimpse into the fascinating backstories behind his arrangements and hear some of the guitar harmonies isolated. These tracks reward careful re-listening — and they almost demand it. With so many styles of guitar from twang to tranquil — you may find yourself so immersed in the music that tasks like wrapping presents or frosting cookies might take twice as long!

The backstory shared in the liner notes underscores just how special this project is. Originally from California, Totten moved east to attend the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree before settling in New York City. Long before his 23-year career touring with The Beach Boys, he was a struggling musician — a street performer in Times Square, known as “Guitar Man.” How fitting that, when he couldn’t afford traditional Christmas gifts, Totten gave something priceless to his friends one year: a collection of six tracks recorded on four or five guitars, a Yamaha RX11 drum machine, and a Tascam 80-8 half-inch 8-track machine. Those homemade cassette tracks became a hit with his friends, and now, they are included on A Wire Choir Christmas as a gift to all of us.

I was delighted to see one of my favorite Christmas songs on the tracklist: “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Totten’s version features such an intricate layer of harmonies from the strings, and a blazing guitar that captures the passion, peace and hope of the season. You can almost hear the lyrics — but with chords like that, words aren’t necessary. It’s my Christmas wish that you hear what I hear. Let those guitars sing. No keyboards allowed.

Available exclusively on ScottTotten.com as an autographed CD or download — the perfect gift for any music lover.

And just a quick note about the cover art, which I love. It’s simple and beautiful, with a clever use of his logo and Christmas lights wrapped around the guitar. A perfect touch.

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