One of Athlone’s longest serving singers and musicians, Joe Flynn has released a 14-track Christmas album, The Songs of Christmas.
Joe’s new album features many of the old, classical songs associated with the festive season, and a couple of more recent ones as well.
Joe, who has sung professionally since 1952, has had an ambition to bring out a Christmas album for many years. He has brought out lots of albums throughout the years, most notably Where the River Shannon Flows in Autumn, 2016.
“We all grew up with the Jingle Bells song at Christmas, and hymns were always important during the season when I was young,” said Joe. “I always thought that ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’ was a special song, and I’ve recorded it for this album. Many decades ago the songs of Christmas were mostly spiritual, and there was great popularity in those songs. I sang the songs of Christmas with the Wren Boys on St Stephen’s Day about 75 years ago, and I’m now achieving my ambition to record these songs.”
Joe has also recorded covers of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” for the album. He also recalls other singers, such as Jim Reeves with “Old Christmas Card”.
Joe Flynn - The Songs of Christmas - is retailing for €5 at the Friary Shop, the Liturgical Centre and on the Facebook page ‘Buy Sell Swap Athlone’, and at all of Joe’s gigs around Athlone at Christmas.
