New West Records

Socks: A Christmas Album by JD McPherson

I can safely say this is the coolest project I have ever worked on. I can also safely say, without bias, that this is the best original Christmas Album since Vince Guaraldi’s 1965 score for “A Charlie Brown Christmas”.

So it’s entirely fitting the artist, JD McPherson, wanted to impart a similar visual feeling with his album, and considering the Guaraldi soundtrack is my favorite holiday album of all time, I was entirely beside myself to have been offered the task.

My upstairs neighbors were undoubtedly confused by my blaring of Christmas music in July, but the music is good enough to be enjoyed in any season and provided an abundance of inspiration.

McPherson provided a bit of art direction for what he wanted to see on the front and back covers (and even designed the layout himself). But he also wanted to add something nostalgic and special: a fully-illustrated 14-page “SIng along” lyric book to provide an entire record-listening holiday experience for the whole family.

VInce Guaraldi used the visual and storytelling genius of Charles Schulz and Bill Melendez to inspire a musical score. I got to do that with the illustrated lyric book, but in reverse!

I had so much fun making everything that it never crossed my mind what it would all look like in real life––particularly on stage.

The illustrated label for the special edition red & green “spattered” vinyl—my elegant rendition of Santa puking––also adorned drummer Jason Smay’s drumhead; the kid from the album cover pouted over the band from a huge cloth banner; the trees from the lyric book were turned into actual trees by skilled carpenter Hugh Masterson. Other illustrations have made their way to merchandise, including an annual “Socks” pair of actual socks. It’s been so incredibly rewarding to see little things and characters that once found their way out of my pencil come to life––sometimes larger than life––in so many different ways.

Having the opportunity to see a handful of these Christmas shows in person in 2018 & 2019 was wonderful. I love seeing live music, but the electric feeling in those rooms was incomparable. I’ve never seen so much joy and energy, over and over again, at live shows. To see my little contributions included in that joy is perhaps the greatest reward I’ve ever experienced as an artist.

Sadly, those shows couldn’t continue in 2020, but I had the honor of contributing art to the band’s online performances throughout the pandemic. I hope for the sake of the world this holiday tour can resume soon. In the meantime, there’s nothing better to dance around the tree to.

Images include another cover made for the 2019 single release of “Holly, Carol, Candy & Joy”, written by JD McPherson and Raynier Jacildo; some album merchandise, including socks; a video of the lyric book as well as one of the many animated lyric videos made by Black Balloon Studios.