Again, three years had passed. And with my moving from Florham Park to Chester came the task of re-setting up my studio. I now had a room dedicated for this and was eager to get under way with some real projects. What I needed was something that would allow me to shake down the new digs and gear. I had often referred to Pete’s vocals as being the hallmark sound of our "Christmas Tapes Past". But what had not occurred to me ‘til then was that Rick was the ever reappearing "Instigator of Christmas Tape Present". And this year he was to haunt me ‘til I agreed to his saving my musical soul! Actually, I agreed to undertake our fourth tape, "Up on the rooftop… Reindeer Pose",  on one condition - that it would be promoted as the last tape in the series. Rick accepted my terms.

Invitations went out to everyone who performed on previous tapes and might be around to appear on this one, as well as some new talent… just in case. But the atmosphere of this tape was different. This time practically everybody seemed enthusiastic about the proposition. The only obstacle posing a threat was the fact that my house was scheduled to undergo a major renovation approximately two months away. If the project was to be completed it had to be completed by October 1.

Planning and recording sessions took place 3-4 nights each week and by the end of August most of the sequencing had been completed. Rod and Ton had each recorded their compositions at their home studios. Additions and final mixes of these were done at my place. Certain pieces that had been dropped from previous tapes were again on the charts. The total time of music playback was over 40 minutes, including a couple original tunes by Rick and myself. The overall sound quality was much better than I had expected and, for a while, it looked like this project would complete without a hitch, with time to spare.

Well, if anything can possibly go wrong… around mid-September everybody got the flu! Despite breaks to sniffle and wipe her nose, LeighAnna completed her featured vocals on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", a performance that I had waited for since the previous tape.

"One song I’d hoped to record on the "Newt’s Night Out" tape was "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". From the start I heard a child’s voice in the lead vocal spot. But at 7-years-old, the only child I considered for the part was just not up to singing it so the song was put "on hold". This was one of my greatest disappointments when I later considered ending the tape series after Newts. However, three years later LeighAnna, a lot more serious in her efforts, delivered what I feel to be the very essence of the Christmas tape series. Without doubt, hers is my most favorite performance of all." - PB

Some other songs contained temporary vocal tracks that had to remain as they were and various planned additions; solos and enhancements had to be dropped. Time was running out and the renovation demolition crew closed in, threatening to cancel the final mix. Fortunately, it turned out that the Construction Company had to postpone the start of demolition for two weeks. During this time three test mixes were run. On Saturday, Oct 15, 1994, I held three copies of the final mix of "Reindeer Pose" in my hands. On Sunday night my studio had been disassembled and packed away elsewhere. On Monday, three construction workers with crowbars, Sawzalls and Chain Saws went to work on my house. I went into the den and located an unopened bottle or Pusser’s Rum.

It’s surprising what you can do in so little time! Producing this year’s tape was a real race. Who would win -us or the construction team coming in to demolish the second floor of my house?! We won, of course, but with cost… Some unfinished material and performances had to be put on hold - "until the next tape".

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Vocals - Pete, Rick, Rod, Pat
"Mr. Big" - Jon

Up on the Rooftop
Pete - Vocals
Mark - Guitar
Pat - "Bass", "Drums", "Organ", "Piano", and Synth
Background Vocals - Pete, Pat, Rick, Rod, Mark

The First Noel
Mark - Guitars
Pat - Vocals, "Bass", "Drums", Synth and "that chime thing" at the end
Background Vocals - Rod, Pat

Angels We Have Heard on High
Pat - "Piano" and Synth

Little Drummer Boy
Pat - Vocals, "Bass", "Drums", Guitar and Synth

Chamber Medley:
O, Little Town of Bethlehem
Away in the Manger
Joy to the World
Diane - Flutes
Pat - "Cello" and "Harp"

I Believe in Father Christmas
Rick - Vocals and Guitar
Pat - Various synths , "Electric 12-string" and "Piano"

What A Child Believes
Pat - Vocals, "Bass", "Drums", "Sax", Guitar and Synth

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
LeighAnna - Vocals
Pat - "Pianos" and "Flutes"

Silver and Blue
Rick - Words
Pat - Vocals, "Piano" and Synth
JoEllen - Additional Vocals

Auld Lang Syne
Ton - Vocals, "Drums", Guitar and Synth
Pat - Background Vocals

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Pete - Vocals
Rod - "Bass", "Drums", "Horns" and "Piano"
Background Vocals - Pete, Rick, Rod, Mark, Pat
 

Concept: Pat
Arrangements / Recording:
Ton - Auld Lang Syne
Rod - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Pat - (all others)
Pat - Production / Mix / Master: