Nothing sounds like vinyl. An analog recording has a quality, a warmth and expansiveness, that digital just can’t equal.

For those of you too young to remember what it’s like to drop a needle on a record, it’s hard to explain how it turned the act of listening into a sacred ritual, something requiring care and attention, but you may get your turn yet. According to the Wall Street Journal, while CD sales fell 5% last year, sales of vinyl records grew by 36%. Everything old is new, again. Hipsters are buying them like hotcakes.

We never gave up on vinyl. It’s not just the quality of the sound that we love so much, but the fact that an album is an actual thing. Its size allows for artwork that can’t be effectively shrunk down to fit on a CD jewel box. It has a weight that feels like it matters. Nothing about vinyl says disposable.

That’s why we released our own vinyl LP last year, “Sonic Branding”. We took special care to create a package that provided the perfect visual accompaniment to the music it contained. If you have it, but don’t have a record player, run out to Target and buy one (or just pop the companion CD into your player if you must). Put on your headphones (the kind with the RCA jack) and pour a glass of your favorite beverage. We suggest a nice single malt scotch. Then, let those warm tones carry you away on a cloud of sonic bliss.

Don’t take our word for it. Check out these recent articles about the vinyl revival:

• Dallas Record Company Benefits From Vinyl Record Boom (NBC DFW) »
• Neil Young: Steve Jobs listened to vinyl (USA Today) »
• It’s Alive! Vinyl Makes a Comeback (The Wall Street Journal) »

That means 3 things: great football, million dollar ads and MUSIC.

For us in Dallas, the Super Bowl is something of a mirage these days (even if it was at Jerry World last year). This wasn’t the case in the 90’s. The ‘Boys, led by the Triplets (Troy, Emmitt and Michael) won 3 SB’s. But, with just 1 playoff win in the last 15 years, we can only relish the good old days… but I digress.

Super Bowl ratings have always been sky high. Not just because of the spectacle of the game, but also because of hi-profile commercials. And, in the last 20 years or so, who performs musically at halftime has almost become as important as who plays in the game!

It started with the King of Pop at Super Bowl XXVII (1993) when he sang Heal The World. And we all remember his sister’s wardrobe malfunction when she was singing with Justin Timberlake (Super Bowl XXXVIII). Other notable entertainers have been U2, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney, to name a few.

Last year Dallas’ own Stephen Arnold Music got overlooked (not really) and The Black Eyed Peas performed… This year, in Indianapolis, the ageless Madonna is scheduled to perform.

Other music that comes to mind around Super Bowl time is The Super Bowl Shuffle by the 1986 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears:

But my all-time favorite football tune was composed right here at the SAM studio for the New Orleans Saints, who went on to win Super Bowl XLIV in 2012. It’s called Big Thang:

These days good football isn’t the only key ingredient to a successful Super Bowl. Good music matters too!

Golf Channel – “Playing Lessons”

CBS Sports – “Tim Brando Show”

HDNet – “kidScene”

To view more of our projects, visit our YouTube channel at youtube.com/stephenarnoldmusic

The “Arts” always come out in full bloom at year’s end. We all have our favorite, iconic holiday book/film/play/TV show, maybe even a favorite toy, and last but not least, favorite Christmas song or carol.

Since I was a kid, some of those iconic holiday classics have been replaced — a change made ever more apparent as the father of three young ones (although only one still young enough to “believe”).

I will never forget those classics near and dear to me come Christmas, but as a sign of changing times, here’s a quick comparison of my favorites against those of my children:

BOOK
Then: The Night Before Christmas
Now:  The Polar Express

MOVIE
Then: A Christmas Carol
Now:  Elf

TOYS
Then: Atari
Now:  Xbox 360

MUSIC
Ironically, when it comes to music, this is one of the few Christmas favorites that really hasn’t changed. My kids love “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, and my personal favorite has always been “The Little Drummer Boy”, especially Bob Seger’s version.

Sonic Branding is as common a phrase as any other here at Stephen Arnold Music. I’ve explained it a thousand times to clients and would-be clients. “That set of notes that musically identifies a program, a film, a product…” I didn’t have to be in the room looking at the TV last night to know Monday Night Football was coming on – I could hear the sonic brand from across the house.

Think of the concept as it applies to Christmas. There are hundreds of “sonic brands” out there that immediately tell us what time of year it is…Christmas time!

What’s your favorite Christmas Sonic Brand?

I remember when Carol and I first got married, she was getting her masters in Special Ed and her thesis was on autism. We kept 5 autistic boys in our home for a year! Those were such hard times, but great times and so rewarding… it made me realize and prioritize what’s really important.

With that in mind, here’s a great track accompanying an even a better message (at least until the advertisers plug… Oops–did I say that?).

I love the way the space in this acoustic guitar piece allows room for the mother’s voiceover to weave in and out and complement her sense of loving acceptance and hope.  The hallelujah vocals provide a subtle touch that drives the comforting feeling of this piece home.

What matters most to you?

– SA

Here are a few fun clips, live from the session featuring the talented (and patient) singer Annagrey.

Be sure to check out the 2^nd clip- when figured out she had sung every letter in the alphabet!

Merry Christmas to all our friends at KAALKAMCKAMRWAWVKARDKARKKAVUKBTVWCIAKCRAKDBCKETKWCJBKEYCKFBBKFDXWCYBKGETKGNSKGWNWDEF
KHGIKIFIWDHNKIVIKJCTWENYKLSTKMBCWESHKMEGKMIDWFFTKMIRKMIZWFTXKMPHWFXPWFXVKMTVWGBAWGRZ
KMVTWGXAKNINWGXAWHAGKOLRWHIZWJETKOZLWJFWWMBDKPLRKQTVWMDTWMNNKRBCWNWOWOAYKRCR
WOLOWOWKKSANWSILWSYMKSNFWTAJWTICKSNTWTMJWTRFKTALWTVOWTVWKTNVWTWOWTXLKTVEWUTRWVUE
KXMCWWSBWYTVKTWOWYZZXETV

This Saturday night on PPV, boxing’s pound for pound best, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao fights Juan Manual Marquez. This will be their third confrontation, the first ending in a draw and the second in a split decision. It’s another huge event for our client Top Rank Boxing, and we’re very excited to be a part of it.

Top Rank’s Creative Director Phil Smith wanted a “cinematic adventure piece”. Stephen and the production team worked off a creative brief that asked for a pounding, high-impact track that emphasized strings and percussion and led to a dramatic crescendo. The end product is the track we’ve named King of the Mountain.

The promo is currently being seen in 130 countries around the world, on networks like the BBC and SOLARtv, which is based in Pacquiao’s home country The Philippines. The spot also ran during all nationally televised NFL games this week, and on HBO and ESPN, among many other outlets.

And best of all, soon after the Pacquiao fight, we’ll be licensing the track as part of our library, The Vault.

Also, check out this clip from CNN: “Erin Burnett Behind The Scenes” which features the music and a brief clip of us!

or check it out on CNN

The producers of OutFront wanted music that would really set the show apart, something different from the traditional themes normally associated with television news. The music needed to have a fresh, “indie band” style sound that connects with today’s viewers without sounding contrived or over produced. That’s the kind of challenge we relish here at Stephen Arnold Music!

The music is built around a five-note signature that incorporates driving guitars, bass, drums and a touch of strings, resulting in a strong, modern sound that suggests courage and boldness. The package includes several variations that all underscore the personality of the show embodied in the title “OutFront”.

The show debuted on Monday, October 3rd. You can catch “Erin Burnett OutFront” weeknights on CNN at 7 pm EST.

Let us know what you think!

Check it out:

The directive was to create a lively and playful soundtrack built on a driving pace that would underscore edited video and graphics.  Golf Channel wanted a strong, organic music logo to anchor the package, so we came up with a four-note hook.  The music incorporates acoustic guitars, a catchy bass line, drums, and some unexpected musical flourishes and sound textures.

The new music will be used for the show open, teases, and various IDs throughout the show, as well as for promotions.

Playing Lessons, hosted by Brandel Chamblee, features some of the world’s top touring professionals talking through a round of golf with celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment. During each episode, the pro discusses strategy, course management, shot selection and a variety of tips, as well as the featured celebrity’s career highlights. New episodes are airing on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

CNN will use the music in a range of shows and promotions during the week leading up to the commemoration, and a secondary, more sparse arrangement will play behind CNN’s live coverage of the unveiling of the 9/11 Memorial on Sunday, September 11.

In the creative process with the network, CNN requested that we compose music that carried a sense of dignity and remembrance. At the same time, the music had to fulfill more practical needs by effectively branding and unifying CNN’s weeklong coverage of the commemoration.

This assignment continues our longstanding relationship with CNN.  Still, this opportunity is unique.  Branded music is about making an appropriate emotional connection with the viewer.  The range and complexity of emotions surrounding 9/11 goes far beyond words.  We are very proud to take on the important and sensitive task of translating these emotions to music.

This music will support CNN programs during the week and through the September 11, 2011 coverage, including:

• Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: Terror in the Dust (Sept. 7 at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT and Sept 10 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)
• Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience (Sept. 9 at 11 p.m. ET/8 pm PT and Sept. 10 at Sept 10 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT)
• Footnotes of 9/11 (Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
• Beyond Bravery: The Women of 9/11 (Sept. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)