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To paraphrase a recurring sales pitch for a certain collection of 1980s albums, “The holidays are my favorite part of the year, and the best thing about them is THE MUSIC!” Indeed, one of the highlights for me for the Christmas season is getting to turn on the radio and anticipate the playing of old favorites, as well as trotting out my own collection of CDs, and even the albums my family has kept for decades now. In their many mediums, Christmas music and carols have always been there for me (some, however, don’t know when to leave, I must say!) So of course I’ve gotten to pick out quite a few from the crowd as songs I particularly get excited to hear. Those are the ones I am going to talk about right now. So here, then, are: MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS AND CAROLS - SNOOPY’S CHRISTMAS (The Royal Guardsmen): I had to think for maybe a quarter of a second about which song would head the list. As a Peanuts fan, of course I’d gravitate to something about Snoopy as it is. But the first time I heard this festive tune, the third in a “trilogy” for the Guardsmen (“Snoopy vs. The Red Baron” and “The Return Of The Red Baron” were other songs about Snoopy’s battles as the World War I Flying Ace), somehow I was hooked but good. Now forget the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Christmas officially begins for me the first time I hear those plane explosions, the chorus of “O Tannenbaum,” and finally That Song on the radio. As a side note, I’ve put the whole Snoopy/Red Baron saga on a small holiday compilation cassette, and am coming around with the other two songs as well. “10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and more…” and “…and you’ll go straight to…WELL, look out, Red Baron!” are also sticking into my consciousness nowadays. - ANYTHING FROM ANNE MURRAY’S “CHRISTMAS” AND “WHAT A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS” ALBUMS (Anne Murray): Long before I knew what I know now, Anne Murray WAS Christmas for my mother and my grandmother (my mom’s mother, natch), as her Christmas album always got some good play time at our house. Songs like “Christmas in Killarney” and “No Room At The Inn” are memorable and I haven’t heard any other interpretation of them that I know of. So Anne was already leaving an impression before my fandom for music’s Great Ladies kicked in. There’s also her rendition of “Mary’s Boy Child,” complete with the catchy “Oh my Lord…” part near the end. And of course, now that I fully appreciate Anne’s talents, I’ve come to love her other interpretations of all kinds of songs and carols for the occasion, and make sure my CD’s get lots of use during the season. - HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING/DECK THE HALLS (Mannheim Steamroller): About 13 years ago, I was totally obsessed with watching The Weather Channel. Mostly because of the often-great music pieces heard during the Local Forecasts (that and my fascination with early-‘90s computer graphics). During the holidays, they’d add some appropriate songs to the mix. One such song was “Deck The Halls” done in this unusual synthesizer-laden orchestra style. It was a load of time later that I heard it again played on the radio, and learned who the artists were. To this day, Mannheim’s “Halls” is still a favorite when it turns up on the air, and their “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” is right up there too. Somehow, they just get me pumped up whenever I hear them, kind of reminds me of the ‘70s remix of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer’s “Fanfare For The Common Man” for some reason. You hear it and just want to start jogging. - SCARLET RIBBONS (Bobbie Gentry): This is a new addition, as I literally discovered this gem days ago, when I was preparing a small cassette of songs from some of my favorite entries in our vinyl collection. Last year, I dug out our copy of “The Christmas Sound Of Music,” an all-star compilation presented by BF Goodrich, and Capitol/Creative Products records. I had been getting into Bobbie Gentry’s work, and was happy to see her have a cover of “Away In A Manger” on the record. So I put this on the aforementioned tape, but then I saw that she had a second song on the album called “Scarlet Ribbons.” Well of course the more Bobbie love the better, so I played and dubbed it. That song, simply put, is a thing of beauty. Bobbie’s vocals are gentle and hypnotic, and the words and melody stick with you. I am not sure how available this track is these days, but it is definitely worth hearing. Now, while we’re talking about my vinyl discoveries… - SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN (Donna Fargo): If it wasn’t for my obsession with record labels, I may never have discovered this one, among others. I was always fascinated with our copies of “Christmas With The Stars” and “The Wonderful World Of Christmas” because of the BEAUTIFUL Capitol/Special Markets label with an orange rendering of the Capitol Records tower against a yellow background. On the latter was this version of the ubiquitous “…Coming To Town” done by country star Donna Fargo, but performed in the disco style that was so popular at the time. So obsessed I became with this danceable version of a classic, I actually brought the record to our fifth-grade Christmas party. (also the first and only place where I heard this song with Santa promising a kid “a Snoopy doll…a REAL LIFE Snoopy Doll!” If anyone knows its name and who recorded it, let me know!) This too might be a rarity, but do track it down. - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY (David Rose): From the other Capitol/SM album, “Christmas With The Stars.” David Rose is also the name of the person responsible for the famous “Stripper” music, would this be the same guy? At any rate, this was an instrumental, and one that got your attention at that. Low horns “thump-thump” through the open, interrupted in pairs by a higher-pitched squeal (piccolo or something?), making for a somewhat foreboding start before a drumroll, and then a marching band-like rendition of the song. The ending, a lighter fanfare followed by two last “thumps,” put a perfect bookend on the experience. - WINTER WONDERLAND (“Ludwig Mousensky” and the “All-Mouse Symphony Orchestra and Chorus”): Someone who knows better, please tell me the names behind the preceding Disney Euphemism. Anyway, this was on 1978’s “Merry Christmas Songs,” from Disneyland Records…and boy did this have a memorable complete package: a big photo of Mickey in a Santa suit coming out of the center of a wreath, the classic Disneyland record label (yellow with the company’s name against a segmented rainbow), and of course the music. This is at least one place where Jiminy Cricket’s (in)famous “From All Of Us To All Of You” comes from. But my favorite was their instrumental “Winter Wonderland,” if only because of how HONKIN’ WEIRD it is. It starts normally enough, grand fanfare, and another orchestration that wasn’t unlike a marching band in a parade. But when they get to the “In the meadow we can build a snowman…” part, well, that’s where it all goes wrong. The music suddenly turns into something I can best describe as something from the soundtrack of a silent movie, or vaudeville music. Each “verse” is either followed by a “mwah” sound on a horn, or a drum beat that would suggest someone tripping all over themselves. After all this, the music takes a tragic turn, now sounding like two lovers just split up in said silent movie. And this part ends with the “Wah-wah-waaaaaaaaaah!” horns usually reserved for something stupid that has just been said or done. Then back to the vaudeville music, and we end with the marching band. - SLEIGH RIDE (Leroy Anderson): Read a couple of posts down, and you will know that this instrumental adaptation of the popular “Sleigh Ride” is a sentimental favorite of mine, having been used for classic holiday promos on WOR-TV in New York. Similarly… - JOY TO THE WORLD (Percy Faith): …has become a favorite of mine since the return of WPIX/WB 11’s Yule Log in 2001, when I was reminded that it kicks off the telecast, and what a PERFECT tune to do so. That regal fanfare as the Californian impersonator of Gracie Mansion’s fireplace that we’ve known and loved for 30+ years fades in…what a feeling, and one that just grows and grows as the actual song begins in its grand orchestrated form and the camera zooms closer and closer to the log ablazing. - CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME) (The Ronettes): From TV and to the movies, this song is a favorite because it brings to mind the opening credits of the movie “Gremlins.” Whenever someone plays it, I can practically hear the dulcet tones of “Rockin’ Ricky Rialto, the voice of Kingston Falls, USA,” as visions of Gizmo, Zach Galligan, and Phoebe Cates dance in my head. But really, on its own it’s a great song. - WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS (Whatever version they used in “A Christmas Story”): At the moment I don’t have the artist’s name at hand, but this song, coupled with the image of the exterior of the Parkers’ house on a snowy night in 1940s Indiana is a perfect end to a modern holiday celluloid icon. On a related note, another song I’m itching to learn the identity of is that wonderful dramatic piece they play when something disastrous happens, most infamously when Ralphie says the F dash dash dash word. - TO HECK WITH OLE SANTA CLAUS (Loretta Lynn): Yet another new entry…I knew something special was up when I bought my Loretta Christmas CD and saw this title amongst the tracks. And I wasn’t disappointed by the tale of a young country girl disappointed that Santa didn’t stop by her house…so she wishes all kinds of pain, blues, and misery on him. How can you NOT love a song with lines like, “To heck with ole Santa Claus, when he goes dashing through the snow I hope he falls…I’d like to hit him and his HO HO HO with a bunch of big snowballs…” - BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE (Dusty Springfield and Rod McKuen): Well, considering that this is one of *my* favorite songs lists, you just knew that the White Lady Of Soul would be making an appearance sooner or later. You’d have to find hardcore Dusty fans who have this recorded in some shape or form, as it hasn’t been “officially” released on CD, I believe. It was, however, a part of a Christmas with Rod McKuen special from 1979, and I think THAT was put out on video. You know the song, except come second verse, Dusty turns the tables on Rod . I don’t think any other version ever has the woman play the seducer. It doesn’t totally click (they even refer to that in the song, as Rod says words to the effect of “But it’s my house!”) but still a joy to hear. - SANTA BABY (Eartha Kitt): Purrrrrrrrrrrrr-fect, indeed! You’ll understand my partiality to Ms. Kitt, seeing as I grew up with her in Adam West “Batman” reruns as Catwoman #3. And actually, thanks to her, I was able to make some sense of Halle Berry playing the role in the cinema bomb, despite the differences in race. In Adam West continuity, you could say that Julie Newmar/Lee Meriwether was Selina Kyle, while Eartha was the copycat (no pun intended) criminal…now known to be named Priscilla Patience or whatever the hell her name was. Apply the West canon to this movie continuity (the 1989-up-to-Begins Bat-Movie Universe), and yes, there is some logic, with Pfeiffer as Newmar, and Berry as Kitt. Not that it made the Catwoman movie any better, of course. But I’m going far off the board here. Back to “Santa Baby,” Eartha’s rendition is a great old-time seductress tune. I can’t get as into Madonna’s or Kylie Minogue’s Betty Boopish interpretations (and while I am not a big fan of either, I will fess up if I like something Madge or Kylie did). You know who else would be perfect for this song? Bernadette Peters. She’d hit a happy medium between Eartha and Boop. Poor Eartha, I’ve been talking about everything but her and her song in this section, haven’t I? Eartha, you’re great…no matter how many words I put it in. - I AM SANTA CLAUS (Bob Rivers): Christmas parody of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” what’s not to like? - JINGLE BELLS (Those Dogs): A chorus of dogs, again, what’s not to like? - RUDLOPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER (Dean Martin): Listed here just for the novelty of hearing the holiday icon being called “Rudy the Red-Beaked Reindeer” and the implication that Santa is German (“Won’t you guide mein sleigh tonight?”) - SANTA CLAUS AND HIS OLD LADY (Cheech and Chong): Not REALLY a song, in fact, Cheech has to tell Chong numerous times that Santa is NOT a band and not a singer, and did NOT record with Motown. He does, however, tell an offbeat Christmas story about the Claus family working their way up from the projects, and forming their own commune, complete with “midget freaks,” brownies, and magic dust for the reindeer to get off on…of the ground, that is. - WINTER WONDERLAND (Peggy Lee): The second time for this title on the list, this time a version with the lyrics and all. And there are few better to deliver those lyrics than our Miss Peggy, who swings as she always does through the lane with the glistening snow, the meadow where children are building Parson Brown the snowman, and the rest of the way too. SOME RANDOM CHRISTMAS MUSIC NOTES… - Artists with Christmas albums I like as a whole: Dolly Parton and Patti LaBelle have some great holiday output. - Albums you probably have to get from your trustworthy fan recording sources, but by all means do: “Dusty Springfield/The Springfields: We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” and “Petula Clark: Joyeux Noel.” The former I think was once offered in Paul Howes’ Dusty Springfield Bulletin (and if you’re a Dusty fan and haven’t tried a subscription…why not???) and mostly showcase Dusty’s pre-solo days in a folk-trio that included her brother Tom. She does have one solo track, “O Holy Child.” Lots of fun renditions of favorites, and some songs you may not have heard of (Bambino, for example), all done with a down-home yet international flavor. Petula’s too is a mix of standards and more obscure titles, both in English and in French. - Check out this website for more Christmas from another great artist: Close Encounters of the MLE Kind , which has a page set aside for many of Melissa Etheridge’s holiday performances. Find it at: http://www.bstrongspeaktru.com/christmas.htm - Drive You Loop-y Award for 2005: 106.7 FM, WLTW, in the New York area. I was only listening in November before Thanksgiving, but damned if they didn’t only play the same 15-20 songs over and over, resulting in me hearing certain songs or a bunch of songs by the same artists multiple times a day, often within hours or less! I mean, about half the playlist seemed to be taken from the Supremes’ Christmas album. And in some sick form of serendipity, whenever I turned on the radio, I’d ALWAYS catch Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on that station. And I know that song reminds me of a certain special person of mine who does like it, but enough is enough! I feel the same way about Wham’s “Last Christmas”…which Magic 98.3 totally overplayed last year…that was it for me after that! But 98.3 was/is also a reliable source for “Snoopy’s Christmas,” so we’ll forgive them. Then again, they are also fond of that “Christmas Shoes” song, which reminds me of the movie based on said lyrics. All I remember is that the song made me think of a poor, kindly old mother from a farm or something. The one in the film was a whiny city girl, as I recall. - Going back to radio, let me just say that it’s too bad that thanks to Infinit(el)y (Stupid) Broadcasting, the loss this year of CBS-FM denies us of a largely oldies and ‘80s Christmas. As you could gather, I don’t like having the playlist skewered by too much late-‘90s/2000s. - On the other hand, one song that I was surprised not to hear much of until today was Bruce Springsteen’s live “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” In the New Jersey area, it’s like a law to play that. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t listened to New Jersey 101.5 all that much lately. Anyway, the song is a guilty pleasure of mine, from hearing Bruce rasp in the beginning, “You all know what time it is??? Christmas????” to the end, when he starts inexplicably breaking out in giggling fits. I did not hear it at all until this afternoon, like I said…then it popped up within that half hour on about 3-4 stations, literally! - Various Artists compilation to look for: The Best Christmas Album In The World, Ever. This was a 2-disc set I found in New York some time back (and you can see its Amazon listing here ). It’s an import, and thusly had lots of British influence, with classics such as “Happy Christmas (War Is Over” by John Lennon, his former Beatle mate Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time” (complete with “ding-dong, ding-dongs” and trippy synthesizers), Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” and the David Bowie and Bing Crosby version of “Little Drummer Boy.” This is also where I first heard the aforementioned “Winter Wonderland” by Peggy Lee, and it contains the true ‘80s holiday anthem: The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” (admit it, you like it too!) So that concludes my look into the songs of the season. Enjoy them, and the rest of the holidays too! Post a comment in response: |
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