Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Thomas Alan Waits turns 75 today. Born December 7, 1949 in Pomona, California, I have been a fan ever since Bruce Springsteen covered “Jersey Girl” and I was stunned to discover it was not written by The Boss himself. Waits has made a career out of writing about the invisible people we pass in our lives everyday and reminds us that we all deserve a place in this world. And even if his words were not delivered in his signature distinctive gravelly voice, the beauty of his songs would still get the message across in an unforgettable way.

Top: Tom Waits circa 2008. Middle & Bottom: The 1989 import featuring Waits version of today’s song. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

In 1989 Waits recorded a holiday song with S.O.S. United-a music project started by Austrian film composer Harald Kloser-which featured a choir of children from 15 countries across four continents. The contrast of their smooth young voices with Waits’ rough gritty one is just mesmerizing. It’s like listening to a man who has had his faith restored in the season when he was not even aware it had left him.

For a female take on today’s Christmas classic, I present the incomparable Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Photo taken by me at the f/k/a Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, NY in July 2011.

Tom Waits: “Silent Night” (1989, written by Franz Xaver Gruber).

Aretha Franklin: “Silent Night” (2008, written by Franz Xaver Gruber).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!