Category Archives: 25 Days Of Christmas Music

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 20

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 20

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

On this day 78 years ago, the definitive Christmas movie premiered. “It’s A Wonderful Life” opened on December 20, 1946 in New York City to only mixed reviews (I know, RIGHT?!?!?). That did not stop it from becoming the beloved iconic feel good movie for everyone who thinks their lives are nothing special in the grand scheme of things. Is it really Christmas until George meets Clarence and realizes what life would have been without the presence of the oldest Bailey son? And would we have even heard of the name Zuzu without this film???

It's_a_Wonderful_Life_(1946_poster)
Wonderful

Top: The movie poster for the film. Bottom: The heartwarming scene where George Baily (Jimmy Stewart) reunites with his family including wife, Mary (Donna Reed), and kids Pete, Janie, Zuzu and Tommy. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Fifteen years after that movie’s NYC debut, an unknown 19 year old folk singer turned up in that very same city in the hopes of starting his musical career and to meet his idol, Woody Guthrie. The man who renamed himself Bob Dylan arrived in New York City in January 1961 and began playing clubs in Greenwich Village a month later. Before the year was over he was signed to Columbia Records (thank you, John Hammond) and Dylan’s debut album was released in March 1962. The rest of the story is now history, as he became a hero for the times and his generation by using his words to voice the the significant changes at a time when so much life was happening.

A movie based on that seminal period-based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald-will open on Christmas Day. “A Complete Unknown” chronicles Dylan’s early days performing in small NYC venues to his controversial appearance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival when he introduced his electric sound. It stars Timothée Chalamet (who also serves as a producer) as Dylan and is directed by James Mangold who also brought Joaquin Phoenix to life as Johnny Cash in 2005’s “Walk The Line” and Sylvester Stallone as Freddy Heflin in one of my absolute favorite films, 1997’s “Copland”.

A_Complete_Unknown_poster

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In 2009 Dylan released a holiday album, Christmas in the Heart. He took on 15 festive carols and made them his own and donated all the proceeds to charities he hand selected. I have always liked the poetry of his writing and the unmistakable sound of his hoarse gravelly voice and that is showcased on every track of this album. But I find myself particularly drawn to today’s pick as it gives me distinct Tom Waits vibes (he was featured on Day 7). But no matter who sings this song, it always takes me back to the scene where the crowd gathered at the Bailey house breaks into song after helping George on Christmas Eve.

Version 1.0.0
Dylan now

Top: Dylan’s 2009 album. Bottom: The artist circa 2023. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Bob Dylan: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” (2009, written by written by Felix Mendelssohn and Charles Wesley, arranged by Bob Dylan).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 19

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 19A

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

The first of today’s songs is the title track from Kenny Loggins’ 1977 debut solo album. Since it was released in April of that year, it is pretty safe to guess he did not picture it as a tune for the holiday season. Luckily for us, it did turn into a wonderful festive treat, albeit another woefully underplayed one each December (and all year long, in fact).

kenny-loggins-celebrate-me-home-ab

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In 2013, Loggins recorded today’s second track to coincide with the release of a new book by the same name illustrated by Wade Zahares. He signed copies of the book after a chat and Q&A with the audience. A man who had met Loggins in 1994 and had him play a guitar back then was in the audience with that same instrument at this event & asked the “Footloose” singer to play it once again. Loggins gracefully obliged and lead the audience in an impromptu sing along to “Danny’s Song”. It was too fabulous for words.

I cannot find my pictures from that day but I do still have my autographed book. And wouldn’t you know that I found a video of the sing along moment on YouTube. What a way to relive that time I was at one of my favorite stores in one of my favorite towns in my home state of New York and one of my favorite artists treated me to one of the most intimate musical moments of my life.

Kenny L book
Kenny L autograph

My very own signed copy of Frosty, complete with the post-it to insure my name was spelled correctly. (Both photos taken by me!)

Kenny Loggins: “Celebrate Me Home” (1977, written by Bob James and Kenny Loggins).

Kenny Loggins: “Frosty the Snowman” (2013, written by Steve Nelson and Walter E. “Jack” Rollins).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 18

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 18 EDIT

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

As an Italian Catholic girl, I grew up hearing plenty of stories about the saints. The top two in my house were Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Their music was on repeat all year long and that only intensified around the holidays. They were the voices of Christmas, a tradition I continue to honor every year.

On Day 12 we heard from Sinatra so today it is all about Martin. He was recognized as The King Of Cool by even Elvis so that is saying something right there. Martin’s smooth, suave debonair style came through on every song he performed. Add that to his timeless sound, his movie star looks and his genuine ease in front of the camera for his TV shows & specials and you have the quintessential entertainer. He brought charisma, charm and class to everything he did. Santa may be the main guy of the season but for me, Christmas does not truly exist without Dino Paul Crocetti.

DeanMartinChristmasAlbum

Dean Martin’s 1966 holiday album. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Dean Martin: “Jingle Bells” (1966, written by James Lord Pierpont).

Dean Martin: “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1966, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne).

Dean Martin: “It’s a Marshmallow World” (1966, written by Carl Sigman and Peter DeRose).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 17

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 17

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

Christmas came early for us Elton John fans. Last month his new documentary, “Never Too Late” was released and a few days ago it started streaming on on Disney+. It not only went behind the scenes of his final U.S. concert at Dodger Stadium in California in 2022, but it took a look back at his magnificent more-than-five-decade career and the happiness he has found as a husband and father which prompted his retirement from the road. Needless to say, it is an incredible look at an astounding life & significant collaborations, especially his work with John Lennon in the 1970’s.

If you recall, EJ’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour was interrupted by the pandemic. And what did he do while he could not go out on the road? He collaborated with several other artists to bring us the album aptly titled, The Lockdown Sessions. A bonus track was a holiday song he co-wrote with Ed Sheeran that was released in December 2021. Who said nothing good came from a universal pandemic?

ej
EJ and Ed
Lockdown

Top: Elton John’s 1973 Christmas record. Middle: EJ (L) and Ed Sheeran (R) in a clip from the video for their 2021 holiday song. Bottom: EJ’s 2021 album. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Elton John: “Step Into Christmas” (1973, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).

Ed Sheeran and Elton John: “Merry Christmas” (2021, written by Ed Sheeran and Elton John).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 16

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 16

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

Today’s song is one not played nearly enough, a rare instance in a month of non-stop holiday music. Released in 1998 by world renowned harpist Jung Kwak and featuring vocals by Broadway actress & singer Linder Eder, the combination is simply stunning.

Jung
Linda

Top: Jung Kwak, also known as Harpist K, circa 1998. Bottom: Linda Eder circa 2005. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Jung Kwak featuring Linda Eder: “The Gift” (1998 credit(s) unknown).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 15

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 15

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

A tradition is, by definition, “a belief, practice, or custom that is passed down from generation to generation, often within a particular culture or society”. And traditions exist for a reason. They are precious, comforting and connect us to people in a different time and place because it removes those barriers and gives us common ground. Today’s song is one of the most beloved traditions which most of us know to be the definitive sound of Christmas.

Nat

Nat King Cole circa 1955. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Nat King Cole: “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)“, (1946, 1961, written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 14

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 14

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

Today’s song made my list last year which is when it was first released. The origins date back to the 16th century as a Welsh traditional Christmas carol that had English lyrics added to it in the mid 19th century. So for over a century this has been a classic festive sing along style song. Until 2023 when The Lumineers decided to make it all their own. And it is such an inspired original take that by the second or third line I found I did not even miss the sing along part. I just got lost in the inventiveness of this sparse yet eloquent acoustic interpretation which elevated this song from a carol to a classic in under two & half minutes.

Lums

The Lumineers: Jeremiah Fraites (L) and Wesley Schultz (R). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The Lumineers: “Deck The Halls”  (2023, Traditional).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 13

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 13A

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

Several years ago I heard an absolutely gorgeous song on a TV show which helped me discover the artist-Ryan O’Neal-who performs under the moniker, Sleeping At Last. That led me to his simply gorgeous take on today’s song which I have featured before. This year I found another incredibly beautiful version of that song by singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff.

I discovered her years ago courtesy of Linda Ronstadt who recorded three songs by Bonoff (“Lose Again”, “If He’s Ever Near” and “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me”, with the last two also featuring her on backing vocals) on 1976’s Hasten Down The Wind. Bonoff released those three songs on her self titled debut in 1977. In August 1982 she had her own Top 20 hit with “Personally”. Ronstadt’s 1989 duet with Aaron Neville, “All My Life”, was also written by Bonoff.

Over a decade later, I heard her stunning cover of “The Water Is Wide” when my favorite soap, “Another World” featured it during an episode in January 1997. And this week I finally heard her 2020 album, Silent Night. I love when Christmas comes early.

sleeping-at-last-releases-new-already-gone-cover-1-med

Ryan O’Neal of Sleeping At Last. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

karla

Karla Bonoff circa 2020 from her website. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Sleeping At Last: “The First Noel” (2017, traditional).

Karla Bonoff: “The First Noel” (2020, traditional).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 12

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 12B

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

Today marks the 109th birth anniversary for The Chairman Of The Board. Born Francis Albert Sinatra on December 12, 1915, the legendary Rat Pack member known for his talents as a singer and actor is considered to be one of the greatest entertainers to ever take a stage. Hoboken, New Jersey’s favorite son also remains one of the best selling artists in the world and his contributions to the holiday music genre-among other things-keep that legacy going. When I was growing up, it was not Christmas in my house until Sinatra’s seasonal songs made their yearly appearance. And I continue that tradition today.

frank 40s
Frank Sinatra
Frank 60s

Three eras of Sinatra: Top: The entertainer circa 1948. Middle: His 1957 Christmas album. Bottom: Ol’ Blue Eyes circa 1968. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Frank Sinatra: “Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)” (1948, traditional).

Frank Sinatra: “Christmas Waltz” (1957, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne).

Frank Sinatra: “Mistletoe and Holly” (1957, written by Hank Sanicola, Dok Stanford and Frank Sinatra).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 11

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 11 B

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

Brenda Lee turns 80 today. Born Brenda Mae Tarpley on December 11, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia she became a child performer who was crowned “Little Miss Dynamite” in 1957 at the age of 12 after her first hit record. A year later, she released today’s song which is her most well known recording followed by 1960’s “I’m Sorry” which was a #1 hit that year. To date Lee has sold 100 million records around the world.

Johnny Marks-the songwriter who gave us “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” (see Day 6) – wrote today’s song as well and it became the biggest song of Lee’s career. From that point it was also a seasonal staple, but received a revival of sorts 32 years later when it was featured in the 1990 Christmas movie, “Home Alone”. Last year Lee made a video for the song while she was lip synching to the original track in honor of its 65th anniversary, sending it to the top of the charts & making Lee the oldest artist to have a top-selling record.

Brenda 1958
Home Alone
Brenda now

Top: Brenda Lee in 1958. Middle: The “Home Alone” scene featuring Lee’s song. Bottom: Lee in 2023. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Today marks 60 years since we lost one of the greatest and most important voices in music. Sam Cooke was and remains vital to the many genres of music he contributed to from his time in gospel music with The Soul Stirrers, his solo secular career in R&B, soul, pop & mainstream music and his songs of social change.

The track he released in February 1964- which was reissued less than two weeks after his death-became an unofficial anthem for the civil rights movement. With all that is going on across the universe today and with a new year only three weeks away, his message advocating a better world remains as crucial as ever.

Sam Cooke: January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964.

Sam_Cooke_2

Sam Cooke circa 1963. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Brenda Lee: “Rocking Around The Christmas Tree” (1958, written by Johnny Marks)

The Soul Stirrers: “The Last Mile Of The Way” (1955, written by Sam Cooke).

Sam Cooke: “A Change Is Gonna Come” (1964, written by Sam Cooke).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!