25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 12

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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A lovely vintage Christmas card image found on Pinterest. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Francis Albert Sinatra-better known as Frank Sinatra, “Ol’ Blue Eyes” or “The Chairman Of The Board”- was born on December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, NJ. To this day, he defines an era of the lavish lifestyle in the glamour filled days of old Hollywood as an actor, singer, entertainer and a member of the Rat Pack.

He recorded today’s song 75 years ago in 1948 only four years after it was featured in the film, “Meet Me In St. Louis” where it was performed by Judy Garland. I have included both for you today for some his and her variety. And because both are spectacular.

“Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more“.

frank and judy

Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland from an undated photo circa late 1940’s or early 1950’s. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Frank Sinatra: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (1948, written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin).

Judy Garland: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (1944, written by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 11

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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

Today’s holiday song is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. Elton John released it in November 1973 to cap off the remarkable success of a year where he had two #1 albums: Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player and the smash, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which was in the top spot when today’s track was released.

Written with his magnificent lyricist, Bernie Taupin, and released with a performance video of Elton and his band enjoying every minute of their time performing this song, it is not played nearly enough each December while we are inundated with tracks many of us wish were retired long ago. But fifty years later, we can count on EJ to provide a really fun part of the festive season.

“Welcome to my Christmas song
I’d like to thank you for the year
So I’m sending you this Christmas card
To say it’s nice to have you here“.

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Top: The sleeve for Elton John’s 1973 holiday song. Bottom: Bernie Taupin (L) and Elton (R) circa 1974. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 10

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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

The singer behind today’s song is soul defined. His life was tragically short (he died on December 10, 1967 at age 26) as was his career (it spanned three years and produced six albums in his lifetime), yet over five decades later he is still celebrated as The King Of Soul. And today’s track is a yearly reminder that despite the tradition of this season, it can and should be celebrated with music that features a fabulous achingly impassioned vocal that makes you feel the spirit of Christmas and more.

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Otis Redding circa 1965. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Otis Redding: “White Christmas” (1967, written by Irving Berlin).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 9

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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Charlie Brown and his sage friend, Linus, and that tree in a scene from the iconic “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. (United Feature Syndicate. Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today’s song is my favorite from the holiday special I love most. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” premiered 58 years ago on December 9, 1965. The Peanuts comic strip may have ended on February 13, 2000, but thanks to the beautiful, talented and unbelievably creative man who brought us the characters-Charles M. Schulz-and his collaboration with Bill Melendez, Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi nearly 60 decades ago, we will always have this sweet and affecting special to celebrate the season every year with some of the best friends many of us have ever known.

For a bit of a twist, I have provided the original song from the special plus his and her covers which are not only absolutely fabulous, but they will add the perfect soundtrack to any holiday event, from a party to a solo night binge watching Christmas movies at home.

“Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there“.

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Three adorable scenes from the iconic 1965 TV special. (United Feature Syndicate. Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Vince Guaraldi Trio: “Christmas Time Is Here” (1965, music by Vince Guaraldi, lyrics by Lee Mendelson).

Diana Krall: “Christmas Time Is Here” (1998, music by Vince Guaraldi, lyrics by Lee Mendelson).

Barry Manilow: “Christmas Time Is Here” (2007, music by Vince Guaraldi, lyrics by Lee Mendelson).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 8

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 8

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

Before we get to our holiday song, I want to take a moment to remember the man I consider to be the greatest frontman of all time on his 80th birth anniversary. James Douglas Morrison was born December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, FL. As a vocalist, songwriter, poet, artist and visionary, he translated all of that into the music he made with The Doors.

In seven years together with six albums released in his lifetime, Morrison and his bandmates brought the British Invasion to a halt and reminded audiences that classic rock music would always be in style to those of us who understand its power, its beauty and its message. He remains an iconic and legendary figure of the genre and in pop culture more than five decades after his death. I feel like I have missed him forever. I live by his words from my favorite track on Morrison Hotel everyday:

“The future’s uncertain and
The end is always near“.

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Top: Jim Morrison circa 1968. Middle: Morrison circa 1971. Bottom: The Doors circa 1967 (L-R): John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Morrison and Robby Krieger. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Another singer and legend I have missed nearly my whole life is the man behind today’s song. John Lennon’s quest for worldwide peace culminated in this song in 1971. It told us who he was at his core-not a Beatle, not a songwriter, not a musician, not a rock star, not an iconoclastic figure-just a man wanting to live in a world where he could “imagine” a peaceful happy Christmas for himself and the rest of us, too.

Merry Christmas, John. You are missed. Every. Single. Second.

“A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear“.

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Top: Lennon on stage circa 1971. Bottom: Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, circa 1968. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Doors: “Roadhouse Blues” (1970, written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison).

John Lennon & Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971, written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 7

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog Day 7

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

Today’s track celebrates the reason for the season. It is very special to me because it takes me back to one of my fondest childhood memories-standing next to my mother and holding her hand while we sang this together in church. And a singer like The First Lady Of Song makes her version a wonderful memory for anyone.

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald pictured sometime in the 1940’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Ella Fitzgerald: “O Come All Ye Faithful” (1967, written by Frederick Oakeley and John Francis Wade).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 6

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 6

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

Elvis Presley’s 1956 debut album consisted mostly of cover songs.  Of course, anything The King sang was glorious, but once he collaborated with the songwriting duo of legends-in-the-making, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, even Elvis’ bar was raised.  They had three years of hits together including “Hound Dog” (1956),  “Love Me” (1956), “Jailhouse Rock” (1957), “Loving You” (1957), “Don’t” (1958), “King Creole” (1958) and today’s rock & roll Christmas treat.  

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Top: The cover of Leiber & Stoller’s 2009 autobiography, “Hound Dog”. Middle: Elvis and his hips circa 1956. Bottom: Elvis’ first Christmas single in 1957. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” (1957, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller).  

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 5

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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A lovely simple and elegant holiday display found on Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The legendary and multi-talented Joni Mitchell turned 80 this year (click here for that post) and her music is still as vital, as influential and as beautiful as ever. And it should be. Today’s pick is one of her most beloved and most covered tracks. I love the original version she recorded for her 1971 album, Blue. It was reissued in 2021 for its 50th anniversary along with a really lovely animated video for today’s song. My absolute favorite cover of this tune was recorded by actor Robert Downey Jr. in 2000 for his role as Larry Paul on “Ally McBeal”. It has a cello arrangement that is absolutely exquisite.

“It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace“.

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Top: Joni Mitchell in the early 1970’s. Bottom: Robert Downey Jr. circa 2005. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Joni Mitchell: “River” (1971, written by Joni Mitchell).

Robert Downey Jr.: “River” (2000, written by Joni Mitchell).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 4

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 4

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

If you are someone who looks forward to new versions of traditional Christmas songs, today’s pick is for you. And what a sublime track it is. It comes from The Lumineers who had their breakthrough hit in 2012 with “Ho Hey” from their self-titled debut. Their holiday recording is in support of Backline, a nonprofit organization that assists music industry professionals with resources to help with mental health and wellness. The beautiful sparse rendition fits Wesley Schultz’s voice perfectly to Jeremiah Fraites simple but elegant piano track. I find it absolutely stunning.

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 2023: Day 3

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 3

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

In 2008 R&B singer Brian McKnight released his second Christmas album. The title track is such a great take on a classic holiday tune that was first released 80 years ago in 1943. Knight’s smooth soothing soulful version reminds me of the type of music you hear during a Christmas episode of a TV series or the track playing during a montage on a soap opera where we get a look at various couples and families celebrating the holiday. I first discovered Knight after hearing his lovely & evocative 1992 duet with Vanessa Williams (and seeing the gorgeous video) for “Love Is” from Beverly Hills, 90210: The Soundtrack.

For a fabulous instrumental take on the same song, look no further than music mogul & trumpeter, Herb Alpert, who spent a lot of 2023 on tour. His second holiday album, 2017’s The Christmas Wish, also includes his cover of “Merry Christmas Darling” written and recorded by The Carpenters in 1970 on Alpert’s A&M label. I also recommend his first seasonal record, Christmas Album, which was released in 1968 with his band, The Tijuana Brass.

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(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Brian McKnight: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (2008, written by James Kimball “Kim” Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram).

Herb Alpert: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” (2017, written by James Kimball “Kim” Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!