Tag Archives: Bob James

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2025: Day 22

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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.)

I have adored today’s song by Kenny Loggins forever and, despite my love for different takes on holiday songs, I never felt the need to find out if his was covered by anyone else. Then I began doing my research for new-to-me Christmas songs for this year’s countdown and stumbled upon one from 10 years ago which is a duet between LeAnn Rimes and Gavin DeGraw. A quick glance at the notes in the video description explained that the song was done in partnership with the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) so that pulled me in as well. I have always enjoyed her voice (I featured another of her holiday covers in 2019) and the power & beauty of it is on full display on this track and blends well with his style quite nicely on this slightly-jazzy-with-a-shuffle-feel cover.

I am not that familiar with DeGraw other than his Top Ten hit, “I Don’t Wanna Be” from his 2003 debut album, Chariot (how was that over 20 years ago already???). It was re-released a year later with a bonus disc of stripped down versions of all the songs along with a cover of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”. I found it to be quite respectable.

Rimes included the Loggins cover on her 2015 album, Today Is Christmas. Most of the 12 tunes are traditional holiday tracks performed with mainly soft vocals and minimal accompaniment, turning them into unbelievably poignant elegant tracks. That is especially true of the three Target exclusive bonus songs which are more contemporary holiday songs like Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper”, Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells” and John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” which is particularly lovely. Safe to say I have found another holiday album to add to my playlist.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

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

LeAnn Rimes with Gavin DeGraw: “Celebrate Me Home” (2015, written by Bob James and Kenny Loggins).

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!!!