Over the past few years, I've been doing myGETTING IN THE MOOD posts. Sharing Christmas songs and albums I love. I thought it was time to do a new version, sharing some of my favorites Christmas songs. Many of them not traditional. Unique songs and unique versions of traditional songs.
So, let's get right to it...
1. The Kinks- "Father Christmas"....The poor kids anthem, and a classic Kinks riff...
2. Billy Squier- "Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You"...Showing my age...The days when MTV played music...Totally underrated Christmas song...
3. Dead Sara- "Snow in Los Angeles" Released a few years, I immediately fell in love with this song. The awesome Singer of Dead Sara is now also singing with Linkin Park.
4."White Christmas" is not only a classic but hands down one of my favorites. I'm not sure I've come across a bad version, but I love This is the coolest, grooviest, and my favorite version of "White Christmas" by Booker T. & the MG's
5. "Blue Christmas" This one is an old standard...It always makes me think of those I wish were still with us. I don't like Elvis...And since one of my favorite bands did it a few years ago, I'll go with them...Our Lady Peace...
6. The Pretenders- "2000 Miles"...I just flat-out love this song...My favorite song from the Pretenders...
7. JD McPherson's"All the Gifts I Need" from his album"SOCKS" has an oldies vibe but it's from 2018. The album is all original, humorous, with heart and rockin'.
8. "Be Good at Christmas" by Katie Malco. And after this, checkout more of Katie Malco. She isn't talked about enough and her 2020 album "Failures" is the best album that was released in that God awful year!
9. Daniel Mustard- "Since Santa Ain't Coming"...I shared this many years ago...An anti-Christmas song, from a guy who just months before recoding it was homeless. He was discovered by Opie and Anthony and know as "Homeless Mustard." Opie helped and funded him getting a couple EP's recorded. Awhile back Mustard fell off of social media. I hope he's still making music somewhere.
10. This next one is unique, but I think it's a great take on the classic. Phoebe Bridgers (featuring Fiona Apple and Matt Berninger : "7 O'clock News/Silent Night"
11. Pearl Jam- "Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)"Back in the early '90s none of us expected these guys to do a Christmas song, but they did, and it's excellent...
12. "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" -Tom Waits...It's a beautiful song about, just what the title says...There is also a great remake by Neko Case...
13. A classic we all love from Charlie Brown, "Christmas Time Is Here"...This version comes from sister and brother duo, Jocelyn and Chris Arndt. They do a lot of Bluesy-Rock stuff but this is acoustic, nice and mellow.
14. A song that I'm sure has parts that offend people these days, but it a beauty, sung by an ugly fucking dude. The Pogues classic, "Fairytale of New York."
It's almost Thanksgiving, which means we gotta start getting in the Holiday mood. This is something I did back in 2012, and it was definitely time to update. The short little Rankin/Bass specials aren't on here. This is just straight feature movies.
First: I'm throwing out a SPOILER ALERT!!! Ok you've been warned.
Second: Before getting into watching the flicks on this list, watch "Home for the Holidays." Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr. along with a great cast, in the rare Thanksgiving Movie. It's hilarious. Seriously funny. There's lots of heart and gives a great look at family dynamics that holiday movies don't often show.
Now, to the list...
1. "A Christmas Story" - How could it not be? Not just because I'm from Cleveland and there was a bunch of the movie shot here. It's just a great flick that seems so relatable. No matter what age or generation. My kids love it as much as I do, and I love it as much as my Dad does. It takes us back to a better time, where things seemed purer and innocent, even if they weren't we didn't have 24-hour coverage of everything, with instant everything.
2. "It's a Wonderful Life" - Again, a classic, that takes us back to a better time. (minus how racist the world was then) Also a movie that brought in some religion. I'm not the most religious guy, but these days most TV shows and movies are afraid to mix in any type of religious views. Plus, Donna Reed was in my childhood spank bank. I'll admit it, she was an old school smoke-show!
3. "The Santa Clause" -Who knew Tim Allen would make such great Santa. Early on I wasn't as in on this movie as the kids, but as time has gone on, it's become one of my and my wife's favorites. (It used to be #9 on this list.)
4."Scrooged" - The 1988 "modern" version of the story of Scrooge. Bill Murray plays a TV exec that needs a holiday wake up call. This has always been one of my favorites ever since my oldest brother turned me on to it. Unlike so many Bill Murray roles, his schtick doesn't get old. The visiting ghosts are all great as well!
5. "Christmas in Connecticut" - Honestly, I don't know why I love this movie, but I do. My mom turned me onto it one year when I was kid...My brothers were older and out for the evening. My Dad was working, it was just us decorating the tree, eating Chinese food, and she popped this flick on. Another old, black and white film, taking us back in time. Comedy and romance and Christmas.
It's rarely on TV. Normally once or twice during the season, and at least one of those is an odd time slot. It's on my DVR, and the wife bought me a copy a few years ago.
6. "Home Alone" -Maybe this is too high, but it's still fun to watch. The kids love it, and always find time to watch it throughout the year...Not just Christmas time. We all had the little bit inside of us that wished we could get left home alone and do just what we wanted. Let alone take down a couple of bad guys.
7."Elf" - When this came out, I didn't expect to like it. I was a little burned out on the whole wacky Will Ferrell thing, but shit he was funny. And every year I seem to enjoy it even more. Lots of laughs, and lots of Christmas spirit and lots of spaghetti with maple syrup!
8. "Miracle on 34th Street" (the original) - Again we journey back in time. Maybe I'm an old soul, because I love these old black and white classics. The movie telling us to believe long before the "Polar Express." Oh, and Maureen O'Hara, another, classic, old school, hottie!
9. "The Santa Clause 2" - Tim Allen back on the list for a second time. Of this trilogy of movies, this one is my wife's favorite. It's a great look at the magic of Santa and Christmas and totally unrealistic, which is great, because reality sucks!
10. "Violent Night" - David Harbour in a different take on Santa Claus. He's tough and gruff, and bitter, and like the rest of us, has a job to do, and just trying to get through. Then shit pops off. It has the keys to a good Christmas movie. It has comedy, heart and Christmas Magic...And violence...real violence. Our whole family enjoyed this one together.
11. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" - This one has slipped on the list. Not going to lie, been a little burnt out on it, but that's my own damn fault for putting it on too much. Without a doubt my favorite of the "Vacation" movies. Chevy Chase at his best, being the family man that we all hope we're not, but wish we had a little bit more of his heart in us. So many great lines in this!
12. "The Family Man" -Nicholas Cage in a "It's a Wonderful Life" reversal of sorts. Douchebag Cage gets a taste of the life he could have had, had his choices not taken him down another path and now what life does he want? Plus, Tea Leoni is sexy!
13. "Christmas with the Kranks" - Tim Allen makes his way on the list again. Based on the book "Skipping Christmas" this good Christmas comedy. Allen convinces his wife (Jamie Lee Curtis) to bypass all their holiday traditions and spending and take a cruise. Then we find out they live in the country's most intense Christmas celebrating and decorating neighborhood, led by Dan Akroyd. There's good humor and good heart.
14. "Uncle Nick" - Another new addition to the list, my buddy Hotch turned me onto this a few years ago. As I laughed, I told myself, 'the kids can't see this.' Maybe it's the Clevelander in me, (it takes place in Cleveland) but sometimes dark is good. This is a dark Christmas movie. Some call it an anti-Christmas movie. I don't. It just shows a side of Christmas and some people's lives that everyone tries to ignore or hide, especially in the Holiday Season.
15. "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas" - I just loved this so much as a little kid...I can't take it off my list. Just fond memories of these little Muppets. Maybe because music was big in our house. It will always and forever remind me of my mom. To be honest, I haven't watched it or listened to the songs since my mom died. I tried listening to the CD...Yeah, I'm old...But I couldn't get through. Maybe this year. Alone, in the basement, in the dark, hiding my tears from my family. It really is great and a great Christmas story.
15. "Love Actually" -Total chick flick I know. I never would have seen it, had it not been for my wife...But guess what? It's good...It's funny...It's sad...It's happy...It's Christmas. Seriously, I'm surprised at how much I actually can tolerate it, let alone like it.
16. "Fatman" - Fresh off of Amazon. I thought my wife, our oldest daughter and I were going to watch this as a goof and just pick it apart. I mean Mel Gibson as Santa!?! Then I loved it! It's violent and dark and a whole different spin on Santa. Spoiler Alert: Santa is a bad ass! Seriously, it was a fun watch.
17. "Fred Claus" - The tale of Santa's brother Fred. A totally different cat than his "perfect" brother Nick. Eventually Fred learns some lesson, as does Nick. And so does the villain, played by Kevin Spacey...Shocker, Kevin Spacey plays a villain well.
18. "Noelle" - A new (2019) take on the Kringle family dynamic, and what happens when the fat man can't go on. It's fun and silly, and good wholesome family movie.
19. "The Polar Express" - My family would kill me if this wasn't on the list. They all love this. It's non-stop Christmas magic. Amazing animation. Tom Hanks...that fucking bell. Yes, that bell. We've bought one for each of the kids. During COVID times we rented a theater with a screening for 20 people for our two daughters' birthdays. Yep, 2 December birthdays before Christmas...This is why I'm broke come January.
20. "Home Alone 2, Lost in New York" - Sequels are never as good, but this one smartly took Kevin out of his home and dropped him in the "Big Apple." He gets into his usual trouble and learns his lessons and saves the day. His abuse of the Hotel staff is fabulous.
21. "Bad Santa" - I don't go out of my way to see this one, but If it's on I'll watch it. There's so many funny lines and hearing a mall Santa say some of the things Bill Bob says, any of us who have worked retail or in the food service industry, can all relate to...We've wanted to say it too. And Lauren Graham...
22. "Die Hard" - Yep, I did it. I don't care. It's funny, its action, its heart, it's got Christmas spirit and Christmas music. It's Christmas movie. This is my blog, share your opinion on your own page.
23. "A Christmas Story Christmas" - I think many of us were skeptical of this sequel to a true classic. Well, it was done right. It paid tribute to its roots and honored the original. Just like the original the story is told by Ralphie, and we follow Ralphie through his trials and triumphs, but like the original, it's as much about "the Old Man" as it is Ralphie. It hits the heart strings just right.
24. "Surviving Christmas" - Rich douche, shockingly played by Ben Affleck buys an average family to be his family to spend the holidays with. Annoyingly calling James Gandolfini and Catherine O'Hara Dad and Mom. Driving their kids nuts, trying to have the sibling he never had. It's overlooked and bagged on, but it has some good laughs and good heart.
25. "Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas" - This always has and always will be a favorite in our house. When our oldest was just a little peanut she fell in love with it, and it's been passed on to her younger siblings, and you'd think us parents would have gotten sick of it, but over time it became one that we look forward to and we suggest to them for us all to watch. It's five different segments featuring Mickey and his pals. Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto. it's wonderful and full of Christmas love.
Well for volume 7 we are going back...Back to my youth, back to Cleveland, Ohio. The Singing Angels is a Cleveland youth choir that was formed in 1964. My parents had a Christmas album of theirs and every year while we opened presents, The Singing Angels were the soundtrack to our unwrapping. A few years back, while missing my mom, I started searching itunes for that album. I couldn't find the exact one, but I found a 2005 version with almost all the same songs. The Singing Angels always hit me in the feels.
The Singing Angels: Somewhere in My Memory
Here is the closing number on the Album, "We Wish You the Merriest."
Here is "One Little Candle."
Next, we have "Away in a Manger." My Catholic upbringing peaking through with this album.
We'll close with "Merry Christmas Darling." This one isn't on the updated album, but it's on that one I remember so fondly, and this is my blog so I can do what I want.
That concludes this trip down memory lane. If you enjoy any of this, checkout The Singing Angels.
We are onto volume 5 and this one is all old standards done by some of the great crooners. You can thank my parents for this one, as this was one of my father's went to when decorating or wrapping presents.
The Rat Pack: "Christmas With the Rat Pack"
Let's start at the beginning with Dean Martin and "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"
Next, we'll go to Sammy Davis Jr. and "Christmas Time All Over the World."
And you can't have The Rat Pack without "old blue eyes" himself. Here's Frank Sinatra with "The Christmas Waltz."
Of these guys, I'm a big Dean Martin fan, so we'll go with one more of his numbers..."I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."
The album is all oldies and goodies. pour yourself a drink, kick back, relax and enjoy.
Track List:
1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Dean Martin)
2. Mistletoe and Holly (Frank Sinatra)
3. Christmas Time All Over the World (Sammy Davis Jr.)
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Frank Sinatra)
5. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Dean Martin)
6. The Christmas Waltz (Frank Sinatra)
7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Dean Martin)
8. Jingle Bells (Sammy Davis Jr)
9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Frank Sinatra)
10. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Dean Martin)
11. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Frank Sinatra)
12. Winter Wonderland (Dean Martin)
13. The Christmas Song (Sammy Davis Jr)
14. The First Noel (Frank Sinatra)
15. White Christmas (Dean Martin)
16. I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only In My Dreams) {Frank Sinatra}
Here we are again, getting in the mood. Be sure to check the previous two posts, as well as the Getting in the Mood posts from 2020. Today we are on number three of my picks of the best Christmas Albums. If you didn't get the hint from number two, I'm a big guitar guy and I love Surf guitar and Surf Rock. So today I give you...
The Ventures:"Christmas Joy"
Let's start with their take on "Winter Wonderland"...What a groove.
Next up, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Not how you typically would expect to here this one, which is why I like it. A totally different feel and vibe to it.
Now lets get to that oldy but goody, "Sleigh Ride." If you're talking about Surf Rock and Christmas, this is exactly what you want to hear. Straight rocking, big drums, plucky groove and all.
How about one more for good measure. "Jingle Bells" opening up the album with a strong bass line, bring in the drums, organ and guitars boys...
We're back with the second installment of Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums. Today's pick is from a legendary Jazz guitarist. One of my all-time favorites, and one of Jimi Hendrix's major influences...
Kenny Burrell:"Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas"
We'll start with the opening track, "The Little Drummer Boy." It starts out how you may expect a Jazz guitarist to put their spin on the song, but eventually Burrell goes off with a solo that any shredder would love to play, and he's doing it clean with no pedalboard tricks.
Now we'll move onto his rendition of my favorite, "White Christmas." Burrell's is beautiful, smooth and soulful. I simply elegant.
Now we move on to "Children Go Where I Send Thee." This is a total jam! Mixing Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Bing Band, the song just rips. You can't help but tap your foot and smile.
Burrell puts his unique and skillful style on every one of these classics, and for anyone who may say Jazz is boring or dull...There is nothing boring or dull about this album. Check it out kids!
In 2020 I did a series of posts titled "Getting in the Mood," all about some of my favorite Christmas songs. This year we are going to be talking about Christmas albums. It's easy to put out one good song. It's something special to put out a album full of Christmas "bangers" as the kids say. Some may not find all the songs on these albums to be "bangers" but fuck them! They're clearly uncultured shit-bags who don't appreciate jazz, blues, soul, rock and the classics the way this old fucker does.
So, number one on the list...
Booker T. & The MG's:"In the Christmas Spirit"
This is the coolest, grooviest, and my favorite version of "White Christmas" which is one of my favorite Christmas songs.
And how about this jam of "Winter Wonderland!"
Then they take "Silver Bells," a traditional slow, somber tune and give it soul, and it's a version you actually hear plenty of jingle bells in, and in the end as it fades out they give you a taste of the songs original tone.
Every song from beginning to end is fantastic and grooves.
I recently started resharing my "GETTING IN THE MOOD" posts from last December where I was sharing some great and some of my favorite Christmas/Holiday songs to try and boost my holiday spirit. To be fair, my mood is down a good deal more than it was last year. I'm feeling pretty flat on Christmas and I hate that. I'm going to do my best to turn that around this week, but today I'm giving you a song that sums up how I'm feeling.
"Be Good at Christmas" by Katie Malco. And after this, checkout more of Katie Malco. She isn't talked about enough and her 2020 album "Failures" is the best album that was released in that God awful year!
Christmas has come and yes, it ended up being a white Christmas. Very white. Snow started falling here on Christmas Eve around 5:30 PM and as I post this at 11:30 PM Christmas night it hasn't stopped. Right now we are getting 2 inches of snow a hour. Luckily it's 2020-COVID times and we don't have to go anywhere, so tomorrow will be filled with watching Movies/Shows, playing games, eating and relaxing.
As for my mood, the snow falling helped last night, along with our traditional Christmas Eve snacks, watching Christmas movies, a couple Holiday Beers and then doing my job as Santa. Setting up the presents under the tree, a surprise gift for my wife, filling the stockings, moving the Elves, (we have three Elf on the Shelf with three Elf pets) eating the cookies, drinking the milk, putting the carrots for the Reindeer back in the fridge. I put our big dog to bed, the little one followed me up to bed, snuggled with me as I softly put on Christmas music to fall asleep to. I was feeling very Christmassy.
Morning came quickly, and we gathered around the tree to open presents. "A Christmas Story playing on the TV in the background. The kids were very happy. They all still have another present coming. Each of the kids have a gift stuck somewhere in transit as FedEx, UPS, and the USPS have all gotten slammed even harder this holiday season. The dogs were happy. The wife was happy, as was I.
We ate early. I made Ham and Lamb Chops with a couple sides. My wife baked homemade rolls and I made a whipped Honey Butter to have with them. The wife and I snuck off for a quickie. We watched "Wonder Woman 1984." It was a great day. We are very lucky. I won't get into the bad news of the day or the politics and crap that has gone on. I turned much of that off today. But it reminds me, I'm lucky. My family is lucky.
Today's song is an easy one. It was popping in my head all day. I felt it all day. I felt good, all day. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."
Good ole, Andy Williams.
Here's a bonus song for you. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Birdy. I hope you do. It's 2020 and all screwed up, Christmas doesn't have to end tonight. Enjoy how ever you can, as long as you can.
Christmas Eve! All the gifts are wrapped. We've decorated home baked ornaments. I made a Chewbacca Gingerbread man/Wookie, my son made Sans (from Undertale) gingerbread man. my daughter made a few snowmen and did a handprint and heart.
Honestly, my feeling is Christmas Eve is better than Christmas Day. Yes I love seeing the kids excited and them & my wife happy with their gifts and getting together with family...normally, but not this year. But Christmas Eve has the build up. It's great family time. Christmas wouldn't be nearly as fun if it wasn't for Christmas Eve. And I'm wasting too much time doing this, so lets get to the song.
This is my favorite Christmas song. I think it's the most underrated one out there. It doesn't get nearly enough air-play. Maybe I'm biased because it's from my youth, but this song says what Christmas is about. It's about Love and being with the people we love.
Billy Squier's "Christmas Is a Time to Say I Love You."
Well, It's Christmas Eve and I'm really trying to feel the mood. Most of the presents are wrapped. Some of the food is prepped. Shit is decorated. My youngest (with my help) baked ornaments yesterday and we will be painting them soon. While I was narrowing down what song to pick today, I realized I wanted to do two totally different songs. So, I'm doing one this morning and later in the day, as I'm gearing up for the "Artic Snowstorm" the weathermen are hyping up. We're really hoping to get that White Christmas.
Today's first song in the beautiful Pretenders song, "2000 Miles."
In classic 1980's fashion, the video is stupid as hell. Ignore the video, listen to the song and enjoy it's beauty.
Just two days away from Christmas. I still don't have my snow, but they're hyping up a Winter storm for Christmas Eve, so there's hope for the White Christmas.
But we all know Christmas in these COVID times is not going to be the same as usual. There are going to be less family gatherings. There are going to be smaller gatherings. There will be families who will never have Christmas ever again with some of their loved ones. There are families that aren't even thinking about presents, because they're just trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables. Unfortunately in this country, as COVID rages and unemployment continues to grow, and essential workers aren't getting hazard pay, our government continues to shit the bed when it comes to handling things and helping the people they represent. While they have great healthcare, steady income and 12 weeks of paid vacation.
My family is lucky. My kids are lucky. They'll have presents under the tree. Hell, they have a tree and there are plenty of kids that don't even have that this year. Sorry to be a downer today, but it's reality. I love Christmas time and I've always felt that "holiday spirit" where things seem a little better and everyone a little nicer. This year it seems harder to find that spirit.
So today's song, we are going to DANIEL MUSTARDand his song "Since Santa Ain't Coming."
Well, we're almost there. Time got away from me today and I almost forgot to post this. Was busy doing my Santa Claus duties. There's this myth that moms do all the Christmas stuff.
Not in this household. We both do gift shopping, but I tend to be in control of the kids lists. The Tree is my department and normally the night we decorate, I go back and fix things after everyone is in bed, because I have serious OCD about how ornaments are put on the tree. This year, was the best the kids have ever done and there were very few minor adjustments. I'm training them well. My wife does the Christmas cookies with the kids. I do the meals, ALWAYS! I do the wrapping of presents. This use to be something my wife did when the kids were young, I would take them out for a fun day and she would be miserable wrapping. No I wrap and hide the gifts as I go, because our youngest is still into the Santa Claus thing and my wife doesn't want us to kill that. Then Christmas Eve, I set it all up under the tree. I even mix in surprises my wife doesn't know about.
Maybe that old myth comes from way back when most women stayed home and all that June Clever shit, but those days are long gone and if you're a father and not getting your hands dirty in this Christmas stuff, you're an asshole!
Since I brought up those days from yesteryear, Today's song is the Brenda Lee classic, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."
