Getting In the Yule Spirit-- Part 5: Christmas Songs, Christmas Parties, Bands, the Civil War and CDs

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

The Drive (WDRV, 97.1 FM, Chicago) did their Ten at Ten on A Merry and Bright which were ten Christmas songs, many of which you don't often hear.

I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Greg Lake
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS--  America
I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS--  John Mellancamp

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN--  Ronettes
WINTER WONDERLAND--  REO Speedwagon
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY--  Bruce Springsteen
THE RIVER--  Joni Mitchell

WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME--  Paul McCartney
SILENT NIGHT--  Stevie Nicks
CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME TO SAY I LOVE YOU--  Billy Squier

WE went to the Sunnyside Christmas party in Johnsburg.  The place was packed and we had a duo entertaining.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

Went to Crystal Lake for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group whose topic this month was Civil War engineers.  I, of course, talked about Maj. Gen. W.H.C. Whiting, CSA.  Someone should write a book about him.  Fascinating guy.  On the way home, I stopped at The Vinyl Frontier in McHenry, my local mom and pop record store.  I love these places and am sio embarrassed I missed Record Store Day this year.  Bought five CDs.

Liz and I went to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside for their Christmas party later in the afternoon and enjoyed the Average Joe Band.  Later to Sunnyside then home for "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones."

May the Christmas Parties Be With You.  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW:  A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.   Sometimes, I think I do as well.

WDRV's Christmas Hootenanny and WXRT's Breakfast With the Beatles

Plenty of good Christmas music for us today at Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM and WDRV 97.1 starting at 7 a.m..

Bob Stroud is already into his annual Rock and Roll Roots Christmas Hootenanny show from 7 to 10 a.m.. CST on WDRV.  Terri Hemmert starts her Breakfast With the Beatles in WXRT at 8 until 10.  She promises lots of Beatles Christmas stuff.

After Stroud's show finishes at 10 the station will play two-hours straight of classic Christmas rock.

Also, tomorrow, starting at 6 a.m., the Drive will be starting their week long + A to Z where they play songs alphabetically by title.  That will go to past New Tear's Day at some point.

Both stations stream at www.wdrv.com and www.wxrt.com.

Get Your Listen On.  --RoadDog

Christmas Songs for You This Day

From my Ultimate Christmas #1 cassette tape that I made from Cds, records and other cassettes.

I've already watched "A Christmas Story" twice.  Have to get my annual fix.

This was side one.

WHITE CHRISTMAS--  Drifters
THIS CHRISTMAS--  Donnie Hathaway
GEE WHIZ IT'S CHRSITMAS--  Carla Thomas

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS--  Koko Taylor
I'M YOUR SANTA--  Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
DECK THE HALLS WITH BOOGIE WOOGIE--  Katie Webster

PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS--  Aaron Neville
LET IT SNOW--  Aaron Neville
SUCH A NIGHT--  Aaron Neville

IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR--  Aaron Neville
LOUISIANA CHRISTMAS DAY--  Aaron Neville
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY--  Charles Brown

CHRISTMAS COMES ONCE A YEAR-- Amos Milburn
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING--  Hank Ballard

A Very Merry No Flagpoles.  --RoadDog

ONE THING I LEARNED IN LIFE:   The guy at the door of Wal-Mart DOESN'T say that to everyone.

Some Christmas Music for You "Little Saint Nick"

From Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots annual "Holiday Hootenanny" show, first hour.  On WDRV, 97.1 FM.  Of course, these would be Christmas songs from the 1960s and 1970s.

SLEIGH RIDE--  Ronettes
CHRISTMAS IN CHICAGO--  Leon Russell
SOCK IT TO ME SANTA--  Bob Seger & the Last Herd

BACK DOOR SANTA--  Clarence Carter
LITTLE SAINT NICK--  Beach Boys
ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE--  Brenda Lee

WINTER--  Rolling Stones
RUN RUDOLPH RUN--  Keith Richards
BLUE CHRISTMAS--  Elvis Presley

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME TO SAY I LOVE YOU--  Billy Squier
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY--  Ike and Tina Turner
SNOOPY'S CHRISTMAS--  Royal Guardsmen

LINUS AND LUCY--  Vince Guaraldi
WHITE CHRISTMAS--  Darlene Love
I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Greg Lake

7 O'CLOCK NEWS/SILENT NIGHT--  Simon & Garfunkel

Name That Tune:  "Santa's In a Hurry, Tell Him he Can take the Freeway Down."  --RoadDog


"Run Rudolph Run"

Six Classic Christmas Songs That Are Secretly Horrifying

From the Dec. 24, 2014, Yahoo! TV by Zach Seemayer.

Well, I just had to look into this one.  Some of the choices were stretching it a bit.

1.  I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS--  Terrifying to a child's viewpoint (although adults know better).  His mother is cheating on Dad and Santa is supposed to be the model of virtue.

2.  THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS--  Where is he getting all that stuff and at what cost?  Definitely exorbitant luxuries while there is so much suffering and hunger in the world.

3.  BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE--  Essentially, date rape set to music.  "Put some records on while I pour."

4.  SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN--  Santa watches all and knows all and then passes judgement.  I sometimes think Big brother is watching.  Well, what about Big Santa.

5.  JINGLE BELLS--  There is actually more than one verse.  In the second one, they drift into a snow bank and are thrown into it.  That had to hurt, and then someone rides by and just laughs.  Good Samaritan indeed.

6.  WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND--  People with overactive imaginations making pretend snow men at the height of the Great Depression.

Makes You Think.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  Quicksand can work slowly, a boxing ring is square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

Ten at Ten: Christmas

From WDRV, Dec. 24, 2014, Ten at ten.

Today, Bob Stroud played the Ten at Ten Christmas Songs show a day early.

HAPPY X-MAS (WAR IS OVER)--  John and Yoko
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY--  Bruce Springsteen
PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS--  Bon Jovi

I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Gregg Lake
I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS--  John Mellancamp
CHRISTMAS, BABY PLEASE COME HOME--  U-2
DING DONG, DING DONG--  George Harrison

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME TO SAY I LOVE YOU--  Billy Squier
DO THEY KNOW ITS CHRISTMAS--  Band-Aid
CHRISTMAS EVE--  Trans-Siberian Orchestra

--MerryDog

On a More Fun Note: More Christmas CDs

I found three more Christmas CDs that I didn't list up by the stereo by the family room tree: CHRISTMAS ISLAND-- Jimmy Buffett //// SOULFUL CHRISTMAS-- Aaron Neville ///// CHRISTMAS ALBUM-- Beach Boys. ///// I had been listening to them while setting up the Christmas village under the tree. Liz had already put the tree up (I do the outside decorations) and the railroad tracks going around the tree (we have a train with a Chicago & Northwestern engine and a Milwaukee Line car, two railroads who had a huge impact on the Chicagoland area until merged into the current Metra. //// Merry, Happy. --RoadDog

Christmas CDs-- Part 3

CHRISTMAS-- Alabama //// CHRISTMAS WITH THE PLATTERS & THE DRIFTERS-- The Gold Collection //// RUDY THE REDNECK REINDEER-- Vol. 2 //// 20 CHRISTMAS STARS-- Vol. III //// A CELTIC CHRISTMAS-- A Festive Journey //// CHRISTMAS ON THE BORDER-- //// CHRISTMAS CLASSICS REDNECK STYLE //// HAVE YOURSELF A TRACTORS CHRISTMAS-- Tractors //// REJOYCE: SONGS FOR THE SEASON-- Kohl's Cares for Kids //// BOOGIE WOOGIE CHRISTMAS-- The Brian Setzer Orchestra //// SANTA'S TOP 10 FAVORITES //// SOUL CHRISTMAS //// RHYTHM AND BLUES CHRISTMAS //// BIG BAND CHRISTMAS ////MUSIC TO YOUR EARS-- A Collection of Holiday Music //// A CHRISTMAS SAMPLER //// CHRISTMAS WITH THE RAT PACK-- Sinatra, Martin, Davis. //// Auld Lang Syne. --RoadDog

Christmas CDs-- Part 2

Some More of My Christmas CDs. //// 13 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS-- A Romping Redneck Celebration //// ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS-- Vol. 1 //// ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS-- Vol. 2 //// ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS-- Vol. 3 //// THAT 50's CHRISTMAS ALBUM //// ALL-STAR CHRISTMAS-- Beach Music //// NEW ORLEANS CHRISTMAS-- Putumayo Presents //// SOULFUL CHRISTMAS-- Deck the Halls //// SOULFUL CHRISTMAS-- A Merry Christmas //// SOULFUL CHRISTMAS-- Happy Holidays //// THE CHRISTMAS ATTIC-- Trans-Siberian Orchestra //// THE LOST CHRISTMAS EVE-- Trans-Siberian Orchestra. ////Get the Light Ready. --RoadDog

Christmas CDs-- Part 1

Here are some of my CDs: SEASON'S GREETINGS-- Lawson Products // THE STARS COME OUT FOR CHRISTMAS-- Steve Vaus Presents // WHITE CHRISTMAS-- Bing Crosby // CHRISTMAS TO CHRISTMAS-- Toby Keith //HONKY TONK CHRISTMAS-- Alan Jackson // CHRISTMAS HERE WITH YOU-- Four Tops // SWING 'N' JIVE CHRISTMAS-- Alleycats // BEYOND THE SEASON-- Garth Brooks // CHRISTMAS: LYNYRD SKYNYRD/38 SPECIAL // ALLIGATOR sTOMP-- Cajun Christmas // and CHRISTMAS COLLECTION-- Alligator Records. //// --RoadDog

Do You Ever Wonder About That "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" Song?

From the Dec. 13, 2013, Yahoo! Music "Grandma's Still Getting Run Over By Reindeer! Ever Wonder Where That All Got Started?" by Our Country. //// Randy Brooks wrote it, getting his inspiration from Merle Haggard's "Grandma's Homemade Christmas." He decided Haggard was talking about a dead grandmother, even though it is not explicitly stated in the song. //// So, he did a parody of the song. He used some stuff from his own experiences saying that one grandmother "did like to drink herself happy on occasion." He began playing the song live with his pal, Dr. Elmo Shropshire, who decided to record it with his wife Patsy. (Hence the Elmo and Patsy if you ever wondered.) //// He made it as a gag gift for his friends and Dr. Elmo even dressed drag for the 45's (well, single's), (well, record's), (well, hardcopy), (well, whatever) cover. //// But a friend passed it on to a San Francisco disc jockey who played it on the radio and the song took off. It became a Top 40 and Country hit. This parody has also spawned its own parodies like Cledus T. Judd's "Grandma Got Run Over By a John Deere." The article had a vote and 7% hated it while 78% love it. I may cringe when I hear it, but there I go, singing along and smiling. //// As My Brother Would Say, "Thanks a Lot, Merle." --RoadDog

A New Christmas Classic? "Merry Christmas. Exclamation Point"

From the December 13, 2013, Yahoo! News "'Merry Christmas. Exclamation Point' is tye must-hear holiday song of 2013" by Jay Hart. //// "For the first time since Mariah Carey released 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' in 1994, we have a fresh new Christmas song that's, well, a classic." //// Jon Lajoie sings it. You might know him as Taco from FXX's "The League." (Nope, not me.) //// The article also has the video or just look it up. It is well worth seeing and hearing. I saw it several times. It was good at first, but then really grew on me. //// Some of the lyrics: "You know Christmas is about spending time with friends and family // But just because you're not in one of those two categories // Doesn't mean that I won't still do something special for you // 'Cause Christmas is about giving so here's what I'll do for you // I'm gonna send you a Christmas text (Christmas Text) (Christmas Text) // I'm gonna type Merry Christmas Exclamation Point and then press send. //// Maybe I'll just copy and paste it // Well it's only two words I might as well just type it // If you're thinking of calling me to thank me, oh please don't // Texting is as far as this relationship goes." //// Well, I'm So Moved, I'm Gonna Sit Right Here and send You a Christmas Text. Wait!! My Battery Died and I'm Recharging. Oh, Never Mind, I Don't Know How to text Anyway. --RoadDog

Those Stretchy Old Christmas Cassettes

These are my pre-recorded Christmas cassette tapes:

 A 50's CHRISTMAS //// CHRISTMAS CARD-- Temptations
A CREOLE CHRISTMAS
CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS-- Kokomo Joe

MERRY CHRISTMAS-- Supremes
IN THE CHRISTMAS MOOD-- Glenn Miller Orchestra
CHRISTMAS IS COMIN'-- Pete Fountain

ELVIS' CHRISTMAS ALBUM
A WHITE CHRISTMAS-- Bill Pinkney and the Original Drifters
THIS CHRISTMAS-- Smokey Robinson, O'Jays and Bobby "Blue" Bland.

Holly My Boughs-- RoadDog

Those Scratchy Old Christmas Albums-- Part 2

Finishing up my list of Christmas albums: BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS--Brook Benton ////WONDERLAND OF CHRISTMAS-- Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra //// THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY: A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL-- the Harry Simeone Chorale //// CHRISTMAS SONGS AND CAROLS-- Chorus and Orchestra Directed by Mitch Miller //// CHRISTMAS CARD-- Statler Brothers //// MERRY CHRISTMAS-- Bing Crosby //// PRETTY PAPER-- Willie Nelson //// ROCKIN' LITTLE CHRISTMAS-- //// PHIL SPECTOR'S CHRISTMAS ALBUM-- Phil Spector //// CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHIPMUNKS-- Alvin, Simon & Theodore with David Seville. //// Those Are My 19 Christmas Albums. Now to Crank Up the Old Stereo. --RoadDog

Those Scratchy Old Christmas Albums-- Part 1

Forgot where I had put my Christmas albums in my deejay room, but finally found them. As it turns out, I have 19 Christmas albums: SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN--The Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus (1970) // BRIGHTEST STARS OF CHRISTMAS-- JC Penney (1974) // 'TIS THE SEASON-- (1972)// HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (1978) // WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS-- The Robert Rheims Choraliers // THE GOLDEN GLOW OF CHRISTMAS-- JC Penney (1972) //THE BEACH BOYS' CHRISTMAS ALBUM-- (This stereo recording should be played only with a stereo cartridge and needle to avoid damage) // A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS (1982) // JINGLE BELL ROCK-- Bobby Helms. (Also available on 8-track stereo Cartridge) //// A Yo-Ho-Ho and a Stereo Cartridge. --RoadDog

Thinking About Starting My Own Christmas Radio Station

On looking through my collection of Christmas music, I have decided that I have enough to start my own one of those all-Christmas music, all the time, radio stations that pop up everywhere this time of the year. I think some start even the day after Halloween.

On my way back from North Carolina Dec. 3rd and 4th, I would listen to my CDs, then search out Christmas Music stations using that handy seek feature on the radio in the Malibu. Usually within a few pushes, I had my station and that happened along the whole way.

Of course there was the classic country station in Galax, Virginia, and the Americana/roots station in Farmer City, Illinois, which are required listening on my way to and from NC.

And, my station wouldn't play the same-old, same-old Top 40 Christman songs like a lot of them do. I can dig considerably deeper.

I'm estimating that I have about twenty Christmas albums, 20-30 pre-recorded cassettes, 30 CDs and probably another fifty cassettes that I recorded.

But, wait a minute, I don't have a radio station. Oh well. Wait another minute, this wonderfully decorated house in a subdivision right off US-12 in Wauconda, Illinois, had its own music playing at 107.1 FM to go with their display. Maybe I could get one of those and get someone to put my show on the internet.

Well, Holly Jolly to You, Anyway. --RoadDog

Just Got Back

Arrived here in Spring Grove, Illinois, about five hours ago after a two week trip to NC for Thanksgiving. 

Over 2,000 miles and lots of history, family and Christmas decorations. Always great to get back home.

Typing on this and listening to some Christmas music on a recorded cassette tape. This one is a Little Steven's Underground Garage recording.

--RoadDog

Now, Here Are Some Folks Who REALLY Decorate

The December 16th American Profile Magazine had an article by Marta W. Aldrich about some REALLY DECORATED HOUSES with some really beautiful pictures.

Glenn and Christina Barber of Spring Hill, Tn, put up 35,000 lights on their home topped by an eight-foot lighted cross. "It's all about the kids. I love the look on their faces," said Glenn. He has become an amateur electrician and starts mapping out the next year's lighting in April, then spend a full month preparing for the Thanksgiving lighting. He uses more than a hundred extension cords and six circuit breakers.

He's happy to do all this despite the $300 jump in his December electric bill.

The article then goes on to say that outdoor lighting really came into vogue in the 1950s. Over the last 50 years, the displays have steadily grown, especially with the introduction of inexpensive lights. Today, some are even computer controlled.

Chuck Smith, an electrical engineer in Franklin, Tn., had massive lighting displays at his home for thirty years. At its peak, he had 130,000 miniature lights connected by seven miles of wire controlled by a computer and nearly 400 circuits.

Unfortunately, he had to stop in 2003 after traffic in his neighborhood got to be too big of a problem. He now puts up his display at a local shopping center.

He has a website devoted to people who light up their homes http://www.planetchristmas.com/ . If you like majorly-decorated Christmas houses, you've got to check out this site.

The article closes with two other big-time decorators. Anthony Volpe who put up 90,000 lights last year in Monroe, NY.

In Scottsdale, Az, Michael Anderson has 35,000 lights synchronized to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, "The Chipmunk Song" and eight other Christmas songs.

"Let it glow!" by Marta W. Aldrich.

Now These Are Some People with Big Christmas Hearts. --RoadDog