Christmas Songs-- Part 2: 'Santa Claus Is Back in Town'

CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN--  Tom Petty

CELEBRATE ME HOME--  Kenny Loggins

2000 MILES--  Pretenders

STEP INTO CHRISTMAS--  Elton John

HAPPY X-MAS (WAR IS OVER)--  John and Yoko

FROSTY THE SNOWMAN--  Ronettes

WINTERTIME--  Steve Miller

GREENSLEEVES--  Jeff Beack

CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME TO SAY I LOVE YOU--  Billy Squier

SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN--    Elvis Presley

CHRISTMAS--  Who

RIVER--  Joni Mitchell

SLEIGH RIDE--  Ronettes

SANTA CLAUS AND HIS OLD LADY--  Cheech and Chong

SOMETIMES IN WINTER--  Blood, Sweat & Tears

CHRISTMAS MUST BE TONIGHT--  Band

CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)--  Darlene Love

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Come On It's Lovely Weather."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Sleigh Ride"

Christmas Songs: 'Someday At Christmas'

 

These songs were played on Bob Stroud's Holiday Hootenanny Show in Rock and Roll Roots on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM on December 19, 2021.

CHRISTMAS IN CHICAGO--  Leon Russell

WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS--  Paul McCartney

CHRISTMAS SONG--  Jethro Tull

WHITE CHRISTMAS--  Darlene Love

PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS--  Eagles

SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS--  Stevie Wonder

HAZY SHADE OF WINTER--  Simon & Garfunkel

SNOOPY'S CHRISTMAS--  Royal Guardsmen

LINUS AND LUCY--  Vince Guardi Trio

I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Greg Lake

LITTLE SAINT NICK--  Beach Boys

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well, Way Up North Where The Air Gets Cold."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Little Saint Nick"

Music Deaths: Phil Spector

PHIL SPECTOR. 81

Died 16 January 2021

Influential producer and songwriter.

Great with music, not so much as a human being.  The famed "Wall of Sound."

Huge impact on the music industry.    His holiday "A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector" is still a favorite of mine.

Between 'A Christmas Story' and All That Christmas Music, Are You Ready for A to Z Rock?

I have been listening to my many, many Christmas albums, cassette tapes and CDs the last three weeks.  I love them, but am a bit to the Had Enough Stage. I put them away tomorrow until December next year.

Plus, since 7 pm last night I've been watching may favorite seasonal movie of all time, "A Christmas Story."  This sure takes you back to another time.  Imagine parents leaving their young kids in a line to see Santa these days and then going elsewhere in the huge store.  They'd be arrested in this day and age.

Anyway, I've seen the movie two full times and watched parts several more times.  I've almost got the dialogue down by now.

Yesterday, Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM started their annual end-of-the-year Rock and Roll A to Z Countdown.  It will go until sometime after the new year starts, they don't at this time know exactly what.  They add lots of songs every year, so its not the same old, same-old.  Lots of deep cuts as well.

They are up to the letter C  "Chicago, We Can Change the World" by Graham Nash right now.

I'll be listening to this a lot starting tomorrow.  It streams, of course.

TRIVIA TEASER:  What Everly Brothers song includes the lyrics:  "When I Want You In My Arms, When I Want You And All Your Charms."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"All I Have To Do is Dream"

Some Christmas Songs To Get You In the Mood

Yesterday, Bob Stroud had his annual Holiday Hootenanny on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.

All three hours of  it were Christmas or seasonal songs.

Here are some of the songs he played:

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN--  Crystals
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY--  Bruce Springsteen
I'M GONNA LASSO SANTA CLAUS--  Brenda Lee

FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Kinks
2000 MILES--  Pretenders
SLEIGH RIDE--  Ventures

RING OUT (SOLSTICE BELLS)--  Jethro Tull
SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN-- Elvis Presley
IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN--  Tom Petty

Ho Ho Ho.  --RoadDog

POLITICALLY INCORRECT CHRISTMAS SONGS:  "Mitletoe and Holly"  Overeating, folks stealing a kiss or two?  Really?

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.

Ten Christmas Songs for You

And a Merry Christmas Eve.  These songs were played on the Drive's (WDRV 97.1 FM) on Friday, December 23 by Bob Stroud.

CHRISTMAS EVE/ SARAJEVO--  Trans Siberian Orchestra
HAPPY X-MAS(WAR IS OVER)--  John Lennon
PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS--  Eagles

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN--  Bruce Springsteen
CHRISTMAS IN CHICAGO--  Leon Russell
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS--  Pretenders
RUN RUDOLPH RUN--  Chuck Berry

THE CHRISTMAS SONG--  Chicago
JINGLE BELL ROCK--  Hall & Oates
CELEBRATE ME HOME--  Kenny Loggins

Merry, Happy, Ralphie.  I'll Be Watching "A Christmas Story."  --RoadDog

ONE THING I LEARNED IN LIFE:  Becoming an adult was painful --  Being an adult is the BEST.

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.

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

One Good Thing About Christmas Being Gone, So Is Christmas Radio

From the Dec. 25, 2012, Chicago Tribune.

Earlier this month, I wrote about the Christmas song collector at Wheaton College and his collection of 8,000 such songs.  I haven't counted, but probably have between 5,000 and 6,000 between LPs, cassettes and CDs.  I especially like the off-the-wall and genre songs.

Anyway, the Tribune article mentions that over the past eleven years, non-stop Christmas music formats have become practically unavoidable on radio.  And, like with the Christmas stuff in stores, it seems to start earlier and earlier each year.  Could a Christmas 4th of July be far off?  Now, I've heard some starting between Halloween and Thanksgiving.

This occurred when radio execs discovered that playing the same 20 or so nostalgic holiday songs led to as much as a 50% increase in listeners.  And that, of course, leads to more advertising money.

We have several such part-time "Christmas" stations here in the Chicago area and when on my yearly NC drives for Thanksgiving, I come across these station much more often as I drive through states.

Well, at least now it is over.

For Awhile Anyway.  --RoadDog

WHAT SHE SAYS AND WHAT SHE MEANS:  I was wrong = Not as wrong as you

Great Christmas Carol Collector Airs His Zeal

From the Dec. 25, 2012, Chicago Tribune by Vikki Orwitz Healy.

An interesting article about Larry Eskridge and his love of Christmas carols and songs, and especially not the ones you hear over and over during the holidays.

Known as "Uncle Lar" around Wheaton College Campus where he teaches, he has worked since 1993 with the campus radio station WETN to play those songs you normally don't get to hear and that would include those from his personal collection of some 8,000 songs. 

I would imagine it streams so, next year I plan to give it a listen.  I love the out of the ordinary Christmas song.  Every year, I give a listen to Bob Stroud's Holiday Hootenanny show the Sunday before Christmas on WDRV.  Then, for some really "out there" music, give Little Steven's Underground Garage show a listen on WXRT, or some other station as it is syndicated.

When I used to deejay, I liked to play the offbeat, including blues, soul, Caribbean, reggae, zydeco and Cajun holiday songs.

Variety Is the Spice of the H'Days.  --RoadDog


WHAT SHE SAYS AND WHAT SHE MEANS:  Yes = No

Here's Ten for Your Christmas

Today's Ten at Ten on WDRV in Chicago featured Christmas songs for some reason.

PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS--  Eagles
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN--  Bruce Springsteen
CHRISTMAS BABY PLEASE COME HOME--  U2
I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS--  John Mellancamp
WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME--  Paul McCartney

IT'S CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN--  Tom Petty
HAPPY CHRISTMAS (WAR IS OVER)--  John Lennon
SILENT NIGHT--  Stevie Nicks
I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS--  Greg Lake
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY--  Bob Seger

And, a Merry, merry to You.  --RoadDog

Five New Songs for Your Christmas Enjoyment

From Parade Magazine.

Every year, we need to add a few more songs to our Christmas Song Enjoy List.  Here's five new ones Parade wants you to put on your Playlist, whatever that may be.  I doubt I can find it on a single, though.

1.  CHRISTMAS SPIRIT--  Richard Marx
2.  BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE--  Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera (Something about "The Voice?")
3.  CHRISTMAS IN THE SAND--  Colbie Caillet  (Jimmy Buffett would be so proud.)
4.  I THINK YOU MIGHT LIKE IT--  John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (Sounds a bit grease-y to me.)
5.  ON THIS WINTER'S NIGHT--  Lady Antebellum

What Do You Mean...Download!!!???  --RoadDog

Voting on Favorite Christmas Songs

On my history blog, Cooter's History Thing, I wrote about the best-ever-selling Christmas song and there was a place at Parade Magazine where you could vote on your favorite.  I voted for mine of the the ten offerings.

Here is the voting as of two hours ago:

O Holy Night-- 33.91%
White Christmas-- 22.32%
The Christmas Song-- 11.16%
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas--  9.01%
All I Want for Christmas--  8.37%
Jingle Bell Rock--  5.36%
Rudolph the Re-Nosed Reindeer--  3.43%
Winter Wonderland--  3.22%
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town--  2.15%
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus--  1.07%

I vote for "Rudolph."

What Did You Vote For?--  RoadDog

A Holiday Hootenanny

OK, I wasn't going to blog today (it being Sunday), but got in the mood.

I listened to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots this morning on Chicago's WDRV, the Drive, where he did his annual Christmas Hootenanny show.

Some of these aren't your same-old, same-old Christmas songs.

These are the ones played the first hour:

STEP INTO CHRISTMAS-- Elton John
HEY SANTA CLAUS-- Moonglows
A CHRISTMAS SONG-- Jethro Tull
SLEIGH RIDE-- Ronettes
ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE-- Brenda Lee

CHRISTMAS-- Who
JINGLE BELLS-- Booket T. & the MGs
I WISH THAT EVERYDAY COULD BE LIKE CHRISTMAS-- Bon Jovi
SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN-- Elvis Presley
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY-- Otis Redding

LITTLE SAINT NICK-- Beach Boys
RUN RUDOLPH RUN-- Chuck berry
SANTA CLAUS AND HIS OLD LADY-- Cheech and Chong
SLIPPING INTO CHRISTMAS-- Leon Russell

To see Them All, Go to www.wdrv.com, click on air and scroll down to Bob Stroud.

Another great Christmas show will be tonight on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM, when Little Steven does his annual show. I guarantee there will be some songs you've never heard before. It streams also.

Lovin' My Christmas Music, But gettin' Tired of It. --ToadDog


HOW'S THAT AGAIN? Hoosegow...A jail.