Favorite Christmas Music

[Earthmother]

I like it all. I do have time limits on Mannheim Steamroller tho, lest I start twitching. However, a couple of my faves:

Star of Bethlehem- EmmyLou Harris
Blue Christmas-Elvis
Christmas Time in New Orleans- Louis Armstrong
Snowfall-Claude Thornhill


A couple of my favorite albums/CDs (depending on age and availability):
Jo Stafford- I Love Winter Weather
Sugar Plums:Holiday Treats from Sugar Hill-Various
Windham Hill Winter Solstice IV-Various

The list goes on, I'm a Christmas Junkie!!

[bluesgirl]

I like the NOLA Christmas CD that came out the winter before Katrina. I can't remember the name of it off-hand, but it's got Sonny Landreth, The Subdudes, Nevilles, Hackberry Ramblers, BeauSoleil, Irma Thomas, etc. on it. I also like Jimmy Buffett's Christmas CD. I'm not much on traditional Christmas music since the years that I worked in retail and they played the same tape loop of Christmas songs from the week before Thanksgiving to Christmas. :eek:

[kchanson]

How about the Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas CD...
LOVE IT!

[tangledupinblue]

I was given the Merry Cajun Christmas CD by a good friend a few years back and it is so entertaining. It is always fun to put in for a good laugh. The lyrics are changed around on the 12 days of Christmas by Tee Jules and it is so funny.

Michael Doucet and many others play on it as well.

[dumbtourist]

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Christmas Trilogy. And the DVD included in the set, "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" is extremely moving...great production.

[Carolina Beadhead]

I like the NOLA Christmas CD that came out the winter before Katrina. I can't remember the name of it off-hand, but it's got Sonny Landreth, The Subdudes, Nevilles, Hackberry Ramblers, BeauSoleil, Irma Thomas, etc. on it. I also like Jimmy Buffett's Christmas CD. I'm not much on traditional Christmas music since the years that I worked in retail and they played the same tape loop of Christmas songs from the week before Thanksgiving to Christmas. :eek:

You're talking about Christmas Gumbo. It's one of the favorites in my Christmas rotation, too, along with all the ones from my childhood and others that I have picked up through the years.

Andy Williams
Bing Crosby
Perry Como
Barbra Streisand
Kenny Rogers
Kenny G
Barry Manilow
Alabama
Ray Charles
Temptations
Mannhein Steamroller
and more.

I'm a sucker for Christmas music. :D

[Staxsun]

I'm a sucker for Christmas music. :D

Me, too! I've got to have a hundred Christmas CDs. I guess I'll have to narrow down to a few favorites to mention here.

[saturn]

A few that I have and enjoy:

Blind Boys of Alabama - Go Tell it on the Mountain
Chieftains - Bells of Dublin
BB King - A Christmas Celebration of Hope

and as mentioned previously
Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas

[breambob]

I still love the ones I grew up on, here are a few:

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
Silver Bells - Andy Williams
Merry little Christmas and White Christmas - Bing
Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
Dog Jingle Bells - ???
Christmas Song - Alvin and The Chipmunks
Let it Snow - Frank Sinatra
Frosty the Snowman - Burl Ives
It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas - Johnny Mathis

Lots more.

I have a clip from Saturday Night Live of Bing and Bowie doing "Little Drummer Boy", sounds wierd but it's great.

Gave my mom the Christmas album by Harry Connick, Jr. from a few years ago, it's really good too, she loves it.

[grisgris]

The 12 Yats of Christmas Benny Grunch & The Bunch. Putumahyo put out a new one this year New Orleans Christmas, but have not listened to it yet. Still ain't time for Christmas music.

[PaulC]

but then you hadta' add Manilow... No can do.....

[Carolina Beadhead]

but then you hadta' add Manilow... No can do.....

I knew I'd get some flack about that. I'm glad I didn't list Celine...

(Did I say that out loud???)

:o

[saturn]

Celine...


http://www.awn.com/plympton/images/shorts-scream.gif

[grisgris]

I knew I'd get some flack about that. I'm glad I didn't list Celine...

(Did I say that out loud???)

:o

Oh no you didn't go there did you?

[Carolina Beadhead]

Oh no you didn't go there did you?

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/rowdymom81/embarrassed4.jpg

Well, it IS just a Christmas cd.... and it's the only one I own.

Pleeeease don't throw me out of the club...

[dewey]

A few off the top of my head

Grandma got run over by a reindeer by Elmo and Patsy
The 12 days of Christmas by Bob & Doug McKenzie
Santa Claus and his old lady by Cheech & Chong
Blue Christmas by Porky Pig
Father Christmas by The Kinks
Run Rudolph Run by Dave Edmunds
Mistress for Christmas by AC/DC

[Earthmother]

How about the Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas CD...
LOVE IT!

Another great one. I love it, so do the young ones at my house. This was probably some of the earliest jazz memories for most of us....... That, and Tom and Jerry cartoons.

[Earthmother]

I like the NOLA Christmas CD that came out the winter before Katrina. I can't remember the name of it off-hand, but it's got Sonny Landreth, The Subdudes, Nevilles, Hackberry Ramblers, BeauSoleil, Irma Thomas, etc. on it. I also like Jimmy Buffett's Christmas CD. I'm not much on traditional Christmas music since the years that I worked in retail and they played the same tape loop of Christmas songs from the week before Thanksgiving to Christmas. :eek:

Christmas Gumbo, it is a good one!

[saturn]

A few off the top of my head

Grandma got run over by a reindeer by Elmo and Patsy
The 12 days of Christmas by Bob & Doug McKenzie
Santa Claus and his old lady by Cheech & Chong
Blue Christmas by Porky Pig
Father Christmas by The Kinks
Run Rudolph Run by Dave Edmunds
Mistress for Christmas by AC/DC

Don't forget the wonderful "All You Need is Elves" by Bob Rivers (sung to a tune remarkably like the Beatles' song)

Santa doesn’t shop at Toys “R” Us
Doesn’t have to fight the Christmas rush
He’s never out of stock of even the hardest toys and games
It’s easy

Nothing in his sack he really made
No one gets forgotten Christmas day
So if you wanna know how he gets it done in the knick of time
It’s easy

All you need is elves
That’s us!
All you need is elves
The little people.
All you need is elves, Love
Elves are all you need

[glinda]

I Love Elvis' Christmas album. Also

Leon Redbone
Aaron Neville
Frank Sinatra Christmas Dreaming
Christmas Gumbo
Alligator Records' Houserockin Christmas - with Shemeika Copeland, Marcia Ball, many other blues artists

NO Celine, NO Kenny G!!! Just say no, cbh, just say no.

[Carolina Beadhead]

I Love Elvis' Christmas album. Also

Leon Redbone
Aaron Neville
Frank Sinatra Christmas Dreaming
Christmas Gumbo
Alligator Records' Houserockin Christmas - with Shemeika Copeland, Marcia Ball, many other blues artists

NO Celine, NO Kenny G!!! Just say no, cbh, just say no.

Oh, I am sooo ashamed...

NOT! I love all kinds of Christmas music! :D

[tcloud]

River by Joni Mitchell and Silent Night . I want to add that "It's a Wonderful Life" is the best Christmas movie ever ,follwed closely by "How the Grinch Stole Christmas " and I mean the cartoon version.

[Carolina Beadhead]

River by Joni Mitchell and Silent Night . I want to add that "It's a Wonderful Life" is the best Christmas movie ever ,follwed closely by "How the Grinch Stole Christmas " and I mean the cartoon version.

AND Miracle on 34th Street (the 1939[?] version).

[Fables of Faubus]

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p308/rowdymom81/embarrassed4.jpg

Well, it IS just a Christmas cd.... and it's the only one I own.

Pleeeease don't throw me out of the club...

Ah, heck...it's the holiday season and we can all overindulge a little in our own guilty pleasures, can't we?:) To each his/her own. As John Lennon said, "Whatever gets you through the night".

I have to confess that one of my fondest televised X-Mas memories is of Sonny & Cher, back when they were still in the fur-vest -phase of their career, and they did a howling, nasally version of "Oh, Holy Night". It makes me laugh just to think of it.

I still love John & Yoko's "War Is Over/Happy Christmas".
And Chrissy Hynde's version of " Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is another one I love, too.

One thing I still find amusing about this genre of music is that many of the old chestnuts were written by a Jewish Russian immigrant, Irving Berlin .

Everyone has made such great suggestions!

[Amy Winette]

Ohhh, I love all Christmas music!! So excited that a couple of stations will have nothing but Christmas music right after Thanksgiving, woo hoo!!

[ohio]

I have a bunch of holiday cds too, including some of the already mentioned Winham Winter Solstice collections, Motown Christmas, Ultimate R & B Christmas....but NOT YET! it ain't even Turkey Day yet.

[Amy Winette]

You've had snow, you can break out the Xmas tunes :) :)

[ozzie]

Christmas Gumbo was my fave last year... we'll see how my new purchases go this time around.

Last year we had a lot of fun with Brian Setzer's Christmas Extravaganza DVD... was so lame but a real hoot and was played over and over and over to much merriment!

[ac_deadhead]

going to see brian setzer's christmas concert this friday at the HOB in atlantic city... hoping it gets me in the holiday spirit! :)

[Corona]

Please don't CBH.....us canajuns are real sensitive when it comes to her.....bleccch! ;)

[ozzie]

going to see brian setzer's christmas concert this friday at the HOB in atlantic city... hoping it gets me in the holiday spirit! :)

Was sooo much fun in our lounge room.... gonna be a blast live for sure! Enjoy. :D

[Amy Winette]

I like Celine. She's very talented. Yes, I am serious and I have several of her CDs.

[BigDag]

Having lived in Alabama all of these years, I seem to relate best to "Merry Christmas From The Family" by Robert Earl Keen.

[Earthmother]

Having lived in Alabama all of these years, I seem to relate best to "Merry Christmas From The Family" by Robert Earl Keen.

A family classic!!!! Unc and I Love REK!
"Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk,
At our Christmas party...."
(Sigh ,wiping a tear away)Reminds me of home and my own fam damily!!

[MzJoey]

Back Door Santa
Clarence Carter? ...from Blue Yule collection

another fave collection, Latin Jazz Christmas

i dunno, anybody can do a great christmas song i guess, i even heard a Jethro Tull christmas recording once! it was very jethro tull'y'....and i have a recording of that Bing/Bowie duet too!
(i fell down tonight bringing in the turkey day groceries...does anybody want to kiss my boo boo?)

[mymecca]

is the quintessential christmas music for me...especially the cuts with the andrew sisters...i also dig brave combo's "it's christmas"

[ohio]

Back Door Santa
Clarence Carter? ...from Blue Yule collection

another fave collection, Latin Jazz Christmas

i dunno, anybody can do a great christmas song i guess, i even heard a Jethro Tull christmas recording once! it was very jethro tull'y'....and i have a recording of that Bing/Bowie duet too!
(i fell down tonight bringing in the turkey day groceries...does anybody want to kiss my boo boo?)
Why ummmmm, yes ma'am!

[ohio]

Please don't CBH.....us canajuns are real sensitive when it comes to her.....bleccch! ;)
Make Veena stop it, please?!

[Amy Winette]

I KNOW what you think of my taste in music Ohio, haha! ;)

Mymecca, Brave Combo Christmas album? That's got to be a kick! Might have to check it out . . .

[funkkjunkie]

Bry, maybe winetta was brainwashed in some popcult. we're gonna have to help her come to her senses. ;)

My christmas faves:
Gene Autry's rudolph album
Leon redbone's christmas island
Robert walter's in a holiday groove
creole christmas

And all the cool yules i have been priveleged to receive since 98 from doc lamb aka moon. with the standout faves from those:
christmas faisdodo/marcia ball
must be santa/brave combo
children go where i send thee

[Moon]

Most Christmas albums only contain one or two good songs. When you find one with more than that, you've struck gold. Here are a few;
"Christmas Gumbo"-various artists
"Roomful of Christmas"-Roomful of Blues
"It's Christmas Man"-Brave Combo
"The Rounder Christmas Album"-various artists
"World Christmas"-various artists
"Cool Christmas Blues"-Charles Brown
"Django Bells"-Gypsy Hombres
Heres a good resource for classic as well as obscure tunes.
http://www.mistletunes.com

funkkjunkie: I'm not sure who you are but I'll be mailing out something real soon.

[mightyradgumbo]

I also have several holiday cds. Currently, I am waiting on a copy of New Orleans Christmas that I ordered last week from LMF.
TRACK LIST AND REALAUDIO® LINKS
1. Santa Claus is Comin' To Town (3:31)
2. Christmas In New Orleans (4:08)
3. 'Zat You, Santa Claus? (3:53)
4. Silver Bells (4:03)
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas (2:42)
6. Please Come Home For Christmas (3:51)
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (3:07)
8. White Christmas (3:08)
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (4:50)
10. Santa's Second Line (4:13)
11. Holiday Time In New Orleans (4:01)

PERSONNEL
In Order Of Appearance:
Big Al Carson with Lars Edegran & his Santa Claus Revelers - #1
James Andrews - #2
Ingrid Lucia - #3
Heritage Hall Jazz Band with Gregg Stafford - #4
Banu Gibson & The New Orleans Hot Jazz - #5
Papa Don Vappie's New Orleans Jazz Band - #6
Ellis Marsalis - #7
John Boutte - #8
Topsy Chapman - #9
New Birth Brass Band - #10
Dukes Of Dixieland - #11

Can't wait to hear dat

[funkkjunkie]

It's kk, doc. I put the kk in the middle so as not to lose the whole kinderkitti thing. :)

[ibjamn]

While I would love to list the blusey and the funky, I'm afraid I am a stone sucker for the classics. Mel Torme is my fave, but I like Johnny Mathis & Bing too. Sappy, I know. ;)

[heyhon]

I always reach for my Columbia release called "Accoustic Christmas" - a great compilation that includes T Bone Burnett, Laura Nyro, Harry Connick Jr, Shawn Colvin, DDBB, Roseanne Cash, Wynton Marsalis, and others. Great stuff and not over-produced.
Mele Kalikimaka, all

[Staxsun]

As I said earlier, I have lots of Christmas favorites. Many of you have already mentioned some of mine. Of course Moon's Cool Yule's are also up there as well. I pulled out a few other of my favorites that I don't think I saw mentioned.

Bob Rivers "Twisted Christmas"
Fats Domino "Christmas is a Special Day"
5 Chinese Brothers "A Window Shopper's Christmas"
"Billboard Greatest R & B Christmas Hits"
"king Snake Records Merry Christmas"
"A Creole Christmas"
"Christmas Party with Eddie G"
Allen Toussaint & Friends "A New Orleans Christmas"
The Bobs "Too Many Santas"
"Bullseye Blues Christmas"
Vince Vance & the Valiants "All I Want for Christmas is You"
John Fahey "Christmas Album"
Chet Atkins C.G.P. "East Tennessee Christmas"
Black Top Records "Blues, Mistletoe, & Santa's Little Helper"

[mplsbear]

I picked up Fats Domino's christmas album from the LMF booth at swamp fest last month. All the standards and several originals done only the way that Fat's can do them. On silver bells, "Hear dem ring". The photography shows his White baby Grand and his caddy couch, both gone as a result of "the thing" recorded in 1993. His little dog on the cover and back, whoda thunk Fats was a poodle kind of guy?

But I see he has a brand new one out anybody heard it?

[grisgris]

This years addition of the 12 Yats of Christmas is a 2 CD set. If you have never heard Benny & the Bunch, try it you will love it.

[csoul]

Well, growing up we didn't have a lot, but somehow, Mom & Dad managed a stereo for the 9 or 10 albums they owned. The only Christmas music in the bunch was Andy Williams, The Christmas Album. EVERY year, we'd go pick out a tree, bring it in. Mom & Dad would argue for 10 or 15 minutes, and then we'd start to decorate. At that point, Andy would start singing and wouldn't stop until January 2nd. To this day, I could still listen to that album on a loop for 30 days and would love every minute. It's the only Christmas music I need.

[jhjpotter]

This looks like a pretty cool compilation that someone put together and made available on DIME. I'm downloading now and will let you all know how it is.

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=124438

[Staxsun]

I picked up Fats Domino's christmas album from the LMF booth at swamp fest last month. All the standards and several originals done only the way that Fat's can do them. On silver bells, "Hear dem ring". The photography shows his White baby Grand and his caddy couch, both gone as a result of "the thing" recorded in 1993. His little dog on the cover and back, whoda thunk Fats was a poodle kind of guy?

But I see he has a brand new one out anybody heard it?

I was excited when we got the new one at the radio station. It is, however, the same 1993 CD with new packaging.

[Amyloves...]

I LOVE Bing Crosby and Johnny Mathis!! But I also love my Christmas Gumbo CD and I am crazy about Springsteen doing Santa Claus is Comin to Town.

My favorite Christmas song, no contest, is "Oh Holy Night" sung by anybody who just does it right.

[rosetree]

We put on "A Very Special Christmas Vol #1" It has everyone from Bruce to Chrissie Hynde to Run DMC.
At the studio, Brenda has Magic 101.9 on in the gallery since Thanksgiving! They are all Christmas all the time from Thanksgiving until Christmas.:D

[breambob]

Annual post, hope you enjoy it and pass it on :)

Cajun Night Before Christmas by "Trosclair"

'Twas the night before Christmas, An' all t'ru de house,
Dey don't a t'ing pass, not even a mouse.

De chirren been nezzle good snug on de flo',
An' Mama pass de pepper t'ru de crack on de do'.

Den Mama in de fireplace done roas' us de ham,
Stir up de gumbo, an' make bake de yam.

Den out on de bayou dey got such a clatter...
Make soun' like old Boudreaux done fall off his ladder.

I run like a rabbit to got to de do'...
Trip over de dawg an' fall on de flo'!

As I look out de do' in de light o' de moon,
I t'ink, "Manh, you crazy, or got ole too soon".

"Cuz dere on de bayou when I stretch ma' neck stiff...
Dere's eight alligator a-pullin' de skiff...

An' a little fat drover wit' a lone polein' stick...
I know r'at away got to be ole St. Nick...

Mo' fas'er an' fas'er de 'gator dey came.
He whistle an' holler an' call dem by name: "Ha, Gaston! Ha, Tiboy! Ha, Pierre an' Alcee! Gee, Ninette! Gee, Suzette! Celeste an' Renee!"

To de top o' de porch dem ole 'gator clime!
Wit' de skiff full o' toy an' St. Nicklus behin'.

Den on top de proch roof it soun' like de hail
When all dem big 'gator done sot down dey tail!----

Den down de chimney he fell wit' a bam...
An' St. Nicklus fall an' sit on de yam!

"SACRE!" he axclaim "Ma pant got a hole.
I done sot mase'f on dem red hot coal!

He got on his foots an' jump like a cat...
Out to de flo' where he lan' wit' a SPLAT!

He was dress in musk-rat from his head to his foot
An' his clothes is all dirty wit' ashes an' soot.

A sack full o' playt'ing he t'row on his back.
He look like a burglar, an' dass fo' a fack!

His eyes how dey shine...his dimple, how merry!
Maybe he been drink de wine from blackberry!

His cheek was like rose...his nose like a cherry...
On secon' tought maybe he lap up de sherry! ---

Wit' snow-white chin whisker an' quiverin' belly,
He shook when he laugh like de stromberry jelly!

But a wink in his eye...an' a shook o' his head...
Make my confidance dat I soon got to be scared.

He don' do no talkin'...gone straight to his work...
Put playt'ing in sock an' den turn wit' a jerk!

He put bot' his han' dere on top o' his head,
He cas' an eye on de chimney an' den he done said:

"Wit' all o' dat fire an' dem burnin' hot flame...
Me I ain' goin' back by de way dat I came."

So he run out de do' an' he clime to de roof...
He ain' no fool, him for to make one more goof.

He jump in his skiff an' crack his big whip.
De 'gator move down an' don' make one slip.

An' I hear him shout loud as a splashin' he go: "Erry Christmas to all...Till I saw you some mo'!"

.

Conceived by J. B. Kling, Jr., a retired Baton Rouge, Louisiana, law enforcement officer and popular after-dinner speaker, Cajun Night Before Christmas originally appeared as a Christmas message from Bergeron Plymouth Company of New Orleans. Under the pseudonymous by-line “Trosclair,” the story won a Clio Award in 1967 from the Academy of Television and Radio Advertising. The Clio statue, symbol of outstanding achievement and excellence in broadcast advertising, today is a prized possession of Allen Davis, whose agency generously granted permission to adapt the story to book form.

[pokerchick66]

Well I guess you can tell from my avatar that I love Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas cd.

I also love:

The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Little Drummer Boy - Bowie/Crosby
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - little Michael Jackson
Winter Wonderland - Annie Lennox
Do you Hear What I Hear? - Whitney
All I want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
Christmas in Dixie - Alabama
Charlie Brown Christmas CD - Vince Guaraldi


P.S. I LOATHE Celine Dion, ESPECIALLY O Holy Night.

Okay, bring on the rotten fruit, lol.

[dumbtourist]

Madonna - Santa Baby

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r66/dumbtourist/santa_helper.gif

[Moon]

I LOVE Bing Crosby and Johnny Mathis!! But I also love my Christmas Gumbo CD and I am crazy about Springsteen doing Santa Claus is Comin to Town.

My favorite Christmas song, no contest, is "Oh Holy Night" sung by anybody who just does it right.


Best version I've heard is Anne Murray's. She has a gospel choir backing her up. Brave Combo does it to a cha cha beat that's pretty cool.

[mplsbear]

I was excited when we got the new one at the radio station. It is, however, the same 1993 CD with new packaging.

Yeah, I fugured that out when I re-read the offbeat review. Sounds like I got a cherished relic getting the old one, cause I like my pictures better than the new one.

do you work at a rad station? Do you have "Soul Christmas" in your collection
one of my favorites from 1968, I need to get this on CD

This great collection ranges from Clarence Carter's raucous "Back Door Santa", giving new meaning to the "Xmas" abbreviation to The Impressions sacred presentation of "Silent Night".
However, one will wonder if we really need two versions of "White Christmas" and two versions of "Merry Christmas, Baby". The answer is a resounding, "Yes, we sure do!" This unusual repetition is one factor that gives this entire set such a unity and flow. You'll see what I mean as I point out the highlights here.

The CD opens with Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters in a definitive R&B version of "White Christmas", complete with gospel overtones. This is immediately followed with Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas" featuring great sweet soul vocals with funky horns, sleigh bells, and pulsating rhythm. And then Carla Thomas brings us "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas", a bittersweet and seductive spinoff of the 1961 hit, "Gee Whiz'. Booker T & the MG's come through with an instrumental "Merry Christmas Baby", featuring Steve Cropper's masterful guitar work. Luther's festive holiday dance track, "May Christmas Bring You Happiness" deserved recognition that it missed when first released. The sharp contrast of the next cut is chilling. This is Otis Redding's version of "White Christmas", a shockingly melancholy rendition which is in an altogether different ballpark than the Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters version. Booker T. & The MG's return with another instrumental, a jazzy, bright "Silver Bells". Again, we get a sharp contrast as Carla Thomas returns with her restrained but sorrowful "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Then we hear the Drifters straight-forward arrangement of "The Christmas Song", followed by Otis Redding who surprises us with his joyful and even punchy version of "Merry Christmas, Baby", a really sharp contrast to the Booker T. & the MG's version as well as to his own "White Christmas". There's much, much more here, but I do want to point out the Otis & Carla duet, "New Year's Resolution", and the final cut which is a remix of Luther's "May Christmas Bring You Happiness".

This is a total satisfying recording and likely to remain one of the very best soul Christmas recordings ever.

[Staxsun]

Yeah, I fugured that out when I re-read the offbeat review. Sounds like I got a cherished relic getting the old one, cause I like my pictures better than the new one.

do you work at a rad station? Do you have "Soul Christmas" in your collection
one of my favorites from 1968, I need to get this. This is a total satisfying recording and likely to remain one of the very best soul Christmas recordings ever.

Yep, I have this on CD in my personal collection. It's dated from 1993. It is one of my favorites. I don't really work for a radio station. I do a show as a volunteer at WEVL radio here in Memphis. It is a station somewhat similar to WWOZ, except that it has a wider variety of music. I currently host a New Orleans music show, but I had a blues show for over eight years and a cajun and zydeco show for over five. It is far better than working in radio, trust me. If you want to listen on the internet, you can go to wevl.org .

[mplsbear]

Yep, I have this on CD in my personal collection. It's dated from 1993. It is one of my favorites. I don't really work for a radio station. I do a show as a volunteer at WEVL radio here in Memphis. It is a station somewhat similar to WWOZ, except that it has a wider variety of music. I currently host a New Orleans music show, but I had a blues show for over eight years and a cajun and zydeco show for over five. It is far better than working in radio, trust me. If you want to listen on the internet, you can go to wevl.org .

Thanks Stax, by the way I love Memphis! MN has some good acts we're sending to the IBC. Some of my friends are volunteers for our local community station, we've pledged every year for 20 some years now. They have blues programing every day from 3-6pm and Louisiana show every fri morn. check it out,
http://kfai.org/
One band competeing @ IBS is cool dispo, the harp player in the band is the Wed.aftn dj, if you go to IBC, say hey to Harold and tell him Bear sentcha!

It's lunch time, and I am dreaming of the Interstate Bar-B-Q! please tell me it's still there

[Staxsun]

Thanks Stax, by the way I love Memphis! MN has some good acts we're sending to the IBC. Some of my friends are volunteers for our local community station, we've pledged every year for 20 some years now. They have blues programing every day from 3-6pm and Louisiana show every fri morn. check it out,
http://kfai.org/
One band competeing @ IBS is cool dispo, the harp player in the band is the Wed.aftn dj, if you go to IBC, say hey to Harold and tell him Bear sentcha!

It's lunch time, and I am dreaming of the Interstate Bar-B-Q! please tell me it's still there

Well you have good taste. Interstate is actually my favorite spot, and it is indeed still there. I work the IBC every year (last 13 or so). In fact, I emceed the finals for many of those years (now they're using celebrity MCs). I'm sure I'll be around. In case you get a chance, my show is this afternoon from 4 to 6 PM at wevl.org. It's called the New Orleans Big Beat. Next week will be the big Christmas show, but I'll probably mix a little in today.

[heyhon]

The Roches' "We Three Kings" CD is fun.

[ohio]

Well you have good taste. Interstate is actually my favorite spot, and it is indeed still there. I work the IBC every year (last 13 or so). In fact, I emceed the finals for many of those years (now they're using celebrity MCs). I'm sure I'll be around. In case you get a chance, my show is this afternoon from 4 to 6 PM at wevl.org. It's called the New Orleans Big Beat. Next week will be the big Christmas show, but I'll probably mix a little in today.
Our local blues org. is sending guitarist Sonny Moorman. His acoustic set at our bluesfest was so awesome, they are releasing a cd of it. Watch for him!

[Staxsun]

Some years back in the mid-90s Sonny Moorman and the Dogs played the Crossroads Showcase here. They were a very good band and I saw them several times after that. I'm glad he's still sticking with it.

[glinda]

After some searching, I finally found a really good gospel Christmas album. Great Joy - A Gospel Christmas by the broadway Inspirational Voices. Like the gospel tent, at Christmastime! Great joy is right!

[saturn]

If you have iTunes, there is a free download of Sarah McLachlan's "Silent Night". Very lovely version.

[ScoopJohnD]

Here's what I dig out every Christmas (in no particular order)


Sky - Troika (a quick 3 minute arrangement of a Prokofiev piece)
Some cuts from 'Soul Christmas'
Rufus Wainright - Spotlight on Christmas
Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes
Charles Brown - Please Come Home For Christmas
O'Jays-Christmas Ain't Christmas (Without The One You Love)
James Brown-Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year
B.B. King-Christmas Celebration
Some cuts from the Ventures Christmas Album
Kenny Wayne Shepherd-Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Eric Johnson-First Noel
Jeff Beck with the London Choral Society-Amazing Grace
Steve Morse-Joy To The World
Steve Vai-Christmas Time Is Here
Joe Perry-Blue Christmas
Mack Rice-Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin
Rufus Thomas-I'll Be Your Santa Baby
Albert King-Christmas Comes But Once A Year & Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin
Staple Singers-Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas
Angela Strehli-Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
Fab T-Birds-Merry Christmas, Baby and Rockin Winter Wonderland
Lou Ann Barton-Rockin Around The Christmas Tree and Please Come Home For Christmas
Charlie Sexton-Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me
Kate Bush-December Will Be Magic Again
Cliff Richard-Little Town
George Harrison-Ding Dong
Roy Wood's Wizzard-I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Argent-Christmas For The Free
Joan Jett-Little Drummer Boy
Elvis-Merry Christmas Baby
Payolas-Christmas Is Coming
George Thorogood-Rock n Roll Christmas
Pretenders-2000 Miles
The Kinks-Father Christmas
Jon Anderson (Yes vocalist)-Save All Your Love
The Three Wise Men (XTC)-Thanks For Christmas and Countdown To Christmas Party Time
Blind Boys of Alabama and Michael Franti-Little Drummer Boy
Jethro Tull-Christmas Song and Ring Out Solstice Bells
Greg Lake-I Believe In Father Christmas
Bob And Doug Mackenzie-12 Days Of Christmas
Chuck Berry, then Dave Edmunds, then Keith Richards-Run,Run Rudolph
AC/DC-I Want A Mistress For Christmas
Koko Taylor-Merry Merry Christmas
Kenny Neal-Christmas Time In The Country
Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials-I'm Your Santa
Lonnie Brooks-Christmas On the Bayou
Steve Earle and Maria McKee-Nothing But A Child
The Nixons-December ("I may miss entire springtimes but this promise is yours and it is as strong as life.......I'll be home when the snow is falling,when the fires turn to ember, I'll see you in December")
Hothouse Flowers-Christchurch Bells ("Sunsets over the city-clouds are rising....And you can see clear up to the nighttime sky......So if you're feeling precious-you want to do well......think of others, ask for a prayer underneath Christchurch Bells")
Hothouse Flowers-Thing of Beauty ("Look out your window on a winters morning......Your breath is steam and there's frost falling......And the sun casts a spell upon the road........A thing of beauty is not a thing to ignore.")

Merry Christmas.......(whew)

[heyhon]

dude, you must start in July! Rum-pa-pa-pum.

[mdfest]

I just got the Blind Boys of AL cd from 2003. Excellent. Also got the Mahalia Jackson Xmas cd.
Skip the Johnny Cash Xmas cd unless you like things with extra syrup.

[ScoopJohnD]

dude, you must start in July! Rum-pa-pa-pum.

Nah, it's only about 3 or 4 hours of music. Lots of fun diggn em out every year though.

[Chicago Fest Fan]

I just love Pete Fountain's rendition of "I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause" from the Creole Christmas CD. The whole CD is good but that has become my all time fav song.

[ozzie]

Nah, it's only about 3 or 4 hours of music. Lots of fun diggn em out every year though.

Scooperz you should burn the set and market the CD to the raffle! You won't go to jail for whatever about it is illegal.... I'm almost sure! AmEEEEEE?

[ozzie]

I'm actually worried that my LMF Christmas CDs haven't arrived yet. Think they were dispatched in October and usually only about a month to get here. I hold off playing them until Christmas Eve, but we're cutting it fine kids!

[Staxsun]

I'm actually worried that my LMF Christmas CDs haven't arrived yet. Think they were dispatched in October and usually only about a month to get here. I hold off playing them until Christmas Eve, but we're cutting it fine kids!

AND YOU WERE ACTUALLY THINKING OF HAVING THEM MAIL YOUR BRASS PASS TO YOU!!!???!!!

[ozzie]

AND YOU WERE ACTUALLY THINKING OF HAVING THEM MAIL YOUR BRASS PASS TO YOU!!!???!!!

Good point!

[Frosty]

Ok, I have seen a lot of my faves here including Roomful of Blues, Creole Christmas, BB King's Celebration of Hope. But, we are missing the jazz greats:

Wynton Marsalis - Crescent City Christmas
Ella Fitzgerald - Wishes You A Swinging Christmas
Jimmy Smith - Christmas Cookin'
Duke Ellington - Three Suites
Oscar Peterson - An Oscar Peterson Christmas

[Michelino]

Ok, I have seen a lot of my faves here including Roomful of Blues, Creole Christmas, BB King's Celebration of Hope. But, we are missing the jazz greats:

Wynton Marsalis - Crescent City Christmas
Ella Fitzgerald - Wishes You A Swinging Christmas
Jimmy Smith - Christmas Cookin'
Duke Ellington - Three Suites
Oscar Peterson - An Oscar Peterson Christmas

Saw Wynton's LCJO do Duke's Take on the Nutcracker Suite (http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B0000027ED001004/ref=mu_sam_wma_001_004/105-9648962-4210855)last year at this time. It was a very swinging concert!

[Blitzzzzz]

I'll be busting out most of my favorites on my Christmas Show this Sunday, 3-6 on WEMU.ORG. You can find the playlist at the same site. Since it's a blues show, two tunes I won't get to play are the Kinks "Father Christmas," and Dar Williams "The Christians and The Pagans."
I think my favorite Christmas classic is Tiny Washington's version of "O Holy Night" from R&B Christmas on United Artists. Mine is on vinyl, I don't know if it is on cd.:cool:

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Merry Christmas From The Family by Robert Earl Keen

[Staxsun]

I sat down and pared down a list of my favorite Christmas songs. I left off the New Orleans tunes and all the things on Moon's Cool Yules. I was very selective and eliminated much that I enjoyed. Then I counted. It was 167 songs. So, I guess I won't post them all here. It would take too long and bore you to death. I guess I just love Christmas!

[bluedog]

did someone say "Christmas" ???? I feels like it's almost Christmas with JF only 2.5 weeks away for me! but my Christmas faves are: HCJ - When My Heart Finds Christmas, HCJ - Harry For The Holidays, Putamyo - New Orleans Christmas, A Very Special Christmas 3(the best of all the "Very Special Christmas" IMHO( and I have them all), Jimmy Buffett - Christmas Island, Leroy Jones -Wonderful Christmas, Christmas Gumbo, oh and Handel for the Holidays ....:) I have many other Christmas cd's but these are the only ones that make it to my disc player each year ..... I guess I'll ask for input later say like Nov, Dec? ...

[Priestboy]

Buffett - Christmas Island
Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Very Special Christmas - Any edition will do (since they all help Spec.Olym.)
Frank Sinatra - Christmas Gift Collection

I gotta agree with bluedog....with JF about a week away, it feels like Christmas!:D

[ajl_mo]

Judy Garland "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Still stunningly beautiful
Eartha Kitt "Santa Baby"

[Belle]

This whole album by Aaron is my favorite Christmas music. How about this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn7iKsTjeVc