Merry Christmas To You

See you Monday.

Is Christmas Making You Mental?

Duke Pearson's "Merry Ole Soul': Rare And Essential Holiday Listening

If the Fab Four Christmas albums were clever but not traditional enough for you, and Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" has finally overstayed its welcome, may I suggest 1969's very hip and very rare "Merry Ole Soul," by Duke Pearson.


Here is what "Orgy In Rhythm" has to say about it:

Ho Ho Ho, here's Duke striking back with a jazz Christmas Cracker. Yes it sounds like it should be crap-but it aint!!! Duke pulls in Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker,and Airto for a selection of festive tunes and a very fine spin he puts on them too. The concept appears to be hokey as hell but the reinterpretations are cliche free and have some great moments. As I said I hate Christmas music (if i hear that bloody Slade record again I will pay for someone to shoot Noddy's fucking nuts) but this is really very good.

TRACKLIST

Sleigh Ride
Little Drummer Boy
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Jingle Bells
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Go tell It On The Mountain
Wassail Song
Silent Night
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Old Fashioned Christmas

ZIP FILE


I love this record almost as much as I love "Orgy In Rhythm's" commentary. Plus, "Old Fashioned Christmas," will make even the hopelessy cranky soften up a bit.

And While We're At It...

"Dylanisms?"

PAUL BUTTERFIELD ON "TO TELL THE TRUTH"


Here is some amazing footage via Al Kooper via You Tube. Don't be put off by the length. This is 9 minutes of solid entertainment.


LEE DORSEY WITH THE STAX TOUR BAND, 1967

Just as amazing!



And finally, my reviews of the new Elvis Presley, Genesis, and Elvis Costello boxed sets can be found at ALTERCATION.

A Fab Four Christmas: Your New Favorite Holiday Album

I'm not sure how I stumbled across this gem. I think Little Steven may have played a song or two on one of his stellar Underground Garage Christmas specials. What I remember in vivid detail was the difficulty in obtaining a copy. It seems that Laserlight, the budget label that had released this set, pressed about 352 copies.

I know very little about the Fab Four, except that it may just be a Fab One, Michael Amador. It's more than just a tribute to The Beatles, it's bloody genius. You need to hear it. Please trust me on this one. I am giving this the Burning Wood Guarantee.

At the moment, The Fab Four Christmas CDs are fetching between $30 and $60 for used copies on Amazon. Here are both. Let me know what you think.


TRACKLIST

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Joy To The World
Feliz Navidad
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Away In A Manger
Good King Wenceslas
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Winter Wonderland
Frosty The Snowman
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Silent Night
The Christmas Song
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Little Drummer Boy
Dear Santa
What Child Is This
Blue Christmas
Rockin'Around The Christmas Tree
Jingle Bells

The whole shebang is in the ZIP FILE, but you can listen to Feliz Navidad & Away In A Manger, so you believe I am not just foaming at the mouth again.

ZIP FILE

"Sock It To Me, Santa!" : THE WEEKEND MIX

When I was a kid, Christmas used to kill me. For those who know me, it will come as no surprise that I was a very hyper and anxious soul on or close to Christmas Eve, much like Ed Grimley, only with better hair. I just couldn't control the excitement, and my grandfather would really get off on it. He was a quiet and patient man, but always had a look of mischief in his eyes.

One year, I asked for "All Things Must Pass," the recently released George Harrison, 3 LP boxed set for Christmas. At the time, my grandfather was V.P. of his company, and would come home with 3-5 wrapped bottles of liquor given to him from clients and co-workers. And every year, he'd ask me to help him place the gifts under the tree. (We lived in the same apartment building two flights apart, so this was a daily holiday task.)

One particular evening, along with the narrow, 8" tall boxes of spirits, he handed me a 12" x 12" box, that to me, were the exact dimensions of the Harrison set. I started to shake. "Is this it? Is this George Harrison? Can I open just this ONE? Please? PLEASE?!! GRANDPA!" This went on for hours, accompanied by his sneaky smile and his reply, "Salvatore. It's a box of handkerchiefs from my secretary."

I didn't believe him. I pressed on. My grandfather continued to enjoy this torture, and my grandmother had started to lose patience with my whining, and eventual hyperventilating. "WILL YOU LET HIM OPEN THAT BOX? HE'S GONNA HAVE A HEART ATTACK!"

My grandfather laughed, "Ok Salvatore. Just that one."

It was a box of handkerchiefs.

"AHEM..."

By request, here is the first of possibly three holiday mixes. Nothing here you haven't heard...or at least I don't think so. But it does include some of my favorites, including the very genius pairing of Phil Lynott & Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy with Steve Jones & Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols for "A Merry Jingle." Plus, it's nice to have them all in one place.

You're welcome Charlie. Thanks for reading.


TRACKLIST

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen
Sock It To Me, Santa - Marshall Crenshaw
Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday - Jules Shear
A Merry Jingle - The Greedies
Thanks For Christmas - XTC
I Want An Alien For Christmas - Fountains Of Wayne
Christmas Snow - The Buddha Heads
Run Rudolph Run - Keith Richards
Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
Xmas Song - Jill Sobule
Indian Giver - Squirrel Nut Zippers
You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Thurl Ravenscroft
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday- Roy Wood's Wizzard
Step Into Christmas - Elton John
Merry Christmas Baby - Charles Brown

ZIP FILE

P.S.

"All Things Must Pass" was indeed under my grandparents tree on Christmas morning.