THERE'S BRANDY WHEREVER YOU GO

One of my all time favorite mixes, featuring a series of "story" songs in my mind - including the killer 1-2-3 punch of Joe Henry (from which the mix title was lifted), the Pogues, and Tom Waits. The tunes are arranged "chronologically" - Paul Kelly's excellent 'Making Gravy' tells us it's December 21, Van announces that December 23 has arrived and snow covers the ground, Shane and Kirsty recount a memorable Christmas Eve, Everything But The Girl lets us know that the 25th is here, and John Prine and Steve Goodman remind us that it passes just like that. For you sensitive types, Joe Pernice (fronting his late great band The Scud Mountain Boys) cusses a few times during the opening track, and I get a wee bit political with the last two songs, but it's my blog and my holiday mixes, so too bad.

A Ride - Scud Mountain Boys
Making Gravy - Paul Kelly
Don't Miss You At All - Norah Jones
Tuesday Morning - The Autumn Defense
Just Like Christmas - Low
So Much Wine - The Handsome Family
I Wanna Roo You - Van Morrison
River - Joni Mitchell
Every Grain Of Sand - Emmylou Harris
Firewood - The Waxwings
Little Girl Blue - Nina Simone
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald
Short Man's Room - Joe Henry
Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues
Postcard From A Hooker In Minneapolis - Tom Waits
The Christmas Song - Vince Guaraldi
Twenty-Fifth Of December - Everything But The Girl
Souvenirs - Steve Goodman & John Prine
Peace, Love, and Understanding - Elvis Costello
Dreamed I Saw Soldiers - Neil Halstead

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TIME TO TAKE A HOLIDAY

At least a few times each year, I go through obligatory Beatles and Nick Drake phases. This early mix was the result of one of those phases, and yet I did not include any Beatles cuts, but rather threw on some solo work from John, Paul, and George (sorry Ringo!). This also marks the beginning of my take on what I consider a "holiday" song - looking through this particular playlist, not many songs qualify as traditional seasonal tunes - but to me, holiday music can be evoked by a sound, a lyric, or even just a song title. This mix does kick off with a bona fide yuletide classic - Darlene Love's oft covered but never matched take on a song from the second greatest holiday compilation - A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector.

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - George Harrison
Skating - Vince Guaraldi
Northern Sky - Nick Drake
The Fox In the Snow - Belle and Sebastian
December - Teenage Fanclub
Angel of Harlem - U2
Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
Good King Wenceslas - The Skydiggers
Hasn't Hit Me Yet - Blue Rodeo
Happiness (Peace At Last) - Blue Nile
My Baby Needs A Shepard - Emmylou Harris
Star Of Bethlehem - Neil Young
Christmas Must Be Tonight - The Band
The Wish - Bruce Springsteen
Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
A Change At Christmas - The Flaming Lips
Donna And Blitzen - Badly Drawn Boy
Christmas With Jesus - Josh Rouse
Little Drummer Boy - Low

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RING-A-LING-A-LING-A-DING-DONG-DING!

The first of many jazz vocal mixes featuring cuts from the 40s through the 60s - the majority of these tunes are from either the Verve label or Capital Records. Some contemporary favorites are mixed in (Anita, Emmylou, Marcus) since they fit the mood of the mix. I also threw in one of the best songs ever to surface in an animated holiday special.

Christmas Medley - The Swingle Singers
Look Out The Window - Rosemary Clooney and Gene Autry
Have A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
Winter Wonderland - Peggy Lee
Christmas Eve - Billy Eckstine
White Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald
Welcome Christmas - Citizens of Whoville
The First Noel - Emmylou Harris
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Silent Night - Dinah Washington
Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes
Christmas Is - Lou Rawls
I'd Like You For Christmas - Julie London
The Man With The Bag - Kay Starr
Christmas Kisses - Ray Anthony
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
Here Comes Santa Claus - The Mills Brothers
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Billie Holiday
The Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Lionel Hampton
Dig That Crazy Santa Claus - Ralph Marterie
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Marcus Roberts
Christmas Blues - Dean Martin
My Favorite Things - Anita Baker
What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Joe Williams
Jingle Bell Thank You - 1959 Capitol Records Staff
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Nancy Wilson

"A good idea is a good idea...forever" - David Brent

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A CHRISTMAS POSTCARD

This is the mix that started this giant project. A good friend of mine had sent on a mini-mix of a few songs, including Mel Torme's version of his signature tune, the Shane MacGowan tune (accompanied by the Popes), and a few selections from the greatest Christmas compilation of all time - 1968's Soul Christmas on Atlantic Records. I looked around and quickly augmented the playlist and the rest is history. As with all future mixes, a heavy lean on classic country cuts, some soul and R&B, and a novelty song here and there.

Christmas Rhyme - Ewan MacColl
It's Christmas - Jimmy Wakely
There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays - Leon Redbone
Christmas Shopping - Buck Owens
Go Tell It On The Mountain - Ralph Stanley
Here Comes Santa Claus - Asleep At The Wheel
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Paul Franklin
I'll Be Walking The Floor This Christmas - Ernest Tubb
You're The Angel On My Christmas Tree - Faron Young
O Come All Ye Faithful - Norman Blake & Friends
Great Dream From Heaven - Geyer Street Sheiks
I've Got My Love To Keep My Warm - The Christmas Jug Band
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Ray Charles
A Marshmallow World - Brenda Lee
Gee Whiz, It's Christmas - Carla Thomas
Back Door Santa - Clarence Carter
White Christmas - The Drifters
Good Morning Blues - Ella Fitzgerald
Freezing - Nick Lowe
Jingle Bells - Duke Ellington
Winter Wonderland - Louis Armstrong
Merry Christmas! - George Bailey
The Christmas Song - Mel Torme
Christmas Lullabye - Shane MacGowan
Merry Christmas - Booker T. & The MG's
A Christmas Carol - Tom Lehrer
O Tannenbaum - Vince Guaraldi
Auld Lang Syne - The Beach Boys
Hello Mr. New Year - The Coolbreezes

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