WELCOME TO THE 2011 HOLIDAY MIXES

Old Fezziwig's Ball returns for its ninth and penultimate year of delivering holiday tunes. Despite a very year filled with many highs and lows, it's nice to slow down as the year draws to a close, reflect on all the good and the challenging, and take some time to assemble a new batch of music. As I promised last year, I'll be ending this nonsense next year at the 10 year mark, and that feels about right. At this point, embedding dropbox folders with mp3 files on this blog feels quaint and outdated, what with Spotify and Turntable.fm making it much easier to create playlists and share music instantly. However, I made a promise and I sticking to it...

Some notes for this year: I'll be cleaning up past entries and making sure that each year's worth of mixes are available for zipped downloads. Also, some bigwig record companies decided to block some of the videos I have featured in the past, so those will be removed. And, I'll be honest, I can't really remember if certain songs have appeared on past mixers, and the search function on this blog site seems to be malfunctioning, so if you hear a repeat, just remember the sheer volume that I have thrown up here!

For the first time since 2008, the majority of my music is accessible to me. I have moved away from storing on my older computer and keep it with me on the laptop now. Last year's compilation that featured the top of the pop chart hits in America and the UK during the holiday season of the 50s and 60s prompted me to seek out the legendary Beatles Fanclub Christmas 45s that they put out each year between 1963 - 1969, so I have included that as a bonus comp among the batch. You'll also find one mix where I leaned heavily on a spoken word theme and included several nuggets from a certain holiday classic that most folks will try to catch at least once this year (preferably in black and white). As always, I am throwing together mixes of indie, jazz, country, pop, and soul (no yacht rock yet - that's next year for the big finale). Hopefully a few of these tunes will get you in the spirit of the season. Happy Holidays everyone.

GOOD VIBES AND BIG WAVES or CHRISTMAS DAY (I WAS I WAS SURFING)

We recently spent our first holiday together as a family on the west coast, and boy, what a very different and wonderful vibe that turned out to be. Even though I enjoy a mug of hot cider and a roaring fire, I'd trade it all in to hang out on a small beach, catching a glimpse of a dolphin and watching the surfers tackle some December waves. With this mix, we dive right in with a tune from the Beach Boys who play a prominent role throughout this comp. You'll hear a couple of Beach Boys covers, and you'll get an appearance from the pride of Hawthorne CA - Mr. Brian Wilson. Before we close out with The Ventures, you'll also get some appearances by Lowell George and the Encinitas surfer-turned-grunge-icon Eddie Vedder, and there will be a large Wham! presence for no particular reason, except it just felt right. Surf's Up. Peace On Earth...

1. Melekalikimaka - Beach Boys
2. A Christmas Song For You - Kik
3. Ding Dong, Ding Dong - George Harrison
4. Secret Santa - Buffalo Killers
5. You Won't Have To Wait Until Xmas - Lee Rogers
6. Black Santa - King Salami & The Cumberland 3
7. Psychedelic Santa - Buzz Zeemer
8. Little Saint Nick - Salvation Alley String Band
9. Candy Cane Madness - Lowell George & The Factory
10. Christmas All Over This Town - Plimptons
11. Snow On Snow (The Bleak Midwinter) - Rue Royale
12. Tiny Tree Christmas - Guster
13. Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time) - Pearl Jam
14. It Won't Seem Like Christmas - Elvis Presley
15. Christmas Day (I Wish I Was Surfing) - Emmy & Tim
16. Merry Christmas Baby - Ash Reiter
17. Santa a Go-Go (Wham! Vs. The Jackson 5) - DJ Schmolli
18. Christmas List (Fa La La) - Jody Glenham
19. This Christmas - Shoes
20. Hey Santa! - Hannah Peel & Tunng
21. Santa On The Run - Davie Allan & The Arrows
22. Christmas Island - Bob Dylan
23. It's A Wonderful Life - Sparklehorse
24. Hallelujah (Christmas Is Here) - Sunturns
25. Last Christmas - Frank Turner
26. Happy Xmas Everybody - Tony Christie
27. Peace on Earth - Brian Wilson
28. We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Ventures

Download as a zip file, or stream the songs in the player below:

EVERYBODY'S DOING THE XMAS TWIST

This mix is not messing around - alternating all the way through with some nice soul and country-tinged tracks. If the first song sounds familiar this holiday season, you've probably heard it blasting from your TV and you did a double take. If you want a nice recap on the wonderful rise of the Alabama Shakes over the past year, check out this link. Lots of other nice little gems on this one, including the cut that gives this mix its title, from the Twistin' Kings, better known as one of the greatest bands ever assembled, the mighty Motown house band - the Funk Brothers.

1. You Ain't Alone - Alabama Shakes
2. Go-Go Round - Gordon Lightfoot
3. Lonely Christmas - George Bowers
4. Christmas Time For Everybody But Me - Hank Ballard
5. White Christmas - Ernest Tubb
6. Out Of The East - Charley Pride
7. Soulful Christmas - Ray Harris & The Fusion Experience
8. Christmas Light - Keegan DeWitt & The Sparrows
9. Here It Is Christmas - Old 97s
10. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - Billy Taylor
11. Christmas Clock - Del Reeves
12. Christmas Time's a Comin' - Buck Owens
13. Xmas Twist - Twistin' Kings
14. Christmas Elf - Professor Anonymous & The Marshalls
15. I Still Miss Someone - Whiskeytown
16. Almost Time For Santa - Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns
17. Christmas Is Saturday - Don Dixon
18. The Friendly Beasts - Louvin Brothers
19. Merry Christmas Baby - Hank Crawkford
20. Not On Christmas Eve - Boca Chica
21. Santa Claus Boogie - Hasil Adkins
22. Let It Snow - Diplomats of Sound
23. Christmas With The Band - Ox
24. Please Come Home For Christmas - Willie Nelson
25. Every Day Is Christmas (When I'm Lovin' You) - Charles Bradley
26. Winter Wonderland - Allen Toussaint

Download the songs here as a zip file, or stream the songs in the player below:

BLANKETS OF SNOW

As I have done each year, I usually put together at least a couple of quieter, acoustic, folk / country tinged mixes,and here's the first one for 2011. Title for the comp is swiped from a lyrics one of my all-time favorite non-traditional Christmas-themed songs, Houses On The Hill, by Whiskeytown, included here as an earlier rendition that surfaced on the reissue that came out a few years back for Stranger's Almanac. This mix also features a tune by Richard Laviolette, who put out an album in late 2010 that I listened to more than anything else over the past year.

1. You Are A Gift - Basia Bulat
2. Xmas Lights Spin - Mark Eitzel
3. Christmas Time's A Coming - Bill Monroe
4. Tracks In The Snow - Civil Wars
5. Winterbreath - Richard Laviolette & The Oil Spills
6. Silent Night - Evan Dando
7. Only At Christmas Time - Sufjan Stevens
8. Winter Fawn - Matt Pond PA
9. Snow Will Fall Tonight - Peter Bradley Adams
10. Winter Song - The Head And The Heart
11. Houses On The Hill (Early Version) - Whiskeytown
12. Oh, So Many Years - Everly Brothers
13. The Bells of Dublin / Christmas Eve - Chifetains
14. Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees - Elvis Presley
15. This Christmastime - Mascott & Gramery Arms
16. A Snow Year - Steve Wickham
17. The Gift Of Grace - Denison Witmer
18. The Snow Angel And The Icicle Sword - Ian McGlynn
19. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Travel By Sea / Greater Pacific
20. The Man In the Santa Suit - Neil Halstead
21. Just Like Christmas - Fanfarlo
22. You Never Come Home - Caitlin Rose & Keegan DeWitt
23. I Know The Reason - Mindy Smith & Thad Cockrell

Download as a zip file here, or stream the songs in the player below:

JINGLE BELL JAZZ

So this first mix is my nearly annual stab at a fairly jazz-centric collection of tunes. I even went so far as swiping the cover from the classic 1980 Columbia Records compilation of the same name, which featured Duke, Lionel Hampton, Carmen McRae, Brubeck, and Miles, among others. This mix is a bit more down home and funkier than that (and even approaches disco courtesy of the Reverend Al Green), and also includes several vocals that caught my ear over the past few years.

1. Holiday Breakdown - Binky Griptite
2. Santa Stole My Lady - Fitz and the Tantrums
3. Snowfall - Ahmad Jamal
4. I'd Like You For Christmas - Christabel & The Jons
5. Let's Call It Quits - human
6. Holiday For Strings - Sue Raney
7. Here Comes Santa Claus - Ramsey Lewis
8. Buffalo Gals - Dimitri Tiomkin & Orchestra
9. Christmas Means Love - Sam Cooke
10. Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby - Amos Milburn
11. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Willie Nelson & Norah Jones
12. Frosty The Snowman - Ella Fitzgerald
13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Jimmy Smith
14. Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas) - Free Design
15. It Feels Like Christmas - Al Green
16. O Come All Ye Faithful - Chet Baker
17. Santa's Second Line - New Birth Brass Band
18. O Holy Night - Irma Thomas
19. Winter Wonderland - Sonny Rollins
20. Noel Blanc - Michel Legrand
21. I Am Blessed - Nina Simone & Wouter Hamel
22. I Ain't Gonna Let You See My Santa Claus - Victoria Spivey
23. Christmas in New Orleans - James Andrews
24. The Christmas Song - Dexter Gordon

Download these songs as a zip file, or stream from the player below:

EXILE IN WHOVILLE or WHEN THE LIGHTS ON ALL THE CHRISTMAS TREES WENT OUT

This mix, with its nods in the titles, was centered on the murky worlds of the Rolling Stones and uh..Dr. Seuss. I think by the end of the mix, you're left in a good place, but there are definitely some dark patches ahead before you arrive. And that's a theme that always emerges around this time of year. Lots of folks will and should be thankful, and others are going to be much less so. But it always makes for a decent mix - remember, sunshine bores the daylight out of me. And this mix takes its time, stretching out with some longer, fuzzier tunes. Hope you enjoy...

1. London, You're A Lady - Pogues
2. Northern Light Letdown - Jason Collett
3. There's A Star Above The Manger Tonight - Red Red Meat
4. First Christmas - Boyracer
5. Winter Dies - Midlake
6. St. Stephen's Day Murders - Chieftains & Elvis Costello
7. Gonna Make It Through The Year - Great Lake Swimmers
8. Icicles (Plastic Snow Session) - Let's Go Sailing
9. Winter Winds - Mumford & Sons
10. Scarlet - U2
11. Winter - Rolling Stones
12. O Christmas Tree - Layaways
13. It Doesn't Feel Like Christmas - Toad The Wet Sprocket
14. Little Stars - Holly Golightly & The Greenhornes
15. Christmas Skies - Thin White Rope
16. Xmas Time Is Here Again - My Morning Jacket
17. Handle With Care - Traveling Wilburys
18. Winter Sunshine - Dropkick
19. Another Year Again - Sadies
20. This Will Be Our Year - Mynabirds
21. The Warmest Part Of Winter - Voxtrot
22. Deck The Halls - R.E.M.

Download as a zip file, or stream the songs in the player below:

I'LL BE YOUR SANTA, BABY...

Any long time readers of this blog are going to recognize my affinity for lots and lots of soul and r&b. Here's a slinky, slow burning, mostly soul offering with just a touch of country, reggae, doo wop, funk, and a few other things thrown in for good measure. Grab the eggnog, cuddle up with your loved one and marvel at the vocal stylings of Dr. Cliff Huxtable. Every day will be a holiday...

1. Mary's Baby - Charles Bradley
2. You're All I Want For Christmas - Persuasions
3. Merry Christmas Mama - Bill Cosby
4. Party Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - DJ McFly
5. Deck The Halls - human
6. Pauvre Jesus-Christ - Henri Salvador
7. Lonesome Christmas Blues - Blind Blake
8. Empty Chair At The Christmas Table - Bob Wills
9. White Christmas - Corporal Blossom
10. Winter Rose - A Band Of Bees
11. The Last Month Of the Year - Staple Singers
12. Just A Sad Christmas - Soul Duo
13. Merry Christmas Darling - Uniques
14. A Funky Christmas To You - J Hines
15. Christmas Time Is Here - Mayer Hawthorne
16. Merry Christmas Baby - Ike & Tina Turner
17. Tis Yuletide - Roscoe Robinson
18. Merry Christmas To You - Salem Travellers
19. I'd Like To Find You In My Stocking - Vincent Lopez
20. Christmas Time In The City - Mary Chapin Carpenter
21. The Gift Of Giving - Bill Withers
22. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Booker T & The MG's
23. Christmas In Heaven - Charles Brown
24. Every Day Will Be A Holiday - William Bell
25. Have Yourself A Santatastic Little Christmas - DJ BC
26. I Want You To Come Home For Christmas - Marvin Gaye
27. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Carla Thomas

Download as a zip file, or stream the songs in the player below:

CHRISTMAS MORNING FEELING

My other fairly quiet, folk/country mix for this holiday season. Lots of favorites pop up on this mix, including Camera Obscura's great take on a Richard Hawley tune, and producer John Keane teaming up with his daughters for a nice take on two traditional tunes. And it goes without saying that any mix is improved 1000 percent by the mere presence of the Louvin Brothers.

01 The Falling Snow - Damien Jurado
02 Snowfall - Josh Rouse
03 The Nights Are Cold - Camera Obscura
04 All That I Want - Weepies
05 God Rest Ye... / We Three Kings - We Three Keanes
06 I Heard The Bells On Christmas - Pedro The Lion
07 Christmas - Leona Naess
08 Wanting And Regret - Jason Anderson
09 Baby It's Cold Outside - Haunting Party
10 Snow Angels - Boca Chica
11 River - Lex Land
12 Christmas Song - Denison Witmer
13 Gone The Bells - Cotton Jones
14 Song For A Winter's Night - Erica Wheeler
15 Merry Christmas From The Family - Lindley Ruth
16 I Do Not Care For the Winter Sun - Beach House
17 A Long December - John Craigie
18 New Year's Eve - Team Five
19 Same Old New Year's - Ben Smith
20 Good Christian Men Rejoice - Louvin Brothers

Download as a zip file, or stream the songs in the player below:

CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE DRUNK TANK

I thought I had all my mixes lined up this year, and this one just sort of evolved and I heard a distinct sound emerge - lots of emotion, lots of anthems, lots of joy, a couple of scary thoughts expressed out loud, and a few tinges of regret. You know, like most trips to your local watering hole, especially round this time of year. I am pretty certain that, aside from Ella Fitzgerald, the Pogues have made more appearances on my mixes than any other act. That sounds just fine to me. So Merry Christmas, and Happy Birthday to Shane MacGowan - born 25 December 1957!

1. Waking Up On Christmas Morning - Smithereens
2. Psycho - Thirsty Dave's Western Caravan
3. City Of Christmas Ghosts - Goldblade & Poly Styrene
4. X Is For Christmas - Sin Ropas
5. Who Sez There Ain't No Santa Claus - Ron Holden & Thunderbirds
6. Jingle Bells - New Birth Brass Band
7. What Next Dear One - Rue Royale
8. Christmas Time Is Here - dB's
9. Christmas Don't Be Late - Caleb & The Caroling Caravan
10. Xmas Eve - Damnwells
11. The Song The Season Brings - Beta Radio
12. Train Of Love - Pogues
13. Christmas In Nevada - Willard Grant Conspiracy
14. Winter - Moon Duo
15. Hear Oh Hear - Kris MacQueen
16. It Won't Seem Like Christmas - Attwater
17. Lonely Christmas Again - Dave Dudley
18. Season Cyclics - Sunturns
19. Go Tell It On The Mountain - Branches
20. Pretty Paper - Salvation Alley String Band
21. It Christmas (Go On And Say Hello) - Roman Candle
22. It Christmas So We'll Stop - Frightened Rabbit
23. Room To Roam - Waterboys
24. A Very Whiskey New Year - Three Day Threshold

Download as a zip file, or stream the songs in the player below:

A VERY ZUZU CHRISTMAS

So this mix leans heavily on audio clips and score selections taken directly from Franks Capra's perennial holiday favorite, It's A Wonderful Life. I've placed these clips alongside some 40s / 50s / 60s vocals backed by full orchestras, and I've also hunted down some other notable spoken word segements, from the like of John Prine, Elvis, and the greatest and weirdest holiday pairing ever, David Bowie and Bing Crosby, on their unique Little Drummer Boy duet...

01 Overture - Dimitri Tiomkin & His Orchestra
02 Icicles, Holly, Redd Berries, and Snow - Caroleer Singers
03 Winter Wonderland - Johhny Long & His Orchestra
04 Parade of the Wooden Soldiers - Three Suns
05 Christmas Bride - Ray Martin 7 His Orchestra
06 Space Age Santa Claus - Gus De Wert Trio
07 The Christmas Song - Ray Bloch & His Orchestra
08 The Only Thing I Want For Christmas - De John Sisters
09 Our Christmas Waltz - Karen Ford & Bill Snary
10 Dearest Santa - Eddy Howard & His Orchestra
11 The Mistletoe Christmas - Russ Morgan & His Orchestra
12 Little Drummer Boy - Bowie & Crosby
13 George And Mary Meet Again - Film Audio
14 Just To See Santa Come - Michelle Scott Singers
15 Be-Bop Santa Claus - Babs Gonzales
16 Clarence's Leap Of Faith - Film Audio Clip
17 Every Christmas We Know - Lois Lynn
18 A John Prine Christmas - John Prine
19 We Need A Little Christmas - Skitch Henderson & His Orchestra
20 Christmas Message From Elvis - Elvis Presley
21 I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day - Harry Belafonte
22 Snowbound For Christmas - De Castro Sisters
23 The Richest Man In The World - Film Audio Clip
24 Auld Lang Syne - human
25 My New Year's Wish For You - Frank MacCormack

Download as a zip file, or stream the songs and clips below:

DON'T MESS AROUND WITH THOSE SILLY TOYS

A snot-filled, mash up (pun intended) of punk and rock converging for a nice little one hour blast of music. There are a couple cuss words here and there buried in the guitar mix, so a warning that this is perhaps best heard when the kids are in bed, or you're drinking heavily.

1. Joy To The World - Bad Religion
2. The Grinch - Blue Meanies
3. Child's Christmas in Wales - Superchunk
4. Santatage (Otis / Beastie Boys / Run DMC) - Divide & Kreate
5. Merry Christmas - Face To Face
6. O Holy Night - Smoking Popes
7. It's Christmas At The Airport Bar - Cuban Mistletoe Crisis
8. Christmas On Mars - Groovie Ghoulies
9. Snake Oil Tanker (Xmas) - Alkaline Trio
10. There Ain't No Sanity Clause - Damned
11. Christmas Vacation - Descendents
12. Sexy Christmas Baby Mine - Morphine
13. Up on The Housetop - Oblivian
14. Snowflake - Gauge
15. All I Got For Christmas Was Drunk - Better Off Dead
16. Last White Christmas - Basement 5
17. Merry Christmas - Silkworm
18. Nothing Else Matters But My Favourite Things - G3RST
19. Deck The Halls - Twisted Sister
20. Merry Fucking Christmas - Mr. T Experience
21. Christmas Is Over - Plimptons
22. A Christmas Duel - Hives & Cyndi Lauper

Download as a zip file, or stream the songs in the player below:

A VERY FAB FOUR CHRISTMAS

As promised, here's a little bonus this year - with the kick-off of Beatlemania, and continuing on until the break-up, the Beatles released a Christmas record through their fan club each year on a flexidisc record - a flimsy record roughly the size of a 45. As you listen, you'll delight at the charm and humor of the Mop Tops, and things will get increasingly weirder as we hit the end of the decade. The production leaps ahead in 66 and 67 as the Beatles became studio wizards themselves. By 1968, the tension between bandmates was so high that for the '68 and '69 records, each contribution was captured separately and compiled at a later date. I guess that was it for Rudolph the Red Nosed Ringo. And yes, Yoko makes an appearance. So does Tiny Tim...

01 Christmas 1963
02 Veejay Christmas / Another Beatles Christmas Record (1964)
03 Beatles Third Christmas Record (1965)
04 Pantomime, Everywhere It's Christmas (1966)
05 Christmastime is Here Again (1967)
06 Christmas 1968
07 Happy Christmas (1969)

Download as a zip file, or stream the clips in the player below:

WELCOME TO THE 2010 HOLIDAY MIXES

Old Fezziwig's Ball returns for its eighth year of delivering just way too many holiday tunes. With that said, I think I'll cap it at 10 years - so 2012 will be my final foray into this insanity. The scary thing is...well, despite the wealth of tunes here, we're really just scratching the surface.

Some notes for this year: a lot of you ungrateful types complained about last year's move away from the zip file option. Well, I didn't like it either, but I had reached the cap on the account that allowed for the zip file option. However, the good folks at box.net finally realized that 5 GB of space does not cut in this day and age, and with a lot more room, I have returned to the zip file option. So, for 2010, as you hit each entry, you'll be able to stream the songs from the player, download individual songs that you like, or click on the link to go straight to a zip file download option. Also, it looks that all past mixes (including years 2003, 2004, and 2009) are now back up online with the zip file download option.

For the second year in a row, the majority of my music is not accessible to me as my computer is in storage while we fix a nagging issue in the basement (read: drain tile!). So, a couple of themes I wanted to explore will just need to wait for the final two years. However, I was able to roll out a couple of special mixes this year. These compilations include a look at what was at the top of the pop charts in America and the UK during the 50s and 60s during the holiday season, as well as a tribute to a legendary musician who should have had a ton of hits. And, as always, you'll also find the usual assortment of indie, jazz, country, pop, and just plain weirdness. I hope you find a couple of new holiday gems. Happy Holidays everyone.

One last note: Most of you have probably already seen this, but if you haven't, head on over to my other project this past fall: friends from the Uncle Tupelo mailing list contributed original and cover tunes to raise funds for Feeding America. Veteran readers of the Old Fezziwig blog will see that the idea for that project came about through one of my themed holiday mixes posted in 2009.

CHRISTMAS PARTY USA!

Sit tight kids - the adults are going to throw some drinks back and the party is going to start hopping. Everyone is going to try out some new dance moves, and then things get really interesting. Many folks are going to become a lot more attractive, and a few will awake in an unknown locale. You've been warned...

1. It's Christmas Time (Hey We're Gonna Rock) - The Flat Duo Jets
2. Snow Girl - Ron Winters
3. Christmas Party - Eddie & De Havelon
4. Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day - Brenda Lee
5. Santa, Teach Me To Dance - Debbie & The Darnells
6. Merry Christmas Loopy Lu - The Kaisers
7. Rock Around The Christmas Tree - Big Bud
8. Christmas Blues - Washboard Pete
9. Christmas Train - Corey Bell
10. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Hank Ballard & The Midnighters
11. Santa Done Got Hip - The Marquees
12. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery
13. Christmasville USA - Jimmy Charles
14. Santa's Got A Bag of Soul - Soul Saints Orchestra
15. Teenage Christmas - Eux Autres
16. Rock And Roll Christmas - Cordell Jackson
17. Hey Santa Claus - The Chesterfield Kings
18. Don't The Girls All Get Prettier? - Mickey Gilley
19. Rocket Ship Santa - The BellRays
20. Christmas (Doesn't Have To Be So Sad) - The Backsliders
21. Xmas In The Jailhouse - Ox
22. Xmas Time - Jan Bradley
23. It's Christmas - Marvin & Johnny
24. Don't Plan No Party This Christmas - Mel Brown
25. Dancin' With Santa - The Trashmen
26. Santa Claus - Billy Childish
27. Christmas Eve - The Galaxies
28. On A Christmas Day - Leadbelly

Download these tunes as a zip file here, or stream the songs in the player below:

IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH DECEMBER

Another in the series of country-tinged mixes that I put out each year - this one featuring a bit of everything - swing, rockabilly, old time, bluegrass, folk - with the general theme of what a tough holiday season it will be for many this December - for a variety of reasons.

1. Christmas Is Near - The Stanley Brothers
2. If We Make It Through December - Blue Shadows
3. Merry Christmas To All - Al Dexter & His Troopers
4. I Hate Christmas - Asleep At The Wheel
5. Kisses For Christmas - Marti Brom
6. Christmas In My Smokey Mountain Home - Bobby Bare
7. Forgive Me Santa - Jimmie Davis
8. Goin' Home For Christmas - Merle Haggard
9. Cowboy Santa Claus - Bill Lacey
10. Song For A Winter's Night - Gordon Lightfoot
11. Just Like The Rain - Richard Hawley
12. Peace Behind The Bridge - Carolina Chocolate Drops
13. Down On Christmas - Stompin' Tom Connors
14. Bastard Brothers - Chip Taylor
15. Christmas Dinner - Tennessee Ernie Ford
16. Winter Hours - The Deep Dark Woods
17. Po' Folks Christmas - Bill Anderson
18. Mommy For Awhile On Christmas Day - Johnny Paycheck
19. The Blizzard - Camera Obscura
20. Daddy, Will Santa Claus Ever Have To Die? - The Martins
21. Hard Candy Christmas - Dolly Parton
22. Alcoholiday - Better Off Dead
23. Here Comes Santa Claus Again - Buck Owens
24. Rockabilly Santa Claus - Wanda Jackson
25. Barefoot Santa Claus - Sonny James
26. Christmas Day - Strayfolk
27. Santa And The Kids - Charley Pride
28. Dear Mr. Santa - Doye O'Dell
29. When Santa Comes Round - Dropkick

Download these songs as a zip file here, or stream the songs in the player below:

SOUNDS OF JOY

We kicked off the holidays really early this year by attending a pre-Thanksgiving production of a A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre. We absolutely loved it, in large part to the amount of music that was featured so prominently throughout the show - a really nice blend of quiet, softer carols with the awesomeness of a full blown Fezziwig dance party. With that in mind, here's a mix of a lot of jingly jangly tunes from modern day folks, with the frequent appearance of a mellower, boozier tune from an earlier era.

1. Jingle Jangle Christmas - The Metro Jets
2. Winter Wonderland- Doris Day
3. It's Christmas - Coconut Records
4. The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra
5. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - R.E.M.
6. Joyous Sound - Van Morrison
7. Oh What A Christmas - El Perro Del Mar
8. Blue Christmas - Dean Martin
9. Cold Blue Halo - Jason Collett
10. Pure - The Lightning Seeds
11. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Peggy Lee
12. You'll Never Find My Christmas - Bishop Allen
13. Let Me Be Your Christmas Toy - Chocolate Snow
14. Snow Is Falling - Darker My Love
15. Run Away With Me - Jens Lekman
16. The Christmas Song - Ella Fitzgerald
17. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Willie Nelson with Norah Jones
18. Christmas Isn't Christmas - The Boy Least Likely To
19. I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day - Harry Belafonte
20. Got Something For You - Best Coast
21. Christmas Lights - The Yule Logs
22. All These Winter Nights - The Higher Elevations
23. Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects - Sharon Jones
24. Jingle Bells (Part 2) - Pastor T.L. Barrett
25. Christmas In The Cross - Dropkick
26. Silent Night - Richard Hawley

Download these songs as a zip file here, or stream the songs in the player below:

THE CHRISTMAS SINGLES COLLECTION

The idea for this mix came about as I was compiling this blog last year. As I wrote up the introduction for the mix entitled This Will Be Our Year, I acknowledged that despite its tag and association with the Summer of Love, lots of the great 60s pop music has a seasonal feel to it. Remembering the importance that the Beatles associated with the Christmas single, I took it a step further and looked back upon how the UK Christmas single shaped how certain bands would prepare something on an annual basis (note: the Stones, at their second most drug-addled state, were getting into the holiday spirit).

Flipping over and reviewing the Billboard charts - a few things became really crystal clear - the holiday season was a time for the heavyweights - with a quick review, I realized that the Supremes and the Beatles pretty much owned the charts. So, for this mix, I backed up a bit, and headed back as far as 1952, when the New Musical Express in UK first started charting the Christmas single. The following mix is a smattering of the hits that made it to the top of the UK or US charts between Thanksgiving and New Years up through 1969. I had a lot of fun researching and putting this mix together. And I left off multiple classics by both the Fabs and the Supremes. This just in - those folks were pretty darn good.

1. I Feel Fine - The Beatles
2. Here In My Heart - Al Martino
3. Come See About Me - The Supremes
4. Just Walkin' In The Rain - Johnnie Ray
5. Christmas Alphabet - Dickie Valentine
6. Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
7. Answer Me - Frankie Laine
8. To Sir With Love - Lulu
9. Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley
10. Little Saint Nick (Single Version) - The Beach Boys
11. We Can Work It Out - The Beatles
12. It's Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty
13. I Hear a Symphony - The Supremes
14. The Poor Side Of Town - Johnny Rivers
15. Mary's Boy Child - Harry Belafonte
16. What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For - Emile Ford
17. Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
18. I'm Leaving It Up To You - Dale & Grace
19. Merry Christmas, Baby - The Beach Boys
20. Mr. Lonely - Booby Vinton
21. Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds
22. She's a Rainbow - The Rolling Stones
23. Wedding Bell Blues - The Fifth Dimension
24. Green Green Grass Of Home - Tom Jones
25. Leaving On A Jet Plane - Peter, Paul & Mary
26. Hello Goodbye - The Beatles
27. Someday We'll Be Together - The Supremes
28. A Christmas Message from Dennis Wilson

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THAT'S CHRISTMAS TIME TO ME

Another mostly twangy compilation that feels just about right when blankets of snow are covering the streets and you've got a nice fire already started. This mix also features one of my top recurring favorites, the mighty Asleep At The Wheel. They make it sound effortless.

1. Ole Tex Kringle - Tex Ritter
2. Christmas Morning Comin' Down - The Tall Pines
3. Party Hard - Little Isidore
4. Merry Texas Christmas Y'All - Asleep At The Wheel
5. That's Christmas Time To Me - Bill Monroe
6. The Christmas Cannonball - Hank Snow
7. Going Home - The Maldives
8. Tracks In The Snow - The Civil Wars
9. Santa Never Made It Into Darwin - Bill & Boyd
10. Can I Sing A Christmas Song For You? - Dave Dudley
11. Perfect Gift - Natalie Hemby
12. Squat - Shelby Lynne
13. Oh Sweet Christmas! - Oh Sweet Music!
14. Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas - Smiley Bates
15. Stocking - Sarah Siskind
16. Get Off The Stool - Marvin Rainwater
17. Cowboy Santa Claus - Bill Lacey
18. Angels We Have Heard On High
19. Sleigh Bell Rock - Marti Brom
20. Old Toy Trains - Roger Miller
21. North Pole Rock - Cathy Sharpe
22. Holly And Her Mistletoe - Jim Lauderdale
23. Houses On The Hill (Early Version) - Whiskeytown
24. Merry Christmas From A Bar - The Starkweathers
25. Hard Candy Christmas - Dolorean
26. Up On The Hill - Dropkick
27. Call On God - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

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A BIG STAR CHRISTMAS

December boys got it bad...

Back in March, the music world lost Alex Chilton - the teenage soul shouter with The Boxtops, the uncompromising artist who put out challenging and interesting solo works, and...oh yeah...the leader of Big Star - the Memphis-based Power Pop legends whose three albums were heard by few initially, but made a lasting impact on everyone who heard them and decided to go out and put their own spin on American music - The Replacements, R.E.M, The Posies, Elliott Smith, and Wilco, to name but a few. And the impact reached far beyond these shores. Two of my all-time favorite bands named albums in tribute to Big Star's work: Scotland's Teenage Fanclub named an early album Thirteen after the gorgeous ballad that appears on Big Star's debut, #1 Record, while Australia's You Am I named their fourth album #4 Record - as a nod and wink to Alex. Passing away just days before he was to reconnect with former bandmates at Austin's South By Southwest festival, their reunion show turned into the first of many elegant eulogies for a musician who consistently astounded.

Like many folks, I tend to classify certain artists and their music by different seasons and/or events. For example, when the temperatures drop and the leaves change color, no doubt Van Morrison and Nick Drake will receive a few more spins. With Chilton and Big Star in particular, I tend to identify him with two different times of the year: the power pop templates, with their heavy riffs and their catchy choruses, remind me of a late night summer gathering of teenagers or early twentysomethings - in a parking lot of an abandoned building, sipping cheap beer and even cheaper alcohol, and blasting music, all under the cover of night. But there's also the other side to Big Star - the quieter moments that seem more akin to the very early morning when it's probably too cold to step foot outside - the music that seems to be directly descended from the Beatles and Byrds just a few years earlier. Alex has been featured on past compilations - most notably his song "Jesus Christ" - but given his passing this year, I wanted to pay my own small tribute - so amidst a smattering of some of his greatest work with Big Star, I have included some peers, some admirers, and some heroes. And, as we discovered later in his career, Alex was a big fan of interpreting old standards and classics, so I've included his heartfelt take on The Christmas Song, which he recorded for Chris Stamey's holiday album in the mid 80s.

1. The Ballad Of El Goodo - Big Star
2. Hannah & Gabi - The Lemonheads
3. The Nights Are Cold - Richard Hawley
4. Time Of The Season - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
5. Watch The Sunrise - Big Star
6. Violence In The Snowy Fields (Acoustic) - Dolorean
7. Sugar and Spice - Basia Bulat
8. Cold Enough To Cross - Joe Henry
9. Nightime - Big Star
10. Winter Song - The Quarter After
11. I May Never - Dropkick
12. Christmastime In The Mountains - Palace Songs
13. At My Most Beautiful - R.E.M.
14. Blue Moon (Demo) - Big Star
15. In Christ There Is No East Or West - Mavis Staples
16. This Xmas Eve - The Radar Bros.
17. Skyway - The Replacements
18. Live With The Seasons - Teenage Fanclub
19. September Gurls - Big Star
20. Knee Deep At The NPL - Camera Obscura
21. Christmas Is The Only Time - The dB's
22. Here We Are In The Years - Neil Young
23. Thank You Friends (Demo) - Big Star
24. The Christmas Song - Alex Chilton

If you're new to the music of Big Star, I highly recommend you check it out. Head on over to the music blog of my pal Lance Davis and check out his musings about Alex since his passing - a lot of fascinating information. If you've been a long-time fan of Alex, hopefully I've done it right here.

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HOLIDAY HANGOVER

We've all been there, haven't we? For as fun and festive and joyous as this season can be, it can also lead to a lot of headaches and heartaches. My new favorite scene in A Christmas Story comes right near the end - after the hysteria of Christmas morning, the bunny suit for Ralphie, a visit from the Bumpus hounds, and the family's first exposure to Chinese turkey, the Old Man and Mrs. Parker pour a glass of wine and sit and watch a beautiful snowfall. So, if you've got a few quiet moments this holiday season, this may be the mix for you - I've slowed it down and stretched it out a bit here. Hope you enjoy it.

1. Autumn In New York - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
2. Christmas In Washington - Steve Earle
3. Soukora - Ali Farka Toure & Ry Cooder
4. All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue - Over The Rhine
5. Shine - John Legend & The Roots
6. The Promise - Bruce Springsteen
7. River - Herbie Hancock with Corinne Bailey Rae
8. The Time For Loving Is Now - The Mustangs
9. The Day The Word Gets 'Round - George Harrison
10. Crazy Cool Christmas - Kermit Ruffins
11. Good Time Coming - Eddie Clearwater & Los Straightjackets
12. Home - Magnolia Mountain
13. Too Close / On My Way To Heaven - Mavis Staples
14. Christmastime Blues - Jami Shuey
15. Celtic New Year - Van Morrison

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WELCOME TO THE 2009 HOLIDAY MIXES

Is the the sixth or seventh time I've done this? I'm going to need my head examined. I figure I'm good for a few more years before I put this thing to bed. In the meantime, a few more not-so traditional holiday tunes for you. Some tension in the past several weeks as both my home PC and work laptop crashed within a few weeks of one another. I salvaged all the home desktop files (but lost the preliminary playlists) as everything was backed up, but not so lucky with my work laptop files. Which is a shame as some of my music finds were only located on that piece of equipment. Oh well, such is life. A shout out to some of the better music blogs out there (most notably the realbigrockcandymountain) that have a love for the same types of music that I do - I recovered many lost music files there.

A few quick notes in 2010: In 2009, due to space issues, the 2003, 2004, and 2009 mixes required individual downloads. Not so anymore - as box.net has increased available space, all mixes can be downloaded once again as zip file. Moving forward, I'll attempt to make all future mixes available for download as zip files. Further, you can stream all the songs through the players. The 2009 mixes include some video from an infamous holiday special that first aired a long time ago in a galaxy far, far way...

A HIGH AND LONESOME CHRISTMAS

I recently started listening to this new Seattle group known as the Maldives, and these fellas have spent a whole of time listening to The Band and Blue Rodeo and early Wilco and the quieter moments by the Old 97's. Needless to say, I'm now a big fan and their lead track off their new album kicks off this mix of mostly contemporary songs that have a country or folk 9and the occasional bluegrass or western swing) feel - there are few classic cuts and covers thrown in for good measure as well - check out Dale Ann Bradley on her take on a U2 song. Lots of firepower on this mix, but the show might be stolen by the two Pattys - Griffin and Loveless...

1. Cold November - The Maldives
2. Pretty Paper - Willie Nelson & Asleep At The Wheel
3. Darlin' (Christmas Is Coming) - Over The Rhine
4. Dark Streets Of London - The Pogues
5. Plastic Rosary (Winter 1970) - Will Quinlan & The Diviners
6. 'Cause Cheap Is How I Feel - The Cowboy Junkies
7. Winter Soldier - Jason Collett
8. A Voice From On High - The Haden Triplets
9. Here Comes The Sun - Nina Simone
10. Mary - Patty Griffin
11. Calling And Not Calling My Ex - Okkervil River
12. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Dale Ann Bradley
13. I Felt The Chill Before The Winter Came - Elvis Costello
14. Something To Hold On To At Christmas - Ron Sexsmith
15. Till The Rivers All Run Dry - Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane
16. Eldery Woman Behind The Counter... - Pearl Jam
17. Bluegrass, White Snow - Patty Loveless
18. Come On Now Inside - Izzy Stradlin & The JuJu Hounds
19. Mandolin Wind - Rod Stewart
20. Pilgrim - Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band

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A QUIET CHRISTMAS BY THE FIRE

This year's mostly acoustic affair, leaning towards some darker folk takes, and mixing in the usual assortment of classic country tunes as well as some interesting covers that tackle Prine, Modest Mouse, and...wait for it....Wham! Personal favorites on this mix include the Felice Brothers song and the demo of the Big Star classic, pulled from the recently issued (and stunning) box set Keep An Eye On The Sky. Grab a cup of hot cider and enjoy...

1. It's Almost Christmas - Chris Garneau
2. Jesus Christ (Demo) - Big Star
3. Snow Covered Mound - Ralph Stanley
4. Christmas Time - The Krayolas & Augie Meyers
5. Hello Santa Claus - Cecil Grant
6. Christmas Is Coming Soon - Blitzen Trapper
7. Goodbye England Covered In Snow - Laura Marling
8. Grey Ice Water - Sun Kil Moon
9. Last Christmas - Erlend Oye
10. Snowballs And Icicles - Brendan Canning
11. Christmas On Ward #7 - Chris Flew
12. Blue Shadows On A White Christmas Tree - Onbekende Artiest
13. Merry Christmas Darlin' - James Hand
14. Christmas Evermore - Mary Margaret O'Hara
15. Christmas Eve Can Kill You - The Everly Brothers
16. Christmas In Prison - Emmy The Great & Lightspeed Champion
17. Christmas Past - Mike Ireland
18. I Heard The Bells On Christmas - Pedro The Lion
19. All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue - Over The Rhine
20. Murder By Mistletoe - The Felice Brothers
21. Cold White Christmas - Casiotone For the Painfully Alone
22. Silent Night! Holy Night! - The Rhodes Kids
23. Be My Valentine On Christmas - Glenna Bell

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THIS WILL BE OUR YEAR

A case can be made that lots of the great 60s pop music has a seasonal feel to it (I think I just stumbled on one of the themes for my 2010 mixes). That came to mind recently as I rediscovered Odyssey and Oracle - the 1968 album by The Zombies, and proceeded to listen to it incessantly for several months. So, with that mind, one of their songs anchors this fairly mellow mix, which features a bunch of rock heavyweights, some indie stalwarts and cult heroes, and a couple of newcomers who sounds like they have been around forever (e.g., Naomi Shelton)

1. Bells of Christmas - The Beach Boys
2. Winter Song - SF Seals
3. I Dreamed I saw St. Augustine - John Doe
4. The Light That Guides You Home - Jim Cuddy
5. Brick - Ben Folds Five
6. I Am A Pilgrim - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
7. Country Disappeared - Wilco
8. Seasons (Surf Style) - Neil Halstead
9. Snowbound - Donald Fagen
10. First Of May - The Bee Gees
11. Winter On Victoria Street - The Clientele
12. Lonely Christmas - Marshall Crenshaw & The dB's
13. December Sparklers - Paul Burch
14. White As Snow - U2
15. Time Is Passing - Pete Townshend
16. 'Cross The Green Mountain - Bob Dylan
17. A Change Is Gonna Come - Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens
18. Ooh La La - Faces
19. Tomorrow Never Knows - Bruce Springsteen
20. This Will Be Our Year - The Zombies

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SOCK IT TO ME, SANTA!

Everyone knows that the greatest holiday album of all time is Atlantic Records' Soul Christmas compilation, first released in 1968 and then reissued in 1991 (this is not up for debate). And, everyone also knows that A Christmas Gift You From Phil Spector is the second greatest holiday album of all time (this is also not up for debate - and remains at #2 despite Phil's descent into madness and murder). So, the burning question remains - what is in fact the third best holiday album of all time? Elvis? The Beach Boys? Ella Fitzgerald? All worthy candidates, but the answer is simple - New Orleans native Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns take everything up about 10 notches on their 1962 effort Twas The Night Before Christmas. Bonus points for Huey as this album features a very young Dr. John. So, Huey kicks things off for a rollicking mix which includes a bit of everything quite frankly - rockabilly, country, blues, twist music, surf, Keith Richards, and some absolutely naughty tunes courtesy of Jimmy Butler, Charlie Stewart, Roosevelt Sykes, and the mighty Kay Martin. "All I want for Christmas is a little bit of music..." Truer words never sung...

1. All I Want For Christmas - Huey "Piano" Smith
2. Christmas With The Snow - Marah & The Christmas Players
3. Barefooted Little Cowboy - Little Jimmy Dickens
4. Chimney Top Twist - The Robin Sisters
5. Gotta Get Lucky For Xmas - Johnny Rabb
6. I Don't Want To Spend Christmas Without You - Claudine Longet
7. Cool, Cool Christmas - Bobby and Boobie
8. Santa's Magical Bag - The Peppermint Kandy Kids
9. Rootin' Tootin' Santa Claus - Pee Wee King
10. Holly Jolly Christmas - Old 97's
11. Trim Your Tree - Jimmy Butler
12. Merry Twist-Mas - The Marcels
13. Santa Claus Won't Come This Year - Charlie Stewart
14. Boogaloo Santa Claus - J.D. McDonald
15. Santa - Lightnin' Hopkins
16. Donde Este Santa Claus - Toni Stante
17. To Heck With Ole Santa Claus - Loretta Lynn
18. Santa's Gonne Shut 'Em Down - The Untamed Youth
19. Let Me Hang Your Stockings... - Roosevelt Sykes
20. Mr. Santa Claus - Nathaniel Mayer
21. Freedom Train - James Carr
22. Blue Grey Christmas - King Coleman
23. Santa Claus Is From The South - Benny Martin
24. The Empty Xmas Stocking - Lulu Belle & Scotty
25. Run Rudolph Run - Keith Richards
26. Crazy Santa Claus - The Debonairs
27. She's Underneath The Mistletoe Again - Antsy McClain
28. I Know What You Want For Xmas - Kay Martin And Her Bodyguards
29. Santa's Messin' With The Kid - Eddie C. Campbell

Download these songs as a zip file from this location, or stream the songs in the player below:

A VERY COLTRANE CHRISTMAS

One of my all time favorite recordings is the monumental set of John Coltrane recordings from the Village Vanguard in 1961. At the height of his powers, Coltrane and his legendary quartet (McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones) were joined by some other heavyweights (most notbaly Eric Dolphy), and proceeded to blow the roof off the Village Vanguard for five nights in early November. Coming off the heels of his "Africa / Brass Sessions" that summer, Coltrane pushed all of these players to the their limits, and although many compositions were repeated each night, the improvisation is fast and furious (and powerful) and there's little redundancy between takes. This music scared the heck out of critics back then, and within the last 10 years, folks are still a bit scared by it, but recognize the dates for what transpired, espcailly between Dolphy and Coltrane.

For this mix, I selected two cuts that definitely fall into the holiday category - Coltrane's take on Greensleeves, featuring the quartet, and very warm and wonderful take on Spiritual with Dolphy bringing the bass clarinet to the forefront as a legitimate jazz instrument. There's a slow build here, and the Coltrane cuts come near the end. Listen how the literally punch out and separate themselves from the other songs here. I threw in some vocals from some of my favorite female singers, as well as a nice father son take where Josh Haden (Spain) joins his dad Charlie on a down home take on Josh's own composition, also entitled Spiritual.

Personnel for the 1961 Village Vanguard Sessions:

John Coltrane (soprano & tenor saxophones)
Jimmy Garrison (bass)
McCoy Tyner (piano)
Elvin Jones (drums)

Guests:
Ahmed Abdul-Malik (oud)
Garvin Bushnell (oboe, contrabassoon)
Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone, bass clarinet)
Reggie Workman (bass)
Roy Haynes (drums)

1. Warm December - Julie London
2. Theme From Hockey Night In Canada
3. Snowbird - Chet Atkins
4. Noite Feliz - Forro In The Dark
5. I've Got My Love To Keep My Warm - Reinhardt & Grapelli
6. Count Your Blessings - Sonny Rollins
7. Swingin' Silent Night - Asleep At The Wheel
8. Gulf Coast Blues - Teddy Grace
9. Now At Last - Blossom Dearie
10. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Herb Alpert
11. Winter Moon - Stan Getz & Laurindo Almeida
12. Jingles - Wes Montgomery
13. Spiritual - Charlie & Josh Haden
14. Greensleeves - John Coltrane
15. Both Sides Now - Herbie Hancock
16. Bag's Groove (Christmas Eve 1954, Take 2) - Miles Davis
17. Spiritual - John Coltrane

Download the mix here as a zip file, or stream the songs in the player below: