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I recently came across this funky version of "Auld Lang Syne" by an outfit called Husky Team, who made a mash-up of sorts with Booker T & the MGs' "Green Onions." Here's to a safe, happy and sublime 2012 to all you readers of this humble blog. Hope your new year is filled with love, peace, and chicken grease.
When my daughter was a tyke, every year we'd curl up on the couch and watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Now she has a daughter of her own. That's Isabella Jewell Bowman, celebrating her first Christmas. I can't wait to watch "Charlie Brown Christmas" with her. Here's my favorite song from Vince Guaraldi's great soundtrack, this version by Shelby Lynne. Have a sublime Christmas everyone. Thanks for reading and listening.
Download 03 Christmas Time Is Here
Etta James is reportedly on her death bed so I'm reprising a song from a previous year's countdown. She had a hard knock life, but kept getting up and making strong and soulful music. There haven't been many voices like hers and there won't be many to come. Here's my favorite song from her 1998 Christmas album. God bless you, Miss Etta.
More from the small world file: back in the mid-'90s, my dear friend Davis Sprinkle (yes, that's really his name) introduced me to an old friend of his, a New Yorker named John Rynski. Turns out John had been part of the Kid Creole & the Coconuts circle back in the '80s. John is a brilliant photographer and he documented the band during its heyday. John dabbles in music himself (that's him holding the skeleton) and he put together this project, which involves many KC veterans. Enjoy!
I imagine Christmas at the McGarrigle household was quite the lively affair, especially when they gathered 'round the piano with Kate's kids, Martha and Rufus Wainwright. Here's a nice song featuring Rufus. Hard to believe it's been almost two years since Kate passed away.
Download 02 Spotlight On Christmas
My pal Rob Meurer (see previous post) is a fellow music hound and e-mails a daily song to whoever wants to be on his list. (It's called Tuna Day. Get it? Tune-a-Day. Yes, he's kind of corny.) He turned me on to this amazing song from 1929 by the Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers. As Rob put it, it's "some kind of wonderful hybrid of early jazz and country spiritual." (If you'd like to be on Rob's list, shoot me an e-mail and I'll forward your address to him.)
02 Christ Was Born On Christmas Morn
From the small world file: Several years ago we began attending a Unitarian church in Studio City where I met Rob Meurer, a fine musician who often lends his talents to services. Turns out Rob is from San Antonio! He's been a longtime songwriting partner of Christopher Cross and in recent years has been writing musicals with Berton Averre, formerly of The Knack. A few years ago, Rob produced and performed this nice Christmas album, playing all the parts on a Synclavier synthesizer. It's available on iTunes and from CD Baby.
02 Angels We Have Heard On High
I didn't originally plan on including anything from this album on the countdown, but with the death this week of the great Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora, I decided to dig out this gem. RIP, Cesaria.
I know nothing about The Giving Tree Band, except they're an indie folk-rock group from Chicago led by brothers Todd and Eric Fink and they had the good taste to team up with the eclectic Nellie McKay on a couple of Christmas tunes.
I neglected to make note of the release earlier this year of "Tipsy Topsy Turvy," the latest album from my San Antonio homeboys, The Krayolas. Thank goodness they included a holiday song, so here you go, I'm making up for an unintentional oversight.