Santa Smokes Mistletoe! Christmas with Rotary Connection

December 23rd, 2007 by Pete

A guest post coming to you from reader & fellow funk brother # 1, Jshua…..

Happy Holidays Brothers and Sisters (or as I like to say–Happy Holy Daze….)

But I digress….

Today’s topic of discussion comes from the legendary Rotary Connection, who discovered way back in 68′ the secret behind Santa Claus’ is….

(gasp) HE SMOKES MISTLETOE!!!

Actually, it makes all of the sense in the world.

1) Living at the north pole.
2) Riding HIGH on his sleigh.
3) Leaving milk and cookies for him (aka the munchies).
4) His JOLLY behavior.

Think about it ( I mean, really think about it and tell me I’m wrong…)

Three points of interest which makes this particular song/album/and legacy of interest.

1) Sidney Barnes is the lead singer on the cut, and is also the one of the legendary songwriting partners of George Clinton and the Parliafunkadelicment Thang Inc, a huge part of the “northern soul” movement. Never mind the stuff that he did at Golden World.

2) That female voice is the legenday Minnie Ripperton and if you’re not familiar with her, you should be! Start with Come to my Garden (1970) with the Ramsey Lewis Trio as the backing band (featuring a very young Maurice White on drums).

and

3) Charles Stepney (arranger, composer and producer) - Now, if y’all don’t know about Charles, then you wouldn’t know that Charles is the secret behind Earth, Wind & Fire, period. Check out every Rotary Connection album and the first Minnie album and you’ll find out why Maurice (as EWF alumni would suggest) was the quarterback and Charles was the coach of that band until his untimely death in 76′.

But then again, never mind me….I hope you enjoy the music.

- J

Rotary Connection - Peace at Last (mp3)

Buy Peace.

Posted in Christmas, Funk | 2 Comments »

Keith Richards - Run Rudolph Run

December 11th, 2007 by Pete

Jump over to iTunes to download Keef’s re-issued 1978 single “Run Rudolph Run” (his first solo single). Just out today…

Keith Richards - Run Rudolph Run / Pressure Drop - Single

Posted in Christmas | No Comments »

The Greatness of Fairytale of New York

December 9th, 2007 by Pete

If you celebrate Christmas like me, and you haven’t even started to think about buying your first gift, worry not. You are not alone! Year after year, I let the pre-Christmas stress build like a killer Nor’easter. Not quite sure why I torture myself every year. I guess I know no other way.

But as stressful as this season can be, there’s always the music to take the edge off a little. Topping the list for me, year after year, is the Pogues classic “Fairytale of New York”. Nothing tells me it’s Christmas time like the beautiful, poetic snarl of Shane MacGowan and the sweet voice of the late Kirsty MacColl. It’s Christmas in the drunk tank, bee-otch.

The Pogues - Fairytale of New York (mp3) - from If I Should Fall from Grace with God

Here’s another great live version of the tune from Irish legend Christy Moore.

Christy Moore - Fairytale of New York (mp3) - Official Site

Check out the video, circa 1987, with Matt Dillon appearing as the cop who escorts Mr. MacGowan to the slammer.

Posted in Christmas, Irish | 1 Comment »

Ho Ho Ho it’s a Holiday Show! … The Boss & Friends

December 4th, 2007 by Pete

Between 2000 and 2004, Bruce gathered up his crew and played a series of holiday benefit shows in Asbury Park. Bruce, his buddies from the E Street Band, the Max Weinberg 7, Southside Johnny, Bobby Bandiera and others have all come together to raise money for local charities.

There have been some gems, and this is clearly one of them. There’s an intimate and cozy feel to the gig, as Bruce and his buddies rock out the small Convention Hall in Asbury Park.

Some random thoughts about this show:

  • “Lucky Town” sounds fresh and alive with a full horn section.
  • An amazing “E Street Shuffle”! Listen as Bruce teases the crowd beforehand: “Shhh! We gotta tune up.” Then… magic ensues.
  • Listen, Patti is a very talented musician and singer. But when she sings with her heavy vibrato, I always picture someone behind her shaking her by the shoulders.
  • “Blue Christmas” leans more toward Hank Williams than Elvis.
  • “My City of Ruins” makes its live debut. Many don’t know that the song was written pre-9/11 - dedicated to Asbury Park.
  • It doesn’t get much better than this.

Here are the charities & organizations mentioned by Bruce during the show.

The Epiphany House - www.epiphanyhouse.org - Epiphany House is committed to promoting recovery and self-sufficiency for chemically dependent women with children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The Center - www.thecenterinap.com - Their mission is to be of personal service to those in the community affected by HIV disease. Both those actually living with the virus, as well as their family, friends, and caregivers.
Save Tillie - - www.savetillie.com - An all volunteer organization comprised of 1,000 friends of Asbury Park. Founded in July of 1998, their original goal of saving the Palace’s iconic Tillie image expanded in 1999 to an attempt to save the entire Palace.
Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce - www.asburyparkchamber.com

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Bruce Springsteen, The Max Weinberg 7 & Friends
December 17, 2000
Convention Hall
Asbury Park, New Jersey

Jingle Bells
For You
Blue Christmas
Powerhouse
Run Run Rudolph (Jimmy Vivino, vocals)
Lucky Town
The E Street Shuffle/Move On Up
Kitty’s Back
Rose (Patti Scialfa, vocals)
As Long As I Can Be With You (Patti Scialfa, vocals)
This Time It’s For Real (Southside Johnny, vocals)
Good Is Gone (Southside Johnny, vocals)
All I Needed Was You (Southside Johnny, vocals)

Shine Silently (Nils Lofgren, vocals)
Merry Christmas Baby
So Young And In Love
Roll Of The Dice
Bobby Jean
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
My City Of Ruins
I Don’t Wanna Go Home (Southside Johnny, vocals)
Rosalita
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

===========

BUY: Magic (Springsteen) | The Best of Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes | Play It as It Lays (Patti Scialfa) | The Max Weinberg 7 | Ultimate Collection (Nils Lofgren)

Posted in Christmas, The Boss | 14 Comments »

Brett Dennen’s Holiday Tune

December 3rd, 2007 by Pete

Not your typical happy-go-lucky holiday tune. Rather, one that takes a gander at the world today, and unapologetically tells it like it is. This kid is refreshing.

Brett Dennen - The Holidays Are Here (and We’re Still at War) [mp3]

Links: Buy his latest, So Much More | Official Site | MySpace

Posted in Christmas, Folk | 2 Comments »

A Temptations Christmas

December 21st, 2006 by Pete

temptations

I watched my 3 year old watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer tonight for the very first time. I was thrown into a time machine and got a bit nostalgic along the way. So suffice it to say that the Christmas spirit grabbed a hold of me tonight.

I played this for my daughters before they went off to bed…

The Temptations: Silent Night (mp3) - from The Best of the Temptations Christmas

For some additional Christmas music post action…

Update: Wanna hear the Boss sing “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” from an ALS benefit show last Saturday night?

Posted in Christmas, Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »

Christmas with Cockburn

December 22nd, 2005 by Pete

Since we’re on the final stretch to Christmas, I thought I would sneak out a few of my essential tunes courtesy of my favorite Canadian, Bruce Cockburn. In 1994, the Columbia Records Radio Hour broadcast Christmas with Cockburn, which featured Bruce with special guest Nancy Griffith. I had my cassette deck locked and loaded.

These are the songs that make me forget about the almighty dollar and the overall stress of the holidays, and actually get me into the Christmas spirit.

Christmas with Cockburn:

Shepherds
Deer Dancing on a Broken Mirror
I�m Gonna Fly Someday
One Day I Walk / Intro to Huron Carol
Huron Carol
Mary Had a Baby

This isn’t available anywhere, but you can buy Bruce�s Christmas album, or any other of his excellent albums spanning more than 30 years.

Posted in Christmas | No Comments »

Christmas at IckMusic

December 12th, 2005 by Pete

Here’s my first batch of extra special Christmas music selections to carry you through this holiday season.

Hands down my favorite Christmas song and my favorite performance of the song:

  • The Temptations: Silent Night (mp3) - buy

A twisted instant Christmas classic from Grandaddy:

  • Grandaddy: Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland - buy

A cool radio excerpt of Coldplay:

  • Coldplay: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (mp3) - buy

Posted in Christmas | 2 Comments »

Happy Merry Christmas Funtime

December 23rd, 2004 by Pete

For a light-hearted approach to Christmas music, we have to return to Grandaddy, with their Christmas classic, Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland. Here’s an excerpt:

in the meadow we can build a snowman
and pretend that he is Alan Parsons
he’ll say have you listened to my new band
we’ll say no but we really like that one song
it goes ‘time keeps flowing like a river’

This song was part of a 2000 Christmas compilation released only in the UK: It’s a Cool Cool Christmas.
Man I love these guys.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, etc. to everybody!

Posted in Christmas, Indie | No Comments »