• Friday Five

    The Friday Five: December 23, 2011

    Friday Five

    Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

    The Five:

    “Santa Claus” by Throwing Muses (from, Just Can’t Get Enough: New Wave Xmas, 1996)

    This does not bode well. Here we are at the start of the final holiday themed Friday Five, and iTunes shuffles up the angst ridden in my library.

    “It Must’ve Been Ol’ Santa Claus” by Harry Connick, Jr. (from, When My Heart Finds Christmas,1993)

    Okay, this is a little bit better. Before Bublé came along, ol’ Harry was the crooner’s only hope. Which, of course, mandated that he release a holiday record every other year. This one, his first, was not awful.

    “Last Christmas” by Wham! (from Music From the Edge of Heaven, 1986)

    Somewhere in Manhattan, Jason Hare’s ears just perked up.

    “Santa’s Beard” by The Beach Boys (from The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas, 1987)

    I don’t care for this song, nope. Not at all. See Also: Fuck Mike Love.

    “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love (from A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector, 1963)

    Ok, I cheated. I broke the cardinal rule of the Friday Five. I purposely played this track. I did it, however, for a good reason: to remind all you good boys and girls to watch Late Night With David Letterman tonight to see Darlene Love perform her holiday classic. It has become a long standing tradition in the Parr household, and it really just isn’t Christmas until we sit down at that late hour to watch Ms. Love perform my favorite Christmas tune.

    And with that, we conclude 2011’s holiday Five. I’d like to take a minute to thank every one of you that continue to support the Friday Five, and wish each of you a very merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and a joyous new year.

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: December 9, 2011

    Friday Five

    Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

    The Five:

    Winter Wonderland” by Peggy Lee (from Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, 1996)

    This is a positively swinging take on the holiday classic. A secret Santa dropped this under my Christmas tree last week and it has been in heavy rotation ever since.

    Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)” by The Ramones (from The Big ’80s Christmas, 2001)

    YES!

    “What Can You Get a Wookie for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)” by Meco (from Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album, 1980)

    Double YES! This song couldn’t be more awful if it were sung by young Bon Jovi. (For those not in the know, the single “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas” was, in fact, sung by a teenaged Jon Bon. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.) I was actually listening to this song before I started the Friday Five, and had posed the question on Facebook. My friend responded with “a Flobee.”

    Christmas Time Is Here” by Steve Vai (from Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas, 1997)

    This sounds exactly like what you would think it does. Imagine “For the Love of God” with a holiday slant. Oh so dramatic! I can see Vai’s contorted “O” face as he laid this down. Damn, I kind of feel dirty now.

    White Christmas” by Bing Crosby (from The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas, 1987)

    What better to close out this Holiday-themed Friday Five than with a classic from the indisputable King of Holiday croon.

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Friday Five

    The Friday Five: December 2, 2011

    Friday Five

    Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.

    The Five:

    Being that it is December, I’m going to start shuffling exclusively through my holiday tunes!

    “Rexroth’s Daughter” by Winterbloom (from Winterbloom: Traditions Rearranged, 2009)

    I’m not certain how this qualifies as a Holiday record. Winterbloom was a one-off collaboration between singer/songwriters Natalia Zukerman, Antje Duvekot, Meg Hutchinson, and Anne Heaton. Apparently, this is a cover of a Joan Baez tune about poet Kenneth Rexroth’s daughter. Again, I’m not certain how this qualifies as a Holiday record. Next!

    “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo (Malibu remix)” by Billy May (from Merry Mixmas: Christmas Classics Remixed, 2005)

    Did he just say Halle Berry? What is this! I’m going to go out on a limb and say the only reason this is in my library is for the remix of “All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth).”

    “White Christmas” by Tommy Emmanuel (from All I Want for Christmas, 2011)

    This is the most recent — and most welcome — addition to my Christmas music library.

    “White Christmas” by Darlene Love (from A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector, 1963)

    It’s a toss up between A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector and A Charlie Brown Christmas for the nod as my favorite Christmas record. I can, and do, listen to either album multiple times over the holiday season without any hesitation. I’d have to say it is a tie!

    “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by Michael Bublé (from, Christmas, 2011)

    Ah, Michael Bublé … the cougar’s Justin Bieber. I’ll cop to having this at my wife’s request. Wait, does that mean my wife is a cougar? Crap.

    What’s on your shuffle today?

  • Christmas

    Late Night Christmas

    With things being as hectic as can be in my household, it’s the little things that bring home the holiday spirit. Last night, after spending some time shopping with my wife, we collapsed into the couch and flipped on Letterman just in time to catch Darlene Love perform her classic “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

    Merry Christmas to you and yours.

  • Christmas

    Christmas with Bruce Cockburn (or in my case, a remedy for the Holiday Blues)

    How in the holy frijoles is it December already? And why do I get the same stressed, panicked feeling every year? And why do I harbor such resentment against those who get their Christmas shopping done early (or prance gaily around their yards stringing up their lights the day after Thanksgiving)?

    *deep breath*

    The truth is, when I put myself in the mindset of how much I enjoyed the holidays as a kid, I can actually get some of those warm, good time-y feelings back. And having two little kids adds to the fun too. But man oh man, the stress returns every year, as sure as the commercials.

    Music, of course, is the key to bringing back some of that positive holiday energy. Since 1994, this collection of tunes has steered the way (or the sleigh, heh). I taped this special off the radio that holiday season. I’ve said this all before, but Bruce Cockburn is a warm, comforting musical presence in my life, and listening to him sing these great songs and play the guitar like only he can – well – it’s better than a fridge full of nog.

    Now, Nanci Griffith joins Bruce here, and sings some songs of her own (“Wexford Carol”, “Grafton Street”, “Going Back to Georgia”, etc.). But it’s the Bruce tunes that resonate with me: “Shepherds” opens the show, and has always been a song that pops into my head throughout the year, for some reason: “Glooooooria, in the hiiiighest.” I’m not heavy into the religion, mind you, but when Bruce sings, I’m a believer; “Deer Dancing Around a Broken Mirror”, a spirited and lush instrumental tune; “Huron Carol”, a song written in the 1600’s by a Jesuit missionary to the Huron Indians, and sung in the Huron language. Bruce gives a wonderful introduction, and reads the English translation beforehand; and of course, two favorites of mine: “I’m Gonna Fly Someday” and “One Day I Walk”. Sublime.

    Enjoy. And hey, happy holidays, eh? Oh, and always a reminder for you fellow Yanks that haven’t heard of Bruce from the great white north – it’s CO-Burn. Co sounding like So. Ho ho ho.

    “Christmas with Cockburn” (ZIP of mp3’s)
    The Columbia Records Radio Hour, 1994

    Intro
    Shepherds
    Wexford Carol (Nanci Griffith)
    Brave Companion of the Road (NG)
    Deer Dancing Around a Broken Mirror
    I’m Gonna Fly Someday
    Grafton Street (NG)
    Going Back to Georgia (NG)
    One Day I Walk / Intro to Huron Carol
    Huron Carol
    Mary Had a Baby

  • Christmas

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

    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 Housewww.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 Centerwww.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 Commercewww.asburyparkchamber.com

    ===========

    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)

  • Christmas

    Christmas with Cockburn

    [See this 2008 post for the show.]

    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.