Category: big band

Reinventing “The Only Thing Missing” with a holiday bent, Hackberry Ramblers use Zydeco to full effect in this country weeper. That’s the good stuff.

“Christmas Ain’t Christmas, New Years Ain’t New Years Without The One You Love” gets a replay despite The O’Jays’ tendency to disco their R+B.

Winterval returns us to the thrilling days of New Age syncopation with “A Long Day“. It does have some verisimilitude, cuz i’m sad too now.

Desperation reeks off “Merry Christmas I Missed You So Much“, an indie of breaking vocals from Taking Back Sunday. Now, there may be reconciliation in here, so let’s keep the swearing to a minimum.

Dennis van Aarssen sings “Christmas When You’re Here” because he has trouble with the alternative. Jazz band lightheartedness.

Love some big band swing, so let’s find out who first wanted separation in the classic “Little Jack Frost Get Lost“. Why, it was author Seger Ellis with Dixie Dons and Orchestra. I’ll keep it to this 78 and skip the other 87 versions of it.

How do we know when we’ve achieved mental equilibrium during the holidays? Admittedly, it’s an ongoing business balancing the id, ego, and superego so as to register the fewest complaints with HR, but just listen to these songs and check off your symptoms.

You do your Christmas your way, counsels Santa’s Little Helper in the rockfest “The War On Christmas“. Not sure the sides taken here, but i suspect it’s inner turmoil.

The Apoplectics tutor us on holiday coping mechanisms in “Snuggie All the Way“, a lite pop tune with side effects advisory. Smart.

We’re not manic when we’re “Psyched For Christmas (2023 Version)”. David Prince rocks pop music to tell us how happy he is… and you can too.

Also super psyched, The Little Rockers Band share “This Is How It Feels At Christmas” with uplifting kidsong pop. Just a hair’s breadth from saccharine.

Lofi ambience from The Apples in Stereo croon out “Holiday Mood” is a blissful trance. I’m succumbing….

Nearing self actualization, John Tabacco declares “Christmas and I Am Not Afraid“. Lounge pop from the late ’60s.

Feeling complete, Jenn Ashton & Chris Doskoch ask for “Nothing For Christmas“. Folk symphonic with no irony in sight. Makes me unclench.

Pushing tolerance, “Happy Whatever You’re Having” by the Therapy Sisters allows for whoever whatever whenever whyever. More upbeat jump blues.

RoadsArt resorts to instrumental backdrops with the word “Caroling” called out throughout this jazz escapade. Sets a mood.

Comedy break! Gary Gulman takes “Christmas Caroling” to task, especially ‘Jingle Bells’–as only a left-out of the suburban traditions Jewish man can do justly. Ha, figgy, ha.

Dick Van Dyke & Jane Lynch declare to the big band that “We’re Going Caroling.” He’ll be a hundred this Christmas, which means yes he’s still alive. Hooray.

Let’s get a little more proactive in this Xmas Eve spy game. We’re not just going to eyeball the man with the bag… we’re going to lay hands upon him.

Sure you can say “I Caught Santa in Our Fridge” as Keith Pendergrast caterwauls with Aussie folk. But this kidsong nabs not the great one. It only reinforces the fat stereotype.

Or you can say “I Caught Santa Claus Sniffing Cocaine” as Nick After AIs with some Motown funky-fun. Holy unholy!

The Song Trust return to take “A Picture of Santa Claus.” Folksy kidsong that makes heroes of paparazzi. The Enquirer is buying.

More AI from Mischievous Melodies slathers on the euphemism when the sleeping ‘dame’ big bands “I Caught Santa Jingling His Bells.” Naughty? Nasty!

“christmas dream” by Christina perri is a recipe for gluttony, sloth, and love. Treacly pop. But you know you want it.

“The Christmas Dream” is James Chapeskie (with Nicole Beer, Maryna Kluban, and Carolina Engering)’s escape valve against the cruel world. Notes of prog rock and Celtic, but this is New Age aspiration.

A dramatic re-singing of Quirnius’s prophecy of the birth of the Savior is handled deftly by the talented Roger Whittaker in “The Governor’s Dream.” Hymnistic showtune of swelling altitudes.

CG5’s “Christmas Dreams” are a bigger ticket, at least a big band bash of a number. It’s still love.

Speaking of counting, sheep. In Illustrations of Political Economy by Harriet Martineau (1832), the monotony of endless counting is said to occupy the mind, or at least divert the insomniac worrier from fret and allow fatigue to run its course. Since you can’t count sheep backwards (unless wolves are EATING them) like you should for your anesthesiologist, we’ll play this cultural idiom for trying to drowse.

1954’s Peggy King plays the ingenue in “Counting Sheep” this time for Christmas. Big band pop.

The Starshine Singers do the actual numbers in their “Counting Sheep” this time for the Baby King (who is not B.B. King). Kidsong with a sense of humor!

“Counting Sheep” from David Wood’s musical ‘ROCK NATIVITY’ doo wops the crooked crew to lying low. You know, in the fields.

Bing Crosby blesses us with a… song (occasionally included in Xmas albums cuz it’s from a holiday movie) that switcheroos the idea so you’ll “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep.” Same ends, but i only got about three, personally. Big band pop.

What happens when there’s a damaged gift receptacle on the mantle?!

C’mon back! The Cricketones deal with a “Little Christmas Stocking with a Hole in the Toe.” Orchestrated kidsong, like we had in the ’60s. Watch out for that ruthlessly selfless kid, though.

Poverty, am i right? “Christmas At The Old Home Place” is bluegrass from Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers (feat. Earl Barnes). Everything’s got holes in it, including stockings!

“There’s A Hole In My Christmas Stocking” bewails The Caroleer Singers and Orchestra. But this kidsong admits the sentimental value of Grandma’s heirloom precludes any present loss. Pay it forward!

The Keith Richards Orchestra (!) scats up a storm back in 1959 with “There’s a Hole in My Christmas Stocking.” Darn it!

Are you looking for trouble?

Encore! Dave & Jeanine caution you to “Put Out the Ol’ Yule Log.” It’s not just for Santa, it helps with the not burning to death thing.

Bah &The Humbugs recommend “No Smoking in the Chimney.” The Surgeon General backs up their folksy pop.

Nice amateur parody from The Dodge Family: “He Must’ve Come Down Through the Chimney.” Didn’t anyone hear him?

Traffic jams?! Desperate Band Appreciation Society recount via R+B chattiness how “I Met Santa in the Chimney.” They have a comical moment there.

Keenan McKenzie swings the big band worries with “You Can’t Lock the Chimney.” Worry much? I mean what comes in must go out and all that jazz.

Short and electronically to the point The Death Panels exhort “I’m Santa Claus.” That’s it.

The ever-scary Shylo pops “Feelings on Christmas.” Without going into detail (as pop is loath to do), the admission of being Santa slips.

Dr. Elmo plays a Scrooge in “Santa Ain’t Comin‘.” No more Ho Hos! Pop country so-called comedy.

The Glenn Crytzer Orchestra swings us back to the jolly times “Playing Santa Claus.” Gee I’d love the chance to be Kris Kringle for the day!