Category: country

On the other hand, Santa has often been seen as resistant to the system.

Arlo Guthrie–many moons ago–interrupted his poignant melodic question of ‘why do these guys beat on us guys?’ to ask about the similarities between Papa Noel and the counter culture. Reminisce with “The Pause of Mr. Claus.”

Old twangy country from Linda Cassady asks “Is Santa Claus a Hippie?” out of childish insouciance. She would still love him though (even though the definitive answer is No).

Caleb Hawley modernizes his country to folk-blues-rock with his “Santa’s Just a Hippie with a Beard.” This may be a case of mistaken identity–it might just be some high drunk. Check out the jazzy scat on that scruffy singer.

The Bellamy Brothers followed up their ‘hit’ ‘Old Hippie’ with a sequel or two, one being a holiday recycling “Old Hippie Christmas.” This is more a state of mind which only mentions North Pole’s Fatso, but it’s a pleasant guitar-ination.

The cool song all the kids would have been listening back then would have been “Happy, Hairy, Hippie Santa Claus” by Rocki Lane and the Gross Group. This is a goof on the groove of the time, cashing in on counter culture like Laugh-In did.

The last word on the topic comes from America’s beloved hillbillies Homer and Jethro with the exact same syllogism: 1968’s “Santa Claus the Original Hippie.”

Some elves are bigger AND better. “Lester the Christmas Elf” is pretty confident for a subordinate to Claus. Roger Eydenberg picks and grins through this hee haw holiday exhortation. Santa’s lucky to know a swell guy like this.

Amping up the country swing to rockabilly levels, Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks lecture the elves how to make a million toys, especially that one elf, McGurkin. “Santa’s Workshop” rocks, little ones. Two step while you work, boys.

Full on country is laid back John Winters focusing on the sweetest little fella, “Little Painter Pete.” Why do i get the feeling that our old intolerant nation used to be more accepting of the gays if they were Christmas-oriented?

 

Dang, that felt good! Celebrating the men (and women) who deliver–especially around the holidays! Let’s do some more! Roll on!

Lowell Shyette makes “Christmas Truckin’ Time” sound like a down home curse word. His modern country singing features a real thick drawl, and his guitar pickin’ feels like fast traffic. Some fun orchestration here.

Two steppin’ time with David Sexton, feeling all giddy ’cause he’s Haulin’ Mistletoe.” This barn burner should get your bootheels scootin’. Pucker up, sweetie.

Just as mirthfully, comes Red Simpson (again) “Truckin’ Trees for Christmas.” It’s a simple, but magical melody,,, fun for the whole family.

Now a good truckin’ song, a fair country song, and maybe one or two Christmas songs ought to have a long narrated story about crushed dreams melted away by a miracle of human spirit (cf. ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ if it were a folk ballad).

So, you’d better sit down within the range of a box of tissues…

Dean Wilt gives it the old country try with “Santa and the Trucker.” After an NDE, a trucker experiences the love of Christmas with Santa’s magic. Bippety boppety boo. But–he owes the big man a favor…. (A better, albeit with more singing, version of the boy/daddy dilemma is by Red Simpson.)

In fact, let’s let Red Simspon preach his “The Old Christmas Truck” about a hobo trying to truck toys to the mountainous orphanage… does he die? Is he Jesus? Or–?

The king of kings of winter weepies has to be Red Sovine singing about that crippled kid trucker orphan “Teddy Bear” from 1970. This was a hit in its own way, revisited by Diana Williams six years later with “Teddy Bear’s Last Ride” revealing Mama’s side of the story after… after… gulp  –What! the Kleenex is all gone? Cruel, cruel Christmas carol!

Wait–what kind of truck might Santa pilot?

Keith Harling rocks his country song 1990s style to explain “Santa’s Got a Semi.” Beep beep bye-bye. And if you’re not sure what kind of Saint we got here, his trucks got ‘a star on the hood.’ Just so’s you know.

Lady country counterpart Lisa Layne adds some bouncy boogie boogie piano for her “Santa Drives an Eighteen Wheeler.” She hollers like it’s the night before–!

Richie McDonald tries an updated rockin’ country tune, a hootin’ hollerin’ hoedown of a tale: “Peterbilt Sleigh“–but Santa’s riding shotgun here.

Where’s a twangy fan of real cowboy country s’posed to turn? Lowell Shyette founded proto punk band Little Boy Blues back in the ’60s, then became a Vietnam vet and exhorted America with tunes like ‘Ronald Reagan Mr. President’ and ‘God Bless John Wayne.’ So who better than to deliver authentic country in the form of “Santa Drives a Peterbilt”? Some of you will shake your head. [Spoiler: Santa’s CB handle is Merry Christmas Ho Ho Ho!]

At least one (Christian) singer recognizes the early call for observance of the reason for the season. Cliff Richard sings earnestly about “November Night” signaling all wise men to camel up.

Moslty, November has the bad rap of being TOO EARLY!

Songs in general include Paul and Storm’s “The Way-Too-Early Christmas Song.” It’s soothingly bluesy, like they’re not really mad about it. Despite the unholy fracas in the tale of the tune.

Enna Chow sings (quietly) about how “It’s Way Too Early for Christmas Carols.” It’s cool girl with a guitar pretty to listen to. She doesn’t have much to say beyond the title.

Leading the titular charge is Strangeday with a bouncy rocker “Christmas in November.” They appreciate the spirit at least. And allow for an October start… wait, that’s sarcastic?

Christmas too early may displace other observances. This is a thing. It has inspired songs. The Punters sing about “Xmas in November” disrespecting veterans. (It’s Canadian so that musses up Remembrance Day, similar to our own Veterans’ Day.)

An odd Bob Cratchit entry is Royal Bustards singing “Last Day of November (A Christmas Song)” about standing up to unholy bosses and being jobless just before the holidays. Cold bummer.

Okay, haters, listen up. Putting up your Christmas tree too early may have perfectly good reasons. Like Little Jimmy is dying, you bastards! Let Elton Britt, tell you why he’s having a 1963 “Christmas in November.” Boo ho ho hoo.

Here’s why i started the search for nativity periodicity. Unavailable commercially, but downloadable (for free) Bah and the Humbugs may be the premier satiric Christmas rock band (so it says on their website). As such you ought to listen to the prolonged parable of “Christmas in April.” It will lift your spirits, then spin them about, perhaps crashing into furniture before ending up in a heap behind the potted ferns.

Christmas mice, rats… hmm, what else in the rodent line?

Oh yeah… chipmunks. Feh.

Not a fan of Christmas chipmunks. Not. I’ll let Bob Rivers make what fun he can with “The Twisted Chipmunk Song” paired with “Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire.”

What else…

The Caroleer Singers and Orchestra tootle out “A Squirrel’s Christmas Wish” as a PG version of the Over the Hedge character. It’s catchy. Squirrely even.

Winding up the most successful of the mammalian orders is “Earl the Squirrel,” an industrious winter wonder as sung by our friends to the North The Moffats. Nice one, kids.