Year-round Yuletide oddities
Pink Floyd’s single became the band’s first hit in the United States… reached No. 10 in Cash Box magazine… No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100… noted for its unusual 7/4–4/4 time signature, and the tape loop of money-related sound effects.
Despite the obvious tie in to Xmas shopping, Mike Wallace makes a merry masterpiece with “Christmas Money.” He’s gifted.
Lou Reed’s journey of seediness peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts… in the United States, RCA released the single using an edited version of the song without the reference to oral sex… in the UK, the reference slipped past the censors, who were apparently unfamiliar with the term ‘giving head’… the term ‘colored girls’ was also an issue in the US and RCA provided radio stations with a version in which it was edited out.
The Blenders get pretty damn funny with their “Sleigh Ride.” And a cappella, too. Damn.
John Lennon’s introspective wandering was released on the Imagine album in 1971… not released as a single until November 1985, five years after Lennon’s murder, and (four-and-a-half years after Roxy Music’s cover hit number one)… the single reached number 65 in the UK charts… in the United States, the single reached number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100… also peaked at number 22 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.
Let’s give Duncan G and Brian the benefit of doubt here taking an odd hit and making it high concept about a regular guy apologizing to St. Nick for his bad roof conditions in their “Careless Guy.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_miZ7f-dNbQ
Jethro Tull’s hit was never a single, though its eponymous album was their first American Top 10 album… reached number seven.
Make room for Bob Rivers with a down and dirty expose of store Santa work conditions–“Aquaclaus.”
The opening track on the Rolling Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet charted only up to #10 on the US Billboard rock listing… #2 in Finland… Rolling Stone magazine placed it at number 32 in its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
Rolling Stones gather little mock, but juggernauts must be teased at times.
Balderdash and Humbug sub Santa for Satan with “Sympathy for Santa.” Writes itself, dunnit?
This avatar of punk-metal originally appeared on the Beatles’ so-called White Album… a product of McCartney’s attempt to create a sound as loud and dirty as possible… Rolling Stone magazine ranked it 52nd on its list of the 100 Greatest Beatles songs. (So much for inspiration.)
Kris Sciba delivers a plugged-in slow-moving “Helter Santa.” I dig this.
But i dig THIS more: cutbacknj has the same “Helter Skelter (Christmas Parody)” with bells and whistles. Psychedelic.
Jimi Hendrix’s second record single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience hit in several countries… UK Official Singles Chart at #3, Us Billboard Hot 100 at #65… #7 in Austria and Norway charts… (it was many people’s first exposure to Hendrix’s psychedelic rock sound)… inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame… included on lists of the greatest guitar songs, including at number two by Rolling Stone and number one by Q magazine.
ApologetiX has got this with “Excuse Me, Pal, It’s Christmastime.” Boys can PLAY.
Give Bob Rivers some space for his “Holiday (‘Scuse Me I’ve Got Gifts to Buy).” It’s quite hectic.
Strawberry Alarm Clock reached the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 with this single… sixteen weeks on the charts… gold plated by RIAA…. failed to break into the UK Singles Chart.
The ’60s Invasion keeps double entendre drug rock alive with “Incense and Chia Pets” dedicated to stocking stuffer nonsense gifts. Love ’em.
The Kingston Trio championed this song, but The Youngbloods made it a minor Hot 100, peaking at #62 and reaching #37 on the US adult contemporary chart… sales increased again when it was used in a radio public service announcement for the National Conference of Christians and Jews… the most-remembered version was a re-release in 1969, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The ’60s Invasion inventory Xmas traditions to this tune resulting in “Come on People (Have a Merry Christmas).” It does the job.
The Rolling Sones’ wry indictment of valium overuse by oppressed housewives first appeared as the opening track to the United Kingdom version of their 1966 album Aftermath. It was released as a single in the United States and peaked at #8 on the Billboard Singles Charts in 1966.
Send up the drug references! Balderdash & Humbug give voice to the overworked elves with “Santa’s Little Helpers.” Won’t you care?