Year-round Yuletide oddities
Cream’s first and highest charting American single… one of the most popular singles of the year… a modest chart hit in the UK… several rock journals have placed the song on their greatest song lists, such as Rolling Stone, Q magazine, and VH1… The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it on its list of the ‘500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.’
It’s prophetic that ApologetiX would spin this mind melter into “Some Sign from Above.” Whoa.
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.
Sam and Dave dropped the most successful Stax Records single to date upon its release… the single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart… number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States… number two in Canada… awarded the 1968 Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental.
What’s the funny hook for Christmas on soul? Follow the Mistletones to their buddy, “Snowman.” Yeah, you saw that coming.
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?
This Paul Simon song is a bugbear for vinyl collectors. Originally released in the Paul Simon Songbook only in the UK, it was later tacked onto The Leaves That are Green with Garfunkle. Station samples were pressed in red with mono on on side and stereo on the other. The single charted to #3 in the Billboard Hot 100. It was my high school girlfriend’s signature song.
The following parody is not exactly holiday themed, but it is seasonal. And Simon and Garfunkle bits are hard to come by. So there. “Polar Bear Anthem” chronicles the wacky antics of those who jump into sub-zero December waters. Thanks, Balderdash & Humbug!
This quintessential Bob Dylan number first appeared on his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde… the 1976 single is the live version where he’d worked out the timing better concurrent with Hard Rain… never charted, although some of the later covers did well.
Anti-Cool goes the distance for “Stuck Inside the North Pole Blues.”
Shorty Long’s Motown number got medley-ized with ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’ to make Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels chart busters… peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
“Santa with the Red Suit” from The ’60s Invasion describes our saint of gifts quite well.
The Outsiders worked up a major hit out of garage rock…. reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100… ranked as the 42nd biggest American hit of 1966.
The ’60s Invasion have twisted it into an ode to present shaking in “Mom Won’t Let me.”
The Yardbirds dropped Eric Clapton and scored a top ten hit here both USA and UK… may have ‘introduced’ Indian sitar-sound to Invasion rock… recorded several times.
The 60’s Invasion worries about Mr. N. Pole’s burden with “Sleigh Full of Toys.”
The Standells’ first major hit single landed on the Cash Box charts and peaked at #8… reached #11 on the Billboard singles charts… dedicated to Boston’s Charles River, the song is beloved by the city of Boston and its sports fans… oddly the song first became a hit in the state of Florida.
The ’60s Invasion take us to Grandma’s house because “I Love to Go to Grandma’s House.” More pollution reference?!