The Indelicates create a little play in “The Plaza Ballroom, Manchester, Christmas Eve, 1956.” If you’re not sure what this interchange has to do with the olden days, try their spoken introduction about the raw beginnings of the discotheque and who made them possible. History you should know. A showtune epic.
Christmas Countdown: 1957
Ampersound goes for meaningful with “Christmas 1957,” but pushes the haunted/psychedelia a slosh too far and winds up lost. Still haunts me, though.
Christmas Countdown: 1958
Not sure where Hard Science is going with their modern electronica, but the child-preaching in front of the heavy beat gets my attention. How this mash-up becomes “Christmas, 1958” i will leave to my betters to discern.
Christmas Countdown: 1959
The Continental Drifters ballad hard on Mama and Daddy whose farm failed and ran them into the ground. But the good times are encapsulated when his brother saw his first TV, It was the Christmas of 1959 and they families up for a few. “Daddy Just Wants It to Rain” is the American horror story of working hard, not mattering, and being forgotten. This American rock should help fix some of that. But, gee….
Mom and Dad in an unnamed singer’s “Christmas in Three-Quarter Time” are doing better. With all their snuggliness and kisses and icy-slow country music, they enjoy still driving the car made in ’59.
Kent Goodson & Michael Panasuk also recall a good time around “Christmas 1959.” boogie woogie (but slow, for the old folks). Brenda Lee, the King, Jerry Lee, they were all there!
Christmas Countdown: 1961
Christmas Countdown: 1962
Bob Tupper’s recollection of 1962 begins folk gently on the way to “Grandma’s House for Dinner.” Then–surprise–it mystically rocks pop music to a transcendent experience. As an adult he realizes/relishes its perfection. You WISH your Christmas was this fulfilling.
Christmas Countdown: 1963
“My Violent Daydream” by Swivel Stick is the morose letter to the loved one who ghosted on the date in question. Semi-metal with narrated interruptions. Angry whimsy.
Mad time traveling from Mike Viola’s unplugged beat rock “Snow Face” imagines When yesterday’s tomorrow it’s 1963, My mom’s Christmas shopping and there’s plenty of parking. A trippy clasp from the past.
When Bryan Dallas rockabillies “All I Want for Christmas is a Cadillac” it’s gotta be a ‘Sixty-three (or ’64). Skidoo.
The first “The Beatles’ Christmas Record (1963)” recounts their history a bit, but mixes wacky and tacky joyously. (Or would you rather indulge in the clever parody “1963 TV’s Kyle Fan Club Christmas Record” from TV’s Kyle? That’s why!)
Christmas Countdown: 1964
Santa was delayed back in 1964, according to Dr. BLT in “Santa Got Stuck in Saskatchewan.” Poor fool, if only he’d followed this rockingly instructive tune, he’d not been so lost.
“Another Beatles’ Christmas Record (1964)” is largely a thank you for this (buying the book) a thank you for that (seeing the film) with only a tad wee bit o’ singing. Those airport receptions knocked us out, man! is a sample of the great words. Yet i dunno why Beatle peadles never caught on.
Christmas Countdown: 1965
The Seething Coast gets antic with a rap-like folk diatribe “Tinker’s Blues” which brings out some thinking, including Sometimes I think of Christmas time in 1965. This may be a Viet Nam riff, but also a groovy ditty.
“The Beatles’ Third Christmas Record” careens through Israel, all-white policy, success, Vietnam, copyright infringement, and the weather. A candid snapshot of the time.
WyGuy raps out the loss of spirituality for the holiday in “Mean Spirited” by alluding to several movies/specials, including the Charlie Brown one Way back three years after the Christmas of 1962. Do the math, i guess.
Allan Sherman (remember him?) tells it like it makes you itch with newsfed laughter in “Have Yourself a Sixties Merry Christmas.” But he means 1965. He says so. Schlocky lounge comedy, but that was king back then. (Aka ‘Draft Cards Burning on an Open Fire.’)
Christmas Countdown: 1960s
Christmas in the ’60s was fine maintains Fay Lovsky in “Christmas was a Friend of Mine.” Odd brassy slow-mo pop. Nick & Simon mainstream it. Not as good.
“My Christmas is Better Than Yours” is the war of the ’80s ‘gainst the ’60s. Don’t Call Me Ishmael seems to prefer the later (Instagram?!) but a ding dong daddy case is made for the old timey. Big band pop.