Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

Holiday music need not be same old, same old - list at bottom of article.

http://www.pe.com/entertainment/stor...4.167d458.html

06:06 PM PST on Thursday, December 13, 2007

By TODD VANDERWERFF
The Press-Enterprise

Looking for some new (old) holiday sounds? Two of the Internet's savviest holiday music collectors give their advice.

Ernest Haynes runs Ernie Not Bert (http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com), which shares numerous out-of-print Christmas albums from the 1950s and '60s. His recommendations run the gamut.

"Compilation-wise, you aren't going to do better than Capitol's Ultra-lounge Christmas compilations, especially the first two. Those are what re-introduced people to the great music from the '50s and '60s," Haynes said. "Single artist records that I enjoy would be that original Elvis Christmas album, either of the Brian Setzer Christmas CDs, almost anything Motown, The Ventures Christmas album. I can go on and on."

Haynes also recommends the Esquivel Christmas CD and holiday offerings from The Beach Boys and Ira Ironstrings. As for other compilations, he says most of the record label Rhino's sets are good and also applauds the John Waters Christmas CD.

"There are a ton of independent labels putting out Christmas collections every year that I'd love to recommend, but I don't have time or money to get them all, but most, if not all, are worthy of investigation," he says.

Hunter Peters compiles the "Why Fidelity" podcast (http://whyfidelity.blogspot.com) and runs Senses Working Overtime (http://senses.typepad.com). He provided a comprehensive list of things to look out for, whether in the CD store or online.

"There are some songs that are simply perfect and almost no matter who performs them they sound right," he says. " 'The Christmas Song,' 'Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow,' 'Silver Bells,' 'White Christmas,' 'Sleigh Ride,' 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,' 'Snowfall,' 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,' 'Happy Holidays,' 'We Need a Little Christmas.' These are all cliché picks but they simply are that good."

He also says "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman" get a bad rap as "kids" songs. "They're brilliant holiday pop."

He's also got albums to keep an eye out for.

"Once you've gotten your Bing (Crosby), Frank (Sinatra), Nat (King Cole), Andy (Williams) and Perry (Como) discs, start looking for anything out there from Fred Waring (especially 'Now Is the Caroling Season' and 'Christmas Magic'), Ray Conniff, The Caroleers ... , The Mike Sammes Singers, Billy Vaughn, The Voices of Walter Schumann, 'Merry Mancini Christmas' by Henry Mancini, and The Harry Simeone Chorale's 'Little Drummer Boy,' " he says. "Pretty much anything your parents (or grandparents) had in their record collection when you were a kid but you thought was totally uncool when you were a teen is ripe for yuletide rediscovery."

He also recommends recent releases "One More Drifter in the Snow" by Aimee Mann, "My Holiday" by Mindy Smith, "Snow Angels" by Over the Rhine and "Christmas Kind of Town" by Marah.

The No-Christmas Zone

It can be hard to find seasonal songs worth listening to if you don't celebrate Christmas. Fortunately, there are a handful of great Hanukkah songs and even more good songs that are just about the winter in general. Here's a quick sampling. All of these are easily available on CD or from iTunes.

"Winter Wonderland" by The Ramsey Lewis Trio: Bouncy piano and light drums highlight this jazzy take on the story of lovers out walking in the snow.

"Frosty the Snowman" by The Ronettes: Phil Spector's production turns the tale of a magical snowman into girl-group heaven. Despite the animated special, the song itself never mentions Christmas.

"Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" by the Eddie Higgins Trio: A modern successor to Ramsey Lewis' fun jazz, the trio turns this ode to staying indoors when it's cold outside into a bright bounce.

"Song for a Winter's Night" by Gordon Lightfoot: What's lonelier than being alone on a cold winter's night? Lightfoot's sad, sad song has been covered by many, most notably Sarah McLachlan.

"Hanukkah O Hanukkah" by Barenaked Ladies: There aren't a ton of Hanukkah songs, but the Canadian band has three wry and loving tributes to the holiday on its holiday music CD, "Barenaked for the Holidays."

"Sleigh Ride" by the Boston Pops Orchestra: Who goes on sleigh rides anymore? Even if no one does, this song still captures the feeling of rushing through snowy drifts. Just avoid the Chipmunks' version.

"Jingle Bells" by Brave Combo: One of the most popular songs in history distilled into under a minute of Latin-infested rhythm that makes the song sound like the soundtrack to a Looney Tunes short.

"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" by Rufus Wainwright: Get ready for the last night of the year with Wainwright's plaintive plea for someone to kiss at midnight.

"Rebel Jesus" by Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Jackson Browne's ultimate Christmas song for non-Christians skeptical of the holiday season gets a new coat of paint.

"Auld Lang Syne" by Marah: The indie rock band turns the ancient standard into a polka rocker.

--Todd VanDerWerff/The Press-Enterprise

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

"Song For A Winters Night" I could handle, but when it comes to the others, I guess I'm sort of a traditionalist, though I think the kind of twist that Barenaked Ladies could put on the Hannukka tunes would be interesting to hear.

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

I can vouch for Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians having a wonderful Christmas album; funny, too. We had one when I was very little, back in the early/mid 50s, which we wore out completely. It had a version of "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" that owed a lot to Spike Jones. One year my sister Lisa found a cassette version of that album in the discount bin and pawed through until she'd found nine copies, one for each of us. What a hoot! You can see what I mean at http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/200...ou-got-it.html

Also on YouTube you can hear their "Twas the Night Before Christmas" over a 1933 cartoon of the same name. See

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

When I was growing up, believe me, it was not easy to find hannuka songs.

All we had was Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel...Every year, the Christmas songs would rain down upon us, many of them ironically written by Jews, and for us it was, "Driedel Dreidel Dreidal, I Made You Out of Clay..."
Luckily, now we have BNL and Adam Sandler who have added a few more tunes for us to sing..Unfortunately, there are still not enough to fill up all 8 nights.
I do love Christmas songs though...heck, I love the whole holiday...if that makes me bad, so be it...but I think this is such a great time of year.
BTW, I posted a neat Christmas video a few weeks ago. It was done by Blonde From Fargo...a band started by Peter Stormare...a verrry talented and sexy Swedish actor....Swedish...mmmmm. Anyway...check it out...its really cool.

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

The Barenaked Ladies XMAS special from a few years ago is on tonight up here inthe Toronto area - "Barenaked for the Holidays" - on Bravo network..
They sings songs from their "Holiday" CD.

Here's "Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah -


and Adam Sandler singing his "The Hanukkah Song" -

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

When I saw the title of this thread I immediately assumed that somebody was redisplaying our very own GL Christmas and (C)hanukkah CDs as previously presented in the "question" thread at:-
http://www.corfid.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=11951
that I threatened to bring back to the top recently.
(On the old forum it was at:-
http://www.corfid.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002814.html)
warning a thread with many graphics do have the patience of Job if you are on a dial up
the two relevant CDs are of course:-
http://johnfowles.org.uk/LIGHTFOOT/glclaus.jpg
http://johnfowles.org.uk/LIGHTFOOT/chanuka.jpg
reviewing the suggestions for the Christmas album I note that this classic was omitted
Jingle Bells Of The Evening

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

"Lord of Forgiveness"? Interesting Hebrew title for the Hannukah CD. Wouldn't have recognized Gordon on that picture for sure. Amazing. :)

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

This one always makes me laugh !!!



http://johnfowles.org.uk/LIGHTFOOT/glclaus.jpg

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

Yer Tis!!!
Merry ol' Christmas shopping everybody

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

always liked their "Do they know it's Christmas" arrangement

those were fun, John...+ sherly's Jewish adds were very clever, oy

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- Neil Diamond cover of Adam Sandler's "The Chanukah Song"

animated with Diamond's voice.

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

XMAS 2009 mix
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/12/f...aker-drew.html
links to 2008 and 2007 mixes at site..

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

altho my heart is broken because Roy Halladay is no longer a Blue Jay this is a real treat:

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

altho my heart is broken because Roy Halladay is no longer a Blue Jay this is a real treat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6nf3xdmpj4

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

I absolutely love Sting's new Christmas CD

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

Loved it. Thanks.

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

Here's a cute little elf with alovely song - my sweet Jory Nash is looking way too adorable !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uewS3...ayer_embedded#

info: - Robbie Robertson has said that this is the Band tune that is closest to his heart - he wrote it the eve of the birth of his son.

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

you gotta love how Roy went out (compared to someone like Mats)...i think Philly just inherited 30 million new fans from Canada...even if he wilts on the mound he will be huge value in the clubhouse for any young hurlers and to the team in general

i have his first career win (it was so awesome) somewhere on VHS and his last win as a Jay on pvr still (even though meaningless late in the season, i should condense that A+ Bosox buttkickin' and somehow archive it)

this was a nice little list i thought (subjective of course):

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseba...y-roy-halladay

man, i would never have stumbled on that vid...thanks, char!

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

didja see Roy's full page Thankyou to Toronto in the paper today..got me a wee bit teary...
He's gonna be missed..

Once again it was Lisa who showed me the video - she's a fan of that country singer.

I was at this game: and remember thinking this kid could really mean something to the Jays and Toronto.
BLUE JAYS 2, TIGERS 1

Sept. 27, 1998, SkyDome

HALLADAY'S LINE

9 IP, 1 ER, 1 hit, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts

WHY IT STANDS OUT

In Halladay's second start with the Jays, he earned his first win – spectacularly. Halladay, then 21, no-hit the Tigers through 8 2/3 innings on the final day of the 1998 regular season. Detroit's first runner reached base on an error and its second, pinch-hitter Bobby Higginson, ruined the no-hitter, the shutout and the perfect game with a two-out homer in the ninth. It remains Halladay's lone one-hitter.

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

i didnt see the thank you, nice...i think that will be some kind of fun weekend when Philly's in town next year for interleague...too bad that political summit in on at the same time, agh

what a trooper! totally wonderful that you were at his one hitter (even if it was a bit skewed facing a bunch of call ups at the plate)

i've hardly been to a game at the dome since the 92-93 playoffs and i've never been up the cn tower...i guess concrete and i don't mix too well, lol

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

cool, never heard of that one...delivered in vintage Nash style

have a Holly Jory Christmas:cool:

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

My wife Brandy, sons Braden and Ryan, and I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Toronto Blue Jays organization, its incredible fans, and the city of Toronto.

I feel blessed to have been part of the Blue Jays since 1995 and am extremely thankful for the opportunities it has provided. Throughout the past 15 years, there have been so many people within the organization that have made a wonderful and significant impact in my life, it would be impossible to name them all.

I am sincerely grateful for the incredible support and compassion the Blue Jays fans have shown me. I am in awe of your overwhelming passion and devotion.

Toronto will forever have a special place in my heart.

The memories will last a lifetime and so will my gratitude.

Best Regards,

Roy

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

fun:) it would be neat to see all the puppeteers working away below jimmy's belt, must be crowded!

someone posted one of my fave bits YouTube- Norm MacDonald 12 Days of Christmas

sting was on cnn last night with many others, pam...anyone who loves his voice (not me but he sure is talented) would the album...btw, kat macphee looks odd as a blonde (wiggish) to me anyhow

i play (and listen to) alot of instrumental carols, especially hymish ones...i really dont like the poppy ones (i run to take cover when the really bad arrangements are pumped through the malls)

i've many old LP comps that are scratchy but sill treasures that have your bing, perry, frank, maurice, etc on them but i really like jim reeves voice for relaxing to...for family fun i play some of the gene autry arrangements

i didnt find any album that jumped out at me this year when i surfed thru the iTunes samplers

last year i concluded that Mary Chapin Carpenter's cd was most suited to my taste as far as seeking tasteful writing, smooth vocal, acoustic guitar and subtle piano...a sample here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzcGe46JiOc

Re: Winter and Christmas/Hannukah songs
 

and my fave:
last night on Letterman, the great Darlene Love.