Alby's Latest Posts
Song of the Day 12/25: Philadelphia Orchestra, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
“The Glorious Sound of Christmas,” recorded in 1962 by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Normandy, remains the best-selling classical holiday album ever — it sold 1 million copies before Christmas 1963, and has continued to sell well in every recording medium since invented. Why? I think it’s because it’s the rare classical album that doesn’t […]
DL Open Thread Friday, December 25, 2020
A large explosion in downtown Nashville this morning was apparently was deliberately set, according to authorities. No major injuries reported. The Croda chemical plant near the Delaware Memorial Bridge was briefly restarted for testing, and it failed. Equipment is emitting four times the amount of ethylene oxide it’s permitted for, putting its future in doubt. […]
Song of the Day 12/24: Darlene Love, “Christmastime for the Jews”
Speaking of Jewish songwriters composing so many great Christmas songs, there’s one Christmas song that’s not only written by a Jew, Robert Smigel, the comic genius behind SNL’s “TV Funhouse” and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog — it was written specifically for the Jews. “You grow up Jewish and you can’t help it,” Smigel said. […]
Song of the Day 12/23: Paul Simon, “Getting Ready for Christmas Day”
Everyone knows why there have never been any good Hanukkah songs — the Jewish songwriters were too busy writing Christmas music. From Mendelssohn to Johnny Marks, Jewish composers and lyricists have produced an outsized portion of holiday perennials, so it’s kind of surprising that Paul Simon, who used Christian imagery frequently throughout his long career, […]
Song of the Day 12/22: George Winston, “The Holly and the Ivy”
The words to this old English carol date to at least the early 19th century, possibly the early 18th, and the concept it’s based on, using holly as a symbol of Jesus Christ, goes back to medieval times (the ivy, though given short shrift in the lyrics, represents Mary). Like most true folk songs, its […]
Song of the Day 12/21: Hall & Oates, “Jingle Bell Rock”
The first rock and roll Christmas song was not classified as a rock and roll song when it was released. Bobby Helms was a country singer who had a pair of No. 1 hits on the country charts before the song he’s remembered for was released in 1957. It was released just two days before […]
Song of the Day 12/20: David Qualey, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”
New Age guitarist David Qualey recorded a few LPs for Windham Hill, and his arrangement of this famous Bach piece was one of the label’s standout tracks. It featured not only on the compilation disc “A Winter Solstice III,” released in 1990, but was even pressed as a promotional single. Most people think of this […]
Song of the Day 12/19: Debbie and the Darnels, “Santa, Teach Me to Dance”
Every year musical artists record new Christmas songs to release into the world, hoping they’ve found the next chestnut that will make them as famous as Mariah Carey. It almost never happens, but people keep trying, because if “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” can become a holiday staple, anything is worth a shot. […]
Song of the Day 12/18: Alex Boyé, “Little Drummer Boy”
Originally titled “Carol of the Drum,” this Christmas standard was written in 1941 by an American composer, Katherine Kennicott Davis, who mostly wrote music for the choir at Wellesley College, where she was a student and later a teacher. It’s usually given a somewhat somber treatment, but not by English-born Nigerian Alex Boyé, a onetime […]
Song of the Day 12/17: Keb’ Mo’, “Jingle Bell Jamboree”
I’m not sure when Keb’ Mo’ wrote or recorded this tune. It shows up on compilation albums as far back as 1999, and he released it himself on a 2011 EP. Its mention of CDs dates it to sometime in the ’90s. It’s not likely to become a classic, but I like the way it […]
Song of the Day 12/16: Louis Armstrong, “Zat You, Santa Claus?”
The music makes it sound more like a Halloween song than a Christmas tune, but it’s a valid question — who’s that at the door so late? It’s a reminder that a fat white guy trying to get into your house in the middle of the night isn’t necessarily St. Nick. Satchmo recorded this tune […]
Song of the Day 12/15: Diana Krall, “Christmas Time Is Here”
Yesterday I said “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was the saddest Christmas song, and Nathan Arizona nominated this one as a challenger. He’s almost right — almost. This is the most depressing Christmas song, which is a little different. Lee Mendelson’s lyrics list the subtle joys of the season, all undercut by the melancholy […]
Song of the Day 12/14: Judy Garland, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Jason said a few days ago that he’s not ready for a “little” Christmas, so to help him out I’m starting this year’s 12 Days of Christmas Music with the song that advocates exactly that. Not only is this the saddest of all Christmas standards, its lyrics seem prescient about Christmas 2020: Through the years […]
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