Christmas Cheer - Part 11

I'm back with the next three songs from this year's mix. The end is now in sight!

Track 32
Snowman, Bob Gerard (1978)

Track 32 is another song-poem called “Snowman,” which was released in 1978 on the Tin Pan Alley label. The song is performed by Bob Gerard, who seems to be competing with his bass player to see which one could sound the flattest. The lyrics don’t win any prizes either; in fact, it’s hard to imagine anyone paying to have these words set to music: 

I made a little snowman,

He was cute as could be,

I made him by the window,

So he could look at me.

 

Next morning when the sun came,

And he took a little peek,

I saw the snowman wink at me,

And tears ran down his cheeks.

 

[Instrumental]

[Repeat earlier verses]

 

Bye, bye, snowman!

See you again!

Goodbye!

Mercifully, the song lasts for only 93 seconds. That doesn’t sound very long. But try playing it with your eyes closed while blocking everything else from your mind. When you’re truly being tortured, a minute and a half can seem like an eternity.

What do you think?

Hear Two More Winners by Bob Gerard, “The Proon Droon Walk” and “Wandering Eyes,” courtesy of Bob Purse’s Excellent The Wonderful and the Obscure Blog

Track 33
Holiday Greetings, Tony Bennett

Tony Bennett

The final celebrity holiday greeting on this year’s mix is from Tony Bennett, who died this year at the age of 96. Providing a complete biography or even an appropriately detailed appreciation is really beyond the scope of this blog, but I sure know he was an extremely talented singer and performer who also seemed like a thoroughly decent man. He was certainly a prolific recording artist. Bennett released 61 studio albums in his 69-year career, including at least three Christmas albums:  Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album (1968); Christmas with Tony Bennett and the London Symphony Orchestra (2002) and A Swingin’ Christmas (2008). Each of these offers music with Bennett's signature sound, and all three are likely to brighten up any holiday gathering with memories from times gone by.

Listen to Tony Bennett’s Holiday Yule Log

Track 34
The Day Snowflakes Were Born, The M.S.R. Singers (1978)

This year’s mix contains a number of song-poems, and, as a result, I’ve had several people ask me about my interest in this particular oeuvre. One friend asked bluntly, “Aren’t you just trying to make fun of the poor folks who wrote these awful lyrics?” Actually, that’s not it. Some of the lyrics are pretty awful, but many of them aren’t bad at all — and most of them offer a glimpse of real life that commercial releases miss altogether. If I had to guess, I’d say most song-poem fans are more contemptuous of the companies that churn out the typically half-baked arrangements than of the poets who put their souls into the words of each song. Track 24 is one of those rare offerings where the tune is every bit as appealing as the message. This is a song-poem I truly love, and while there are elements that are slightly amusing I’ve been listening to it for years and genuinely enjoy it each time.

This song was originally released in 1978 and achieved considerable recognition some 20 years later when it was featured in the 2003 documentary “Off the Charts: The Song Poem Story,” which was broadcast multiple times on many PBS stations. It was also recorded and frequently played live by the Boston band The Weisstronauts. There aren't many song-poems that were recorded and or played by other bands, although as Christmas music collector Andy Cirzan has pointed out, another is the classic "Rudolph Pouts," which was recorded by Mary White (the original) and Israfel's Son (the remake). Which version is more enjoyable? Darned if I can say. They're both awesome.

Watch The Old Lady Drag Queens Sing “The Day Snowflakes Were Born”

Hear The Weisstronauts Version of “The Day Snowflakes Were Born”

Only three more tracks to go, and just five more shopping days until Christmas!