-->

Saturday, December 14, 2024

I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Part 12

With just a little more than 10 days left to go until the big day, it's time to resume our look at the tunes on my latest holiday compilation, "I Wish It Was Christmas Today." Here's some background on the next three tracks:

Track 31
We Wish You a Merry Christmas, George Carlin and Ringo Starr (1990) 

One tends to miss an awful lot of fun without kids in the house. Yeah, I suffered through PinkFong's "Baby Shark" jingle last year like everyone else on the planet, but I suspect it's a very different experience to hear it non-stop for a month, as several of my parenting friends patiently explained to me. Similarly, I can't claim to know too about the popular PBS children's show "Shining Time Station," which I understand was inspired by a British program called "Thomas the Tank Engine." "Shining Time Station" first ran on PBS from 1989 through 1993, with subsequent reruns on Nick, Jr. and a variety of other cable and streaming services.

"Shining Time Station" is as popular with educators and parents as it is with children. The basic premise is simple and straightforward. According to Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker:  "It's an old-fashioned show that creates a gentle, lulling atmosphere to convince children that life is fun and that trains are the way to travel." True enough.

During the show's first season, the key role of the train conductor was played by Ringo Starr, who  was nominated for a Daytime Emmy award for his work. Starr was replaced at the start of the second season by comedian George Carlin, and a holiday special featured both gentlemen was produced to bridge the transition. This short clip was taken from the holiday special:


There's so much I could say about each of these two guys, as I genuinely admire them both and have enjoyed their work for years. 

I first heard of Carlin as a kid in summer camp when an older camper regaled us with his bit about the "seven dirty words" you can't say on TV.  That caught my attention because it was titillating and forbidden. Of course, Carlin's work was far more than that. It was consistently sharp and insightful — and he was unfailingly courageous. He told truth to power and got away with it, for the most part, because he draped his biting observations in comic clothing. In describing religion as "the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims" (his "religion is bull****" rant) he took aim at the clergy with memorable precision. To the end, Carlin reminded us that the American system was intentionally designed to maintain the ruling class at the expense of the typical Trump voters. If you haven't seen the 2022 HBO documentary "George Carlin's American Dream," I recommend it.

I first knew Ringo as the drummer for one of my two favorite bands, The Beatles. (I also loved The Monkees.) He also sang lead on one of my favorite Beatles songs, "Yellow Submarine." I suppose most folks would consider Ringo to be the least consequential of the four Beatles, but in the 50-odd years since the group's breakup he's clearly established that he's got both staying power and class. He's had a couple of #1 hits as a solo artist, he's acted in movies and on TV, and he's toured with multiple variations of his popular All Starr Band

I included a song of Ringo's, "C'mon Christmas," on my 2008 mix "Home for the Holidays." I've also featured a couple of songs about Ringo  "Ringo Bells" by Three Blonde Mice, also from my 2008 mix, and "Ringo Deer" by Gary Ferrier from my 2016 mix "Let It Snow.

Ringo and George Carlin teaming up to share Christmas greetings may not be the biggest holiday blockbuster of all time, but it does my hippie heart good to hear them.

Watch the Shining Time Station Holiday Special (1990)

Hear George Carlin Tell Johnny Carson About His Arrest for Saying the Seven Dirty Words


Track 32
Plasma for Christmas, Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band (2008) 

While the group's name might lead you to think otherwise, The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band is a three-piece, Indiana-based country blues group consisting of Reverend Peyton on guitar and vocals, "Washboard" Breezy Peyton (his wife) on the washboard and Jacob Powell on drums. This song served as my introduction to the group. I'd received the album "A Very Standard Christmas" as a gift in 2006, and it featured this one as well as Harley Poe's "It's Christmas Time Again," which I used as the title track of my 2017 mix.

(L to R): Powell, Breezy and the Rev
Reverend Peyton started playing guitar at the age of 12. After a friend told him his noodling around had a blues-like quality, he worked to immerse himself in country blues and tried unsuccessfully to develop the finger-picking technique that animated much of the music of that style. After playing guitar at his high school graduation party, he awoke with his hands in terrible pain and was told by doctors that he would never be able to play guitar again. Following a frustrating year of abstaining, Peyton had surgery and was able to regain his strength and play better and more easily than before. While recovering from surgery he met Breezy, who shared his interest in country blues, and the two began writing, performing and eventually recording together and with Powell.

In 2008, the group signed with Los Angeles based SideOneDummy Records, for whom they recorded four albums. They subsequently recorded a string of other albums for several different labels and have built a significant following by maintaining a busy touring schedule. Their must recent album, "Dance Songs for the Hard Times" reached #1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.

I've been holding on to "Plasma for Christmas" for years and just never managed to find a spot for it on earlier mixes. Sadly, with the Trump team preparing to take over the federal government I'm guessing my choice to include the song on this year's mix will make me look rather prescient in short order.





Track 33
Merry Christmas Is All I Hear, Donald Trump and David Pakman (2024) 

Like millions of others, I was despondent following Trump's electoral victory last month. Much of my sadness and anger stemmed from the willingness of so many to overlook or minimize the never-ending stream of hateful and ridiculous lies he told. One of the silliest and most idiotic of his lies was that the Democrats had somehow made it illegal for people to say "Merry Christmas." He claimed that neither President Obama nor his wife ever used the phrase, which was a preposterous slander. And he pledged that if he was elected he'd make it OK for ordinary folks to say "Merry Christmas" without being carted off to jail.

I've tried to minimize the mention of politics on this year's mix, but I couldn't resist including this short clip, which features Trump's pledge along with an apt retort from political commentator David Pakman. I enjoy listening to Pakman's show, which is available on YouTube, among other places. He's a reasonable and exceptionally well-informed podcaster whom I hold in high regard.





Eight more tracks to look at and 10 days in which to do it. I'll be back with more before you know it.



2 comments:

  1. Please know, whether I comment or not, that I have read your post, and am incredibly impressed with the time, attention to detail, and personality you put into it. So well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many thanks for your kind words, which are doubly special in light of the fine work you do on your Christmas Underground site. I'm a big fan! Best wishes for the holidays and the new year.

      Delete