Hey! You! Get Off of My Roof - Part 14 and Out

Well, we've made it to the eve of another Christmas holiday, and I've got a few parting thoughts to share about the three remaining tracks on my latest mix for 2022. As I type this from Los Angeles the weather is balmy and pleasant. It's supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny for Christmas tomorrow. The rest of the country is facing below-zero temperatures and in many places it's looking to be a white Christmas. I'm just fine with our warm California forecast, frankly. A green Christmas is just fine with me

On Christmas Eve I like to imagine what's going on in homes around the world — the anticipation, the warmth, the reverence and the memories being honored and made. I hope everyone is feeling at least some kind of magic in the air tonight. It's a magical evening, and a wondrous world.

Track 42
A Spaceman Came Traveling, Chris de Burgh (1975)

I've been aware of this song almost since it was first released, and I guess I'm of two minds about it. On the one hand, it's got a certain amount of emotional punch to it — that's undeniable. On the other hand, as a song it  suffers from a little of the same sort of heavy-handed pretentiousness that plague so many of de Burgh's songs. Many people know him only through his one big hit, 1986's "The Lady in Red," which has topped several surveys as the public's most hated popular song ever. I suppose there are several songs I dislike even more than "The Lady in Red," but I can't put my finger on any of them at this moment. 

By contrast, "A Spaceman Came Traveling" has a number of redeeming features, and I think it's the sort of thought-provoking tune that fits awfully well as the final track on a holiday compilation. I understand de Burgh wrote the song after reading Erich von Däniken’s best-selling book Chariots of the Gods?, which suggests that the technology and religions of many ancient civilizations on Earth may have been brought here by interstellar visitors. According to de Burgh, this led him to wonder, "what if the star [of Bethlehem] was a space craft and what if there is a benevolent being or entity in the universe keeping an eye on the world and our foolish things that we do to each other?"

The lyrics of the song are as follows:

A spaceman came traveling on his ship from afar
'Twas light years of time since his mission did start
And over a village, he halted his craft
And it hung in the sky like a star, just like a star

He followed a light and came down to a shed
Where a mother and child were lying there on a bed
A bright light of silver shone round his head
And he had the face of an angel and they were afraid

Then the stranger spoke, he said, do not fear
I come from a planet a long way from here
And I bring a message for mankind to hear
And suddenly the sweetest music filled the air

And it went la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la la la
Peace and goodwill to all men and love for the child
La la la la la la la la la, la la la la la la la, la la la la la la la la la, oh

This lovely music went trembling through the ground
And many were awakened on hearing that sound
And travelers on the road
The village they found by the light of that ship in the sky
Which shone all around

And just before dawn at the paling of the sky
The stranger returned and said, now I must fly
When two thousand years of your time has gone by
This song will begin once again to a baby's cry

And it went la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la la la
This song will begin once again to a baby's cry
And it goes la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la, la la la la la la la la la
Peace and goodwill to all men and love for the child

Oh the whole world is waiting, waiting to hear the song again (la la la la la la la la la)
There are thousands standing on the edge of the world (la la la la la la la la la)
And a star is moving somewhere, the time is nearly here (la la la la la la la la la)
This song will begin once again to a baby's cry

I don't know if there's anything to the thoughts that gave rise to the song, but I've always felt that we know only the tiniest fraction of what there is out there and how things work, and it's comforting to think that a benevolent force has the upper hand somehow.

 
Watch Chris de Burgh performing "A Spaceman Came Traveling" with choir and orchestra

Track 41
All Your Christmases, Santa's Little Helper (1998)

This little clip's been in my voluminous "miscellaneous clips" file for what seems like forever, It's an excerpt from a longer piece that I seem to recall finding somewhere on the WFMU-FM "Beware of the Blog" site that I've written about previously. WFMU is a New Jersey community radio station that specializes in the unusual and offbeat, and while "Beware of the Blog" is no longer updated regularly, the older postings still available are a treasure trove of interesting material. The original version of the track is a seven-minute montage that lifts the word "Christmas" out of a long list of holiday tunes and then pastes the results together to form a lengthy string of holiday madness. For my mix, I figured a much shorter version would suffice. 

In the interests of full disclosure, I've taken certain liberties with the name of the responsible artist as listed above. The actual name of the artist reorders the letters in the first word of the group's title so that instead of "Santa's Little Helper"  it forms the name of "he who cannot be mentioned" — or at least "he whose name maybe shouldn't be mentioned on Christmas." I trust you can figure it out!

Track 40
A Great Big Sled, The Killers (2006)

Last year, I included an awesome song by The Killers on my 2021 compilation Be A Santa! The song was "I Feel It In My Bones," and it was probably my favorite track on last year's mix. It was also the seventh of the 11 annual Christmas tunes The Killers released each year from 2006 through 2016 to benefit Product RED, and its fight to battle HIV, AIDS and other preventable and treatable diseases. This year, I've chosen another holiday song from The Killers' collection — in fact, it's the song that kicked off the tradition, "A Great Big Sled" from 2006.  

I like this one a lot, too. The Killers ended their series of holiday releases in 2016, which is disappointing, but certainly understandable. All told, the 11 holiday songs they released raised over $1 million for Product Red, and dramatically improved the quality of rock's holiday library. And since I've only used two of The Killers' Christmas songs on my compilations to date we still have nine great tracks to use on future mixes.

Purchase one or more of The Killers' 11 Holiday Classic Tunes on amazon.com

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that concludes our presentation of background information on the tracks of this year's mix. A reminder that you should be able to access all of my previous compilations on my holiday music website, HERE.

For those who celebrate the Christmas holiday tomorrow, Merry Christmas! 

Be a Santa, Part 6

With only ten days left to go until Christmas, let's keep going with our summary review of the 37 tracks on my latest holiday mix, Be a Santa!

Track 19
I Feel It In My Bones, The Killers (2016)

Founded in Las Vegas in 2001, The Killers are among the most successful rock bands of the 21st century. Their latest album, Pressure Machine, released this past August, was their seventh consecutive Top 10 album in the United States, Comparisons to Bruce Springsteen have been common throughout the group's history and Springsteen's influence sounds especially strong throughout "Pressure Machine." Shortly before that album's release the group released a new version of their 2013 song "A Dustland Fairytale" featuring a guest appearance by the Boss.  

Readers of this blog should know that the band is widely recognized for their practice of releasing a new holiday-themed single each year since 2006 to benefit Product Red, a group that supports The Global Fund to Combat AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. "I Feel It In My Bones" was The Killers' holiday single for 2012 and I think it's one of their strongest Christmas offerings yet. In fact, it's probably my favorite track on my 2021 holiday mix. You can hear it in the clip below. What do you think?

Check Out the Official Music Video of "Dustland" by The Killers and Bruce Springsteen

Track 18

Beware All Ye Faithful, American Comedy Network (2002)

I'm honestly not sure where I found this clip, but I included it in this year's mix as a short bit of comic relief. As with most comedy, however, there's a kernel of truth in here. The holidays have always carried a certain amount of risk and danger. Be careful out there, friends!

Listen to "Beware All Ye Faithful"

Track 17

Jada's Christmas Song (Santa Claus' Helper), Jada with The Vise Squad (1975)

This little winner comes to us by way of WFMU's first 365Days Project in 2003. The project's chief aim was to collect and share a grab bag of offbeat aural experiences — one each day — reflecting the broad tapestry of the human experience. WFMU is a listener supported independent community radio station based in New York City, and for my money it offers the greatest collection of audio madness the world has ever known. The 365 Days Project is simply one particular slice of the madness. The daily offering throughout 2003 attracted enough attention to spur a second installment that featured daily selections throughout 2007.

Jada's Christmas Song was presented on March 31, 2003 along with the following explanation:

Johnny Mack Vise was an Anniston, Alabama radio hack and church choir director who inexplicably decided that his small children should be singers. This 45 RPM single to which this song provides the a-side is — to my knowledge — the only release by five-year old Jada Vinmarjay Vise (her middle name was a combination of the names of her three older Brothers — isn't that precious!). The contrast between the normal kid voices of the Vise Squad (the brothers) and Jada's otherworldly screech is sure to set any first-time listener's teeth on edge.

It's hard for me to take issue with any of that, but you can decide for yourself

Listen to "Jada's Christmas Song (Santa Claus' Helper)," by Jada with the Vise Squad

Track 16

Indian Santa Claus, Lorene Mann (1969)

The final of today's four tracks is something I remember hearing as a kid and knowing even that it was objectionable. I had to think really hard before including it on this year's mix due to its unfortunate descriptions of Native Americans. I ultimately decided stuff like this should probably be exposed rather than hidden, but I offer it with some misgivings and my apologies.

This track was written and performed by Lorene Mann, a Tennessee native who settled in Nashville at the age of 19 to pursue a career in music. Signed by RCA Records in 1964, she went on to write for singers such as Kitty Wells and Skeeter Davis before launching a singing career of her own. Mann also tried her hand at acting, appearing in the 1975 Burt Reynolds vehicle “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings.” But songwriting was apparently her first love, and she both co-founded the Nashville Songwriters Association International and in 2011 won the Maggie Cavender Award, in recognition of her “extraordinary service to the songwriting community.” I'll let you decide if it's warranted after you listen to the following tracks, all of which carry a warning that these are not for the weak of heart or stomach.

Listen to Lorene Mann Singing "Please Don't Take the Children from Me"

Listen to Lorene Mann Singing "Hide My Sin"

Six Sensational New Seasonal Songs by Swedish Singer Sofia Talvik and Others

With Christmas now a mere nine days away, I'd say it's time for another look in the new releases bin, where I've found six incredibly cool holiday songs you probably haven't heard before:

Sofia Talvik

1. A Long Way Home, by Sofia Talvik
Swedish singer/songwriter Sofia Talvik is one of those generous and sentimental souls who record a new holiday single each year to give to their fans as a Christmas gift. Well, this year's gift from Talvik should be wrapped in Tiffany blue, for it's a fabulous gift by any measure. The song is called "A Long Way Home," and it's written in the voice of a long-haul trucker trying to make it home to spend Christmas with a loved one. The usual mountain route is closed due to snow, but, undaunted, the trucker is determined to make it home. It's a sparse and beautiful folk song at heart, driven by a single soaring trumpet that carries us through a series of deep emotions. The song begins with the trumpet's rich and insistent wail, which underscores the driver's strength and determination as she makes her long way home. By the second verse, however, the trumpet paints a lonelier mood as it emerges more softly behind the trucker's description of the drive. As the last verse begins, the trumpet becomes a warning, and we're reminded of how quickly the unexpected can occur. Sofia Talvik is a remarkable singer and this is a beautiful song. It's not your typical holiday tune by any means, but it left me thinking of how priceless the simplest of human connections can sometimes be.  




Download "A Long Way Home," by Sofia Talvik (No Charge, Donate if You Wish)

Download a Stripped-Down Version of "A Long Way Home"

Explore Some of Sofia Talvik's Other Recordings



2. The Magic of Christmastime, by Krysta Youngs, featuring Ruslan Sirota

Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Krysta Youngs has just released a wonderfully hopeful new song called "The Magic of Christmastime," featuring Grammy-winning jazz pianist Ruslan Sirota. As a young musician working to get herself established, Youngs has faced her share of challenges, and, like everyone, she says, there have been times when her self-confidence began to run a little low. At Christmas, however, the glow from the love of family and friends can renew one's hopes and encourage a fresh look at the future. "No matter where you are, who you're with or what stage in life you're at," she says, "know that someone out there is rooting for you. And you're never too young or too old to experience 'The Magic of Christmastime.'" This one's a winner, don't you think?

You can hear more of Youngs' music on Soundcloud, below:

3. Ring Them Bells, by Heart

I've been a big fan of the group Heart going back to their very first album, Dreamboat Annie. I even had a crush on Nancy Wilson when I was in high school, especially watching her play guitar. Well, Heart released a new live CD/DVD album last month called Heart & Friends: Home for the Holidays, which captures what appears to have been a terrific holiday show last December in their native Seattle. The "friends" who joined the Wilson sisters include Sammy Hagar, Shawn Colvin and Richard Marx, and the first single from the release is a strong version of the Bob Dylan song "Ring Them Bells": 



ASX TV will broadcast a one-hour special featuring highlights from the concert on Christmas evening at 8 pm. Check your cable listings for details.

And for those who haven't experienced it yet, Heart's rendition of "Stairway to Heaven" in honor of Led Zeppelin at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors is perhaps the most thrilling performance I've ever seen. This one's widely available on the internet, including HERE, and watching it will be the best 9 minutes you've spent all month. Don't miss the shots of President and Mrs. Obama getting into it (at 2:02 and 4:51, for example), Shane Fontayne's guitar solo (at 4:55), the moment of glory that begins at 5:45, and the reactions of the surviving members of Led Zeppelin and, which appear throughout the clip.


4. In Night's Still Silence, by Ewa Angeli
The celebration of Christmas has deep roots in Poland, where even under communist rule, the holidays were deeply cherished and widely observed. Among the most beautiful of this year's new releases is an album by Polish-born singer Ewa Angeli called In Night’s Still Silence (Wśród Nocnej Ciszy). It's a stunning collection of traditional Polish carols recorded in English for the first time using traditional and contemporary arrangements that will appeal to listeners of various tastes. Three of these tracks are available to hear now, below. Give a listen and see what you think:




Buy Eva Angeli's Album In Night's Still Silence (Wśród Nocnej Ciszy)

Preview or Buy Other Music from Eva Angelini



5. Find Peace, by Hannah Peel
Fans of electronica and ambient music will enjoy the latest original release from award-winning British singer/songwriter Hannah Peel, called "Find Peace." It's a stunningly beautiful work that seems to challenge the world's myriad problems with the simple command of its title:




Born in Northern Ireland, Peel has been performing professionally since 2005. She plays a host of electronic and acoustic instruments and performs and records both as a solo artist and as a member of the groups The Magnetic North and John Foxx and the Maths. She is also known for fabricating music boxes, which she often incorporates into her performances.

Peel is one of a handful of artists selected to participate in this year's Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club. Participants contribute one original and one holiday cover tune, which are pressed as a limited-run double-sided single in honor of the season. For her cover, Peel chose Greg Lake's classic "I Believe in Father Christmas," which in her hands emerged as a bright and hopeful tune that sounds ever so much lighter and less cluttered than the original. Peel's music is worth a listen, and you can preview and download her music right now from iTunes (see below). Be sure to check out the gorgeous song "Silk Road," from her EP Fabriscate.


Preview and Download Music from Hannah Peel on iTunes


6. Joel, The Lump of Coal, by The Killers

Finally, the sixth and final new song of the day is the latest in a string of imaginative holiday singles released each year at this time by the Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers. I wrote about their holiday releases last year, and it's great to see the tradition continue. This year, the band collaborated with TV host Jimmy Kimmel on a song called "Joel, the Lump of Coal." As in previous years, all proceeds from the record will support the RED campaign, which works to fight AIDS and TB in Africa. And now, here are The Killers with their latest Christmas tale:



Tune in tomorrow, when we begin our look back at some of the giants of entertainment we lost in 2014.

The Killers Spend Christmas in LA

For the past eight years, Vegas-based rockers The Killers have released an original Christmas song and video in early December with proceeds going to support Project Red and the fight against AIDS and TB in Africa. Some of their previous holiday efforts have been awesome, particularly A Great Big Sled (2006) and I Feel It In My Bones (2012). This year's release is called Christmas in L.A. and features the L.A. folk rock band Dawes:



This isn't my favorite of their annual Christmas songs; it's a little depressing, and hits kind of close to home. But they're as reliable as Santa every December, and their commitment to raising money for an important cause is nothing short of awesome. All of their previous Christmas tunes can be had for a song via The Killers website or iTunes, and the (Red) Christmas EP features six of the song collected just for you.