Thursday, December 17, 2009

Episode 47: Baby, It's Cold Outside


Since this episode is pretty self-explanatory, how about an anecdote? As a child, I always thought that the line "See the blazing Yule before us," from Deck the Halls, made reference to a tradition dating back to the pagan roots of this holiday; namely, the ritualistic burning of Yul Brynner, star of such films as The King and I, on a large pyre fuelled by yew-wood and holly. And since I never knew the lyrics to "Baby, It's Cold Outside," past the title phrase, I assumed the rest of the verse was, "So warm yourself next to Brynner, aglow." But I digress... Merry Christmas!


PLAYLIST

King's Singers - Deck The Halls
Vince Guaraldi - Christmas Is Coming
Vince Guaraldi - Christmas Time Is Here

The Drifters - White Christmas
Ertha Kit - Santa Baby
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan - Baby, It's Cold Outside
Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Bing Crosby - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters - Jingle Bells
Bing Crosby - White Christmas

Vince Guaraldi - O Tannenbaum
Vince Guaraldi - Skating
Vince Guaraldi - Linus and Lucy
John Denver and the Muppets -12 Days of Christmas
John Denver and the Muppets - We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings
Joni Mitchell - River
Celine Dion - O Holy Night
John Williams - Carol of the Bells
Brassroots - Sleigh Ride
Andy Williams - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Frank Sinatra - Let It Snow

John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
Simon & Garfunkel - 7 O'clock News/Silent Night
Judy Garland - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Thurl Ravenscroft - You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
Vince Guaraldi - Hark, The Harold Angels Sing


LINKS

Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas - "Little Drummer Boy" by Bing Crosby and David Bowie (1977)
The Star Wars Holiday Special - "Happy Life Day" (1978)

4 comments:

Melyssa said...

Excellent selection. BUT: Where is Hanson's "Snowed In" on this? I would much rather hear Zack singing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home but maybe that's just me?

Melyssa said...

Comment #2 (im out of control/waiting 4 my ride): River is my favourite winter song. I feel it is one of the best Holiday songs b/c its not all jesus and santa and therefore enjoyable for the heathens who don't celebrate Christmas.

Brutus said...

Happy Birthday, Alissa!! And Congratulations on your Christmas Haircut!!

This was a great selection of music. Some renditions I had never heard before, like the Drifters version of White Christmas - fantastic! Thanks for playing so many of the Guaraldi tunes that are timeless. Whenever I hear his songs they bring back wonderful memories.

Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2010.

Brutus

p.s. In which of the past three episodes does the Wilson Philips song "Hey Santa" belong?

Rick Wood said...

Yes, it's true! I follow Awkward Silence! The name reminds me of most of my youth...

Sleigh Ride anecdote: recorded that entire CD in two evenings, both being very hot September nights, at a local church. Seemed odd to be playing Christmas tunes whilst dripping in perspiration! And one take was ruined by an ambulance driving by with siren. Such is the life of the recording musician!

Horn is silent now, but hearing that recording brought back great memories. And what is Christmas without memory?

Rick