ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS PARTY 2009 PT.1 & PT.2

[Mike Pell]

Here are the the first 2 of 4 parts I did for Christmas last year.
It's a long story, but because of my love for Christmas, they are notable for being the FIRST shows I did from home- with a mixing board, padded mic, etc.
You will hear me complaining about it, I was VERY uncomfortable back then, lol!
It is typical of the annual Christmas presentation- songs you will know and songs you will be introduced to- but all picked for a free-form reason.
Hope you enjoy it.
And the 2010 Christmas Party will be here soon.
Mike

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS PARTY 2009 PT.1 & PT.2

Well, I was lured out of inactivity by my love of Christmas.
I just HAD to do a couple of shows for our annual Christmas Party.
This is the first show from my HOME!
And I wasn’t so happy about it, as I will describe after the opening, specifically chosen song, lol!
I guess it also marks the official name change to Rockollections, with a new theme song.
I was never happy with that name Rock Lives for a number of reasons, and I wasn’t the one who picked it.
However nothing else is different- I am the same old guy, and I will still be playing my eclectic choices of music, but the new intimacy may help to let you get to know me better.
I sure do miss the studio, and more than anything else, my man Engineer Ken.
And I never realized until I clicked on a microphone how much noise there is in an apartment, and from the computer.
But I am working on that and will find a solution, this is only our Maiden Voyage.
This opening chapter deals with the obvious fact that Christmas Is Coming.
I’m smart like that, lol!
But as I stated above, I will for the most part try to avoid the Same Old Same Old, and try to introduce you to some of the best music I can think of that doesn’t get airplay on radio any longer, if it ever did.
So let’s get this party started- and this year for the first time it’s from my apartment.
Pick a seat and help yourself to whatever you like…you’re my guest!
Mainly, I hope you enjoy the music of Christmas.

Here's the link to the party Pt.1, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1591

Mike

Continuing on with Rockollections, I noticed Saturday was the beginning of Hannukah.
Got a couple of songs for that.
Ever hear of Tom Lehrer?
He wrote the song for the Garrison Keilor show because he felt there weren’t enough of them.
After that, the Bare Naked Ladies with the other.
Then I had really no idea what I was going to play, so I just grabbed a song by Canned Heat, and let the free-form fun of doing a show from home take over.
I was running around while a song was playing, looking for what I thought would be enjoyable to hear next.
We used to do that at the station because I would bring so much music in with me.
But at home, I have EVERYTHING at my disposal.
I will end the show with a song for my former girl, Angel.
I heard it a few years ago, and it’s by a lady named Vittoria Conn- she’s got a bit of a Mama Cass Elliott sound, seems to me.
More Christmas coming!

Here's the link to the party Pt.2, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1593

Mike

[Mike Pell]

Thanks RJ, that's a nice gesture.

It was 4 years ago, so a lot of the sting is gone.

But she is why I once did a series on Angels!

Thanks again pal,

Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

Let me know if you ever need an ear to vent towards or anything like that bro.

[Mike Pell]

Probably a challenge to BOTH of us, lol!

Wait till you hear this year's opening chapter later tonight.

Although I did play a few common radio songs, I talked about it- you can't avoid them, but you can have fun with them.

And there is always that context, remember?

Tell you one thing, for a Christmas show, I have one kickass Rock & roll opening set!

Thanks about Angel.

Since then, I get a scary feeling within the joy of Christmas.

It's very weird, but understandable.

Those were rough times, but enough said, don't want to be a buzzkiller.

Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

I don't know if that's a challeng to me or you!! LOL

 

Don't think I won't listen to your work, you know me by now.  And I did find one Christmas song from the first two shows that I really liked, remember?

 

Hey man, I'm very sorry to hear about Angel.  That's a very sad and sobering situation and my condolences go out to you and Angel's family, albeit a bit late. 

[Mike Pell]

RJ,

Oh man, that is bad news cause I will be assaulting you with Christmas music these next shows, lol!

But screw your local radio station, I play things nobody else does.

As usual, it is my own personal and peculiar look at a topic, using music- in this case Christmas.

Trust me, there will not be too many carryovers to that office music.

Don’t tell me that station played Ann Hills, or the relatively unknown Elvis one, and certainly NOT Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (hey is that the one you thought sounded like Dylan?).

That was the Smithereens doing a Beatle song, off one of the Beatle fan club Christmas records.

Yeah, and it was in early December my girl Angel told me she had cancer.

She died on Valentine’s Day, so a short period, less than 2 and a half months.

That’s the one I should have married!

Don’t compare me to that typically unimaginative radio station, I’m gonna make you a Christmas music fan, MY way, before I am done, lol!

Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

Mike,

 

I must first admit that I'm not a Christmas music fan.  This will probably be the toughest theme you'll ever do for me to get into.  We have a local radio station that started playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving, and unfortunately for me, that's the radio station our office plays over the speakers.  So I have to hear this stuff all day, every work day, for over a month. 

 

Anyway, I will say that in part's one and two, three things stood out to me.

 

One was a song, I wasn't able to catch who it was by, that sounded a lot like Bob Dylan.  This was by far the best song (for me) played on these shows.  It's a Christmas song that I wouldn't mind hearing again some time.

 

Secondly, I had no idea that one song was by The Smithereens.  I'm not saying I liked it that much, but I do dig The Smithereens a good bit.

 

And finally, I thought it was very touching that you played a song for Angel...I certainly don't know the story there, but the fact that you played a song for her was ultra-cool.

 

Rock on, bro...