ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS PARTY 2009 PT.3 & PT.4 END

[Mike Pell]

Here are the the last 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 continue here soon.
Mike

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS PARTY 2009 PT.3 & PT.4 END

Still doing it from home, I thought I would open up this Christmas episode with the voices of some sisters, a group I always call the female Beach Boys.
There is something about the harmonies of sisters and brothers that is special.
Well, guess what that made me think of to play next?
Beach Boys would be correct, and after doing the “The Beach Boys Christmas Album” in 1964, they did another Christmas LP in the 70’s that remained unreleased for decades.
Got a great track from that, a Phil Spectorish, crammed-with-instruments song, with the lead done by Dennis Wilson
After that, my trusty old calendar indicated that yesterday was the First Day Of Winter.
So, a couple of my very favorite and beautiful songs to commemorate that.
I’ll play my annual different version of Run Rudolph Run (should be Run Run Rudolph, lol!).
This year’s choice is a surprise, as he is better known for rollicking nautical, warm-weather music.
I have the FINAL Beatles Christmas Message to their Fan Club in 1969- something we started in 2003 with the 1963 Message, and for all 7 years have kept a close 40-year pace, lol!
It’s the first one I am playing without Engineer Ken.
It is plain to hear that they are NOT a group any longer, each member doing his bit seperately, not even in the same country let alone in the studio together like those early ones.
Coming up in the next and final chapter, our own peculiar musical look at the Holiday movie, The March Of The Wooden Soldiers.
Now who would want to miss that?
The big, happy, wonderful Christmas Day looms ever closer…

Here's the link to Pt.3 of 2009, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1596

 

Mike

I am rushing this chapter out to give everyone nice enough to listen to me, the chance to do so without my intruding on their busy schedules at a hectic time.
Also for those internet stations I am on, well if you would like to run these shows earlier than I am scheduled, good for you- and good for me!
My show was/is always broadcast on Tuesdays, and I am a creature of habit, so it is out here in time for Christmas.
As our Christmas Party winds down, I’ll give you some insight about how I go about doing programs.
I have literally dozens of ideas for Theme shows at any given time- the most difficult part is committing to one, as new ideas keep popping up.
These ideas are in various stages.
Some are written down and almost complete, others are just bouncing around in my head.
And still others are just half-baked ideas that come to me spontaneously.
That’s the case here.
The March Of The Wooden Soldiers is considered a Holiday movie, and I recently saw it.
It came out in 1934, stars Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, and if you look at the beginning of the original movie you will see it is actually called Babes In Toyland.
Here’s the half-bake…I wondered if I could perhaps musically capture some of that movie- the feeling of children and the aging children that we are- for this show.
I decided to give it a try.
As always, how successful I was is left to you the listeners.
But I did try, lol!
In concluding, this two-week Party will disperse with something that may surprise, even shock you, on your way out.
That there is an ORIGINAL version, by the SAME singer, of a Christmas Song you well know- and it was done at least FOURTEEN years earlier!
For what I would like to wish you wonderful people during this beautiful time of year, my own words are not good enough.
So I’ll steal from Charles Dicken’s character, Tiny Tim.
“Merry Christmas…And God Bless Us Every One!”

Here's the link to Pt.4, the 2009 Finale, at WLSO.FM:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1598

 

Mike

[Mike Pell]

Yeah RJ, just let me know what you like, you don't have to write a review.

You've done too much of that with my Christmas assault.

Sure, send John Denver- you think it's good.

Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

I'll definitely listen to it and let you know if I add anything to my playlist.

 

I have the John Denver tune.  I'd be glad to send it to you if you'd like.  Let me know.

 

Merry Christmas.

[Mike Pell]

RJ,

Hey it seems like you are coming along!

It makes sense, and you like the non-traditional while I like both.

And at the rate you add songs, you should an entire CD in about 10 years, lol!

An EXCELLENT start to your GRAND Christmas music playlist!

With Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams, that's great- now there are 3 of us, lol!

Got Chris Trapper for the wife, nice touch.

I haven't found the John Denver one, but still looking, I have a LOT of music.

The Smithereens got you 2nd time around, well sometimes it takes more than one listen to like a song.

I send you a few songs.

The fact that I've inspired someone makes me extremely proud.

Really...it makes everything worthwhile!

Thanks very much and Merry Christmas to you and the entire family,

Mike

 

Oh, and here's some more things to choose from.

This is the ONLY time Christmas Day ever fell on the day of the show, and boy was that special!

So I responded to the challenge as best as I could.

Wonder if I should put this up at CRB or wait till next year?

Ah, people are probably Christmased out from me, lol!
But if you can give a listen, got a LOT of response to this- some of the songs are sublime, like Christmas In The Trenches, a TRUE story. 

 

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS DAY 2007 PT.1

PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN…

What you see written above was the first of several mistakes I made last year.
I think its brevity gave people the impression I was just quoting and that there was NO podcast.
Well there WAS one, TWO in fact!
Another mistake was waiting until Christmas Day, when people are busy enough, to put two
podcasts up.
Now the reason was, for the only time in 10 years on the radio, Christmas Day fell on the day of the show!
Because of that, I wanted to post these in real time- which was Dec.25th.
Not realizing- and this was my biggest mistake- the unwritten rule that the folks by then have had enough
Holiday music, and that no one plays Christmas music on Dec.26th- it all stops
and gets put away- or until the next Yuletide Season.
So I stupidly gave people less than 24 hours to hear TWO podcasts, on a very busy day with a lot
going on in their lives.
It all was dumb on my part, and I apologize.
Here is my second chance.
No rush to hear what was a very different Christmas show for me.
I wanted this only-time-ever on Dec.25th show to be special, and give it all the respect it deserved for being both a Holiday and a Holy Day.
As a result, both the music chosen and myself are a bit toned down.
I wanted to make a statement- have you get on the bus with me and take you somewhere!
And it was very important to me that you listen to the words in these songs, but
that’s often the case, lol!
So I ask you to imagine it is Christmas Day…the opening songs will reinforce that.
After that, I thought it might be interesting to take a musical look at Christmas in strange and maybe
not-so-strange places, with a LONG set that will be continued next
chapter.
Beginning with a simply UNFORGETTABLE song…!
Hope I can get your attention this time around, lol!

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

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1263

 

Thanks,
Mike

ROCKOLLECTIONS: CHRISTMAS DAY 2007 PT.2

From Tiny Tim in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”-
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND GOD BLESS US EVERY ONE!

That’s all I wrote last year, again possibly giving people the impression there was no podcast, just a written statement of a wish.
And so I continue to try to clear up any confusion because there very definitely was one,
for the only time Christmas Day fell on the day of my show!
Alright, I will continue with our musical travelogue of Christmas in strange places.
Another long set to start us off.
Then on to a surpising interpretation of John Lennon’s Happy Christmas by a band I love but never expected them to do
this.
After that, a wonderful song that was inexplicably held back for years after the singer’s death! Very very strange, because it is so good.
We will give the final word to a fellow named David Mead.
As he expresses my feelings and gift to you, my friends!
Again, an intentionally different show because it was Christmas Day.
And if no one listens this time around, I’ll know that maybe it just doesn’t appeal to the folks.
But nothing will change- I am set in my eclectic, free-form ways, lol!
Next up, this year’s 2008 Christmas Party.

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

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1264

 

Mike

[RJhog (Admin)]

Okay, add these 3 to the previous 4, and you have the start of my grand Christmas music playlist:

 

Suddenly It's Christmas by Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus Of Dreams...my favorite of all the Christmas songs from your shows that are new to me.

 

Christmastime Is Here Again by The Smithereens...I didn't think this was that good the first time I heard it, but I got hooked on it the second time.

 

It's Christmastime by Chris Trapper...love the sound of this song.  And I'm telling you, the old lady will love this song.

 

Thanks for all the great new music Mike.  Merry Christmas.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Hey Mike,

I finally got to these 2009 shows.  Now I've listened to all 4 parts of 2009 and 2010's Christmas shows and I must say, I'm still not a big fan of Christmas music.  However, your show has inspired me to build my own personal Christmas music playlist that WILL get played at my home starting next year.  Here's what I'm gonna do.

 

I'm gonna go back through the other 6 parts of these shows and pick songs that I like that aren't traditional Christmas songs (at least most of them won't be).  There will be a few exceptions that are songs that I've always liked in spite of them being Christmas songs.  Does this make sense?  It's all inspired and derived from what I've heard right here.  And the thing is, I'm gonna do this every year.  I'm gonna cull the songs that you play that I haven't heard but I really like 'em.  Each year I'll add another song or two or three to my playlist.  So far I have 4 and a partial:

 

Christmas For Cowbows by John Denver...I didn't hear this one here, so I've already broken my rule, but it's good enough to make my playlist.

 

I Believe In Father Christmas by Greg Lake...Hadn't heard this in a while until you played it on the 2010 show.

 

Song For A Winter's Night by Gordon Lightfoot...got this one on part 3 of the 2009 show.

 

Please Come Home For Christmas by The Eagles...Easily my favorite version of this song.

 

And I'm pretty sure I'll add a song from 2009 by Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus, but I have to re-listen to the show to get the song title.

 

So there it is.  What do you think about the fact that you've inspired someone???