Another Year… Another Crappy Christmas Compilation!

Hey, Y'all!!!

Hope you've had a great year and that everything is going beautifully. I've had a pretty good one myself and find that I'm still healthy, employed and very happily married, so I must be doing something right, eh?

Here's the 2017 Christmas Mix!

Sorry it's so late. I fussed and worried over it far too much and for far too long this year, but can say I'm pretty happy with what we've got here.

I can always try again next year!

Hope some of you find a few things to enjoy about it.

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa! Happy New Year!

 The 2017 Box of Joy

01. Carol of the Guitars - The Spongetones
02. Everyday Is Christmas - Swag
03. Winter Wonderland - Becky Barksdale
04. Run Rudolph, Run - Cheap Trick
05. Christmas for Everyone - Halford
06. Saint Nick's Last Kick - The Hasselhoff Experiment
07. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - The Butties
08. Santa's Moon Party - Crying Day Care Choir
09. An Awful Christmas and a Lousy New Year - Swamp Dogg
10. Nun Gimmel Heh Shin - The LeeVees
11. See You in December - The Minus 5
12. Rock 'n' Roll Christmas - The Connection
13. All I Want to Do Is Shag for Christmas - The BellRays
14. Holiday Heroes - Alan Merrill
15. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Eban Schletter
16. Do You Hear What I Hear? - The Anita Kerr Singers
17. Christmas Hell - Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of the British Empire
18. Christmastime in Painsville - Deadbeat Poets
19. Takin' Care of Christmas - Randy Bachman
20. Papai Noël Voltou - Os Carburadores
21. Island of Misfit Toys / Little Drummer Boy - Neutrino
22. Mystic Snowman - Lez Zeppelin

Holy Cow!!! Christmas of 2016 Already!?!

Boy Howdy! I'm feeling older every day! There's a good reason for that, too.

The best thing about time flying, though (other than the fact that we're having so much fun) is that Christmas comes back around so quickly!

And so… The 2016 Christmas Mix is Upon Us.

Hope you dig it!

Don't care if you don't!

Merry Christmas!

The 2016 Traitor Vic Holiday Mix

01. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Tim Gill & The Tim Gill All Stars
02. Joyful Noise - The Empty Hearts
03. Come On People (Have a Merry Christmas) - The '60s Invasion
04. Swell Noël / Good King Wenceslas - Wonderlux
05. Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' - Bill Murray & George Clooney
06. Jingle Bell - Ehsaas
07. ¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe! - The Killers w/ Wild Light & Mariachi El Bronx
08. Ka Po La'ela'e Ka Hikina Mai - Amy Hānaialiʻi
09. Carol of the Bells - The Melvins
10. We Three Kings - Kurt Elling
11. Jingle Bells - Samuele Pagliarani
12. A Very Brent Amaker Christmas - Brent Amaker & The Rodeo
13. Bethlehem Bound - The Grandsons
14. (I Wish You Could Be More Like) Santa Claus - The Waistcoats
15. Christmas All the Time - Green Pajamas
16. Santa's Drunk - Fathead
17. Punch Bowl Full of Joy - Sonny Columbus & His Del Fuegos
18. Crazy AceMas - Crazy Aces
19. Double-O Santa - Seks Bomba
20. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Penny & Sparrow
21. Richard Hung His Sock - Angry Snowmans

Wow! It's like Deja Vu All Over Again!

I posted this last year, but it expired so quickly on the Zippy one that I assumed no one cared at all. I was probably right.

Still… I thought I'd give it another shot.

Git it if you want it. Don't if you don't. It's a Free Country. It's a Free Download.

The 2015 Traitor Vic Holiday Mix

01. Christmas Is Coming  - Payola$

02. Blue Suede Santa - Hillbilly Casino
03. Mama's Twistin' with Santa - 45 RPM
04. Little Drummer Boy (Funky Drummer) - The Strange Echo

05. Deck the Halls - Little Jimmy Thomas

06. Yes, Virginia - Scott Miller

07. Honky Tonk Christmas - 5 Chinese Brothers

08. Pabst Blue Christmas - Mikey Chuck Rivers

09. Xmas in the Jailhouse - Ox

10. Waffle House Hanukkah - Dan Bern

11. Chanukah's Da Bomb - Chutzpah

12. Christmakwanzakah - Dan Band

13. Feliz Navidad - Little V Mills

14. Skank 'til Christmas - The Selecter

15. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - The Neon Ambience
16. Darlin' (Christmas Is Coming) - Over the Rhine

17. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Harry Bells

18. Christmas Tipsy - honeyhoney

19. All I Got for Christmas Was Drunk - Better Off Dead

20. Here Come the Christmas Zombies - Area 25

21. (You'll Never Be) Alone on Christmas Day - Mike Love
22. Santa Isn't Real - Bandrew

23. All I Got for Xmas Was a Bike - Quiet Marauder

24. Disco Christmas in Hamster Land - Parry Gripp

25. Secret Santa - The Barbary Coasters

26. Angels in the Snow - Mike Plume Band

С Новым Годом (& С Рождеством Христовым, слишком)Re-Uploaded

And Here It Is!!!

The 2014 WTF Xmas Mix!

Dig It! Or Don't.

I think it's a bit toned down in comparison to prior posts. I also think it holds up well, however, with repeated listenings.

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

С Новым Годом (& С Рождеством Христовым, слишком)

1. Gloria - AR Music
2. What Child Is This? - Sleepy Sun
3. Francincense - The Prog World Orchestra
4. The Little Drummer Boy - Brave Combo
5. Angels We Have Heard on High - Bad Religion
6. Winter Wonderland - Abney Park
7. Bleak Mid-Winter - Erasure
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Kate Rusby
9. Just Me and These Ponies (For Christmas This Year) - Corb Lund
10. Everything Is Cool - John Prine
11. Do You Hear What I Hear? - William Beckett
12. Christmas Must Be Tonight - Hall & Oates
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - The Wave Benders
14. Linus and Lucy - The Brantley Family Band
15. Flat Screens - Danielle Ate the Sandwich
16. Santa Stole My Girlfriend - The Maine
17. Because It’s Christmastime - Parry Gripp
18. Peanut Brittle Brigade March - USAF Airmen of Note
19. Merry Christmas - The Automatics
20. Santa Claws Is Coming 2 Town - Bandrew
21. Reggie the Christmas Hamster - Parry Gripp
22. Wandele in de snie - Beppie Kraft
23. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - The Kickin’ Kazoos
24. 赤鼻のトナカイ - Yuki Uchida

A Hurried, but Happy Holiday PostRe-Uploaded

I'm sorry to say that I don't have a lot of time to spend on this. 'Tis the Holiday Season and, as such, my life is rather frenzied lately.

Right now, our local PBS Station is playing a Lawrence Welk Christmas Special (which I'm allowing myself to miss parts of in order to post this) and I've a Christmas Party to attend later this evening, along with another tomorrow.

Didn't want to put this off any longer, though.

This is another of the records that I grew up with. It's really incredibly groovy and I hope it warms a few hearts out there.

The Wonderful Songs of Christmas
with
The Harry Simeone Chorale

1. Pat-a-Pam
2. Silver Bells
3. It's Christmas Again
4. White Christmas
5. Twelve Days of Christmas
6. Do You Hear What I Hear?
7. Sleigh Ride
8. Christmas Child
9. Masters in This Hall
10. Carol of the Star
11. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
12. March of the Angels

More detailed info on this record can be found on Discogs: Here

A couple of quick notes: I believe that I misspelled the name of Track 1 as "Pat-a-Pan", as opposed to the correct "Pat-a-Pam", in the process of ripping this album. Also, I've noticed that there is a skip in one of the tracks.

I'll correct these errors, replace the linked file, and post links to the repaired tracks later.

Happy Holidays!!! Stick This in Your Ear!!!

Keep pokin' it in there until it hurts. It probably won't take too long.

You're probably safe through the first half of this post. The first half consists of album entitled "A Christmas Festival" by The Philadelphia Orchestra, Conducted by Eugene Ormandy, along with the Temple University Concert Choir and the St. Francis de Sales Boychoir.

This is a Really Great Christmas Album!

Monophonic recording from 1964 -

A Christmas Festival

1. O Tannenbaum
2. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
3. Little Drummer Boy
4. I Wonder as I Wander
5. For Unto Us a Child Is Born
6. Here We Go A-Caroling
7. Good King Wenceslas
8. Away in a Manger
9. Jingle Bells
10. We Three Kings of Orient Are
11. Hallelujah Chorus
12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

The second half is much less interesting. It's called "Christmas at Ye Olde Fireplace with Charlie Spivak".

Charlie Spivak, a trumpeter and bandleader best known for his big band in the 1940s, sounds like he's barely awake throughout the entire recording.

Ye Olde Fireplace was a Steakhouse in Greenville, SC in the 60s and 70s. Spivak was the resident band leader for much of that time.

Christmas at
Ye Olde Fireplace with Charlie Spivak

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
2.  The Christmas Song
3. Silver Bells
4. I'll Be Home for Christmas
5. Greensleeves
6. Silent Night
7. Home for the Holidays
8. Medley: Santa Claus is Coming to Town /
   Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
9. Winter Wonderland
10. Blue Christmas
11. White Christmas
12. Adeste Fideles
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Hope this helps you get your Holiday Season off to a good start!

The 2013 Christmas MixRe-Uploaded

Oh My God!!! He's Gone and Done It Again!!!

Oh My God!!! It's Christmas!!!
 
1. Colder with Snow - Radio Spot
2. Why Don't We Jingle in the Road? - The Kendal Mintcake
3. I Want a Monkey for Christmas - The Barbary Coasters
4. Get Your X-mas On! - Higgins
5. Funky Christmas - Otis Zee & The Sambuka Band
6. Ice Ice Snow - Cheekyboy (Vanilla Ice vs Martina McBride)
7. Christmas Time - Far Too Jones
8. O Come, All Ye Faithful - Jeffrey Foskett
9. We Three Kings - We Shot the Moon
10. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Steve Stevens
11. Rock This Christmas Down - Lita Ford & Cherie Currie
12. Snowball - Jimmy Fallon
13. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Jingle Punx
14. Mrs. Claus' Kimono - Drive-By Truckers
15. Merry Christmas Kiss My Ass - Chevy Chase
16. Christmas All Summer Long - Deer Tick
17. Snow Day - Bleu
18. When the Elf Comes to Town - The Roundheads
19. I Believe In the Virgin Megastore - Cassetteboy
20. Christmas Time Is Here - Starflyer 59
21. Christmas Waltz [Awayteam Remix] - Nancy Wilson
22. Fruitcake - The Superions
23. Facebook Friend for Christmas - Randy Franklin
24. Give Me a Second Chance for Christmas - Mike Viola & Candy Butchers
25. Christmas Time Is Here Again! - Helix
26. Holidaze (S'Cuze Me, I've Got Gifts to Buy) - Bob Rivers
27. Let's Hear It for the Fat Man - Quicksilver
28. Richard Cheese's Birthday Song for Jesus - Richard Cheese
29. Santa's Gonna Kick Your Ass - The Arrogant Worms
30. Santa Claus, the Original Hippie - Homer & Jethro

Finally... Just Plain Christmas!!! Not Extra-Crispy.Re-Uploaded

Not My Rip!

I've promised, several times I think, that if I ever found this record I'd post it. Well… Guess What!?!

I found this out on Usenet. I don't even remember which Newsgroup it was posted in. It's a very decent rip and I was happy to add it to my Christmas Collection.

 Have an Original Recipe Christmas! 
 
Allow me to apologize for not being any more active on the blog for the last couple of years. I assume that most of you are aware that there was a Great Upheaval a while back in which many of the blogs that posted Out-of-Print materials, including a good number which were operated by people who I consider friends, were taken down or destroyed by various means.

I've got to admit that watching my friends' hard work being destroyed was disturbing.
Several posts here at The Tuna Melt were also targeted.
After going to the trouble of ripping an album to Mp3, cleaning the pops and scratches,
organizing the files and tagging them correctly, compressing them into a single archive file,
uploading that file to a file sharing site, and composing a blog post in which to
share it with the world, to have that work struck down comes as a real slap in the face.

Very much of the joy of operating The Tuna Melt,
and of sharing my interests with the world, has been compromised.

Most of the links in the posts on this blog are dead by now and I'm not certain that I want to spend the time and effort to bring them back to life. The suggestion has been made that it might be best if no mention of an Artist or Album Title be made in a post (in order to avoid being identified by automated "Search Bots", so I'm not going to mention this album in this post, or post its tracklist. These precautions may be over the top, but I think most of you will be able to figure out what the album is and what's on it from looking at the picture, eh?

The Tuna Melt has survived other situations like this one in the past.
If I can find a way to begin to enjoy doing it again I may be back someday.

To any of you who have enjoyed anything that you've
found here in the past I offer my thanks for helping me to spread a little joy.

Thanks for visiting and Happy Holidays!

Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra: A Christmas Cocktail

Voldar is BACK!!!


'Bout Damn Time, Too! I know, I know… Christmas is almost here and we're gettin' off to a late start.

The fact of the matter is that the current economic misfortunes effecting much of the planet Earth have begun to take their toll on Mars as well. As our few-in-number and highly secretive Earth-Based Trading Partners have experienced financial downturns, we've suffered right along with you. As a result, my schedule has become rather erratic to the point at which it is difficult to plan ahead and/or work around.

Now that I'm here, though, I'll try to spruce up the season with a few choice holiday offerings from Traitor Vic's expansive collection.

Speaking of whom, Vic apparently took my late arrival as a sign that I had decided not to show up this year and, so, was caught completely off guard by my appearance. I've taken it easy on him this year and locked him into the shed in the back yard instead of the closet that I usually put him in. He should be relatively comfortable there for the time being. I'll allow him to come out on Christmas Eve, of course, so that he can run to the store to get me some refreshments to enjoy as we await a visit from Santa Claus. In the meantime… I plan to share some of the selections he has that are on Compact Disc, as opposed to the time consuming Vinyl Rips that he limits his own offerings to.

You are welcome to enjoy this holiday collection, from 1996, by Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra. Jaymz is a musician, writer and radio personality from Canada. Along with The Royal Jelly Orchestra, and another combo called The Deep Lounge Coalition, he has released several collections of modern day pop tunes performed in an Easy Jazz, Lounge Style. He's also recognized as a bit of a Cocktail/Lounge Authority, having written "Cocktail Parties for Dummies" in 1997.

Jaymz Bee & The Royal Jelly Orchestra: A Christmas Cocktail

1. Jingle Bells
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
3. It's Christmas Time (Oh Yeah)
4. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
6. White Christmas
7. Winter Wonderland
8. The Christmas Song
9. Christmas Cocktail
10. Sleigh Ride
11. Space Age Santa
12. Carol of the Bells
13. The Little Drummer Boy

International Pop Orchestra / 110 Musicians: Christmas Favorites

One Last Shot Before Santa Get's Here!


Boy Howdy! I've had a Hoot here on Earth over the last few weeks. I got to go to some cool places and see some cool stuff!

This is the barn in Traitor Vic's backyard. I think it looks pretty nice at Christmas Time.


This is the wreath that hangs on the barn at Christmas Time.


I also got to visit a place called Tiny Town (which, of course, we on Mars were already aware of because of it's Extreme Incandescence). It was Marvelous! It was Horrifying! It was Awful!




Now, sadly, it comes to an end. I'll be letting Traitor Vic out of the closet that I've had him locked in in just a few moments. We'll sling up in the den, waiting for that fat dude to tumble down the chimney, and get to work on the remainder of the 12-pack of Yuengling from which Santa's beer was chosen.

This is what we did last year and it didn't turn out so well. Santa arrived to find that I had consumed his beer and eaten his "patè on a cracker" treats and, to say the least, was not happy. He immediately announced that he found me to be "Bad", tossed a lump of coal into my stocking, yanked it from the mantel and began pounding me in the head with it.

I'm learning the Respect that comes with the Fear of that dude. Santa Claus is not to be messed with.

Hope all of you have been good little boys and girls this year! And, whether you have or not, here is my final present to you for 2009. It's a good ol' Wyncote record, so you know it's just perfectly mediocre, but in a marvelous way!

It's 10:10PM, Eastern Standard Time, on Christmas Eve now and NORAD has just reported that Santa has just arrived on the East Coast of the United States, so I need to run now. I've got a long drive tomorrow. Hope to see you all again next year!

International Pops Orchestra / 110 Musicians: Christmas Favorites

1. O Come All Ye Faithful
2. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
3. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
4. O Little Town of Bethlehem
5. Joy to the World
6. Deck the Halls
7. The First Noel
8. Good King Wenceslaus
9. O Holy Night
10. We Three Kings of Orient Are
11. Silent Night
    

Ken Griffin: The Organ Plays at Christmas

Gettin' all ORGANIC at Christmas Time!


This Album Is Good for the Planet! If you Download It, and listen to it, You'll Be Less Likely to Purchase a "Environment Destroying Product".

Ken Griffin was HUGE in the 50s (probably the most popular and biggest selling Organ Player of all). I've never found him to be nearly as interesting as Lenny Dee, but I do like his Holiday Offerings.

I think you will too!

Ken Griffin: The Organ Plays at Christmas

1. Joy to the World
2. Silent Night
3. Silver Bell
4. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Away in a Manger
6. The First Nowell
7. Adeste Fideles
8. O Little Town of Bethlehem
9. Kringle's Jingle
10. Here Comes Santa Claus
11. I'll Be Home for Christmas
12. White Christmas

I gotta admit… This record just Dries Me Right the Hell Out! It makes me Thirsty as Can Be!

I allowed Traitor Vic to come out of his closet earlier tonight and he hit a HOMERUN, boy howdy! We enjoy this drink, too, around The Holidays on Mars. Of course, the Holidays we enjoy it around are different from yours, but that's okay. We call this one The Thing Attached to The Side of The Supersonic Space Rocket. It's a cultural difference.

The Sidecar

Here's how you make it:

2 oz. brandy

½ oz. cuantreau

Juice of ½ lemon

Shake and serve in a Cocktail Glass with a Sugar Rim.

Various Artists: The 2009 Tuna Melt Christmas Mix

Another Big Ol' Pile o' Christmas!

Okay. I've been bad, I suppose. I told Traitor Vic that I'd let him come out of his closet for good if he helped me put my 2009 Christmas Mix together. I lied. I pushed his butt back into the closet and locked the door the second we got done with this. I'll let him come out and stay, though, when it's time for me to leave.

In the meantime, here's our 2009 Christmas Mix! Hope you enjoy some of it!

Various Artists: The Traitor Vic 2009 Christmas Mix

1. We Three Kings of Orient Are - The Boxmasters
2. Santa Claus Is Back in Town - Canned Heat
3. Blue White Christmas - Barely Pink
4. Rasta Reindeer - The Bobs
5. Merry Christmas James Brown - The Peanuts Gang
6. Gettin' Down for Xmas - Milly & Silly
   
7. Christmas Time All Over the World - The Smithereens
8. Psycho - Thirsty Dave's Western Caravan
9. Squat - Shelby Lynne
10. Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk - Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison
11. Merry Christmas from a Bar - Mike Ireland & Holler
12. Santa's Out of Rehab By Christmas - Adam's House Cat
13. Black & Blue Christmas - Unknown Hinson
14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Rocket Park
15. Something Horrible
16. Hark! The Helter Skelter - Dave aka Tuco
17. Here Comes Santa Claus Back in Black - Elvis vs AC/DC (a Voicedude Mashup)
18. Away in a Manger - Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra
19. Inglejay Ellsbay - A Pig Latin Christmas
20. The Little Drummer Boy - Kenny Burrell
21. Jingle Bells - Wing
22. Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels
23. Chrismastime - The Nourallah Brothers
24. Christmas Boy - The Spongetones
25. Fruity-Cake Fruitcake - Bah & The Humbugs
26. Christmas Rhapsody - Pledge Drive
27. Happy Kwanzaa - Teddy Pendergrass

The Ames Brothers: There'll Always Be a Christmas

Back to Mono for the Holidays!

Here's one that it is possible to find on Compact Disc, but I highly doubt you're gonna run out this week and get it at your local record store. It's one of Traitor Vic's favorite Christmas Records of all time and he's been listening to and loving this monophonic copy for over 45 years.

The Ames Bros.: There'll Always Be a Christmas

1. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
2. Deck the Halls
3. O Holy Night! (Cantique de Noël)
4. Silver Bells
5. What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
6. Jingle Bells
7. Good King Wenceslas
8. The Night Before Christmas Song
   
9. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
10. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
11. Go Tell It on the Mountain
12. There'll Always Be a Christmas

I have found that some of the tracks on this album can cause one feel a bit dry. If this happens while you're listening to it, I would suggest quenching your thirst with one of these.

The Candy Cane Martini

1½ oz. vodka
1 tsp. peppermint schnapps
1 oz. club soda

Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.
Shake once or twice. Stir. Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with small candy cane.

Various Artists: Happy Sparkly Christmas 2007

More Old-Timey Christmas!

Okay. This isn't THAT Old-Timey, but it IS the Christmas Mix that I made back in 2007. That was only about a year ago on Mars, but its Two Years on Earth and that is A Long Time.

It's silly. It is, just as the one from 2008, the collection that I put together to show my friends on Mars how silly you Earthlings get around the holidays. I think you will enjoy it.

Various Artists: Happy Sparkly Christmas 2007

1. S. Claus Files Unusual Flight Plan - North American Air Defense Command
2. Linus n Lucy - Ursula 1000
3. Santa Claus Done Brought Himself to Town - Justin Wilson
4. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Michael Doucet
5. Santa's Got a Bag of Soul - The Soul Saints Orchestra
6. Hang on Rudolph - The Ebenezer Scrooge Appreciation Society
7. Do You Hear What I Hear? / You Really Got Me - Bobby Lloyd & The Skeletons
8. Sock It to Me, Santa - Marshall Crenshaw
9. Santa Had a Wreck - Terry Anderson & The O.A.K. Team
10. Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' - Mack Rice
11. Soul Christmas - Graham Parker (with Nona Hendryx)
12. Noël - Kees Kraayenoord
13. The Little Drummer Boy - The Dandy Warhols
14. In the Bleak Mid-Winter - Shawn Colvin
15. Boas Festas - Joyce
16. We Three Kings - Cuba L.A.
17. Candy Cane Madness - Lowell George & The Factory
18. Boogie Woogie Christmas - Ricky Godfrey & Rudy Blue Shoes
19. I Hate Christmas - Oscar the Grouch
20. Ho Ho Ho & a Bottle of Rum - The Cucumbers
21. S.A.N.T.A. - The Christmas Jug Band

William Wright & John Reiman: A Christmas Present

It's an Old-Timey Christmas

This record consists of Christmas Tunes played in the Old-Time Music style. Old-Time Music is a term used to refer to real Appalachian Folk Music of the Pre-Bluegrass era and is, actually, just old White Folks' Folk Music. It is the type of music that was made by early Anglo-Celtic settlers in America. The instruments used on this album are Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Bells, Triangle and Tambourine.

This album was released on Rooster Records of Bethel, Vermont, in 1980 and includes several "newer" songs (such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" from 1948, and "Frosty the Snowman" from 1950), but the musical arrangements remain true to the Old-Time style throughout.

For more info on Old-Time Music see David Lynch's Old-Time Music Home Page.

William Wright & John Reiman: A Christmas Present

1. Good King Wenceslas
2. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Frosty the Snowman
4. O Tannenbaum
5. God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen
6. Oh, Holy Night
7. Jingle Bells
8. Angels We Have Heard on High
9. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
10. We Three Kings
11. Deck the Halls
12. Joy to the World
13. Wassail Song

As you're listening to this Old-Time Music, allow me to suggest an Old-Time Heartwarmer:

Hot Toddy
1 oz. bourbon

4 oz. boiling water
1 tsp. sugar
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon slice, thinly sliced
1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

Put sugar, cloves, cinnamon stick and lemon slice into a mug or Irish coffee glass.
Add 1 oz. of boiling water. Stir. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Add bourbon and 3 oz. of boiling water. Stir well. Dust with freshly grated nutmeg.

Last Year's News: The 2008 Christmas Mix

I Wish He Would Shut Up!!!


Traitor Vic is raisin' all kinds of hell in that closet I keep him in. He's not tryin' to get out. He's just ticked off 'cause he knows that each year, upon visiting your planet for the Holiday Season, I put together a Mix of Holiday Enjoyments to share with my buddies back on THE RED PLANET. He's pissed 'cause I have not been sharing them with all of you Earth Morons.

I gotta admit… He doesn't like the fact that I'm taking his lousy Earth Music back to Mars and telling all of my friends how coo… uh… I mean Interesting it is, and not sharing such information with Earthbound Humans. He thinks I should begin sharing these items with you! Just to shut him up, I think I'll do it. I prefer a Silent Bartender, for Pete's Sake!

That being said… Here is last year's mix. I'll probably share the one from the year before pretty soon, but don't think that's going to slow the irregularity with which I post Christmas Stuff otherwise.

Various Artists: Merry Christmas 2008

1. Big Red and Cool Yule - Jimmy Bowman
2. Funky Funky Christmas - Electric Jungle
3. Black Christmas - Rose Graham
4. Noel - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
5. The Little Drummer Boy - The Soulful Strings
6. Santa's Got a Brand New Bag - Gary Walker & The Boogie Kings
7. Xmas Twist - The Twistin' Kings
8. Rock 'n' Roll-Y Poly Santa Claus - Lillian Briggs w/ O.B. Masingill & His Orchestra
9. Rockin' Santa Claus - The Martells
10. Christmas Is Pain - The Foremen
11. O Little Town of Bethlehem - Bob Rivers
12. Kill a Tree for Christ - Celtic Elvis
13. Psychedelic Santa - Buzz Zeemer
14. The Little Drummer Boy - The Screaming Santas
15. Jingle Bells - The Fab Four
16. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - The Legendary Shack-Shakers
17. What I Really Want for Christmas - Brian Wilson
18. Purple Reindeer - Steve Altman
19. White Christmas - Corporal Blossom
20. What Child Is This? - Jorma Kaukonen
21. Some Children See Him in Houses of the Holy - James Taylor / Not Led Zeppelin

The Mexicali Brass: Christmas with The Mexicali Brass

Santa's Goin' South of the Border!

This record has been shared numerous times on several sharity sites and blogs over the years, but I thought I'd toss this copy out because, as technology and internet bandwidth have improved, the ability to post files of a higher bitrate has expanded. This is a pretty darn clean copy at 360kbps. I also gave in to my more prurient desire to post this cover on The Tuna Melt. Hubba Hubba!

I have no information whatsoever on The Mexicali Brass except that they were, apparently, created by Crown Records (a subsidiary of the Bihari Brothers' Modern Records) in order to cash in on the popularity of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass and The Baja Marimba Band.

All of the budget labels had these bands but The Mexicali Brass put out quite a few albums. This was one of three Christmas collections by them. The other two are called "Jingle Bells" and "Winter Wonderland". Search around the blogosphere and you'll probably be able to find them. Also, get over to Easy Listening World to check out "Tijuana Christmas" by the Torero Band.

Get this one first, though, if you want it.

The Mexicali Brass: Christmas with The Mexicali Brass

1. Jingle Bells
   
2. O' Little Town of Bethlehem
   
3. The First Noel
   
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
   
5. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
   
6. White Christmas
7. O' Come All Ye Faithful
8. Deck the Halls
   
9. Joy to the World
   
10. Silent Night

Traitor Vic got to come out of his closet again this evening because it got COLD OUTSIDE! I needed something to warm me up and he helped out with a Hot Buttered Rum.

Hot Buttered Rum

1 tsp. brown sugar

4 oz. boiling water
1 whole clove
2 oz. dark Jamaican rum
1 tsp. unsalted butter
1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

Combine the brown sugar with the boiling water in a mug or Irish coffee glass. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add the clove and the rum and float the butter on top. Dust with freshly grated nutmeg.

Robert Eason & Gerald Knott: The Spectacular Organ & Chimes of Westminster

Chime on In for Christmas!

There are, of course, about 5,792,478 (give or take a few) "Organ & Chimes" Christmas Records out there. It was an incredibly popular format from the 30s through the 60s. Since the music on these records was performed on traditional "church instruments" the songs contained tend to be, primarily, the more traditional and religious of the Christmas choices (no "Frosty the Snowman" or "Up on the Housetop" here).

Amazingly, the range of sounds available within the "Christmas Organ & Chimes" catalog is wide and deep. Some records feature the organ over the chimes and others the chimes over the organ. Some records include an orchestra or choral group in addition to the primary instruments while others do not. You could easily fill an entire 160GB iPod with nothing but "Organ & Chimes" Christmas music and have enough variety to hold your interest for at least an hour or so.

The music on this record tends to remain very similar throughout and features the chimes playing the melody with the organ backing. While it may not be the most exciting holiday music ever heard, it is lovely traditional music for the season.

Robert Eason (Organ) & Gerald Knott (Carillon):
The Spectacular Organ and Chimes of Westminster

1. Silent Night
2. O Little Town of Bethlehem
3. Good King Wenceslas
4. Angels We Have Heard on High
5. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
6. O Tannenbaum
7. We Three Kings
8. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
9. O Come All Ye Faithful
10. O Holy Night
11. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
12. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
13. The First Noel
14. Joy to the World
15. Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly
16. Away in a Manger
17. What Child Is This
18. Angels from the Realms of Glory

Tex Johnson and His Six Shooters: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Stick 'em Up, Earth Pardners!


Okay, boys and girls. Get ready for some Rootin', Tootin' Holiday Cheer of the Country & Western variety. This record, as a matter of fact, contains several songs that have not a darn thing to do with Christmas or Holidays at all. It remains, however, a sentimental favorite for many of the American Baby Boomer Generation.
For an album released by such an obscure group/artist, there is an amazing amount of discussion concerning this one out there in Cyberville. There's not much actual information available, but there's a great deal of discussion. Just do a search on "Tex Johnson & His Six Shooters" and you'll find out everything that anybody knows about it.
I have tagged the Christmas songs as being such (in the Genre tag category), and tagged the non-Holiday material as Country & Western, in order to assist in keeping them separate.

Tex Johnson and His Six Shooters: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

1. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
2. When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter
3. Fum Fum Fum
4. Wait for the Wagon (On Christmas Day)
5. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
6. Cheyenne
7. A Merry Merry Christmas to You
8. Pride of the Prairie Mary
9. The Night Before Christmas Song
10. San Antonio
11. Just as the Sun Went Down
12. Go Tell It on the Mountain

Liberace: A Liberace Christmas

Voldar Returns!


Yes, silly Earth People, I am back! I have traveled the entire 48,678,972 or so miles in my tiny personal interplanetary shuttle in order to spend the holiday season with you. I hope you are all enjoying your silly Earth holidays and are ready to listen to some of the extraordinary sounds that I have gathered (mostly from thrift stores) in my cosmic travels. Traitor Vic, as usual, will not be spending the holidays with us. I am planning to ambush him when he returns from his Thanksgiving Feast Celebration tomorrow and to lock him in a closet until the first of next year. Don't worry, though. He's used to it by now. He'd probably be disappointed if it didn't happen. In his absence, I'll plan on sharing with you a pile of Holiday Tunage guaranteed to put you right into the Holiday Spirit.

I'm also going to allow Traitor Vic to emerge from his closet, on occasion, to mix for me a Festive Holiday Cocktail or two (or seven). I will be posting photos and recipes as time and sobriety allow.

Now lets get started with our Holiday Celebration, shall we?

For starters I present a record that I rescued from an organization calling themselves The Salvation Army. I am somewhat familiar with this group as Martian Intelligence Agencies have identified them as the employers of many of your planet's Santa Claus Wannabes during the Christmas season. I also rescued a really cool Blender from them and plan to return for more goodies before I leave your stupid planet.

This record is by a man who wears very beautiful clothes. He, like myself, goes by only one name. Traitor Vic has told me that he passed on in what you know as 1987. I know little about him otherwise, but I feel he must have been a very decent human being. I do not understand what Traitor Vic meant when he told me that Liberace was a "flaming queen".

Liberace: A Liberace Christmas

1. Medley: O Tannenbaum / We Wish You a Merry Christmas
2. What Child Is This?
3. Medley: Jingle Bells / White Christmas / Adeste Fidelis / Silent Night
4. Coventry Carol
5. Jesu Bambino
6. The Little Drummer Boy
7. Medley: O Little Town of Bethlehem / It Came Upon a Midnight Clear / Joy to the World
8. Ave Maria
9. Silver Bells
10. O Holy Night
11. Medley: Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Here Comes Santa Claus