The Other F Word Podcast Earlier this month a friend of mind called me to ask if I would be willing to come on the relatively new podcast she was producing. I said, "Sure. What's the name of the podcast?" The Other F Word. I immediately thought "flatulence" and agreed I would be perfect for it. She then said, "It's about failure." Okay, so it wasn't flatulence. Bummer. But failure? (Actually, the preceding sentence should be the episode title for [...]
Best Christmas Songs - Just to Be With You (This Christmas) For the love of god I'm far behind in my 25 Days of Christmas songs list. Every year I swear I'm going to be on top of things and then every year the season gets away from me. New to the list this year is "Just to Be With You (This Christmas)" by Nick Lowe. It was released in 2013 on his Quality Street album. The song was written by [...]
Best Christmas Songs - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Okay, so Day 15 in my 25 Days of Christmas Songs list of what I think are the best Christmas songs is coming in on the 22nd. Oy. So far behind. Today it's a very rare recording of Amy Winehouse singing I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. I think it's from the Q Awards in 2004. Side note: The Pet Shop Boys were award the Q Inspiration Award and The Red Hot Chili Peppers [...]
Best Christmas Songs - A Christmas Song For You - The Kik Man oh man I am trying to catch up on my 25 Days of Christmas list, in which I countdown, in no particular order, what I think are best Christmas songs. "A Christmas Song For You" by The Kik is a fantastic throwback to the early 1960s Beatles beat. I can't find much info about Kik. Pretty much all I can find is the band is a Dutch band. [...]
Best Christmas Songs - Snowing in the East on Christmas I am so far behind in my 25 Days of Christmas list I can't stand it. This happens every year. I have to lay off the eggnog. Today's song is "Snowing in the East on Christmas" by Joseph Washington Jr. [embedplusvideo height="385" width="640" editlink="http://bit.ly/2hUVOAn" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/TE5gMWlifTg?fs=1" vars="ytid=TE5gMWlifTg&width=640&height=385&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=¬es=" id="ep7669" /] Snowing in the East on Christmas - Joseph Washington Jr. I can't find any information about Joseph Washington Jr. I have no idea [...]
Best Christmas Songs - 8 Days of Hanukkah Well, Day 13 of my 25 Days of Christmas Songs (Yes I know I'm a day behind), in which I count down what I think are the best Christmas songs, has to take a brief detour. The first day of Hanukkah falls on Christmas Eve this year so I thought I'd go with a Hanukkah song today. Now Hanukkah isn't known for its songs. In fact, none of the Jewish holidays are known for [...]
Best Christmas Songs - Mele Kalikimaka New to my 25 Days of Christmas Songs list, in which I countdown my favorite Christmas songs, is "Mele Kalikimaka" by Chris Isaak. Written in 1949 by Robert Alex Anderson,"Mele Kalikimaka" takes its title from the Hawaiian phrase Mele Kalikimaka, meaning "Merry Christmas". The most famous recording of it was by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1950. That's a pretty darn good recording but I prefer Chris' version. [embedplusvideo height="385" width="640" editlink="http://bit.ly/2gJvKcx" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/QMpXqW3Vifc?fs=1" [...]
Best Christmas Songs - Christmas in the Room Let's face it, Christmas is a time for bittersweet songs. For every kiss stolen under the mistletoe there's grief from the memory of family and friends no longer with us. Believe me, I know. Christmas in the Room by Sufjan Stevens Christmas in the Room captures the bittersweetness of the holidays and life. But the song by Sufjan Stevens (He has a brother named Marzuki. What up with those names?) hits on what's really [...]
Best Christmas Songs - Purple Snowflakes - Marvin Gaye Marvin Gaye's "Purple Snowflakes" makes it back on this year's 25 Days of Christmas Song list, in which I countdown (in no particular order) what I think are the best Christmas songs. This is a curious song. In 1965, Marvin Gaye released a single called "Pretty Little Baby" on the Tamla label. It was his second Top 40 single of 1965. The first being "I'll Be Doggone". Purple Snowflakes - Marvin Gaye The song was [...]
Best Christmas Songs - Presents for Christmas Oh man oh man, the R&B groove of "Presents For Christmas" by Solomon Burke is as smooth as an eggnog latte. This Christmas song, penned by Burke, has been a mainstay on my holiday song playlist for years. "Presents For Christmas" was produced in 1966 and released on a 45 (remember those?) by Atlantic in 1967. And I especially love the Sam Cooke tribute at the 2:06 mark. [embedplusvideo height="505" width="640" editlink="http://bit.ly/2hebLRs" standard="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZYPIgR-r8cI?fs=1" [...]
