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Lunchtime Christmas Video: Louis Armstrong

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* Go, cat, go with that Cool Yule…

So dig, Santa comes on big

Feel free to tell us about your favorite Christmas/holiday tunes in comments, and don’t forget to link to the videos if you can.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 12:05 pm

Comments

Went to the holiday choral at Percy Julian Junior High in Oak Park where they did a swinging rendition of Satchmo’s “Is that you Santa Claus?”

It was an alarming display of diversity: Christmas songs, Hannukah songs, songs in German (Kwanza, maybe?), winter songs and more, all sung by smiling children — white, Hispanic, black, Asian; Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and some probably unaffiliated.

If they knew how this focus on respect and tolerance was undermining our culture, they wouldn’t have been so happy.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 12:25 pm
Has to be the 60’s trifecta from Ray Raynor and Frazier Thomas:
“Hardrock, Coco, and Joe”, “Suzie Snowflake”, and “Frosty”.

Comment by Newsclown Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 12:27 pm
Always liked “The Christmas Song”. Nat King Cole’s rendition is the best.

Comment by Jimbos Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:00 pm
I’ll probably get flamed for this but I always enjoyed “Wonderful Christmastime” by the great Paul McCartney.

Comment by Stones Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:01 pm
–I’ll probably get flamed for this but I always enjoyed “Wonderful Christmastime” by the great Paul McCartney.–

Were you in some barricade/standoff situation where the federales played it loudly all day and night? Did it get you to come out?

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:06 pm
-Were you in some barricade/standoff situation where the federales played it loudly all day and night? Did it get you to come out?-

I never said it was one of Paul’s better songs but it’s not as bad as some paint it to be. I think some people just have lofty expectations from a former Beatle.

Comment by Stones Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:13 pm
Hardrock, Cocoa and Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT5Ohgl7eTM

I heard a Jimmy Durante cover of Frosty the Snowman this morning while in line at Walgreens. I had two thoughts–I’m not sure I’d ever heard that before and I’m old, I know who Jimmy Durante was.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:13 pm
It’s too bad Phil Specter decided to start killing people because he produced an amazing Christmas album long ago. Nothing is better than that “Wall of Sound” in the Ronettes’ version of “Sleigh Ride”!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku1CMW7Zkwg

Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:20 pm
Word — You probably don’t remember when the PC police — an actual arm of the OP force — went berserk because the high school was performing religious Christmas music? You know, that Bach and Mozart kind of stuff… (Actually, I think it was Menotti. I’ll check.)

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:25 pm
Speaking of holiday jazz tunes, “Sound Opinions” just released its annual mix tape of unusual or off-beat Christmas music. This year, they focused on jazz versions of old favorites:

http://christmas.soundopinions.org/

Comment by Edge of the 14th Ward Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:27 pm
http://youtu.be/ibE0oTMMKXo

One of my favorites

Comment by Lefty Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:27 pm
Soccermom, I do remember that. Crazy. They didn’t stock Hemingway books in the school library for the longest time, too.

When my oldest son was in grade school, I think the only song the p.c.-principal allowed them to sing was “Save Big Money at Menards.”

Last night, I was happy to see some common sense prevailing.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:31 pm
I always liked this one from the ’80s and the MTV heydays

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR07r0ZMFb8

Comment by SportShoz Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:33 pm
Gotta love Eartha Kitt (don’t love the”friends” on this, but Ms. KItt is her usual amazing self. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOMmSbxB_Sg&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLA42E5F492E9445D8
And Judy Garland singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” always makes me cry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4lY8Y3eoo

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:36 pm
Soccermom has absolutely no desire to work this afternoon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp3UoqOkFJo

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:41 pm
Laurence Msall, this one’s for you. Merry Christmas! (And is it possible that Santa works for the BGA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSgEDKjmT5o

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 1:49 pm
If you ever have the chance to attend the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy holiday show, do it. Great fun, but be sure to find a venue that allows dancing!

In a similar vein, I’ve been digging on all the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas albums, particularly the Nutcracker Suite. There’s also an album called Ultra Lounge for a great 50’s retro throwback feel. I can’t wait to have a space big enough to hold a decent party just so I can play it in the background.

Comment by Colossus Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 2:23 pm
Thanks for the Satchmo, dig that sound. If I had to listen to the “Hardrock, Coco and Joe” song more than once, I might have to cut my ears off. But then I would have to listen to “Stuck in the Middle with You”. For all the Grinchs out there have a taste of Miles Davis and Bob Dorough’s Blue Christmas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L709TEfqHAU&feature=related

Merry Christmas all.

Comment by Bitterman Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 2:27 pm
Thanks for this.
I cannot really explain it, but Louis Armstrong had the best timing of anyone I ever heard. He’s special.

Comment by walkinfool Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 2:54 pm
The video of Santa riding the CTA Holiday train has a great soundtrack http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=R5q0bj7h5Ao#!

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 3:15 pm
Cheryl44, that is a good video. Thanks!

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 3:19 pm
Love Hard Rock, Coco and Joe but hands down get the most warm fuzzies from the classic White Christmas. Sung here in a holiday special featuring El Bingo and Frank Sinatra. I think I feel the need for a Tom and Jerry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFYM7SMlb48&feature=related

Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby - Happy Holidays with Bing & Frank (Color) 20 Dec 1957 - White Christmas

In the fall of 1950, The Frank Sinatra Show joined CBS’ schedule. At the time, Sinatra was at the top of his career, so the show’s success was practically a given. CBS saddled the series with tough timeslots against the hits Your Show of Shows and Milton Berle’s Texaco Star Theater, though, and the series was cancelled after only two seasons.

Comment by ILoveLucy Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 3:29 pm
Friday night has the annual Letterman Christmas show with the football toss to hit the meatball on the tree, and the amazing Darlene Love singing. here’s the link from last year’s performance…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSbGzDy0xcM&feature=related

and because Darlene is so great, and it is the Festival of Lights right now, Saturday Night Live’s Robert Smigel put this piece together a few years ago. pretty amusing….
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/christmas-for-the-jews-song/50599

Comment by amalia Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 3:31 pm
i’m pretty melacholy about winter (what’s all the white stuff about?), but i have a whole list of tunes i depend on during the season. one i’m particularly hooked on this year is this version of “greensleeves” by mccoy tyner (with derek trucks):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT1b-s8WZe4

at the top of my christmix list, though, is allison krauss and natalie macmaster’s “get me through december:”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcWN6gmDKT0

anyone who isn’t mesmerized by krauss’ voice isn’t human. a perennial favorite of mine is “make it home” by juliana hatfield (for the television show, MSCL). this is a live version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl8PUa6TaqE

but december is also a season to remember those who were lost, including (this year) my mother, and i end my own playlist with “almost home” by mary chapen carpenter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6aBBf3ZYrg

and government mule (”Million Miles From Yesterday”):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHpR29KLRjQ

my christmix playlist ends with “little martha.” look it up. probably more than you ever wanted to know about me. play it loud…

Comment by bored now Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 3:43 pm
Hard Rock Coco and Joe is a local favorit. My kids liked it also. I also like “Silent Night”.
Also like the Crash Test Dummies version of The First Noel.
The creepiest one is “I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus”…clearly the kid who wrote that song required severe therapy for the remainder of his days.

Comment by Jake From Elwood Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 5:19 pm
Heirlooms by Amy Grant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T6lkhX7Nvw

Comment by Say WHAT? Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 6:42 pm
I’ve always liked this video of The Platters doing White Christmas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooc5eJc5SHA

Also, if you like the English tradition of the Christmas Cracker, here’s a version that’s been around for a few years:

http://creative.dialmediagroup.com/crackermatic/portland/index.html

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Rollicking Ramadan, Kickin’ Kwanzaa, whatever…. No congresscritters were harmed in the production of this greeting.

Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 8:39 pm
I mean The Drifters….

Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 8:40 pm
This might work better for Crackermatic:

http://creative.dialmediagroup.com/crackermatic2006/crackermatic_main.html

Comment by Excessively Rabid Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 9:05 pm
This is how we would party if we lived in house with Bob Dylan in Leland Grove. Well, some of us. Must be Santa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus

Comment by Marie Wednesday, Dec 21, 11 @ 10:03 pm

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