Christmas 2012 is just around the corner....

My obsession with Christmas music reached a new peak this year. I think things started to get out of hand last year when I started emailing friends and family a daily wacky Christmas tune (Holiday Hijinks) and escalated  when I started my music blog this year. I realize that some people are annoyed with Christmas music..they complain that the tunes are tacky, excessive and repetitive..hmm....well, .those are three of my favorite concepts! and I have a healthy respect for obsessive behavior... Christmas music has a timeless quality that transcends generations and music genres. It does not matter if you have had a hit record in decades, there is always room for the 11,457th version of "White Christmas"!! Everyone from Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra to Kermit the Frog and John Travolta is welcome to the Christmas Music-feast! The Christmas music I introduced to my daughters is now being passed on to my grandchildren..How cool is that?!!

.From a Christmas music perspective, the personal highlight for me was the video that my buddy Dan M. created for me. The Raincoats- The Magic of Christmas was originally a home recording on cassette by me and my brothers back in the 80's. Dan preserved the magic of Christmas in video format for future generations to enjoy!

 Here are 2 more classic Christmas jams by Ray Charles and The Raveonettes.

Merry Christmas!

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition

 That last picture is me at JFK  Stadium in Philadelphia, 7-13-85, Live Aid Concert....

In late 1984, musicians from England (Band=Aid) recorded the song,"Do They Know It's Christmas", to raise money  for African Famine Relief. With this song, the pop music world rediscovered the fact that music could be used as a positive force to help those in need. American pop artists recorded, "We Are The World" in early 1985 which eventually. spawned The Live Aid Concerts in the summer of 85 in Philadelphia and London. Since the initial rebirth of  musical goodwill with The Band-Aid single, pop stars continue to come together during times of crisis (9-11,Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy,etc )  to raise awareness,spirits and money for our fellow brothers and sisters. Music heals..  Merry Christmas everyone!

 

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition

.

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition.

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition.

 

.

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition..

 

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition..

I

 

I had the pleasure of seeing the legendary Willie Nelson in Charlotte last night and he did 2 Christmas songs!

.

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition...

 

Beatles Christmas...talk about hijinks!

Before the age of digital downloads, the Beatles Christmas messages were very elusive items for the music collector. The Beatles recorded Christmas messages  at the end of each year and sent the vinyl single to members of the fan club only. If you were lucky, you might have been able to tape some of the messages from the radio if your local station played them during the holiday season. I had a few messages on cassette that were like gold to me!.
After the Beatles disbanded, all of the messages were compiled and mailed out as an album..once again..only to members of the fan club. A friend of the family, Ellen H., was gracious enough to lend me her copy of the elusive Beatles album. I remember holding that album in my hands and thinking it was the coolest thing on earth!!

Merry Krimble!

45's.................vinyl singles, picture sleeves, B-sides...It's a magical world!....


Christmas edition..

.