The Best I Could Do’s blog

A couple of New Wavey Christmas songs from the early '80s.
Word is the The Buzz of Delight is Matthew Sweet. "Christmas" is from 1983.

I only found one thing on the interwebs about Elton Duck, and if it's right, the band included Michael Steel before she was with The Bangles. Neat, and all, but the bigger, and much cooler surprise was Wallace & Ladmo musical genius, Mike Condello was in the band, too!
In 1980 they also did a song simply titled "Christmas."

"Christ Was Born on Christmas Morn" from 1929 by the Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers.
 

"The Christians and the Pagans" from Dar Williams' 1996 album Mortal City.

Recommendations:"Carol of the Bells" by Barenaked Ladies (Barenaked For the Holidays), David Foster (The Christmas Album). "Carol of the Drum" by Jack Halloran Singers. "Caroling, Caroling" by Nat "King" Cole.

Common Heroes do "Burl the Ives with Hecks of Dolly."

And what better way to say, "Merry Christmas, live a long life" than with the gift of lung cancer.
This hideously hilarious commercial for Camel cigarettes was edited from a December 16, 1943 radio show. 

Everybody thinks it's Porky Pig, but it's not. Good imitation, though. Seymour Swine and the Squealers do this version of "Blue Christmas" from 1980.

"Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" by Patti Page from 1950. The Brian Setzer Orchestra does a good version of this on their album Boogie Woogie Christmas.

Other recommendations: "Blue Christmas" by Dean Martin (Making Spirits Bright), Elvis Presley (Elvis' Christmas Album), and Leon Redbone (Leon Redbone Christmas Island).

In Bullette's 1993 version of "Blue Christmas" they/she (is it a band, or just the girl?) sample heavily from Elvis'.

And a version by Danielle Dax from the 1988 collection of Warner Brothers artists, red and green vinyl promo album Winter Warnerland.

Recommendations: "Blue Christmas" by Charles Brown

"Bells of Christmas" from a 1913 graphophone by the Edison Concert Band.

And "Bizarre Christmas Incident" by Ben Folds. I think it's from 2005.

A hillbilly version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by June Cater with Homer & Jethro. This got to #22 in August 1949. By the way, it was 80 degrees here in Phoenix today.

"Bebopareebop Rhubarb Pie" by Garrison Keillor from a 1998 episode of his radio show A Prairie Home.

Recommendations: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel.

I was going through some old CDs this morning, and came across this message my Gramma left on my answering machine Thanksgiving morning November 24, 1994. The names she mentions are characters in my comic strip. I was sleeping, then on my way over when she left these messages. I saw my Gramma every morning. Usually got there at around 10 A.M.
She died on February 18, 2001 3 AM. Miss ‘er. I never liked my sister, and even at 40 I still clam up and get even MORE introverted around my parents. So it was always nice to have one family member I didn’t distance myself from or want to holler, “SHUT THE HELL UP, ALREADY!!!” at these things. And she always came through with the Lego sets I asked for at Christmas! Even when I was 31.
By the way, you should go buy my big book of toons. It’s called Eric Paul Johnson...Strips For Your Pleasure.
http://stores.lulu.com/CapSuper
And, boy, I really could've used her wit and sense of good taste today. Spent Thanksgiving with my white trash sister, and her poorly raised 14 year-old son who mooned me today.
Dear, sweet God, I miss Gramma!

"Away In A Manger" from the 1957 album Christmas Favorites by the Tops Orchestra. I dig this kind of stuff from the '50s and '60s, reminds me of when I was a kid in Boston, and I don't know why. I was born in 1969. That's well after 1957. But I've always liked that odd color of pictures, and the organ and twinkly sound. My mother had a few Christmas albums like this when I was a kid. Maybe that's the connection.
In my next session we'll discuss why I associate Gumby with sex.

A Barenaked Ladies rarity. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Rita McNeil from what sounds like a Christmas special. Maybe from 1993.

Recommendations: "Away in a Manger" Nat "King" Cole, Take 6 (He is Christmas). "Baby, It's Cold Out" by The Brian Setzer Orchestra (Duet With Ann-Margret) (Boogie Woogie Christmas), Ray Charles.

"Announcement (w/music)" by Brian Wilson is from the promotional album Yulesville. It was a double disc collection of Warner Brothers artists from 1987.
"The Awakening of Scrooge (Christmas Carol Selections)" is from a 1911 wax cylinder by Bransby Williams.
Recommendations: versions of "Ave Maria" by Chet Atkins, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Harry Connick, Jr. (When My Heart Finds Christmas), and Stevie Wonder (Someday At Christmas).