My Top 25 Christmas Songs of All Time!

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone! This is the second part to what I uploaded last week, where I ranked #50-26 of my all time favorite Christmas songs. You can read about that here: https://pigzfromagun.blogspot.com/2022/12/my-top-50-christmas-songs-part-1-50-26.html

But today, we're ranking my Top 25 Christmas songs of all time, the songs that truly define the holiday season for me. So without further ado, let's get started!

#25: My Kind of Present by Meghan Trainor (2020)

After the terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad year that was 2020... I needed some things at the end of the year to cheer me up. One of those things was the album "A Very Trainor Christmas", and this original track that leads it off. It's a cute and catchy song that caught my attention right away.

#24: Merry Fucking Christmas by Mr. Garrison (1999)

Perhaps you need some politically incorrect songs to mix in with all the holly jolly stuff. Well, South Park does the trick! Sung by the ridiculous teacher Mr. Garrison, the song explores how Christmas is simply the best holiday around the world... and Hindus, Muslims, etc... they just gotta deal with it.

#23 Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt (1953)

If the last song was dirty by turn of the 21st century standards, this song was certainly dirty by 1950s standards. Eartha turns Santa Claus into a sugar daddy, which certainly wasn't fit for socially conservative ears of the 50s. But who cares now, it's a certified holiday classic.

Are we sure she's "been an awful good girl"?

#22: Happy Holiday by The Shells (1961)

Sometimes songs can be confusing. There's another "Happy Holiday" song, the one done by Andy Williams that I covered last week. But then there's another "Happy Holiday" doo wop song, done by the Jaguars. Well, I prefer this upbeat version, where bells are ringing and old folks are singing!

#21: Three Angels by The Persuasions (1972)

The opening to the Persuasions "Spread the Word" album, this is a Christmas song the same way "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie. Well, that doesn't matter to me. Jimmy Hayes tells of an enthralling Bob Dylan tale in his deep bass voice, while the backing vocalists join in fantastic harmony towards the end.

#20: Sleigh Ride by The Ronnettes (1963)

In 1963, a certain legendary producer released "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector". Fortunately this song was on there, and no corpses were to be found. In all seriousness, the Ronnettes collaborated with The Crystals, Darlene Love, and others to record a fantastic album here.

This album was actually released on November 22, 1963... The same day JFK got shot.

#19: Little Red Shoes by Jerry Butler (1997?)

This emotional song is about watching a boy grow into a young man over the years... My Dad has talked with me about how it's an emotional song for him. It stars an older Jerry Butler, long past his "Your Precious Love Days", though I'm not sure if 1997 is the exact year it came out.

#18: O Holy Night by Eric Cartman (1999)

If you thought we were done with South Park, you stand corrected! As punishment for his poor behavior, the notoriously naughty Cartman has to sing "O Holy Night" in front of the class. The catch? He's shocked with a cattle prod whenever he bungles the lyrics. Hilarity ensues!

Those aren't the words, Eric!

#17: Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley (1957)

I know from having recently watched the Elvis movie, that one Col. Tom Parker desperately wanted Elvis to sing "Here Comes Santa Claus" during a Christmas special. Well instead of that, I prefer to think of this classic... especially as it concluded an Elvis Christmas medley I sang back in high school.

#16: Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Trio (1964)

This jazzy piano tune from "Peanuts" has become very, very associated with Christmas over the years. It's what I like to call a certified classic, and you simply can't go wrong with having this upbeat ditty on your holiday playlist. It's an instrumental, but it doesn't need words.

#15: White Christmas by Meghan Trainor & Seth MacFarlane (2020)

This is not the first rendition of this song that'll be on the list, so buckle up! But, this duet certainly caught my attention a couple years ago. MTrain singing with the legendary voice behind "Family Guy"? Well, it turns out Seth is not just a talented voice actor for Stewie... he's also a beautiful crooner!

The duet I didn't know I needed!

#14: Silent Night by Nat King Cole (1960)

When it comes to Christmas songs, I often prefer the secular over the sacred. I suppose that's not surprising. But Nat King Cole's performance on this song is undeniably powerful. This song has German origins, as "Stille Nacht" dates back to 1818.

#13: Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano (1970)

We're back to the certified classics with this selection. José is known for a couple things, singing a protest version of the National Anthem at the World Series, singing a cover of "Light My Fire"... but let's be honest. This upbeat Latin pop song is what defined his career, and that's a-okay.

#12: Silver Bells by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards (1950)

This will not be our last Bing Crosby song as we approach The Top 10... just so you know, I associate his voice with Christmas more than any other singer. And this cheerful song is all about the excitement of Christmas... children happy, street lights, shopping, etc.

#11: White Christmas by The Drifters (1954)

Just narrowly missing the Top 10 is perhaps the most famous certified classic in the doo wop genre, this song by The Drifters. In fact, the Meghan Trainor version is stylized after theirs, at least in the beginning. The contrast between bass singer Bill Pinkney and tenor Clyde McPhatter is notable here!

Can't go wrong with the OG Drifters.

#10: Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon (1971)

Especially in the wake of Russia-Ukraine, this song of peace is getting played more and more, 50 years later. If you're not the biggest fan of this song... maybe you don't like being subject to Yoko Ono's chorus. But I say it actually contributes well to this classic John Lennon song.

#9: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee (1958)

Speaking of classics that get played all the time, this is another one that was "rockin" from the rock 'n roll era of music. "Little Miss Dynamite", as Brenda was known, was 14 when she recorded this song. Well now she's 78, and we still remember her song quite fondly.

#8: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra (1957)

No Christmas song is more well-suited for the smooth-voiced crooner than this one, I think. It's right up there with "Summer Wind" and "New York, New York" in my favorite Sinatra songs of all time... not a bad feat for a Christmas song. 

#7: You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurl Ravenscroft (1966)

Bing Crosby is not the most deep-voiced of the classic Christmas singers. Nor is the bass singer for the Drifters on "White Christmas". Instead, it would have to be Ravenscroft... who goes full basso profundo on this song about a certain rotting monster. It's a deserving certified classic!

I wouldn't touch him with a 39 and a half foot pole!

#6: It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas by Bing Crosby (1951)

Much like "Silver Bells", this Bing Crosby song evokes the different joys of Christmas time. One of those joys is the "5 & 10", which I suppose was the 1950s version of the Dollar Tree. Oh how the times have changed! But Bing remains a classic.

#5: It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams (1963)

Name me a more happy Christmas song than this one, you'd be very hard-pressed! After all, you'd expect a song called "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" to be very joyful. It's certified classic status is cemented, especially as it re-peaked at #5 on Billboard last year.

There'll be parties for hosting, marshmellows for toasting!

#4: Christmas in Jail by The Youngsters (1956)

Now I had to throw one curveball in the Top 10, and this is the perfect song for that! I discovered this gem a few years back, realizing that not everyone is having a happy Christmas. Some poor fellows spend the day in jail. Instead of having turkey, they're given bread and water to eat!

#3: White Christmas by Bing Crosby (1942)

Okay, I promise this is the last Bing Crosby song, and the last White Christmas song! Both trilogies conclude here. But you can't deny that out of all the true Christmas classics, this is perhaps the most famous of them all. Irving Berlin's song sold 50 million with Bing's original version... the most ever!

#2: Christmas Morning by Tommy Evans & the Masters (1975)

From a song that sold 50 million copies, we go to a song where half the people on Earth who know it have the last name "Olson". Remember when I said Thurl Ravenscroft was the deepest bass singer to ever record a Christmas record? I lied, it's this guy, Tommy Evans. And it's a family tradition to wake up every Christmas morning and play this joyful song!

#1: The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole (1961)

As much as "Christmas Morning" is a fantastic family tradition, I have to go with this as the greatest Christmas song of all time. This poetic song was originally recorded by Cole back in 1946, but it's his 1961 version that is definitive - the certified classic if you will. His beautifully smooth voice, along with the reflective lines, make this the perfect Christmas song. That's why it literally is "The Christmas Song".

Although it's been said, many times many ways, Merry Christmas to you!

My Top 50 Christmas Songs! (Part 1: #50-26)

It's the holiday season, my semester at college is finally over, which means I now have time to blog again! And in the spirit of Christmas, I'm going to write a two-parter here. I've made a list (and I'm checking it twice) of my Top 50 Christmas songs of all time. Today, I'll release my Part 1 of the list, going over #50-26. And on Christmas Eve, I'll have the real good part of the list, #25-1, as an early Christmas present! So without further ado, let's christen this list!

#50: Christmas With You by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash (1972)

I'll admit, Johnny Cash's gruff voice probably isn't the first thing I associate with Christmas music. But this cute duet with his wife is certainly a solid entry for your holiday playlist. It has some very serious nostalgic vibes, much like the more famous "White Christmas".

Not the first folks you associate with Christmas music!

#49: Deck the Halls by Nat King Cole (1962)

I'm probably docking this song a bit considering it's just over a minute long. But wow, Nat King Cole and his backing musicians get a lot in with this short but thrilling song! With intense orchestration and fast-paced singing from Cole, the song is over in a blink of an eye. And you wish it wasn't!

#48: Merry Christmas, Baby by The Beach Boys (1964)

It's not as famous or as good as "Little Saint Nick"... we'll get to that later. But this certainly has The Beach Boys circa-1964 touch to it, with the protagonist in question begging for his baby. No one wants to be lonely during the holiday season.

#47: The Chipmunk Song by Alvin and the Chipmunks (1958)

With their high-pitched voices, the Chipmunks are sure to annoy some people. Hey, they annoy me sometimes... if this pops up on my Christmas list, there's no guarantee I don't skip it. But when I'm in the mood, I'm singing right along with those devilish rodents. 

ALVIN!!! Btw, is it any surprise the same guy who did "Witch Doctor" is behind this?

#46: Joy to the World by Nat King Cole (1962)

It's another Cole song I admittedly put on the list as a bit of an afterthought (we'll get to the real good stuff in Part 2). But this and its fellow short counterpart often showed up on a Pandora playlist a couple years ago. And with Cole's joyful singing, it certainly captures one's attention.

#45: Here Comes Santa Claus by Gene Autry (1947)

I gave this the ever-so-slight nod over the Elvis version. This one is more joyful, and it just screams classic Christmas. After all, this 1947 recording is one of the oldest on my entire list. The Singing Cowboy does have a more famous Christmas song though, which we'll get to in a bit.

#44: The First Noel by Frank Sinatra (1957)

This song is a certified Christmas classic, and by classic... I mean a song dating many centuries back. It evidently has origins in the Late Middle Ages, with modern translations appearing in the early 19th century. In any case, Frank does a faithful rendition here with his famously smooth voice.

#43: I'll Be Home by Meghan Trainor (2015)

Meghan was still early on in his career when she took her first venture into Christmas music. And it was quite a beautiful and sentimental song in my opinion! She hits quite a beautiful high note at the end of the song... though her Christmas album from 2020 has even better songs in store.

This was quite the conclusion to Meghan's amazing career year in 2015.

#42: Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters (1950)

This song will teach you how to say "Merry Christmas" on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day... and it'll teach you that about a decade before Hawaii was an actual state! Also, Bing and the Andrews Sisters was practically a supergroup for that era, so let's appreciate it.

Bing and the Sisters singin' in the studio.

#41: Baby it's Cold Outside by Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé (2014)

This song has gotten flak from modern day critics for being "sexist", to that I say... eh, whatever. And if you're bothered by the classic version by Dean Martin, perhaps you'll like this version better. Idina and Michael's duet is incredibly cute, and still sounds like it could be recorded many decades ago.

#40: Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder (1966)

Stevie's Christmas plea for a better world has gotten more attention as of late, perhaps as a song that anticipated the more famous "Happy Xmas" song from John Lennon. My Mom has been frustrated that it's not been on the local radio, so it gets a well-earned spot on my list!

#39: The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser (1998)

This group's hilarious take on "The Twelve Days of Christmas" would eventually launch them to fame. It's certainly better than Bob and Doug McKenzie's comedic take on "Twelve Days". And though it took 10 years for Straight No Chaser to go viral... it took only a couple days for the Nazareth Crescendudes to reach over 300k likes on TikTok... check it out here! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRVbMBUX/

#38: Jingle Bells by The Newports (1978)

It was a battle between Frank Sinatra's classic 1957 version of "Jingle Bells", or this doo wop revival version by the Newports. And I knew what my heart wanted me to do. The Newports' don't try to hide where they're from in this recording, singing "It's Christmas in New York".

You know from the opening line of this song that it's pure street-corner!

#37: Christmas Coupon by Meghan Trainor (2021)

Meghan followed up her "A Very Trainor Christmas Album" from the previous year with this deluxe release. And it's a cute song about how Daryl is her "Christmas Coupon"... whatever that means. In any case, it's another catchy MTrain bop, and a worthy addition to the holiday list.

#36: A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives (1964)

The modern Michael Buble version has gained some popularity, but I'll go back to the classic by Burl Ives here. This song was famously put in the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer movie from 1964. Needless to say, that one isn't as good as Elf!

#35: Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms (1957)

The 1950s were a special decade for Christmas classics, that a song like this almost gets lost in the shuffle for me. But this song has a very interesting combination of a more classic singing style to go along with the popular and contemporary rock 'n roll. The results are a rockin' song!

#34: Christmas of Love by Little Isidore and the Inquisitors (2000)

This song got some notoriety for being in the Grinch movie. Given that it's an obvious doo wop song, I've tried to search for when the recording was "originally" made... but it really appears that it was just made for the movie. So, the man behind "Peppermint Stick" truly has some modern fame!

Doo wop is kept a little more alive by Jim Carrey's "Grinch" movie...

#33: Christmas in Hollis by Run-D.M.C. (1987)

There's nothing like having chicken and collard greens, rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese for Christmas. That sounds like a meal where I'd want to be there! Run-D.M.C. blend hip hop and the holidays in this song that has now become a certified classic.

#32: Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! by Dean Martin (1959)

When I hear "Let it Snow" nowadays, I can't help but think of the way Sean Connery says it on the famous Celebrity Jeopardy skit. But when my mind is not in the gutter, I think of good old Dino singing this Christmas classic. 

This man has a different way of saying "Let it Snow".

#31: Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry (1958)

In the same year he recorded the world famous "Johnny B. Goode", Chuck takes a very similar opening riff and rolls with it on this song. If "Jingle Bell Rock" from the previous year incorporated rock 'n roll into the Christmas genre, this song does so in a much more obvious way. I mean, it's Chuck Berry!

#30: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry (1949)

Why not go back to the original Rudolph classic as well? The Singing Cowboy made Rudolph famous, though we owe a man named Robert L. May for the concept of the red-nosed reindeer. Back before Mariah Carey had a #1 hit ever year with her trite song, Gene hit #1 at the end of 1949 with this one.

#29: Hey Santa Claus by The Moonglows (1953)

The Moonglows are doo wop legends for songs like "Most of All" and "Sincerely", but their contribution to the Christmas genre can't be ignored. This groovy song with some killer saxophone has their bass singer saying "Yeah!" after each "Hey Santa Claus". It's truly an enjoyable tune.

They are deserving members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

#28: Happy Holiday/The Holiday Season by Andy Williams (1963)

Andy was a crooner that was very famous for "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year", which we'll definitely get to in Part 2. But for now there's this "whoop dee do, hickery dock" song... perhaps unsurprisingly, it was originally composed by Irving Berlin.

#27: Santa Claus is Back in Town by Elvis Presley (1957)

When I was at Nazareth, this song was part of an "Elvis Christmas medley" that we sang. And that's certainly part of the reason I love the song to this day. It's a rock 'n roll classic that is certainly meant for Elvis's charisma... even when all his backup singers have to offer is "Christ-maaas".

Got no sleigh with no reindeer... no sack on my back!

#26: Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys (1964)

The California kids sing a song about how the air gets cold "way up North". In any case, this is a Christmas classic that Mike Love still loves to galavant around with nowadays, performing with whatever constitutes "The Beach Boys" nowadays. But back in 1964 it sounded very crisp.

1964 was truly a career peak for the Beach Boys.

So what do you think of the list so far? What are some of your favorite Christmas songs? Feel free to let me know in the comments.

Meghan Trainor is "Takin' It Back"! (Album Review)

For fans of Meghan Trainor's doo wop sound heard in her 2015 album "Title", her newest album has been a long time coming. Her previous non-Christmas album, "Treat Myself", had maybe 3 redeemable tracks on it. As a fan, I had been disappointed, and was wondering when Trainor would return to her roots. Well then, TikTok got involved. Now I don't use TikTok, as I think the platform is rather stupid, but something good happened there. Meghan Trainor's old 2015 song "Title" went viral. It inspired her to return to her roots, and give the people what they wanted. The result is this awesome album, "Takin' it Back". Let's give it a review, shall we?

The album cover is great... and very pink!

The Return of Her Signature Catchy Hooks

"All About That Bass" was the song that catapulted Trainor to fame in 2014, as the song was a huge #1 hit. The music video has over 1 billion views on YouTube. Well, 8 years later, it's safe to say the song has a spiritual successor. That comes in "Made You Look", which currently sits at #63 on the charts. But it just entered, and I predict a massive rise based on its current popularity. The song currently has over 42 million streams on Spotify, by far the most streamed song on this album. I know the hook of the song, my friends know it, and now I can't get it out of my head! In the song, Trainor returns to her positive body image message with this hook:

I could have my Gucci on

I could wear my Louis Vuitton

But even with nothing on

Bet I made you look (I made you look!)

Evidently, these lines were inspired by Trainor's therapist. Trainor felt self-conscious about how her body looked when she was pregnant with her son, Riley. So, her therapist encouraged her to look at herself in the mirror naked for 5 minutes. The result was this song. And if you listen to it a couple times, be careful, because this utterly infectious earworm will be following you! Overall, my verdict on "Made You Look" is very much a positive one. Despite its short length for a modern pop song (2:12), it carries across its message very effectively in that time. I would argue it's better than "All About That Bass". It's only flaw may be that it's just too damn catchy.

Meghan's music video for "Make You Look" has been incorporated in Candy Crush, evidently.

Growth in Songwriting Maturity

When I first listened to Trainor, she was 20 years old... AKA my current age. At 20, I certainly don't feel completely grown up, and she probably wasn't either. Well, Meghan is now 28 going on 29. She has a husband and a son. She's officially grown up, and her lyrics reflect that. Her maturity is reflected on three songs in particular. She has 2-3 fellow songwriters on every song on this album, but her influence is clearest on all 16 of these songs. That includes the album's debut single, "Bad For Me". The song was a flop, but didn't deserve to be. It talks of trying to let go of a toxic relationship and how difficult that could be. The song was perhaps too mature for the pop market to handle. I thought of it as a spiritual successor to "Like I'm Gonna Lose You". That's especially considering it features Teddy Swims, who has a similar soulful voice to John Legend. 

Listen to "Bad For Me". It's good for you!

Then there's the ballad "Rainbow", a very wistful song. I am not sure exactly who she is singing about in this song, but she pens emotional lyrics like "Everyone can see your halo, everybody but you". The general messaging reminds me of her 2014 song "Close Your Eyes", which is my all-time favorite Meghan Trainor song. This song doesn't quite match that level of beauty. But if you want lush harmonies to go along with an uplifting message, listen to "Rainbow". It's a song with a fantastic melody, and yet it's not the most impressive slow song on this album. That honor belongs to "Remind Me", the penultimate song on this album, and one of the best she's ever done. Don't let the paltry 540,000 streams on Spotify fool you, don't let this song never being released as a single fool you. The pop market isn't mature enough to handle a gorgeous song like this, one that bravely addresses mental health. In this song, Meghan sings about how she's vulnerable and broken, and how she needs someone's love to "remind her" how worthy she is. That person is of course her husband Daryl Sabara, I assume. In any case, this song will be forgotten by a lot of people, but I ask you to listen to it and remember it. Given the somber tone of the song, she hits some beautiful low notes!

Meghan's life as a mother and wife is reflected in these mature lyrics.

Other Album Highlights

The album begins with "Sensitive", which is a pure a capella song. She makes it clear from the start she's returning to her roots! The song features Pentatonix baritone Scott Hoying backing her up. She addresses her sensitivity in this song, with the common refrain "fuck it, I'm sensitive" popping up. But she admonishes the man in the song for being "full of it", too. If you're a fan of a capella harmonies, you'll like this song. Then there's "Takin' It Back", a song about bringing us back to the days "they played that good shit". I'm all for that message, of course! But for a song about how "if it ain't old school, it ain't got no soul", the song sure does have a modern feel to it. I still like how it sounds, I just think the messaging is inconsistent there. "Don't I Make It Look Easy" is another body insecurity song, with Trainor singing "Don't I make it look easy... I'm fooling you". The message of being happy in the public eye but a mess behind the curtains reminds me of "Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

A lot of female singers nowadays are outright whoring themselves, and it can feel rather uncomfortable to listen to, needless to say. Well, when Trainor sings her songs with sexual innuendos, they're just that, innuendos. There's actually a hint of subtlety. The most racy song on the album, "Shook", certainly has some eyebrow-raising lyrics. Those include "booties like this don't come around often" and "tell the neighbors pay no mind to my screams". But unlike songs such as "WAP", MTrain is still approaching sex with some degree of subtlety. And besides that, with this song's catchy hook, it's just more enjoyable to listen to. "Lucky" is the other song with sexual innuendo, but certainly less obvious than in "Shook". "Lucky" is truly a highlight of the album, with a joyous chorus and exciting melody. Give it a listen.

Meghan has a maturity level missing in other pop stars.

Conclusion: A Fantastic Return to Form For MTrain

In case you can't tell already, I am a huge fan of this new album. Now, that does not mean every song on here is great. For example, "Breezy" is a rather forgettable song with a repetitive hook. Not only that, it features some crappy Harry Belafonte impersonator that had no place on the album. So that track sucked, and a couple others were mediocre. But the vast majority of this album is good to fantastic. You have everything from beautiful and mature slow jams, to energetic and catchy dance tracks. And it's the sound you expect from 2015-era Meghan Trainor, blending old school in with the new. That's exactly what this album does. So MTrain fans, rejoice! She has taken us back to the good old days... of 2015.

Final Grade: 4/5 Stars

My Halloween Playlist For This Year!

Spooky season has once again arrived! With Halloween being just a few weeks away, I thought I'd share my Halloween playlist this year. This 1 hour of spooky music I have prepared will be played shortly at Fall Fest at PPHAC, as I am DJing there. Two 1-hour shows in less than 24 hours, I truly am a professional DJ! But, here are the 18 songs, and a brief description of why I like them as some good spooky songs for this year's Halloween.

1.) Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers

We begin our list with a true Halloween classic, dating back 60 years to 1962. I'm a sucker for novelty songs, and this one is no different. It honestly seems you can't have a Halloween playlist without this song, so I might as well kick it off with this.

2.) Zombie Jamboree (Back to Back) by Harry Belafonte

You know, I would probably be playing the Rockapella version from "Do it Acapella" if it was on Spotify, but alas, it is not. So, I will be playing the calypso version from "Mr. Day-O" Belafonte. And you know what, the song is quite well-suited for him as well!

Rockapella's "Zombie Jamboree" is something else, though.

3.) Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon

For this song we go to 1978... it's a fantastic novelty rocker about the hairy, hairy gent who ran amok in Kent. Or the little old lady who got mutilated. But mostly, it's about those werewolves of London. AWWOOO!!! Fun fact, I posted a lyric video of this on YouTube 10 years ago.

4.) The Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley

Again, if you're a fan of old school novelty songs, your Halloween playlist simply isn't complete without this song right here. This rock and roll ditty dates back to 1958, and would later lend its name to the Minnesota Vikings' defense of the 1970s.

5.) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by The Monotones

The Monotones have had their famous song "Book of Love" referenced in Don McLean's "American Pie" and Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll". I'm guessing neither artist had heard of this song though, truly the spookiest doo wop song you'll find out there!

This song was better than "Book of Love", if you ask me.

6.) Superstition by Stevie Wonder

For those who need a palate cleanser after having no idea what that last song was about, I got you covered. This 1972 #1 hit is obviously quite the well-known song, and its themes of "7 years of bad luck" fits in quite well with the spookiness of Halloween. It's a classic, and a worthy addition to the list.

7.) Frankenstein by The Edgar Winter Group

Okay, now this 1973 instrumental isn't the spookiest song per se. But I'm including it on my list for a few reasons. First of all, it's called "Frankenstein", which is really cool. Secondly, I saw Edgar Winter play with Ringo last month, and he was an excellent performer.

Keyboard Jesus gets some street cred!

8.) (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult

This 5-minute song from 1976 is a staple of classic rock radio. Lead singer Buck Dharma wrote this spooky sounding song about the inevitability of death. But despite such a grim message, SNL has forever made us associate this tune with "more cowbell!". 

Will Ferrell and I got a fever... and the only cure is diet and exercise.

9.) Hells Bells by AC/DC

Despite being a strong Bon Scott truther, I greatly admire what Brian Johnson did immediately filling in his shoes for the amazing 1980 album "Back in Black". And with its tolling bells and haunting opening guitar line, "Hells Bells" has deservedly become one of the group's most iconic songs.

10.) Dark Horse by Katy Perry and Juicy J

We're not going too far back for this one, as it was released in 2013 and I remember it being a major hit in early 2014. When I'm doing my Fall Fest playlist today, I figured I had to appease some of the fans of newer music, and that this decent song would do the trick.

The music video... it's a trip.

11.) Maxwell's Silver Hammer by The Beatles

Of course, there had to be a Beatles song on my playlist. The question is, which Beatles song is really "spooky" and would fit the theme? Well, after doing some generic research for "Halloween songs", I figured this 1969 ditty about an hammer-wielding murderer fit in well.

12.) Runnin' With The Devil by Van Halen

Released in 1978, this hard rock song is another staple of classic rock radio. And man, it is a badass song indeed. Eddie Van Halen proves his guitar virtuosity on this one, while the bass player... plucks the same note over and over again. Quite a talent gap there, if you ask me!

🤘

13.) Boris The Spider by The Who

I've seen various spider web decorations so far during this Halloween season. So really, would Halloween be complete without Boris, the most legendary of spiders? Yes, this 1966 song was used by my Dad to torment my brother and I when we were kids. Great parenting!

14.) Luigi's Mansion from Mario Kart DS

I have incorporated a couple video game songs into my playlist, including the spookiest of all the Mario Kart songs. Luigi's Mansion is quite the popular video game franchise, and it was well-incorporated into the even more popular Mario Kart franchise back in 2006. 

Mario Kart DS is one of the best games in the series.

15.) Spooky, Scary Skeletons by Andrew Gold

Released in 1996, this song originally faded into relative obscurity. But the magic of internet memes bought it back to life in the 2010s, to the point where it's now one of the most iconic Halloween songs out there. So now, I simply feel compelled to put it on my list.

16.) The Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band

When it comes to novelty country songs, it doesn't get much better than this 1979 country song. And yes, it's proof that country and Halloween can indeed mix! We have a song about betting your soul against the Devil... and what is more spooky than that?

17.) Witch Doctor by David Seville

For our penultimate song we stick in the novelty category, but go back to 1958. David Seville, known for his Alvin and The Chipmunks characters, puts on the whole sped-up voice act here. It's not the spookiest Halloween song, but it sure is funny when Quagmire puts his spin on it.

18.) Zombies on Your Lawn by Laura Shigihara

What an absolute childhood classic this one is. Plants vs. Zombies was my life back in 2009, and this was the satisfaction you got for beating the game. You got to hear this totally catchy song filled with great humor. There ain't nothing like hearing a zombie complain, "There's butter on my head!"

Enough said!

So because that song concludes the original Plants vs. Zombies, I figure that'd be the perfect song to conclude my list. What are some of your favorite Halloween songs? What's missing from the list? Feel free to drop me a comment and let me know.

7 GREAT Short Songs That Are Less Than 2 Minutes Long

Just because a song is short doesn't mean it can't be really impressive. Case in point, these 7 songs get their points across quite solidly in less than 2 minutes. A lot of short songs can often be filler in my opinion, and I often judge those shorter songs as crappy attempts at throwaway songwriting. But you can't entirely judge a book by its cover. When you see a song is less than 2 minutes, give it a chance. After all, what's the worse that can happen, you waste 1 minute and 45 seconds of your life? With these 7 songs, you'll only be wishing that the song was longer.

1.) How Do You Do It?

Gerry and the Pacemakers were the #2 group in Liverpool in the early 1960s... you can probably guess who #1 was. But, there is one thing they certainly did better than the Beatles. And that was their performance of this particular song. The Beatles recorded a not-so-spirited version of this song, as they were unenthusiastic about recording this song that management wanted them to. They were not yet world famous, and felt their original songs like "Love Me Do" were better for them. But in 1 minute, 55 seconds lead singer Gerry Marsden put forth a much better performance than Lennon-McCartney. It's just as great as a lot of Beatles songs from 1963. Listen to the two versions, compare them, and tell me I'm wrong. 

Gerry and the Pacemakers were huge in Britain, but never quite conquered the world like The Beatles.

2.) The Letter

In 1967, the music world was mostly moving past the 2-minute song. That was more of a late 50s/early 60s thing. But not for the Box Tops in their famous song. Lead singer Alex Chilton sounded like a gruff and grizzly man despite being just 16 when he recorded this song. It's a 1 minute, 53 second ditty that has blue-eyed soul elements. It's one of the shortest songs to ever hit #1 on the Billboard pop charts. By the way, do you want to know what the shortest one was? It's the doo wop song "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, released in 1960. Just 1 minute, 36 seconds! But "The Letter" is certainly another short but sweet song.

Give me a ticket for an aeroplane!

3.) Love You Most Of All

The Persuasions have fantastic a capella songs of many lengths from "Women and Drinkin" (6:52) to "Three Angels" (1:43). But my choice for this list is a fantastic cut from the album "We Still Ain't Got No Band", with this Sam Cooke cover. The Persuasions put a super enthusiastic spin on this song... "With the way you're walking down the street, all the fellas go OOOH-weee!". At 1 minute, 53 seconds it should seem like a filler song on an album with so many other great tracks. "Steal Away" comes next. "Dance With Me", and the aforementioned on this blog "Send Me Some Lovin" are after that. And yet, with sheer balls, this song still manages to stand out!

I should beg Spotify to put this 1973 album on their platform!

4.) I'll Follow The Sun

Hmm, what Beatles song shall I pick for the list? Maybe something from the Abbey Road medley that really stands out? Perhaps the beautiful McCartney track "I Will"? Nope, I've decided to go with one of the very first Beatles songs that ever stood out to me. I loved it many years before I became a diehard Beatles fan... I was just a little kid, and yet I still found the emotional beauty in this 1 minute, 49 second song. It's an acoustic song that features some fabulous Lennon-McCartney harmony, as well as Paul singing solo for a bit. It's honestly one of the true highlights of their early career, and is probably in my Top 30 Beatles songs despite being so short and simple.

It's one of the best tracks on this underrated 1964 album, "Beatles For Sale".

5.) Mercedes Benz

Janis Joplin didn't need any instruments besides a tapped beat for this song (and really, she didn't need that). And she didn't need any more time than 1 minute, 48 seconds to get her point across. Released in 1971, after Janis's death, this song has been interpreted as a rejection of consumerism. I listened to Janis's 1971 album "Pearl" as a consideration for my Awesome Albums show, and I can tell you "Me and Bobby McGee" is the true gem of that album. However, despite its short length, Mercedes Benz might very well be the second best. Janis's vocals are strong and piercing, powerful enough to carry a song all by itself. And that's a very special talent in a singer.

Janis took a piece of our hearts with this powerful song.

6.) Little Honda

The Beach Boys had a whole lot of short songs during their early career. At 1:51, "Shut Down" comes to mind as a short but fantastic burst of energy. But, my choice for the list is the 1:54 song "Little Honda". It's a pretty typical Mike Love era early Beach Boys song, with him singing the lead on a fun Summer song about driving around in his epic ride. But perhaps the most notable aspect of this song (at least for me) is drummer Dennis Wilson shouting "Go!" in the beginning of the song. When I was younger, my Dad used to troll my brother and I by replaying the beginning of the song constantly when it was on a CD. So all we heard was "Go!" "Go!" "Go!".

The critics will tell you their peak was "Pet Sounds", I'll still say it's 1964.

7.) "C" is for Cookie

Why not end the list with my most ridiculous choice? Why not end it with my shortest choice? (1:29) Yes, we're going to go with this 1971 song from Sesame Street, sung by the legendary puppeteer Frank Oz. Well, you might know him better as Cookie Monster! This song is what we call pure id. It's pure impulse... it's all about cookies, because that's good enough for me! And really, as a sweets lover, cookies are good enough for me. Cookie Monster offers such legendary insight as "You know, a round cookie with one bite out of it looks like a C. A round donut with one bite out of it also looks like a C, but it is not as good as a cookie. Oh, and the moon sometimes looks like a C. But you can't eat that!". Enough said.

Oh boy!

What short songs do you think I was missing from this list? Feel free to let me know some of your favorites, but remember, the rule is 2 minutes or less! These songs are certainly short, but they're certainly sweet in my opinion. Yes, even "C is for Cookie".

7 Songs With An EPIC Ending

There's something that always gets me in music. I love it when a song builds up in excitement and intensity, and you feel the jubilation when the song has a fantastic release at the end. These seven songs are prime examples of this. They might not catch your attention right away. They might not start out super flashy. But by the end, you're blown away by how strongly it ended. So, I picked seven songs from across the musical spectrum that I believe are strong examples of this. Seven songs where it ain't about how you start, but how you finish!

Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel

This 1970 song was the original inspiration for the list, especially considering I'm playing its namesake album on my show next week. In my mind, this is the perfect example of a song that builds up in intensity. It goes from 0 to 100 over the course of a song, and does so brilliantly. Art Garfunkel's tender vocals carry us through the first two verses in a very delicate manner. But then you can hear the orchestra start to build up by the time he harmonizes with Paul Simon. And the ending? An absolute burst of energy. Garfunkel is punching high notes, and you can hear a percussive "boom" at the end that gets me every time.

Simon and Garfunkel's fantastic 1970 song has one of my all-time favorite endings.

A Day in the Life by The Beatles

The critics certainly love this Beatles song, as it's consistently rated as one of their all time best. While it's not one of my personal favorites, I will always love the ending. Well, not the very ending with all the weird noises. I'm talking more of the epic orchestral buildup to the final note. By 1967, The Beatles could basically afford anything they wanted musically. And so, George Martin had quite the interesting musical idea for his group. What if his orchestra would either randomly go from their highest to lowest note, or from their lowest to highest note? What kind of chaos would ensue? The brilliant result was the ending of this song (and also the middle right before Paul's part). But it's even more effective at the end, given the release of that final note.

The 1967 Beatles... Paul never looked right with a mustache, in my opinion.

My Prayer by The Platters

With their fabulous lead singer Tony Williams, the Platters had plenty of great endings. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is another one that comes to mind. Much like that song, most of "My Prayer" is a mellow slow jam. But it builds up quite brilliantly. By the middle, you start to feel some tension at the "tonight, while our hearts are aglow" section. However, the best is certainly saved for last. Williams hits a fantastic high note on "Prayer" right at the end and holds it out. Quite simply, it's singers like him that are the envy of fellow tenors like me! But even then, I saw a talented a capella group at Lead East cover this song recently, where the lead singer did that final note justice.

This 1956 song is one of the group's best.

Love Story by Taylor Swift

Perhaps this is a bit surprising, but we're only traveling back to 2008 for this one. It's a popular misconception that I think all pop music from the past 20 years is bad, I only think most of it is bad. Because there's iconic songs like "Love Story" that I did indeed grow up with as a 6-year old kid. The song starts out very mellow, with Taylor setting the scene and meeting her man on a balcony in summer air. The song does a great job of building excitement as it goes along, as it follows the forbidden "Romeo and Juliet" format. By the time it gets to the "I got tired of waiting", tension is all built up. What will happen? But then the man asks her to marry her, and that tension is released in a beautiful ending.

She's the biggest pop star of my generation... Her best song was still 14 years ago, though.

White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane

So here we have another psychedelic song from 1967. And this song is quite psychedelic, indeed. It starts with images of Alice in Wonderland and of course... pills. The beginning is quiet, but you can already feel the song building towards something greater with its drum rolls. Then lead singer Grace Slick guides us through having "some kind of mushroom" in the middle, tension is only getting greater. Finally, the release comes at the end with the refrain of "Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head!". The song has been described by Slick, who also wrote the song, as one long crescendo. Well, that more than qualifies it for this list.

I have played the song on one of my shows before and dedicated it to my Aunt Peggy.

Highway to Hell by AC/DC

This iconic 1979 rock song shows off the Young brothers' immense guitar talents quite well at the end. Unlike most of the songs on this list, it does not start off soft. I mean, it's AC/DC, do you expect their songs to be quiet? I can name one quiet AC/DC song, "Ride On", that's it. Now as I mentioned, the best moment for "Highway to Hell" comes at the end, with Bon Scott's growling vocals. All the while, Angus is shredding it on lead guitar, while brother Malcolm follows along on rhythm. It's a very satisfying ending to one of the group's most iconic songs. 

The Amish were NOT fans when Peter played "Highway to Hell".

Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out on Broadway)

We conclude our list with this fabulous song from Billy Joel, featuring one of my all-time favorite piano parts courtesy of the Piano Man. Back in 1976, Billy wasn't the mega star he was in the 80s, and was still kinda the starving artist type coming up with beautifully fresh ideas. And that includes this dystopian song that has a phenomenal ending. Billy pounds out the piano, and "tells the world about the way the lights went out". All the while, the orchestra is at its peak buildup. But after that, the quiet and pretty piano from the beginning is reprised. Turnstiles will eventually be played on Graeme's Awesome Albums, and this song is the biggest reason why.

1976 Billy Joel was entering his career peak.

What other songs do you think have amazing endings? Let me know in the comments. 

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band: Concert Review!

Last Sunday night, I was overwhelmed by peace and love. That's because I saw Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band live at the Met in Philadelphia. I was originally going to see the group back in June, but the concert got postponed due to Covid. And so, last Sunday was quite the crazy day. I was trying desperately to keep up with the Giants game as I entered Philadelphia. I witnessed their insane comeback and last-second win, to the point where I saw the very end of the game right as I was entering the venue! It was really hard to hide my excitement! But, I knew there would be plenty more to be excited for. Here's what I thought of the concert.

Ringo still fairly energetic as an 82-year old

You wonder how much an aged rock star has still "got it". To me, Ringo still (mostly) has it. Now, he had his share of senior moments. He messed up the lyrics on "Boys", but perhaps that's because he had to hearken back to 1963 Ringo for that one. And he left the stage midway through the concert for about 15 minutes, calling it a "musical magical moment". But really, it was probably just that he needed a break. But the truth is, he was great behind the kit, great on vocals, and very engaged with the audience. He even did jumping jacks at the end of the show, making me question whether this was truly an 82-year old man I was witnessing! But the truth of the matter is, Ringo is kept young at heart by his healthy vegetarian diet, and his mantra of peace and love.

Ringo being Ringo.

Edgar Winter: Keyboard Wizard

Despite my love for Ringo, we all know he was the least talented member of The Beatles. Well, despite his legendary status, the "least talented" label may still be true when comparing him to his All-Star bandmates! With his long white hair and raspy voice, Edgar Winter certainly did a lot to steal the show. He was absolutely killing it on the keyboard, as his fingers moved rapidly up and down the instrument. He played his #1 hit "Frankenstein", which was taken from the top position of the charts by "My Love" in 1973. "Frankenstein" was quite the neat instrumental. Winter also played some saxophone and did some singing, though it was his keyboard playing that was truly excellent.

Edgar "Keyboard Jesus" Winter in his natural state.

Toto Was in the House

The most famous non-Beatles song that was played that night was undoubtedly "Africa" by Toto. The song was a #1 hit in the US in 1983. Steve Lukather, the band's lead guitarist, was rocking the house when he was playing this famous song. In fact, he introduced "Africa" by saying, "You probably know this song". And when the audience heard those opening notes, they confirmed his assumption! Other famous songs by the group that were on the setlist included "Rosanna" and "Hold The Line". Needless to say, it was refreshing to hear some classic songs that I recognized from 99.9 The Hawk.

Steve Lukather, guitarist for Ringo and Toto.

An Awesome Drum Solo... But not from Ringo!

There needed to be a man behind the kit when Ringo took center stage and sang. That honor belonged to Gregg Bissonette. But Bissonette had quite the interesting solo midway through the concert. This was the part of the show when Ringo left to create a "magical musical moment", and perhaps this was the most magical moment during Ringo's absence! That's because Gregg Bissonette put together an incredible medley of various famous drumming parts. That of course included many drum parts from Beatles songs, including "Ticket to Ride", "Tomorrow Never Knows", and "Come Together". Would it have been cooler if Ringo played it? Sure. But Bissonette is a spring chicken compared to Ringo at just 63 years old, and his juice behind the kit was noticeable.

Greg Bissonette, the second-most famous drummer in Ringo's band.

The Best Singer: Definitely Colin Hay

Representing the band Men at Work, Colin Hay stole the show as the best singer in this supergroup. Hay was born in Scotland, but his band formed in Australia. He was definitely not the most notably Scottish person on the stage, as that honor belonged to Hamish Stuart (you can tell by the name, can't you?). But anyway, Colin Hay put in some work singing "Down Under" and "Who Can It Be Now". Interestingly, "Down Under" was a #1 hit in 1983 right before "Africa" was. Ringo has quite the all-star cast from 39 years ago! And with "Who Can It Be Now", Edgar Winter did a great job playing the iconic sax line.

Colin Hay, the second-most Scottish man on stage.

Okay, so what songs did Ringo do?

Well, I left the key question until the end. What songs did Ringo do from his time with The Beatles? Well, most of them! He opened with "Matchbox", an underrated Carl Perkins cover from his Beatles days that Robert and I really wanted to see. He introduced "What Goes On" as the only "Lennon-McCartney-Starr" song, and it's true... Ringo actually has a songwriting credit on that one! He did my favorite Ringo Beatles song, "Octopus's Garden". I was lucky to see it, as apparently Ringo didn't have it in his setlist until this year! And while I'm usually opposed to having phones out to record at a concert, I had to capture some of that moment to look back on. He of course did his most famous Beatles song, "Yellow Submarine". The audience was singing along quite excitedly to that simple but great tune. 

Ringo with his Yellow Submarine sidekick.

And the 82-year old man still had some of that playboy attitude about him, that's for sure! He was calling women in the audience "baby", which I suppose you get away with when you're Ringo.  I suppose you get away with it when you have random people shouting out "We love you Ringo!" after each song. Not only that, Ringo had quite the interesting dedication for one of his early and lesser known Beatles song. He said, "This is for all the young girls out in the audience... it's called I Wanna Be Your Man." And while "I Wanna Be Your Man" was decidedly missing Paul and John backing Ringo on vocals, it was still a spirited performance. Two of Ringo's famous solo songs got the audience going, "It Don't Come Easy", as well as "Photograph". Though, I was surprised Ringo didn't dedicated "Photograph" to the recently deceased Queen. Especially considering he did that for George Harrison after he died. The grand finale for the show was a medley of "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "Give Peace a Chance". He put up a double peace sign, and at the very end he had the audience chanting "Peace and love! Peace and love!". Quite a moving experience. And overall, quite a great concert.

There's the current lineup. Past members include Levon Helm and Billy Preston, both of whom I would have loved to see.