Graeme's Colossal Countdown: The Honorable Mentions! (Part 2: #550-501)

We are less than a week away from the start of Graeme's Colossal Countdown! Make sure you're tuned in at mocoradio.airtime.pro on Friday, September 1st, at 7pm. You won't want to miss my show, as I count down from #500 to #1 my favorite songs of all time, throughout the entire school year. But last week, I began counting down 100 honorable mentions. If you missed part one, you can read about those selections here. However, now we're going to be counting down some songs that just missed the cut from being colossal! Yes, we're going to do part two of my honorable mentions. As was the case with part one, there will be little commentary, mostly just the list.

#550: Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash, 1956)

#549: Buzz, Buzz, Buzz (The Hollywood Flames, 1957)

#548: Mean (Taylor Swift, 2010)

#547: My Juanita (The Crests, 1957)

This interracial group sang the unofficial anthem to Lead East.

#546: A Casual Look (The Six Teens, 1956)

#545: I Lost Everything (I Ever Had) (The Persuasions, 1982)

#544: I've Just Seen a Face (The Beatles, 1965)

#543: Ruby Baby (The Drifters, 1956)

#542: Speedoo (The Cadillacs, 1955)

#541: Prelude/Angry Young Man (Billy Joel, 1976)

#540: What is Your Decision (The Harptones, 1956)

#539: Come On Eileen (Dexys Midnight Runners, 1982)

White trash don't exist only in America...

#538: I'll Get You (The Beatles, 1964)

#537: Half as Much (Hank Williams, 1952)

#536: Tomorrow Never Knows (The Beatles, 1966)

#535: Bicycle Race (Queen, 1978)

#534: Long Tall Sally (Little Richard, 1956)

#533: You Really Got a Hold on Me (The Beatles, 1963)

#532: Ramblin' Man (Allman Brothers Band, 1973)

Like Hank Williams before them, this group sings about a "Ramblin' Man".

#531: Mamunia (Wings, 1973)

#530: A Thousand Miles Away (The Heartbeats, 1957)

#529: Everyday I Have The Blues (B.B. King, 1955)

#528: Captain Jack (Billy Joel, 1973)

#527: Rubber Biscuit (The Chips, 1956)

#526: There's a Moon Out Tonight (The Capris, 1958)

#525: You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate, 1975)

#524: What You're Doing (The Beatles, 1964)

Sir Paul with some punny songwriting on this one.

#523: No Good For You (Meghan Trainor, 2015)

#522: I Only Want You (The Passions, 1960)

#521: Just For You (Sam Cooke, 1961)

#520: Everyday (Buddy Holly, 1957)

#519: The Wind (The Jesters, 1960)

#518: Taxman (The Beatles, 1966)

#517: Touch The Hem of His Garment (The Persuasions, 1974)

#516: Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash, 1963)

#515: I Get Around (The Beach Boys, 1964)

1964 was one hell of a year for the Beach Boys... They were overshadowed by limeys however.

#514: I Me Mine (The Beatles, 1970)

#513: Glory of Love (The Five Keys, 1951)

#512: Heartaches (The Marcels, 1961)

#511: All You Need is Love (The Beatles, 1967)

#510: Shout (The Isley Brothers, 1959)

#509: She Loves You (The Beatles, 1964)

#508: Sincerely (The Moonglows, 1954)

#507: Say Hey (The Willie Mays Song) (The Treniers, 1954)

#506: Back in Black (AC/DC, 1980)

#505: Come Go With Me (The Del-Vikings, 1957)

#504: Girls on The Beach (The Beach Boys, 1964)

#503: They're Hanging Me Tonight (Marty Robbins, 1959)

#502: Jealous Guy (John Lennon, 1971)

#501: Here Comes The Sun (The Beatles, 1969)

I end the honorable mentions with a song that should obviously be on the list. But it's not, because Alexa always defaults to this when playing The Beatles! This is an honorable mention as a middle finger to Amazon, nothing else.

Graeme's Colossal Countdown: The Honorable Mentions! (Part 1: #600-#551)

Well folks, we're almost at that time of the year again! I will soon begin my new college radio show, where I will be counting down my Top 500 songs of all time. But this list has required some extensive revisions over this summer, and indeed the last year. I've moved tracks up and down, and added songs that caught my attention in recent months (and even weeks). I want my list to fully reflect all the music I love, so in honor of this, I am counting down one hundred honorable mentions over the next two weeks! Starting this week, I will be counting down #600-#551. Then the Saturday before college, I will reveal #550-501. And when we finally get back on the air, we will start with #500! So without further ado, here are my first batch of honorable mentions. There will be little commentary, mostly just the list.

#600: Man in the Mirror (Michael Jackson, 1988)

#599: Tell Me How (Buddy Holly, 1957)

#598: The Great Suburban Showdown (Billy Joel, 1974)

#597: What Do You Do For Money Honey (AC/DC, 1980)

#596: Don't Be Cruel (Elvis Presley, 1956)

A TikTok video with dancing chickens convinced me to put this on the list, I'm not kidding.

#595: My Guy (Mary Wells, 1964)

#594: I Woke Up In Love This Morning (The Persuasions, 1985)

#593: Kaw-Liga (Hank Williams, 1952)

#592: But, Mr. Adams (1776 Cast, 1969)

Let's consider ourselves fortunate that we have John Adams to abuse...

#591: Island of Love (The Sheppards, 1959)

#590: Kindly Calm Me Down (Meghan Trainor, 2016)

#589: Umbrella (Rihanna and Jay-Z, 2007)

#588: That's The Way It Goes (The Harptones, 1956)

#587: Be-Bop-a-Lula (Gene Vincent, 1956)

#586: Everyday I Have To Cry (The Valentines, 1967)

Bon Scott did bubblegum pop before he rocked with AC/DC, as heard on this song!

#585: I Will (The Beatles, 1968)

#584: A Hundred And Sixty Acres (Marty Robbins, 1959)

#583: Lies (The Knickerbockers, 1965)

#582: I Can't Escape From You (Hank Williams, 1951)

#581: Adorable (The Drifters, 1955)

#580: True Love is Hard To Find (The Rivieras, 1958)

#579: Bluebird (Wings, 1973)

This underrated tune made it over the albums's title track... tell me if that's a snub!

#578: I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know (The Davis Sisters, 1953)

#577: Little Honda (The Beach Boys, 1964)

#576: Kung Fu Fighting (Carl Douglas, 1974)

#575: I've Had It (The Bell Notes, 1958)

These fellas sing the legendary tune otherwise known as "La". Their lack of singing talent knocks them out of the Top 500!

#574: Darling Lorraine (The Knockouts, 1959)

#573: Any Time At All (The Beatles, 1964)

#572: One Last Breath (Creed, 2002)

#571: Rang Tang Ding Dong (I Am The Japanese Sandman) (The Cellos, 1957)

#570: Hello Vietnam (Johnny Wright, 1965)

The unofficial anthem of haircuts. Only kept off the Top 500 because of its warmongering message.

#569: Unchained Melody (Vito and The Salutations, 1959)

#568: I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow (The Soggy Bottom Boys, 2000)

#567: Let's Go For a Ride (The Collegians, 1957)

#566: Not Fade Away (Buddy Holly, 1957)

#565: My Selfish Heart (Meghan Trainor, 2015)

#564: Words of Love (The Diamonds, 1957)

#563: When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin, 1971)

This killer closer to Led Zeppelin IV will be the unofficial anthem of climate change in due time. 

#562: Rolling in the Deep (Adele, 2010)

#561: Eight Days a Week (The Beatles, 1964)

#560: Just To Be With You (The Passions, 1959)

#559: Sam Hall (Johnny Cash, 2002)

#558: Girls Got Rhythm (AC/DC, 1979)

#557: Friends in Low Places (Garth Brooks, 1990)

#556: All of Me (John Legend, 2013)

This beautiful piano ballad is one of the better pop hits in recent times.

#555: If You've Got The Money (I've Got The Time) (Lefty Frizzel, 1950)

#554: Lorraine (The Bonnevilles, 1959)

#553: When We Get Married (The Dreamlovers, 1961)

#552: Tutti Frutti (Little Richard, 1955)

#551: Trickle Trickle (The Videos, 1958)

Well, what do you think of the list so far? Are there any songs on here that you think should've made my Top 500? Feel free to let me know. Also feel free to look up any songs you haven't heard of, but are curious about. Even though they didn't make my Top 500, that doesn't mean they're not awesome tracks in their own right!

Reviewing Rolling Stone's 200 Best Singers of All Time List!

About 6 months ago, I uploaded a list of my Top 10 favorite singers of all time. Well, Rolling Stone outdid me, I suppose. They now have a list of the 200 best singers of all time! Of course, it's a revised list, and one that is more "reflective" than their old list. They wanted less of a focus on Western classic rock, and diversified their options. As a result, there's a whole lot of singers on this list who I have no idea about. However, I can tell you what I think about the singers I do know about. There's some I believe that were straight-up snubbed, some who were ranked too low, and some I was very happy to even see be recognized. Then at the very end of this post, we'll go over some of the top names on the list. I include key quotes from the Rolling Stone article for each entry. Let the debates begin!

Singers That Were Ranked Too Low

#174: Buddy Holly: "Buddy Holly's singing style was as unpredictable and exciting as the young form of rock 'n roll itself." That's an accurate summary of Buddy Holly's contribution to the great genre of rock 'n roll. There were few artists more influential, and with his distinctive and hiccuping voice, few voices that sounded greater. Being buried at #174 is simply too disrespectful to Holly's legacy... especially when you consider he was ranked #48 on the original list.

#85: Johnny Cash: "Cash's mile-wide, wondrously fluid baritone is the sound of country music at its best." Indeed, Cash is country music to me. Singers like Dolly Parton and Hank Williams were rightfully put on this list, but well ahead of the Man in Black. You can't just put the greatest country singer ever only at #85... you can't do it. After all, he was ranked #21 on the original list.

#21 is a much more appropriate ranking for Cash. I had him as my 6th favorite singer.

#57: Brian Wilson: "He is so renowned for his producing and songwriting skills that his gifts as a vocalist are often overlooked". Case in point, this ranking! The article continues, "Check out 'The Warmth of the Sun', where he hits impossibly high notes." He sure does! I put Brian at #10 on my original list of my favorite singers, and I stand by that. His voice at its peak is honestly his most impressive musical quality.

#26: Paul McCartney: "He can approach a ballad so tenderly he brings so-so lyrics to brilliant life". Only a true Beatles fan would take issue with #26 being too low... considering it's pretty freaking high. But then again, I am a true Beatles fan. A voice as fantastically versatile as Paul's should not be outside the Top 25... he was #3 for me on my original list.

Singers I Was Happy To See Recognized

#154: Dion: "We first heard him as a doo wop singer ("A Teenager in Love"), but his love of blues, R&B, and folk music added depth to his repertoire and his voice." Dion may not be my favorite doo wop singer, but I sure am glad that the man behind "I Wonder Why" is rightfully recognized.

Of course, I would put Dion on the list with the Belmonts.

#123: Karen Carpenter: "Karen Carpenter is the ultimate easy-listening thrush-queen." Indeed, you could almost put her in the "ranked too low category". But Karen was a credit to her now-infamous name, and had the smoothest alto voice I may have ever heard.

#99: Clyde McPhatter: "Clyde McPhatter was a thrill a minute, a shot in the arm for R&B right at the dawn of rock & roll." Indeed, "Money Honey" and "White Christmas" are what has made Clyde famous and a legend to this day. But do yourself a favor and listen to "The Bells". Just do it!

#88: Jimmie Rodgers: "Even through the crackle of aged shellac, he comes on like the sharpest, hippest guy in the room". Bravo for the respect to early country, RS! Jimmie really did come off like the coolest dude the 20s/30s had to offer. Through a Great Depression and a battle with TB-infested lungs, he made sure we knew the women still desired him.

There was no entry I was happier with than this pioneer getting his well-earned respect.

#66: David Ruffin: "'I know you wanna leave me,' he sang, with a singular rasp that guaranteed we never would." This legendary voice of The Temptations is behind "My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", and that alone gets him a rightful spot on the list. 

#30: Hank Williams: "As a singer, Hank Williams could yodel, moan, croon, shake, quiver, whine, shout, or in the case of his Luke the Drifter records, preach". That summary of Hank covers all the bases, and shows the incredible versatility of his country voice. A legend gone too young.

Singers That Were Snubbed!

I should clarify that with this group of 4 singers, I think each would've had a reasonable shot at making this list. So there's no Persuasions, no Johnny Maestro, no Willie Winfield, and since the critics seem to hate her, no Meghan Trainor. All the news outlets are freaking out about Celine Dion not being on the list, but here's the people Rolling Stone truly forgot about.

George Harrison: Surely George would get respect, right? Even if you set aside his fantastic career peak with the late Beatles and early solo career material, he was a fantastic harmony vocalist on many earlier Beatles songs. But like I said, the list snubs people like George in an effort to diversify the list with artists that I've never heard of.

I swear, it's not just my bias as a Beatles fan! Okay, maybe it is...

Billy Joel: I've done an article before on this blog about how cheesy 80s Billy Joel is, and how 70s Billy Joel is far superior in spite of far less chart success. If Rolling Stone acknowledged Joel's wonderful career peak in the 70s, with songs like "Miami 2017" and "Just The Way You Are", he would've been on their list. No, he's not just a talented songwriter and piano player, his singing is indeed vastly underrated

Bon Scott: I suppose there's hardly a chance the legendary AC/DC frontman makes it, in a list that explicitly states in the beginning that rock music has to take a back seat. But Bon's unique snarl made him a fantastic singer... even if he doesn't fit the traditional definition of a fantastic singer. Hell, if Ozzy Osbourne makes the list, then why not Bon?

Conway Twitty: No, Conway is not just a Family Guy meme. He's a bona fide country legend, as he topped the Billboard Country Charts forty times! No one sang about redneck love-making quite like Conway, whether it was on "Hello Darling" or "I See The Want To In Your Eyes". Give him a spot on your list, RS. He deserves it!

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty.

A Look at the Top

I'm not going to comment on any of these singers, aside from the one I took strong exception to. The rest, I'm just going to let the key quotes from the Rolling Stone article do the talking.

#19: Frank Sinatra: "Sinatra was a titan behind the microphone before he was anything". 

#17: Elvis Presley: "1969's Suspicious Minds might be the ultimate Elvis moment. From the controlled opening to the explosive chorus, Elvis drives this juggernaut with swagger to spare."

#14: Freddie Mercury: "'Somebody to Love' floats on air as Mercury soars through octaves and moods effortlessly." 

Even at #14, you could argue that Freddie is too low on this list.

#12: John Lennon: "John Lennon's voice was like his mind - agile, bright as a bell, startlingly alive."

#8: Beyoncé: Okay, here's the one I'm upset about. I don't want to seem like the "Old Man Yells at Cloud" meme... but take one listen to the aggravating "Break My Soul" and tell me she deserves to be up here. No, no she doesn't.

#6: Ray Charles: "The man could make anything soulful". 

#3: Sam Cooke: "His tenor seduced on 1957's 'You Send Me', and it enchanted on 'Wonderful World', a song that in lesser hands might've sounded corny." 

#1: Aretha Franklin: "A force of nature. A work of genius. A gift from the heavens."

I remember seeing Don Lemon weep on the air the day she died. Aretha was a true icon.

As you can see, there was a clear focus on R&B/soul singers in The Top 10. And that's not even mentioning some of the other singers that were up there. Anyway, what do you think of the Rolling Stone list? Who are some of your favorite singers of all time? Feel free to let me know in the comments.

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.