In recent years, I’ve made the mistake of waiting until the two or three days leading up to Christmas to start spinning holiday tunes, so I’ve been hitting it hard in the last week or so. John Fahey. John Denver (Toddler YHT’s choice: “I want the mountain one”). The Kingston Trio. Charlie Byrd. Here are a few web-based recommendations:
- Natalie Prass posted a new Christmas song called “Everybody’s Having Fun (It’s Christmas Time),” and she did it for a great cause: SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community). Click here to listen and donate.
- Will Butler reminded us this week that we wrote a kiss-off to 2014. Even he admits he may have written it two years early. Definitely worth a listen.
- More from the recent past: Pretty & Nice’s rendition of “Angels We Have Heard On High” is pretty damn wonderful.
- I stumbled across Kacey Musgraves’ version of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” this week. Pedal steel, big choir at the end, Morricone-y plucked guitar notes… yup, yup, yup. Listen here.
- Like Christmas and cats? This Snowy Owls album is for you.
- This isn’t holiday music, but it’s classy and angelic and my mom recommended it: “Timepiece” by Tom Scott. Something tells me this would have fit nicely on A Moon Shaped Pool.
- My own personal holiday music Mount Rushmore would absolutely include Bruce’s version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” Did you know The Pointer Sisters recorded that same arrangement — with Clarence Clemons singing on it and everything? Makes me smile.
Too much good stuff, too few Christmases per year, y’all. One more thing: Don’t miss tonight’s No BS! Brass Band show at The Broadberry — it’s three things in one: A canned food drive, a beer release and, well, a No BS! show. Luray opens. Click here for tickets.
