Musical Advent Calendar, Christmas Eve - Darlene Love!

You knew it was going to end with this, right?  Still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we'll never see it again.

"Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)," Darlene Love.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 23 - Andy Williams

To this day, one of the greatest Christmas albums, and one of the greatest performances of one of the greatest Christmas songs.

"O Holy Night," Andy Williams.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 21 and 22 - Sting and Paul Simon

It seems only appropriate, since the old guys are now a touring staple as a team.



"Getting Ready for Christmas Day," Paul Simon



"Christmas at Sea," Sting

Which almost brings the calendar up to date.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 19 and 20 - Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, One Direction and Mariah Carey

"Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town," Jimmy Fallon, The Roots and One Direction



"All I Want For Christmas Is You," Jimmy Fallon, The Roots and Mariah Carey

Whether Jimmy Fallon will be able to sustain the good cheer that defines his "Tonight Show" over a period of years remains to be seen, but for now it's a hoot to watch.  And few of his bits define that mood more than his "Musical Numbers on Childhood Instruments" videos.  Here are a couple of classics.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 18 - Montgomery Gentry

With their great cover of Robert Earl Keen's great song, "Merry Christmas from the Family."

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 17 - Elton John!

In honor of Sir Elton John's wedding, we bring you his great Christmas song, "Step into Christmas" - clearly, an homage to Phil Spector's legendary Christmas album.

Musical Advent Calendar, Days 13-16: Christmas Time in the City: "Silver Bells," "Skating"

Remember when you were little and had an advent calendar, and about halfway through the month realized, "Holy Cow!  I forgot about the Advent Calendar!"?

No?  That was just me?  Oh well.

To catch up we're going to have to do a little cheating.

From Saturday through Tuesday of last week, I was in San Francisco for a conference.  It was the first time I've been in the city that close to Christmas, and I've never seen it so crowded - with revelers there for "Santa Con," with protestors, with shoppers.  It made it a little difficult to navigate through the heart of the city near Union Square, but at the same time it was a lot of fun.

As I made my way through the crowds, I couldn't get the first lines of "Silver Bells" out of my head:

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas



"Silver Bells," Brenda Lee

And then, there were the memory invoking tones of Vince Guaraldi's "Skating":



"Skating," Vince Guaraldi Trio

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 12 - Jack Scott

Without a doubt, one of the greatest rock 'n roll Christmas songs.  First time I heard it was in "Diner," and more than 30 years later, I've never tired of it.

"There's Trouble Brewin'," Jack Scott.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 11 - The Raveonettes

"The Christmas Song."

No, not that "The Christmas Song" - this "The Christmas Song."

Either way, it's awesome.

The Raveonettes.

"The Christmas Song."

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 10 - Marianne Faithfull and The Chieftains

A great song from the great Christmas album by The Chieftains, "The Bells of Dublin."

"I Saw Three Ships," Marianne Faithfull and The Chieftains.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 9 - Harry Connick, Jr.

Let's pick things up a bit, shall we?

I'm quite certain I've posted this one before, but what the heck - it's a classic.  And hard to believe, more than 20 years old now.  Which makes me feel pretty darn old, if you must know.

"It Must Have Been Ol' Santa Claus," Harry Connick, Jr.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 8 - Mary Gauthier

Not every Christmas song is a happy song, just as Christmas is not a happy time for everyone.

Realistic without seeming overly maudlin, Mary Gauthier does a wonderful job painting the picture of someone for whom that is the case.

"Christmas in Paradise," Mary Gauthier.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 7 - Baseballs

Rockabilly Christmas!

"Driving Home for Christmas," Baseballs.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 6 - The Vanishers

The "spending the holidays drinking at the bar" song is a fine tradition and gets a rollicking take here, courtesy of The Vanishers featuring Ginger St. James.

And yes, it's OK to be sexy at Christmas. 

"Christmas Wish at the End of the Bar," The Vanishers featuring Ginger St. James.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 5 - Mary Chapin Carpenter

A beautiful, slightly melancholy song.

"Christmas Time in the City," Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 4 - Sufjan Stevens

Over the past decade, Sufjan Stevens has quietly become one of the most prolific Christmas recording artists in the history of recorded music.

Each year, Stevens creates a new CD of Christmas songs - some original, others standards, still others that are difficult to categorize at all - for friends and family.  After five years (at least so far), he releases a 5-CD set encompassing the entire half-decade's worth of songs.  Some are rough, others are beautiful and moving, and some are just plain bizarre.

And then, some are pretty darn close to transcendent - and I would put this song in that category.

"Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!," Sufjan Stevens.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 3 - Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks

Every year, I put together a Christmas CD for friends and colleagues.  I try to find songs that are less familiar than those that you would hear on the radio or playing in a department store, which is a time-consuming (I usually begin during the summer) but fun process.

This song appeared in my collection in 2012, and is a good representation of the "oddball" types of songs that I look for.

"I've Got Christmas By The Tail," Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 2 - Ernest Tubb and Gene Autry

I was first introduced to "Merry Texas Christmas, You All" by the Asleep at the Wheel version, but in any version, the song is a good, rollicking (and unorthodox) way to get the holidays rolling.

The video doesn't allow embedding, but there is also an excellent version by Gene Autry.

"Merry Texas Christmas, You All," in versions by Ernest Tubb and Gene Autry.

Musical Advent Calendar, Day 1 - Bob Dylan

It's a tradition going back...at least a few years, when I post a different Christmas video each day from December 1 until Christmas Eve.

As the years have gone by, it's become more difficult to keep track of the songs that I've posted along the way, so there no doubt will be some repeats.  And I suspect that this is one of them.

The thought of Bob Dylan singing Christmas songs is not one that comes readily to the mind.  But without doubt, this is a great one - in keeping with the spirit of the season, and fun to boot.

"It Must Be Santa," Bob Dylan.

Musical Advent Calendar, Days 21-23: Santa Claus!

The King, spitting fire.



The Crystals' indelible version.



And of course, The Boss.