Literally the only other time I ever heard the Roches was when they appeared on SNL lo these many years ago. This was terrific -- there's nothing like a talented a capella combo -- but that Joisey accent came as a bit of a shock. Don't remember that from TV. (They did the Hallelujah Chorus there, IIRC.)
Marcie, thanks so much for this playlist! It got me in the Christmas spirit, finally, and my wife thanks you. I just could not feel the forced cheer in our current hellscape—who knew I just needed an expertly curated irreverent playlist with all my elder millennial favorites. Merry Christmas from College Park. 🎄
Mr. Goat has spent the afternoon and evening drinking moar white Russians than usual, so somebody needs fud, sooner rather than later. Oi!
Good news is that I got a container of quality crabmeat on sale yesterday for $12. So it's crabcakes over greens with 'remoulade' to go with. And I'm using my new trial package of Penzey's Cajun spice instead of concocting my own in both.
And I made a box of Jiffy corn muffins, cuz' I want them, LOL!
New Orleans R&B stalwarts Dave Bartholomew and Lee Dorsey were both born on this day, Bartholomew in 1918 and Dorsey in 1924. Here's Bartholomew with Elvis Costello and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band playing "The Monkey":
I'm chuckling, because my favorite talk show on Boston Public Radio was having a discussion a couple days ago about whether people like to receive scented candles as gifts.
But, OH NOES! (I haven't been to the flagship store in years, but I do love me some Yankee Candle.)
"SOUTH DEERFIELD — It might seem like the world is falling apart sometimes, but there is one place where “it’s always Christmas,” just like the sign says, and that’s the scented-candle flagship store known as Yankee Candle Village.
People come to this German-themed tourist destination year-round to see the Black Forest where it snows every four minutes, stroll around the Bavarian Village with its 25-foot Christmas tree, and buy everything from ornaments to fudge.
Mostly, though, they come to sniff wax.
Revisiting beloved scents, like Balsam & Cedar or Christmas Cookie, inevitably inspires customers to share memories in the middle of the shopping aisle, a throwback to the 1990s when Yankee Candle was a popular fixture in malls around the country. But now, with slumping sales, impending store closures and layoffs, and a saturated fragrant-candle market, the smell of decline is creeping in."
Seattle Candle Company does a Winter Wreath scent that is absolutely perfect: mostly cedar/pine, but with a touch of peppermint and vanilla. I give them out every year!
SIGH. Turkey is cooked for tomorrow, stuffing is made, gravy is made, Aunt Wonkette’s real cranberry business is made, Mr Prickly is washing the many dishes…I’m not doing anything else food-related until tomorrow morning.
I remember the days where bosses would give their workers "a bottle" of whiskey for x-mas. My father would attempt to hide it, and then pretend that he was just constantly refilling his ginger ale glass. Sure, Jan.
I saw Jabbo Smith live, at the Village Vanguard once. He was over 90 at the time. It was with an odd pairing, the band was Jim Pepper and a few Ornette-related folks.
Yeah, I think Jabbo was 95 at the time. He sang a little, played a little trumpet. Not much, given his age - but his playing still sounded great. And the more modern band didn't run him over either.
Winter Wonderland - The Roches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdFRVomcHbY
Literally the only other time I ever heard the Roches was when they appeared on SNL lo these many years ago. This was terrific -- there's nothing like a talented a capella combo -- but that Joisey accent came as a bit of a shock. Don't remember that from TV. (They did the Hallelujah Chorus there, IIRC.)
To my knowledge this is the only song with the accent. It's more a joke than a Christmas carol.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nJbtfllLeEI&list=RDnJbtfllLeEI&start_radio=1&pp=ygUQc2Vhc29uIGZyZWFrbGluZ6AHAdIHCQlNCgGHKiGM7w%3D%3D
Marcie, thanks so much for this playlist! It got me in the Christmas spirit, finally, and my wife thanks you. I just could not feel the forced cheer in our current hellscape—who knew I just needed an expertly curated irreverent playlist with all my elder millennial favorites. Merry Christmas from College Park. 🎄
Yay! Merry Christmas!
Elvis - Blue Xmas
https://youtu.be/B6WnnZRSKYs?si=m1C7pMgiWCtjx89M
Mr. Goat has spent the afternoon and evening drinking moar white Russians than usual, so somebody needs fud, sooner rather than later. Oi!
Good news is that I got a container of quality crabmeat on sale yesterday for $12. So it's crabcakes over greens with 'remoulade' to go with. And I'm using my new trial package of Penzey's Cajun spice instead of concocting my own in both.
And I made a box of Jiffy corn muffins, cuz' I want them, LOL!
Dunno, do we need moar previously unheard Xmas music?
I'm trying to put together a supplemental playlist - mostly kinda jazzy, with some folk music thrown in. Not sure it's gonna be worth it...
River is a Christmas song
Two versions are on there already (covers).
Wait, I got Shovels & Rope and a Girl Named Tom’s covers.
Shovels & Rope! You can come sit by me.
Oooh. Thanks.
ETA: I assumed you meant the Joni song, which is what I have.
Another "woke" Pope ...
𝗣𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲
Refusing to help those in need is tantamount to rejecting God himself, says pontiff during Christmas Eve mass
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/24/pope-leo-christmas-message-kindness-strangers-poor
Fundagelicals: 'That shit doesn't apply to us anyway.'
They want to bring back the inquisition.
What a show!!!
And its here to stay!!!
Let's face it: you can't Torquemada anything.
Well, I didn't expect that!
Nobody does.
New Orleans R&B stalwarts Dave Bartholomew and Lee Dorsey were both born on this day, Bartholomew in 1918 and Dorsey in 1924. Here's Bartholomew with Elvis Costello and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band playing "The Monkey":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXdg37o3ygQ
Here's Dorsey on Beat-Club performing "Ride Your Pony" in 1967:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzAyyRXG8EU
I'm chuckling, because my favorite talk show on Boston Public Radio was having a discussion a couple days ago about whether people like to receive scented candles as gifts.
But, OH NOES! (I haven't been to the flagship store in years, but I do love me some Yankee Candle.)
"SOUTH DEERFIELD — It might seem like the world is falling apart sometimes, but there is one place where “it’s always Christmas,” just like the sign says, and that’s the scented-candle flagship store known as Yankee Candle Village.
People come to this German-themed tourist destination year-round to see the Black Forest where it snows every four minutes, stroll around the Bavarian Village with its 25-foot Christmas tree, and buy everything from ornaments to fudge.
Mostly, though, they come to sniff wax.
Revisiting beloved scents, like Balsam & Cedar or Christmas Cookie, inevitably inspires customers to share memories in the middle of the shopping aisle, a throwback to the 1990s when Yankee Candle was a popular fixture in malls around the country. But now, with slumping sales, impending store closures and layoffs, and a saturated fragrant-candle market, the smell of decline is creeping in."
Seattle Candle Company does a Winter Wreath scent that is absolutely perfect: mostly cedar/pine, but with a touch of peppermint and vanilla. I give them out every year!
SIGH. Turkey is cooked for tomorrow, stuffing is made, gravy is made, Aunt Wonkette’s real cranberry business is made, Mr Prickly is washing the many dishes…I’m not doing anything else food-related until tomorrow morning.
MUST have anything from The Roches Christmas album
And on a slightly darker note, John Fahey.
Links to follow, if needed. (Washing dishes in the meantime)
We watched the Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special. It's cute.
Sun Ra presents doo-wop group The Qualities with "It's Christmas Time" from 1960:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEpFZmN0USQ
"Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk for Christmas)", written by Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert.
It's a little different than their usual bag, since they were also known as the Starland Vocal Band.
Oi!
I remember the days where bosses would give their workers "a bottle" of whiskey for x-mas. My father would attempt to hide it, and then pretend that he was just constantly refilling his ginger ale glass. Sure, Jan.
Vendors used to make the trip around to their customers with cases of scotch.
Crab for Christmas sounds delightful.
Crabs for Christmas, on the other hand...
"Sit down, we serve anybody."
“Crabs for Christmas” by David DeBoy - it’s on YouTube - I’d post the link, but I’m a Luddite.
But Crabs in a Bucket is OK.
Jazz trumpet pioneer Jabbo Smith was born on this day in 1908. Here he is with his Rhythm Aces playing "Michigander Blues":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13-AX7xl8zE
From 1938, here's Jabbo and his Orchestra performing "How Can Cupid Be So Stupid?":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2451iz52ufM
I saw Jabbo Smith live, at the Village Vanguard once. He was over 90 at the time. It was with an odd pairing, the band was Jim Pepper and a few Ornette-related folks.
Getting into Marshall Allen territory there.
Yeah, I think Jabbo was 95 at the time. He sang a little, played a little trumpet. Not much, given his age - but his playing still sounded great. And the more modern band didn't run him over either.