R.E.M. — Christmas in Athens (again)

edit: For any of you keeping score, this post may seem quite familiar. Due to some anonymous persistence, I've decided to re-post the files and spread a little Christmas cheer. The version I have of "Christmas Time is Here, Again" from the 2000 Holiday Package is truncated, so if any faithful readers has this song, I'd be much obliged to replace my copy of this song.

---

I was a member of the R.E.M. fan club for many, many years. Somewhere along the way I let my membership slide and I keep forgetting to renew my status before the Holiday Fan Club packages are sent out. This year, once again, I lived up to my potential and forgot to re-up in time for the annual Christmas package.

But that doesn't mean I don't have a slew of Christmas-themed R.E.M. goodies from yesteryear's packages. Pipe these babies into your ears and drown out that holiday muzak that the malls push on you. You know better than to listen to that pap.

Without further ado:

+ R.E.M. — Ghost Reindeer In The Sky (1990)
+ R.E.M. — Parade Of Wooden Soldiers (1988)
+ R.E.M. — Toyland (1992)
+ R.E.M. — Christmas In Tunisia (1994)
+ R.E.M. — Good King Wenceslas (1989)
+ R.E.M. — Christmas Griping (1991)
+ R.E.M. — Christmas Time Is Here (1993)
+ R.E.M. — Silver Bells (1993)
+ R.E.M. — Jesus Christ (2002, Big Star Cover)
+ R.E.M. — Christmas Time Is Here Again * (2000, originally a Beatles Fan-Club Only single)
+ R.E.M. — Deck The Halls (from a 1988 Warner Promotional CD)

* If anyone has a complete version of this song, please let me know.
This one seems to be truncated, and there's no need in spreading a lousy file around.

Merry Christmas!

Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas

Driving home for Christmas was a welcome slow-paced drive this year. Just me in the VW, with the Christmas songs of Sufjan from the iPod filling my car. After I made my way through that playlist, I gravitated to listening to the soothing strains of Otis Redding. I don't know, there was a warm comfort in listening to those soulful songs that resonated with me on this year's drive home.

There's a song by Okkervil River called "Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas" that prompted me to dial in Otis. I can certainly identify with the sentiment of that song, where the singer finds himself back home, in his old hometown, at Christmas time. Some of the same feelings he was singing about were washing over me. As I neared my parent's house, I found myself going slower and slower, wanting to finish the song. I even drove around the block once, creeping along (a fact that might have caused an overzealous neighbor to think something was amiss) only to allow the song a chance to play all the way through.

It's funny, the houses in my neighborhood all seem so small now. The hills I recklessly piloted my bicycle down seem so insignificant now that I'm older. All the old neighborhood kids are gone--scattered like proverbial seeds cast upon the wind. The only real visible change to the landscape are the trees. Those that have remained have been allowed to tower, while other neighbors have chosen to clear-cut huge swaths of land, creating a very different skyline than that of my youth.

So yeah... home at Christmas. There's nothing like it. At least Otis doesn't change, eh?
Incidentally, Otis died 40 years ago this month, 10-Dec-1967 when the plane he was traveling in crashed into the icy waters of Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin.

Merry Christmas to all my faithful readers. Let me hear from you in the comments... it gets lonesome sometimes in the blogosphere.

+ Okkervil River — Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas

+ Otis Redding — These Arms of Mine
+ Otis Redding — Try a Little Tenderness
+ Otis Redding — My Lover's Prayer
+ Otis Redding — That's How Strong My Love Is
+ Otis Redding — Security

"Silent Night / Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"

It's that time of year again... time to dust off this classic from Tom's 1979 performance on the long-running Austin City Limits.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

God knows, I love Bob Dylan. He's a veritable National Treasure, and there will never be another. Here's a little early Christmas treat for you: Dylan reciting the classic poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

+ 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
excerpted from episode 34 of Dylan's
Theme Time Radio Hour

Bethlehem, 2007

Banksy

R.E.M. — Christmas in Athens

I was a member of the R.E.M. fan club for many, many years. Somewhere along the way I let my membership slide and I keep forgetting to renew my status before the Holiday Fan Club packages are sent out. This year, once again, I lived up to my potential and forgot to re-up in time for the annual Christmas package.

But that doesn't mean I don't have a slew of Christmas-themed R.E.M. goodies from yesteryear's packages. Pipe these babies into your ears and drown out that holiday muzak that the malls push on you. You know better than to listen to that pap.

Without further ado:

+ R.E.M. — Ghost Reindeer In The Sky (1990)
+ R.E.M. — Parade Of Wooden Soldiers (1988)
+ R.E.M. — Toyland (1992)
+ R.E.M. — Christmas In Tunisia (1994)
+ R.E.M. — Good King Wenceslas (1989)
+ R.E.M. — Christmas Griping (1991)
+ R.E.M. — Christmas Time Is Here (1993)
+ R.E.M. — Silver Bells (1993)
+ R.E.M. — Jesus Christ (2002, Big Star Cover)
+ R.E.M. — Christmas Time Is Here Again * (2000, originally a Beatles Fan-Club Only single)
+ R.E.M. — Deck The Halls (from a 1988 Warner Promotional CD)

* If anyone has a complete version of this song, please let me know.
This one seems to be truncated.

Best Use of Facial Hair at Halloween

Yes, that's Jeff Tweedy with his wife Sue.
They look so happy!

[first seen at Jew Eat Yet]

Happy Birthday, sweetheart!

Cat Covers Cat

This lovely Christmas Morning commerical features Cat Power (Chan Marshall) covering Cat Stevens' "How Can I Tell You".

No schmaltzy crap here...

Heather Browne's fabulous "I Am Fuel, You are Friends" music blog is some kind of righteous.

Her Christmas Music Post alone is worth a visit. This is the motherload of great Christmas mixes, IMHO.
Cheers!

You Sleigh Me!

Here's one of those way-overlooked Christmas CD's that I've had on the bottom shelf, literally. All those VA discs just gravitate to the bottom for some reason.

From 1995, it features a smattering of 12 Atlantic Artists. Tori Amos' version of "Little Drummer Boy" is the version that plays in my head whenever I think of this song. It was recorded live on November 12, 1992 at a club in Dundalk, Maryland called Steel Town.*

+ Tori Amos - Little Drummer Boy
+ Juliana Hatfield - Make it Home

and just for giggles:
+ Jill Sobule - Merry Christmas from the Family

* according to thedent.com

Christmas Card from...

photography: Gretchen Wintersberry

+ Tom Waits - Silent Night / Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis
from Austin City Limits, 1978.

Santaland Diaries

If you haven't read or heard of David Sedaris' "SantaLand Diaries," it is required reading for anyone finding themselves devoid of Christmas Spirit, or anyone for that matter.

I find Sedaris' wry wit to be absolutely hilarious. This radio broadcast is a truncated reading of the original memoir, which first appeared in Barrel Fever and is also present in the collection of holiday essays Holidays on Ice. It recounts his days spent as "Crumpet" an elf in Macy's Department Store in NYC.

SantaLand Diaries
requires RealPlayer

Brantley Family Band

The Brantley Family Band (aren't they the cutest!) have been putting out Christmas Albums every year since 2004, but apparently I was on their naughty list. Here's a couple of mp3's from their latest offering for 2006.

Morning Star is a lovely instrumental that would double as a great lullaby for the little ones. Mele Kalikimaka is a nod to Bing Crosby's timeless Christmas classic. It's sure to put one in the Hawaiian spirit of Christmas.

+ Brantley Family Band — Morning Star.mp3
+ Brantley Family Band — Mele Kalikimaka.mp3

In the Mood...

Time to dust off those Christmas CD's, and give them another spin. As for myself, I really can't listen to Christmas music at any other time of the year, but today, I found myself grabbing a disc I found at the pawn shop a couple years ago: The Blind Boys of Alabama release: Go Tell it on the Mountain.

I had forgotten what a great collection of soulful songs this disc contains. In keeping with my current (or would that be continuing?) Tom Waits obsession, here's the title track to the album.

+ Blind Boys of Alabama - Go Tell It On the Mountain
(featuring Tom Waits)

In addition, I find myself going back to these 2 as well:

+ Blind Boys of Alabama - In the Bleak Midwinter
(featuring Chrissie Hynde with Richard Thompson)
+ Blind Boys of Alabama - Joy To the World
(featuring Aaron Neville) a cappella

I have a feeling I'll be posting more of my holiday tracks during the coming days... It's time to shake the dust off, people! Can I get a witness?

[senryu]

like clockwork:
neighbors' gaudy Santas
inflate at dusk

"eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month."

Armistice Day, 1918


Veterans' Day was once known as Armistice Day, or the anniversary of the end of World War I on 11 NOV 1918. It was once celebrated with pomp and circumstance, with parades in almost every town. Then came World War II. The "War to End all Wars" didn't ring so true anymore, and so the holiday was re-named Veterans' Day.

Thank a Veteran today for the service and sacrifices given on your behalf.
I know I will.

A Beginning and an End

B. and I spent the labor day weekend in Myrtle Beach, SC. On Sunday, we made our way to the Pavilion for what could be the final season. After 58 years, this icon is set to close later this month. We had lots of fun taking random images around the park, and just spending quality time together in the madness of the crowd.

Myrtle Beach Pavilion

[haiku]

as a blank screen
before me, the new year
remains unwritten

New Year's Eve Senryu

new years' eve—
regrets, mingling with hope
i start anew

* * *

strike of the hour—
laughter livens the mood
strangers sing off-key