Kent:
Y'all must be older than me or I lived under a rock for years. I don't remember ever hearing some of these songs! LOL However, I am enjoying listening to them and having some new stuff to add to my Christmas music collection. Hope everyone has a great holiday season. Stay warm!
~Sharon
TokeiTwo
That's the whole point of what we're doing, Sharon ... showing all of you out there that a LOT of these artists are STILL recording GREAT Christmas music every single year ... but radio simply isn't playing it!!! My hope is that once you know it exists, you'll go out there and buy it ... and call your local radio stations and ask them to play it!!! We've discovered some REAL gems these past few holiday seasons and the reaction from the list has been great! There are definitely some "future classics" in the mix here! (kk)
Hi Kent,
Your Christmas music is already getting fun to look through and listen to. Forgotten Hits is a lot of fun and you must be up late every night getting so many new editions to us all the time.
I have a couple of songs that I recorded for the Holidays and here is one of them, an old one from 1966, written by Red West, called "IF EVERY DAY WAS LIKE CHRISTMAS". I always liked the song because it brings up the "idea" of what the world might be like if we had the Christmas "Spirit" all through the year. Maybe it would be a good track to include in a Forgotten Hits newsletter in time for Christmas, and if so that would certainly be cool with me. I think it really IS a 'Forgotten Hit", but I'll bet you'll remember it.
Thanks for all the great Newsletters, Kent,
Veeder Van Dorn
The Moonrakers
Actually, this has always been one of my favorite Elvis Christmas Tunes ... you know Red West was Elvis' best friend in High School, right ... and went on to become his future bodyguard / Memphis Mafia member?!?!? So I am very happy to share it today with our readers ... once again, music you just can't get ANYWHERE else!!! Thanks, Veeder! (kk)
Hi Kent,
I am really liking the Christmas comments.
Wanted to remind you ... (I think I posted it last year) ... but if the fans like the Beatles and Christmas then they should do a search for a band called THE BEATMAS ... they have stuff on youtube etc. You really gotta hear it ... they do a great job or our fav Christmas Tunes but to The Beatles music ...
Meanwhile, I thought you and your readers might enjoy our Christmas tune.
It's by the Carpet Frogs, which is the back up band that has been performing with Burton Cummings since 2000.
It's a great Christmas tune done in classic style ... I think anyway!
Cheers!
Sam
Keep up the great work!
www.bmfproductions.com
www.burtoncummings.net
www.thecarpetfrogs.com
Yep, another goodie for Christmas 2010! VERY catchy! Thanks, Sam! (kk)
And here are a few of the Beatmas videos Sam was telling us about ... some much more clever than others ... but all a good bit of fun!
Click here: YouTube - THE BEATMAS - White Christmas
Click here: YouTube - THE BEATMAS - Last Christmas
Click here: YouTube - THE BEATMAS - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Click here: YouTube - THE BEATMAS - Jinglebells
Click here: YouTube - Jingle Bell Rock - Rubber Band - Xmas the Beatmas
Although I'm one of the biggest Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys fans, this tune isn't going to be a Christmas Classic. Brian Wilson's Grand kids do this one.
Brian co-wrote this with someone whose name escapes me.
Written around 1975 ... Must have taken 30 seconds.
Sorry, Brian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rysxg6ID0FI&feature=player_embeddedBSPRO
Actually, this one dates back even further than that ... although written several years before, The Beach Boys released "Child of Winter" as a single in 1974. It didn't go anywhere and honestly, while it's not a great song, I thought this was a pretty entertaining video ... and certainly a better version than The Beach Boys' original.
Let's be careful not to mislead anyone ... Brian's grand kids DO appear on the recording but are NOT involved with any of the lead vocals. (They're all too young!) Wilson only had two daughters with his wife Marilyn (Wendy and Carnie) and Wendy has four boys ... Beau, Leo, Jess and Wil ... and Carnie has two very young daughters ... Lola and Luci. (They handle some of the "narration" featured on the track.) We featured Wendy and Carnie earlier in this series with one of MY favorite recent Christmas tunes, "Hey Santa".
Wilson wrote the song with Steve Kalinich (who, along with musician Alan Boyd, is featured in the video.) According to Brian Wilson's website, Rachel (of Rachel and the Reindeerz) is a friend that Alan had worked with previously and he felt that she would do a good rendition of this song ... but she is NOT a Brian Wilson relative. Having watched it a couple of times now, it kinda grows on you. Give it a shot and see what you think! (kk)
And speaking of Beach Boys-related new Christmas songs ...
Kent,
Matt Tyson has released a new CD of Christmas tunes - Beach Boys / Brian Wilson style.
http://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-beach-boys-styled-christmas-carol.html
Attached is to the tune of "I Do" a 60's Beach Boys track not released until the 90's (Hark The Herald / I Pray)
New Releases: "Sled Full Of Goodies" Christmas EP is done - contact me here woodshedstudio@hotmail.com if anyone is interested in getting it!
Recent release "Malibu Jukebox is also now available! Check it out here;
His site at Sound Clicks (plus some great summer songs):
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandid=1002718
Happy Christmastime,
Phil
Click here: Pray For Surf: Beach Boys-styled Christmas Carol Debuts on New EP
Hello Kent:
You've been doing some great coverage on Christmas songs and I wanted to submit one for your consideration . This is a song I recorded many years ago and was met with some success here in New England. It's available on youtube.
Happy Holidays
Thanks,
Charlie Quintal
Charlie Quintal Please Come Home For Christmas.wmv
Thanks, Charlie ... this one just happens to be one of my all-time Christmas favorites ... and you offere a very nice reading of this tune! (kk)
Kent:
Thank you for finding the space to include some successful regional talent in your postings of great Christmas music!
Charlie Quintal, a well known singer / songwriter / musician in the New England area, has such a large regional following that he's opened shows for Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Jay (Black) & the Americans and many more. The video you have posted is of one of his favorite holiday songs. During the video there's a montage of some of artists he has had the honor to share the stage with.
Tom Cuddy
Hi Kent,
Glad to hear from you.
I selected a track from my "Christmas Mine" CD. The selection is "Sleigh Bells", which has kind of an "Island" feel. And when the people hear it, they can think of "the Islands" in this cold weather.
I actually recorded this solo CD in 1993. It hasn't been exposed much. I was very pleased when I recorded this CD as these songs have been recorded so many times and I feel I gave my own touch to each one. Larry Chance said it's the best thing I have ever done. He loves it.
It's available on iTunes and Amazon, either the whole CD or individual tracks.
I wish A Merry Christmas to you and your family and everybody who gets to hear Sleigh Bells.
Merry Christmas,
Johnny Farina
Santo & Johnny
Yep, nice feel to this one ... give a listen to "Sleigh Bells" by Johnny Farina, formerly of Santo and Johnny! (Their recording of "Sleep Walk" was voted The Forgotten Hits Favorite Instrumental of All-Time earlier this year!!!) kk
The gift that keeps on giving ...
As featured this week as one of the '12 Days of Christmas' Philly local picks of the day, The Tell All's holiday song "Bright Lights of Christmas" will remain available as a FREE DOWNLOAD throughout this years holiday season!
Featuring members of the Philly band, Clutch Cargo, Su Teears & George Manney.
Click on the WXPN link below to download your copy: http://thekey.xpn.org/2010/12/the-keys-12-days-of-christmas-the-tell-alls-bright-lights-of-christmas/
If you still have room on that home-made holiday cd compilation you're putting together, this one might help fill it out nicely...check it out!
Happy Holidays!
George Manney - producer, engineer
http://www.ClutchCargoMusic.com
Kent ...
Add this to your list of new Christmas Songs.
Frank B.
New Carly Simon Christmas Song « WCBS-FM 101.1
Well, you can get a short clip of this track on the WCBS-FM website ... about 40-seconds worth anyway!!! (See, Carly, you should have sent US a copy of this clip so that we could get it played on the radio for you!!! lol) kk
Hi Kent -
I'm a friend of Tom Cuddy and he suggested that I contact you with my first EVER Christmas song.
Would love to hear any comments you might have and hopefully get some airplay and help in spreading the word around about "Everybody's Happy 'Cause It's Christmas Time".
Thanks for letting your listeners / fans know about this new song.
Looking forward to hearing your comments.
Happy Holidays,
Ian Lloyd [aka 'brother louie']
Great to hear from you ... BIG fan of your music. (In fact, we just featured "Brother Louie" as part of a short feature we did on Hot Chocolate a few weeks back ... you can search the website to scroll back to any of our old articles.)
Happy to help spread the word ... not only for your new Christmas tune but for ANY upcoming events, appearances and releases you may wish to let the fans know about. That's what we're here for ... so USE US!!!
Thanks, Ian! (kk)
And here's one sent into us by Bob Abrams of Brock and Abrams (who we're going to see on Christmas Eve, by the way!) It's a brand new track by Johnny V ... and it's a good one! (kk)
>>>Santa's Stuck In The Chimney just passed 200,000 view on YouTube.
(Paul Evans)
>>>Great news, Paul! Seems like radio should have picked up on this one by now ... although I know a few of the jocks on the list have been playing it! (kk)
Hey Kent,
Thanks for the good words.
All I can tell you is that it's a jungle out there. I intend to pull out every stop I can early next year to see if I can't find a Christmas CD compiler or two who would be interested in using "Santa's Stuck ... " It seems to me that this year's rise in popularity on YouTube should give the song some cachet.
Thanks for your help during the year.
Have a great holiday and a safe and happy 2011,
Paul
So great to see “Santa’s Stuck Up The Chimney” as the first golden ring! Paul Evans may not be a household name, but it’s a name known on Vance Brescia’s Music Memoirs blog! This fun holiday song was discovered back in September when a comment in response to Vance’s Music and Cars post mentioned “Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat” and Paul ended up posting on the blog. Of course, Vance’s post in Holiday Songs followed because it’s always the season for ANY kind of music at vancebrescia.com … the elves are busy year-round! The blog is just starting to get participation and a long way from the content on Forgotten Hits, but there’s some entertaining posts and thoughtful comments, especially in Holiday Songs.
Dana
We've been pushing Paul Evans' "Santa's Stuck Up In the Chimney" for a couple of years now in Forgotten Hits ... I think it's a GREAT, new little Christmas Novelty Track deserving of some airplay.
And if Paul Evans isn't a household name to most, they need look no further than the pop charts of the '50's and '60's. In addition to his OWN hits ("Seven Little Girls, Sitting In The Back Seat", #5, 1959; "Midnite Special", #16, 1960 and "Happy-Go-Lucky Me", #10, 1960), Paul ALSO wrote the hits "When" for The Kalin Twins, "Roses Are Red" for Bobby Vinton and "I Gotta Know" and "The Next Step Is Love" for Elvis Presley! I'd say that makes him worthy of more than just a passing nod! (lol) kk
And here are couple more, just for fun ...
Kent ...
I know a lot of your readers are in a hurry this holiday season.
This one is for them.
Frank B.
30 Christmas Songs in 60 Seconds? Yes He Did! « WCBS-FM 101.1
Kent ...
Sometimes you have to tell Santa what you want in a forceful manner.
Frank B. 
... and, speaking of reindeer ...
To all the DJs past and present who couldn't stand what they were playing, may I suggest Dr. Elmo's "Don't Make Me Play That Grandma Song Again" ... it's a hoot and a half!
-- stolf
Actually, Dr. Elmo has a BRAND NEW Christmas Album out called "Bluegrass Christmas", which we talked about a few weeks back. Pam Wendell (who's doing the promotion for this new CD) suggested another track our readers might enjoy ...
Just in case you run out of new songs ... HAHAHA!!!
I thought you might like this one as well!
Pam Wendell for Dr. Elmo - "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"
Dr. Elmo on FB - "Friend" him!
www.drelmo.com
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer app for iPAD
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer app for iPhone/iTouch
By the way, Dr. Elmo appeared on The Jimmy Fallon Show Monday Night and performed his legendary "Grandma" / Christmas Song along with The Roots. And for a more CONTEMPORARY take on the whole "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" theme, here's THIS YEAR's Edition, "Grandma Got Molested At The Airport", tying in PERFECTLY with all these new TSA Regulations and holiday travelers! (kk)
YouTube - Grandma Got Molested At The Airport
And one more reminder ...
It's about time they recognized Darlene Love at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. David Letterman will be taping his Christmas show with her and Jay Thomas on Tuesday December 21 and it will be aired on Thursday December 23.
(Ronnie Spector will be on Letterman tonight Wednesday December 15.)
Josh
More Christmas Cheer tomorrow ... in Forgotten Hits!
(You know where to find us!!!)
