I started thinking about Christmas and my thoughts turned to great Christmas songs that nobody else seems to like, yet are among my favorites. How can one go wrong with Dr. Demento, Stan Freberg, Weird Al, Spike Jones…?
With that in mind, here’s a Five for Friday – Five Festive Funnies (and it’s only Tuesday):
All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth - Spike Jones & His City Slickers
The Singing Dogs’ Jingle Bells - Dr. Demento
I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas - Gayla Peevey
The VH1 Bloghas listed the “100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80s.” After reading the list, I’m thinking it’s a stretch to call them all hits. Some are great, though. See what you think:
Here’s #1 – Come on Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Here’s the entire list (in VH1′s rank order):
1 Dexy’s Midnight Runners: “Come on Eileen”
2 Flock of Seagulls: “I Ran (So Far Away)”
3 A-Ha: “Take On Me”
4 Tommy Tutone: “867-5309 / Jenny”
5 Soft Cell: “Tainted Love”
6 Toni Basil: “Mickey”
7 Modern English: “I Melt With You”
8 Bow Wow Wow: “I Want Candy”
9 Kajagoogoo: “Too Shy”
10 Frankie Goes to Hollywood: “Relax”
11 Gary Numan: “Cars”
12 Animotion: “Obsesssion”
13 Thomas Dolby: “She Blinded Me With Science”
14 Big Country: “In A Big Country”
15 Devo: “Whip It”
16 Nena: “99 Luft Balloons”
17 Men Without Hats: “The Safety Dance”
18 Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock: “It Takes Two”
19 Dead or Alive: “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)”
20 Rockwell: “Somebody’s Watching Me”
21 Twisted Sister: “We’re Not Gonna Take It”
22 Michael Sembello: “Maniac”
23 Eddy Grant: “Electric Avenue”
24 Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: “What I Am”
25 Musical Youth: “Pass the Dutchie”
26 Cutting Crew: “I Just Died In Your Arms”
27 Stacey Q: “Two of Hearts”
28 John Parr: “St. Elmos Fire (Man In Motion)”
29 Madness: “Our House”
30 The Vapors: “Turning Japanese”
31 Bobby McFerrin: “Don’t Worry Be Happy”
32 Quarterflash: “Harden My Heart”
33 John Waite: “Missing You”
34 The Waitresses: “I Know What Boys Like”
35 Tom Tom Club: “Genius of Love”
36 Weather Girls: “It’s Raining Men”
37 Lipps, Inc.: “Funkytown”
38 Bruce Willis: “Respect Yourself”
39 Matthew Wilder: “Break My Stride”
40 The Buggles: “Video Killed the Radio Star”
41 Billy Vera “At This Moment”
42 Timbuk 3 “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades”
43 Shannon “Let the Music Play”
44 Wall of Voodoo “Mexican Radio”
45 Robbie Nevil “C’est La Vie”
46 Georgia Satellites “Keep Your Hands To Yourself”
47 Pretty Poison “Catch Me I’m Falling”
48 Yello “Oh Yeah”
49 Philip Bailey (w/ Phil Collins) “Easy Lover”
50 Neneh Cherry “Buffalo Stance”
51 After the Fire “Der Kommissar”
52 Mary Jane Girls “In My House”
53 Taco “Puttin’ On the Ritz”
54 Chris DeBurgh “Lady in Red”
55 Johnny Kemp “Just Got Paid”
56 Til Tuesday “Voices Carry”
57 Jermaine Stewart “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off”
58 Don Johnson “Heartbeat”
59 The Outfield “Your Love”
60 Nu Shooz “I Can’t Wait”
61 E.U.: “Da Butt”
62 XTC: “Dear God”
63 Oran “Juice” Jones: “The Rain”
64 Robbie Dupree: “Steal Away”
65 Boomtown Rats: “I Don’t Like Mondays”
66 The Jeff Healy Band: “Angel Eyes”
67 Martika: “Toy Soldiers”
68 Peter Schilling: “Major Tom”
69 T’Pau: “Heart And Soul”
70 Harold Faltermeyer: “Axel F”
71 Jack Wagner: “All I Need”
72 Swing Out Sister: “Breakout”
73 Paul Hardcastle: “19″
74 Information Society: “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)”
75 Bertie Higgins: “Key Largo”
76 J.J. Fad: “Supersonic”
77 General Public: “Tenderness”
78 Aldo Nova: “Fantasy”
79 Alannah Myles: “Black Velvet”
80 Eddie Murphy: “Party All The Time”
81 Josie Cotton: “Johnny Are You Queer?”
82 Red Rider: “Lunatic Fringe”
83 Paul Lekakis: “Boom Boom Boom Let’s Go Back to My Room”
84 The Church: “Under The Milky Way”
85 Ziggy Marley And The Melody Makers: “Tomorrow People”
86 Patrice Rushen: “Forget Me Nots”
87 Vixen: “Edge Of A Broken Heart”
88 Nik Kershaw: “Wouldn’t it Be Good”
89 Rodney Dangerfield: “Rappin’ Rodney”
90 Haircut 100: “Love Plus One”
91 Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson: “Friends And Lovers”
92 Frank Stallone: “Far From Over”
93 L.A. Guns: “The Ballad of Jayne”
94 Club Nouveau: “Lean On Me”
95 Midnight Oil: “Beds are Burning”
96 The Fabulous Thunderbirds: “Tuff Enuff”
97 Will To Power: “Baby I Love Your Way / Freebird”
98 Buckner & Garcia: “Pac-Man Fever”
99 Michael Damian: “Rock On”
100 Clarence Clemons (and Jackson Browne): “You’re A Friend Of Mine”
If you have ever been in a music store, you can’t shop for more than five minutes before someone picks up a guitar and begins playing… Stairway to Heaven, Sweet Child O’ Mine, or Smoke on the Water (be sure to click on the song titles to hear newuniquedifferent unusual versions of the songs). There couldn’t be a more appropriate sign in a music store than the one below.
Our family enjoys Christmas music and we have it playing on our stereo from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, but these are the songs that (for various reasons) my wife won’t let me play during Christmas:
One of my all time favorites – David Bowie and Bing Crosby:
Bing (again), this time with White Christmas, which originated in the film Holiday Inn:
I happened across a version of this meme and decided to list a few of my favorite Artists/Bands from A-Z.
These aren’t necessarily my favorite songs by each of these artists, but I tried to find songs that were either well performed, unusual, or a version different from the one heard on the radio (yet, some are my favorite songs by that artist/band). I’ve linked each artist/band to a YouTube video for your listening/viewing pleasure.
I would like to see your list, so be sure to link back if you decide to join in on the fun by creating your own list (no need to link to videos – that was just my way to kill some time on a day off). Since the list is alphabetical, it seems that librarians and booksellers might find this enjoyable (no pressure Chartroose, Rebecca, Michael and Ann, and Stacy). Of course, it is always good to hear from other friends as well.
Click on the artist or band to see and hear a song (be sure to check out Heart – it’s a great version of their song). You might not recognize the names of all these artists, so click on their name to discover who they are:
Do you have a favorite singer? Who do you think should be the all-time greatest singer? Hint: You must R-E-S-P-E-C-T her.
Rolling Stone Magazineput together a list of who they consider the greatest singers of all time, but I’m not too sure about their list. For example, Bob Dylan is a great songwriter but it is a huge stretch to say he is one of the top ten singers of all time – and ahead of Roy Orbison.
Do you remember the 50′s? Do I remember? No – Yet, the 50′s were the best time of my life. I didn’t work, I didn’t go to school, I didn’t have to do anything… except eat, drink, fill my diaper, and cry (I was born in June of ’59 – I know… I’m ancient).
At any rate, here are the top selling songs of my birth decade (pay special attention to 1959) as determined by the RIAA and NEA. This list reads like the soundtrack to American Graffitti or Happy Days (thinking particulary about Rock Around the Clock, Blueberry Hill, At the Hop, and Yakety Yak).
The top selling song of the decade? Rock Around the Clockby Bill Haley and his Comets (bonus trivia- Bill Haley started out as a yodeling cowboy singer and was not the first to record Rock Around the Clock):
The Top Selling Songs of the 1950′s:
Nat King Cole – Mona Lisa- 1950
Patti Page – The Tennessee Waltz - 1950
Roy Rogers/Dale Evans – Happy Trails- 1951
Les Paul & Mary Ford – How High the Moon- 1951
The Weavers – On Top of Old Smoky- 1951
cast recording – The King and I – 1951
Hank Williams – Your Cheatin’ Heart- 1953
The Chordettes – Mr. Sandman - 1954
Erroll Garner Trio – Misty - 1954
The Modern Jazz Quartet – Django - 1954
The Penguins – Earth Angel- 1954
Joe Turner – Shake Rattle and Roll - 1954
Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley- 1955
Tennessee Ernie Ford – Sixteen Tons - 1955
*Bill Haley & the Comets – Rock Around the Clock- 1955
Al Hibbler – Unchained Melody- 1955
George Beverly Shea – How Great Thou Art - 1955
Mary Lou Williams – Zodiac Suite- 1955
Johnny Cash – I Walk the Line- 1956
Doris Day – Que Sera Sera- 1956
Fats Domino – Blueberry Hill- 1956
The Five Satins – In the Still of the Night - 1956
Little Richard – Tutti Frutti- 1956
Frankie Lymon & Teenagers – Why Do Fools Fall in Love - 1956
Carl Perkins – Blue Suede Shoes- 1956
Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel- 1956
Elvis Presley – Hound Dog/Don’t Be Cruel- 1956
Muddy Waters – Got My Mojo Workin’- 1956
cast recording – My Fair Lady – 1956
Harry Belafonte – Banana Boat (Day-O) – 1957
Sam Cooke – You Send Me- 1957
Danny & The Juniors – At the Hop- 1957
The Everly Brothers – Wake Up Little Susie- 1957
Buddy Holly – Peggy Sue - 1957
Jerry Lee Lewis – Great Balls of Fire- 1957
Johnny Mathis – Chances Are - 1957
cast recording – West Side Story - 1957
Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode - 1958
The Champs – Tequila- 1958
The Coasters – Yakety Yak - 1958
Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues - 1958
Connie Francis – Who’s Sorry Now - 1958
The Kingston Trio – Tom Dooley- 1958
The Platters – Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - 1958
Louis Prima & Keely Smith – That Old Black Magic - 1958
Ritchie Valens – Donna/La Bamba - 1958
cast recording – The Music Man- 1958
Ray Charles – What’d I Say - 1959
Dave Brubeck – Take Five - 1959
Bobby Darin – Mack the Knife- 1959
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue- 1959
The Flamingos – I Only Have Eyes for You- 1959
Wilbert Harrison – Kansas City - 1959
Johnny Horton – The Battle of New Orleans- 1959
The Isley Brothers – Shout - 1959
Marty Robbins – El Paso - 1959
As a bonus Kansas Cityby Wilbert Harrison (a musical influence on the Beatles):
It’s October, thus it’s time for some frightening fun. Pop Culture Madnessoffers its visitors an opportunity to vote on top stuff. Here is the Scariest Pop Music of All Time (as determined by visitors to Pop Culture Madness) – these are the top five songs, but the complete list is at the end of this post or you can click here:
The Monster Mash by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Cryptkickers – lot’s of fun!
Haunted House by Jumpin’ Gene Simmons (not the one from KISS).
Thriller by Michael Jackson. More a film than a video, but very well done with top talent (and great dancing) - this was made before Jacko became so wacko.
Ghost Busters by Ray Parker, Jr. A fun video with lots of cameos of people who were popular at the time.
Ghostriders in the Sky by The Ramrods. No lyrics with this version, but the video has Clint Eastwood – a must for anything to do with country.
The complete list (Frankenstein and Psycho Killer should have been ranked higher. Spooky at #9? – I don’t think so):
1. Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett
2. Haunted House – Jumpin’ Gene Simmons
3. Thriller – Michael Jackson
4. Ghost Busters – Ray Parker Jr.
5. Ghost Riders In The Sky – Frankie Laine, Ramrods or Outlaws
6. Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon
7. Devil Went Down To Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band
8. I Put A Spell On You – Screaming Jay Hawkins
9. Spooky – Classics IV
10. Don’t Fear The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
11. Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley
12. Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
13. I Want My Baby Back – Jimmy Cross
14. Frankenstein – Edgar Winter Group
15. Waltz In Black – the Stranglers
16. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
17. People Are Strange – the Doors
18. Zombie Jamboree – Rockapella
19. Highway To Hell – AC/DC
20. Clap For The Wolfman – Guess Who
21. Angie Baby – Helen Reddy
22. Hell – Squirrel Nut Zippers
23. Devil Inside – INXS
24. Black Magic Woman – Santana
25. Planet Claire – B-52s
26. Dead Man’s Party – Oingo Boingo
27. Legend of Wooley Swamp – Charlie Daniels Band
28. Nightmare on My Street – DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
29. The Battle of Evermore – Led Zeppelin
30. It’s Halloween – The Shaggs
31. Running With The Devil – Van Halen
32. This Is Halloween – Danny Elfman (Nightmare Before Christmas)
33. Running Scared – Roy Orbison
34. Abracadabra – Steve Miller
35. Season Of The Witch – Donovan
36. Devil in Disguise – Elvis Presley
37. Martian Hop – The Ran-Dells
38. Creature From The Black Lagoon – Dave Edmunds
39. Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman – The Tubes
40. The Blob – The Five Blobs
41. In The Shadows – The Stranglers
"Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon
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"Experience is something you get... right after you need it." - Steven Wright
