As in, Time. Crunch Time.
The boxes for Ontario have been packed, shipped, and received, and shopping for the locals mostly done. Just some stocking stuffers to arrange for and we’ll be all ready. I’ll be taking tomorrow off to try to finish that off, being tired of drywall dust as I am.
It’s been a little hard getting into the spirit this year. A lot of my personal stuff (music, games, DVDs) is packed off in our garage in Inglewood. Including my Christmas music. Every year, see, I try to put together a sampler of the seasonal music that appeals to me, and this year I haven’t the access to it that I’d like.
Not for Ellie, though:
Anyhow, a good excuse to put together this year’s version, which I did last weekend.
I’ve made some neat discoveries this year, but I’ve also been feeling a bit nostalgic. It’s funny how the music I once mocked my parents for has now become quite… listenable to. You’ll know it when you see it.
And so, without further ado, here we go!
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – Jack Johnson
- Baby, It`s Cold Outside – Dean Martin with Martina McBride
- The Holly And The Ivy – Andreas Vollenwieder
- Happy Christmas (The War Is Over) – Sarah McLachlan
- Good King Wenceslas – The Skydiggers
- I`ll Be Home For Christmas – Frank Sinatra
- Song For A Winter`s Night – Gordon Lightfoot, 1973 version
- Baby`s First Christmas – Connie Francis
- Winterlong – Neil Young
- Calling On Mary – Aimee Mann
- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Death Cab For Cutie
- Sleigh Ride – Ella Fitzgerald
- Let It Snow – A Fine Frenzy
- I`ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm – Billie Holiday
- Carol Of The Bells – The Bird and the Bee
- First Noel – Crash Test Dummies
- Once In Royal David`s City – Sufjan Stevens
- What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve – Rufus Wainwright
- River – Allison Crowe
- Deck The Stills – Barenaked Ladies
- Green Christmas – Barenaked Ladies
- O Tannenbaum – Nat King Cole
- White Christmas – Bing Crosby
- Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
The regular rules for samplers always apply: thematic continuity (well, doh!), only one song per artist, and order matters.
The word “sampler”, in case you don’t know, is what the rest of the world calls the “mix tape”. It’s an artefact of my musical indoctrination by Hill/Kokko/Warecki, waaay back in the day. We’ve just always called them samplers. Perhaps Clark (if you’re reading this from Scarborough) can elaborate.
How old school is the notion? Well, my first samplers were recorded at half speed on a Teac 1/4″ real to real. For the very finest in audio fidelity (at the time). Yep, I hung out with geeks. Their idea of pushing the limit was to record audio on the dedicated tracks of a VHS-HiFi tape.
If that doesn’t mean anything to you, then don’t worry. We haven’t had a VHS ourselves fora good six or seven years.
Anyhow, enjoy. If anyone wants a copy, drop me an email with your mailing addy and I’d be happy to share the samples with you.
And Merry Christmas! From Elliotte and us!