Playlist Corner: Happy New Year!

HAPPY 2021!! As I'm sure you agree, may it be a safe, kinder new year.

But more specifically, in the words of Tony Camargo in El Año Viejo (I will never tire of this), I hope it brings you:

"a little goat,

a very black little mule,

a very white little mare,

and a nice mother-in-law."

You know - what really counts.

PLAYLIST NOTES

1) Ella Fitzgerald - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

2) The Specials - Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)

3) Tony Camargo - El Año Viejo

4) Bing Crosby - Let's Start The New Year Right

5) Jo-Ann Campbell - Happy New Year Baby

6) The Cast - Auld Lang Syne

A beautiful version with the likely original melody.

7) The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year

One of the most perfect songs. Tenderly and perfectly used in The Middle.

8) The Kinks - Skin and Bone

A joyful anti-Atkins, anti-New Year Resolutions song.

9) Charles Brown - Bringing in a Brand New Year

10) Waterson:Carthy - New Year Carol - Residue

11) Sam Cooke - I Wish You Love

12) Quantic & Alice Russell with the Combo Barbaro - Look Around the Corner

13) Lightnin' Hopkins - Happy New Year

14) Otis Redding & Carla Thomas - New Year's Resolution

15) Nina Simone - Feeling Good

16) The Walkmen - In the New Year

17) Regina Spektor - My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year)

#newyear #jazz #ska #Mexico #pop #rock #rhythmnblues #folk #soul

Playlist Corner: Winter - Part 2, The Warm Up

 Part 2 is here! After the shivery tracks of the Winter Playlist Part 1, I hope this warms you up. Lots of cozy sounds. Best enjoyed with a hot drink

Winter Playlist - Part 2, The Warm Up

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5BE3KE7PsqjYFTQ03EPnN0

PLAYLIST NOTES

Love Unlimited - It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It's Spring)

The Mills Brothers - December

Chet Atkins - Winter Walkin'

Julie London - Warm December

Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes

Alma Cogan - Never Do a Tango with an Eskimo

Fountains Of Wayne - Valley Winter Song

Bernard Herrmann - By The Fireside

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Winter Wonderland

Fontaines D.C. - Winter In The Sun - Darklands Version

Ted Heath - Hot Toddy

The Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter

Benny Goodman - Winter Weather (feat. Peggy Lee) - 78rpm Version

Tom Hanks - Hot Chocolate

Connie Francis - I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter

Ella Fitzgerald - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

#winter #playlist #christmasmusic #christmasplaylists #festiveplaylists #seasonal #winterwonderland #WinterMusic #wintersongs

Also available at:

https://www.facebook.com/mikichristmasplaylists/posts/703209303670956

Playlist Corner: Winter - Part 1, The Shiver

It begins!!! Christmas began early for everyone this year, and thank fuggles for that.

This December I'll be having lots of mini-playlists alongside this year's main Christmas playlist, because why not. And I'll be re-uploading the old links soon, as I know they're out of date.

But enough admin! Here's the first playlist of the season. Enjoy!!

Winter Playlist - Part 1, The Shiver

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2fUv6fONukAbpFJcva4Vl5

Part 2 - The Warm Up will be coming soon 

Go for a shivery walk and a listen.

PLAYLIST

1) Tim Rose - Snowed In

2) Georgy Sviridov - The Snowstorm: II. Waltz

3) Aztec Camera - Walk out to Winter

4) Antti Paalanen - Winter's Dance

5) Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

6) Vince Guaraldi Trio - Skating

7) Billy May - Snowfall

8) Al Petteway - Roving on a Winter's Night

9) Headless Heroes - The North Wind Blew South

10) Ralph Vaughan Williams - Sinfonia antartica [No. 7]: V. Epilogue (Alla marcia moderato, non troppo allegro)

11) Lidia Ruslanova - Valenki, Valenki

12) Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - The Snow Maiden: Dance of the Tumblers

13) Bellowhead - Cold Blows The Wind

#winter #playlist #christmasmusic #christmasplaylists #festiveplaylists #seasonal #winterwonderland #WinterMusic #wintersongs

Also available at:
https://www.facebook.com/mikichristmasplaylists/posts/701498923841994

Playlist Corner - Miki's Groovy Christmas Playlist 2019!

It happened!!! Another playlist of bonkers/beautiful music.
Please enjoy while doing things that are ever so Christmassy.

Unfortunately Spotify has been a bit Scrooge-like and not all the songs on there, so the complete playlist is only available on YouTube or through downloading the mp3s.

If you love one of the smaller artists, buy the song! (particular love for Keston Cobblers Club, The Gathering & The Priestess & The Fool)

If you don't, that is very much expected with my taste.

I hope you have a proper chance to disconnect and relax over the break, and have a hopeful New Year.

Lots of love
Xx


Soundsgood
http://bit.ly/35MN0EE

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLit-IA60pzo8d5V0zdyquYp6jnZtXFr3r

Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ijkdlOcMLiiEl7Y1a45mu

Mp3s
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lk7jvccbt6838wf/AACUp3nG5qPD3mMS3a3bLdL0a?dl=0


Miki's Groovy Christmas Playlist 2019!

1. Keston Cobblers Club - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Where, oh where am I going to find another folk cover that will make me teary at its sweetness? I just don't wher- oh, here's one.

2. Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters - It's Beginning To Look a lot Like Christmas (with Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra)

This song, and specifically its appearance in Home Alone 2, really does make it feel like it's Christmas.

3. Christmas in the Stars (Star Wars Christmas Album) feat. R2D2, C3PO and Meco - Christmas in the Stars

Because we now all gather at Christmas to celebrate the birth of baby George Lucas. Right?

4. James Brown - Merry Christmas, I Love You

Sweeeeeet.

5. The Baseballs - Driving Home for Christmas

I don't really like Chris Rea's song. There I've said it. Maybe because I'm not a huge fan of driving. Maybe because it's about being stuck in traffic. Either way this version made me change my mind.

6. The Torero Band - Good King Wenceslas

It's been a while since we've had some Tijuana Brass/Mariachi style stuff. This band was a group of studio musicians emulating the very successful Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass Band, and in many ways exceeded him.

7. Los Lobos - La Rama

La Rama means 'the branch', and is a tradition in Mexico at Christmas time, where the family decorates a pine branch. This is the song that's performed, which different towns all have their own versions of. But the chorus is always the same: “Naranjas y limas, limas y limones/más linda es la virgen que todas las flores” (“Oranges and limes, limes and lemons/More beautiful is the Virgin than all the flowers”).

https://smithsonianlvm.tumblr.com/post/135337576732/las-posadas-and-la-rama-tradiciones-navide%C3%B1as

https://www.ocweekly.com/10-great-mexican-christmas-songs-for-the-holidays-7742145/

8. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Silver Bells

Amazingly funky. I also love that this one of the few Christmas songs set in the city. Sharon Jones' backup singers always sound like they have the best job ever.

9. Mindy Carson - Christmas Chopsticks

How could we make Christmas music less annoying? By including Chopsticks, of course!
If you go to the mp3s, there's a couple of versions, as the one I wanted to use (Jan Garber & His Orchestra) wasn't available on any streaming sites. So I uses the Mindy Carson's instead, which is actually pretty good, and not nearly as cheesy as ol' Jan's.

10. Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas

I love this song so much! Yes it's depressing, but sometimes Christmas can be tough. Plus it's a belter, perfect for singing along to. Dolly didn't write it - that was Carol Hall for her musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas - but Dolly's voice on it is heavenly.

11. Mabel Scott - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus

A classic.

12. The Skunks - Smitty's Xmas Toy Piano

You thought I was done with anthropomorphic sped-up alternatives to The Chipmunks?? We're never done!!

13. Jacques Dutronc - La Fille du Père Noel

Something about the daughter of Father Christmas meeting the son of another Père Fouettard, or "Father Whipper", a French character who accompanies Saint Nicholas on St Nicholas Day, giving out coal or whippings to naughty children, while St Nicholas concentrates on presents for the good kids. All perfectly sound. Basically, the song is like an adolescent and sexier version of Rise of the Guardians.

14. The Gathering - O Holy Night (feat. Rhiannon Giddens & Jason Sypher)

NOT ON SPOTIFY. Please please listen on YouTube/SoundCloud/the mp3s!
I was so upset when I found this album wasn't on Spotify because it's so beautiful. Rhiannon Giddens has the kind of voice to make you believe in a higher power, and this duet between her and a double bass is breathtaking.

15. The Priestess & The Fool - Fairytale of New York

NOT ON SPOTIFY. Please please listen on YouTube/SoundCloud/the mp3s!
Again I was gutted when I couldn't find this on Spotify, so please check it out. Americans covering The Pogues? Yes I was sceptical too. Then I heard this wheelin', reelin' cover.

16. Sia - Santa's Coming For Us

It's a genuine, modern classic! Mostly new Christmas songs always try to copy Phil Spector/Mariah in desperation for some of those sweet annual royalties. However, apart from a sprinkling of tenor sax, Sia does her own thing, and it's brilliant. The only thing that still jars is that, as a phrase, "Santa's coming for us" does sound a little like a threat. Just me? Oh.

17. The Marcels - Merry Twist-Mas

Party!

18. Harry Connick Jr. - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Yup, more New Orleans swing. Can't help myself.

19. Rotary Connection - Christmas Child

NOT ON SPOTIFY. Please please listen on YouTube/the mp3s!
From a psychedelic soul band, it's trippy and about Jesus and love.

20. The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra - Midnight Sleigh Ride

Jazzy, glitzy swing.

21. BBC Philharmonic (cond. Vassily Sinaisky) - The Snow Maiden Suite - IV - Dance of the Tumblers (Rimsky Korsakov)

Quick, my sled!

22. Mel Torme - The Christmas Song

Nat King Cole's version is rightly the most famous. However, when I heard this version by the man who wrote it, Mel Torme, I was stunned by the tenderness and intimacy of his performance.

Merry Christmas and I hope you have a peaceful, hopeful Happy New Year.

Miki's Mirthful Christmas Playlist 2018!

The playlist has more of an unusual start this year, with a couple of curios at the beginning, before the music kicks off proper. So hang tight! Beacause then there's the annual mix of jazz, blues, indie, folk, hip-hop, and, of course, the very, very weird.

On Soundsgood
On Spotify
On Youtube

AND for a limited time during the Christmas period - the mp3s!

(pretty please buy them from the artist if you think it's a keeper)


PLAYLIST NOTES

01) Stan Freberg - Green Chri$tma$
A parable in comedy song? Yes please! Plus, thankfully, has lots of gags amongst the moralising. Unsurprisingly, advertisers hated it. But the public loooved it.

02) Rev. Edward Clayborn - The Wrong Way To Celebrate Christmas
It's amazing to listen to this musician, also known as the 'Guitar Evangelist', from almost a century ago.

Anyway I wanted this double of moralising songs to kick things off, as a reminder the more opportunistic and disreputable parts of this season have been around for decades. Eh, human nature.

03) Kerfuffle - Three Ships
Excellent band name.

04) Kay Starr - (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man with the Bag

05) Barry Richards - Baby Sittin' Santa
This has the most amazing ending, I'm not sure how they got away with it.

06) Amos Milburn - Christmas (Comes but Once a Year)
Unbelievably cool.

07) Joe Loco Quintet - Jingle Bells
I imagine steam rising from these musicians' hands.

08) Hannah Peel & Tunng - Hey Santa!
*Not on Spotify*. Another entry into the canon of 'Love-Rat Santa', of which there are a surprising number of songs! Hannah Peel is quite a cool artist, combining brass music with her love for science-fiction.

09) Peggy Lee - Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
What a smokey voice, in a Billy May arrangement, who makes another appearance below, as well as in previous playlists.

10) El Vez - Santa Claus is Sometimes Brown
An excellent companion piece to the track 'Santa Claus is a Black Man' from a few years ago. El Vez is a Mexican-American artist who did a lot of rock 'n' roll covers coupled with his own wry sense of humour and punk sensibilities.

11) Vince Guaraldi Trio - My Little Drum

12) Dusty Springfield - O Holy Child

13) Billy May - Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer
Totally nuts. But after one listen through, you'll start joining in with the exclamations: 'What the heck is maaaambo?'

14) Aretha Franklin - Winter Wonderland

15) Duke Ellington And His Orchestra - Sugar Rum Cherry
An arrangement of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy by Tchaikovsky, but with a little extra rum...

16) Wiley - Cheer Up, It's Christmas
This is a great song, with hilarious lyrics of family Christmases together.

17) Run-D.M.C. - Christmas In Hollis
The party begins!

18) KT Tunstall - Sleigh Ride
This is so infectiously happy! Love its scrappy, DIY sound.

19) JD McPherson - Hey Skinny Santa!
As part of my job, I can't condone Santa being required to overeat. However, this is such a catchy song, you'd probably dance it off pretty quickly.

20) The Big Moon - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

21) Squirrel Nut Zippers - Mardi Gras for Christmas

22) BBC Philharmonic - The Holly and the Ivy - Fantasy on Christmas Carols (Malcolm Arnold)

Merry Christmas/Festivus/Holidays!!