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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 8, 2013 19:12:39 GMT -5
My personal preference is to enjoy Christmas music during the immediate Christmas season. I do my best to avoid it when a station switches to all Christmas music before then. As a way of saying thanks to all the people I’ve met throughout this year, I’d like to offer up a thread of Christmas music that is hopefully “off the beaten path”. However, I’m not ready to do so yet ; it’s not close enough. Instead we’ll ease into it with a few days of seasonal postings. The first one is actually a twofer. Since it’s a “touch of winter’s day” (sarcasm) where I live, the first post will offer up a cover of the Mamas and Papas classic by two iconic American bands. America reached #56 during a five week chart run in the spring of 1979… California Dreamin' - America… and the Beach Boys charted one notch lower at #57 during a ten week stay in the fall of 1986. California Dreamin' - Beach Boys
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Post by donwa001 on Dec 8, 2013 21:29:24 GMT -5
I prefer the original version by The Mamas & The Papas. When you listen to that song with headphones, you can really hear the separation of the voices. The opening guitar begins in the left headphone. Then as the singing begins, the Mamas are only singing in the left headphone. The Papas sing in the right headphone. Put them together and you get their great harmony. California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 8, 2013 22:22:28 GMT -5
I prefer the original version by The Mamas & The Papas. When you listen to that song with headphones, you can really hear the separation of the voices. The opening guitar begins in the left headphone. Then as the singing begins, the Mamas are only singing in the left headphone. The Papas sing in the right headphone. Put them together and you get their great harmony. California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The PapasAgree 100%. Just thought I'd provide some alternates, rather than the one we all know and love. That two well-known groups took a whack at it, is a tribute to the staying power of the original.
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Post by JMW on Dec 9, 2013 20:37:24 GMT -5
Wilson Phillips also recorded the song for their 2012 album Dedicated (honoring their parents by doing their own versions of Mamas and Papas/Beach Boys songs). California Dreamin' - Wilson Phillips
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 9, 2013 20:57:16 GMT -5
Today's feature is another winter twofer. Both versions are well known, and reached the Top 15. The original by the #2 duo in rock history reached #13 during a 9 week chart run in late 1967. Hazy Shade of Winter – Simon & GarfunkelThe cover did even better having been featured in the movie “Less Than Zero”. It reached #2 during a 21 week chart run that began in November 1987. Hazy Shade Of Winter – Bangles
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Dec 9, 2013 23:51:43 GMT -5
Also, you can hear Scott McKenzie's voice briefly singing All the leaves are brown in the left channel. He recorded it and they used the same backing track but didn't totally wipe his voice.
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 10, 2013 21:38:53 GMT -5
This beautiful seasonal favorite was the “B” side to this band’s cover of Laura Nyro’s “And When I Die”. This track from their Grammy award winning second album was the only one not to feature David Clayton-Thomas on lead vocals. Steve Katz took the lead on this one, and also wrote the song. Sometimes In Winter – Blood, Sweat & TearsIf you're interested, there's a good self-made extended mix on youtube also worth a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D0HVYiMyq8
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 11, 2013 22:27:40 GMT -5
Never thought of Tommy Roe and psychedelic music in the same breath, but this trippy seasonal selection certainly qualifies. Debuted in the Hot 100 on Christmas Eve 1966, and peaked at #23 during an 11 week chart run. It’s Now Winters Day – Tommy RoeTomorrow we begin to "Step Into Christmas", so to speak.
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 12, 2013 18:08:18 GMT -5
We now begin to segue from seasonal themes into Christmas. When we think of Beach Boys and Christmas music, it’s usually “Little Saint Nick” or “The Man With All The Toys”. Though it didn’t chart, they also had a pretty good Christmas single release during the 1974 holiday season. Incorporating a verse of “Here Comes Santa Claus”, it also features then 6 year old Carnie and 5 year old Wendy Wilson on sleigh bells. Child Of Winter (Christmas Song) – Beach Boys
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Post by rayshae3 on Dec 13, 2013 0:06:16 GMT -5
Not so cheerful, in fact rather melancholy, “In the Winter” was a Janis Ian composition she performed on the very first episode of SNL. The song only hit the Billboard AC chart and got to its highest position #21 this week in 1975 (12/13/1975) If this week we had a ‘75 instead of 1970 re-airing, I would have included it in the Lost 70s Classic thread. But let me plug the song here instead. Good lyrics, haunting melody… In the Winter-Janis Ian
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 13, 2013 20:03:15 GMT -5
Before the Silver Bullet Band and the System, he began his recording career as Bob Seger and the Last Heard. A twist on a James Brown classic is the spring board for this 1966 rocker. Come on Comet, come on Cupid. Don’t just stand there looking stupid! Sock It To Me Santa – Bob Seger and the Last Heard
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 14, 2013 17:36:03 GMT -5
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 15, 2013 17:27:59 GMT -5
Looky here! He’s not your typical Santa. This one has something special for the “little girls” (if you know what I mean). Ho! Ho! Ho! Back Door Santa – Clarence Carter
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Post by 1finemrg on Dec 16, 2013 20:48:02 GMT -5
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Post by at40petebattistini on Dec 16, 2013 21:03:27 GMT -5
This beautiful seasonal favorite was the “B” side to this band’s cover of Laura Nyro’s “And When I Die”. This track from their Grammy award winning second album was the only one not to feature David Clayton-Thomas on lead vocals. Steve Katz took the lead on this one, and also wrote the song. Sometimes In Winter – Blood, Sweat & TearsIf you're interested, there's a good self-made extended mix on youtube also worth a listen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D0HVYiMyq8Of all the songs offered so far, this one is my favorite. Looking forward to more of your countdown!
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