christmas

It’s the Holiday Season, and That Means… Some of the Crappiest Rock and Roll You’ll Ever Hear

Nov 302011

Oh, God. The other day, I went out to buy, I dunno, a lightbulb or something — and I was assaulted by my all-time un-favorite “Christmas” song: the Jackson 5 cynically caterwauling their way through “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” This, of course, means we’ve officially entered the season all us crotchety old music snobs love to hate: the month-long musical shit-tacular that is “the holidays.”

I think we took the high road a couple of years back, working together to compile a list of the best holiday season rock and soul ever recorded. Surely we can do better than that. Besides MJ’s aforementioned pre-adenoidal Xmas screeching — what’s the least tolerable music the music-retail complex hurls at us at this time of year?

I look forward to your responses.

HVB

Rock Town Hall’s Saturday Night Shut-In: Chinese Movies and Christmas Food Edition

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 252010

Mom!

Tonight’s edition of Saturday Night Shut-In starts on a psychedelic vibe and then gets progressively down home, until we’re right by the fireplace, enjoying our new toys.

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/RTH-Saturday-Night-Shut-In-8.mp3|titles=RTH Saturday Night Shut-In, episode 8]

[Note: The Rock Town Hall feed will enable you to easily download Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your digital music player. In fact, you can even set your iTunes to search for an automatically download each week’s podcast.]

All-Star Jam: A Gift to Townspeople Everywhere!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 242010

Won’t you help me and a young Andy Richter celebrate Christmas? What did Santa Klaus Voorman bring you?

Rock Town Hall Presents A Rock Town Hall Christmas

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 232010

For those of you jonesing for Christmas tunes, enjoy the return of this team effort!

UPDATED WITH THE ORIGINAL CHARLES BROWN VERSION (thanks to BigSteve)!

This post initially appeared 12/22/08.

You may recall the recent work led by Townsman Northvancoveman in compiling The Rock Town Hall Christmas Record. Today we share with you the selections, as sequenced by The Great 48. These tracks will be posted through the holiday season. Enjoy!

1. Elvis Presley, “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”

2. Chuck Berry, “Run Rudolph Run”

3. The Beach Boys, “Little Saint Nick”

4. Martin Newell, “Christmas in Suburbia”

5. The Kinks, “Father Christmas”

6. The Waitresses, “Christmas Wrapping”

7. The Ventures, “Sleigh Ride”

8. Elvis Presley, “Blue Christmas”

9. The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl, “Fairytale of New York”

UPDATED WITH THE ORIGINAL CHARLES BROWN VERSION (thanks to BigSteve)!

10. Charles Brown, “Please Come Home for Christmas”

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/C05.-Charles-Brown-Please-Come-Home-For-Christmas.mp3|titles=C05. Charles Brown – Please Come Home For Christmas]

10a. Originally posted version – yet Pince Nez’ed for not being the original!

10. Charles Brown, “Please Come Home For Christmas”

11. The Pretenders, “2000 Miles”

12. The Plastic Ono Band, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”

13. Big Star, “Jesus Christ”

14. Darlene Love, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”

15. Vince Guaraldi Trio, “Christmas Time Is Here”

[Vinyl types: the side break is between tracks 7 and 8.]

And Tonight Thank God It’s Their Hair Instead Of Yours

Posted by alexmagic

Dec 172010

This holiday classic deserves a yearly airing. Please be thankful this holiday season.

This post initially appeared 12/23/08.

“Is that Orson Welles in the second row?”

Back in January, we celebrated the historic 23rd anniversary of the debut of the greatest supergroup in history, USA For Africa, and their most famous single, We Are The World.

Throughout 2008, Rock Town Hall spent some time talking about influences in rock, from the thieving ways of Buddy Holly to bands with little to no outside influences. USA For Africa was influenced by some precursor groups, such as the Concert For Bangladesh Band and, of course Band Aid, the primarily British/Irish Supergroup which launched the popular single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” in 1984, watching it reach #1 on the UK charts…but fail to reach #1 in America.
Continue reading »

All-Star Jam: In Honor of the Fourth Member of the Holy Trinity of Rock

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 172010

To celebrate the holiday season, Rock Town Hall will be posting a couple of holiday-themed jams. We’ll kick things off with this video, featuring perhaps the fourth member of Townsman hrrundivbakshi‘s Holy Trinity of Rock, Ted Nugent. Happy holidays, HVB—and all of you!

Battle Royale! Worst Rock Holiday Anthem Ever

Posted by hrrundivbakshi

Dec 152010

Oldsters on the list know the “Battle Royale” drill: everybody brings their best/worst to the squared circle of geeky rock combat and attempts to wrest the imaginary “belt” from the Townsman/woman who lays previous claim to it. We argue vociferously about who deserves to win the “battle,” and–if he’s so inclined–Mr. Moderator (in his role as RTH Commissioner Jack Tunney) eventually comes down from on high to declare a winner. Remember: this is not a “Last man Standing;” this is about bringing your best–or in this case, your worst–to the table.

I’ll start with a song I truly despise; one made even worse by its incessant use in retail settings this year: pre-adenoidal Michael Jackson (and his Jackson 5 siblings) screeching his way through “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Ugh! Make it stop!

I look forward to your responses.

HVB

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