2012 Christmas Tunes From Jason

Oh, the death! Who started this silly tradition of honoring the year’s dead and noteworthy musical folks? I mean, this is just getting silly! The dead have over-run this year’s collection of Christmas Tunes from Jason more than any past collection. I hope it doesn’t ruin the fun for you this year. I’ve tried to pick the best of what they left us... it’s like going to an estate sale. Late in the day.

The nice thing about employing the dead to create this CD is that it helps to ensure a little bit of variety each year. Rest easy, knowing that Andy Williams can only die once, and that I’ll never include Whitney Houston on another CTFJ CD.

The dead even took over this year’s cover artwork! Maurice Sendak, author of so many great books, was perhaps best known for Where the Wild Things Are. In a tribute to the lifetime of literature which he left to the people of the world, I stole from his grave. This image was featured on the cover of the December 30, 1976 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. I stole it, and modified it for my purposes. I’m sure he won’t mind. It’s not like I’m using it to sell E-books.

For those of you hoping to add these songs to your iPod, or if you’re interested in making yourself a CD that you can take with you where ever you might go, here’s what you’ll want to do: Download this. It’s 170 megabytes (give or take), and should download a ZIP file which may or may not decompress automatically for you. You’ll have to figure out that part. Once you have downloaded and unzipped, you’ll have a folder with MP3 files. To get these songs on your iPod, you’ll want to make a new playlist (I assume that you’re using iTunes... I mean... why wouldn’t you??!!), and drag all the MP3s into that (empty) playlist. They should pop in in the order you see them below. Be sure that you select that playlist as part of your musical iPod selections. If you want to make a CD, pop a blank CD into your computer, right click on that playlist, and choose BURN from the menu that comes up. Burn as an audio CD. The slower you burn, the less likely the chances for skips and burps. If you want to make the cover, download this PDF, print the PDF (I use cardstock), and trim accordingly. There’s your cover art. If you’ve done this before, you should be an old pro by now. If not... try again next year.

2012 CTFJ
(175 megabytes, and getting bigger every year...)

Cover artwork (PDF - 6mb)

#	*Artist*	*Song Title*	*Year*
1.	Bernd Hasel & His Santa Claus Jazzband	Wild Christmas	2011
	It’s a Wild Christmas alright... just trying to carry the spirit of the cover into the music. Good old Bernd Hasel makes his home in Germany. When he’s not busy making cheesy jazz music, he likes to... oh, who am I kidding? All he likes to do is make cheesy jazz music!
2.	Del McCoury, Doc Watson & Mac Wiseman	Christmas Time’s a Comin’	2002
	Doc Watson died this year at the age of 89. Winner of many Grammy awards over the years, Doc was also awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Clinton in 1997. On this track Doc is joined by bluegrass legends Del McCoury and Mac Wiseman... Wonder if he’s one of the three Wisemans...
3.	Country Mike	Country Christmas	1999
	It’s as close as it gets... Country Mike is the side project of the yokel Mike Diamond. Now, this Mr. Diamond fella was known in some parts east of the Mississippi River as Mike D, and was as part of the Country Western combo known at the Beastie Boys. “Country Mike’s Greatest Hits” was never released, but rather given out to friends and family for the holidays in 2000. While Mike D, as Country Mike, was the star of the show, this was a Beastie Boys project. Ad-Rock and MCA (Adam Yauch) were very much a part of this project... And so I am able to give you a Christmas song from the Jewish Buddhist, Adam Yauch, who died this year at the terribly young age of 47.
4.	The Band	Christmas Must Be Tonight	1977
	Levon Helm died this year at the age of 71. He was the drummer for the Band, but played a slew of other instruments, too. He doesn’t sing lead on this track, but he’s in there... He played Loretta Lynn’s father in the movie “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and also starred in a little movie called “The Last Waltz.” Go figure.
5.	The Chieftains & Nanci Griffith	The Wexford Carol	1991
	The Chieftains are one of those handful of bands that have helped to introduce the world of international music to folks who might not otherwise be drawn that way. I played several tracks a few weeks ago on the radio, in recognition of the passing of their fiddler, Martin Fay, and I received several phone calls from people who were enjoying the music. The Chieftains are just one of those bands.
6.	Whitney Houston	Do You Hear What I Hear?	1987
	Did you hear what I heard? Whitney Houston died in a bathtub this year. Her song “How Will I Know” has been a guilty pleasure of mine since the days when MTV played music — a long time gone, I know. Here’s a song from the very first “Special Christmas” albums... more on those as we proceed...
7.	The Monkees	Ríu Ríu Chíu	1967
	Oh, man did I screw up. I had every intention of including this on the CD, but most of you will get a CD that doesn't include this song. I messed up. When I handed a copy to my good friend Kevin, a long-time Monkees™ fanatic, he asked me where my tribute to Davy Jones was. I had totally spaced out. I planned on including this track, which was featured at the end of the 1967 Monkees Christmas episode, but I wanted to get with Kevin to be sure that I had the best quality version that I could get... or to find out if there was something else that I should include. I spaced. I apologize. Be sure that you download the track, and add it to your CTFJ library...
8.	Cesaria Evora	Natal	1996
	Cesaria Evora — known to those who loved her as “The Barefoot Diva” — died just before Christmas last year. This singer from the Cape Verde was THE ambassador to the world for this island nation. She was a very approachable and personable singer, and much loved by the people of Cape Verde. This came from the “World Christmas” CD... another of the “Special Christmas” releases...
9.	Earl Scruggs	Jingle Bells	2003
	From the “A Very Special Acoustic Christmas” release comes this standard performed by the late, great banjo picker Earl Scruggs. Those who know nothing else of Earl Scruggs will almost certainly recognize the theme song for the “Beverly Hillbillies,” which he played along with his longtime partner, Lester Flatt. Scruggs rewrote the book on banjo playing, and catapulted himself into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the National Medal of Arts, and several Grammy™ Awards. Legend.
10.	Andy Griffith	Go Tell it on the Mountain	2003
	This is another artist that I neglected to include until Kevin called me on it. I had it all planned out... and then I spaced out. I'm so ashamed. Download it if you need it...
11.	The Jimmy Castor Bunch	Merry Christmas	1975
	Those who know the Jimmy Castor Bunch will have likely been introduced through a song called “Troglodyte,” all about men being cavemen. This song isn’t nearly as funky... sorry. Selection J5 on the jukebox.
12.	Booker T. & The M.G.s	We Wish You a Merry Christmas	1966
	Best known for their instrumental classic “Green Onions,” Booker T. & The M.G.’s were basically the house band at Stax Records in Memphis, TN. One of the songs from their 1966 Christmas LP is included here in honor of their longtime bassist, Donald “Duck” Dunn, who passed away in May of this year. He wasn’t an original member of the band, but joined with them in 1965, and played with them till the very end.
13.	Dave Brubeck & Gerry Mulligan	Santa Claus is Coming to Town	1995
	Dave Brubeck was one of those guys who helped to bring jazz music to Main Street, USA. He is joined on this track, not by his longstanding saxophone collaborator Paul Desmond, but rather by Gerry Mulligan.
14.	Andy Williams	Christmas Holiday	1965
	I didn’t want to do it. Penny thought I should do it. The one we lovingly call “Jerk” also threw some sentimental jibber-jabber at me. So I found a song that wasn’t TOO schmaltzy. Also, it was short.
15.	The Bee Gees	All My Christmases Came at Once	1968
	This song MIGHT win the award for being the least Christmas-y song on this year’s CD. It’s pulled from the bonus reissue material from the Bee Gees second LP. Robin Gibb died this year... like so many other folks... Oh, the death...
16.	The Fruit Bats	It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas	2012
	The Fruit Bats appeared at WIDR-FM’s Barking Tuna Festival back in 2009. Now they’ve made the big time by appearing on the 2012 CTFJ CD.
17.	Joey Ramone	Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)	2012
	Joey Ramone’s posthumous solo CD came out this year, and I was somewhat pleased to hear this slowed down version of the Ramones’ Christmas song... had to share...
18.	Cheap Trick	I Want You for Christmas	2012
	Another contender for the least Christmas-y song MIGHT be this one... but it showed itself on the new 25th anniversary of the “Special Christmas” releases... say what you will about the song, these records and CDs have done a lot to increase awareness of, and raise money for, Special Olympics. All that aside, this song makes me chuckle. Cheap Trick have their tongues jammed so far into their cheeks...
19.	Sufjan Stevens	Christmas Woman	2012
	Mr. Stevens released another Christmas Magnum Opus this year... over 50 songs about the holiday. He did this six years ago, too. Dude likes Christmas.
20.	The Trashmen	Real Live Doll	1964
	Everybody’s heard about the bird, but not so many know about the doll.
21.	Los Straightjackets	Hark the Herald Angels Sing	2011
	Los Straightjackets have released many Christmas songs. This one came out last year, and can be found on my jukebox this year. L2
22.	Lawrence Welk’s Little Band	Outer Space Santa	1958
	Lawrence Welk’s Little Band Featuring Janet, Brian, Cubby And The Lennon Sisters. Space age. The “Cubby” in question is apparently the same “Cubby” that you might remember from the Mickey Mouse Club. Never thought I’d put a Lawrence Welk song on the CD... but this one was just too good to pass up.
23.	Tim Dinkins	Santa’s Rocket	1969
	...and then I just had to keep the space age thing going... this was too far out not to include. Christmas on the moon!
24.	Freedom Fry	Dark Christmas	2012
	New this year from a duo with Michigan roots... It’s dark, and I like it. Freedom Fry is Marie Seyrat (Frenchie) and Bruce Driscoll (raised in Grand Rapids, MI). They make their home in Los Angeles these days, and are planning for their first full release next year.
25.	Rotary Connection	Silent Night Chant	1968
	A little bit of fuzz-rock from the late 1960s for you... just to make sure that things were a little wild on this CD from start to finish... and to help balance out the pop garbage that crept into this year’s CD. Sorry about that. I’m kinda powerless when it comes to putting this thing together...
	RINGO!	Christmas Greeting	1981?
	Some of you who picked up the early version get this bonus track... It’s another CTFJ appearance by a Beatle! Just trying to keep a good thing going...

The Monkees performing Ríu Ríu Chíu...
Click here for the version that includes a tribute to the TV show's staff...

Monkees Xmas 1967
Sorry I forgot about you, Davy.

And I forgot about Andy Griffith... and Etta James... I totally dropped the ball this year.

Mr. Christmas with the Osmonds... Christmas was never any whiter...

One of last year’s big time Christmas hits were... Handerpants™!
Little did I know that there was a Handerpants™ Christmas Special!
Tell me that this ISN’T special!

What the internets is for.

One of the other Sufjan Stevens Christmas songs...

Stephanie shared this one... not wholly suitable for youngsters...
Seems about right for Stephanie.

I am aware that Donna Summer died, too. Christmas songs aplenty.
I don't care for them. Here's one of them.

Rest assured that I will add more stuff as the holiday season progresses... that’s what the internets is for, too.

If you are so inclined, feel free to visit past years’ CD web pages. There are many of them now. If you enjoy what you see and hear, you’re always welcome to drop me a line.