Christmas music

My family had three Christmas albums (above) that were played incessantly for weeks until Christmas. The Grants Department Store Christmas album and the Andy Williams album are from 1965.

However, my favorite Christmas music is from the 1963 Phil Spector album featuring Darlene Love. Since 1986, she has performed on Letterman and this year's version was flawless. Hallelujah!

Darlene Love's Christmas Show

It's not Christmas season until I break out the Phil Spector Christmas album from 1963 featuring Darlene Love. I'll be seeing her Christmas show this weekend in the lovely town of Beverly, Massachusetts.
What a swell, early Christmas present. Whoopppeeeeeee!

UPDATE: I now have a new Christmas tradition since Darlene remarked that she'd be back next year. What an incredible voice and what a blowout of a show. Love sang her well-known Christmas songs, her iconic 1960s hits and tunes from her new album. Wonderful band and backup singers. Terrific show all around. I was extremely impressed.

Darlene lent her voice for this hilarious Saturday Night Live short.

Ronnie Spector

I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Ronnie Spector a few nights ago in a very intimate setting at TCAN in Natick, Massachusetts. She looked gorgeous and sounded gorgeous. Her hair was bigger than huge, thank God, and her band and backup singers were the best.

I've never sat so close to a performer and could not make my smile go away. In between each song she sat and told stories about her career and the song she was about to sing. There was a slide show with video too. One of the top 5 shows I've ever seen. Thanks, Ronnie!

She ended the show with Frosty the Snowman. The Ronettes
were a huge part of Phil Spector's Christmas album from 1963.




• Kids Cha Cha to Be My Baby on American Bandstand
• Appearing on American Bandstand, September 1963
• Say Goodbye to Hollywood, 1977

The Beat

Every Christmas as a teenager, my mom would ask me for a list of 6 albums that I wanted. I would giggle at the thought of her in line with my selections. One of the Christmas commercials that aired in 1982 was for K-tel's "The Beat." I wanted it. I gave my mom the address to send for it and she came through. I still have it. I'm too lazy to make a new Christmas mix so here are some old ones. Enjoy the season!

Click on the album to make it big. Some of the groups on the record:
Go-Gos • Split Enz • Waitresses • Depeche Mode • Duran Duran
Kim Wilde • Bow Wow Wow • Haircut 100 • A Flock of Seagulls

Happy Christmas!

I love this 1965 Ray Conniff Christmas special featuring traditional songs from his 1962 album. It includes Wilbur from Mister Ed and a go-go version of Joy to the World. Play it while making your figgy pudding. Have yourself a joyous Christmas and a groovy new year.

The Fab Faux

I've never been to The Wilbur Theatre until last night and I loved it. For the first time ever, I sat in loge seating and I'm hooked. Click on pic to see view. A splendid birthday present took me to see The Fab Faux and I'm hooked again. This tremendous group performed Beatles '65 (one of my Christmas presents in the 10th grade) and the 1968 album The Beatles, aka "The White Album." When they polled for repeat customers, most of the audience cheered and I know why. This band is incredibly talented. When the drummer came forward to sing, another member took over on drums. The drummer sang often and his rendition of Julia brought tears to my eyes. Gorgeouso! Lots of peeps knew every word to every song and didn't hold back. Screaming the lyrics to I Feel Fine from my perch was heaven. Since taking photos was grounds for expulsion, I waited 'til the end. I was naughty I know. If The Beatles are your thang, you will dig, dig, dig this show. Fun, fun, fun!