MERRY CHRISTMAS!! What The Riff?!? hopes you enjoy our SEVENTH ANNUAL Christmas Rabbit Hole Episode in which we riff on the Christmas standards, classics, covers, and originals that make Christmas Rock! **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
What the Riff!?! delves once again into the great (and not so great) Christmas songs to add a little cheer as you rock around the Christmas tree this year. WSB Radio host Eric Von Haessler joins us for the fun!
“The Holly and the Ivy” by Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson's fourth solo album came out in 1985, and was a mixture of traditional Christmas carols and original material. This is a traditional British folk Christmas carol. Though it can't be traced any further back than the 1800's, the association between holly and Christmas dates back to medieval times.
“Please Come Home for Christmas” by the Eagles
Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and the rest of the Eagles put out this popular sad Christmas track in 1978, though it was a cover originally performed by blues pianist Charles Brown in 1960, and co-written by Brown and Gene Redd.
“The First Noel” by Crash Test Dummies
Front man Brad Roberts puts his distinctive bass voice to work on this traditional Christmas tune. This carol originated in Cornwall, England and dates back to at least the early 1800's, using the French "Noel" as a synonym for the Christmas season
“The 12 Days of Christmas” by Straight, No Chaser
This acapella group from Indiana University puts some comedic musicianship to work on this Christmas round. We know you'll like it, sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus from the Serengeti.
“Nut Rocker” by Emerson, Lake & Palmer
ELP puts a prog rock spin on the classic Nutcracker Suite. Russian composer Tchaikovsky wrote the original Nutcracker as a two-act ballet in 1892, and is a fantasy taking place at the foot of a Christmas tree.
“Christmas All Over Again” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
This original song was penned by Tom Petty on a ukulele in 1992. It was used in the motion picture "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," and also appeared in "Jingle All the Way." Jeff Lynne co-produced the song, played bells, bass, timpani, sang background vocals, and wishes for a Chuck Berry Songbook in the song.
“The Christmas Song” by Weezer
This is not the one you're familiar with. The more famous "The Christmas Song" was first performed by the Nat King Cole trio in 1946. Weezer did this introspective original song with the same name in 2000 on a fan club Christmas LP.
“Minnie and Santa” by Cyndi Lauper
Lauper released this light hearted Christmas song in 1998 which tells of a fling that Minnie (not the mouse!) had with old Kris Kringle. This may sound like a cover of a classic song, but it is an original written by Lauper and Jan Pulsford.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Frank Sinatra
You can't go wrong with Old Blue Eyes and a crooner Christmas classic. This song originated in 1943 and was in the musical "Meet Me in St. Louis," where it was sung by Judy Garland.
“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen/We Three Kings” by Barenaked Ladies
This Christmas medley also features fellow Canadian singer-songwriter Sara McLachlan joining in with the Barenaked Ladies.
“Listen, The Snow is Falling” by Yoko Ono & the Plastic Ono Band
Hear us out - this is an Ono piece that is actually quite good! It was released in 1971 as the B-side to the better known "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," sung by John Lennon.
“If It Doesn't Snow On Christmas” by Joe Pesci
Chasing Macaulay Culkin isn't the only association Pesci has with Christmas. He put this cover of an old Gene Autry song out on his 1998 album "Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You."
(and there might be a bonus ending related to the Beatles...)
We at What the Riff?!? wish every one a blessed and Merry Christmas!