Playlist for December 23rd, 2010

John Belushi as Santa
"Santi-Wrap" Skit from Saturday Night Live
Season 2, Episode 10

Ho, ho (hic) ho....

So, it's the holidays and, like a lot of other folks, I have set up a list for your yuletide pleasure. 

Me?  I've never really been a "holiday" kind of guy.  But, I like celebrations of most kinds, so let's have some fun.

The tunes run the gamut from old time blues to calypso to swing and rock, with some weirdness in between. 

Tall Grass and Tasty Trash

Playlist 23 December 2010 

 1. Beale Street Holiday - Charlie Burse & His Memphis Mudcats

Born on August 25th, 1901 in Decatur, Alabama, Burse was best known for his skill with the ukulele.  He was nicknamed "Uke Kid Burse" because of his talent, which extended to other musical instruments.  Burse was a member of Will Shade's Memphis Jug Band, which he joined in 1928 upon his arrival in Memphis, Tennessee.  After meeting Shade, Burse would become his lifelong friend.


Burse began the Memphis Mudcats in 1939.  The Mudcats attempted to modernize the traditional jug band; a bass was used instead of the jug, and the saxophone replaced the harmonica.  Burse established a reputation as a hell-raiser.  He has been described as "obnoxious and abusive at times," and was also called an "egotist". 

 2. Christmas Morning, the Rum Had Me Yawning - Lord Beginner

Lord Beginner, whose real name was Egbert Moore, was born in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.  Lord Beginner recorded and toured in New York with other leading members of Trinidad's "Old Brigade" of calypso performers.  Lord Beginner moved to London in 1948, where he continued to record.

 3. Harlem Holiday - Cab Calloway

One of the greats of music, Cabell Calloway III was born on December 25th, 1907 in Rochester, New York.  He began singing in the church choir and his parents recognized his talent.  After graduating high school, he joined his sister, Blanche (already an accomplished bandleader herself) in show business and his career continued well in to the 1980's, including a role in the classic film, The Blues Brothers.

 4. The Night Before Christmas Binge - Kay Martin & Her Body Guards

Kay Martin & Her Body Guards were a Las Vegas nightclub act, headed by Martin, a former model.  They recorded many "party" records in the '50's & '60's, including "I Know What He Wants for Christmas...but I Don't Know How to Wrap It."  Martin retired from show business in the mid-60's and became the owner/proprietor of the Kay Martin Lodge in the early 1960s. According to Wikipedia, "she still owns the lodge and appreciates her privacy greatly."

 5. New Year's Eve in a Haunted House - Raymond Scott

Raymond Scott was born on September 10th, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York.  Scott was a bandleader, composer and pianist (among other things) who graduated from the Juilliard School of Music in 1931.  Most people know Scott's music through Carl Stalling's adaptations in Looney Tunes cartoons in the '40's and '50's.  

 6. Reindeer Rock - The Sportsmen

I can't find out anything about this band.

 7. Santa Claus - The Sonics

A band from Tacoma, Washington, the Sonics had many, more famous contemporaries, including the Kingsman (Louie, Louie) & Paul Revere and the Raiders (Kicks), but the Sonics have achieved a sort of cult status, influencing artists such as the White Stripes, the Cramps and Nirvana.

 8. Reindeer are Wild - Thee Headcoats

Thee Headcoats are one of the many bands lead and created by the great Billy Childish from Chatham, Kent, England.  Billy Childish has recorded well over 100 albums, both solo and with groups.  He is also an accomplished writer and visual artist.  Childish continues to record, write and create with his current band, the Buff Medways, named after a breed of chicken from his native Kent.

 9. Poor Mr. Santa - Andre Williams

See note #27 from December 17th's playlist.

10. Son of Santa - Mojo Nixon

Mojo Nixon, born Neill Kirby McMillan, Jr. on August 2nd, 1957 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, has been recording music since 1985, when he teamed up with Skid Roper.  Nixon is most well known to folks from his spots on MTV in the late '80's.  These days, Nixon still records music and is a DJ on Sirius Satellite Radio.


Nixon is a supporter of free file sharing, because, as he says, he's "not an asshole like Metallica."  He also has degrees in political science and history from Miami University in Ohio, was the honorary captain of the United States luge team at the 1998 Winter Olympics and is a member of the Church of the SubGenius.

11. Run Rudolph Run - Keith Richards

"Keef" is, of course, a member of the unstoppable Rolling Stones.  Richards was born on December 18th 1943 in Dartford, Kent, England and the world hasn't been the same since.  Thank you, Mr. Richards.

12. Santa Claus is Freaking Me Out - Lord Weatherby

Weatherby has a page on AMG, but no information.   

13. Carolina Christmas - Squirrel Nut Zippers

The Squirrel Nut Zippers were formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  Their brand of blues, swing and pop music has brought them acclaim in the mid to late '90's.  After going on "hiatus" in the early 2000's, the band is back together, recording and touring.  

14. Let Me Be Your Christmas Toy - Chocolate Snow

Chocolate Snow has a page on AMG, but no information. 

15. Boogaloo Santa Claus - J. D. McDonald

McDonald has a page on AMG, but no information. 

16. Christmas is Just Another Day - Johnny Dowd

Johnny Dowd was born in Fort Worth, Texas on March 29th, 1948.  He first started performing music in the 1970's, after a stint in the Army and, afterward, moving to Ithaca, New York.  Dowd was almost 50 when his debut, "Wrong Side of Memphis" came out.  He has been compared to Nick Cave in both style of music and lyrical content.


He and our next artist formed a band called "Hellwood" in 2006.

17. Christmas Day - Jim White

Jim White, not to be confused with the drummer of the Dirty Three, was born in Pensacola, Florida on March 10th, 1957.  His career path included jobs as a New York cabbie, a fashion model, a boxer and a comedian, among other forms of employment.  He attended film school at New York University.  White's music is an acquired taste.  With collaborators as diverse as jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, electronic musicians Morcheeba and folk singers such as Victoria williams and Joe Henry, White creates sound collages that will fascinate you, once you start to listen.

18. The Mistletoe & Me - Isaac Hayes

The great Isaac Hayes was born on August 20th, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee and was raised by his grandparents. Hayes practically created Memphis Soul when he began collaborating with Stax Records in 1964.  Working with greats such as Otis Redding, Carla Thomas and Sam & Dave, Hayes continued recording music well into the 21st century before passing in 2008.  Many people know Hayes through his voice over work on "South Park".

19. The Christmas Song - Alex Chilton

Alex Chilton was born on December 28th, 1950 in Memphis, Tennessee.  Chilton began his musical career as the lead singer of the Box Tops, whose hit "The Letter" brought Chilton to prominence.  After leaving the Box Tops, Chilton helped form the influential band Big Star, who, despite never having achieved much success in their years together, nonetheless became a band of mythical status.  Chilton went on to record many great solo efforts and,also reformed Big Star for the purposes of touring.  Big Star were set to perform at the 2010 SXSW Festival when Chilton died of heart failure in New Orleans, Louisiana.


Tall Grass & Tasty Trash for December 23rd, 2010