I always dug this tune. Thought it was well-written and heartfelt. Always loved the "peace on earth" sub-theme.
I was out in Tempe, AZ to visit one of my best friends. He was a music teacher in the public schools, but also played in the Tempe/Scottsdale symph. Byron had just moved there earlier in the year, and was sharing an apt with a college pal of his, guy named Mike. When I told him I was coming out to visit, Byron found someone who'd loan me a cello, so I got to play the last 2 rehearsals and the performance of their annual Christmas concert. It was 1980.
The second reh finished late, and we were starved. Imagine the irony of being in the southwest, and having to get a meal at a Taco Bell All the local joints were closed. 'Happy Christmas' was on the store's PA system, probably linked to a local 'K-Rock' type station. So we're in the store waiting for our food, and this massive biker-looking dude comes in.
"Hey- you brothers hear?" "Hear about what?" He pointed to the ceiling speaker and said, "John Lennon's dead. Some **** shot him outside his house in NY."
Byron gets this crazed look in his eye and say- "We gotta get home-right NOW!" I'm totally lost. This was the fastest mood change My Bro had ever displayed.
We raced back to the apartment. TV's on, but no Mike. Byron gingerly walks into Mike's bedroom and half-speaks/half-whispers: "Hey man- are you OK?" No answer.
Mike was a huge Beatles fan, and Lennon was not just his fave, he was a personal hero. Mike had formed a local John Lennon Fan Club when he was about 13 years old, and had maintained it for years. Newsletter, subscriber base and everything. It wasn't just a hobby for him- it was his passion.
I look over By's shoulder, and see Mike rocking back and forth on his bed, clutching a piece of paper. Byron looks back at me and says, "I should explain-" At that point, Mike looks up at me with swollen eyes, and hands me the slip of paper.
It was a hand-written note from John Lennon himself: "To my friend Mike, thanks for the L(heart)ve.
Peace, John
On the panel below the fold was John's personal logo. This one:
Mike simply asked for some time alone. He was ok the next morning. Functional, but still very subdued. 2 days later, he forced himself to go to the concert. Afterward, he thanked us for the concert: "It was the only thing to pull me out of my mood."
I've always liked this one by Chuck Berry. There are a lot of decent covers out there, but IMO the original's still the best. You don't get any more Christmas Rock'n Roll than this.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
I'm a big fan of classic Christmas carols ... I'm talking Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Burl Ives, Gene Autry, etc. Just love that nostalgia. Don't listen to much else.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
Actually, I’d call it one of the Waitresses more mainstream songs.
They were another one of the many fun Northeast Ohio bands. Very nontraditional, talented, smart and exploring new rock and roll boundaries. A touch of punk.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame isn’t in Cleveland because they felt sorry for Cleveland. Just a hot bed of that decadent rock and roll I tell ya.
The Waitresses will never reunite.
Their lead singer Patty Donahue was a heavy chain smoker (she didn’t even stop while doing this video). She died of lung cancer at 40 years-old.
By holy decree, I hereby move this song into my top-5 Christmas songs of all time.
I was driving home one December evening after a long day of work. It was late. It was dark. It was snowing hard, I was on the Interstate, Springsteen's Santa Claus is Comin' to Town came on the radio.
It was a very special Christmas moment for me. Seriously.
I'm a big fan of classic Christmas carols ... I'm talking Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Burl Ives, Gene Autry, etc. Just love that nostalgia. Don't listen to much else.
I am, too.
Do you guys think it would be too much to start a thread about all-time favorite Christmas songs?
I ask, because like 4Life, I prefer the older classics as opposed to rock and roll Christmas songs...........generally speaking.
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