Why It Matters

That’s a little tiny Christmas me to the left of the sister rockin’ the Santa guitar.

I have no idea how old I am here, maybe three or four. I remember that television, and the little wooden wishing well sitting on top of it, too. I don’t have to remember the aluminum tree: My mother gave it to me a few years ago. It’s old and fragile, so I don’t bring it out every year.

If you followed an imaginary line from my stare, you’d run into a moss green velvet couch located beneath a picture window. On Christmas Eve I’d sit on my knees on the couch, elbows on its back, staring into the night sky for a Rudolph sighting who, by the way, was played faithfully each year by a red blinking radio tower in the distance.

But now I’m older, and I’ve heard “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” ten too many times. More than anything I just want this holiday to be over. Something needs to happen to bring back my Christmas mojo,  but nothing seems to be happening spontaneously. Maybe if I force it. Perhaps if I dig through my stacks for some Christmas music I’ll get in the mood.

Is this the definitive Christmas playlist? Absolutely not. The only things tying the following playlist together are: 1) They’re all Christmas songs; 2) I have them all on vinyl.  So what you’re getting here is a holiday peek at my stacks, that’s about it. Merry Christmas.

“Here Comes Santa Claus,” Elvis Presley.

https://youtu.be/OIF_rXj7mag

“At the Christmas Ball,” Bessie Smith.

“Merry Christmas,” Plan 9.

“Santa’s Gone Surfin’,” The Malibooz.

“Frosty the Snowman,” The Ronettes.

https://youtu.be/76sh1BWCQSc

“I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas,”  The Three Stooges.

“Do They Know It’s Christmas (Trevor Horn Remix),” Band Aid.

https://youtu.be/aTLffYzEPb8

“Will the Coffin Be Your Santa Claus?” Reverend J.M. Gates.

https://youtu.be/22yhiZLXfGI