(Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – instrumental in background)

It’s nightime in the Big City

A department store Santa sneaks a sip of gin

Mistletoe makes an old man sad

Eight reindeer land on the roof of the Abernathy building

“Well it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And for the next couple of hours, it’s going to sound like Christmas too. This is the special yuletide extravaganza edition of TTRH, chock full of Christmas themes, holiday dreams, and jingle bell schemes.

The Singers and Songs

Tom Archia and Gene Ammons: Swinging for Christmas (Boppin’ for Santa)

Leadbelly: Christmas is A-Comin’

“One of the few ex-cons who recorded a popular children’s album”

Lord Nelson: A Party for Santa

“The uncrowned king of Soca ”

Bob Seger and The Last Heard: Sock it to Me Santa

“Some people call Bob the poor man’s Bruce Springsteen, but personally, I always thought Bruce was the rich man’s Bob Seger…love ‘em both though.”

The Staple Singers: Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas

“God’s greatest hit makers…Managed to mix a serious message with a soulful dancing beat”

Charles Brown: Please Come Home For Christmas

“I think it’s actually against the law to do a Christmas program and not play one of his songs…this is one of the best.”

Johnny Paycheck: Jingle Bells

“He made a few Christmas singles, and sings the heck out of them”

Gerry Mulligan & Judy Holliday: It Must Be Christmas

Titus Turner: Christmas Morning

The Bellrays: Poor Old Rudolph

“You’re thinkin’ ‘How come I never heard that?’ That’s cause it’s a new record, but it sounds like an old record…this group is still recording, trying out different sounds. They kinda mix soul music with a punk rock sound…check ‘em out…Google ‘em!”

Bob Dorough and Miles Davis: Blue Xmas

Little Esther & Johnny Otis Orchestra: Far Away Christmas

Far Away Christmas Patsy Raye and the Beatniks: Beatnik’s Wish

“Hey Patsy, that was great! I learned that in the coffee houses.”

The Sonics: Don’t Believe in Christmas

“But they do believe in the power of the B-3 organ. A lot of people think it’s a Farfisa but you listen to that solo, and that’s a B-3.”

King Stitt: Christmas Tree

“He was a toaster, and I don’t mean you could put bread in him…That was so good we might play it twice!”

Huey “Piano” Smith and the Clowns: Silent Night

“Featuring Jessie Thomas on vocals, kind of an unorthodox Crescent City version.”

Brave Combo: Must Be Santa

“They say their mission is to expand the musical taste of their listeners. We have the same mission here on TTRH.”

The Enchanters: Mambo Santa Mambo

Celia Cruz & La Senora Matancera: Fiesta De Navidad

Hop Wilson & His Buddies: Merry Christmas Darling

Alton Ellis and The Lipsticks: Merry Merry Christmas

“Here’s one of the prime movers and shakers in ‘ rocksteady ,’ the music that kinda came between ska and reggae.”

Alton Ellis and The Lipsticks: Merry Merry Christmas

“Here’s one of the prime movers and shakers in ‘ rocksteady ,’ the music that kinda came between ska and reggae.”

June Christy: The Merriest

“Here’s a song by one of the dreamiest about the merriest”

Red Simpson: Truckin’ Trees For Christmas

“One of the architects of the Bakersfield sound.”

The Youngsters: Christmas in Jail

“To all of our friends listening in behind bars, we know you made mistakes, we’re sorry you have to be there, but Merry Christmas to all of you, from all of us here, at Theme Time Radio Hour.”

Kay Martin and Her Body Guards: I Want A Casting Couch For Christmas

“One of the most popular features on Theme Time Radio Hour is the double entendre – the song that says one thing and maybe means another. This one skates dangerously close to being a single entendre…Kay Martin played in a lot of hotel lounges; our paths crossed more than once when I was on the road. She’s a fine performer, always put on a good show.”

Sonny Boy Williamson: Santa Claus

“I don’t need to tell you anything more about Sonny Boy Williamson, we’ve played him a lot on TTRH. Here’s Sonny Boy with his hands in his baby’s dresser drawer, and you wouldn’t believe what he’s trying to find!”

The Cool Breezers: Hello Mr. New Year

Mabel Mafuya: Happy Christmas, Happy New Year

“She sings a style known as jive. Not the kind of jive like Slim Galliard, but more of a Morabi style, sort of like South African ragtime. It’s heavily influenced by American jazz, but originally Morabi was played on pianos with accompaniment from pebble filled cans. By the 30’s, it incorporated new instruments, like guitars, concertinas, and banjos. New kinds of Morabi sprang up, including a Morabi / swing fusion, called African Jazz and Jive. Here’s a great example of it.”

The Larks: Christmas to New Years

Nancy Wilson: What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve

“By the mid-60’s Nancy Wilson was the second biggest seller on Capital Records. You know who number one was? That’s right, Glen Campbell. Nah, I’m just kidding. It was the Beatles.”

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(Complete episode Notes available at The Bob Dylan Fan Club)

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