The site for ranting and reporting by John Masters
With a bow to my old high school friend, Mike, here’s the King doing The First Noel. “The First Nowell” is a traditional English Christmas carol, most likely from the 18th century. In its current form it is of Cornish origin, and it was first published in Some Ancient Christmas Carols (1823) and Gilbert and Sandys Christmas Carols (1833), edited by William B. Sandys and arranged, edited and with extra lyrics written by Davies Gilbert.
Read moreAnother 80’s classic Christmas song. This time it’s Hall and Oates performing Jingle Bell Rock. It was first released by Bobby Helms in 1957 and has received frequent airplay during every Christmas time since then. “Jingle Bell Rock” was written by Joe Beal, a Massachusetts-born public relations man, and Jim Boothe, a Texas writer in the advertising business. It was also recorded by Bill Haley and the Comets.
Read moreHere’s a golden oldie from 1984. Wham performs “Last Christmas.”
Read moreThe Boss, Bruce Springsteen singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The song is by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, and was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. It became an instant hit with orders for 100,000 copies of sheet music the next day and over 400,000 copies sold by Christmas.The earliest known recorded version of the song was performed by George Hall and the Hotel Taft Orchestra, and was also recorded on September 26, 1935, by Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
Read moreThe very famous “Happy Christmas (War is Over), by John Lennon.
Read moreI have loved the George Winston December Album since it came out. There are some beautiful pieces of music. Christmas music is some of my favorite music, and these treatments by Winston are just fabulous in their simplicity. I hope you have four minutes to take a break in your day and give a listen, and happy holidays to you all.
Read moreThe New York Times has a Reuters report that five AIG executives wrote letters on December 1 stating they may quit if their salary and bonuses are cut.The senior executives at American International Group
Christmas Song performed by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds at ASU in 2003.
Read moreAlthough defeated because of eight regressive Democrats in the New York State Senate, straight Senator Diane Savino gives one of the finest floor speeches I’ve ever heard, and does an outstanding job of making the case for the importance of equality for all. This is a must watch.
Read moreComing from the ASU Jazz Ensemble, it’s a pretty appropriate song even if the mountains don’t seem to get as much snow as they did when I attended.
Read moreThe fine folks at Rescue Marriage, who faked out the American Family Association with their tongue-in-cheek campaign to ban divorce in California, have really stepped up their game with this ad. And the California Attorney General has titled the measure and certified it for signature gathering. It has been called the 2010 CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE PROTECTION ACT.
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