"Fannie Mae"

via AirPlayDirect.com

In the news

U.S. securities regulators accused six former executives at mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac of playing down the risks to investors of the firms' foray into subprime loans. WSJ.com

Elvin Bishop – "Fannie Mae" 

on Spotify.com

"Do They Know It's Christmas"

The Bob Geldof-organized Band Aid benefit record for Ethiopian famine relief was the catalyst for truckloads of charity efforts that saved lives, which pretty much solidifies the song's status as Best Christmas Song Ever.

"We're a Couple of Misfits"

Originally written for the Rankin/Bass stop animation TV special "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, "We're a Couple of Misfits" is redone by alt-rockers Bowling For Soup on their "Merry Flippin Christmas" collection.

on Spotify.com

"Getting Ready For Christmas Day"

Paul Simon's "Getting Ready For Christmas Day" takes a decided un-"holly jolly" look at Christmas, including this timely lyric:

I got a nephew in Iraq it's his third time back 

But it's ending up the way it began 

With the luck of a beginner he'll be eating turkey dinner 

On some mountain top in Pakistan

on Spotify.com

"Natal"

via OurWorld.com

In honor of: Cesaria Evora has passed away; here she's singing about (presumably, it's in Portuguese) Christmas birth on "Natal" from the Special Olympic's awesome benefit album "World Christmas."

on Spotify.com

"God's Song (Why I Love Mankind)"

In honor of Etta James, who was great at singing great songs; it was announced today that she has terminal leukemia.
   "God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)" is a Randy Newman-penned song takes a particularly harsh view of God and the suffering of people, which seems especially potent in light of today's news.

They said "Lord the plague is on the world

Lord no man is free

The temples that we built to you

Have tumbled into the sea

Lord, if you won't take care of us

Won't you please please let us be?"

And the Lord said

And the Lord said

"I burn down your cities--how blind you must be

I take from you your children and you say how blessed are we

You must all be crazy to put your faith in me

That's why I love mankind

You really need me

That's why I love mankind"

And since this blog is preoccupied with Christmas songs, it would be remiss to bypass a mention of her superb "12 Songs of Christmas" with this great but little-heard ballad "This Time Of Year"

both on Spotify.com

"Shopping"

via tehparadox.com

In recognition of the national shopping spree expected today, here's Lady Linn & Her Magnificent Seven – "Shopping" from "here We Go Again," a swing/jump blues mannerist thing that was very trendy a few years ago but remains tasty still.

on Spotify.com

"All I Want For Christmas Is You"

via Last.FM

Romanian popster Andra has shifted from trying to find a space in the over-full Mariah Carey niche (as with this "All I Want For Christmas Is You") into being more alt rock, more Eddie Vedder... which is vastly more interesting. Check out that later album "Ever Had That Feeling"

Spotify.com

"O Come, All Ye Faithful"

via Kazaa.com

A solid, if traditional, version of a traditional song from big band leader Stan Kenton – "O Come, All Ye Faithful"

on Spotify.com

"Silent Night"

A live Gospel record, "Christmas in New Orleans," by Janice Harrington with Linda Fields – "Silent Night" is a gumbo of everything you'd expect, stylish but nothing brash.

on Spotify.com

"Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"

The classic Lennon/Oko missive to the world is doubly topical today.  Almost anything is possible when people of goodwill act for the empowerment of others, and if no one cares who gets the credit.

"Santa Claus, Santa Claus"

via The "B" Side blog

Influencing every R&B crooner, swing band and rocker before that sound had a name, the revolutionary Louis Jordan joined the Christmas chorus with this bluesy  "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" 

on Spotify.com

"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"

via Universal Press Syndicate

Post bop retooling by the Paul Bley Trio of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"

 on Spotify.com

Possibly the coolest true Christmas cut ever. 

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"/"Sweet Georgia Brown"

via tatamirando.nl

FEATURED:

Even tame Christmas music doesn't have to make you sleepy. Tata Mirando plays Roma music (gypsy) with his string band (by way of Holland) and turns in a swinging mash-up of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" and "Sweet Georgia Brown" 

via Spotify.com

"Christmas Don't Be Late"

FEATURED:

David Seville & The Chipmunks do "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)"  from Christmas With The Chipmunks via Spotify.com

Forget the CGI movies, of which there are now 3, and forget the cheesy sped-up vocal track, these are solid -- albeit uninventive -- contemporary jazz arrangements for the era... but don't forget it's just a cartoon.

"Christmas Oratorio"

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones from Jingle All the Way – "J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio - BVW 248 # 41" 

via Spotify.com 

"O Tannenbaum"

FEATURED

Paulo Lorenzo, from Christmas for Violins 

"O Tannenbaum"
via Spotify.com

"I Just Shot John Lennon"

via Radical.ru

On this date in 1980:
John Lennon was gunned down in NYC. Irish alt rockers, The Cranberries mark the event  with "I Just Shot John Lennon" with the lyrics:

"A sad and sorry, sickening sight; 

What a sad and sorry, sickening night"

on Spotify.com