Turntable Talk – Sing A Song of the Season

It is time once again for another edition of Turntable Talk hosted by Dave of A Sound Day. The topic he assigned this month was an easy one. He says, “just pick a Christmas/holiday song that you like or is special to you, and write a bit about it. Could be its history, could be why you particularly like it. And, can be a new one, a traditional one, classic or obscure.”

When I read his email, one song immediately popped into my head. I was sure that was going to be the one I wrote about. Then I was listening to my iPod and heard one that I felt really needed some recognition, because it get’s me in the “feels” every time I hear it. That led to me remembering another powerful song of the season. When I couldn’t decide which one to pick, I asked Dave if I could write about both. He responded, “Sure! It’s Christmas. Why not?”

I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do….

I was familiar with many of the Elvis Christmas songs growing up. My dad had one of his Christmas albums and played it every year. Prior to DJing a Christmas party, I stopped at my local record store to pick up some Christmas music. I spotted the above album, which had many cuts that I had never heard before, including the title track. I popped it into the car’s CD player and it was the first song on the CD. I was blown away by it. What an amazing message.

I didn’t know much about the song at all, but thanks to Wiki I found out that it came from Elvis’ personal friend. Around August of 1965, Presley’s friend and bodyguard Red West wrote the song “in about an hour.” He recorded it and released it the same year under his own label for the 1965 Christmas season, with very little success. The following year, he gave the song to Presley to record, as Elvis had been wanting to record a Christmas song.

The backing track was recorded on June 10, 1966 at RCA Studio B in Nashville, with background vocals provided by Millie Kirkham, The Jordanaires, and the Imperials Quartet. Two days later, on June 12, Presley’s vocals were added. According to West, the vocals were sung and recorded in a hotel room after an enthusiastic Presley heard a copy of the just-recorded backing track on a two-track tape recorder. The song was released on November 15, 1966 as an RCA Victor 45 single. The single reached No. 2 on the Billboard “Best Bets For Christmas” survey in 1966, and returned to the chart in 1967, spending a total of eight weeks in the chart.

When I think about the message of this song, I am reminded of Bill Murray’s speech at the end of Scrooged. He is talking about Christmas Eve and he says, “It’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer; we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more.  For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be.” I think, you can expand that into the entire holiday season. People are just nicer to each other. It really is the time of year that exemplifies what the rest of the year should be like.

Imagine if every day were like Christmas! Elvis’ vocal, the arrangement, and the lyrics of this song bring my to tears almost every time I hear it. Give my first song a listen here:

If Every Day Was Like Christmas

I hear the bells
Saying christmas is near
They ring out to tell the world
That this is the season of cheer

I hear a choir
Singing sweetly somewhere
And a glow fills my heart
I’m at peace with the world
As the sound of their singing fills the air

Oh why can’t every day be like christmas
Why can’t that feeling go on endlessly
For if everyday could be just like christmas
What a wonderful world this would be

I hear a child
Telling santa what to bring
And the smile upon his tiny face
Is worth more to me than anything

Oh why can’t every day be like christmas
Why can’t that feeling go on endlessly
For if everyday could be just like christmas
What a wonderful world this would be

In his short career, Bobby Darin only recorded one Christmas album. The 25th Day of December was released in 1960 and is full of standard hymns and a few other songs. Despite a thorough search of the internet, I cannot find a whole lot about the album or the song that I selected as my second for this blog – Christmas Auld Lang Syne. As a matter of fact, the song wasn’t even on the original album. One review of the album I did find states: In addition, the label has expanded the original LP with one bonus track, the mono single of “Christmas Auld Lang Syne” with new lyrics by Frank Military and Manny Kurtz. When Darin starts to sing of mistletoe and tinsel glow, it’s both refreshing and disconcerting following the frequently-solemn album. The 25th Day of December remains a moving and singular creation by one of popular music’s most enduring vocalists, and one of the most unusual Christmas albums to be recorded by a mainstream superstar. As such, it’s worth a spin this Christmas season.

A search of what “Auld Lang Syne” means brings about many interpretations, but most of them all say that when translated literally it means “old long since,” but the meaning is more like “old times” or “the olden days.” In a way the phrase goes perfectly with my blog as I spend a lot of time looking back at the past.

This was one of those songs I remember hearing as part of some “oldies” Christmas special. I’ve always been a fan of Bobby Darin, but had never heard the song before. Melodically, the music is note for note “Auld Lang Syne.” Lyrically, it is something deeper. Every New Year’s Eve, we look back on the year and hope that we can all be together again. This song applies it to Christmas.

New Year’s Eve, to me anyway, is not really about family. Christmas, however, is ALL about family. When you take these lyrics and think back on those who are no longer with us, or think about those who may not be with us next year, it packs a pretty emotional and powerful punch. Again, it always gets me in the “feels.” Two places in the song never fail to give me goosebumps. When Bobby tosses out his quick holiday wish , as awkward as it may be, it still gets me. Then there is the last “thank the Lord,” where he holds the note. Gets me every time.

You may not be familiar with it, but I will forever be a favorite of mine. He is the audio and lyrics:

Christmas Auld Lang Syne

When mistletoe and tinsel glow
Paint a Yuletide valentine
Back home, I go to those I know
For a Christmas Auld Lang Syne

And as we gather ’round the tree
Our voices, all combine
In sweet accord, we thank the Lord
For a Christmas Auld Lang Syne

When sleigh bells ring
And choirs sing and the children’s faces shine
With each new toy, we share their joy
With a Christmas Auld Lang Syne

We sing His praise, this day of days
And pray next year, this time
We’ll all be near to share the cheer
Of a Christmas Auld Lang Syne

Merry Christmas, everybody, and a Happy New Year

In sweet accord, we thank the Lord
For a Christmas Auld Lang Syne

Ok, just one more – my original choice, because I need a fun one!

My first pick was Marshmallow World by Dean Martin. Yes, I am aware of the MANY other versions of the song. Although Darlene Love’s version is a close second, I personally believe that Dean’s version is THE ultimate version of this song! It is the PERFECT song for him and he delivers it in his very own style.

The song had been around long before Dean recorded it in 1966. It was written in 1949 and while the song is about winter and is commonly regarded as a Christmas song, the lyrics make no mention of the holiday. The song compares a snowfall to marshmallows covering the ground. It also describes the snowfall as whipped cream. The singer “waits for it the whole year ’round.” It was first a hit for Bing Crosby in 1950 reaching #24 on the charts and done by many others afterward.

The song can be found on the only Christmas album that Dean did for Reprise Records. The Dean Martin Christmas Album was the fourth of five albums Martin released in 1966. The release of The Dean Martin Christmas Album in October and and Dean’s TV show in November in November 1966 were accompanied by what Billboard described as a “merchandising avalanche.” Billboard described Martin as running the “hottest streak of his career”, and said that Reprise planned to sell $4 million of his records over the Christmas sales period. Billboard later reported that Martin had sold 850,000 albums in December 1966.

Ricci Martin, Dean’s son, wrote in a biography of his father that The Dean Martin Christmas Album was the only one of his father’s albums that was played in the Martin household; his parents seldom listening to Dean Martin’s music.

A Marshmallow World

It’s a marshmallow world in the winter
When the snow comes to cover the ground
It’s time for play, it’s a whipped cream day
I wait for it the whole year around


Those marshmallow clouds being friendly
In the arms of the evergreen trees
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head
It’s shining so your nose won’t freeze

Oh, the world is your snowball, see how it grows
That’s how it goes whenever it snows
The world is your snowball just for a song
Get out and roll it along

Oh, it’s a yum yummy world made for sweethearts
Take a walk with your favorite girl
It’s a sugar date, what if spring is late
In winter it’s a marshmallow world

It’s a marshmallow world in the winter
When the snow comes to cover the ground
It’s time for play it’s a whipped cream day
I wait for it the whole year around


Those are marshmallow clouds being friendly
In the arms of the evergreen trees
And the sun is red like a pumpkin head
It’s shining so your nose won’t freeze

Oh, the world is your snowball, see how it grows
That’s how it goes whenever it snows
The world is your snowball just for a song
Get out and roll it along

Oh, it’s a yum yummy world made for sweethearts
Take a walk with your favorite girl
It’s a sugar date, what if spring is late
In winter it’s a marshmallow world

As a bonus – here is Dean singing the song on his show – solo and with Frank Sinatra!

Thanks again to Dave for allowing me to be a part of Turntable Talk. I really do enjoy taking part in it every month.

Thanks for reading! I’d like to take a moment to wish Dave, the rest of the participants, and YOU a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season. May your days be merry and bright! Pass the egg nog, and turn up the sounds of the season….

I Bought It … For ME!

Back in 2020, I posted a blog about growing up with the Chipmunks Christmas albums. You can read that blog here:

A Musical Childhood Christmas Memory –

One of the songs on their second album was called Wonderful Day. It is essentially a rip off of their famous Chipmunk Song.

In the musical interlude, Dave lets the boys open a gift. Alvin opens a harmonica. Dave asks about it and Alvin replies, “It’s a present, Dave. From me – To me!”

That line, and some conversation at work this week, got me wondering just how common this is. Do you buy yourself Christmas presents? Do you wrap up your own gift to open on Christmas morning? Is this really a thing?

Have I bought myself things before? Yes. have I wrapped them up to place under the tree? No.

My wife and I have again decided not to buy anything for each other this year. We both know that if there is something we want, we look at our budget and if we can afford it, we get it. She has about 100 items in her cart on Amazon. When she sees something that she wants for the kids, me, or herself, she adds it to her cart.

I do sort of the same thing, except I add it to my Amazon Wish List. However, many times, I add things to my Wish List so I won’t forget about them, not necessarily because I want to buy them. I want to revisit them after I see some reviews.

With all that being said, have you ever bought something for yourself – as a gift to yourself? I’m interested to hear your thoughts.

Friday Photo Flashback

It’s time for another edition of the Friday Photo Flashback. This one has a holiday theme to it. My best guess is that it was taken between 1972-1973. I make this guess based on the contents of the photo. Let’s Flashback to a Christmas morning ….

The above photo is of yours truly many moons ago. It is Christmas morning. The tree is out of the camera shot, but would be to my left, probably right in front of my mom.

As a kid, I don’t really remember unwrapping many presents. Usually, my dad played Santa and when my brother and I got up, the toys were already put together and in front of the tree. That may have been the case here as I don’t see a whole lot of wrapping paper.

Observations from the picture:

My mother is so young and beautiful in this picture. I don’t remember the robe she is wearing at all. If it wasn’t for this photo, I don’t know that I would have ever seen it before. I love that she is smiling while watching me.

I don’t recognize that couch at all! This would have been taken at the first house I remember. We lived there until the winter of 1976. I know that the tree would have been right in front of our living room window (again, just out of the camera shot).

I am obviously wearing two piece PJ’s, but only wearing the pants. That looks more like a regular T-shirt than a PJ top. It is possible, although I can’t really tell, that I am either wearing slippers OR those pants have footies on them. Hard to say.

The first thing I noticed when looking at the photo was that big boat next to me. It took me only one broad search of “Little People Boat” on Google for the toy to come up. According to Google, this would have come out in 1972.

I have blogged about Little People before, but not sure if I mentioned this set. I remember that flag so well. It was literally a plastic triangle on a long spring! I forgot about those crazy deck chairs and the life preservers. You can see one of those and the little blue boat on the floor in front of me.

To my left in the picture, was a favorite of mine – the Little People Airport.

The jet is to my right in the picture and the cars and such are scattered about. I remember that helicopter so well.

I wish I had one of those programs that brings out of focus pictures back in focus! From what I can read off the box behind me it says, “Push ‘Em Car.” I wasn’t sure if it said “cart” or “cars.” I did a search and what came up was a toybox. It is VERY possible that is what it is.

The one in the picture of me is not a Mickey Mouse one. Only two kinds came up in a search – the one above abd a generic one. The box behind me in the photo looks like it has monkeys on it. I wish I could make out what they are!

The last thing that I can make out was the book in the bottom right of the picture. I could barely make out “Zoo Keeper” so I typed that into a Google search. Imagine that, the book showed up! It’s called Zeke Zoo Keeper! I don’t remember it at all, but there it is!

I wish that I had more photos of the stuff we had under the tree. I guess without them, the proof is there that it really is never about the gifts you receive, but the experiences. Sure, I can remember some of the gifts I got for Christmas, but many of them are long forgotten. It is the memories with family that I will always remember.

Throwback Thursday – Class Assignments

Maggie, at From Cave Walls, and Lauren, at LSS Attitude of Gratitude, alternate hosting Throwback Thursday. The idea of the prompt is for them to give us a topic and for us to write a post in which we share our own memories or experiences about the given topic.

This week’s prompt is: Class Assignments We have talked about report cards and homework and other school related activities. Today I want to focus on specific assignments and what you remember about them.

1. What do you remember as the most interesting required reading assignment you had?

No question, Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember. The minute by minute account of the sinking of the Titanic. I was always fascinated with the story.

What class was it for? It was for a Senior elective class called “Survey of Non-Fiction.

2. Were you required to write a book report or were you required to give an oral presentation? We did many book reports, but non for that particular class.

3. What did you consider the worst book or article you were required to read?

Silas Marner by George Eliot.

What made it the worst? It was probably the most boring thing I have ever read. The entire class felt the same way. I remember the teacher, Mr. Young, even stopped a discussion because no one was really listening to him. He basically told us, “I know this book sucks, but we all have to get through this together…”

4. Were you ever required to debate other classmates?

In high school, no. College, yes.

If so, what class was it for? Business communications in college.

Do you remember any of the subjects and your ‘side’ of the debate? I am almost positive the topic was Universal Health Care. What side? I don’t recall.

5. Were you ever required to do a science project or enter school science fair? No

6. Did you have a Home Economics class or a Wood/Metal Shop class?

In Junior High, I was both wood and metal shop

What types of things did you make?

Wood shop – key rack, candle holder. Metal shop – metal box, shoe horn.

7. Did you frequent the library?

Only when needed.

Was it for class work or for pleasure?

Class work.

What book that you read for pleasure had the most impact on you?

Most reading I did in school was because I had to.

8. What was your most creative class? Band? Chorus? Art? Drama? Writing?

Band, for sure! I wish I had been in choir and art class. I can’t draw to save my life. I never did drama, because I never thought I could stand in front of people and “act.” The only real writing I did was for assignments.

What standout creative project do you remember most? In band, we had a group of us that went to Solo and Ensemble festival. I only remember doing this one time. It was a lot of work, but a great experience.

9.  Were you required to write a term paper or an end of year report in any of your classes?

Not in high school. If I did, I don’t remember. In college, I wrote a TON of papers – some of them I have adapted and used as blogs here.

10. Bonus Question: Did your teachers ever offer extra credit assignments ?

Some of them did.

Did you do them to help improve your grade? 

If my grades were bad, I took advantage of those extra credit assignments. Many times, I wished for extra credit assignments because my grades were in the toilet!

North Pole Air Mail

A while back, I posted about Ella mailing her letter to Santa thanks to our very cool neighbors. If you missed it, you can read about it here:

It’s Off To The North Pole!

Well, Ella was extra excited to get her letter from Santa today in the mail!!

“Santa” wrote an amazing letter to the kids. Ella was so excited to open it up.

This is a simple reminder to me that there are still some very amazing people out there. I don’t know how many letters they received or responded to, but I think it is wonderful that they are giving so much of their time and energy to make children smile.

Thank you “Santa” for answering our letter and we’ll look forward to getting the reindeer food for the sleigh team!

Christmas Dragnet

I will be offering up a couple of my favorite Christmas songs as part of the Turntable Talk feature hosted by Dave at a Sound Day. My entry will show up on Saturday. You can read my entry here and on his site.

This post will also feature a Christmas favorite that many have never heard before. I wouldn’t consider it a Christmas “song,” but more of a “sketch.” I heard this many years ago on a “best of” collection from Stan Freberg.

Let me give you a little back ground. Stan was a was an American actor, author, comedian, musician, radio personality, puppeteer and advertising creative director. He was a master satirist and was recruited by Capitol Records when they launched their Spoken Word division in the early 1950’s. He had been doing voice work in cartoons in the 1940’s and began producing satirical records in 1951.

In 1949, Jack Webb debuted on radio as Sgt. Joe Friday on the program Dragnet. It was a huge hit and it was perfect for a satirical parody. In 1953, Stan’s first Dragnet release was St. George and the Dragonet – set in medieval days where a night is searching for a Dragon. The recording featured June Foray and the great Daws Butler – two of cartoon’s most famous voices!

Stan wanted to use the Dragnet theme (written by Walter Schumann) for his production. Capitol Records insisted he get the permission of Dragnet star and Jack Webb. Being a Freberg fan, Webb liked the idea, approved the use of the theme and allowed Freberg to use the same orchestra from the Dragnet series with Schumann conducting.

For Christmas Dragnet (also called Yulenet), Freberg once again played the “Joe Friday” character and Daws Butler was his partner Frank. This simple six minute recording always makes me laugh and always makes me smile. In a nutshell, it’s Christmas Eve and Joe and Frank are working the “holiday watch.” The story focuses on a guy named Grudge, who was picked up by the squad for refusing to believe in Santa Claus.

Even if you are not familiar with Dragnet, I think you will enjoy this. And you will always question what to call green onions after hearing this! Enjoy!

“This is the season ….”

2022 Holiday Photo Shoot

We were supposed to get some quick holiday photos last week. The day before our appointment, the kids were still under the weather. I made the call to our photographer and asked if we could either reschedule the session or put the money toward our future appointment for Ella’s birthday pictures. She graciously said that we could move the session to this week if that worked.

I wasn’t sure if this was a possibility because these were what she called “mini sessions.” Basically, it is an abbreviated session of about 15 minutes. For one fee, you get the session and all of the digital photos from the session. It was a really sweet deal and I am glad that she was able to move our appointment.

We’ve been to her studio more than once. When I walked in for our session, I was very impressed with what they did. They literally created an entire room right there. It was the perfect backdrop and the photos were just beautiful.

When we did Andrew’s first birthday pictures in October, Beth’s (our photographer) dog was in the studio. Roxie. Ella remembered her name! When we walked in this week, Ella was on the look out for Roxie. She asked, “Where’s Roxie?!” Beth was so impressed that Ella remembered the dog’s name and told her that she was upstairs sleeping (which seemed to be an acceptable answer).

Our plan was to just get pictures of the kids. Sam and I knew that there was always the possibility of Beth getting us in photos, too. So we both wore sweaters and were prepared to jump in. I’m glad we were ready, as she took family photos right from the get go.

There were so many great photos that were taken. The best of them will go on the Christmas card (if we have time to get them done).

Beth is SO fast! I swear, Ella just doesn’t like to sit still for pictures anymore. She is always on the go. The fact that she was still able to get pictures where it looks like she is sitting still just amazes me! She wasn’t on the couch for long.

You might be able to tell that she isn’t sitting still in the above picture. I was really trying to hold her in one spot for this and a couple other shots in the pose.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this pose, but I really do. I may or may not have needed help getting back up after this pose.

Beth made sure to grab a few solo pictures of each kid. Ella loved the wagon.

Andrew in this little sled is SO cute!!

I think Beth took about 20 pictures of the two of them in the wagon. Most of them probably looked like Ella was choking Andrew, but there were a couple that really came out cute.

The thing that I was very happy about was that Beth got a photo of just Sam and I together. In all the time we have been together, we never really had a “professional” photo taken of us. We had a friend take some engagement photos of us to announce to friends and family that we were getting married. That friend takes photos for fun and she doesn’t own a studio or anything. They came out great and we loved them, but that was almost 5 years ago.

Beth was able to snap a couple of us before the kids were hanging around at our feet. I am sure she had to crop the kids out of the bottom of the photo, but I just love this picture.

Thank you to Beth at Enjoy the View Photography for once again capturing some wonderful photos!

The holidays have always been special to me. I am so very lucky to have such an amazing family to share them with. What do I want for Christmas? Nothing. I already have the greatest gift in the world – my family!

Taking a few “Elf-ies”

I admit my creativity level is not what it used to be. Thank goodness we have the Internet! Thank goodness for those who are more creative than I am!

With the addition of Twinkles, the Elf on the Shelf, there is now a nightly panic about what we are going to do with it every day. I didn’t think Ella would be into it as much as she is. She really loves looking for her every day. She doesn’t get the whole idea that the elf “reports back to Santa” yet.

I am not ashamed to admit that I have borrowed many of my ideas from the Internet. I have had some fun with it for sure. I am not to the point where I am going out to buy props or outfits for the thing yet. Maybe when Ella gets older, but not now!

Here are a few highlights of the past week –

Twinkles on her one horse “Olaf” sleigh…

I was surprised I had all the right (and enough) letters to do this!

I guess that there is an Elf on the Shelf cereal that comes out around this time of the year. The idea I saw had the elf popping out of that box instead. These Cheerios were stale, so we put the box and cereal to use…

This one is my favorite. I found some old wrapping paper and used it for a backdrop. I thought that guy by the camera just looked like a photographer. I also added a line of people waiting to get their picture taken.

Just over two weeks to go …..

NOT Eating Good in the Neighborhood!

It is my fault. Sunday night, I was going through some things and found a white envelope with my name on it. My radio name. I opened the envelope and it was a Christmas card from my old boss at WCRZ – Cars 108. I must have just returned to the station as she had written, “Glad to have you back as part of the team.” This was probably from four years ago. Inside the card were two gift cards. Two Applebee’s gift cards.

I turned them over and the area for the pin number had not been scratched off. In my mind, this means that I never used them. My first thought was that I would be able to use them to take my wife out for dinner on a date night. I had no idea how much was on each card, so I called the number on the back of the card.

Each time I tried to call, the call would not connect. I tried numerous times. I thought maybe it was something wrong with my phone. So, I decided to try to check the balance online. I typed in the numbers on the first card and entered the pin. The website stated that there was an “error.” I tried the second card and it did the same thing. I decided to try the number again. It still wouldn’t connect.

I decided to see if someone at the local restaurant could look up the balance. I called the local restaurant and they were happy to help. I gave them the numbers and the pin numbers of both cards. Both times I was told that nothing was coming up. I had to chuckle. Of course they couldn’t find anything.

According to all the Applebee’s sites, the cards never expire. I really find it hard to believe that our boss, who gave these cards to everyone on the staff, would have given us all cards that were never activated (which is what the restaurant suggested). If that was the case, I am sure I would have heard about it.

I have no idea how much would have been on the cards, I’m sure it was probably no more than $50. But it sure would have been a nice little treat to have found out that they were still good. I’m glad I didn’t take my wife there and find out as we paid that there was an issue with the cards.

A Worthy Sequel

I finally had the chance to watch the sequel to A Christmas Story. It was really a heartwarming movie. I enjoyed it very much.

There have been a couple “sequels” that have been made, but none of them came close to the original. They lacked something. They were very hard to watch. And don’t get me started on that “A Christmas Story Live” that was on TV a year or so ago…..urgh!

Peter Billingsley helped write the script, and many of the original cast all show up in this film. That, in itself, makes it worth the watch. Replacing Melinda Dillon as Ralphie’s mom is Airplane’s Julie Haggerty.

I won’t give away too much, because true fans of the movie will want to just watch and enjoy. The movie follows the now-adult Ralphie as he returns to the house on Cleveland Street to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child, reconnecting with childhood friends and reconciling the passing of his Old Man.

I read one of the articles about the film before it was released. Peter Billingsley stated in it that the film was the perfect way to honor “the Old Man.” It truly is.

I worried that the movie would simply be a copy of the original. While there are plenty of nods to the original, they do not take away from the film itself. As you watch the end credits of the sequel there are side by side pictures of the original and the “nod” in the film.

This film has so much of what made the original a classic. These are established characters, who you connect with immediately. As you see each of the now adult characters, it’s fun to see what became of them.

What I really enjoyed was seeing how Ralphie now takes on the role of “the Old Man,” so to speak. It’s now his turn to make the holiday special for his family. At the same time, it is interesting to see a very complex side of Ralphie as he sorts through the feelings and responsibility now places on him because of the passing of his father.

What a joy it is to revisit the home on Cleveland Street! At times I felt like I could cry, and in the end I genuinely felt holiday happiness. It is a must see for any Christmas Story Fan!

I’m off to Higbee’s to visit Santa….