RATO'S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

This is a double anthology, from December 2005: 50 tracks, about 150 minutes of non-stop music. I think you can find here some very good stuff, which surely will make this season even more joyful for all Rato's friends. Peace for Xmas and try to be happy, specially with the ones you love. 

BRIAN WILSON's Xmas Album

Original released on CD Arista 82876.71809.2

(US 2005, October 18)

"What I Really Want For Christmas" consists mostly of Brian and Wondermints' renditions of US perspective Xmas classics. Even though they are sometimes wonderfully arranged (especially the a cappella "Auld Lang Syne" sounds almost heavenly), I wouldn't care much for such a package. However, there are exceptions among the material – songs composed by Brian Wilson himself. Of those five, "The Man With All the Toys" and "Little Saint Nick" are new versions of Beach Boy originals, with lyrics by Mike Love. The new stuff includes the superb "What I Really Want for Christmas" and "Christmasey." I have the idea that "On Christmas Day" is also 'new', but it isn't that special; it is mostly Brian repeating the Xmas clichés, and one surely remembers Brian has composed both of his masterpieces ("Smile" and "Pet Sounds") with help from an 'outsider' lyricist (Van Dyke Parks and Tony Asher). This time the project has brought the famous Jimmy Webb and Bernie Taupin together with Brian, and the result is a complete success. (in RateYourMusic)

WALLPAPER: Wish You A Sexy Xmas!

TO ALL MY FRIENDS

XMAS A GOGO!!!

LONG LIVE ROCK 'N' XMAS!!!

SIX CHRISTMAS CARDS YOU CAN USE

HAPPY XMAS FOR ALL RATO'S FRIENDS!!!

To All Rato's Friends...

FELIZ ANO NOVO!

NOUVELLE ANNÉE HEUREUSE!

GLÜCKLICHES NEUES JAHR!

FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!

NUOVO ANNO FELICE!

VOORSPOEDIGE NUWEJAAR!

C.S.>>> "LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS"

MUD's second British number one, from December 1974, is also one of the most enduring festive pop hits of the 1970s, a moving, heartfelt ballad which really wouldn't have been out of place on one of Elvis Presley's Christmas collections. The fact that Les Gray is, once again, in full Elvis sound-alike mode for the song, of course, only heightens the impression, which was precisely what songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman were intending. " Nicky and I were only concerned with writing songs that he could sing...like Elvis," Chapman confessed, "and I took that to its absolute extreme with Lonely This Christmas."
"It started as a send-up," Gray himself remembered. "It was meant to be like one of those old schmaltzy Christmas songs. Then we found out people took it seriously. But that was fine, because it didn't matter if you laughed at it, or if it meant something to you, as long as it affected you in some way."
Lonely This Christmas has been regularly reissued in the U.K., even returning to the chart in 1985, when it reached number 61 (David Thompson in Allmusic)

(Painting by Edward Hopper, "Night Hawks", 1942)

C.S.>>> "DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS?"

(Paul Young)
It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade
(Boy George)
And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time
(George Michael)
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard
(Simon LeBon)
But when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
(Sting)
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is
(Bono)
The bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that are ringing
Are clanging chimes of doom
Well, tonight thank God it's them instead of you.
(Everyone)
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time.
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
(Paul Young)
Here's to you
raise a glass for everyone
Here's to them
underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?
(Everyone)
Feed the world...
Let them know it's Christmas time again...

C.S.>>> XMAS GUMBO

It's amazing that 40-plus years after recording "The Fat Man", Fats Domino's voice is virtually unchanged. Hearing that lazy N'awlins drawl on his original "I Told Santa Claus" and "Christmas Is a Special Day" is a delight despite the electronic keyboards and rhythm machine used on the latter. Fats romps through other seasonal favorites: "Jingle Bells," "Silver Bells," and "Blue Christmas" among them. Once you get past the rhythm machine (three drummers are credited), you can enjoy the return of the "Fat Man." (Dennis MacDonald in Allmusic).

Here's the complete album (CD The Right Stuff T2-27753, November, 1993):

1. I Told Santa Claus

2. Christmas Is A Special Day

3. Jingle Bells

4. I'll Be Home For Christmas

5. Silver Bells

6. Frosty The Snowman

7. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

8. Blue Christmas

9. Silent Night

10. White Christmas

11. Please Come Home For Christmas

12. Amazing Grace

C.S.>>> OUTRAGEOUS? NO, HILARIOUS!!!

The following tracks are a selection from two Bob Rivers' albums: "More Twisted Christmas" (cover above) from 1997 and "White Trashed Christmas" from 2002. I'm trying to get the first "Twisted Christmas" from 1990, which seems to be the best of them all. Nevertheless, here you have a douzen of hilarious parodies of classic tunes (Xmas songs or others that surely rings a bell to you...). So, if you're tired of hearing the same Christmas carols over and over this is a funny way to put you again in the holiday mood. And for God's sake, pay good attention to the lyrics. They are sensational!

1. ACUACLAUS

2. TOY SACK

3. POLICE STOP MY CAR

4. HOLIDAZE (S'CUSE ME, I'VE GOT GIFTS TO BUY)

5. THE LITTLE HOOTERS GIRL

6. OSAMA GOT RUN OVER BY A REINDEER

7. SLED ZEPPELIN

8. PARKING SPACES

9. YELLOW SNOW! YELLOW SNOW! YELLOW SNOW!

10. JESUS'S BIRTHDAY

11. BUTTCRACKER SUITE

12. I'LL BE STONED FOR CHRISTMAS

C.S.>>> FOUR BY THE FAB FOUR

Oh yes, The Beatles also recorded Christmas Songs.
Here's the proof:
- CHRISTMAS TIME (IS HERE AGAIN)
- DING DONG, DING DONG
- RUDOLPH THE RED NOISED REGGAE
- WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME

CHRISTMAS SONGS

Well, December has already began and that time of the year is coming up again. And even for a true non-believer like Rato it is really a "special" time. So, my friends, let's celebrate Xmas a little. During the next 20 days you'll find a couple of seasonal songs here and later a Rato's Special Christmas Collection too.