The greatest Xmas song of all time is ...

The greatest Christmas song ever

I am often told by my children that the greatest Xmas song of all time is the Pogues 'Fairytale of New York'. Quite a nice song but ... The greatest ever - I don't think so.

My argument is that one of the tests is the test of time. Although upon hearing a song for the first time you often know it is a great song; but the question is will it stand the test of time?

Will it still be sung or performed in one or two hundred years time. If it is still as popular in 100 years time then it may be one of the greatest.

I think some songs and artists will last - Elvis, Lois Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, Caruso, The Beatles and so on. Some songs like O Sole Mio in all its various incarnations will go on forever.

Although not a religious person, many great songs that have stood that test of time are religious - How great thou art; Away in a manger; Amazing Grace; O come all ye faithful.

But for Xmas; for me the greatest is Silent Night. (German - Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht)

The original lyrics were by an Austrian, Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber with the carol being first performed in the Nikolaus-Kirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberendorf Austria on December 24, 1818. Mohr had composed the words two years earlier, in 1816, but on that Christmas Eve asked Gruber to compose a melody for the church service.

And so was born what I consider the greatest of them all.



There a literally hundreds of versions and I don't usually put any songs here that are not, it seems, a hundred or so years old.

And although the song is in that category todays version is a recent one; from a magnificent 2006 album by Billy Idol. If you have any spare cash available go out now and purchase his Happy Holiday album. It is simply wonderful. From that great piece of work here is Silent Night by Billy Idol.

Its almost Santa

Xmas is almost here and the music is here. A couple for the season plus a few more.

Peters & Lee - Hey Mr Music Man. Funny how you pick up songs. I had never heard this before then when driving along and listenting to our local Hutt Radio they played it. I tracked it down and here it is.

Johhny Worth - Pretty Blue Eyes. A hit in the UK for Craig Douglas and in the US for Steve Lawrence (Eydie Gorme's husband).
Mike Preston - Marry Me. I am a fan of his.
Larry Page with two songs - Start Movin' and That'll be the day.
Jimmy Boyd - Jingle Bells
Pat Boone with the great White Xmas.

Probably my last for the year so have a good Xmas and a great 2011.

All Poms

All British today - just click here

Max Bygraves - Any dream will do

The Drifters - no it is the Shadows - South of the Border. They changed their name so they wouldn't get mixed up with the US singing group.

Alma Cogan - With a little bit of Luck from My Fair Lady

Eddie Calvert of Oh My Papa fame with a bit of Italy Il Silenzio

Seeking something modern

Some modern stuff here if the mid 60's is modern.

The Seekers: Kumbaya, Just a closer walk with thee, Four strong winds.
An African, religious and Canadian song from an all Australian group.

Talking about Australians (was I) this has been a good year for us (Kiwis) versus the old enemy Oz in sport. We won the Netball and Rugby 7's at the Games as well at the Bledisloe Cup and the League Four Nations.

Fleetwoods - Come Softly To Me (1965 Version). This is an updated version (is it better - I don't think so) of their great hit.

Well back to the music - Beach Boys - Sloop John B parody. An interesting version.

And last but not least we go back a bit further in time to a Dutch oldies group Long Tall Ernie & the Shakers with a medley of oldies called - Do you remember.

Pacific Time

I am back from my trip to OZ so to start off all from the Pacific region.

I remember like yesterday the short but popular Alan "Red" Hewitt (Rhythm Guitar / Vocals) leading his group The Buccaneers (Johnny Willetts - Lead Guitar George Jones - Drums Gary Daverne - Piano / Sax Peter Cox - Bass Guitar) with his big hit cover of Robbin' the cradle. Although I slightly preferred the Tony Bellus version at the time I still thought Red's version was terrific.

It destroyed the US version in Auckland and he was all the rage for about a year or so.

Sadly I read that Red passed away in 2006 but he was still playing to the end.

So today we have

Red Hewitt - Robbin' the Cradle and The Girl in the Teddy bear Coat - both from 1960.

Australians Barry Crocker with the Donald Peers hit - Please don't go and Johhny O'Keefe - Shout.

Kiwi Johnny Devlin - Honey Don't

And from Tahiti Terorotua & His Tahitians - Vini Vini (1958-Tamoure), Die Tahiti - Tamoures - Tamoure (Vini-Vini).

All here

Eddie Fisher dead at 82

Edwin Jack Fisher was born on 10 August 10, 1928, in Philadelphia so he was 82 at his death. I thought he was older. Taking the name of Eddie Fisher, his matinee-idol looks and big baritone voice made him one of the most popular singers of the 1950s. I for one always enjoyed his songs and have in addition to the one for today I have loaded some up previously - just use the search facility to find them.

He made headlines when in 1959 he divorced Debbie Reynolds to marry Elizabeth Taylor who in turn left him for Richard Burton. In those more puritan and less liberal days it was the kiss of death for his career.

So here today is Eddie Fisher with Dungaree Doll.

As a special I also have NZ's own Dinah Lee with New Orleans and Johnny.

(Expect no action here for a few weeks as we will be away)

Another mixture of oldies

Listen to these -

Willie Nelson - America the beautiful. And he is in full voice and just beautiful
Herb Alphert - America - from West Side Story
S & G - Bye bye love (live) - almost but not quite as good as the Everlys
Graham Bonnet - I''ll be your baby tonight
Delaney Bonnie and Friends - Never ending song of love. Interestingly Eric Clapton often used to perform with the group.
Joe Brown and the Bruvvers - A picture of you
Reg Lindsey of Australia with his version of the John Stewart favourite about the first man on the moon - Armstrong
Left Banke - Walk away Renee