It just isn't Christmas without...

The Jethro Tull Christmas album is on a pretty constant rotation in this house. A wonderful and wintry album. Festive without being cloying its an absolute treat.

That plus the Elvis album of course.

 

My turntable and my LPs

 

My Wife...

 

Christmas Mass, Family getting together, and really cool stuff waiting to be opened under the tree.

 

In my family, it isn't Christmas without writing and recording our annual Christmas song(s).

We started a tradition 10 years ago, when my son was five. He came up with a little holiday tune that he wanted to record and make CDs for his kindergarten friends. We then decided to send it out in lieu of traditional cards to some friends and family.

A decade later, we're still doing it - my 15 year old son won't give me any more than a couple of lines anymore, but my 8 year old daughter is very involved and has a blast.

Here's one of this year's entries, "Decorations" : Decorations, by The Vargo Family

 

I think this is going to be played at my house every year from now on...

 

Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas ? Still a remarkable project (Wikipedia background info) that has become part of Christmas ever since. I just watched the making of video for the first time, where you can see the individual artists deliver their solo lines, plus some interesting harmonies. The video was launched with this proper introduction (Paul Young sang the first line written for him).

 

Boredom

 

I forgot about this tradition until seeing it yesterday.

 

Let them know it's Christmastime
Feed the World.

 

Please tell me some of these are being posted ironically.

 

The SCR Christmas Cavalcade! I've been listening to this annual online holiday broadcast for almost 10 years! Click on the image to check it out:

 

Egg nog.

 

Mixed with White Christmas (Rum & Brandy liquor), topped with whip cream and a sprinkling of nutmeg!

 

I enjoy this one from John Prine.

 

Magical Mystery Tour ('67), The White Album ('68), Abbey Road ('69).

Particularly the first two, both of which were Christmas season releases (and, eventually, Christmas season gifts, in my household and those of friends and relatives.) Newly released Beatles music as a soundtrack for each Christmas school vacation break, in 1967 and 1968. With Abbey Road (actually released in late September 1969) eventually cast in the same role, out of momentum.

 

The Three Wisemen (aka XTC)

 

a real Christmas tree...

 

lightly spiked! ; )

 

Damn I love that cover!

 

Kenny has a great voice!