“Christmas At Grandma’s”
Dr. Rox Remember When article #142; Dec 2022
By: RLSchwinden aka: MrZerr0
As this is my 6th PsychoGello Xmass Show, I thought I would take a different, more traditional approach, as I on the first 5 annual shows, I had played Rock N Roll Christmas songs, and many of those were pretty obscure at that, as back in “Olden Dayz” most Rock N Roll Xmass songs were only released on 45 Single, Cassingle and then CD Singles. As my little boy will have his 3rd Christmas I was thinking back to what it was like for my first Christmas’ back in the 60s, at my Grandma Irene, Grandma Margie’s houses in Sioux City, Iowa and Grandma Betty’s in Jackson, MS.
My Grandmas Irene and Margie always had the radio on during the day as they did housework and Christmas baking. This is how I became aware of music that was recorded decades before I was even born. Then I used to see some of these performers on TV either in ‘Variety Shows’ in old re-runs of TV shows, having a near-photographic memory I remembered these singers later on in my life. Owing a “Vintage Vinyl Record Store” (Mr. Zer0;s Roseville 55113) I get all kinds of people coming in looking for all kinds of music, and interesting phenomenon, most younger people coming in looking for old crooners from the 40s, almost always only ask for Frank Sinatra even though Sinatra’s biggest hits were released in the 60s, customers do not think of him as a 60s artist. I try to point out to new fans of this genre, there were dozens of other artists, equally as good and as popular back in the day and we have hundreds of records by them for sale, to no avail, they really only buy Sinatra, sometimes, Dean Martin, maybe Bing Crosby or Andy Williams.
So this show I thought I would play some of those old traditional artists and songs, juts to show, “Hey, there is way more than just Frank Sinatra”
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” 1945
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. 3 May 1903; Tacoma, Wash.- 14 Oct 1977
Starting in 1927 he released 57; 78 RPMs, 409 Singles, 6 EPs, over 100 Albums
I always loved this song, I heard it in a cartoon version of “A Christmas Carol”
I probably 1st heard of Bing in a WB cartoon where there were cartoon representations of several crooners from the 40s.
I met his Granddaughter Denise and Grand Daughter in Law, Spice.
“Mistletoe And Holly” 1957
Frank Sinatra
Fransis Albert Sinatra: 12 Dec 1915; Hoboken, NJ. – 14 May 1988
He started out with the Harry James Orchestra, and then the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, before going solo starting in 1939 he has released 297 Singles on 78 and 45 RPM, and over 70 Albums.
I recall my Grandpa John telling me that his sister Helen danced with Sinatra when the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra played Sioux City, Iowa around 1942. I was a fan of the TV Show “Married With Children” which used Sinatra’s “Love And Marriage” as the theme song.
“O’Tannenbaum” 1961
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Cole: 17 March 1919; Montgomery, AL. – 15 February 1965
Starting in 1942 he has released 14: 78 RPMs, 7 EPs, 39 Albums, and over 110 Singles.
I was working at RecordShop #66 in S. Des Moines, when his daughter released “Unforgettable … With Love” on CD and Cassette (Vinyl ended in late 1987) and it was a monster seller for us at the time, as she re-recorded a duet with her father on the CD release.
“Guardo El Lobo” 1961
Kingston Trio
Formed in 1957 in Palo Alto, CA.
Bob Shan: Robert Castle Schoen 1 February 1934 Hilo, HI – 26 January 2020
Starting in 1958 they have released over 180 Singles, 8 EPs, and over 60 Albums.
This song, I first heard this song by The Monkees in their TV Show Episode #47 from Dec 1967, this song is performed at the end of the show. Turns out their music producer Chip Douglas used to perform this song when he was in the “MFQ” which they learned from The Lettermen, I tracked down my copy of The Lettermen, when I first moved to St. Paul back in Jan 2000. My Aunt Cat used to work with Bob Shane at an antique store in Scottsdale, AZ. one year, for my birthday, she had Bob sign a record for me.
“Sweet Little Jesus Boy” 1963
Andy Williams: Howard Andrew Williams: 3 December 1927; Wall Lake IA. – 25 September 2012
Starting in 1948 he has released 79 Singles, and over 60 Albums.
I got my Andy Williams TV Show Vinyl Album (featuring The Osmonds) signed by Andy in July 1993, in the parking lot of Southridge Mall, during the statewide disaster “Floods Of ’93” which put 1/3 of Des Moines underwater and without power and running water.
“This Christmas I Spend With You”
Robert Goulet: Robert Gerard Goulet: 26 November 1933; Lawrence, MA. – 30 October 2007
Starting in 1960 he had released 72 Singles, 8 EPs and over 35 Albums.
The first time I remember seeing Robert was on a Re-run “The Lucy Show” from 1967 sometime in the early 70s, in the show it seemed to be such a big deal, I thought he must really be somebody to remember.
“O Come All Ye Faithful” 1964 (65)
Al Martino: Jasper Cini: 7 October 1927; Philadelphia, PA. – 13 October 2013
Starting in 1952 he has released 84 Singles and over 40 Albums.
I believe I first saw Al in the first 2 “Godfather” films.
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” – 1966
Dean Martin: Dino Paul Crocetti; 7 June 1971; Steubenville, OH. 25 December 1995
Starting in 1946 He has released 108 Singes, 1 EP and over 50 Albums.
When I was a kid Dean had a TV Show that I would see from time to time and I thought he was funny, which led me to try to see all of the “Martin & Lewis” films; my favorite being the 1949 film “My Friend Irma”
My friend Bill S. has every single Dean Martin record ever released.
“Silent Night, Holy Night” 1966
Wayne Newton: Carson Wayne Newton: 3 April 1972; Norfolk, VA.
Starting in 1963 he has released 39 Singles and 43 Albums.
I am sure I first saw Wayne on some TV Show. However I do collect cover songs of Artists I really like and Wayne recorded a cover of “Echo Valley 26809” by The Partridge Family, turns out the A-Side is “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast” a #4 Billboard Hit in April 1972. One day while Antique Hunting in Phoenix, I found a Gold Record Award of this song, I bought it and a few years later I got Wayne to sign it for me. A couple years after Mr. Zer0’s opened I met a friend of Wayne’s, I told him my story and he had Wayne send us an autographed photo to Mr. Zer0’s, it hangs behind the cash register.
“Christmas All Alone” 1966
Lettermen: formed in 1959 in Las Vegas, NV.
Beginning in 1961 they released 61 Singles and 77 Albums.
Again collecting cover versions I picked up a copy of The Lettermen performing “Hurt So Bad” form 1969, a Bobby Hart (a friend of mine) song.
“Christmasland” 1968
Tony Bennett: Anthony Dominic Benedetto: 3 August 1926; Queens, New York City.
Starting in 1951 he has released 83 Singles, 1 EP, and over 84 Albums.
I am sure I saw Tony on the Engelbert Humperdinck TV show in 1970. I remember thinking “He sounds like all those other guys from back then”
“Christmas Is Here Again” 1978
Roger Whitaker: Roger Henry Brough Whitatker: 22 March 1936; Nairobi, Kenya, Africa.
Starting in 1967 Roger has released over 170 Albums and over 220 Singles.
I know the first time I heard of Roger was on a TV commercial for one of his Albums. Funny thing my friend’s Dad Dwayne was the spitting image of Roger. My co-host Nikola informed me Roger was very popular in her homeland of E. Germany, and she was very familiar with his voice.
With honorable mentions to: Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Burl Ives, Vic Damone, Sammy Davis Jr. Bobby Darin, Mel Torme, Eddie Fisher and Tom Jones
Well there you have it folks the summary of Mr. Zer0’s PsychoGello 6th Xmass Show, you can hear the 5th Xmass Show at www.MrZeroS.Com – Podcast as well as 88 other PsychoGello Shows. You can also hear Mr. Zer0’s “Evolation Show” and “Hits And History Shows w/ Rick Burnett” on www.MixCloud.Com
I wonder what we will do for year 7 in 2023 …for now MrZerr0 has left the station.
Mr. Zer0’s
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville- St.Paul, Mn.
55113
Where: Nerd Is The Word
www.MrZeroS.Com
WDGY
7:30am Sundays
https://patch.com/minnesota/roseville/mr-zer0s-6th-xmass-radio-show-wdgy
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