Mr. Zero’s 2nd Annual Xmass Radio Shows

MrZerr0’s Annual Xmass Radio Shows

Article #94: Dec- 2018

For Radio WDGY & WFNU 

By: RLSchwinden aka: MrZerr0 

When I was a very tiny baby (actually round like a beach-ball with a head), when my Father’s (1941-2018) family needed a baby sitter they used to set “Little Ricky” in front of the fireplace until they set up  the Christmas tree in late Nov (around the time of my Father’s Bday) I would not move until someone came over and moved me away from that location, thus began my love of Christmas, in addition to growing lower middle working class on the west side of Sioux City, it was my one big score for TOYS! I remember, about 1970 going over to my sister Michelle’s God-Mother’s house on Christmas day & they were playing Vinyl Christmas Records, I was amazed, and then I began to look for Christmas music.

The 1st song I remember searching for was probably Lennon’s “Happy Xmas” it did not occur to me, not everyone had a Christmas album, what I  learned  over the years was sometimes puzzling at least, some were 45 Singles, or 1 song on a regular studio LP, some were “Promotional Only” to Radio Stations or Record-stores, later Cassingles or CD Singles! Later in the early 80s I learned my youngest sister Carrie would listen to Christmas Music year-round! It must run in the family. In 1985 I began making my annual Dr. Rox Remember When? Christmas Cassette” until 1999, when I was able to make my 1st Christmas CD, until last year when I was able to make my 1st annual “Christmas Radio Show”.

This year I am lucky enough to have 2 “Christmas Radio Shows” the 1st one was on Wed. 19 Dec 2018 @ 7am on WFNU 94.1 fm Frogtown Radio, you can stream this on  MixCloud.Com under RussTheDJ,  so here is the breakdown of the show:

Opening our show is “Mr. Zero’s in St. Paul” by: Amy Dawn Fauble from 2017. She and I used to work in the same recording studio (Wishing Star: St. Paul)

1. “Christmas Time Is Here Again”: Beatles; 1967-95

I 1st heard this recording on a Beatles: Bootleg back in 1980, my friend Mindy had given me when I was in the hospital from a near fatal motorcycle accident that year. This version is from the CD Single: Only, from the “Anthology Vol.1” CD released in 1995.

2. Christmas: WHO; 1969

This is an edited version from the album “Tommy” I heard this when i was on my “The WHO” kick back in 1986.

3. Miss Christmas: Energy/Tommy Bolin; 1972

I am from Sioux City, so is Tommy Bolin, this is from his 5th and favorite band ‘Energy’ formed in Denver – Boulder, CO. they recorded 2 sets of demos in 1972, the band did not get signed at the time, but in 1999 the “Tommy Bolin Archives” released a CD only, of what would have been the band’s 1st album, this song is contained herein, written & sung by Jeff Cook. I have met 4 of the 5 members of ‘Energy’ their drummer Bobby Berge is a good friend of mine.

4. A Christmas Song: Jethro Tull; 1968

My long time good friend ACE (not Frehley) turned me onto this song probably in 2000, i just love this one, so much I went to see them live in Aug 2002 at Mystic Lake, their Guitarist Martin Barre is amazing!

5. Christmas Eve Can Kill You: Everly Bros; 1972

I found out about this song when I bought the CD, I loved the cover photo so I bought the CD. I have met the Everly Bros. interseting trivia fact they are from Shenandoah, Iowa, just 150 miles south of Sioux City, where I am from.

6. Christmas Is My Time Of Year: Monkees; 1976

My co-worker brought me this this song back in Jan ’86, this is the edited version, strangely The Monkees put out a Christmas CD this year and this track is not on the CD. As I have mentioned several times we named our Record-Store “Mr. Zero’s” after the Monkees TV episode #52 “Devil & Peter Tork”  also my other Radio Show on WDGY is named after a Monkees reference in episode #58 Nesmith makes the statement “PsychoGello” so I used that to name my show.

7. I Believe In Father Christmas: ELP; 1977

I am pretty sure I heard this song on the radio at my Grandma Marge’s house on 1706 Villa, she always had the radio playing while she was cleaning and cooking. I saw ELP in Feb. ’92 in Ames, Iowa.

8. Dead By X-mas: Hanoi Rocks; 1981

My old band mate Eric D. turned me onto this band in 1985, after the had just broken up, I love them! The band hailed for Helsinki, Finland, this song was on their 3rd album. I have met 2 of the members of the band in Oct. 2011.

9. Another Lonely Christmas: Prince; 1984

I bought the 45 Single of “I Would Die For You” in 1984 (yes, because of a girl) this song is on the B-Side, there were 5 songs not on the ‘Purple Rain’ soundtrack, from the film that were released on 45 or 12″ Singles, this is one of them. I loved that about Prince, not too many artists ever released so much material especially in this fashion.

10. That Spirit Of Christmas: Ray Charles; 1985

 Born Ray Charles Robison in Albany, GA. 1930 -2004. Though I started selling Vinyl Records in 1985 as a job, this one slipped under my radar , until the 1989 film “Christmas Vacation” in the scene where “Sparky” is watching the old 8mm film reels and the trap door gets opened up on him and falls down the steps, hilarious…

12. Comon Christmas: Cheap Trick; 1995

Now this one came out as a single in 1994, but VERY limited release, I found it as a bonus track on the band’s boxset. I have my High School buddy “Strat” to thank for getting me into this band, from Rockford, Ill. about 1980 it was.

13. Here Is Christmas: Ann & Nancy Wilson; 1989

I have always liked ‘Heart’ from Seatlle, WA. since 1976 when I lived in Jackson (Brandon), MISS. in 1987-88, I dated an “Ann Wilson” look alike. This song came out as a Cassingle only release in 1989, I never cared for Cassettes, but this is the only way you could get this song.

“Nerd Is The Word”: PsychoGello 2017

Finally my Theme song, I wrote & recorded this with Terrance & Paul.

So this wraps up my  “WFNU: Christmas Show” onto my 2nd annual WDGY Show.

Sun. 23 Dec 2018 10:30am on WDGY 740am

“Mr. Zeros PsychoGello Christmas Show”

1. “Rockin Santa Claus” The Martels; 1959

In 1988 Rhino Records released the CD & Cassette “Cool Yule” now I bought for The Monkees song, but as I played it each year, year after year for 30 years now I came to love many of the rare songs on this CD. This Vocal Group from Ontario, Canada formed in 1959.

2. “I Want A Rock N Roll Guitar” Johnny Preston; 1960

This song was originally released in 1960, the artist (1939-2001) was from Port Arthur, TX. from the same “Cool Yule” CD.

3. “Dancing With Santa” The Trashmen; 1964

All the way from Robbinsdale, MN. and Dal Winslow personally came into Mr. Zero’s 55113 and thanked me for getting that right! This was their 6th 45 Single from 1964 on Garrett Records. My Dad (Bill) was in a band that played on the same concert bill as the Trashmen in ’63 in Brooklyn Park – Osseo, before he was shipped off to Vietnam.

4. “Rain, Sleet, Snow” Paul Revere & The Raiders; 1967

One of the few bands I discovered on my own in my youth, I saw the did the song “Louie, Louie” so I bought their “Greatest Hits” this band’s 2nd home was Portland, OR. they recorded a Christmas LP to by some time for their new members change.

5. “Christmas ’68” The Beatles: 1968

In the UK only, The Beatles, recorded a Christmas Flexi-Disc  from 1963 to 1969 (7 total) and mailed them out to the UK Fan Club members, in 1970 they put them all on an album and sent that LP out to the UK fans, this LP was one of the most Pirated albums ever. The original version is 7:51min long I trimmed this down in the vein of George Martin’s 1995 edit. Worth noting Tiny Time performs “Nowhere Man” on this recording (I had Tiny Tim sign my vinyl copy) also my 15 seconds of fame last year I received a Cease and Desist from The Apple Record Corp. for sharing this recording.

6. “Yesterday’s Christmas” Bobby Sherman; 1970

When I was a kid on Douglas St. in Sioux City, Post cereals put flexi-records on the back of cereal boxes, I had several of The Monkees, The Archies & Bobby Sherman and maybe even the Jackson 5, so I know who Bobby was, but I found this song on a CD titled “T.V. Family Christmas” I just love this song, it totally takes me back to that Christmas of 1970 on Douglas St. Bobby was born in Santa Monica in 1973.

7. “Pine Cones & Holly-berries” The Osmonds; 1976

It was my Uncle Johnny who turned me onto the Osmond Bros. with the album “Crazy Horses” in ’72. My sister Michelle loved the “Donny & Marie Show” I didn’t much care for it, but it did result in a Christmas album. By the way The Osmonds are from Ogden, UT.  and began performing back in 1958.

8. “Christmas Vacation” Mavis Staples; 1989

Everyone should know this song being the opening theme to the film of the same name, except this 45 Single was never for sale to buy! At the time she was signed to Prince’s Paisley Park Records. Eventually this song was released on a Various CD in 1996. Mavis was from the Vocal Group “The Staple Singers” she was born in Chicago in 1939.

9. “Looking For Christmas” Clint Black; 1995

Admittedly, I am not a Country Music fan, but every now and then a song comes out and grabs me by the heart this is one of them. Whenever I hear this song it takes me right back to 1995 when I lived on the south-side of Des Moines. Who would have thought a Country Singer would be born in New Jersey, Long Branch in 1962 to be precise.

You can listen past episodes of “Mr. Zero’s PsychoGello Show” at www. MrZeroS.Com – Podcast over 70 Episodes to choose from.

There you have it folks, my 2 Xmass Shows of the year, tune in next year and see what I pick out for your listening enjoyment.

Be sure to catch KISSin Time’s Annual Xmass Ball Thursday 20 December 2018 @ 8pm in St. Paul at the Minnesota Music Cafe #651.776.4699 on 500 Payne Ave. 55130 a special event celebrating KISS Drummer Peter Criss’ birthday & in conjunction with the Mn. Food Shelf & Toys For Tots. Sponsored by: Mr. Zero’s 55113, Music Go Round Roseville, Impact Guitar Picks; St. Croix Falls, Wis, Immure Recordings; Blaine, VIG Guitars St. Paul, RD Electronics; Cottage Grove, Lola Salon; Maplewood & Just Ask Paul Computer Repair; Andover. Nerd Is The Word …. MrZerr0- StarChild

 

Mr. Zero’s 

*Est. 2009

1744 Lexington Ave. N.

Roseville, MN. 55113

www.MrZeroS.Com