It’s here at last – the big day has arrived, and my Advent Calendar reaches its final stop, as Daddy Claus crashes into the boiler before realising that central heating doesn’t have a chimney. In normal times we’d all be celebrating with our family around us but many, like me, are having to make do with keeping in touch via technology. Such is a Covid Christmas, but at least we have music to brighten our day, and the thought that we can see those we love when we are told that it is safe to do so. And in the meantime I have chocolate, loads of chocolate! As it’s Christmas Day, I’m giving you a bumper edition: quite a lot seems to have fallen out of today’s window.
I thought I’d start with something rousing, especially for those who’ve been up since 5am with excitable youngsters. This should get you jumping around with the little monsters:
That was released as a non-album single in December 2008, and made #40 in the UK charts. Like everything the Quo do it has no pretensions to musical greatness – it’s just a lot of fun, and a good way to shake off the early morning cobwebs. (A footnote: I gather that some US readers have got the ‘not available’ message for this one. Here’s an alternative version from a live tv broadcast, which I know does work in the US: https://youtu.be/oqI1oeSqFQg)
I thought I’d add in another little bit of fun for today. This is brand new – released yesterday – from the wonderful Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain:
If anyone was still in any doubt about whether Tier 4 and lockdowns could make you stir-crazy, I think you have your answer!
My next song is a long time Christmas favourite of mine:
Written by Robbie Robertson, with Rick Danko on lead vocals, that was on The Band’s 1977 album Islands. Whilst this was a bit of a contractual obligation album before they changed labels, and comprised a collection of unreleased tracks from previous album sessions, I think it a tribute to their quality that they could drop in a gem like this. The album reached #64 in the US but didn’t chart here. It marked the end of the band’s original line up, which was celebrated in the farewell live concert triple album The Last Waltz the following year. It would be a further fifteen years before a revised line up, including three of the five original members, would release new music.
The final one for today is one I’ve regularly shared on Christmas Day. To be honest, I can’t think of anything better than this to evoke the real spirit of Christmas:
That was on MCC’s 2008 album Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs Of Christmas, to give it its full title. The album peaked at #155 on the US Albums Chart, though it did make #7 on Billboard’s Top Holiday Albums chart. The album comprises six original tracks and six others, some carols, some covers. This is one of the covers, and was written by Robin and Linda Williams, a married singer-songwriter duo who have toured with MCC and sung on her albums – though not this one. It is a beautiful song for MCC’s warm voice, and is a fitting way to end my musical selections for this year’s Advent Calendar. I hope you’ve enjoyed them.
But that’s not quite all. Regular readers will know that I am a big fan of the wonderful Christmas ads made by Hafod Hardware, a shop in the small mid-Wales town of Rhayader. They have now created four of these little masterpieces and, although I shared this one on Day 2, I thought I’d share it again, as its message is absolutely perfect for any Christmas, but especially so in this strange year:
As with their other three ads, this tells a lovely story and is, simply, perfect. The music, as in previous years, comes from the beautiful voice of Andrea Von Kampen, this time singing a song from 1854, Hard Times Come No More: something I think we all wish for.
#GiveWhatYouCan
And for Christmas Day, a selection of images:
And a final thought from me to you. Thank you for all the page views, follows, likes, comments this year. Despite the weird things going on out there in the big wide world, this has been a great year for my blog, and I’m grateful to each and every one of you.
See you again next week, for a (kind of) seasonal special Tuesday Tunes🎅🎄🦌
Playing catchup… some great tunes here, Clive I hope you enjoyed your Christmas films and chocolate…Happy New Year x
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Thanks, Carol, glad you enjoyed them. Christmas was quiet but enjoyable, and I still have loads of chocolate left! Hope you had a good one, and Happy New Year to you too x
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I love the video by the Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain, such a lot of fun and so cheerful. I hope you had a good Christmas, Clive, despite all these horrible restrictions.
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They are always fun, Robbie, and have been busy – they’ve released two more since that one! It was quiet, but I enjoyed myself. Hope yours was good 🎅
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Yes, it was good, Clive. Thank you.
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Hope you had a lovely Christmas listening to your festive tunes!!
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It was quiet, but I enjoyed it. Hope yours was good too 😊
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this was a wonderful series, Clive.
Ukes always seem to produce happy music. And the Mary Chapin Carpenter song is beautiful. (the Quo video is not working.)
And the Hafod commercial never gets old…
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Thanks, Jim, glad you enjoyed them. MCC is always wonderful to me – she makes beautiful records.
Even if Hafod don’t make any more of these, they have given us four gems.
A pity about the Quo video. It was their own official one, with the band in action. Can you let me know if this one works, please, from a tv show? https://youtu.be/oqI1oeSqFQg
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the link you sent me did work – great song, and the setting looks great…
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Many thanks for that, Jim. I’ll add a note with the link into the post for any latecomers. The setting is the ITV studios at the redeveloped Royal Albert Docks in Liverpool, which is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country outside London. Amongst other things, it houses the Beatles Story Museum.
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at first I thought it was the Southbank of London, but I didn’t see St Paul’s. I wish I had known of the Royal Albert Docks when we were in London a few years ago. Hopefully we will be back in a few years…
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Hopefully you will. I’ve not been there but from all accounts they have worked wonders with the transformation. They used to have a floating weather map there, till the original presenter went to prison, but it has occasionally had a return: https://youtu.be/QgXf-tYWsWQ
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that floating weather map was awesome!
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A gimmick that actually worked – with occasional mishaps!
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I’m sure those mishaps provided some good bloopers…
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He wasn’t the only guy who ever got wet…
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🙂
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Happy holidays, Clive! I’m impressed that you rode the wave all these days. Thanks for the old favorites and for introducing me to so many great tunes.
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Thanks, Pete. I’m going for a lie down now! Glad you enjoyed the music. Happy Christmas! 🎅
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Merry Christmas, Clive. Thanks for all the wonderful music.
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Thank you, Darlene. Glad you enjoyed it. Merry Christmas to you too 🎅
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Merry Christmas Clive.
as I said to you in the past I always leave reading your posts with a smile.
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Glad to have that effect, Bernadette. Merry Christmas to you too 🎅🦌🎄
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Dear old Quo. What would Christmas be without Quo? Happy Christmas, Clive. I’ve got to get back in the kitchen now, but enjoyed my 10 minute escape!
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Happy Christmas, Stevie! Glad you managed to enjoy a quick break! Have a lovely day 🎅🎄🦌
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Happy Christmas Clive and of course happy blogging.
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The same right back at you, Janet 🎅🦌🎄
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