The 21 (or thereabouts) THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO Christmas Shows

Two years ago, I compiled a list of all of the Christmas records played on our annual This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio Christmas shows, 1999-2017. I updated that list last year to include what we played on The 20th Annual This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio Christmas Show, and now I'm updating it again to include 2019's additions for The 21st Annual This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio Christmas Show. Here's the original commentary with the updated list:



We have now done 19 [no--21!!!] This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio Christmas shows. We did our first one in 1999, just before our first anniversary on the air. We've done one almost every year since then; technical issues forced the station off the air for a while in late 2007, so Christmas was cancelled that year. The wages of naughty, my friends--the wages of naughty. However, the intrepid team of Dan Pavelich and Lisa Mychols put together a Christmas Without Cancer special holiday edition of TIRnRR in 2013, two weeks before Dana and I did our own TIRnRR Christmas show. So, we still total 19 [no--21!!!] Christmas shows in 19 [no--21!!!] years, 2007 be damned.

The only constant fixture on all of our Christmas shows (except Christmas Without Cancer) is that we always play all of The Beatles' annual fan club Christmas messages. I think "It's About That Time" by The Idea is otherwise our most-played Christmas track. Here's a list of what we played over the course of 19 [no--21!!!] TIRnRR Christmas shows, along with a specific wish from the 2015 show.

Hearts can grow heavy at Christmas. The bright lights, the clamor, and even the warmth itself can seem empty promises to one who feels alone, unappreciated, vulnerable, unloved. All of us, every single one of us, knows someone like this, whether we realize it or not; many of us have suffered it first-hand.

Although it is, we admit, just a gesture, we offer this show for all of you. We offer it for our friends, our families, our loved ones, for people we barely know, and for people we may never know. We offer you the joy of music, the comfort of companionship, the giddiness of laughter, and maybe even a brief, fleeting moment of peace. Whoever you are, and however you are, we wish you a peace that will overcome torment, and we wish you a belief in magic that transcends creed. We wish you the merriest.


And here are the songs.

N/A [from How The Grinch Stole Christmas]: You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch
N/A [from Santa Claus Conquers The Martians]:  Hooray For Santa Claus 

89 MOJO: Kenosha Christmas 
ADDISON LOVE: Utah Winter
THE ANDERSONS!: A Million Dollars For Christmas 
TIM ANTHONY: I Still Believe In Christmas 

APPLES IN STEREO: Holiday Mood 
LOUIE ARMSTRONG: Zat You Santa Claus 
ASTROPUPPEES/KELLEY RYAN: It's Not Christmas 
ATOMIC 7: Señor Santa El Es El Monstruo 
GENE AUTRY: Here Comes Santa Claus
THE B.B.B.'s: A Credit Card Christmas
THE B.B.B.'s: Ready For Christmas
JIM BABJAK'S BUZZED MEG: Christmas Morning
KURT BAKER: Christmas In The Sand 
THE BANGLES: A Hazy Shade Of Winter 
THE BEACH BOYS: Christmas Day 
THE BEACH BOYS: Little Saint Nick
THE BEACH BOYS: Merry Christmas, Baby 
THE BEATLES: 1963-1969 Christmas messages

THE BEATMAS: Mary's Boy Child
CHUCK BERRY: Merry Christmas Baby 
CHUCK BERRY: Run Rudolph Run 
LAURIE BIAGINI: Can't Wait For Christmas 
LAURIE BIAGINI: A Magical Christmas
BIG STAR:  Jesus Christ 
MIMI BETINIS: A Christmas Song 
BLONDIE: We Three Kings 
BOOKER T & THE MG'S: Jingle Bells
BOOKER T & THE MG'S: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 
THE BOSTON CAMERATA: Riu Chiu 
DAVID BOWIE & BING CROSBY: Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth 



THE BOXMASTERS: My Dreams Of Christmas 
THE BRADBURYS: I Love It When It Snows 
THE BROTHERS STEVE: I Love The Christmastime
CHARLES BROWN: Please Come Home For Christmas
JAMES BROWN: Merry Christmas, I Love You 
JAMES BROWN: Hey America 
JAMES BROWN: Let's Unite The Whole World At Christmas
JAMES BROWN: Merry Christmas, I Love You 

JAMES BROWN: Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto 
JAMES BROWN: Soulful Christmas 
SOLOMON BURKE: Presents For Christmas

THE BURNS SISTERS: Songs We Love 
EDWARD BYRNES: Yulesville

EDDIE C. CAMPBELL: Santa's Messin' With The Kid 
CANNED HEAT: Christmas Blues 
MICHAEL CARPENTER: Another Xmas Song

MICHAEL CARPENTER:  Wake Me Up When It's Christmas Time 
DAVID CARSWELL & MEGAN BARNES: I Wanna Kiss You This Christmas
CAST OF RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: We're A Couple Of Misfits



THE CATHOLIC GIRLS: Christmas With This Girl
ANNY CELSI: Christmas In The Pines 
THE CHEEPSKATES: Christmastime With You 
ALEX CHILTON: The Christmas Song 
ALEX CHILTON: Jesus Christ
THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: Christmas Is My Time Of Year
THE CLICK BEETLES: So Glad It's Christmas 
THE CLICK BEETLES: Wonderful Christmas 
NAT KING COLE: The Christmas Song 

RAY CONNIFF:  Joy To The World 
SI CRANSTOUN: A Christmas Twist 



SI CRANSTOUN: Sleigh Rider 

THE CRITICS: She Feels Like Christmas Day 
BING CROSBY & FRANK SINATRA: We Wish You The Merriest 
DANCE HALL CRASHERS: I Did It For The Toys 
THE DARKNESS: Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells Ring) 

RAY DAVIES & CHRISSIE HYNDE:  Postcard From London 
THE DELTA RAYS: Merry, Merry Christmas
DETROIT JUNIOR: Christmas Day
DEVO: Merry Something To You
DON DIXON: Christmas Is Saturday 
THE DONNAS: Christmas Wrapping 
DUOTANG: Old Man Davie's Christmas Kingdom 
THE DRIFTERS: White Christmas 
THE EDUCATORS: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 
HERB EIMERMAN: Treat Yourself Well 
THE ELFETTES: Jingle Joy
EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER: I Believe In Father Christmas 
ESQUIVEL: Here Comes Santa Claus 
ESQUIVEL: Jingle Bells (Greetings From Esquivel) 
THE EVERLY BROTHERS: Christmas Eve Can Kill You 
THE FABULOUS PLAYGROUND FAMILY: I'll Be Home For Christmas 
BIBI FARBER & THE MICHAEL LYNCH ORCHESTRA: Gonna Ask Santa 
FARRAH: Santa Don't Go 
THE FLESHTONES: Hooray For Santa Claus 


THE FLINTSTONES: Christmas Is My Fav'rite Time Of Year
THE FORTY NINETEENS: Frosty The Snowman 

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE: The Man In The Santa Suit 
TODD FRAUD: Xmas Past 
THE FREE DESIGN: Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas)

THE FREE DESIGN: The Now Sound Of Christmas 

GARY FRENAY: Christmas Without You 

MARVIN GAYE: Purple Snowflakes 
THE GEMS: Love For Christmas 
GO HOME PRODUCTIONS: Christmas In Boston 
GREG GODOVITZ & THE CARPET FROGS: Christmas All Over The World 
THE GOING THING: The Christmas Waltz 

THE GOING THING: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 

THE GOLDBERGS: Channukah Guy 

THE GOLDDIGGERS: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town 

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: Christmas Tree's On Fire 

CHRISTOPHER GREY: I Can't Sleep On Christmas Eve 
THE GRIP WEEDS: Christmas, Bring Us 
THE GRIP WEEDS: Christmas Dream 
VINCE GUARALDI TRIO: The Christmas Song 
VINCE GUARALDI TRIO: Christmas Time Is Here 
VINCE GUARALDI TRIO: Hark, The Herald Angels Sing 
VINCE GUARALDI TRIO: Linus And Lucy 
VINCE GUARALDI TRIO: Skating 



MARGO GURYAN: I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You 
HAMELL ON TRIAL: Santa, Can Ya 
LIONEL HAMPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA: Boogie Woogie Santa Claus 
THE HANDSOME FAMILY: So Much Wine 
GEORGE HARRISON: Ding Dong, Ding Dong 
HAWAII MUD BOMBERS: Santas Wish 
BOBBY HELMS: Jingle Bell Rock
RICHARD X. HEYMAN: I Can't Wait 
RON HOLDEN & THE THUNDERBIRDS: Who Says There Ain't No Santa Claus 
THE HOLLY TWINS: I Want Elvis For Christmas 
THE HOLLYRIDGE STRINGS: Santa's Got A Brand New Bag 
TOM HOOPER: Christmas Kiss 
LIGHTENING HOPKINS: Happy New Year 
LIGHTENING HOPKINS: Merry Christmas 
THE ICICLES: Snowman THE IDEA: It's About That Time 
THE INSIGHT: Please Come Home For Christmas
BIG DEE IRWIN & LITTLE EVA: I Wish You A Merry Christmas 
THE JAC: Holiday On Mars 
THE JAC: Merry Christmas (Around The World) 



THE JACKSON 5: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town JAMIE & STEVE: What Am I Gonna Get? 
THE JELLYBRICKS: We'll Be Together 
JEREMY:  Christmas In My Heart 
JEREMY: Christmas Time
JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS: Little Drummer Boy 
JOHN & YOKO: Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
JOHNNY & JON: Christmas In Viet Nam 
DAVY JONES, MICKY DOLENZ & PETER TORK: Christmas Is My Time Of Year 



GEORGE JONES: Joy To The World 
MARTI JONES & DON DIXON: Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday
SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS: Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects
PAULA KELLEY: Why Christmas? (The Longest Day Of The Year) 
MAURA KENNEDY:  Beneath The Mistletoe 
THE ANITA KERR SINGERS: Bell That Couldn't Jingle
THE ANITA KERR SINGERS: Jingle Bell Rock
THE KIDS FROM THE BRADY BUNCH: Frosty The Snowman
THE KIDS FROM THE BRADY BUNCH: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
THE KING FAMILY: Not A Creature Was Stirring
B.B. KING: Christmas Celebration
CAROLE KING: Do You Hear What I Hear
WAYNE KING & HIS ORCHESTRA: Jing-A-Ling-A-Ling



THE KINKS: Father Christmas 
EARTHA KITT: Santa Baby
STEPHEN LAWRENSON: Glad It's Christmas
THE RAMSEY LEWIS TRIO: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
JIMMY LIGGINS & HIS DROPS OF JOY: I Want My Baby For Christmas
PETEY LIGHTNING: Go Santa Go
MARK LINDSAY WITH THE MICHAEL LEWIS TRIO: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
BILL LLOYD: Underneath The Christmas Tree 
THE LOLAS: The Little Drummer Boy
THE LONG RYDERS: Christmas In New Zealand
CLAUDINE LONGET: I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You
DARLENE LOVE: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 
DARLENE LOVE: Marshmallow World 

LOS STRAIGHTJACKETS: Deck The Halls 

NICK LOWE: Christmas At The Airport 

MICHAEL LYNCH: Jingle Jangle Bells 

MICHAEL LYNCH: The Little Drummer Boy 

MICHAEL LYNCH: Santa Claus Bop 

MANNIX: Christmas Eve Without You 

DOM MARIANI: Christmasonic 

MATERIAL ISSUE: Merry Christmas Will Do 

MICHAEL MAZZARELLA: Christmas In The City 

JIMMY McCRACKLIN: Christmas Time--Pt. 1 

THE MEDITATION SINGERS: Blue Christmas  

ROY MILTON: Christmas Time Blues 

MINT-AID: Do They Know It's Christmas? 

MICHAEL MITSCH: Christmas Crystals 

THE MOCKERS: (There's No War On Christmas) When Christmas Is In Your Heart 

MOJOCHRONIC: Rudolph (You Don't Have To Put On The Red Light) 

THE MONKEES: Christmas Party
THE MONKEES: House Of Broken Gingerbread
THE MONKEES: Riu Chiu
THE MOONGLOWS: Hey Santa Claus

MONSTERS UNDER THE BED: Christmas At The Cabin

LOU MONTE: Domenick The Donkey 

THE MONTGOMERY CLIFFS: Christmas Lights 
THE MONTGOMERY CLIFFS: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

THE MONTGOMERY CLIFFS: O Come All Ye Faithful

LISA MYCHOLS:  Blizzard Of Aahhs 

LISA MYCHOLS: In Love With Love 

LISA MYCHOLS: Listen To The Bells Ring 

LISA MYCHOLS: Look On 

LISA MYCHOLS:  Lost Winter's Dream 

LISA MYCHOLS: Shows A Lot 
NRBQ: A Christmas Wish 
NO DOUBT: Oi To The World 
THE O'JAYS: Christmas Just Ain't Christmas, New Year's Just Ain't New Years 



P. HUX: Everything Is Cool 
ROB PARAVONIAN: We're Breaking Up For The Holidays 
GRAHAM PARKER WITH NONA HENDRYX: Soul Christmas 
MARI PAVELICH: The Chubby Little Snowman 

MARI PAVELICH: Up On The Rooftop

JANA PERI:  I Hate The Holidays (But I Love Spending Them With You) 

THE PERSUASIONS: You're All I Want For Christmas 
GAYLA PEEVEY: I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas 
TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS: Christmas All Over Again 
THE POGUES FEATURING KIRSTY MacCOLL" Fairytale Of New York 

THE POINTED STICKS: Power Pop Santa 
POP CO-OP: Christmas Eyes
POP IS ART: Everybody Needs A Little Xmas 

JOHNNY POPSTAR & THE LUV EXPLOSION: Angels From The Realms Of Glory 
ELVIS PRESLEY: Blue Christmas 
ELVIS PRESLEY: Santa Claus Is Back In Town 

THE PRETENDERS: 2000 Miles 
THE PRIMITIVES: You Trashed My Christmas 



THE PUPPINI SISTERS: Step Into Christmas
QUEEN: Thank God It's Christmas

ELIZABETH RACZ: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 
THE RAMBLIN' AMBASSADORS: Don't Fear The Reindeer 
THE RAMONES: Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) 
THE RAVERS: (It's Gonna Be A) Punk Rock Christmas 
BOOTS RANDOLPH: Jingle Bells 
OTIS REDDING: Merry Christmas Baby 
OTIS REDDING: White Christmas 
PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS: Macy's Window 
PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS: Wear A Smile At Christmas
JONATHAN RICHMAN & THE MODERN LOVERS: Abominable Snowman In The Market 

THE RONETTES: Frosty The Snowman 
THE RONETTES: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
THE RONETTES: Sleigh Ride 

THE ROOKS: Christmas 

DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES: Just A Lonely Christmas 

ROTARY CONNECTION: Christmas Love 

ROTARY CONNECTION: Santa's Little Helpers 

THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN: Snoopy's Christmas 

FRANK ROYSTER: Christmas Is Fun 

SALEM TRAVELERS: Merry Christmas To You 

SANDLER & YOUNG: Mister Santa 

SANDLER & YOUNG: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 
SANTO & JOHNNY: Twisting Bells 

BRANDON SCHOTT: Winter In The Sun 
SEA OF BEES: Feliz Navidad

BOB SEGER & THE LAST HEARD: Sock It To Me Santa 

SEX CLARK 5: Christmastime 

SHAKE SOME ACTION: Christmas In The Sun 

THE SHAMBLES: Warm This Winter 
SHOES: This Christmas

SHOES: Winter Wonderland 

SHONEN KNIFE: Space Christmas 

SHONEN KNIFE: Sweet Christmas 

HARRY SIMEONE CHORALE: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer 

SIMON & GARFUNKEL: 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night 

PAUL SIMON: Getting Ready For Christmas Day

SKETCH MIDDLE: California Christmas

SLADE: Merry Xmas Everybody



THE SLINGSBY HORNETS: All I Want For Christmas Is You 
JIMMY SMITH:  God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
JIMMY SMITH: Jingle Bells
MINDY SMITH: Santa Will Find You 
THE SMITHEREENS: Santa Bring My Baby Back (Back To Me)

THE SMITHEREENS: Waking Up On Christmas Morning
THEE SNOWGLOBE-LINS: Christmas Song
THE SONICS: Don't Believe In Christmas
THE SONICS: Santa Claus
THE SOUL STIRRERS: Christmas Means Love
SPINAL TAP: We Three Kings
THE SPONGETONES: Carol Of The Guitars
THE SPONGETONES: Christmas Boy
THE SPONGETONES: Christmasland
THE SPONGETONES: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies 
THE SPONGETONES: The Little Wiped-Out Drummer Boy
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town



THE SQUIRES OF THE SUBTERRAIN: Christmas Time
ST. MARY'S CHURCH OF THE VISITATION CHOIRS: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
THE STAPLE SINGERS: Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas?
RINGO STARR: Christmas Time Is Here Again
RINGO STARR: Come On Christmas, Christmas Come On
RINGO STARR: I Wanna Be Santa Claus
RINGO STARR: Winter Wonderland
TINA SUGANDH: White Christmas



THE SURFARIS: A Surfer's Christmas List
SURFIN' LUNGS: Surfin' On Christmas Day
THE SWALLOWS: Christmas In The Slammer
THE SWINGLE SINGERS: Jingle Bells
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS: Santa's Beard
CARLA THOMAS: All I Want For Christmas Is You
CARLA THOMAS: Gee Whiz, It's Christmas



ROSIE THOMAS: Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year
RUFUS THOMAS: I'll Be Your Santa Baby
TINY TIM: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
THE TOMS: Fake Christmas
THE TRASHMEN: Dancing With Santa
TROLLEY: We Three Kings Of Orient Are
THE TURTLES: Santa And The Sidewalk Surfer
TWISTED SISTER: Deck The Halls



THE UNCOMMON HOUSEFLIES: Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
UP WITH PEOPLE: Jingle Bell Beat
THE VENTURES: Jingle Bell Rock
THE VENTURES: Sleigh Ride
THE VENTURES: Snow Flakes
MIKE VIOLA & THE CANDY BUTCHERS: Give Me A Second Chance For Christmas
THE VOICES: Santa Claus Baby
THE WAILERS: Christmas Spirit??
THE WAITRESSES: Christmas Wrapping
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT: Spotlight On Christmas
WEDNESDAY WEEK: Christmas Here
KIM WESTON: Wish You A Merry Christmas
WHITE LIGHTNIN': Christmas In Vegas
THE WHO: Christmas
JUAN WILLIAMS: Dead, Dead, Dead
SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON: Santa Claus
WINGS: Wonderful Christmastime
ALICIA WITT: I'm Not Ready For Christmas

PETER WOOD SINGERS & ORCHESTRA: The Christmas Song 
PETER WOOD SINGERS & ORCHESTRA: Winter Wonderland 
ROY WOOD WITH WIZZARD: I Wish It Could Be Xmas Every Day 
XTC: Countdown To Christmas Party Time 
XTC/THE THREE WISE MEN : Thanks For Christmas 
GREGG YETI & THE BEST LIGHTS: Christmas Quarantine

THE YULE LOGS:  The Girl (For Christmas
THE YULE LOGS: Northpole 45789 

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Fans of pop music will want to check out Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, a new pop compilation benefiting SPARK! Syracuse, the home of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. TIR'N'RR Allstars--Steve Stoeckel, Bruce Gordon, Joel Tinnel, Stacy Carson, Eytan Mirsky, Teresa Cowles, Dan Pavelich, Irene Peña, Keith Klingensmith, and Rich Firestone--offer a fantastic new version of The Kinks' classic "Waterloo Sunset." That's supplemented by eleven more tracks (plus a hidden bonus track), including previously-unreleased gems from The Click Beetles, Eytan Mirsky, Pop Co-Op, Irene Peña, Michael Slawter (covering The Posies), and The Anderson Council (covering XTC), a new remix of "Infinite Soul" by The Grip Weeds, and familiar TIRnRR Fave Raves by Vegas With Randolph, Gretchen's Wheel, The Armoires, and Pacific Soul Ltd. Oh, and that mystery bonus track? It's exquisite. You need this. You're buying it from Futureman.

(And you can still get our 2017 compilation This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4, on CD from Kool Kat Musik and as a download from Futureman Records.)

Hey, Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 100 essays (and then some) about 100 tracks, plus two bonus instrumentals, each one of 'em THE greatest record ever made. An infinite number of records can each be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Updated initial information can be seen here: THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (Volume 1).