2001 Playlist

The 2001 playlist:

1.) 2001 intro
My usual intro with the Flat Duo Jets on "Jingle Bells" mixed together with "Also Sprach Zarathustra".

2.) Monty Python - Christmas In Heaven
I waited years to use this one... it fits perfectly leading off the CD.

3.) Wayne Newton - Jingle Bell Hustle
At the time, I thought this was the worst Christmas disco song ever (see 2008 below).

4.) Casey Kasem - American Top 40 Christmas bumper (No. 3)
Found on Napster (the pre-legal days) from one of Casey's old radio programs.

5.) Dale Monty & The 2x2's - The Lil' Endless Summer Boy
Take a surf guitar version of "Little Drummer Boy" and "Wipeout". You get this track.

6.) The Surfaris - A Surfer's Christmas List
The same group who originally did "Wipeout"! Great Christmas surf track.

7.) Sleepless in Seattle - Meg Ryan listening to Christmas radio
"Coming up, 'Jingle Bells' backwards!" Cut to...

8.) The Goons - I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas
This song was composed by The Goons during a musician's strike in England for their radio show.

9.) Jim Backus - Why Don't You Go Home For Christmas?
A Christmas song sung by Mr. Magoo? Ooooooo, too good!

10.) Ernie "Bubbles" Whitman & Lena Horne - Intro of "My Silent Love"
From an old WWII V-Disc, Lena sends her Christmas wishes to servicemen.

11.) Lena Horne - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Selected from her amazing 1966 Christmas album that I reviewed earlier this year.

12.) Perry Como - Rudolph The Red Nosed ReindeerWe lost Perry in 2001 and this track was dedicated to his memory.

13.) President John F. Kennedy - Message to People of Berlin (12-11-61)
JFK speaks to the separated people of Berlin at Christmas. This was the sort of stuff I searched for when I had Napster (pre-legal days).

14.) The First Family - Auld Lang Syne
From the classic 1962 comedy album - JFK, Jackie, and Caroline sing... appropriate follow-up.

15.) The Beatles - Christmas Greetings
Paul wishes everyone a happy Christmas - found on Napster.

16.) The Beatles - Happy Christmas 1969
The final fan-club message recorded (separately) by The Fab Four.

17.) George Harrison - Ding Dong, Ding Dong
As I closed this CD out, I mentioned that George was recovering from a brain tumor and "death rumors". A week after I mailed this comp out, George died... very eerie.

18.) MTV - The MTV Halleujah Chorus
This 30 clip was one of MTV's first holiday commercials from twenty years earlier.

19.) Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross - Deck Us All With Boston Charlie
Inspired by Walt Kelly's comic strip Pogo, this renowned jazz trio tears it up - one of my faves.

20.) Jimmy McGriff - White Christmas
It would be another five years or so before I got McGriff's amazing Christmas album.

21.) The Producers Original Broadway Soundtrack - Excerpt of "Where Did We Go Right?"
"Christmas came early to Broadway this year and guess who they stuck in our stocking? Adolf Hitler!" When I heard that at the February 25, 2001 performance of "The Producers" in Chicago before its historic run on Broadway, I knew I needed that for the CD.

22.) Mel Blanc - Yah Das Ist Ein Christmas Tree
A great Christmas novelty from the man of 1000 voices himself.

23.) Daffy Duck - The Christmas Song
Another appropriate follow-up... this is actually Joe Alaskey and it's one of the highlight on the Looney Tunes Christmas CD.

24.) Pinky & The Brain - Pinky's Christmas plan to take over the world
The Brain wants to impersonate Santa but Pinky thinks Regis Philbin would be more effective. Regis was riding high with "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" at the time...

25.) Josephine Premice - Mama, Give Me What You Gave Santa Claus
Premice was a calypso singer from the 1950s and this is one sly Christmas song!

26.) Steve Taylor - Winter Wonderland
From a 1988 Christmas album entitled "Christmas" (Sparrow Records), Taylor fuses "Winter Wonderland" and mariachi music to dynamic results! My second all time favorite version of this song!

27.) Full Metal Jacket - Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus
Gunnery Sgt. Hartman leads the Marines in singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus.

28.) Unknown - Frosty The Snomann
Purportedly recorded around the Iron Curtain at the height of the Cold War. In actuality, it's a Russian sounding version of "Frosty" - ho hum.

29.) The Carpenters - The Christmas Waltz
Even if you're not a Christmas fan, the pure voice of Karen Carpenter will hook you every time.

30.) 2001 playlist rundown
I give the playlist very much like what I just typed out...

31.) Elvis Presley - Christmas Message From Elvis / Silent Night
The last song always and forever is "Silent Night" - Elvis thanks you for listening and sings.

32.) Outro - Long version
A 2:21 edited piece of audio theater that traditionally ended the tapes/CDs.



Please leave your comments at the study guide page - please remember, none of these comps will be posted here in their entirety or made available online or off.