Normally a show before Christmas brings all holiday tunes, particularly one scheduled on Christmas Eve. But I wanted to note the death of Captain Beefheart, and the Christmastime anniversaries of deaths by Joe Strummer and James Brown before diving wholly into the caroling, including cuts from Bob Dylan and Sufjan Stevens to Mindy Smith and Solomon Burke.
Here’s what I played on the radio show this week, the last one before a three week hiatus. Catch the whole show online here.
Friday Morning Rock 12-24-10 9 a.m.-noon WRTC 89.3 FM
“Diddy Wah Diddy,” Captain Beefheart
“Safe as Milk,” Captain Beefheart
“Moonlight on Vermont,” Captain Beefheart
“On the Road to Rock & Roll,” Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
“Johnny Appleseed,” Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
“Coma Girl,” Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
“James Brown Died on Christmas,” Hands & Knees
“Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto,” James Brown
“Ain’t No Christmas in the Project,” Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
“”Fat Daddy Christmas,” Fat Daddy
“Christmas Presents,” Solomon Burke
“I Want to Come Home for Christmas,” Marvin Gaye
“Christmas is A-Comin,’” Lead Belly
“Last Month of the Year,” The Staple Singers
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Jimmy Smith (Oh No Remix)
“Must Be Santa,” Bob Dylan
“Slower Than Christmas,” The Boxmasters
“”Merry Christmas from a Bar,” Mike Ireland
“Getting Ready for Christmas,” Paul Simon
“”Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me,” Elvis Presley
“I Want an Alien for Christmas,” Fountains of Wayne
“Careless Santa,” They Might Be Giants
“”I Wish it Was Christmas Day,” Julian Casablancas
“A Christmas Duel,” The Hives & Cyndi Lauper
“Fairytale of New York,” The Pogues
“Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight),” The Ramones
“Father Christmas,” The Kinks
“Give Me a Second Chance for Christmas,” The Candy Butcher
“Christmas Time,” Chris Stamey & The dB’s
“Jesus Christ,” Big Star
“Ole Year Christmas,” The Sisterhood
“Got Something for You,” Best Coast and The Wavves
“Space Christmas,” Shonen Knife
“The Christmas Song,” The Ravonettes
“Spotlight on Christmas,” Rufus Wainwright
“Maybe This Christmas,” Ron Sexsmith
“Hey Guys, It’s Christmas Time,” Sufjan Stevens
“Jesus,” Velvet Undergound
“Christmas,” Rogue Wave
“Christmas with You is the Best,” The Long Winters
“Calling on Mary,” Aimee Mann
“My Holiday,” Mindy Smith
“Winter Song,” Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
“Get Down for the Holidays,” Jenny
“Just Like Christmas,” Low
“It’s Christmas Time,” Jules Larson
“Oh, Santa,” Mariah Carey
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” Darlene Love
Friday Morning Rock returns Jan. 21
“White Christmas,” Corporal Blossom
“The Christmas Song,” Corporal Blossom
“Little Drummer Boy,” Corporal Blossom
“Happy Holidays,” Bing Crosby (Beef Wellington Mix)
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” No-L
Friday Morning Rock returns Jan. 21 on WRTC 89.3 FM Hartford or online at www.wrtcfm.com. Listen to this broadcast here.