Began and ended the Christmas night show with Nutcracker variations. Tried to exclude all carols and Santa references as possible, but still wanted to consider the day. “The Worst Christmas Ever,” said Sufjan Stevens. “Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over,” advised Fiddlin’ John Carson.
Only “Star Wars” hype kept in the Christmas song from the “Star Wars Christmas Special.” There were a lot of remixes at the end. And one query kept recurring: “What Are You Doing Christmas Eve?”
Here’s what I played on the radio tonight:
Friday Night Rock, 12-15-2015, 9:40 p.m. – 1 a.m., Radio CPR, 101.7 FM, Washington, D.C.
- “The Nutcracker Overture,” Duke Ellington
- “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” King Curtis
- “Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday,” William Bell
- “Presents for Christmas,” Solomon Burke
- “Merry Christmas Baby,” Otis Redding
- “Gee Whiz, It’s Christmas,” Carla Thomas
- “Christmas at the Airport,” Nick Lowe
- “I Wish It Could be Christmas Every Day,” Nick Lowe
- “If Everyday Was Like Christmas,” Elvis Presley
- “Santa Claus is Back in Town,” Elvis Presley
- “At the Christmas Ball,” Bessie Smith
- “Christmas Morning Blues,” Kansas City Kitty
- “Christmas is a Joyful Day,” Lord Executor
- “Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over,” Fiddlin’ John Carson
- “Did I Make You Cry on Christmas? (Well, You Deserved It!),” Sufjan Stevens
- “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!” Sufjan Stevens
- “Thanks for Christmas,” The Three Wise Men (XTC)
- “Christmas Day,” Squeeze
- “Christmas,” The Buzz of Delight
- “Sweet Secret Peace,” Neil Finn
- “Christmas is the Only Time (I Think of You),” Wes Lachot and Chris Stamey
- “Sha La La,” Cathy Harrington
- “Holiday Spirit,” The dB’s
- “(I’m Always Touched by Your) Presents Dear,” Syd Straw
- “Christmas Wish,” NRBQ
- “Father Christmas,” The Kinks
- “Christmas in the Stars,” Meco
- “Santa Claus, You Broke My Heart,” Shallow
- “Candy Fisted Christmas,” Nicole Blackman
- “It’s About That Time,” The Idea
- “Merry Christmas Will Do,” Material Issue
- “This Christmas,” Shoes
- “The Saddest Time of Year,” Spooner
- “Christmastime,” Aimee Mann with Michael Penn
- “Joy,” Tracey Thorn
- “Hard Candy Christmas,” Tracey Thorn
- “Taking Down the Tree,” Tracey Thorn
- “Winter Song,” Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michelson
- “Christmas Kindness Song,” Imagene Peise
- “Christmas Without a Kiss,” Smoke Fairies
- “FaLaLaLaLove Ya,” Nikki Lane
- “Christy Christmas,” Brenda Lee
- “Christmas Ain’t Like Christmas Anymore,” Kitty Wells
- “My Birthday Comes on Christmas,” Dallas Frazier & Joe “Fingers” Carr
- “Santa Claus is a Black Man,” Akim & Teddy Vann Production Company
- “Fat Daddy,” Fat Daddy
- “World of Love,” The Dap Kings
- “It’s Christmas Time,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- “What Christmas Means to Me,” Stevie Wonder
- “I’ll Make Every Day Christmas,” Joe Tex
- “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” Ella Fitzgerald (Mangini vs. Pallin remix)
- “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” Billie Holiday (Yesking remix)
- “What a Wonderful World,” Louis Armstrong (The Orb remix)
- “I Am Blessed,” Nina Simone (Wax Tailor remix)
- “The Nutcracker Suite,” The Berlin Symphony Orchestra (Baz Kuts Breaks mix)
- “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” Berlin Symphony Orchestra (Red Baron remix)
Friday Night Rock returns New Year’s Day at about 9:30 p.m. on Radio CPR, 101.7 FM, Washington D.C., or online at www.tinyurl.com/radiocpr