Tags:
Nostalgic
Warm
Engaging
Adult
Script:
From their album The Gift of Christmas, that's en vogue and that's what Christmas means to me. Hi, this is Rob Williams and if you're like me, Christmas is just about the best time of the year. The traditions, family gatherings, the celebrations and of course the music. Join me as we celebrate this spectacular holiday with memories of Christmas past and present and the music that captures our spirit year after year. Here's Bruce Springsteen with one of those holiday favorites, Santa Claus is Coming to Town. It's hard to believe that was recorded almost 30 years ago. From his Greenvale, New York performance on December 12th, 1975, that's Bruce Springsteen and Santa Claus is Coming to Town on I Remember Christmas. You know, another great holiday hit was also recorded on December 12th. This time the year was 1984 when 38 of Britain's top rock musicians banded together to raise money and awareness for Ethiopian famine victims. Do you remember the group? Now here's the legendary Duke Ellington and Jingle Bells on I Remember Christmas. That's Brian Setzer and his orchestra with a hit from last season, Everybody's Waiting for the Man with the Bag. So, did you remember the name given to the 38-member British band of humanitarians? They were Band Aid and this is Do They Know It's Christmas on I Remember Christmas. Ah, those holiday decorations. That's Bob Rivers in this hour's IRC Comedy Spotlight. Hey, I'm Rob Williams and speaking of decorations, did you know that the first Christmas light dates all the way back to 1879? It came just three years after the invention of the light bulb. An employee of Thomas Edison's company had the bulb specially crafted for his own home tree. Edward H. Johnson proudly displayed his electric tree lights at his home in New York. Two hundred and fifty strands of lights. One hundred individual bulbs per strand for a grand total of 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights. As you can imagine, they were quite a hit. Although it was some years before Christmas lights were mass produced and widely available to the public. The little lights are not twinkling. Thanks for noticing. John Mellencamp, Cheryl Crow and music from Jose Feliciano are all coming up. When I Remember Christmas continues. Thanks for spending your holidays with us. Here's instrumental guitarist Gary Hoey with I'll Be Home for Christmas on I Remember Christmas. Recorded back in 1986, that's John Mellencamp and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus on I Remember Christmas. Before that, we heard from Cheryl Crow and Mary J. Blige with their rendition of Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree. You know, both songs were recorded as part of the highly successful fundraising campaign of Very Special Christmas. Originating in 1986, the album series has generated over 55 million views. The album series has generated over 55 million dollars for the Special Olympics Movement. That's the most ever raised by a benefit series. There are eight unique albums in the collection. And if you'd like to learn more about the series, you can visit their website at www.veryspecial.org. I'm Rob Williams. So glad you could be with us this hour. Music from The Drifters, Brian Adams and The King. Coming up, When I Remember Christmas continues. The sounds of the season roll on with acoustic alchemy and Hey Zoo, Joy of Man's Desiring on I Remember Christmas. Andy Williams with It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. For anyone who grew up in the late 60s to early 70s, that song simply sets the spirit of the season. After all, it was the theme of many in Andy Williams' Christmas TV special, which for eight years captivated holiday audiences and became NBC's most viewed Christmas program. I can't imagine the holidays without it. Up next is Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks and Silver Bells on I Remember Christmas. They're the Smashing Pumpkins and Christmastime on I Remember Christmas. Up next is a song that sold well over a million copies when it first released back in 1984. A song that singer George Michael said would bring a tear to eyes of listeners. Here's Wham and Last Christmas. That's Bobby Helms with Jingle Bell Rock on I Remember Christmas. You know, it's funny, the power a Christmas song has. In Helms' case, it made him a star. He was virtually unknown in mainstream music until his record label reluctantly released Jingle Bell Rock just two days before Christmas, 1957. In just a week's time, the hit shot to No. 6 on the charts. The following year, Helms found little success with his other musical releases, so his label re-released the Christmas favorite for the holidays in order to kick-start his career. The song went to the top of the charts in 1958 and made Helms a household name. That's the Ronettes and Sleigh Ride on I Remember Christmas. I'm Rob Williams and that'll just about wrap up this hour of holiday music. We'll close it out with Elton John and step into Christmas on I Remember Christmas.