On a Cold Christmas Eve

So...Xmas (aka Shane MacGowan's birthday) is tomorrow.  Regular readers will know what comes next.

We didn't quite hit our "daily" target this year.  Life has a funny way of fucking with the best laid plans.  But, we haven't given up on our yearly Xmas posting (tons of great tunes we haven't hit yet), despite our prevarication last year.  Hopefully we'll do better next year.  Sorry if we let y'all down.

In the interim, check out our Best Of  2014 Rekkids list starting after the Holiday weekend.  And, we're prepared for more regular posting throughout the year, so hopefully a small percentage of ya will stick around for that!

On to the songs, then...

2 songs always feature in our Christmas Eve (ok, O'Reilly...I surrender...) posting...

Fairtytale of New York is our favorite Xmas song...sadness, desperation, joy, miracles, loss, redemption, love, and hope, always hope, the most important of all.  Beauty (in Kirsty MacColl's riposte) and sadness (Shane's warbling attempt at understanding the broken promises of the "New World").  The generic Holiday hits we're inundated with can't hold a dripping candle to the rawness, the very soul of what this song conveys.  There are many hipper tunes to swear by, but this was always the template, whether one wants to admit it or not.  We will not budge, accusations of sentiment be damned.

Robert Earl Keen's Merry Christmas From the Family comes damn close to equaling. The ultimate drunken family Holiday, spritzed with great humor, a little sentiment (not a bad thing, when kept in context), a joyous melody and blurry instrumentation...we've all been to this gathering, and, while mocking at the time, remember fondly that insane Xmas day, when everything ended under tinsel and sparkling lights.  And yes, we all sang Feliz Navidad.  Because we could, and it felt just right.  

Take care of each other.  We're all we have.

The Pogues: Fairytale of New York (mp3)

Robert Earl Keen: Merry Christmas From the Family (mp3)


Peace on Earth. 

Santa In The Big House

Santa's rounding the bend(er)!  Last minute push to be naughty or nice!

Just a reminder, once this craziness is over, we're gonna do our world famous Big Rock Candy Mountain Best of List!  So, gird yr loins for that bit o'fun!

No Xmas would be complete with a little truckin', and Wayne Mansfield satisfies Holiday haulin' needs!  JD and the Roadrebels stuff our stockings with some noirsurfabilly joy!  The very mighty Otis Gibbs feels a little lonely under the mistletoe ("You're the star upon my Christmas tree"). And, finally, we do so love us some Solstice prison tunes, and Ronnie Fauss doesn't disappoint with a nifty little ode to time served in the Holiday big house!

Gee Whiz, Santa's Gonna Sock it to 'em!

Wayne Mansfield: Santa's Trucker (mp3)

JD and the Roadrebels: Santalina (mp3)

Otis Gibbs: Little Red Nose (mp3)

Ronnie Fauss: Everyone Deserves a Merry Christmas (mp3)

We're almost there!  Give the gift of Love this Xmas!

Santa On The Roof

Five more days til the miraculous virgin birth of Shane MacGowan!  Isn't that the true spirit of Christmas?

We couldn't do this insanity (and, yes, we know we're a bit tardy this year) without all the great recommendations, mixes, songs and gifts we've received over the years...so many great folks sending along their favorite obscure or semi-obscure Xmas tunes for us to enjoy and post.  Thanks to all of ya (and keep 'em coming)!  Most especially, we want to thank Mark W. and Thomas M., who have showered us with Holiday love!

Got some killer presents under the tree today, all wrapped up in fancy bows and covered in tinsel!

Unbelievably righteous Santa funk from Pee Pee Dynamite (yes, that's correct)!  Rockabilly Pere Noel party time from Teddy and the Tall Tops and Wendy Michele and Her Boyfriends!  Howling Diablos bring the trashy tinsel with a special message!  Corb Lund knows all about lonesome prairie  Holidays.

And, finally, because we always try to find a truly painful Xmas message song, Lita Roza brings the bummed out Christmas to all our hearts.  If you grab only 1 song this year, this is the one for you!

Santa's Got a Bag of Party in His Soul!


Pee Pee Dynamite: Merry Christmas and New Year (mp3)

Teddy and the Tall Tops: Christmas Party (mp3)

Wendy Michele and Her Boyfriends: Christmas Party Hop (mp3)

Howling Diablos: Another Christmas Story (mp3)

Corb Lund: Just Me and These Ponies (For Christmas This Year)

Lita Roza: The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot (mp3)

Thanks for all the love. Please consider the less fortunate...not just now, but all year long.  Who are we, in the end, if not reflected in the so-called "least" of us.  

Santa's Special Sauce

Ho, ho, ho...joyous in the season once again!  The Big Rock Candy Mountain Holiday extravaganza keeps its sled well-greased, and zoomin' round the world with extra-special present for all the kiddies!

We're still tryin' to keep to our odd rule of not repeating ourselves (which is becoming harder in each successive year...we've been doing this for a least 10 years for christ's sake(pun intended)!!!), but we surely welcome requests from past year's joy!!!  Missing yr Beatnik or Truckin' Xmas tunes?  All ya gotta do is ask!

Lots of mixed treats in Santa's bag today....Hillbilly kiss-off courtesy of Dick Stratton; R'nB vs. Doo Wop from The Debonairs; Jump Blues/Jazz/Soul gifted by Lowell Fulson; Burnt Desert Noir (super black!) from The Felice Brothers; Statler Brothers bringing down home cheeses; and...well, ya know what?  We love the Dropkick Murphys!  We're not supposed to (Hipsters and Trash Merchants all agree), but fuck it...we think they're swell, and the following tune is a hoot and a Holiday holler!

Santa's Got a Special Secret Treat Just For You!


Dick Stratton: I Wouldn't Have You On a Christmas Tree (mp3)

The Debonairs: Christmas Time (mp3)

Lowell Fulson: Lonesome Christmas (mp3)

Felice Brothers: Murder By Mistletoe (mp3)

The Statler Brothers: An Old Fashioned Christmas (mp3)

Dropkick Murphys: The Season Is Upon Us (mp3)

Please think about helping out those less fortunate this Holiday Season, and throughout the year (winter's particularly tough).  If we can afford internet to download tunes for free...well, maybe we've got a few extra bucks that might make a difference elsewhere.  Santa wants you to do it!

Santa's Stockings

We've always wondered if the Elves are properly unionized at the North Pole.  We'd hate to think Santa's runnin' a sweat shop.

Gettin' all Yuletide yee-haw today, perfect for yr frosty Xmas on the range.  Rockabilly spirit from Grub Dog Mitchell, wassailing wheels of Santa steel from Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Ral Donner making his down home Holiday list of good feels, and, since we are the home of the Top 100 Drinking Songs of All Time  (remember that?), we have the Wine Chuggers presenting a little shot of Seasonal salutations.


Cowboy Santa Saddle Up!!!


Grub Dog Mitchell: Rockin' in My Stocking (mp3)

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks: Santa Gotta Choo Choo (mp3)

Ral Donner: (Things That Make Up) Christmas Day (mp3)

Wine Chuggers: (I Was)Drunk(On Christmas) (mp3)

All we want is Love for Christmas.

Swing Low Sweet Santa Claus

Big Rock Candy Mountain...your one-stop Holiday shopping experience!  Sitting on Santa's lap is always free, and strongly encouraged!

More killer Yuletide trimmings today.  Whether it be the daddy-o Santa stylings of the The Orangu-Tones,  the burn desert, aluminum tree cynicism of master storyteller James McMurtry, the reindeer on acid-washed 60's pop of The Tropics, or the North Pole frozen geetar of legendary Dwight Twilley, we've got the garland to make yr Holiday party sparkle!

Santa Almost Drowned in the Chicago River!


The Orangu-Tones: Santa's Coming (mp3)

James McMurtry: Holiday (mp3)

The Tropics: Groovy Christmas (mp3)

Dwight Twilley: Christmas Stars (mp3)


Thanks for stopping by.  All you need is love.

Santa Shama Lama Bam

Santa's a bit of a hip shaker, ain't he?

We're going all out rawk'n'roll this Xmas day...a little bit obvious, a little bit joyous, a little bit boogie, a whole lotta Yuletide riot goin' on!!!

Bring the Solstice noize courtesy of glammers'n'junkers'n'trashers...American Gun, The Kinks, Billy Childish(our lord and Savior), T.Rex, Cheap Trick, and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band!!!!!  Phew!!!!  This stocking don't need no stuffing...it's chock full and bulging with super-sweet geetar stickiness!!!

(and as always, if you don't like today's selections, we'll do a complete 180 tomorrow!)

Santa's got stars in his eyes, glitter in his boots, and gingerbread men in his pants!!!

The Kinks: Father Christmas (mp3)

Cheap Trick: Come On Christmas (mp3)

T.Rex: Christmas Bop (mp3)

Billy Childish: Father Christmas Is Dressed In Green (mp3)

American Gun: Little Manger (mp3)

The Sensational Harvey Band: There's No Light On the Christmas Tree (mp3)

Thanks for stopping by.  Be good to each other.

Santa Lovers

Got some tingly tinsel in our pants, just waitin' to decorate yr tree!  More Big Rock Candy Mountain presents for all y'all Holidady hepcats!

Ballboy pretty much defines, by song and by title, our credo round these parts, with a beautiful, keenly observed lament, the tick of midnight, in a bar, on Xmas Eve.  Lest we get too comfortable...Kathy and Jimmy Zee rawk our boppin' souls Santa-style, North Pole style!

Todd Grebe and Cold Country know exactly what every honky tonker really wants for Xmas!  And Billy Ward and His Debonaires take us to the the highest pinnacle of Yuletide joy and sadness!

Santa's Got and Itch! 

Ballboy: Merry Christmas to the Drunks, Merry Christmas to the Lovers (mp3)


Kathy and Jimmy Zee: Santa Claus Rock and Roll (mp3)

Todd Grebe and Cold Country: Let's Make Love For Christmas (mp3)


Billy Ward and His Debonaires: Christmas In Heaven (mp3)

Life's tough...we're all in this together...help out when you can this Holiday season!

Santa's Family Tree

Carvin' up the Holiday ham, booze-addled family gathered 'round in their worst ugly sweaters, offerin' advice.  Must be a Big Rock Candy Mountain xmas party!

All about the extended family today. What could go wrong?

Two incredibly dysfunctional gatherings courtesy of Robert Earl Keen (he of the 2nd greatest Xmas song ever, Merry Christmas From the Family, of which this tune is a logical extension/sequel) and Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis.

Then Old 97's add their own particularly twangy take on the desire for love at the Yuletide.

Santa, pass the stuffing and the bottle!


Robert Earl Keen: Happy Holiday Y'all (mp3)

Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis: Oklahoma Christmas (mp3)

Old 97's: Here It Is Christmas (mp3)

Please give what you can this Holiday season...times are tough, and there's lots of folks who are needy.  

Stripper Pole Santa

Jingle Bells, Batman smells...

A little late, but let's hit it with our (mostly) daily roundup of all the fab, rawkin' holiday slabs that make our nights a little warmer this Yuletide!  Dig it, Xmas cats!

What do you get a punk girl for Xmas?  The Roaring .22's might have the answer (hint: there may be booze involved)!

After that creamy hershey kiss, Deer Tick lay down some fuzzy Waits'n'Replacments holiday cheer guaranteed to last all year long!

We're just getting started, so stay tuned!  Some old favorites (requests accepted), some new tinsel ticklers, and a whole lotta love, santa baby!

Sleazy Santa gettin' down!


The Roaring .22's: It's Christmas Time (Let's Get Fucked Up!) (mp3)

Deer Tick: Christmas All Summer Long (mp3)

Give a little love this Xmas...the hardest present to give.