Later this morning Hanna, Ryan and I will be heading to St. Louis to lay to rest Hanna’s grandmother and my first mother-in-law. I am confident in my memory that this was one of her favorite Christmas songs, but it is painful to realize that her sudden, unexpected death means that I can no longer make a quick call or text to confirm. Life is fleeting; don’t put off contacting the people you love. Today’s selection is in loving memory of Ann Ogawa.

Jim Nabors was a favorite of my late father. For being capable of such a goofy “Gomer Pyle” speaking voice, he sure had a beautiful baritone. And by golly if you want to hear a particular Christmas song, he probably recorded it.

I am digging all the live TV our pal Glen did!
And I do love this Christmas carol. Have a blessed day.

This might have been posted yesterday except that I liked the White Christmas/Blue Christmas segue so much.

Setting up a train track around the tree is a strong Christmas memory for many American baby boomers, so I was excited to discover this song. The first version that I listened to was a perfect studio mix and I muttered as I listened, “Now Glen, my little rhinestone cowboy, it may still be the 1960s, but girls also played with all the toys that Santa is pulling out of his sack!” Upon further investigation, however, I discovered this version and cut Glen some slack since it is a lullaby that he sang to his son, who actually fell asleep under bright studio lights while being filmed for broadcast TV.

From White Christmas yesterday to Blue Christmas today! This time crooned by Glen Campbell.

I see that look. I know you are too polite to wonder outright whether I have gone off the deep end posting three consecutive country artists. Maybe that is indeed the case. Or perhaps deep within Sara’s whimsically firing synapses, it all somehow makes perfect sense.

We established yesterday that I am not a huge fan of country music, so no need to repeat that (although I just did). I’m also not a big fan of cold and snow, but I need to let that slide at Christmastime too. I am surprised by the number of singers I’ve run across this year who have not recorded their own holiday album, Mel Tillis being another. This selection is from a multi-artist collection.

I will give a try to Christmas songs from musicians that I ordinarily don’t listen to. I’m not a big country fan, but I have yet to find an objectionable rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful, Don Williams has a very melodious voice, and I learned he never recorded a Christmas or Gospel album because he did not believe it was right to profit from religious songs. I admire that he stuck to his principles.

Here is another non-traditional Christmas song made famous by Home Alone 2 and Jingle All the Way. Along with Tom Petty, “I hope you have a good one.” Happy weekend, folks.

My original intent was to post three Christmas songs from Al Jarreau and move on to another artist today. However yesterday my scratch-off Advent calendar instructed me to listen to Christmas music and I obliged by streaming the entire album. When this song queued up, I stopped what I was doing and knew I would be sharing it today. I find it unique, fresh and touching. James Taylor, Kenny Rogers and Andy Williams have also recorded versions, but I do not recall ever hearing it before.

I am so enchanted by this album that I am going to break my pledge never to buy another Christmas CD. Amazon offers it as an add-on item for $3.99 with free MP3 download (a bargain considering the download version is $9.49).

I generally find Thursday morning to be the most challenging part of the work week, because the light at the end of the tunnel is not quite visible yet. I am in need of a particularly uplifting carol to face this cold, bleak morning. Thankfully, I think this may just suit.