Brant's Christmas 2016 Playlist

2016 has kicked my butt so far, but I'mma get through these holidays if it kills me!  

Y'know, last year I didn't do a Christmas playlist.  I wasn't exactly in the holiday spirit for whatever reason.  This year, I think I'm actually looking forward to the holidays.  2016 has been a bear of a year, so I'm ready for the fun, goodwill, and fellowship that I'm hoping will come with the holidays.  And now that Thanksgiving has been given its due - I see no reason not to jump right in!  So here's a smooth mix of old faves, new releases, and a couple of lost gems.  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Please Come Home for Christmas (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings) - This year has been one devastating loss after another (Prince, David Bowie, etc), and the loss of Sharon Jones is no exception.  She did a great job with this holiday standard.  RIP.

2.  Someday at Christmas (Andra Day and Stevie Wonder) - I love seeing new artists pay tribute to the legends.  Here, Grammy nominated Andra Day teams up with Stevie Wonder for a re-recording of his 1967 holiday classic.

3.  It Must Have Been the Mistletoe (Barbara Mandrell) - Growing up in the 70s/80s, I was no stranger to variety shows, and the holidays were always chock full of them.  I remember Barbara and her sisters doing a variety show back in the day, and this tune seems like a great example of the kinda sappy, kinda catchy stuff you'd hear.  Isn't it time for Barbara to make a comeback???

4.  I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Cecile McLorin Salvant with the Jean-Francois Bonnel Paris Quintet) - A modern take on the holiday jazz standard.  Not on Spotify, but you can hear it on YouTube.

5.  Winter Wonderland (the Andrews Sisters) - I've always loved these ladies, ever since the days when I was little and my grandparents would listen to them.  Hearing them always brings back great memories for me.

6.  Christmas Island (the Brian Setzer Orchestra) - This was another Andrews Sisters tune, and Brian Setzer does a jolly good job covering it!

7.  2000 Miles (Train) - One of my fave Christmas songs, as sung by one of my fave bands!  It's currently an Amazon exclusive, but hopefully will be more widely available as we move into the holidays.  You can hear it on YouTube.

8.  Chilly Winds Don't Blow (Maxine Weldon) - A bluesy rendition of Nina Simone's winter classic.

9.  What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas? (the Emotions) - I had to triple check this, because I couldn't believe I hadn't used it on previous playlists!  This one is still in heavy rotation on the airwaves almost 50 years after its 1973 release.

10.  My Favorite Things (Leslie Odom Jr) - Meanwhile, in NEW releases - this is from the Hamilton singer's brand spankin' new Christmas album.

11.  Baby It's Cold Outside (Blossom Dearie with Bob Dorough) - I was researching holiday albums by old jazz/cabaret singers, and wondered if one of my personal favorites had ever done one.  Turns out, she did a few seasonal recordings - but everything's out of print!  You can hear this duet on YouTube, however.

12.  The Christmas Waltz (Frank Sinatra) - Ol' Blue Eyes imbues this Christmas standard with his characteristic croon.

13.  What the World Needs Now Is Love (Rumer) - I've put this on a few of my holiday playlists, mainly because it seems to embody the spirit of the Christmas season.  What a treat to hear Rumer sing it on her new album!

14.  White Christmas (the Drifters) - Another song that is still in heavy rotation decades after its release, for good reason!

15.  Christmas Blues (Dean Martin) - You can almost envision Dino drowning his sorrows in a chilled martini glass as he sings this!

16.  Glad Tidings (Merry Clayton) - Is this a Christmas song???  They mention Christmas.  The woman singing it is named Merry.  I say, why not?!  Great, soulful version of one of Van Morrison's signature tunes.

17.  Christmas Time Is Here (Nancy Wilson) - Icy and cool delivery from the jazz legend.

18.  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (the Carpenters) - Karen Carpenter's voice is still as warm and inviting as fresh-baked gingerbread.  Gone but not forgotten.

19.  What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?  (Rufus Wainwright) - Closing out the holiday playlist with an eye towards the New Year.  Here's hoping 2017 is better than 2016.

So that's it.  Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday.  I'm off to my first holiday party of the season.  I'll see ya in the New Year!

Brant's November 2016 Playlist

The Funnel of Luft wasn't as romantic as the Tunnel of Love, but at least your insurance covered it.

11 days late.  That's got to be a record.  I'll spare you the details, but let's just say November has been a rough month so far - and not just because of the election craziness.  The tunes this month skew towards the mellow and soothing side, which is probably by design.  Hope you enjoy.  To listen on Spotify, click HERE.

1.  Anything for You (the Wind and the Wave) - I love this band!!!  Patricia Lynn's voice takes me to my happy place.  What a great surprise to see they had a new album out.

2.  Anywhere (Passenger) - I had his duet with Birdy on last month's playlist, but this toe-tappin' tune was too good not to include for November's list.

3.  Be Thankful for What You Got (Rumer) - Another female vocalist that instantly soothes me.  She's working on a new album of Bacharach songs, but until that comes out - here's her tasty cover of William DeVaughn's 1974 soul standard.

4.  Indian Summer (Jai Wolf) - New York artist serves up some otherworldly beats and trippy vocals that sound like a Yodeler from outer space.

5.  In Too Deep (Dead or Alive) - Lead singer Pete Burns died last month, so I wanted to include something of his.  Dead or Alive was seriously one of the bands that provided the soundtrack to my teen years.  RIP.

6.  Midnight Serenade /Kungs Remix/ (Omi feat. Erik Hassle) - I was a little shocked to learn this was Swedish singer Erik Hassle providing the vocals on this dance track!  I would have sworn it was a reggae singer.

7.  I Love You Always Forever /Viceroy Remix/ (Betty Who) - Delicious cover of Donna Lewis' 1996 hit.

8.  Say You Won't Let Go (James Arthur) - British singer/songwriter begs a loved one to hang in there.  After some of the controversies he's been through, that may be a tough request!

9.  How Deep Is the Ocean?  (Miss Toni Fisher) - Mitch turned me on to this 1959 tune.  Bold female vocals that are slightly reminiscent of Judy Garland.

10.  Talkin' All That Jazz /Dim's Radio Edit/ (Stetsasonic) - This one popped up on my iPod, and I forgot how much I liked it.  Dimitri from Paris takes Stetsasonic's 1988 hip hop banger and turbocharges it with a disco backbeat.

11.  Sweet Addiction (Yuksek feat. H.E.R.) - Funky French electronica

12.  Million Reasons (Lady Gaga) - When I heard she was doing a country-influenced album, I was concerned - but gotta say Mama Monster makes it work!

13.  The World's Smiling Now (Jim James) - My Morning Jacket vocalist/guitarist goes solo with this 1960s-styled contemplative ballad.

14.  Daddy Lessons (Beyonce' with the Dixie Chicks) - Is everybody going country???  Taken from Beyonce's "Lemonade" album, Bey honors her Houston roots with fellow Texan band at the 2016 CMAs.  Not on Spotify, but you can hear it on Soundcloud.

15. A Little Uncanny (Conor Oberst) - There are solo albums and there are SOLO albums.  Prolific singer/songwriter recorded his new album over a 48 hour period during a winter in Nebraska - just him with a guitar, piano, and harmonica.  But with great songwriting, you don't need bells and whistles.

16.  Move (Saint Motel) - Sexy swagger from Los Angeles band that I've featured on other playlists.

17.  Up & Up (Coldplay) - I've always appreciated Coldplay, but gotta say this new album of theirs is really resonating with me.  Here they partner with Noel Gallagher for this gorgeous hymn.  Seemed like a great way to end the playlist and gear us up (and up!) for the holidays.

So that's November's list.  Sorry it was late.  Hopefully I can get December's music posted on schedule.  Happy Holidays!!!