Music for the Holidays/Gift-Wish List

ne of my default gifts for my mother on Christmas is music. In the past I've given her Chris Rice, Sara Groves, and Breaking Sand from Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. Last year, if I remember right, was a cd of Willie Nelson's Red-Headed Stranger (one they already had on cassette).

Hoping to stick with what works again this year, there are some new candidates:

Crosby, Stills, and Nash Christmas

And while we're talking about Christmas albums, how about Bob Dylan's Christmas? But my mother was more of a Willie Nelson hippie than a Dylan hippie. One of my many friends on Facebook commented that Bob Dylan is perfect for mondegreens. Which takes me to this post from The Pioneer Woman.

Next up (and including a Dylan Song), Roseanne Cash's The List.

Last Saturday I went to a concert in Omaha, for the opening group Elizabeth & the Catapult (the headliner was Justin Nozuka). I normally try to be on time for concerts, but it seems that often the venue does not. So I thought I had some leeway in arriving at the concert. However, ten minutes late was ten minutes late and I missed half of Elizabeth and company's set. I did catch their music video single and title track, Taller Children, and their cover of Leonard Cohen's Everybody Knows, so it wasn't a complete loss. I also got a cd, which I'm enjoying a lot, signed.

And for me, I think I've mentioned before that I really like Mel Tormé's recording of The Christmas Song. What I didn't know until I was looking for a link is that he was one of the writers. One of the things I like about the song is the end:

Love and Joy come to you and to all your loved ones too, and God bless you and send you a happy new year.

*my drop cap came from Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische