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Happy Holidays from Listening with Leckrone! Holiday music is everywhere this time of year. To offset the same old songs playing through your head, Mike has curated a playlist of Holiday Hits you may not have heard before. While the songs are familiar, hopefully arrangements from Fats Waller, Stan Kenton, or Tommy Dorsey will breathe new life into the season. All the best this holiday season, and a happy new year. More music and history to come in 2024!

Watch Spike Jones and His Orchestra perform “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” Read a transcript of today’s episode. Check out the companion playlist on Spotify.

Song List:

“Jingle Bells;” Performed by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra; Written by James Pierpont; Columbia Records, 1962

“Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town;” Performed by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra; Written by Haven Gillespie & J. Fred Coots; RCA Victor, 1935

“Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells;” Performed by Fats Waller & His Rhythm; Written by J. Hancock; Bluebird, 1938

“Snowfall;” Performed by Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra; Written by Claude Thornhill; Columbia, 1941

“Santa Baby;” Performed by Eartha Kitt with Henri René and his Orchestra; Written by T. Springer-P & Springer-Javits; RCA Victor, 1953

“Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!;” Performed by Woody Herman and His Orchestra; Written by Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne; Columbia, 1946

“All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth);” Performed by Spike Jone and his City Slickers; Written by Don Gardner; RCA Victor, 1948

“Parade of the Wooden Soldiers;” Performed by Red Nichols & His Five Pennies; Written by Leon Jessel; Tops Records, 1957

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen;” Performed by Stan Kenton Orchestra; Traditional; Capitol Records, 1961

“Brazilian Sleigh Bells;” Performed by Harry James and His Orchestra; Written by Percy Faith; Columbia Records, 1950

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer;” Performed by Billy May and His Orchestra; Written by Johnny Marks; Capitol Records, 1954

“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire);” Performed by Mel Tormé; Written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells; Verve Record, 1961

“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?;” Performed by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra; Written by Frank Loesser; Columbia, 1947

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One Response to “Episode 11 – Holiday Hits”

  1. Don Heth

    Really cool & enjoyable presentation. I was fortunate to play alto sax in the 60th Army Band, Fort Polk, 108th Army National Guad Band & 451 Army Reserve Band. I was indeed fortunate to have as my mentor Grayson Babcock, band director of Fort Atkinson high school band in my last 2 yrs 1957-1959. Played 1960-1961 under UW Band Director, Ray Dvorack.

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