Now Hear This

Now Hear This

By John Stix and Rock StambergMusicMusic Commentary
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Now Hear This episodes

  • Commotion

    Tracklist:

    1. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: “10th Avenue Freeze-Out (Ballad Version)”
    2. XTC: “Then She Appeared”
    3. DEEP PURPLE: “Love Don’t Mean a Thing”
    4. FLEETWOOD MAC: “Oh Well (Part 1)”
    5. CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL: “Commotion”
    6. LEE MICHAELS: “Do You Know What I Mean”
    7. MIKE MCGEAR: “Leave It”
    8. NRBQ: “Howard Johnson’s Got His Ho-Jo Workin’”
    9. EDGAR WINTER’S WHITE TRASH: “Keep Playin’ That Rock and Roll”
    10. RANDY NEWMAN: “Shame”
    11. FACES: “You’re So Rude”
    12. CRAZY JOE AND THE VARIABLE SPEED BAND: “Eugene”
    13. VAN MORRISON: “The Eternal Kansas City”
    14. THE BEATLES: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”
    15. KEB MO’: “Life Is Beautiful”
    16. STEVIE WONDER: “Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing”
    17. THE KINKS: “Days”

      18. Note: The “Play this track” cues below may be off by several seconds on mobile devices.

      Song Notes:

      BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: “10th Avenue Freeze-Out (Ballad Version)” Play this track

      Bruce Springsteen has always been at ease changing up the recorded version of a song for the stage. It’s a Dylanesque trait that has served him well. I spent months searching for his live ballad version of “For You.” And man is that good. But this masterful remake of “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” is hands-down my favorite Springsteen track that has yet to be officially released. The original is a great “strut rocking song.” This ballad spotlights the power of the lyric, the image of the night. It’s absolutely cinematic. —John Stix

      XTC: “Then She Appeared” Play this track

      This is from 1992’s Nonsuch album, XTC’s final project with multi-instrumentalist Dave Gregory aboard, and, boy oh boy, does he bring the perfect amount of musical frosting to this song. Along with his lyrical guitar licks, check out his deft calliope keyboard as the song takes flight. —Rock Stamberg

      DEEP PURPLE: “Love Don’t Mean a Thing” Play this track

      Would you have known this was Deep Purple if we hadn’t told you? Do you believe me now that I have? A forgotten album track from Deep Purple’s 1974 album Stormbringer, their last with guitarist Ritchie Blackmore until their 1984 reunion with the so-called Mark II version of the band. —RS

      FLEETWOOD MAC: “Oh Well (Part 1)” Play this track

      Peter Green is THE under-appreciated guitarist from the British Blues invasion of the 1960’s. This song, “Oh Well (Part 1),” has one of the great guitar riffs of all time, right up there with “Whole Lotta Love” and “Day Tripper.” Don’t think about it, just rock out. —JS

      I think you should think about it and rock out. —RS

      CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL: “Commotion” Play this track

      The first time I heard this song was from guitarist Marc Bonilla. He recorded it for his EE Ticket album I co-produced for the Guitar Recordings label, which eventually came out on Warner Bros. Records. So my first taste was an instrumental version. I thought, what a freight train of a song. What a ride. Then I heard the CCR version and thought the same thing. How cool is it when a rock tune works equally well as an instrumental and a vocal. If you want to ride this train further, go to Spotify and check out Marc’s take. —JS

      Commotion indeed. Sounds like they drank some coffee to get this one to tremble like it does. Rock ’n roll, folks. —RS

      LEE MICHAELS: “Do You Know What I Mean” Play this track

      Anyone remember this? Keyboards, vocal, drums, and funk — period. No guitar, no bass. It reminds me of the holiday season when it was a hit, but I won’t say which one. Google it. —RS

      MIKE MCGEAR: “Leave It” Play this track

      Mike McGear’s given name is Michael McCartney. Paul McCartney wrote, produced, plays, and sings on McGear, the 1974 album he also used as a training ground for his then-latest version of Wings. And this album was recorded immediately after Band on the Run, McCartney’s watershed album. This wonderfully catchy track emphasizes Mike’s vocal chops and absurdist lyrical bent perfectly. —RS

      NRBQ: “Howard Johnson’s Got His Ho-Jo Workin’” Play this track

      I know by now you would think Rock picked this song, but this time it was me. It was a good segue and I love the silliness of the lyric. I think this is a one-time occurrence where Muddy Waters and Howard Johnson’s restaurants will be mated together in a song. This is a perfect example of why we do Now Hear This. —JS

      Yep, John picked it. What a steamroller it is, too. Early NRBQ. —RS

      EDGAR WINTER’S WHITE TRASH: “Keep Playin’ That Rock and Roll” Play this track

      This whole album is one of the great underrated LPs of the early 1970s. Gospel-inspired rock, blues rock tinged with jazz, and two powerhouse vocalists (Edgar and Jerry LaCroix) were the basic ingredients of this jazz rock classic. Then there were first-rate songs. Edgar Winter’s White Trash rocks, it’s soulful and it’s commercial. “Keep Playin’ That Rock and Roll” is hands-down one of the best biographical songs ever recorded. I put it right up there with Chicago’s “Introduction.” The story goes that Edgar Winter asked his new record label if they’d let him make a record just for music’s sake (his debut album, Entrance) if he would then write and record a more commercially oriented record for them (Edgar Winter’s White Trash). Columbia Records made good on the deal and so did Edgar Winter. —JS

      Let it be known many of Edgar Winter’s subsequent LPs are also excellent, including White Trash’s excellent live album Roadwork, The Edgar Winter Group’s eponymous debut album and its follow-up, Shock Treatment. His later works are quite good as well. Viva Edgar Winter. —RS

      RANDY NEWMAN: “Shame” Play this track

      A personal letter to a young lady friend, set to music. “It’s a gun I need.” —RS

      FACES: “You’re So Rude” Play this track

      I love this song. Ronnie Lane’s tale of sneaking around is lyrical and fun. Faces’ rocking performance, especially a pre-Rolling Stones Ronnie Wood’s guitar playing, keeps pushing the groove as Ronnie sets up the blame game. Riotous. —RS

      CRAZY JOE AND THE VARIABLE SPEED BAND: “Eugene” Play this track

      “Eugene” is … unique. And undeniable. Yes, KISS’ Ace Frehley was behind this 1981 masterpiece where diverse cultures merge. —RS

      VAN MORRISON: “The Eternal Kansas City” Play this track

      What we have here is one of my favorite Van Morrison songs. It starts with the best fade-in in rock history. Has there ever been a finer or more polite question posed 12 times in a row to start a song? Are we going to debate it? Good. Now we have Van swinging and singing about music itself. Can anyone do that better? Do you want to debate that? Good. Then we have the best “huh” on record at 3:15, right after he sings “and the city is eternal.” If you’re a fan of swinging up-tempo Van Morrison with horns, and you haven’t heard this before, happy birthday. This is our gift to you. —JS

      I’ll take a humbler approach here. I agree with John — the intro is always stunning (you’ve gotta wait for it) yet may be maddening to the unindoctrinated. Van sneaks up on you and makes you listen. —RS

      THE BEATLES: “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” Play this track

      OMG, the brilliance. My first-ever favorite Beatles track. The gulping, galloping rhythm. The sax section playing a perfect counterpoint arrangement. THE SOUND. Thank you once again George Martin. —RS

      KEB MO’: “Life Is Beautiful” Play this track

      I’m more of a music guy. I rarely get hit by lyrics the first time I hear a song. Not this time. I was sucked in with the joy of these lyrics. The acoustic folk bed that supports them and the Taj Mahal-like delivery of the melody all conspired to tear me up with a smile. I have put this song on every mixtape CD I’ve handed out to any kind of loved one. If I put together a mix of songs that I wanted to share with the world, this would definitely be on it. Welcome to my world. —JS

      STEVIE WONDER: “Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing” Play this track

      They (do you know who “they” are?) say music is the universal language. Here is proof “they” are right. I have no idea what Stevie Wonder is singing about at the start of this song. But it fills me with joy, and I find myself smiling. I don’t wonder what he is singing, I just go with it and I’m glad to be there. Then he switches to words I know and I’m in the same place. If music is going to bring us to a better place, then we might as well start here. —JS

      Songs in the Key of Life is a masterpiece that just keeps on giving. —RS

      THE KINKS: “Days” Play this track

      Perfection? It’s stupefying how many diverse, catchy, sophisticated songs Ray Davies has written and continues to write. He is honestly one of the world’s greatest creative talents and performers and one day everybody will realize this truth. —RS

       

       

       

      1 hr 31 min
    18. Now Hear This: Episode 6
      BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: “10th Avenue Freeze-Out (Ballad Version)” Bruce Springsteen has always been at ease changing up the recorded version of a song for the stage. It’s a Dylanesque trait that has served him well. I spent months searching for his live ballad version of “For You.” And man is that good. But this masterful remake of “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” is hands-down my favorite Springsteen track that has yet to be officially released. The original is a great “strut rocking song.” This ballad spotlights the power of the lyric, the image of the night. It’s absolutely cinematic. —John Stix
      1 hr 31 min
    19. Calling Elvis

      Tracklist:

      1. STEELY DAN: “Instrumental Overture”
      2. THE BLUES BROTHERS: “Rubber Biscuit”
      3. FRANK ZAPPA: “Peaches En Regalia”
      4. SARA BAREILLES: “Single Ladies”
      5. NICK LOWE: “I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass”
      6. ELTON JOHN: “I Need You To Turn To”
      7. LOVE: “You Set The Scene”
      8. ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA: “Wild West Hero”
      9. THE BEATLES: “Within You Without You” (Instrumental Version)
      10. DR. JOHN: “Right Place, Wrong Time”
      11. DIRE STRAITS: “Calling Elvis”
      12. NINA SIMONE: “Sinnerman”
      13. DAVID BOWIE: “Station to Station”

        14. Note: The “Play this track” cues below may be off by several seconds on mobile devices.

        Song Notes:

        STEELY DAN: “Instrumental Overture” Play this track

        1993 was the year Steely Dan became a touring band after a 20-year layoff. When they recorded their first album, Can’t Buy a Thrill, in 1972, leaders Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were surprised when their record company asked them to tour to support it. They were songwriters, not performers, and Fagen certainly didn’t see himself as a front man. The road provided no second takes, shoddy sound reinforcement and no particular allure for the band. But 1993 introduced a great band with a great sound able to project their great songs. Like the old Motown revues, the backing band would come out and play ahead of the duo’s arrival on stage. All the nuance, dynamics, and deep colors of each song were performed flawlessly. This version of “Bad Sneakers” was not officially released and its inclusion would have enhanced the Dan’s surprisingly unimpressive Alive in America live album released in 1995. —John Stix

        THE BLUES BROTHERS: “Rubber Biscuit” Play this track

        What can I say? This one gets me every time. Virtuosity gets results. Sublime. —Rock Stamberg

        Who says great music can’t be fun? Not me. Really, aren’t you just smiling? —JS

        FRANK ZAPPA: “Peaches En Regalia” Play this track

        His most accessible number, apparently. The variations on a theme compliment the sugar-sweet dissonance hidden within. A choice example of Zappa’s compositional chops. —RS

        “Everybody doesn’t like something, but nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee.” Or “Peaches en Regalia.” “Peaches en Regalia” is American classical music for the rock generation. Zappa is on a par with Copland and Bernstein as one of America’s great classical composers. This is Frank Zappa at his commercial best, taking us on a journey as only he could. I rate it as one of the finest rock instrumentals of all time. The music is so good you don’t have to be a music fan, much less a Zappa fan, to enjoy it. —JS

        SARA BAREILLES: “Single Ladies” Play this track

        Sara Bareilles is one of my favorite contemporary pop songwriters. She writes hook-laden melodies and sings them in tune. I regard her as this generation’s Carole King. When I first heard “Love Song” from her debut album, I was hooked immediately. I love what she did with Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” Of course Sara reimagines it as a ’50s doo-wop song and the fun she’s having is infectious. What more can we ask for? —JS

        NICK LOWE: “I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass” Play this track

        So do I. —RS

        Nick’s first album, Pure Pop for Now People (a/k/a Jesus of Cool outside the U. S.) was a pure pop delight when it came out in 1978. It was one of Lowe’s turns fronting Rockpile, the band used on Lowe’s and cohort Dave Edmunds’ respective solo albums. Nick and Dave had contracts with different record companies. They were Rockpile, but they couldn’t call themselves by that name. This song is a delight. Raucous barrelhouse piano, a happy melody, syncopated guitar parts, bass hooks, snappy handclaps and vicious lyrics form a juxtaposition of how much stuff you could put into one song and still have a coherent hit. Songwriters of the world take notice. —JS

        ELTON JOHN: “I Need You To Turn To” Play this track

        Now, this is something. An Elton John song and performance for the ages. Recorded live in Australia with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 1986. Elton’s vocals are strained — he’d have surgery for vocal nodes just days after — but the song is rendered stronger for it. —RS

        LOVE: “You Set The Scene” Play this track

        Love were considered one of the lesser bands to emerge from San Francisco’s psychedelic scene in the ’60s and they never had a hit record, per se. “You Set The Scene” is an acoustic suite that set the template for other bands to come. Encompassing folk music, bolero drums, strings and, horns, it’s a musical journey worth taking. —JS

        ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA: “Wild West Hero” Play this track

        My favorite song from my favorite ELO album, 1977’s opus Out of the Blue. No wonder The Beatles were fans. —RS

        THE BEATLES: “Within You Without You” (Instrumental Version) Play this track

        A whole new way of listening to George Harrison’s Indian opus from The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. His songwriting ascends to a higher plane and, once again, George Martin produces and enhances, stirring occasionally until it reaches a full boil. —RS

        The “Within You Without You” track sans vocals is pure George Harrison and clearly presents his artistic vision. Beatles fans had rarely heard anything like it. Yet we all immediately understood what he was doing. This mesmerizing song is totally original and accessible at the same time. —JS

        DR. JOHN: “Right Place, Wrong Time” Play this track

        The real “brain salad surgery” lives here. The song’s Morse-code-from-Mars kickoff fuels the voodoo P-Funk prescience that emerges. Not for the faint of heart. —RS

        Back in 1973 this was one of those singles that seemed just too good musically to be a hit. But it was a hit and Dr. John was on the map. David Spinozza from Mamaroneck, NY took that cool guitar solo. This song doesn’t get tired for me. Maybe Little Feat should cover it. —JS

        DIRE STRAITS: “Calling Elvis” Play this track

        I confess, this is one of the songs that just does it for me, but I’ve never been sure how it rates for others. It’s got a chugging groove, some sweet pedal steel accents, and the quiet intensity of Mark Knopfler’s guitar. Knopfler recognized the perfection of this groove. No extras, no spotlight, just the feel that brings the track to life. He just lets it happen. I could ride this train cross country and back. —JS

        NINA SIMONE: “Sinnerman” Play this track

        This is one of the great pre-show soundcheck recordings. Its insistent train-on-the-tracks rhythm is addictive. My favorite part is when she yells the band is rehearsing to someone who’s telling her she has a phone call. Now that’s live. And it’s a gospel track to boot. —JS

        DAVID BOWIE: “Station to Station” Play this track

        The song that announced Bowie’s 1976-era incarnation, The Thin White Duke, to the world. And what a song it is. This epic transitions from looming dread to catchy release and ultimately rocks out with foreboding abandon. Inspired out-there songwriting and an indelible performance. He shoots, he scores. —RS

        1 hr 18 min
      14. Now Hear This: Episode 5
        STEELY DAN: “Bad Sneakers” 1993 was the year Steely Dan became a touring band after a 20-year layoff. When they recorded their first album, Can't Buy a Thrill, in 1972, leaders Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were surprised when their record company asked them to tour to support it. They were songwriters, not performers, and Fagen certainly didn’t see himself as a front man. The road provided no second takes, shoddy sound reinforcement and no particular allure for the band. But 1993 introduced a great band with a great sound able to project their great songs. Like the old Motown reviews, the backing band would come out and play ahead of the duo’s arrival on stage. All the nuance, dynamics, and deep colors of each song were performed flawlessly. This version of “Bad Sneakers” was not officially released and its inclusion would have enhanced the Dan’s surprisingly unimpressive Alive in America live album released in 1995. —John Stix
        1 hr 18 min
      15. Christmas 2018

        Tracklist:

        1. RS INTRO
        2. THE BEATLES: “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)”
        3. JAMES BROWN: “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto”
        4. NICK LOWE: “Christmas at the Airport”
        5. ERIC CLAPTON: “Christmas Tears”
        6. BOB DYLAN: “Must Be Santa”
        7. THE THREE WISE MEN: “Thanks for Christmas”
        8. BIG STAR: “Jesus Christ” (album version)
        9. CHRIS SQUIRE AND ALAN WHITE: “Run with the Fox”
        10. JETHRO TULL: “Ring Out, Solstice Bells”
        11. NRBQ: “Jolly Old St. Nicholas”
        12. ELTON JOHN: “Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who’d Be a Turkey at Christmas?)”
        13. JONI MITCHELL: “Face Lift”
        14. THE BAND: “Christmas Must Be Tonight”
        15. THE PRETENDERS: “2000 Miles”
        16. NICK LOWE & LOS STRAITJACKETS: “Children Go Where I Send Thee” (live)
        17. THE PRETENDERS: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
        18. THE BEACH BOYS: “Morning Christmas”
        19. THE BEACH BOYS: “Christmas Eve”
        20. PAUL WINTER: “Tomorrow Is My Dancing Day”
        21. STAN KENTON ORCHESTRA: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
        22. MIKE MURPHY: “Two-Step Medley”
        23. PAT METHENY & LYLE MAYS: “Ozark”
        24. THE GYPSY HOMBRES: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
        25. CHERISH THE LADIES: “On Christmas Night”
        26. WARREN SCHATZ: “Let It Snow”
        27. STU HAMM: “Sleigh Ride”
        28. VINCE GUARALDI TRIO: “Skating”
        29. LAURA NYRO: “Let It Be Me/The Christmas Song”
        30. LEONARD BERNSTEIN: “Appalachian Spring: VII Doppio Movimento (Gift to Be Simple)”
        31. AMY GRANT: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”

          32. Note: The “Play this track” cues below may be off by several seconds on mobile devices.

          Song Notes:

          RS INTRO

          THE BEATLES: “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” Play this track

          This is the complete take, an edited version of which appeared on the 1967 edition of The Beatles’ Fan Club’s annual Christmas Flexi Disc sent to Fan Club members, gratis, every year. The track’s off-the-wall Christmas-themed lyrics and classic 1967-vintage Beatles sound are in full flower here. Then there’s John Lennon’s inspired “Krimble” finale, which makes this one golden. This complete take of “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” appeared as the b-side to the “Real Love” single from February 1986.

          JAMES BROWN: “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto” Play this track

          Straight to the point and super funky. Happy holidays from James Brown, The Godfather of Christmas, to you, circa 1968.

          NICK LOWE: “Christmas at the Airport” Play this track

          This is a new twist on Christmas. Catchy, relatable, and full of Nick Lowe’s sly observations. A new Christmas classic?

          ERIC CLAPTON: “Christmas Tears” Play this track

          Some folks get the blues at Christmas but you’re getting the blues here and now. Clapton means it on this one. Just listen.

          BOB DYLAN: “Must Be Santa” Play this track

          Ever see the video for this, Bob Dylan’s crazy Christmas polka? Go to YouTube right now. I’ll wait here.

          THE THREE WISE MEN: “Thanks for Christmas” Play this track

          XTC in disguise, circa 1984. A big Christmas production of a cool original Christmas song by a great, unsung band — Christmas bliss.

          BIG STAR: “Jesus Christ” (album version) Play this track

          What a song. What a performance. Alex Chilton breaks out his Christmas finest.

          CHRIS SQUIRE AND ALAN WHITE: “Run with the Fox” Play this track

          Yes’ gifted rhythm section appeared out of nowhere to offer up this unexpected and bouncy Christmas single back in 1981. A forgotten beauty I spin every holiday season.

          JETHRO TULL: “Ring Out, Solstice Bells” Play this track

          I remember buying the similarly titled British E.P. in 1976 and fell in love with this, the original version. Jethro Tull re-recorded it for their official Christmas album in 2003 and that take is actually quite faithful to the original. But this recording is a must-play Christmas song at my house during the holidays and it always evokes the season for me. Isn’t it amazing the way sounds can trigger vivid memories and moods?

          NRBQ: “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” Play this track

          Innocent, beautiful, and evocative. Dig pianist Terry Adams’ Schroeder-sized child’s piano at the song’s tag.

          ELTON JOHN: “Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who’d Be a Turkey at Christmas?) Play this track

          The b-side To Elton John’s 1973 hit, “Step Into Christmas” treats listeners to a … um … unique Christmas experience. Lotsa presumably mind-altering fun at Christmas chez Elton.

          JONI MITCHELL: “Face Lift” Play this track

          This is a great song. By turns haunting, honest, wistful, and difficult, this late-era Joni Mitchell performance pulls no punches. A compelling take on visiting family for the holidays, it brims over with beauty, grace, and reality. Her singing here is a performance unto itself.

          THE BAND: “Christmas Must Be Tonight” Play this track

          The Band’s 1976 beatific Christmas single is a keeper. This one’s hard to describe but it really conjures the Christmas spirit in me every year. There’s a great rock version outtake to be found elsewhere, but I chose to stick with the tried and true this time. Maybe we’ll play the other version on next year’s Christmas episode.

          THE PRETENDERS: “2000 Miles” Play this track

          One of the best Christmas songs out there. Chrissie Hynde’s vocals are at turns awe-stricken, wistful, and sublime. Christmas gold.

          NICK LOWE & LOS STRAITJACKETS: “Children Go Where I Send Thee” (live) Play this track

          If you say so, Nick. A traditional holiday tune done up anew. This is quite something.

          THE PRETENDERS: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Play this track

          Turns out Chrissie Hynde is perfectly suited for this Christmas chestnut. Stunning.

          THE BEACH BOYS: “Morning Christmas” Play this track

          Late Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson’s evocative song and performances — he plays and sings everything on this recording (which is curiously credited to The Beach Boys). Dennis’ soulful vibe makes this simultaneously enchanting and haunting, just like the song itself. By the way it’s the droning of Dennis’ bass harmonica that’s rattling the frost off your windows. This moody track ultimately shifts into a beautiful Christmas piano melody. Darkly intense and inviting. A+

          THE BEACH BOYS: “Christmas Eve” Play this track

          Studio banter precedes Brian Wilson’s production of this swingin’ instruments-only backing track. His command of the studio is in full flower here. This is a previously unreleased outtake from the sessions for The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album.

          —Rock Stamberg

          PAUL WINTER: “Tomorrow Is My Dancing Day” Play this track

          Paul Winter (and the Paul Winter Consort), presented songs that blended elements of folk, classical, and jazz into tapestries easily understandable to the layman and the music junkie alike. His music fell into the same category as Jethro Tull when they did “Bouree” or “Fat Man.” A folkie mix that included whatever else was in the kitchen at the time. My favorite mixed cassette was a Christmas tape I made for my sister, the Mighty De (Dianne). This tune started off that tape and announced the joy of the season.

          STAN KENTON ORCHESTRA: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” Play this track

          Brass bands doing Christmas carols are tops in my book. I heard this on the radio and went on a search to buy the LP. I was rewarded as I knew I would be. I love the counterpoint and harmonies.

          MIKE MURPHY: “Two-Step Medley” Play this track

          This is my folk country take on the holiday season. It’s my fiddle and Jew’s harp and mandolin selection. “Deck the Hall” has the vibrancy it should and “Buffalo Gals” takes me back to It’s a Wonderful Life, my favorite holiday movie.

          PAT METHENY & LYLE MAYS: “Ozark” Play this track

          Do you have a winter song? This is mine. I imagine myself on a sleigh ride heading for the next town. It’s cold, it’s daylight. I’m laughing as we go along, and it’s exhilarating. I’m exhausted and happy when we arrive.

          THE GYPSY HOMBRES: “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” Play this track

          Fun song and I’m always happy to hear the versions by Bruce Springsteen or The Crystals (A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector). But this puppy done in the hot club style of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt just swings like a mother. I find it puts a little pep in my step.

          CHERISH THE LADIES: “On Christmas Night” Play this track

          My best bud at Cherry Lane Music (where I worked for many years) was Mike Connelly and he left us too soon. He, like me, was a music geek. We could go toe to toe on classic rock trivia. But he left me in the dust when it came to Christmas (and Irish) music. I was the lucky one because we always exchanged cassettes and later CDs for the holidays. His treasure trove of Christmas goodies was deep, and this Irish Christmas tune was one of his favorites. My friend’s passing makes this a bittersweet time of year for me. Mike, this one is for you. I know you’re listening.

          WARREN SCHATZ: “Let It Snow” Play this track

          I worked at Touchwood Records with Warren Schatz in the late ’90s. He had been a V.P. of A&R at RCA Records, but more importantly he was an accomplished arranger and producer with a unique claim to fame. He came up with the idea to make a record called “What If Mozart Had Written ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas?’” The premise was to take Christmas carols and arrange them as if they had been written by the great classical composers. What a great idea! And wonderfully executed, I might add.

          STU HAMM: “Sleigh Ride” Play this track

          Stu is one of the great “how do they do that” electric bassists. He’s recorded and played with guitar legends Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Frank Gambale, as well as recording several albums of his own. He has a wonderful sense of humor and it’s displayed in abundance on this giddy version of “Sleigh Ride.” You know when something just feels right? This feels right. If you ever need to put a smile on your face, even outside of the holiday season, just listen to this. Enjoy. I know you will.

          VINCE GUARALDI TRIO: “Skating” Play this track

          This is the least played and least well-known classic from the legendary A Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon. It has all the whimsy and light-hearted spirit I love from the show, but I just don’t get to hear it as often as “Linus and Lucy” and “Christmas Time is Here.” That changes today.

          LAURA NYRO: “Let It Be Me/The Christmas Song” Play this track

          Every year I will dance with my wife by the Christmas tree while this song plays. I am drawn to the sound of Laura Nyro’s voice and equally drawn to the sound of Richard Tee’s Fender Rhodes piano playing. Those sounds do me nothing but good.

          LEONARD BERNSTEIN: “Appalachian Spring: VII Doppio Movimento (Gift to Be Simple)” Play this track

          This song takes me to my dad’s spirit and always brings a smile to my face and and a tear to my eye. It’s music that exalts and celebrates the goodness of life, which is what I associate with the holiday season. I love to hear this one played loud.

          AMY GRANT: “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” Play this track

          One of Bach’s most applauded melodies, this instrumental version moves into an infectious Irish twist that I imagine was played during the joyous section of A Christmas Carol. It’s the part in a Christmas past where Ebenezer Scrooge is at his happiest and all his friends and co-workers are dancing and toasting to the magnificence of the season.

          I’m a big fan of Christmas music. It fills me with wonderful memories, and even today brings me to a place of calm and of joy. The Christmas season was a big deal in my house when I was growing up. One of my fondest memories is using a sponge to apply Johnson’s wax through a stencil on our picture window in the living room. We had our own snowflakes to ponder, regardless of the weather. I have tree decorations from when I was a child and have already begun passing them on to my daughters and their families. I loved that radio stations changed formats at this time of year and traditional carols and newer Christmas songs found me through our AM — and,  later, FM — radios. Christmas is the only holiday with its own body of music. I wish there were others. Valentine’s Day has love songs, but it’s not the same.

          When it comes to Christmas music, I am pretty traditional. I love the 16 or so classic carols written long ago such as “Silent Night” “Joy To The World” “The First Noel,” “Deck The Halls” and their kin. I also like the pre-rock Christmas classics like “Silver Bells,” “Sleigh Ride” and “Let It Snow.” Is it possible for any Christmas devotee not to smile when he or she hears the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas?

          Some Christmas recordings often bring me silent tears. Unrestrained emotion, which I have found in the music of John Coltrane or via Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Inner Mounting Flame album, bring me a certain kind of peacefulness. But you must give in and let it wash over you. It’s an eye-of-the-hurricane experience that I seek out several times a year. Oddly enough, these Christmas tunes can serve much the same purpose.

          I decided that for my portion of this NHT I would share some of my favorite instrumental Christmas songs or tunes that evoke the season for me. I love to hear these songs when I am alone or in the evening, with others, looking out at the stillness the cold weather brings. If there’s snow, so much the better. I also enjoy listening to these songs in the car because I can play them loud.

          I’d like to raise a toast to all our NHT listeners. May the upcoming days be merry and bright.

          —John Stix

          1 hr 42 min
        32. Now Hear This: Christmas Episode
          Christmas Time (Is Here Again). This is the complete take, an edited version of which appeared on the 1967 edition of The Beatles’ Fan Club’s annual Christmas Flexi Disc sent to Fan Club members, gratis, every year. The track’s off- the-wall Christmas-themed lyrics and classic 1967-vintage Beatles sound are in full flower here. Then there’s John Lennon’s inspired “Krimble” finale, which makes this one golden. This complete take of “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” appeared as the b-side to the “Real Love” single from February 1986. — RS

          For more song notes, visit our blog at nht-music.com.
          1 hr 42 min
        33. A Little Is Enough

          Episode 4 Tracklist:

          1. UNKNOWN CLASSICAL ARTISTS/PETE TOWNSHEND: Classical Intro/”A Little Is Enough”
          2. LITTLE FEAT: “Hi Roller”
          3. QUEEN: “Killer Queen” (acapella)
          4. ALICE COOPER: “Never Been Sold Before”
          5. FACES: “Maybe I’m Amazed”
          6. MICHAEL HEDGES: “She Drives Me Crazy”
          7. PAUL SIMON: “Armistice Day”
          8. STING: “An Englishman in New York” (Timothy White Session)
          9. RY COODER: “The Very Thing That Makes You Rich Makes Me Poor”
          10. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: “Backstreets” (Live, Hammersmith Odeon, London 1975)
          11. DAVID BROMBERG: “Watch Baby Fall”
          12. JOE WALSH: “Theme from Baroque Weirdos”
          13. JOE WALSH: “The Friend Song”
          14. RY COODER: “Alimony”
          15. STEVIE WONDER and Sting: “Higher Ground”/”Roxanne”
          16. VAN MORRISON: “John Henry”
          17. JACKSON 5: “Never Can Say Goodbye” (acapella)

            18. Song Notes:

            CLASSICAL INTRO > Pete Townshend: “A Little Is Enough”

            Ahh, the days of making mixed tapes with my old Nakamichi 500 cassette deck. I was always playing around, looking to concoct some fun segue. In this case I randomly taped a classical station on the radio and thought it would work nicely mashed up with Pete Townshend’s “A Little Is Enough.” I was totally enamored with Pete’s 1980 solo record, Empty Glass. For my taste it was one of the two best records of the year. It had killer songs and I love Pete as a vocalist because his voice isn’t that of a classic “lead singer.” Like Joe Walsh — another favorite singer of mine — Pete has to work at his vocals and own them. I guess it’s his authenticity that attracts me. —John Stix

            Little Feat: “Hi Roller”

            Little Feat again, this time a 1977 studio recording of a song that eventually became a concert classic of theirs. From the the underrated Time Loves a Hero album.
            —Rock Stamberg

            “Hi-Roller” is one of those Little Feat songs I often turn to. It’s not a hit, it’s not a fan favorite, but it is among this fan’s favorites. They have the Tower of Power horns on there and those guys add punch and plenty of energy in just the right way. I love playing this one while driving. —JS

            Alice Cooper: “Never Been Sold Before”

            A rockin’ gem from the original Alice Cooper Band’s swan song, 1973’s Muscle of Love. Notice how the production values (horn section, song arrangement, sound) were employed by Aerosmith during their late ’80s “comeback” on albums like Permanent Vacation and Pump? (That’s a compliment, BTW). —RS

            Faces: “Maybe I’m Amazed”

            I saw the Faces perform this one live at the Fillmore East with a bill that included the jazz rock band If and the American debut performance of Black Sabbath. I love the way Paul McCartney does this song and I also love the way Faces do it. The song itself is so perfect that if you play it, you must do all the parts including the guitar solo exactly as Paul McCartney recorded it. So to make this song your own you have to have a ton of personality. They did and this does. —JS

            Michael Hedges: “She Drives Me Crazy”

            This Michael Hedges version of Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy” is one of the most played songs on my iPod. Yes, I still use an iPod to carry around thousands of songs. I’m still looking for this concert, which I originally taped off WNEW-FM radio. Michael Hedges was opening for Crosby, Stills & Nash when they performed at the UN in NYC. I have seen several live versions of Hedges performing this on YouTube, but none are half as good as this one. If one element of great music is about capturing a great moment, then this is great music. —JS

            Paul Simon: “Armistice Day”

            What a strange yet alluring tune from Paul Simon’s eponymously titled first solo album from 1972. Talk about tension and release … just listen to his strident guitar and how he uses the horn section like a fire engine’s blare. Intense. —RS

            Ry Cooder: “The Very Thing That Makes You Rich Makes Me Poor”

            Rock and I were talking about tension and release in music and I chose “The Very Thing That Makes You Rich Makes Me Poor” by Ry Cooder, with a big assist from David Lindley. This track just sizzles with the players understating everything they play. It’s from my other favorite album of 1979, Bop Till You Drop. I played both sides of this LP until they turned grey. —JS

            Bruce Springsteen: “Backstreets”

            I’m a Springsteen fan and have a ton of live performance recordings, but I’ll tell you this one legit recording Live from the Hammersmith Odeon 1975 is flat-out one of the all-time best. “Backstreets” has all the cinematic drama and high stakes rock ‘n roll that Springsteen does better than anyone. I love the original studio recording tune from Born to Run, but this version is in 3D. —JS

            David Bromberg: ”Watch Baby FalL”

            OMG what a story, what a melody, what lyrical soul-bearing. A rare original written by Bromberg himself. Don’t let the pretty music or Bromberg’s easy delivery fool you. Heart-wrenching stuff delivered pretty. —RS

            Joe Walsh: Theme from Baroque Weirdos” > “The Friend Song”

            I don’t remember exactly why we cooked up the idea of playing songs that might just make you cry for this episode, but this duo of tunes, “Theme From Baroque Weirdos” and “The Friend Song,” set me off every time. I could be in the car or walking on the beach and if either one comes on, my eyes well up. Joe Walsh is a master of simplicity, minimalism and silence. His singing draws me in like The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde’s does. When I hear either one I am sucked in and listen hard. —JS

            Ry Cooder: “Alimony”

            Apparently a favorite of Ry’s, this is a live version captured on his 1976 Tex-Mex-flavored tour and released on ’77’s warts-’n-all Show Time collection. Ry’s played this many times in many different styles and this one begins with an exquisite acapella intro sung by his backing vocalists Bobby King and Terry Evans. Chicken skin music indeed. Wow. —RS

            Stevie Wonder & Sting: “Higher Ground”/”Roxanne”

            Of the songs that deserve a standing ovation we chose Stevie Wonder and Sting’s two-song medley of each other’s hits from their performance at the 25th Anniversary of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebration. I was there and it was this great. This show featured one of my all-time favorite bills: CSN with guests Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor and Jackson Browne. Then Paul Simon followed by Simon & Garfunkel. Stevie Wonder with Sting, and B.B. King and Jeff Beck followed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. “Higher Ground/Roxanne” was a performance highlight. But for me the highlight was Bonnie Raitt singing “Love Has No Pride” with Crosby and Nash. You looking for chills? Go find this on YouTube or Spotify. —JS

            Van Morrison: “John Henry”

            Feel the spontaneity? One of Van’s misty raucous off-the-cuff recordings, recorded in 1975 but not released until 1998’s 2-CD rarities collection, The Philosopher’s Stone. —RS

            Michael Jackson: “Never Can Say Goodbye” (Acapella)

            How good was Michael Jackson? Just listen to the naked vocals. That’s why you “Never Can Say Goodbye.” —JS

            1 hr 32 min
          18. Now Hear This: Episode 4
            CLASSICAL INTRO > Pete Townshend: “A Little Is Enough”
            Ahh, the days of making mixed tapes with my old Nakamichi 500 cassette deck. I was always playing around, looking to concoct some fun segue. In this case I randomly taped a classical station on the radio and thought it would work nicely mashed up with Pete Townshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door.” I was totally enamored with Pete’s 1980 solo record, Empty Glass. For my taste it was one of the two best records of the year. It had killer songs and I love Pete as a vocalist because his voice isn’t that of a classic “lead singer.” Like Joe Walsh — another favorite singer of mine — Pete has to work at his vocals and own them. I guess it’s his authenticity that attracts me. —John Stix

            For more song notes, visit our blog at nht-music.com.
            1 hr 32 min
          19. Help!

            Episode 3 Tracklist:

            1. THE BEATLES et al.: “Help!”
            2. JETHRO TULL: “Nothing Is Easy”
            3. ALLMAN & WOMAN: “In For The Night”
            4. YES/SANTANA: “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”/”Oye Como Va”
            5. ALICE COOPER: “Hard Hearted Alice”
            6. CSNY: “Everybody I Love You”
            7. JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE: “May This Be Love”
            8. ELTON JOHN: “We All Fall In Love Sometimes”
            9. RED HOT CHIL PEPPERS: “Apache Rose Peacock”
            10. THE BEATLES/ERIC CLAPTON: “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
            11. GEORGE HARRISON: “I Don’t Wanna Do It”
            12. GEORGE HARRISON: “I’d Have You Anytime”
            13. BOB DYLAN featuring ROGER McGUINN, TOM PETTY, NEIL YOUNG, ERIC CLAPTON & GEORGE HARRISON: “My Back Pages”
            14. JOHNNY WINTER: “Highway 61 Revisited”
            15. DELANEY & BONNIE: “Comin’ Home”

              16. Song Notes:

              THE BEATLES et al.: “Help!”

              Ah, the Nakamichi 500. What a cassette deck. The pause button was so precise that you could stop and start the tape flawlessly. I once tried to get as many different songs splices as I could fit on a 45 minute cassette. I think I got upwards of 40 different songs snippets on there. This opening for “Help” is just one example of how it works. I put this on every mixed tape I made for years. And it was decades before my daughters heard the original Beatles version. Their response was, where’s the opening? —John Stix

              JETHRO TULL: “Nothing Is Easy”

              “Nothing is Easy” comes from my favorite Jethro Tull album, STAND UP.  I used to play this in my band. We also did “New Day Yesterday” and “See My Way” by Blodwyn Pig. Our star guitarist was Mike English. He could play anything from Andres Segovia and Chet Atkins to John McLaughlin and Johnny Winter. He nailed this song. I remember he was the first of us to ditch the band for a girl. I kept thinking, why is he doing that?  But really, wasn’t that one of the main reasons for playing guitar in the first place? What did I know. —JS

              ALLMAN & WOMAN: “In For The Night”

              Yes, Gregg Allman & Cher actually recorded an album together and even staged a joint tour of the U.K. in the latter half of 1977 before splitting up for good the following year. The album, TWO THE HARD WAY, is pretty much reviled by all, fans and Gregg Allman himself dismissed it. I think, however, this long-out-of-print LP holds a few fine songs and performances, “In For The Night” among them. Gregg Allman later maintained his opinion Cher couldn’t sing. My take on that is she could sing, albeit with a small vocal range … and who can deny Cher has a vocal sound that’s not only unique but also universally recognizable. Good song. —Rock Stamberg

              YES/SANTANA: “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”/”Oye Como Va”

              In the 70’s it was about making mixed cassettes. It was about the song, the sound and the segue. I spent endless hours working on cassettes that I would give to my family and friends on special occasions. If I had started this mixed tape idea today, it wouldn’t be a mixed tape, it would be the mashup. I love the idea of two different songs wedded together perfectly. It takes time, talent, and love to get it right. This Santana/Yes collaboration is one of the best. You know it because it sounds just the way it should. It’s natural. Mashups are the music geeks mixed tape of the day. —JS

              ALICE COOPER: “Hard Hearted Alice”

              From the original Alice Cooper Band’s final studio album, 1973’s “MUSCLE OF LOVE.” Widely derided, the album was originally housed in an album- sized cardboard box … and it was my first Alice album so I admit I have a soft spot for it. John and I chose this unusual-for-Alice somewhat confessional track for its grandeur as well as Alice’s fine vocal performance. A hidden gem. —RS

              CSNY: “Everybody I Love You”

              It’s always a nice surprise to find another a great song by an artist that you like. I love the vocal sound of CSN. I also love the acoustic guitar parts, the organ sounds and the rocking element. Part of the never-ending hunt is finding a tune that combines all these things. “Everybody I Love You” has all of these flavors and it’s the kind of song that makes an album great. This song’s been largely ignored so the discovery is quite a treat when you find it. —JS

              Jimi Hendrix Experience: “May This Be Love”

              Are You Experienced is one of the Mount Rushmore albums. “May This Be Love” is not on any hits package, but it would be on mine. Same thing for “Bird of Beauty” by Steve Wonder from FULFILLINGNESS’ FIRST FINALE A buddy of mine told me that Stevie Wonder went on a tear in the ‘70s and essentially wrote all of the songs from what would become TALKING BOOK, INNERVISIONS, and FULFILLINGNESS’ FIRST FINALE at roughly the same time. That’s is quite an accomplishment, especially when you think that “Bird of Beauty” is considered one of the lesser songs of that era. —JS

              ELTON JOHN: “We All Fall In Love Sometimes”

              Wow. A hidden beauty from Elton’s majestic masterpiece, 1975’s CAPTAIN FANTASTIC AND THE BROWN DIRT COWBOY, easily one of his best albums ever. Elton John has stated it’s his all-time favorite song and performance; Maybe it’s mine, too. Gorgeous. Soulful. Just listen. —RS

              RED HOT CHIL PEPPERS: “Apache Rose Peacock”

              From 1991’s career changing BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAJIC, all I can say about this chugging beauty is: Flea’s aggressively funky bass groove infects the track. This is funky from its ultimate groove-y body to its Led Zeppelin-like finale. This is the … good stuff. For real. —RS

              THE BEATLES/ERIC CLAPTON: “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”

              Eric Clapton with the Beatles—Who would have thunk it? Yeah, that’s what “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is. And when you hear just EC in the track, you hear the crackle of the amp and the intensity of his playing, both of which get a little muted when placed in the whole mix. EC was inspired and this song is worthy of his inspiration. —JS

              GEORGE HARRISON: “I Don’t Wanna Do It”

              Written by Bob Dylan and recorded by Harrison for the 1985 soundtrack to, of all things, the movie PORKY’S REVENGE. Recorded during Harrison’s self-imposed five-year sabbatical from making records, this fine track was produced by Dave Edmunds and signaled a promise of resurgence that came to fruition with Harrison’s hit LP, CLOUD NINE, released two years later. George and Bob were longtime pals and this is one of many Dylan songs George covered during his lifetime. A beauty. Listen! —RS

              GEORGE HARRISON: “I’d Have You Anytime”

              A Harrison/Dylan co-write that opened George’s first solo album, 1970’s ALL THINGS MUST PASS. —RS

              BOB DYLAN featuring ROGER McGUINN, TOM PETTY, NEIL YOUNG, ERIC CLAPTON & GEORGE HARRISON: “My Back Pages”

              Guest shots are so often offer better photos than music making opportunities. This all-star version of “My Back Pages” is the exception to the rule. Everybody loves Dylan and loves this song. Each participant here also shines with his own voice, each of which belongs on this stage, together. —JS

              JOHNNY WINTER: “Highway 61 Revisited”

              This version of “Highway 61 Revisited” represents is the pinnacle of Johnny Winter’s slide playing. It’s unleashed energy, almost out of control, but always on track. This is why Johnny Winter was one of great rocking blues guitarists of all time. He ended his shows with this tune for the last several years of his life. One listen will tell you why. —JS

              DELANEY & BONNIE: “Comin’ Home”

              Ragged harmonies, Eric Clapton’s Harrison-like guitar riff, and future Derek & The Dominoes members present and accounted for. —RS

              1 hr 16 min
            16. Now Hear This: Episode 3
              THE BEATLES et al.: “Help!” Ah, the Nakamichi 500. What a cassette deck. The pause button was so precise that you could stop and start the tape flawlessly. I once tried to get as many different songs splices as I could fit on a 45 minute cassette. I think I got upwards of 40 different songs snippets on there. This opening for “Help” is just one example of how it works. I put this on every mixed tape I made for years. And it was decades before my daughters heard the original Beatles version. Their response was, where’s the opening? —John Stix
              1 hr 16 min

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