CD SHOWCASE MEMORIES

HOLIDAY EDITION
From now until 01/06/2016, the regular features of “Wednesday Wrap: CD Showcase Memories” (9p US central) & “CarTunes Saturday: CD Showcase Memories” (8a US central) are pre-empted by highlights from the “CD Showcase – Holiday Edition” radio shows I hosted 12/24/2009, 12/24/2010 & 12/24/2011.

This entry features 3 songs from the 2nd hour of my 12/24/2009 radio show: Jerry Reed’s “Christmas Time’s A Coming”, Bing Crosby’s “Let It Snow” & Alabama’s “Christmas In Dixie”. Also featured: 1974 Spirit Of America Nova, photographed by OC,SHer JAY J at the 2002 Secretary Of State Show, Springfield IL….

#1 “Christmas Time’s A Coming” | Jerry Reed
From the album ‘A Country Christmas Volume 2’, this is an upbeat holiday tune from fan-favorite Jerry Reed. A popular bluegrass Christmas standard, this song was written by Bell Labs engineer Benjamin “Tex” Logan. It was originally recorded in 1951 by Bill Monroe & later covered by Sammy Kershaw. Other artists to have recorded versions include Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, Diamond Rio & The Oak Ridge Boys. Reed, a native of Atlanta GA, is best known for songs like 1971’s “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”, 1973’s “Lord, Mr. Ford”, 1977’s “East Bound & Down” & 1982’s “She Got The Goldmine”.

#2 “Let It Snow” | Bing Crosby
During the 2009 radio show, this song was requested by Dennis (Edmond OK) whom I had met in person 3 years prior (during my 2006 road trip) & discovered he was taught by my grandfather in rural Oklahoma. This song was written by Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne, July 1945, during a heat wave in Hollywood CA to imagine cooler conditions; it was 1st recorded in 1945 by Vaughn Monroe, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year. Other recordings were done by Woody Herman (1945) & Dean Martin (1959). Crosby’s version was recorded in 1962 for his album ‘I Wish You A Merry Christmas’.

#3 “Christmas In Dixie” | Alabama
This tune is a childhood favorite of mine. Originally released 12/11/1982, this song spent 7 weeks on the country charts & peaked at #35 in early 1983. While the song was then included on Alabama’s 1985 album ‘Alabama Christmas’, the original was part of a double-A-side RCA Records release, paired with “Christmas Is Just A Song For Us This Year” (Louise Mandrell & RC Bannon). For Alabama, CMA’s 1982-1983-1984 Entertainer Of The Year, this song came in the middle of a string of 20 straight chart toppers, starting with 1980’s “Tennessee River” & ending with 1986’s “Touch Me When We’re Dancing”.