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 3rd hour of my 12/24/2010 radio show: Gene Autry’s “Here Comes Santa Claus”, The Commodores’ “Do You Hear What I Hear?” & Thurl Ravenscroft’s “You’re A Mean One, Mr Grinch.” Also featured: a car at Country Classic Cars, Staunton IL, photographed in 2014 by OC,SHer DOUG T….

#1 “Here Comes Santa Claus” | Gene Autry
This song original hit the airwaves 01/03/1948, spending 1 week on the country charts & peaking at #5; it crossed over & reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Just under 11 months later, the single was re-released 11/27/1948; then, it spent 7 weeks on the country charts, peaking at #4, & also reached #8 on the BH 100 chart. This Tioga TX-native singer-songwriter-guitarist-actor notched 2 country chart toppers in his career: 1945’s “At Mail Call Today” (8 weeks) & 1949-50’s “Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer”. “Rudolph” also claimed #1 on the BH 100 chart.

#2 “Do You Hear What I Hear?” | The Commodores
This song was written October 1962 by Noel Regney & Gloria Shayne Baker, who were married at the time. They wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis; Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of the holiday. Released shortly after Thanksgiving 1962, this song was originally recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale, which had popularized “The Little Drummer Boy”. A year later, Bing Crosby’s version, recorded for his 1963 album ‘I Wish You A Merry Christmas’, is what made the song a staple of holiday music; Crosby’s version was recorded 11/22/1963, the same day JF Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas TX. Since, this song has been recorded by a plethora of artists, including the group in this video, Patti LaBelle, Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Pat Boone, Whitney Houston, John Tesh, Bob Hope, Kenny G, Andy Williams, The Carpenters, Anne Murray, Gladys Knight, Martina McBride, Celine Dion, Vince Gil, etc.

#3 “You’re A Mean 1, Mr Grinch” | Thurl Ravenscroft
Theodor “Dr Seuss” Geisel & Albert Hague originally wrote this song for the 1966 cartoon special “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” Ravenscroft, best known as the voice of Tony The Tiger, performed the song, though he was not credited in the special’s closing credits. Due to that omission, many often mistakenly attribute the song to Boris Karloff, who was the special’s narrator & the voice of the Grinch. However, Karloff could not sing. Once Seuss became aware of the oversight, he called Ravenscroft personally to apologize & wrote letters to columnists nationwide advising them of the error. While the song has been covered by many artists, Ravenscroft’s original versions are most popular & known.