It’s Christmas time! And with that brings the joyous sounds of Christmas music.  For those wishing to have a swingin’ Christmas, I highly recommend the three Christmas Cocktails albums which the hip cats from Ultra Lounge have offered up.  There are wonderful tunes from Billy May, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Julie London, even a version of “Frosty the Snowman” by The Ventures.  Members of the Rat Pack also have tunes on these albums, but for the ultimate in hearing Frank, Dean and Sammy belt out songs for the holidays, I recommend Christmas with the Rat Pack, which includes a live version of “Marshmallow World” with all three of them singing.  Both Frank and Dean have Christmas albums of their own as well.  As for Sammy, well, he’s Jewish.  And despite the fact that he did perform some Christmas songs, he did not record an entire album.

For those who like a little more rock in their Christmas, Brian Setzer has a few Christmas albums out as well, which are full of great covers, including “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” duet with Ann Margaret, as well as originals like “Santa’s Got a Hot Rod”.

Plus, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy have a Christmas album as well, and I may be inclined to say it’s their best album yet.  Unlike other Christmas albums, this one is mostly originals, like “Rockabilly Christmas” and “Christmas Time in Tinseltown”.  They also do a spectacular version of “Mr. Heatmiser”.  So sit back, mix some rum with that eggnog, watch the color wheel spin on that aluminum Christmas tree and enjoy the sounds of Christmas the way it was meant to be.

The week in California, combined with my research essay, put me behind in terms of decorating, and I won’t be getting to a lot of it until this weekend.  There’s a two day flea market this weekend, I work on Sunday, plus I have my WWII final Tuesday, American West final Wednesday, and my “Vice in the Rose City” 25 page essay due Thursday! Not to mention Thursday is my four year anniversary with Patrick.  Sheesh.