Christmas Song of the Day: Friday, December 4

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by the Ventures
(from THE VENTURES CHRISTMAS ALBUM)

(Download to listen here: http://www.mediafire.com/?vnnjy0t5dvo)

Yes, it is starting off with the opening riff of the Beatles' "I Feel Fine." The whole album is like this. There's a version of "Sleigh Ride" on this album that starts off with the Ventures signature "Walk Don't Run" riff before kicking it into high gear on the sleigh ride! Imagine that: the world's first mash-up 40 years before mash-ups became popular!

I played this for Nathan this morning on the way to school. I think he liked it. We started making up lyrics:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it, you might say that I feel fine!

Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you help on our hard day's night?"

Then how the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, don't you know that she loves you!

Or something like that.....

Anyway, the Ventures are my all-time favorite rock band. They are to me what Metallica is to Nathan: the band from which I learned most of what I know about how to play the bass and the guitar. I've been listening to the Ventures since before I learned how to walk, and I've virtually destroyed every Ventures record my dad had (remember yesterday's comment about being infatuated with spinning records at an early age? These got the majority of the abuse!). Finding this album on CD over ten years ago was such a treat, and I'm glad I snagged it cuz I don't think you can find it anymore. BUT, if you've got a record player and a Half-Price Books (or a Doc's Records!) near you, this can be had fairly cheaply.

Enjoy!