Dec. 26 and time to put all my Christmas CDs back in the bin.
I love playing them in the days leading up to Christmas, but on the day after they just seem cheesy and way, way out of date.
The thing is, my CDs, just as the Christmas songs played on the radio, are harbingers of the 1950s. Think about it. Here’s a list of my Christmas CDs:
Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, The Four Freshmen, Andy Williams. I’ve got a Bing Crosby in there, too, a nod to my Catholic upbringing (“Bells of St. Mary’s,” you know, and “Going My Way”).
My bride has a Sheryl Crowe, but I forgive her. She’s not as sappy about these things as I am.
Fact is, I’m always amazed at how many singers from my youth performed Christmas songs that are still being played 50 and 60 years later.
It doesn’t stop with my small collection. Listening to the radio finds Rosemary Clooney, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, Brenda Lee, Jimmie Rogers, Jo Stafford — to name just a few.
It’s a Who’s Who of 1950s pop singers.
And did I mention Gene Autry? Who better sings “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?” And how often do you hear it played over store speakers? Enough that we can all sing it verbatim.
Like most everyone, I love the Christmas season — the decorations, the lights, the shopping hubbub, the parties, the spirit of good will, the Christmas Eve service, the family get-togethers, the wide-eyed children.
It’s a magical time of the year, made more so with the songs and hymns we all know so well.
But today is Dec. 26, time to say good night to Nat and Andy and Johnny and the rest. See y’all next year.
Contact Bob Bestler at bestler6@tds.net.
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