XmasShowXDU (#87)

Source here. Original Airdate December 18, 1997. We did a number of Christmas shows in 1997, mostly because we got lots more time to fiddle around during the holiday break due to many people being simply gone. This seems like a practice run for the longer show a week later. That said, the source material spans a good century of popular Christmas cheer (although a mid-century version of "Let It Snow" shows up time and again). Shows like this require an astonishing catalog of sonic stuff. Nowadays, something like this would be easier to assemble; what with keeping everything as digital files and tagging and whatnot. Alternately, the various formats (vinyl, tape, CD, computer) lend their own sonic overtones to the mix, and the process of searching through deep, dusty boxes leads to much serendipity. Ultimately, there's no one right way to do this. Can it beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Bad idea, Beck Too many competing fanfares A shockingly ahistorical account of Christmas in early America Sonic Youth, Back from the North Pole Let it snow let it snow letitsnowletitsnowletitsnow l e t i t ssssssnnnnnnnooooowwwww Santa might be feeling a little unwell Keeping the Christ in Christmas Rescue Santa! The Rocket has failed Turn that racket off! Kittens of sugarplums. Did we ever manage to rescue Santa?