NO.1 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - SOMEBODY SAY HALLELUJAH!!!

It's finally here. It is my fervent hope that your Christmas Day will be everything you wanted it to be. On the Countdown today I have selected songs that honor THE REASON FOR THE SEASON - THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. I have three selections that will bring that honor into focus. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU & YOURS.

ENJOY NO. 1 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

1- Tom Jones performs a powerful version of  Mary's Boy Child celebrating the birth of Jesus

2- Hallelujah You're Worth To Be Praised by one of America's greatest gospel choirs

3-The greatest  piece of music ever penned - The Hallelujah Chorus by the unparallelled Mormon Tabernacle Choir with some interesting virtual additions - One of the most unique videos you will ever see.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ON THIS BLESSED DAY!

d.l.stafford
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NO. 2 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - SANTA'S COMIN'

Are you ready? Are your little ones ready? Are your big ones ready? Tonight Santa is going to get in his sleigh and make all the good little boys and girls happy all over the world. The idea of Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle or Father Christmas goes all the way back to the fourth century. Today's portly, bearded and spectacled Santa really became popular in western culture  during the twentieth century. Of course today you see Santa on every street corner in large and small cities this time of year. And, if you are a kid, he is as real as rain. I remember waking up on Christmas morning and finding the empty glass of milk and cookie crumbs that my parents claimed Santa enjoyed when he visited our house. Even if you are an adult, you can't escape the joy of Santa when you watch little kids enjoy the gifts that are brought by the big fat man with the long white beard.

So,  to honor December the 24th, Santa's hardest working day of the year, I have brought some tunes about the jolly old man from the North Pole.

ENJOY NO. 2 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - SANTA AND THEN SOME.

1- A very cool blues song by Marty Stuart  - EVEN SANTA CLAUSE GETS THE BLUES

2- The best version of the classic - SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN BY MICHAEL BUBLE'

3- Elvis does HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS like no other

4- And just to be sure you don't forget, here is the legendary Bob Dylan reading 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

So tomorrow is THE DAY. Have a wonderful Christmas with the ones you love.

d.l.stafford
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NO. 3 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - IT'S RANDOM SATURDAY

It's only three days until Christmas. So I decided to pull in a variety of tunes by artists that are great and interesting. First you can hear a master of rock, the former lead singer for the Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald and a legend of country music, Vince Gill, sing What Child Is This. Second, take a listen from the truly legendary Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers doing Christmas All Over Again. And last, but not least, the incomparable writer, singer and guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, performs an absolutely killer version of O Holy Night. I know this is all a bit random, but, hopefully you will hear something you like.

FOR NO. 3 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN, ENJOY THESE THREE COMPLETELY RANDOM TUNES. AND MERRY MERRY MERRY!!

1- Michael McDonald & Vince Gill - What Child Is This

2- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Christmas All Over Again

3-Joe Bonamassa - O Holy Night

Enjoy your weekend and get ready for the big day in just three days. Merry Christmas!

d.l.stafford
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NO. 4 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE INDEED

I decided today would be great Christmas Movie Day. And, in my humble opinion, the greatest Christmas movie ever made is the incomparable  It's A Wonderful Life. This Christmas fantasy comedy-drama has it all. First - the story about a man who comes to the realization that his life has meaning to those around him. Second - the lead actor is Jimmie Stewart, one of the greatest and most respected actors in history. Third - the director is the acclaimed multiple Oscar winning Frank Capra. Released in 1946, this great story of George Bailey, his family and the people of Bedford Falls has pathos, humor and joy in life in all its complexities that brings home the meaning of Christmas. It has since become the No. 1 Christmas movie of all time and consistently in the Top 25 movies of all time.

So sit back and enjoy some scenes from this great Christmas story. And you really need to find it on your TV and watch the entire movie. You can't watch it and not be moved from laughter to tears and back again. 

NO. 4 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

This clip shows various stars talking about It's A Wonderful Life with the iconic Jimmie Stewart and some of the most important scenes in this classic Christmas movie. FYI - You can catch the entire movie on XFINITY Dec. 24.

Life is not perfect, but Christmas makes it all better. Merry Christmas!!

d.l.stafford
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NO. 5 ON THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - THE KING DOES CHRISTMAS

Elvis - The King of Rock and Roll, was the first artist to combine blues, country and attitude for a brand new genre of music - Rockabilly. In 1956, Elvis went from a virtual unknown small town performer to a national sensation who changed popular music forever. With three No. 1 hits, Heartbreak Hotel, Don't Be Cruel and Love Me Tender, his good looks, charisma and, in many people's opinions, lascivious dancing, Elvis became a national phenomenon selling over $22 million ($199 million in today's dollars) in records in 1956.

If you look at old clips of Elvis in 1956, one thing becomes obvious - the girls loved the guy. He also appeared on television 11 times and did over 143 live performances. And after sixty years, since his first brush with super stardom, Elvis still ranks in the Top Ten selling records year after year. With over one billion records sold, Elvis remains the top selling artist of all time.

The COUNTDOWN tunes you will see today come from his 1968 TV show - The '68 Comeback Special - with Elvis performing the first "unplugged" performance that became the rage later by multiple artists. Just click the link if you want to see the entire show.

So please enjoy NO. 5 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - ELVIS PERFORMING SANTA CLAUS IS BACK IN TOWN & BLUE CHRISTMAS IN BLACK LEATHER FROM HIS '68 COMEBACK SPECIAL. 

And for a bonus, here is Elvis performing Here Comes Santa Claus with a video of multiple clips of The King showing why he is still considered the King.

I was seven in 1956 and I still like Elvis.   You better get ready, it's only 5 days until. Merry Christmas.

d.l.stafford
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NO. 6 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - IT'S BIG BAND WEDNESDAY

Since I was a kid, I have been a Big Band Music fan. Whether Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington or The Tonight Show Band, I have always loved the sound of big brass, great rhythms and arrangements of Big Band Music. Great performers like Doc Severinsen, Buddy Rich and today's Wynton Marsalis have provided incredible music for generations since the 1930's. It's music that makes you want to dance or romantically hold your better half and move to the occasional slow tune.

So today you will hear the great Tonight Show Orchestra With Doc Severinsen, the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis and, for good measure though not Big Band, the one and only Dave Brubeck Trio. His kids play bass and drums.

SO JUST SIT BACK AND ENJOY NO. 6 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - DOC SEVERINSEN/JINGLE BELLS, 'WYNTON MARSALIS/ZAT YOU SANTA CLAUS & DAVE BRUBECK/SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN.

Man, the Countdown is getting close to the Big Day. Merry Christmas!

d.l.stafford
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NO. 7 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

OK. It's Tuesday, you probably still have a lot of presents to wrap or purchase, oh my! I found this live version of the classic tune, I'll Be Home For Christmas, by The Avett Brothers -  a group that should be on everyone's Musical Bucket List to see live. For me, I can't wait to pick up my daughter at God's Country's International Airport (ha ha) this Saturday after her arrival from D.C..  Her arrival, combined with our family and our new, best looking grandson on the planet, Hayes - Well, it just can't get any better. Living away from your family absolutely requires that you figure out a way to get together at Christmas. So I added a bonus track by recording artist Marc Broussard - Please Come Home For Christmas.

So - By car, train, plane or boat just make sure you get home to the ones you love for Christmas so you can enjoy the spirit and sound of today's COUNTDOWN Tunes.

ENJOY NO. 7 ON THE 2017 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS & PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.

It's Comin' fast. Merry Christmas.

d.l.stafford
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