It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Maplewood Stout of Christmas Future

The final beer in my advent calendar and this year's installment of It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer is from another one of my favorite local breweries, Maplewood.  They do great things with stouts, and this was one of them.  It's the Stout of Christmas Future, an imperial rye stout brewed with vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and molasses.  It was a damn fine end to the beer advent calendar.

Name:  Stout of Christmas Future

Brewery:  Maplewood Brewing Company

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  8%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You want something better to drink than Santa's getting.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4.25

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Anchor Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Our Special Ale)

Beer #23 is a holiday beer classic from one of the OG craft breweries:  Anchor's Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, aka Our Special Ale.  Every year, they change up the recipe and there is a different tree on the label.  This year's label featured the Western Joshua Tree, and the beer was as delicious as usual.  Even though they switch up the recipe, it's always a winter warmer, and it always has some amount of holiday spice to it.

Name:  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Our Special Ale)

Brewery:  Anchor Brewing Company

Location:  San Francisco, CA

ABV:  7%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You're showing your kids the greatest Christmas action movie of all-time for the first time.  Welcome to the party, pals.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4.25

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Dovetail Altbier

Beer #22 is from another one of my favorite local breweries, Dovetail.  They specialize in German and other central European-style beers, which is lovely for me because I love European beers, and I hate hoppy beers, of which they have none.  This one was their Altbier, which is a lighter malty beer.  It's a good crushable beer style for those of us that like the maltier brews.

Name:  Altbier

Brewery:  Dovetail Brewery

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  4.8%

IBU:  40

Good for drinking if:  You're makin' some cookies for Santa.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4

These Are a Few of My Favorite Remakes of "Classic" Holiday Songs

As you may have noticed, I haven't posted any CoronaVinyl entries this week.  I'm pausing CoronaVinyl this week and next week because, with the holidays, schedules get erratic.  Plus, we're back at "A" with the next album, so it seems natural to start it back up in the New Year.  

This has also given me the ability to listen to holiday music basically all day long over the last several days, which prompted me to start making an internal list of my favorite versions of classic Christmas and holiday songs.  

Now you might be asking, "GMYH, what the fuck do you mean by 'classic'?"  To that I say, mind your language around the children, and you wonder where they get it?  And what I mean by "classic" is a holiday song that was around before the rock and roll era, so basically anything that was first composed or recorded before 1954, both religious and secular.  And this list is purely remakes of said "classic" songs released since the rock and roll era began.

There are songs released in every decade from the '60s to the '10s, and there are songs released in a variety of genres, from rock to pop to soul to punk to R&B to grunge to metal.  Some are straight versions of the song, while others take artistic liberties.  As expected, there are several selections from the legendary 1963 album A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, as well as Motown's Christmas album from the early '70s and several offerings from heavy metal holiday albums.  I was originally going to make this a Tuesday Top Ten, but there are too many songs.

I'm going to list (1) the song, (2) who sang my favorite remake (in some cases, I couldn't choose between two versions, so I listed both), (3) the year the remake was recorded or released, (4) depending on how old the song is, either the original recording artist or the composer (or "traditional" if it's a traditional song), and (5) the year of the original recording or when it was composed or purportedly originated.  I'm also going to include a link to the song on YouTube, rather than embedding every song, as that would make this already long post even longer -- though I am embedding the first song just because.  Looking at this list, it's safe to say that Bing Crosby and Gene Autry shaped holiday music in the 20th Century.

Also, a quick note.  I have not yet come across remakes of the following songs that I like more than the originals:

-"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," originally recorded in 1951 by Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra

-"Mele Kalikimaka," originally recorded in 1950 by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

-"Santa Baby," originally recorded in 1953 by Eartha Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra

-"The Christmas Song," originally recorded in 1946 by The Nat King Cole Trio (and recorded a few other times by Nat King Cole)

Here's the list, in alphabetical order by song title:

"12 Days of Christmas" by Bob & Doug McKenzie (1981)
Original:  Traditional (1780)

While I do enjoy Twisted Sister's 2006 metalized version "Heavy Metal Christmas," it's hard to top Bob & Doug McKenzie's hilarious 1981 version.  The McKenzie Brothers, of course, are Canadian comedians Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, who starred in SCTV before taking the McKenzie Brothers to the big screen in 1983's Strange Brew.

"Auld Lang Syne" by Girlschool (2008)

Original:  Traditional (1799)

There really aren't as many modern versions of the New Year's Eve staple "Auld Lang Syne" as you might imagine, but New Wave of British Heavy Metal stalwarts Girlschool put out a rocking version in 2008.

"Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Al Hirt & Ann-Margaret (1964)

Original:  Don Cornell and Laura Leslie with Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra (1949)

This song has taken a lot of heat over the last decade and has attempted to be canceled because of its perceived "get her drunk and date rape her" theme, but what I assume many don't realize about the song is that it was meant as a song about single female empowerment.  At a time when it was societally frowned upon for a single woman to stay at her boyfriend's (or any other unrelated man's) abode, the female part in this song was constantly coming up with weak excuses as to why she shouldn't stay, when in reality, she wanted to stay over.  And the line "what's in this drink?" was actually a common line at the time, used as a joke to blame your actions on booze.  But anyway, enough of my liberal defense of the song.  My favorite version is the 1964 version by bandleader and trumpeter Al Hirt and the beautiful actress Ann-Margaret.

"The Bells of St. Mary's" by Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans (1963)

Original:  Frances Alda (1919)

The first of many entries from the Phil Spector Christmas album, I love the call-and-response of "the bells shall ring out" and Darlene Love's "yeah yeah."

"Blue Christmas" by Collective Soul (1995)

Original:  Doye O'Dell (1948)

Until a couple days ago, I thought Elvis's famous 1957 version was the original, but alas, it was first recorded by Doye O'Dell nine years earlier.  And you might think that Elvis's version is my favorite, but it ain't.  While I do love his version, Collective Soul's 1995 version -- which is grunge set to a Bo Diddley beat -- is my favorite.

"Deck the Halls" by The Miracles (1970)

Original: Thomas Oliphant (composer) (1862)

"Deck the Halls" has been around for 160 years.  I listen to it every year when I cover my hallways with holly.  The Miracles' 1970 version adds a Motown twist to the song, and it's silky smooth.

"The First Noel" by Eve 6 (2001)

Original:  Traditional (1823)

There aren't as many version of this song out there as you would think -- or at least not as many rock versions.  Post-grungers Eve 6 give it an expectedly post-grunge treatment.

"Frosty the Snowman" by The Ronettes (1963)

Original:  Gene Autry and The Cass County Boys (1950)

One of the many holiday songs that Gene Autry first made famous, "Frosty the Snowman" the song predated the now-famous Rankin Bass animated TV special by 19 years.  The Ronettes' version has the full Phil Spector Wall of Sound treatment.

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Bad Religion (2013)

Original:  Traditional (1650s)

LA punk pioneers Bad Religion can apparently sing the hell out of a traditional Christmas song, as they proved with their appropriately titled 2013 album Christmas Songs.  They punk up "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" real good.

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" by Bad Religion (2013)

Original:  Charles Wesley and George Whitefield (composers) (1739)

And the same goes with this one, which starts out with some nice harmonies.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Twisted Sister (2006)

Original:  Judy Garland (1944)

Twisted Sister rejuvenated themselves with their 2006 A Twisted Christmas album, which is a rocking good time.  "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a traditionally slow and kind of somber tune, and that's how the band starts it off, before they realize they're Twisted Sister, and then they turn up the volume and speed.

"Here Comes Santa Claus" by Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans (1963)

Original:  Gene Autry (1947)

Another from the Phil Spector Christmas album, Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans' version of "Here Comes Santa Claus" is an aural explosion of instruments and Christmas cheer.

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by The Ronettes (1963) and John Mellencamp (1987)

Original:  Jimmy Boyd (1952)

Neither The Ronettes nor The Coug' can do any wrong in my book, and I love both of their versions of this song.  They are very different, with The Ronettes' version being pure '60s soul/pop, while Mellencamp's version is more of a folksy country rock song.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas" by REO Speedwagon (2009)

Original:  Bing Crosby (1943)

In 2009, AOR mainstays REO Speedwagon put out an 18-track Christmas album, Not So Silent Night . . . Christmas with REO Speedwagon.  "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is another song that usually slow and kind of boring.  REO gives it a soulful '50s doo wop feel with their version.

"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" by Luther Kent (1990)

Original:  Edmond Sears (composer) (1849)

This one is from the 1990 album A Creole Christmas, which has songs from various New Orleans and Louisiana artists.  Blues singer Luther Kent's version of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" is a bluesy, soulful version.

"Jingle Bells" by Wayne Newton (1968) and The Miracles (1970)

Original:  James Lord Pierpont (composer) (1857)

As I mentioned above, this is considered the first secular holiday song.  Although it has come to be associated with Christmas, it was actually just about sleigh races.  My two favorite versions are Wayne Newton's 1968 version with its horns and Vegas show feel, and The Miracles' 1970 playful Motown version.

"Joy to the World" by The Supremes (1965)

Original:  Isaac Watts (composer) (1719)

Speaking of Motown, The Supremes' triumphant version of "Joy to the World" almost makes me want to go to church, but then I remember how much I hated going to church.

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" by Twisted Sister (2006)

Original:  Vaughan Monroe (1946)

Twisted Sister's take on this lovely holiday classic starts with a take on the riff from Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave," and then it turns to a more traditional metal version of the song.

"Little Drummer Boy" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (1981)

Original:  The Trapp Family (1951)

I was a little surprised that "Little Drummer Boy" was only originally recorded in the '50s.  No matter, as Joan Jett & The Blackhearts' 1981 version blows every other version out of the water.  The fills from drummer Lee Crystal are spectacular.

"A Marshmallow World" by Darlene Love (1963)

Original:  Bing Crosby (1950)

The first entry from the aforementioned Phil Spector Christmas album is also the first Bing Crosby cover.

"Merry Christmas Baby" by Lou Rawls (1967)

Original:  Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (1947)

I had always assumed this was originally recorded by Chicago's own Lou Rawls, but turns out it was originally recorded in 1947 by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, whose lead singer was Charles Brown, who would later have another popular Christmas hit with 1960's "Please Come Home For Christmas."  But anyway, I love Rawls's version, and I love the last line:  "I haven't had a drink this morning / But I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree."  Still drunk from the night before, I assume.

"O Christmas Tree" by The Rock Heroes (2011)

Original:  Ernst Anschütz (composer) (1824)

The originally German carol was covered on the 2011 compilation A Very Metal Christmas by The Rock Heroes.  I don't know who that is, but I like their throaty, doom metally version of this song.

"O Come, All Ye Faithful" by Twisted Sister (2006)

Original:  John Francis Wade (composer) (1744)

Twisted Sister riffs on their classic "We're Not Gonna Take It" on this one, bringing Christmas joy to every little metalhead girl and boy.  And the video is great too.

"O Holy Night" by Halford (2009)

Original:  Placide Cappeau (composer) (1843)

In 2009, Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford's post-Priest band Halford released Halford III:  Winter Songs, a collection of Christmas and holiday songs, both new and old.  He has one of the best and most powerful voices in metal history, so it's no surprise he crushes this one.

"The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" by The Crystals (1963)

Original:  Leon Jessel (composer) (1897)

The Crystals' version of this song is another classic from the Phil Spector Christmas album.  Turns out there are only a couple songs on that album that didn't up on this list.

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by The Temptations (1970)

Original:  Gene Autry (1949)

Another one originally recorded by Gene Autry, "Rudolph" is a modern Christmas classic.  I love The Temptations' 1970 version that mixes it up a little, adding some call and response.

"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (1975)

Original:  Harry Reser (1934)

When the folks attending the Springsteen concert at C.W. Post College on Long Island on December 12, 1975 heard the band break into "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town," they probably didn't know it was being recorded, and they probably didn't know it would become one of the greatest holiday songs ever recorded.  What's crazy is that it wasn't released until seven years later.  This song is absolute perfection.

"Silent Night" by Elvin Bishop (1975)

Original:  Joseph Mohr and Franz X. Gruber (composers) (1818)

While "Silent Night" is usually another one of the slower and delicate Christmas songs, in 1975, singer/guitarist Elvin Bishop gave it a soulful, boogie woogie, country rock send up.

"Silver Bells" by Geoff Tate, Carlos Cavazo, James LoMenzo, and Ray Luzier (2008)

Original:  Bing Crosby and Mary Richards (1950)

Another great metal holiday compilation album is 2008's We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year, which has appearances by too many metal and hard rock legends to name.  "Silver Bells" from the album is a rocking version of the song, recorded by Queensrÿche's lead singer Geoff Tate, Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo, White Lion and Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo, and David Lee Roth, Steel Panther, and Korn drummer Ray Luzier.

"Sleigh Ride" by The Ronettes (1963)

Original:  Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops Orchestra (1949)

The Ronettes + the Wall of Sound + a holiday classic = one of my all-time favorite holiday songs.

"Up On the Housetop" by Jackson 5 (1970)

Original: Benjamin Hanby (composer) (1864)

The Jackson 5's version of "Up On the Housetop" teases you with a little "Here Comes Santa Claus" before turning into an updated Motown version of what is considered the second-oldest secular Christmas song after "Jingle Bells" and the first Christmas song to focus on Santa Claus.

"We Three Kings" by Halford (2009)

Original:  John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (composer) (1857)

Halford's version of this song is uptempo, rollicking, and majestic. I feel like I'm a fucking magi. 

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" by Weezer (2008)

Original:  Traditional (1800s)

Weezer released a 6-song Christmas EP in 2008, and their version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is my favorite version of that song.  It almost sounds like the song was written for Weezer.

"White Christmas" by Otis Redding (1968)

Original:  Bing Crosby (1942)

Since Bing Crosby originally recorded "White Christmas" in 1942, it has been the most recorded Christmas song.  The Drifters' 1954 version is a great one, but my favorite is Otis Redding's version, released posthumously in 1968.  It drips with Memphis soul, with The MGs and the Memphis Horns undoubtedly providing the backdrop for Redding's amazing voice.

"Winter Wonderland" by Darlene Love (1963) and Stryper (live, 2003)

Original:  Richard Himber and His Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra (1934)

Darlene Love's version of "Winter Wonderland" from the Phil Spector album is a classic version, but a less well-known is Christian hair band Stryper's 2003 live version, which is a fun and rocking version with great harmonies from the Yellow and Black Attack.

Retro Video of the Week: "8 Days of Christmas" by Destiny's Child

Our last holiday-themed Retro Video of the Week for this year is Destiny's Child's 2001 holiday offering, "8 Days of Christmas."  Yes, I know that technically 2001 is outside the parameters of Retro Video of the Week -- which I gave the artificial end date of mid-2000 -- but it's my damn blog, and there are only so many holiday songs with videos out there.  Anywho, this song is kind of a modern take on the 12 Days of Christmas, though with an early 2000s R&B flair, and the video features the three group members shopping and riding the carousel at a mall.  Remember malls?

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Lake Effect Snow

Beer #21 was from one of my favorite local breweries, Lake Effect.  It's titled Snow, a nice little play on words when combined with the brewery name.  You see, non-Midwesterners, lake effect snow is a meteorological phenomenon, whereupon winter winds blowing from the west over the relatively warmer Great Lakes cause the lower layers of the colder air to pick up vapor from the lake, creating snow that is dumped on the downwind shores and coasts.  This is why western Michigan gets a ton more snow than Chicago.  Anyway, Snow is a winter witbier, with some citrus and spices.  It's a beer I could enjoy all year 'round.

Name:  Snow

Brewery:  Lake Effect Brewing

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  5.2%

IBU:  30

Good for drinking if:  You're watching a bowl game called the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl without judging the ridiculousness of the name.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Illuminated Brew Works War on Xmas

Beer #20 was a good one.  It was War on Xmas from Illuminated Brew Works, located on Chicago's northwest side.  White stouts are always kind of a mind fuck, and this is no exception.  It's a white milk stout with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla, and it tastes more like a classic winter ale than a stout, but it's pretty damn good.  And at 11%, it packs a nice punch.

Name:  War on Xmas

Brewery:  Illuminated Brew Works

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  11%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You need a strong beer while you are watching your COVID-decimated team shooting themselves in the foot at literally every opportunity.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4.5

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: The Last Three Beers

I had to skip Friday because I had a prior commitment that involved drinking beer at another location, but I drank Friday and Saturday's beers last night and, of course, Sunday's beer today.  Here's what I had.

Beer #17 was a great local Chicago winter ale, Begyle's Christmas Ale.  This is one of my go-to winter beers.  It's a malty ale brewed with cinnamon and bay leaves, and it tastes like Christmas should taste.

Name:  Christmas Ale

Brewery:  Begyle Brewing Co.

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  7%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You're all tuckered out from doing the Charleston.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4.5

Beer #18 was from another great local brewery, Marz.  Krampbiscus is a holiday ale brewed with cranberries and hibiscus.  It's not my favorite of their beers, and I'd call it "tart" rather than "sour."

Name:  Krampbiscus

Brewery:  Marz Community Brewing Co.

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  6.5%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You realize your not worth more dead than alive.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  3.75

Beer #19 was a damn IPA.  It was the aptly titled Advent Calendar Beer from Alarmist, and I think this must be included in several local beer advent calendars, as it was also in the advent calendar I bought from Bottles & Cans.  As it's an IPA, it has been my lease favorite beer thus far.

Name:  Advent Calendar Beer

Brewery:  Alarmist Brewing

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  7.2%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You want to experience what a Christmas tree tastes like in beer form.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  3.25

Hair Band Friday - 12/17/21

1.  "Whippin' Boy" (live) by The Quireboys

2.  "Redneck Punk" by Jackyl

3.  "Rainbow in the Rose" by Winger

4.  "Feel the Heat" by King Kobra

5.  "Grinder" (live) by Judas Priest

6.  "Looks That Kill" (demo) by Mötley Crüe

7.  "Playing to Win" by Bonham

8.  "Still Waitin'" by Lita Ford

9.  "Homeland" by Europe

10.  "Arizona Indian Doll" by Faster Pussycat

CoronaVinyl Day 360 (Various Artists): Greatest Rap Hits Vol. 2 by Various Artists

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "Various Artists," and I went with Sugar Hill Records' 1981 Greatest Rap Hits Vol. 2 compilation.

Sugar Hill Records was the preeminent record label for early rap, with artists like the aptly named Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Treacherous Three, Spoonie Gee, and The Sequence.

This album only has three songs per side, and the shortest song is 7:10.  Here's the track listing and some fun facts about a few of the songs:

Side 1
1.  "8th Wonder" by Sugarhill Gang.  Sampled in "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check" by Busta Rhymes (that's where he got the "woo hah!"), "Shake Your Rump" by Beastie Boys, and "Gangster Trippin'" by Fatboy Slim
2.  "Freedom" by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
3.  "Monster Jam" by Spoonie Gee & The Sequence

Side 2
1.  "Birthday Party" by Grandmaster Flash
2.  "That's the Joint" by Funky Four + One.  Named the #288 song on Rolling Stone's most recent list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time.  Sampled in "Say No Go" by De La Soul and both "Shake Your Rump" and "Shadrach" by Beastie Boys
3.  "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on The Wheels of Steel" by Grandmaster Flash.  This is a live DJ mix of Grandmaster Flash working three turntables, scratching and mixing songs, including every other song on the album but "That's the Joint."

The album isn't on Spotify, but there's a six-hour playlist called The Sugar Hill Records Story that has these six songs (and fifty more!).  It's a good listen if you're looking to get your early rap fix.

Favorite Song on Side 1:  "8th Wonder" by Sugarhill Gang
At a mere 7:26, it's only about half the length of their more famous "Rapper's Delight," but "8th Wonder" is just as smooth and just as much of a party tune.  As I mentioned above, it's got the chorus that Busta Rhymes lifted:  "Woo hah! Got them all in check."

Favorite Song on Side 2:  "That's the Joint" by Funky Four + One
This one clocks in at 9:22, and it's another party song.  The instrumental track samples "Rescue Me" by A Taste of Honey, and the song just has a great flow to it.  The group was pioneering in rap and hip hop for a few reasons.  They were the first to feature a female MC (Sha Rock), and they were also the first rap group to appear on national TV, when they were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on Valentine's Day in 1981.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Three Floyds Alpha Klaus and Hopewell Stay Frosty

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, so here are the last two.

Beer #15 was Three Floyds' Alpha Klaus.  Every year, I really want to like this because it's a "Christmas Porter," and porters are generally at the top of my list.  But because it's Three Floyds, they add an unnecessary amount of hops to it, so that the maltiness gets overpowered by the hoppiness.

Name:  Alpha Klaus

Brewery:  Three Floyds Brewing

Location:  Munster, IN

ABV:  7.3%

IBU:  67

Good for drinking if:  You're about to gorge yourself on ribs at Twin Anchors, much to your hound dog's chagrin.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  3.75

Today's beer was Hopewell's Stay Frosty, a winter lager.  This is the kind of beer that would serve as a good gateway beer for someone who's looking to get into winter beers.  It's got good bit of malt and some sweetness, and at 6%, it's not too heavy.

Name:  Stay Frosty

Brewery:  Hopewell Brewing Company

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  6.0%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You're kicking off your fun old-fashioned family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4

Retro Video of the Week: "Merry Christmas Everyone" by Shakin' Stevens

Continuing the holiday-themed Retro Videos of the Week, this week's video is Welsh singer-songwriter Shakin' Stevens's 1985 hit "Merry Christmas Everyone."  Though he is relatively unknown in the US, Stevens was immensely popular in the UK in the '80s, racking up 28 Top 40 hits on the UK pop chart during the decade, including 15 Top 10 songs and four #1s.

His last #1 was the 1985 holiday hit "Merry Christmas Everyone," which was the coveted "Christmas number one" that year.  If there's one thing Brits love, it's the Christmas number one, which is the #1 song on the UK pop chart for the week in which Christmas Day falls.  It's considered a little more prestigious than going to #1 on any other week of the year.  Past Christmas number ones include all-time classics like The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1963), Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975 and 1991), Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" (1979), "Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" (1992), and the inimitable Bob the Builder's "Can We Fix It?" (2000).

As you might imagine, the Christmas number one has also included big holiday hits over the years.  Among others, there was the glam Christmas number one race of 1973, when Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" beat out Wizzard's "I Wish It Would Be Christmas Everyday," and in 1984 and 1989, Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" was the Christmas number one (with Band Aid 20's version matching the feat in 2004).

Produced by Dave Edmunds (who himself had a Christmas number one with "I Hear You Knocking" in 1970), "Merry Christmas Everybody" is a poppy, cheery holiday tune.  Stevens looks a little Joel Osteen-ish in the video, Santa appears to be played by David Cross (never mind that he would have only been like 21 at the time), arriving at Santa's workshop, where children and terrifying elf marionettes are making shitty wooden toys.  But hey, everyone's happy, and that's all that matters.

With the advent (pun intended, motherfuckers!) of digital music sales and their inclusion in UK pop chart sales calculations beginning in 2007, many older holiday songs get boosted back onto the charts around Christmas, and "Merry Christmas Everyone" is no exception, charting on on the Christmas week UK pop chart every year since 2007, including reaching #6 both of the last two years.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Pipeworks Gingerbread Unicorns

Beer #14 is from one of my favorite breweries, Pipeworks here in Chicago.  Of course, I don't like their hoppier offerings, which can be said about any brewery.  But outside of that, they do no wrong, and they make fantastic dark beers and other styles.  Gingerbread Unicorns is a great seasonal beer.  It's a rye ale with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, vanilla, and lactose.  And I'll be damned if it doesn't taste like a gingerbread cookie.

Name:  Gingerbread Unicorns

Brewery:  Pipeworks Brewing Co.

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  6.3%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You're watching a documentary about Robert Stigwood, but only in December.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4.25

CoronaVinyl Day 359 (W): You Were On My Mind by We Five

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "W," and I went with We Five's 1965 debut studio album, You Were On My Mind.

We Five was a folk group formed in southern California in 1964 by Michael Stewart, whose brother John was a member of the popular folk group the Kingston Trio (and who wrote The Monkees' #1 hit "Daydream Believer").  It was four guys and a woman, Beverly Bivens, with a nice tenor voice.  As a folk group, they were generally acoustic and didn't have a drummer, but they did dabble in electric guitar and occasionally had a drummer.

You Were On My Mind is mostly folk covers of pop songs, Broadway songs, and jazz songs, but the title track, which was a cover of an Ian & Sylvia song from a year earlier.  We Five's version picked up the tempo, changed the lyrics a little, and made a crescendoing folk pop song that proved to be their biggest hit, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The album itself went to #32 on the Billboard album chart, which was also their highest-charting album.

After the band's next album, Bivens left and was replaced by band member Jerry Burgan's wife.  They turned down "Daydream Believer," which then became a huge hit for The Monkees.  Their next two albums didn't chart, and they broke up in 1970, but reformed (in name anyway) in 1977 for one more album, which also didn't chart.

Favorite Song on Side 1:  "If I Were Alone"
This is an uptempo folk rock song (and one of the songs with drums), and the beginning reminds me of the underrated LA-based psychedelic rock band Love.

Favorite Song on Side 2:  "You Were On My Mind"
It's obviously their most famous song, but it's also their best.  Bivens's voice is great, and the song just builds and builds.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Ravinia Naughty List #957 - Cake Throwing

Lucky number 13 in the beer advent calendar was a good one, courtesy of Ravinia Brewing, which is located in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, though it is not affiliated with the Ravinia outdoor music venue, which is also located in Highland Park.  It's called Naughty List #957 - Cake Throwing, and it's aptly described on the can as a Black Forest Imperial Cake Stout.  It's a pastry stout with cacao nibs, cherry, vanilla, and lactose.  As you can see from the photo, it's thick and murky.  It really does tasty like a chocolate cherry cake with a little bit of booze.  I quite enjoyed it.

Name:  Naughty List #957 - Cake Throwing

Brewery:  Ravinia Brewing Co.

Location:  Highland Park, IL

ABV:  8.1%

IBU:  50

Good for drinking if:  You want to drink your dessert.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4.5

CoronaVinyl Day 358 (V): Chariots of Fire Soundtrack by Vangelis

For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.

Today's CoronaVinyl category is "V," and I listened to Vangelis's soundtrack to the 1981 Best Oscar winner, Chariots of Fire.

Greek electronic composer Vangelis was tasked with scoring Chariots of Fire.  The movie, which admittedly I've never seen, is based on the true story of two British track athletes training for and competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics.  One is a God-loving Scot, Eric Liddell, and the other is Jewish, Harold Abrahams.  Liddell won gold in the 400m and bronze in the 200m.  Abrahams won gold in the 100m and silver in the 4x100 relay.

The film is best known for two things:  it's iconic slow-motion beach running scene and it's iconic theme song.  It won four Academy Awards:  Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score.  An interesting tidbit is that Dennis Christopher has a small supporting role in the film.  He, of course, was the lead in 1979's Breaking Away, which means that in the span of two years, he was in two of the greatest sports movies of all-time.  According to an Athletic article last year, Breaking Away is #7 and Chariots of Fire is #66.

Whether or not you know the title or what the song is from, the theme to Chariots of Fire -- which is technically called "Titles" on the album, though it is commonly just called "Chariots of Fire," even though that's a different song on the album -- is one of the most recognizable movie themes ever, and it has been used countless times in TV and film (often parodically) since it came out.  It was also the background music for the medal ceremonies at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The soundtrack topped the Billboard album chart for four weeks and also reached the Top 10 on the album charts in Australia, Canada, The Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK.  The theme song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains the only #1 song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 by a Greek artist.  It also topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, went Top 10 on the charts in Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, and was the best-selling single of 1981 in Japan.

Because the second side of the album is just one song that's nearly 21 minutes long -- the aforementioned "Chariots of Fire" -- I'm not going to choose a favorite song from each side, but you can safely assume my favorite song from Side 1 is "Titles."

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Lil Beaver Chocolate for Breakfast and Revolution Fistmas

I skipped yesterday in the beer advent calendar because some friends had a party last night, and I wasn't about to share my advent calendar beers with anyone, so I made the healthy decision to have beers 11 and 12 today.

Beer #11 was specially made for the Beer on the Wall advent calendar, by Lil Beaver  Brewery in Bloomington, Illinois.  It's called Chocolate for Breakfast, and it's an oatmeal stout with vanilla and coca nibs, so you know I liked it.  It was roasty and chocolatey, and not too heavy.  I'm not sure what the ABV is because it's not on the can, Untappd, or Lil Beaver's website.

Name:  Chocolate for Breakfast

Brewery:  Lil Beaver Brewery

Location:  Bloomington, IL

ABV:  N/A

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You're watching the oldest rivalry in the NFL and you have hope that the Bears might pull off an upset.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4

Beer #12 is a local Chicago holiday favorite, Revolution's Fistmas.  It's a red ale with ginger and orange peel, and it's just a little too hoppy for my liking, but it's still pretty good.

Name:  Fistmas

Brewery:  Revolution Brewing

Location:  Chicago, IL

ABV:  6.5%

IBU:  31

Good for drinking if:  You're watching the oldest rivalry in the NFL and you no longer have hope that the Bears might pull off an upset.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  3.75

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Obscurity Island of Misfit Beers Spotted Elephant

Beer #10 in the advent calendar is from Obscurity in Elburn, Illinois, which is a far western suburb of Chicago.  They have a series called Island of Misfit Beers, and they are a variety of different styles named after characters from the beloved 1964 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer TV special.  This one was Spotted Elephant, and it's an oatmeal stout with vanilla and "holiday cheer."  I love oatmeal stouts (well, all stouts, really), and Spotted Elephant was nice and roasty.  All in all, a great winter beer.

Name:  Island of Misfit Beers Spotted Elephant

Brewery:  Obscurity Brewing and Craft Mead

Location:  Elburn, IL

ABV:  7%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You need something to take the edge off because your preteen daughter has three friends over for a sleepover and, good lord, they cannot shut up.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4

Hair Band Friday - 12/10/21

1.  "Two Sides of Love" by Sammy Hagar

2.  "Stop the Lightning" by Black 'N Blue

3.  "All I Want" by Lynch Mob

4.  "Rock & Roll's Gonna Save The World" by Y&T

5.  "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll" by Ozzy Osbourne

6.  "Gonna Getcha" by Great White

7.  "Rock Forever" by Judas Priest

8.  "Ninja" by Europe

9.  "I Just Wanna" by KISS

10.  "When It's Love" (live) by Van Halen

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Beer: Hubbard's Cave Gingerbread Milk of the Murder Hornet

Beer #9 in the advent calendar was an IPA, but fear not, it was pretty much the only kind of IPA I tolerate, a milkshake IPA.  If you're not familiar with Hubbard's Cave, it's a fantastic sister brand of Une Annee in suburban Chicago.  Hubbard's Cave makes a lot of fantastic imperial stouts with sweet tendencies, like beers that taste like blueberry French toast and the like, and they're almost all 12%, which makes them great winter brunch beers.  Anyway, Milk of the Murder Hornet is a milkshake IPA series they do, and they have several variants, none of which I've had until tonight.  The gingerbread variant is good.  It's an imperial IPA with lactose, vanilla beans, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  Like many milkshake IPAs, the sweetness from the lactose masks the hoppiness, and the winter spices give it a nice seasonal feel.  I should also note that murder hornets -- and any hornets, really -- do not have teats and, therefore, do not produce milk.

Name:  Gingerbread Milk of the Murder Hornet

Brewery:  Hubbard's Cave

Location:  Niles, IL

ABV:  8.5%

IBU:  N/A

Good for drinking if:  You decide a little bit too late in the evening to tell your kids that it's time to decorate the Christmas tree, but then after you put the lights up, you realize it's past the kids' bedtime, so you tell them we'll have to put the ornaments on the tree at a later date, sending them into hysterics.

Rating (out of five stars, by quarter star increments):  4