It’s a most wonderful time of the year for killer earwormy songs. In fact, all year we’ve been blessed with some wonderful tunes and introductions to new artists. A collective pat on the back is due, I think?
From me, thank you to my predecessors Tin, Maki, bishbosh and Zalamanda, for their help and support - each of whom brought unique and special gifts and wonderful and imaginative playlists that I couldn’t hope to match. Special thanks to TinyTin for putting all the songs into the box, and everyone who sent in worms during the year and for this festive edition.
Earworms will be back on JANUARY 7TH with your new wormwrangler, wilemena, in the hot seat. I’ve enjoyed my tenure as the earworms curator for the last six months. It’s been fun, and I’d like to thank you all for your contributions and for tolerating my experiments.
Wishing each of you all the very best wishes of the season, a wonderful Christmas and a very happy and prosperous 2013.
SR x
I am not going to add the download links for this festive playlist as it’s so large, so you’ll have to fish them out of the box. Grab your favourite beverage, pull up a wood-burner and enjoy this wonderful selection of new and traditional festive songs.
What You Said…(Right Click – A page for each playlist.)
Playlist 1
This first playlist is winter-oriented and frosty. You’ll need your puffy coat and mittens.
Playlist 2
This one is a little more raucous in places and will help you warm up again as you bounce up and down a bit.
Playlist 3
This final one contains some reflective songs, perfect to sit by the fire, sip eggnog and ponder on the year gone, and the one ahead.
A big Thank You to everyone who contributed worms to this special holiday playlist or has sent them in to the wormbank. Please send your juiciest worms plus a line or two per song on how you got hooked to either earworm@tincanland.com or a wormhole near you. Thank you.
Sorry you’re leaving…glad you enjoyed it! (I certainly did.) Happy Christmas!
Yes, it’s been a fun stint SR and I’m looking forward to wilhemena‘s three-year stewardship too.
NOTE TO ALL:: The earworm@tincanland.com address works regardless of who is earworm curator.
Thanks TFD, and for all your great songs. It’s been a pleasure.
Nice to see Tracey Thorne on there. She’d done the Christmas album of the year, IMHO. Like the ones by Sarah McLachlan and Thea Gilmore, it doesn’t rely on mawkish sentiment to be liked.
Looks like a great list, although i imagine it won’t be until next weekend when i actually get to have a listen, for obvious reasons…
Sorry to see you go, you’ve been fantastic. Looking forward to Wilmena who i know for sure will be fantastic too, welcome!
Thanks for your worms, too, Amylee. Much appreciated. I’ve enjoyed my time, but it’s time.. and I’m looking forward to wilemena’s turn.
Yeah, 6 months seems to be about the standard stint length, so something must happen around that time.
I’ve been seriously overwhelmed with personal stuff for about three months and just couldn’t manage it any more. And, I was worrying that it was getting a bit stale, too. A few people were wandering off… either bored or I’ve been upsetting everyone. Either way, my mojo wasn’t working!
people were most likely just getting busier, once summer was over. I certainly have been.
Like the others, I’ve enjoyed your stint at the helm, SR. Looking forward to hearing some of these soon.
missed you on the mothership this week.
Yeah. I don’t really have the time (or inclination if I’m honest) to get involved these days! x
And you haven’t even been on since we got the new nested comment system…grrrrrr
That’s lost us a fair few folks too. Quite understandably.
Thanks for your worms, Mitch, and your rock-solid (geddit?) support every week. You’ve been ace.
Thanks for all your hard work, SR. You’ve done a fab job – wilemena has some big shoes to fill (but I’m sure will cope admirably)!
bish, it would have been a lot harder without the larder stocks of bish, zala and tin songs. Luckily others are good at supplying worm food,particularly of late, but it’s so much easier with a good supply in the pot. Actually, now I think of it…. the cupboard is dry of bishworms. Any chance of a top up over the holiday for the new kid?
Really? I’m sure there’s at least two in stock. But yes, I shall send some more in shortly!
I’m sort of handing over so I’ve not got a handle on it, so apologies if there are any false accusations! What I wanted to say is, you’ve been a great help and thanks for all the worms.
Not at all. I’ll get a couple more in the mail this week anyway. x
I’ll add my warm appreciation of the great job you’ve done, SR. We’ve probably had a few more little niggles with the format as time has gone by but you’ve been a calm and imaginative captain through all the choppy waters. Thank you.
Wilemena next? I’ll have to polish up my innuendo…. and hope tinny doesn’t go into meltdown.
Happy Thingy, one and all!
I’ll have you know I am fully capable of holding an adult conversation without cheap puns and sophmoric innuendos. [OMG, in your endo, ha ha ha, get it?]
OK, maybe some more practice is needed.
I will try my utmost to keep it clean Chris, do not fear. I don’t want to frighten any sweet lickle worms away
Don’t worry , if you can’t find an innuendo to fit I’ll give her one.
A perk of the new job is that? Glad I signed up now.
I wonder if my new title should be RR Official Willy Wormer . . . aagghhh! I’m sorry. it’s a disease….
Thanks Chris. Praise indeed! I am not sure I’m particularly skilled at putting together playlists (even now) but I tried my best and I had fun, which is the main thing. Thanks.
Hi SR. Playlists look fab. Won’t listen yet, as I like to leave xmassy tunes till xmas eve with a large drink in hand. I have had a sneak listen to Beta Radio tho, as that is my all time fave carol, and I was curious. They do it beautifully too.
Thanks for all your help in the handover, and hope I can entertain our lovely folk as well as you have in your wondrous worming tenure x
Glad you like the Beta Radio song. Hope you like the other songs on the playlists too. Ray is a great choice particularly for me. I’ll comment on the selections later. Glad to have assisted in the transition. x
A few early comments as I listen through:
@ghe: Might have to make you an honourary Canadan. (It’s a good time to visit Canada, btw. The hockey players are on strike so there’s something else on TV. Mostly curling, but still..)
@wilemena: Ray!
@Tatanka: Jackie Leven’s voice was made for Christmas. Perfect.
@Shiv: Thanks for the Supper Furry. I’ve not really listened to them, but I really liked this.
@SR – many thanks for your curating, despite me being a mere lurker during your reign.
@tinnie – I find Canada and Scotland the richest lodestone these days
@TY – thanks for this one, which I hadn’t heard before. I will forever regret not having seen Jackie live, despite your persistent advocacy. The man was a behemoth of talent…
(ghe)
GHE you’re so welcome – and thanks for participating, even if you’re a little shy.
Adding appreciations for SR’s calm and well mannered stewardship.
Looks like a list full of festive fun for all !
Thanks, Rev. More bonkers worms please.
@ wilemena – Re: Purple Snowflakes
Thanks for bringing back memories. Local radio station WMJJ (which always goes all-Christmas music from mid-November to 25 December) played this song frequently in the 2000s.
I’m still wondering what’s the story behind it as it’s the same tune and instrumental track as Gaye’s non-holiday hit Pretty Little Baby with new winter-themed lyrics. My wife loved the song so much that I e-mailed the station for the story. They didn’t know why the same tune was used for two different songs, but directed me to an import compilation CD that contained Purple Snowflakes.
Hi sweets. I’m not sure why, but I do know that Dave Hamilton, who’s orchestra is the backing on both Marvin tunes (love Pretty Little Baby too btw) has done the same with a couple of Little Ann tunes which he produced. Exactly the same tune and instrumental but different lyrics. Maybe that’s his thing.
Thanks SR, I’m looking forward to these. Ramsey Lewis in playlist 3 is excellent, as long as you can reflect, ponder and do the mashed potato at the same time !
I’ve making my mum and dad a CD of songs from poems, and I plundered the RR blog from a year or 2 back – including that Jackie Leven / Robert Frost, which is beautiful.
Well done SR on a great year, I know I’ve only been part-time at best, but always high standard. Well done wilemena for taking on the challenge.
Thanks DP. It’s been a real pleasure. Keep ‘em coming…
More-or-less donding all ghe said above!
I’m sorry I wasn’t around much during your tenure, SR – I enjoyed everything I managed to catch. Merry Chrimble!
Thanks Debby. Merry Christmas and hope to see more of you on the blog. Thanks for the tunes.
you’ve be doing a great job, SR, just wanted to add my thanks to you and let you know how much I’ve enjoyed your enthusiasm for all the music you’ve prepared for us to listen to and the playlists
Happy festive season to you x
Thank you, Beth. You’ve been a star, sending some interesting tunes in, including my favourite bit of polite techno ever. x
Glad you liked it! I just realised that Bery Jansch actually died last year, sorry, got that wrong in my comment. I wish everyone a happy festive time
Thanks for a great stint as official ‘Spill ‘Wormer, SR.
Welcome to wilemena as the new ‘Worm Tamer” (what a great name for a song, I almost feel a ‘worm coming on).
Shirley Bassey, to the tune of “Gold-Finger…” ?!
Worm-Tamer is a Grinderman song.
and a very fine one it is too! May I just add my praise for Katzenjammer, lovely song and the lyrics made me quite emotional (although it doesn’t take much this time of year, I admit).
Thanks from me too. I too have been heavily distracted by ‘life’ this year – largely of the crap nature – so sorry if I haven’t participated so much this year. It’s no reflection on your excellent stewardship and I am very much enjoying this playlist on a rare evening with some space in it. I always turn to the Spill to cheer me up, so thank you all very much and happy happiness to you one and all. xx
Ali, thanks for your worms, much appreciated as you have had such a difficult year. Warmest wishes for a better one next year. Hugs x
Thanks from me too – have really enjoyed your stint as Wormeister. I listen to Earworms more than I comment (often I don’t have much to say other than “I liked those”).
First set sounding great – especially taken by Tracey Thorn, and the Jackie Leven (which I’ve picked up from the dropbox at some point). Will listen to the other sets soon but it seems the Festive Spill has landed…
Thank you, barbryn. Great songs and some fun banter with Chris to add interest too.
And special mentions to:
Debby M – Martin Tingwall
Severin – Katzenjammer (my discovery of the year)
Albahooky – James Brown
TFD – Tom Petty
Spotted R – Beta Radio
Tinny – Frightened Rabbit
and Panthersan the incorrigible
SR – no, thank you – it was always worth a look & listen!
No really… Baby Dodds is one of my discoveries of the year. And that particular playlist one of my favourites.
Songs are in the dropbox now. We had a slight technical… christmas elves have fixed it…
Eeps! Just seen that SR is handing over the baton.
MUST add my thanks for your stewardship: so far, every Worm-wrangler has added a certain something to keep the feature fresh; that you managed it with such a hard act to follow was to your credit and our advantage.
Having said that, am very much looking forward to wilemena taking on the role as Worm Dominatrix! (Pssst, WM? Will I need a “cease-&-desist” code word?)
Will try to listen when kids finally asleep, but Festive 3s also vying for limited listening time tonight.
Thanks for the songs, and for the idea for the mystery worms. The other idea still needs working on when everyone’s got more time… x
Christmas Earworm overload! I look forward to listening, but it’s been a busy day and there’s not much of it left…
SR, you’ve been an ace worm tamer (I had every confidence in you); I know I haven’t made it in to comment every week, but I did listen most weeks.
Wilemena, look forward to seeing where you’re going to take these worms. I’ll do my bestest to stock up the zalaworms a bit for you…
Loadsaearworms, zala! Thanks for your kind words, but I can’t profess to have the ear for music that you do and therefore couldn’t hope to tease out some of the things that you found in the songs. Loved your worms. Many many thanks for everything x
Great playlist – ;love the Bert Jansch which I still have on a 7 inch vinyl single somewhere.
Thank you S for your worm-taming and thematisizing. Best of luck to Bill and Merry Christmas to one and all.
Thanks for some charming tunes, Severin – this Katzenjammer one about lighting the lamps being one of the nicest songs I’ve heard in a very long time.
Lovely to listen to these, a great help with my last batch of Christmas cards. Many of us seemed to go for the low-key seasonal tunes this year, I wonder if that reflects tastes, or moods, or a bit of both ? Thanks everyone and especially SpottedRichard, let’s hope 2013 is kinder than 2012 has been.
2013 is going to be a good year – I am sure of it.
And thanks for all the worms, DP.
Dur to some unforseens my part time job has turned nearly full this week so won’t have a listen till the weekend. Looks yummy. Wanted to say thanks to SR for such a sterling job. I always look forward to the Earworm list & You’ve provided some amazing mixes for us. Merry Xmas & all our best from Chez Fintan. And welcome aboard Wilemena, we’re sure to all have fun in the New Year.
Thanks Fintan. Keep those tunes coming in!
This is amazing and the woman to whom I am married–a Christmas music freak–is going to love it; thank you. Is there a way to access the dropbox if you are mostly a lurker or chimes in with the odd comment now and then? I certainly understand if not.
If you email tin at the email address at the bottom, he may consider giving you access, eric. Glad your wife likes Christmas tunes!
Katzenjammer doing Fairytale of New York! Christmas just got better.
Dorian wrote a brilliant piece about the genesis of the song on the Guardian a couple of weeks ago. Well worth a read (and a listen to the very different early demo).
Thanks for ‘boxing ‘em. Got them loaded up for the commute tomorrow morning – can’t wait to get stuck in!
My highlights from the first playlist are Jackie Leven, Katzenjammer and Bert Jansch, I can’t believe I got through most of my life oblivious to Jackie Leven til the last year or so.
From the second, Primus, Tom Petty and Too Long Without Sex for kicking it up a notch. The Tom Petty song was the surprise because it was such a different take on a standard.
From the third, Saturday’s Children, Black Lips and Found Wandering, all bringing something different and interesting to the table. I like Black Lips already.
There wasn’t a single song I didn’t find likeable – Ray, Diana, Toots, Frightened Rabbit, Wendy & Lisa: everything. Thanks everyone for sending them all in.
Thanks all for the nice words about Jackie Leven, I will do a proper Spill post on him in the New Year. I’ve started a few times in the past year but never quite found my line.
Good luck to Wilemena as she receives the sacred Worming Tablets from Spotted Richard. When tincanman first brought these down down from Mount Worm few realised that they’d be so much more than a flash in the tincanpanopoly*
*I’m always the wheelbarrow when we play this game.
I was wise enough to hand it off to people with actual personalities
More feative earwormy thoughts:
@barbrynThis Found Wandering’s version is too beautiful. Nice restrained use of strings and harmonies
@severin I’m not stupid enough to go anywhere near a debate about versions of Fairytale, but I did really, really like the Katzenjammer.
@Abahachi E-Bow the Letter is quite the song. Nice pairing with R.E.M. and Pattu Smith. Is it a Christmas song? Do I care?
@AliMThat Mike Oldfield makes a nice change of pace for a Christmas playlist.
@Spotted I ran across Beta Radio in a non-holiday context this week. Small world.
@CaroleB This is the only time of the year I can listen to Krall. But she’s perfect for it!
@Tatanka Never would have guessed that was David Childers singing in Bank Cormorants. He’s almost happy! (OK, a bit of a stretch. But still…) Me likees.
Awesome mix of stuff people and nicely grouped by SR. Pleasant and challenging listening. Lots to add to the Christmas playlist at the Tin Igloo