What’s up, dudes? I’ve got Ken Kessler from Sounds of Christmas and Scott Leopold from Holly Jolly X’masu here to talk the mutant disco/no wave album “A Christmas Record!” From ZE Records, it was a triumph of experimental Christmas music.

Founded in 1978 by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban, ZE was one of the most popular rated labels, capturing the emerging New York sound of the period. They gained exposure through a distribution deal with Island Records. In fact, before long they had signed  such acts as Kid Creole, the Waitresses, Was (Not Was), Cristina, and James White. Called “the best independent record label in the world” and “the world’s most fashionable label,” they closed their doors in ‘84.

In 1981, ZE released a Christmas compilation album as a lark. Of course the album is noted for standout alternative tracks “Christmas Wrapping” and “Christmas on Riverside Drive.” Davitt Sigerson’s “It’s a Big Country” is a folksy little ditty that plays as a newsletter of sorts, tucked into a Christmas card. Unfortunately, some of the songs don’t quite hit as hard. Suicide’s “Hey, Lord” is a depressing number and Alan Vega’s “No More Christmas Blues” feels like just the opposite.

Synthesizer? Yep. Funk rhythms? Got ‘em. Bummer Christmas songs? For sure! So grab your record player, put “A Christmas Record,” and listen to this episode!

Sounds of Christmas
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Holly Jolly X’masu
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What’s up, dudes? Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa and Sean Sotka from the Christmas Podcasts Podcast join me to talk all about 1980’s “The Christmas Raccoons!” It’s an ”Inception”-like dream/reality hybrid of pink aardvarks lumber barons and talking raccoons. It’s also Canadian and narrated by Rich Little.

The trees begin to disappear rapidly. Someone is cutting them down, and Ranger Dan has to solve the mystery. As he goes off into the wilderness leaving his poor children at home, some plucky raccoons soon find their own dwelling chopped. Ralph, Melissa, and lazy Bert were decorating for Christmas too. What a shame.

As they investigate, they mistake the ranger’s children for the tree cutters and sneak into their cabin. It turns out, however, that the culprit is Cyril Sneer. The raccoons, along with their new sheepdog friend Schaeffer ambush Cyril, and get him to discontinue his assault on the Forest. Subsequently they move into the tree in front of the cabin.

College educated nerdy son? Check. Raccoon stockings? Got ‘em. Christmas tree Yggdrasil upon which Midgard hangs as an ornament? Definitely! So grab your coat, put on your scarf, and sled down to this episode on “The Christmas Raccoons!”

Christmas Podcasts Podcast
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What’s up, dudes? They say the sequels are never as good as the first. I think The Empire Strikes Back proves them wrong…but Band Aid II doesn’t. I have music journalist Alex Rawls from The Twelve Songs of Christmas and My Spilt Milk with me to talk all about the second version of the charity song done in 1989! Spoilers: it’s not as good as the first, but it’s still fun!

On Friday, December 1, 1989, Bob Geldof called Pete Waterman to ask if he would consider producing a new version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas.” Waterman was part of The Hit Factory, a production team made up of himself, Mike Stock, and Matt Aiken. They were known for hi-NRG or Eurobeat style, with tempos usually somewhere between 102-140bpm, four-to-the-floor kick drums, staccato hi-hat, and bass lines frequently looped with fast eighth or sixteenth notes doubled at the octave. In fact, they produced 13 UK #1 singles and 3 US #1s. Waterman even postponed his wedding and rallied several artists together.

Subsequently, on Sunday, December 3rd, the assembled artists recorded at PWL Studios in South London. Bob Geldof and family were present. On Tuesday, December 5th, the updated version was played for the first time on London’s Capital Radio, 95.8 Capital FM. Advanced sales reached 500,000 copies, and the single was officially released on December 11th. It spent 3 weeks at #1, though Band Aid’s original hit spent 5 weeks at #1 and sold over 2 million copies (which was approximately $24million in sales).

Kylie Minogue? Check. Bros? Yep. Cliff Richard? A little out of place, but he was definitely there! So grab your denim jacket, put on an uptempo kick drum backing track, and jam out to this episode all about Band Aid II!

The 12 Songs of Christmas
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What’s up, dudes? They’re heroes in a half shell, and they’re green! That means it’s the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! I’ve got Tim Williams from 80’s Flick Flashback, Nicholas Pepin of Pop Culture Roulette, and Laramy Wells from Moving Panels here to talk with me about the mutated ninja Michaelangelo. Yes, it’s his Christmas adventure “The Christmas Aliens!”

In this one issue micro-series, Michaelangelo is exploring the streets of New York during the holiday season. He stumbles upon a stray cat that he names Klunk. Mike decides to do some last minute shopping and heads downtown, which is teeming with fellow shoppers. With a  precarious disguise, the ninja goes into a toy shop and amuses himself with different items—much to Klunk’s dismay. Unsurprisingly, the scaredy cat runs off into the alley, and Mikey goes to find him, discovering some thugs hijacking a truck. Or course, the vehicle is full of “Little Orphan Alien” dolls which are going to be donated to an orphanage. The crooks don’t care about good will toward men, and they knock the driver unconscious and steal the truck, dolls and all.

Meanwhile, Klunk cries out and the burglars hear him. Consequently, the street toughs spot Mikey and open fire on him with their handguns. The ninja takes out most of the hoodlums, who freak and flee in the truck. He manages to hop inside the back of the vehicle as it speeds away and get the better of the thieves, deciding to drive the truck to the orphanage himself. Unfortunately, despite his good intentions, the police are looking for the vehicle and when they spot it, a chase ensues. Mikey manages to elude the police, but not before he accidentally destroys public property. Once he’s escaped the fuzz, he stashes the truck away in an alley. The toys will be impounded as evidence, so the orphans won’t receive them in time for Christmas. Mikey gets his brothers to distribute the toys to the orphans.

‘80s punks? Yep. Lots of snowfall? It’s Christmas, after all. Armed robbery? Of course! So put on your Santa suit and mask, grab your nunchucks, and stop some crime to this Ninja Turtle Christmas episode!

80’s Flick Flashback
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Pop Culture Roulette
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Moving Panels
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What’s up, dudes? Merry Dinosaur Day! Shawn Robare from Cult Film Club, Crestwood House, and Plastic Rocket Pop and I talk the 1987 cartoon “Dinosaucers!” It’s good dinos versus evil tyrannos as two dinosaur alien factions fight for freedom!

It’s Dinosaur Day on Reptilon, and the Dinosaucers are set to return to their home planet for the celebration. The Tyrannos decide to spoil it for Bonehead by telling him Stego-Claws isn’t real. Consequently, the dejected dino refuses to go back home for the holiday. Luckily. He’s visited by the actual Stego-Claws who takes him and David on a trip to deliver presents on Reptilon in his sledosaucer pulled by Rude Ralph the red-nosed rhamphorhynchus.

The Tyrannos ambush the trio at Stego-Claws’s workshop. Using furball elves and Bonehead’s devolved pachycephalosaur self, the trio escapes and delivers presents to good dinosaucers. At another house, they again encounter the Tyrannos, and again, with Stego-Claws’s magic, they defeat them. Bonehead and David return to Earth, and, with renewed belief, Bonehead joins his friends for Dinosaur Day.

Stego-Claws? Check. Rude Ralph? Yep. Saucertoe? Well, they don’t have missiles on Reptilon! So put your finger aside your snout, hop in your sledosaucer, and fly to this Dinosaucers Christmas episode!

Cult Film Club
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What’s up, dudes? We interrupt your regularly scheduled summer day to bring you this special news bulletin! Yes, Mike Westfal of  Advent Calendar House and Tim Babb from Can’t Wait for Christmas are one the scene with me to talk all about the 1989 “Sesame Street News Flash: Santa Claus” sketch!

From episode 2592 of season 20, this three minute news flash sees ace reporter Kermit the Frog attempt to catch Santa in the act of delivering presents on Christmas Eve. The sketch was directed by Jon Stone, and was originally titled ‘A Clean Sweep.’ Our green correspondent hides behind a family’s Christmas tree, and springs into action upon hearing a noise from the chimney. To his great surprise, a “Bert from Mary Poppins”-esque chimney cleaner, C. Sweep, tumbles out of the fireplace. Apparently he was hired to unclog the chimney! And on Christmas Eve of all times!

Kermit admonishes the Victorian London sweep and encourages him to clean the chimney post haste! Unwittingly, C. Sweep clears the obstruction, and out pops Santa Claus himself! This is why Gary Shandling greases his chimney. Santa immediately sits to rest, and Sweep jumps on his lap and starts reciting his Christmas list. Kermit gets dragged into the whole charade. It’s almost as wacky as the time Kermit saw the holiday mascots get mixed up.

Mandatory Jerry Nelson voice? Yep. Anything muppets? Sweep and Santa, of course. Flustered flippers? Only Kermit’s! So grab your microphone, hide behind a Christmas tree, and help a chimney sweep unclog this episode about “Sesame Street News Flash: Santa Claus!”

Advent Calendar House
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Can’t Wait for Christmas
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What’s up, dudes? Christmas is a time for feasting!  I’ve got Glen Warren from Season’s Eatings here with me to discuss 1989’s The Treasury of Christmas Recipes from Your Favorite Brand Name Companies! What an interesting cookbook from a remarkable era!

The entire project was published by Publications International, Ltd., founded in 1967 by Louis Weber. The company publishes books and educational products in many categories, including virtual reality and other interactive learning experiences, reference, leisure, inspirational, automotive, and sports. The cookbook is divided into 7 sections: 1) Appetizers, Soups & Beverages; 2) Breads & Coffee Cakes; 3) Salads & Side Dishes; 4) Main Dishes; 5) Desserts; 6) Cookies & Candies; and 7) Gifts From The Kitchen.

The recipes are taken from those published by quite a few brand name companies in various magazines. Some of the more notable entries are by Dole, Hershey, Keebler, and Kraft. Quaker Oats and Borden even get in on the action. There are even a few by various associations and boards.

From Cherry Pecan Poundcake to Lemon Broiled Fish, from Ginger Pineapple Mold to Glazed Stuffed Cornish Hens, this book is peak ‘80s food! Many recipes even include adaptations for using a microwave instead of the stove or oven! Oh, the Best Brownies recipe is dynamite!

Cranberry Holiday Ring? Check. Eggnog Pie? Got it. Kahlua Hot Spiced Apple Cider? What in the…? So grab your bread, make some broccoli cheese soup, and bake some artichoke squares to this episode all about the Treasury of Christmas Recipes!

Season’s Eatings
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What’s up, dudes? The Christmas release “Clue” is soooo good that I have to cover it again! This time I’ve got Matt Spaulding from North Pole Radio and Ken Kessler from Sounds of Christmas with me to solve the mystery!

When six strangers are invited to a mysterious mansion for dinner, murder is on the menu. Mr. Boddy, the host, is blackmailing all of them, from the jealous wife to the adulterous doctor to the maid’s employer. One by one others arrive at the house only to be picked off as they’re implicated as blackmail accomplices. With three different endings, the movie answers the questions of who killed Mr. Boddy, and where, and with what.

The December release quickly became a cult classic. Jeff interviews cast and crew from Leslie Ann Warren and Michael McKean to director Jonathan Lynn. What was the enigmatic fourth ending? How did Jonathan Lynn end up writing the script? Why weren’t the characters wearing the colors of their game counterparts?

Blackmail? Yep. Murder? Of course. Flames on the side of my face? Only if Madeline Kahn is saying it. So grab your revolver, shoot the singing telegram, and run from room to room listening to this episode!

Clue: The Movie Podcast
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
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What’s up, dudes? The orange cat is back! Yes, Art Kilmer from A Cozy Christmas is back with me to talk all about Garfield in the sweltering heat. It’s another Christmas in July, as Garfield, Odie, and Jon put up some decorations and get in the holiday spirit to cool down. Yes! It’s the Garfield and Friends episode “Heatwave Holiday!”

Garfield and gang suffer from the hottest July ever. He fills up a kiddie pool, gets his swimsuit on, jumps in, and hits the ground because the water evaporated. Deciding to “think cool,” he uses the fridge and sets the automatic ice maker to the blizzard setting, blanketing the yard with snow. Jon agrees to Garfield’s plan, grabs the Christmas decorations, and trims the tree. He even hangs lights on the house!

His neighbors across the street and try to outdo Jon with decorations. Soon the entire neighborhood follows suit, and shortly after  the whole town is decked out for Christmas! Eventually Jon and the pets exchange presents, but before they go caroling, an urgent tv bulletin states merely that “it is not Christmas.” A little heartbroken, Jon turns off the tv, and decides to turn in.

As Garfield sleeps, he’s awoken by the sound of sleighbells. He investigates, runs into Santa leaving presents under the tree, and tells him that it’s not Christmas, then heads back to bed realizing that of all people, Santa should know better. Santa flies off laughing

Giant dog bone? Check. Dope Christmas light display? Yep. Super duper fridge ice maker? With enough snow to make a snowman! So grab your decorations, trim your tree, and cool down to this episode on Garfield and Friends “Heatwave Holiday!”

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