Out East Soundtrack
The Ornaments
It's the most wonderful time of the year, which means our favorite purveyors of holiday cheer, The Ornaments, return for their traditional December residency perfoming the Vince Guaraldi Trio's A Charlie Brown Christmas. This year, Jen Gunderman, James Haggerty, and Martin Lynds — known to kids of all ages as The Ornaments — bring the tradition full circle, as it were. 'Twas a Christmas long, long ago when they first played the holiday classic at the original incarnation of The Family Wash. As word spread, the audiences increased and they added more shows.
After a run at version two of The Family Wash, The Ornaments took their show to 3rd & Lindsley in order to accomodate the larger audiences. Then, due to the pandemic, last year's show was held virtually from the Instrumenthead Live studios. This year, they'll be back home for the holidays at The Wash at Eastside Bowl beginning on December 17. In the meantime, Jen (JG), Hags (JH), and Marty (ML) were kind enough to share some of their holiday favorites with us for this round of the "Out East Soundtrack."
Curated by Andrew Leahey & Jay Dmuchowski
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“Silent Night”
Solomon Burke (1982)
The first time I heard this, when the audience/choir joined in singing and Burke started preaching, I burst into tears; it was so beautiful and unexpected. (JG)
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“Silent Night” Jon Byrd (2017)
This song about a song has become one of my very favorite Christmas songs and just songs period. You can really identify with it as a road musician, but I think it applies to anyone around the holidays who can appreciate—and has the good fortune—to be able to slow down for a minute, turn it all off, and try to remember what really matters. (ML)
“The Christmas Song”
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 (1968)
One day while rummaging at the Salvation Army store on Nolensville Road I was lucky enough to score this record, Something Festive, an A&M Christmas compilation in association with BF Goodrich with this song on it. I like to imagine the sessions in sunny L.A. and maybe cruising up the Pacific Coast Highway in a snappy top-down convertible with this as the soundtrack. (JH)
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“Christmas Wish” NRBQ (1985)
“I Hate Christmas” Oscar the Grouch (1975)
Things I remember from childhood Christmases in the 1970s: Rankin/Bass TV specials (and A Charlie Brown Christmas, of course), Christmas Eve church service candles dripping wax, silver tinsel on the tree, pineapple/ walnut cream cheese balls, and vinyl Christmas albums by Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, and Sesame Street. This song used to send my brother and me into fits of glee, even though it was years before I got the subversive “I’ll tell him where to leave his toys” lyric. (JG)
This track gives me the holiday warm and fuzzies every time. It conjures a lovely memory. In the late 90s, Joe, Marc’s Brother would do a Christmas show at 12th & Porter to benefit Toys for Tots. With the angels suspended on either side of the stage. We would do at least an hour of Christmas songs. Lots of guests and singalongs. It was probably ’97 or ’98 when we asked Joey Spampinato to join us for this one. I remember rehearsing with him in our basement. Joe thought he had the chords right. Joey showed him “how Al does it.” He picked up my P bass, and I grabbed a tambourine and some BGVs. At the gig, he brought his Danelectro. I played it for a minute and noticed a silver sharpie inscription on the back: “To my favorite bass player.” The signature was Paul McCartney. Merry Christmas, indeed! (JH)
“White Christmas” Bing Crosby (1942)
There’s a reason this song won an Academy Award, was featured in two films, (including one called White Christmas), and is the biggest selling single worldwide of all time. Nostalgia for an idealized Christmas past at its best, with a special connection to service members and others who can’t be home for the holidays. (JG)
“8 Days (of Hanukkah)”
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (2015)
You always hear that there aren’t any good Hanukkah songs, but I’m here to present Exhibit A. I love the School House Rock groove of this version that also reminds me of Archie Bell & the Drells’ “Tighten Up,” plus you learn a little something about Hanukkah. If this had been recorded in the 70s, kids everywhere would have been watching it in dark classrooms on “The Electric Company” on a wheeled-in TV while their teacher was nursing a hangover from the teachers’ holiday party. (ML)
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“Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy)” Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn (1960)
I love how these songs from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite” were turned on their head and taken way uptown by Ellington and arranger Billy Strayhorn, and especially this track. I always imagine that these sugar-plum fairies broke into the liquor cabinet before the holiday party. (ML)
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“Christmas Is” Lou Rawls (1967)
The vocal on this track kills me. To me it sounds like nighttime twinkly lights and hot toddies. The band swings like mad. I have happy memories of this song as a kid growing up in NY. It reminds me of snowy Manhattan and diner jukeboxes. His ad lib ho ho ho’s always make me smile. (JH)
“Skating”
Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965)
While “Linus and Lucy” is the most recognizable song from A Charlie Brown Christmas, and “Christmastime Is Here” is the most beautifully poignant, we agree that “Skating” captures the joy of the season like no other. (The Ornaments)
November | December 2021 theeastnashvillian.com
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