Daily Jam - Danny Says

Here's a track from the Ramones' Phil Spector produced "End of the Century" LP.  It seems the recording of the album was kind of a nightmare for the band since Spector was a certified crazy person, but it's one of my favs from them.  Listen to "Danny Says" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)

Here's some girl group wall-of-sound vibes to start your week to.  Listen to The Crystals' excellent, if not a little problematic, "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss)" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Baby, I Love You

At the end of the '70s, the Ramones recorded their fifth album with legendary studio producer and wall-of-sound creator Phil Spector.  Reportedly, the band was so afraid of him that they'd hide in the studio during the production because Spector carried a revolver with him that he liked to flash around.  I believe it.  Anyway, here's a track from "End of the Century."  Listen to the very Phil Spector sounding "Baby, I Love You" below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Be My Baby

I sure do love that '60s girl group sound, and maybe no one more so than the divine Ronnie Spector.  Here's The Ronettes with "Be My Baby," probably one of the greatest pop songs of all time, and our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

This column was originally published during Christmas of 2015. And while I do realize it's the middle of July now, I guess let's just let this one be for any of those crazy Christmas-In-July type people.

Full Disclosure: I am an atheist…and I LOVE Christmas.

I love the lights and the decorations. I love the cooler temperatures, the TV specials, the gaudy, inflatable, light-up crap people put up in their front yards (not in my yard though), the ugly sweaters, the food and gifts and family, and all the parties and festivities. Hell, I even like Christmas shopping. Finding something to give to a loved one makes me feel good. There’s just something about the whole season that gets under my skin and makes me happy, allows me to look past and ignore the commodification and consumerism and exploitation that come along with the holiday. I don’t care about all that. Nor do I care about any of the religious stuff surrounding the whole affair. Sure, it’s important stuff, especially with it actually being a religious holiday and all, but I’m more about the feelings of love and brotherhood and goodwill that are supposed to accompany it. I’m more about the good vibes and good tidings we’re all supposed to be putting out there. Give me that Christmas spirit. And give me Christmas music. I really love Christmas music. And maybe that makes me weird, but I don’t care.

(Gets off soapbox.)

If you’re looking for nostalgia in your music, it all starts with Christmas tunes. Listening to them, you’re either tapping into your own youthful memories with the songs of yore, or going even deeper into your parents’ nostalgia, jamming to the songs of your childhood as well as your parents’ childhood. It’s a kind of nostalgia for nostalgia, but not in a bad or culture-less way. Rather, it’s a line to connect generations with one another. That’s why most of the prevailing Christmas songs are so old, just modern acts of the time doing their own cover versions of decades old classics, a veritable succession of carols on repeat. But every generation seems to get to throw one new song into the Christmas cauldron, a song to stand the test of time. For better or worse, my generation’s contribution is either Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (a non-guilty pleasure) or Elmo and Patsy’s “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” (a sonic abomination). So let’s do this Christmas (in July) edition of Endless Loop on a song from parents’ generation instead. Let’s do my favorite Christmas song. Let’s do Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” from 1963’s A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records, or from Phil Spector, depending on which edition of the record you have.

I first heard the song in Joe Dante’s Gremlins, a kind of mean-spirited little anti-Christmas movie that anyone around in the 80’s (or even beyond that) probably has fond memories of. Nothing like a bunch of little monsters attacking a small town to bring out the Yuletide spirit. Ever since, the song has been knocking around in my brain, bubbling to the surface every December. Harnessing Phil Spector’s trademark Wall Of Sound and 1960’s girl group aesthetic, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is a pop song first and foremost, and a Christmas song second. Love’s vocals are filled to the very brim with affection and yearning, and paired with Spector’s glorious production, psychotic weirdo though he may be, make the song an instant classic. It belongs on every Christmas mixtape, every playlist, every record player whilst drinking coffee and opening presents, or driving around the city looking at all the lights, or sitting in front of a fireplace just letting the day and night pass.

Check it out below, our Daily Jam.

Daily Jam - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Like this wasn't going to be the song today, Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), our Daily Jam.

Sonic Advent Calendar: Day 4 - Winter Wonderland

I love Phil Spector's "A Christmas Gift for You" compilation featuring his wall of sound production on a slew of holiday staples and more.  And i love, love, love Darlene Love, her "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" being without question my favorite song of the season.  But don't ignore her other album contributions.  Check out her soaring version of "Winter Wonderland" below.

Sonic Advent Calendar: Day 8 - Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

The Phil Spector produced "A Christmas Gift for You" is easily my favorite Christmas record, so naturally it has to pop up somewhere.  Here's The Crystals' take on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

Sonic Advent Calendar: Day 16 - White Christmas

Did you know that Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best selling single of all time?  And by a large margin.  It's not even close.  Anyway, here's Darlene Love's take on the Christmas classic (with some updated lyrics for those living in LA) because i just can't get enough of that sweet, sweet wall of sound.

Sonic Advent Calendar: Day 11 - Sleigh Ride

This is the second time i'm hitting a track from "A Christmas Gift For You" for this Sonic Advent Calendar i'm doing...and probably not the last, but i'd argue it's the best holiday album ever produced...even if it was by a weirdo like Phil Spector.  Anyway, listen to "Sleigh Ride" by The Ronettes below.

Ring-a-ling-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding.

Sonic Advent Calendar: Day 2 - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

There's not much i can say about Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" that i haven't said before.  It's easily my favorite Christmas song of all time.  Listen below.