Playlist for 1/2

Geese - Getting Killed

Last Dinner Party - From the Pyre 

Steve Martin & Alison Brown - Safe, Sensible & Sane

Chrissie Hynde - Duets Special

Vince Gill - I Gave You Everything I Had/Secondhand Smoke

Willie Nelson - Workin' Man 

Bruce Springsteen - Electric Nebraska 

Elvis Presley - King In The Ring

Sam Fender - People Watching

Lily Allen - West End Girl 

Dijon - Baby

Miguel - Caos

Macis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World 

Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Vol. 18 Highlights

Carl Perkins - Some Things Never Change 

Florence & The Machine - Everybody Scream

Luke Bell - The King is Back

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025 Film) 

Latest Podcast Appearance (Rock in Retrospect Podcast)

 I joined the Rock in Retrospect podcast to predict and discuss potential 2026 Rock Hall nominees.  Yes, it's that time of the year again. 4 other folks joined me and host Nick Bambach.  

Rock in Retrospect

Intro to My New 2026 Monthly Post: Ranking Album Tracks

  I enjoyed doing this project in 2025 that I've decided to continue it in 2026.

  Intro to Ranking:  Since this is the first in a monthly series I want to give a brief history of my album listening habits.  The 1980's was the decade where I started to buy more albums than singles.  This mostly had to do with finances. So, I was still buying singles for the most part over albums.  I turned 18 in May 1982, and started working more.  Which means more money.  Not that I wasn't buying albums before the 80's.  I worked part-time in the late 70's and able to buy an album here and there.  The first albums I bought were in 1976.  I think the first was the Bee Gees' comeback one, Main Course.  Until 1982 it was mostly singles.  And I still bought them until the late 80's, but not as much.  Also, as I got older my listening interests changed.  It wasn't just the latest albums at the top of the charts that interested me, but other genres.  Country, Indie Rock, Alt-Rock, Rap were growing during the 80's.  I also subscribed to more music magazines, read more music books and watched more videos (MTV, VH1) in the 80's.  

  What I'm going to do in this series is spotlight some of my most played albums.  And rank the songs from them. 

Poll: December 1979 Songs

  December 1979.  Disco on its last legs.  But you wouldn't know that by looking at the list of songs below.  This chart is dominated by AC songs.  

Pop Radio Gold

"Rock With You", Michael Jackson : 1
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", Michael Jackson : 2
"I Wanna Be Your Lover", Prince : 3
"Ladies Night", Kool & the Gang : 4
"Cruisin'", Smokey Robinson : 5
"This Is It", Kenny Loggins : 6
"Don't Do Me Like That", Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers : 7
"Rise", Herb Alpert : 8
"Please Don't Go", KC & the Sunshine Band : 9
"Pop Muzik", M : 10
"Jane", Jefferson Starship : 11
"Heartache Tonight", Eagles : 12
"Dreaming", Blondie : 13
"Tusk", Fleetwood Mac : 14
"You're Only Lonely", J.D. Souther : 15
"We Don't Talk Anymore", Cliff Richard : 16
"The Long Run", Eagles : 17
"Still", Commodores : 18
"Escape (The Pina Colada Song)", Rupert Holmes : 19
"Cool Change", Little River Band : 20
"Coward Of The County", Kenny Rogers : 21
"Sara", Fleetwood Mac : 22
"Do You Love What You Feel", Rufus & Chaka : 23
"Forever Mine", O'Jays : 24
"Dim All The Lights", Donna Summer : 25
"Babe", Styx : 26
"Head Games", Foreigner : 27
"You Decorated My Life", Kenny Rogers : 28
"Do That To Me One More Time", Captain & Tennille : 29
"Take The Long Way Home", Supertramp : 30
"Send One Your Love", Stevie Wonder : 31
"Ships", Barry Manilow : 32
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer : 33
"Broken Hearted Me", Anne Murray : 34
"Half The Way", Crystal Gayle : 35
"Better Love Next Time", Dr. Hook : 36
"If You Remember Me", Chris Thompson & Night : 37
"I Want You Tonight", Pablo Cruise : 38

Playlist: Christmas Albums 2025

Kenny Burrell - Have Yourself A Soulful Little Christmas 

Merry Cajun Christmas - Various

Roberta Flack - Holidays

Brad Paisley - Snow Globe Town 

Chess Records Christmas Album - Various

Trisha Yearwood - Christmastime

Top Christmas Songs (2025 Edition)

Below is a list of some of my favorite Christmas songs. There may be multiple versions of the same song, by different artists.  

1. Bing Crosby - White Christmas
2. Nat "King" Cole - The Christmas Song
3. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas
4. Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas
5. Judy Garland - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
6. Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock
7. Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
8. Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
9. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby
10. Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
11. Harry Simeone Chorale - Little Drummer Boy
12. Jimmy Durante - Frosty The Snowman
13. Vince Guaraldi Trio- Linus and Lucy 
14. Burl Ives - Holly Jolly Christmas
15. Gene Autry - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
16. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
17. Drifters - White Christmas
18. Charles Brown - Please Come Home For Christmas
19. Andy Williams - It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
20.Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
21. Dean Martin - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
22. Bing Crosby - Silent Night
23. Elvis Presley - Silver Bells
24. Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
25. Carpenters - Merry Christmas Darling
26. Aretha Franklin - Winter Wonderland
27. Andy Williams - Happy Holidays
28. David Bowie/Bing Crosby - Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy
29. Gene Autry - Here Comes Santa Claus
30. Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York 
31. Roy Orbison- Pretty Paper
32. Wham - Last Christmas
33. Vaughn Monroe - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
34. Darlene Love - Marshmallow World
35. Johnny Mathis - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
36. Chuck Berry - Run Run Rudolph
37. Elvis Presley - Santa Claus Is Back In Town
38. Whitney Houston - Do You Hear What I Hear?
39. Jimmy Boyd - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.  
40. James Brown - Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto
41. Gene Autry - Here Comes Santa Claus
42. Leroy Anderson- Sleigh Ride
43. Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
44. Elvis Presley - Merry Christmas Baby
45. Luther Vandross - O Come All Ye Faithful
46. Nat "King" Cole - O Tannenbaum
47. Joni Mitchell - River
47. Perry Como - Home For The Holidays
48. Bing Crosby - I'll Be Home For Christmas
49. Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis
50. Stevie Wonder - Someday At Christmas  
51.  John Denver & Muppets - 12 Days of Christmas
52. Thurl Ravenscroft - You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch                                                     
53. John Lennon - Happy Xmas
54. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
55. Barry Gordon - Nuttin' For Christmas
56. Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
57. Crystals - Parade of the Wooden Soldiers
58. Merle Haggard - If We Make It Through December
59. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
60. Nat "King" Cole - O Little Town of Bethlehem
61. Spike Jones - All I Want For Christmas
62. Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa
63. Jackie Wilson - O Holy Night
64. Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
65. Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas
66. Vanessa Williams - What Child Is This?
67. Jackie Wilson- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
68. Frank Sinatra - The First Noel
69. Barbra Streisand - Ave Maria
70. Nat "King" Cole - Hark The Herald Angels Sing
71. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here
72. Angela Lansbury and Cast - We Need A Little Christmas
73. Ray Parker Jr. - Christmas Time Is Here
74. Elvis Presley - Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
75. Nat "King Cole" - I Saw Three Ships
76. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Deck The Halls
77. Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne
78. Madonna - Santa Baby
79. Harry Belafonte - Mary's Boy Child
80. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
81.  Buck Owens - Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy
82. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime
83. Elvis Presley - If I Get Home On Christmas Day
84. Aretha Franklin - Joy To The World
85. Windham Hill Artists - Carol of the Bells
86. Eagles - Please Come Home For Christmas
87. George Strait - Away in A Manger
88. Alabama - Christmas In Dixie
89. Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Jordan - Baby It's Cold Outside
90. Pretenders - 2000 Miles
91. Louis Armstrong - 'Zat You Santa Claus?
92. Johnny Mathis - My Favorite Things
93. Chipmunks - Chipmunk Song
94. Robert Earl Keen - Merry Christmas From The Family
95. Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree
96. Bobby Lloyd and the Skeletons - Do You Hear What I Hear/You Really Got Me
97. Johnny Mathis - Caroling Caroling/Happy Holidays
98. Mills Brothers - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
99. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
100. Randy Travis - Old Time Christmas
101. Oak Ridge Boys - Thank God For Kids
102. Prince - Another Lonely Christmas
103. Kenny Loggins - Celebrate Me Home
104. Elmo & Patsy - Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
105. Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans - Bells of St. Mary
106. Mabel Scott - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus
107. Hall & Oates - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
108. Fred Waring - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas
109. Miles Davis - Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)
110. Michael Buble - Grown Up Christmas List
111.  Billy Squier - Christmas Is The Time To Say "I Love You"
112. Temptations - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
113. Jimmy Buffett - Christmas Island
114. Detroit Junior - Christmas Day
115. Weird Al Yankovic - Christmas At Ground Zero
116. Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas
118. Bryan Adams - Christmas Time
119.  Alexander O'Neal - My Gift To You
120. Bing Crosby & Andrew Sisters - Mele Kalikimaka
121. Frank Sinatra - Mistletoe and Holly
122. Roches - Here We Come A Carolling
123. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - Christmas Without You
124. Emmylou Harris - Christmas Time's A-Coming
125.  Darlene Love - All Alone At Christmas
126.  Gayla Peevey - I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
127.  John Mellencamp - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
128.  Luciano Pavarotti - Adeste Fideles
129.  Gene Autry - Up On The Housetop                
130.  Tom Petty - Christmas All Over Again
131. Trans Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon
132. Nsync - Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
133. Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means To Me 
134. Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me
135. Counting Crows - A Long December
136. Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'
137. Kenny Rogers - Kids
138. Sounds of Blackness - Soul Holidays
139. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
140. Pentatonix - That's Christmas To Me
141. Kinks - Father Christmas
142. La Rondallita - El Burrito de Belen
143. Andrea Bocelli - Angels We Have Heard On High
144. Faith Hill - Where Are You Christmas 
145. James Taylor - Go Tell It On The Mountain
146. John Prine - Christmas In Prison

147. Alan Jackson - Let It Be Christmas

148. Kay Starr - Man With The Bag

149. Dick Shawn - Snow Miser Song

150. Tracey Thorn - Joy

151. El DeBarge - Christmas Without You

152. Raveonettes - The Christmas Song

153. Low - Just Like Christmas

154. Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes

155. Irish Rovers - Good King Wenceslas

156. Emotions - What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas Eve

157. Roger Miller - Old Toy Trains

158. Bob Seger - Sock It To Me Santa

159. George Jones & Tammy Wynette - Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus

160. Ventures - Sleigh Ride

161.  Zach Schmidt - I'm Drunk Again This Christmas

162. NRBQ - Christmas Wish

163. Elvis Presley - If Every Day Was Like Christmas

164. Everly Brothers -  Christmas Eve Can Kill You

165. George Strait - Christmas Cookies

166. Youngsters - Christmas In Jail

167. O'Jays - Christmas Ain't Christmas

168. Johnny Mathis - When A Child Is Born

169. Jim Croce - It Doesn't Have To Be That Way

170. David Lasley - This Christmas, This Year

171.  Huey "Piano" Smith - Silent Night

172. Leona Lewis - One More Sleep

173. Sia - Snowman

174. Earth, Wind & Fire - Happy Seasons

175. Pet Shop Boys - It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas

176. Jerry Butler - Little Red Shoes

177. Clarence Reid - Winter Man

178. Ramones - Merry Christmas 

179. Mavis Staples - Christmas Vacation

180. Shirley Booth & Mickey Rooney - Year Without Santa Claus

181. Billy Ward & His Dominoes - Christmas In Heaven  (Jackie Wilson lead vocals)

182. Chris Rea - Driving Home for Christmas 

183. Nick Lowe - Christmas At The Airport

184. Peggy Lee - Christmas Spell

185. Taylor Swift - Christmas Tree Farm

186. Moonglows - Hey Santa Claus

187. Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas

188. Frank Sinatra - Christmas Waltz

189. Isaac Hayes - Mistletoe and Me

190. Rufus Thomas - I'll Be Your Santa Baby

191.  Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again

192.  Leadbelly - On A Christmas Day

193.  Samara Joy - Warm In Christmas

194. Ed Sheeran & Elton John - Merry Christmas 

195. Cold Crew - Rappin’ Christmas

Tom’s Top Albums/Songs/Reissues of 2025

 Albums

1. Tyler Childers - Snipe Hunter 

2. Lily Allen - West End Girl  

3. Craig Finn - Always Been 

4. Margo Price - Hard Headed Woman 

5. Jason Isbell - Foxes In The Snow 

6. Wet Leg - Moisturizer 

7. Brandi Carlile - Returning to Myself 

8. Amanda Shires - Nobody's Girl  

9. War and Treaty - Plus One  

10. Haim - I Quit 

11. Willi Carlisle - Winged Victory

12. Charley Crockett - Dollar A Day

13. James McMurtry - Black Dog and the Wandering Boy

14. S.G. Goodman - Planting by the Signs

15. Rodney Crowell - Airline Highway

16. Molly Tuttle - So Long Little Miss Sunshine

17. Mavis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World 

18. Alison Krauss - Arcadia

19. Luke Bell - The King Is Back

20. Kathleen Edwards - Billionaire

Songs

1. Chappell Roan - The Subway/The Giver

2. Lola Young - Messy

3. Wet Leg - Catch These Fists

4. Raye - Where Is My Husband

5. Sabrina Carpenter - Manchild/Tears

6. KPop Demon Hunters - Golden

7. Olivia Dean - Man I Need 

8. Taylor Swift - Fate of Ophelia

9.  Ella Langley - Choosin’ Texas 

10.  Lady Gaga - Abracadabra

Reissues

1. Rilo Kiley - That's How We Choose To Remember It (Saddle Creek)

2. Neil Sedaka - Sedaka's Back (Neil Sedaka Music reissue)

3. Elvis Presley - Sunset Boulevard (RCA Box set)

4. Gamble & Huff Songbook - Various (Ace)

5. Jingle Jangle Morning-The 1960's US Folk Rock Explosion (Cherry Red Box Set)

Ranking: Songs from Alexander O'Neal - Hearsay (87)

   Hearsay just might be my favorite R&B album of the 80's.  The second album from O'Neal, written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, hits all the right buttons of mid-80's R&B.  Vocally, O'Neal never sounded better and thanks to some top notch songs everyone rises to new heights.  O'Neal never topped this album and his career steadily went downhill after this album.  But for 2 albums, his debut and this one, he was a new kind of R&B singer to rally behind.  Tough, tender all wrapped up in a unique voice.

1,  Fake

2.  Criticize

3.  What Can I Say To Make You Love Me

4.  Sunshine

5.  Never Knew Love Like This Before w/Cherrelle

6.  When The Party's Over

7.  The Lovers

8.  Crying Overtime

9.  Hearsay