Latest Podcast Appearance (Rock In Retrospect)

  Once again I jumped on Nick Bambach's excellent podcast, Rock In Retrospect.  This time we discussed the recent Netflix documentary, Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley.  Good Elvis doc.

Return of the King: Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley

Songs About Elvis Presley

Updated January 2025

There have been more songs written about Elvis Presley than any other performer.   No surprise since he's one of the most important musicians of all time. But doing research for this post, even I couldn't believe how many songs about Elvis have been released.  Im missing a lot of songs. I can't claim that all the ones  listed below are stellar.  A lot of tribute records can be pretty mawkish, no matter the subject.  But there's certainly many good ones and at the very least, interesting takes on Elvis' legacy.

Billy Burnette - Today Is Elvis' Birthday

Bob Dylan - Went To See The Gypsy

Bobby Bare (as Bill Parsons) - All American Boy
Bruce Springsteen - Come On (Let's Go Tonight)
Bruce Springsteen - Johnny Bye Bye

Bryan Adams - Hey Elvis 

Carmella Rosella - Oh It Was Elvis

Chris Wall - Half Of What Killed Elvis
Confederate Railroad - Elvis and Andy

Danny Mirror - I Remember Elvis Presley

Dead Milkmen - Going to Graceland
Dire Straits - Calling Elvis

Dolly Parton & Ronnie McDowell - I Dreamed About Elvis
Elton John - Porch Swing in Tupelo

Fatboy - What Would Elvis Do?

Florence + The Machine - Morning Elvis

Frankie Allan - Just A Country Boy

George Jones - King Is Gone
George Michael - John and Elvis Are Dead

Gillian Welch - Elvis Presley Blues

Hayden Thompson - Boy from Tupelo

James Brown - Love Me Tender (A remake, but first 30 seconds JB talks about his love for Elvis)
Janis Martin - My Boy Elvis
J.D. Sumner - Elvis Has Left The Building
Jerry Reed - Tupelo Mississippi Flash

Jillian Cardarelli - If I Could Talk To Elvis
Jim Ford - Story of Elvis Presley

Jimmy Webb - Elvis and Me

John Fogerty - Big Train
John Hiatt - Riding With The King
John Hiatt - Tennessee Plates

Johnny Earle - Private Elvis
Kacey Musgraves - Velvet Elvis

Kate Bush - King of the Mountain
Kenny Chesney - Jesus and Elvis
Lalo Guerrero - Elvis Perez

Lana Del Rey - Elvis 

Lenny LeBlanc - Hound Dog Man

Link Davis - Trucker from Tennessee

Link Wray - It Was Elvis

Lisa Marie Presley - Lights Out

Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis

Margo Price - Long Live The King

Merle Haggard - From Graceland to the Promised Land
Mojo Nixon - (619) 239-KING
Mojo Nixon - Elvis Is Everywhere
Neil Young - He Was The King

Nuns - Elvis Said
Odie Palmer - Letter to Elvis

Patty Loveless - I Try To Think About Elvis

Paul Simon - Graceland

Phil Lynott - King’s Call
Ray Stevens - Mama's In The Sky With Elvis

Richard Thompson - From Galway to Graceland 

Ronnie McDowell - The King Is Gone

Sonny Cole - I Dreamed I Was Elvis

Sonny Fisher - I Miss You Elvis
Stan Freberg - Heartbreak Hotel

Steve Forbert - House of Cards
Steve Goodman - Elvis Imitators

Stray Cats - Elvis On Velvet

T M Hanna - I Saw Elvis At The K-mart
Unknown (Jimmy Fields) - I Have Returned

U2 - Elvis Presley & America

Wall of Voodoo - Elvis Bought Dora A Cadillac

Wanda Jackson - I Wore Elvis' Ring
Warren Zevon - Jesus Mentioned
Warren Zevon - Porcelain Monkey

Weeklings - Little Elvis

Latest Podcast Appearance (Rock in Retrospect)

 I joined the Rock in Retrospect podcast to predict and discuss the 2025 Rock Hall nominees.  Yes, it's that time of the year again. 4 other folks joined me and host Nick Bambach.  

Rock In Retrospect 2025 Rock Hall Predictions

Playlist for 1/2

Elton John's Rocket Hour (Apple Radio Weekly Show)

Elton John: Never Too Late (2024 Doc)

Soulful. Christmas (Solar Sunrise Radio Show)

Here, There and Everywhere: Black America Sings the Beatles - Various (Ace)

Cosmic American Music: Motel California - Various (Numero Group)

Lou Donaldson - Blues Walk

McCoy Tyner & Joe Henderson - Forces of Nature

Roy Haynes - Out of the Afternoon

George Jones - Lost Nashville Sessions

Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes

Father John Misty - Mahashmahashana

Intro to My New 2025 Monthly Post: Ranking Album Tracks

  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.  One reason the 80's will dominate this series is because of my own record collection in that era.  Not as vast as it is now.  Streaming?  No, you had to buy the album or borrow it from a friend, library.  Maybe find them at a Thrift Store or used Record Shop.  There weren't many of those where I lived in the 80's (and still do today).

Playlist for 12/21 (Christmas Albums)

Little Big Town - Christmas Record

Jennifer Hudson - Gift Of Love

Dwight Yoakam - Come On Christmas

John Anderson - Christmas Time

Four Tops - Christmas Here With You

Jimmy Fallon - Holiday Seasoning

Gladys Knight & the Pips - Classic Christmas Album

Connie Francis - Christmas In My Heart

An Austin Rhythm & Blues Christmas - Various

Phil Manzanera & Andy Mackay - Christmas

Asleep at the Wheel - Merry Texas Christmas Y'All

Arthur Fiedler/Boston Pops - Pops Christmas Party

Brooks & Dunn - It Won't Be Christmas Without You

 

Tom's Top Albums/Songs/Reissues of 2024

  It's impossible to hear every new release/song/reissue that comes out in a single year.  So, consider these lists as snapshots of my 2024.  I'm sure I've missed a lot of records.  I'm still discovering records from decades ago that I've never heard before.  But the ones listed below were all solid 2024 releases. 

Albums

1.  Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft

2.  Sierra Ferrell - Trail of Flowers

3.  Chappell Roan - Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess (2023)

4.  Mavericks - Moon & Stars

5.  Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Woodland

6.  Charli XCX - Brat

7.  Miranda Lambert - Postcards from Texas

8.  Waxahatchee - Tigers Blood

9.  Carly Pearce - Hummingbird

10. Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well 

11. Brittany Howard - What Now

12. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

13. Jack White - No Name

14. Billy Strings - Highway Prayers

15. Paranoid Style - The Interrogator

16. Johnny Blue Skies  (Sturgill Simpson) - Passage du Desir

17. Old 97's - American Primitive

18. Willie Nelson - Last Leaf on the Tree

19. Michael Kiwanuka - Small Changes

20. Secret Sisters - Mind, Man, Medicine

21. Zach Bryan - Great American Bar Scene 

22. Mickey Guyton - House on Fire

23. Brittney Spencer - My Stupid Life

24. Richard Thompson - Ship to Shore

25. Father John Misty - Mahashmashana

26. Sabrina Carpenter - Short n’ Sweet

27. Samara Joy - Portrait

28. Unholy Modal Rounders - Unholier Than Thou: 7/7/77

29. Wonder Women Of Country (Kelly Willis, Melissa Carper, Brennen Leigh) - s/t

30. Adrianne Lenker - Bright Future

31. John Moreland - Visitor

32. JD McPherson - Nite Owls

33. Charley Crockett - $10 Cowboy

34. Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More

35. Linda Thompson - Proxy Music

36. Zach Top - Cold Beer & Country Music

37. Willi Carlisle - Critterland

Songs

1. Shaboozey - A Bar Song

2. Billie Eilish - Birds of A Feather

3. Sabrina Carpenter - Taste

4. Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

5. Chappell Roan - Good Luck Babe

6. Teddy Swims - Lose Control

7. Benson Boone - Beautiful Things

8. Hozier - Too Sweet

9. Gracie Abrams - I Love You, I'm Sorry

10. Ella Langley & Riley Green - You Look Like You Love Me

11. Charli XCX - Apple

12. Al Green - Everybody Hurts

13. Charli XCX - 360

14. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile

15. Maxwell - Simply Beautiful

16. Chris Stapleton - Think I'm In Love With You

17. Waxahatchee & MJ Lenderman - Rght Back To It 

18. Muni Long - Ruined Me

19. Rose & Bruno Mars - APT

20. Tommy Richman - Million Dollar Baby 

21. Post Malone & Morgan Wallen - I Had Some Help

22. Sierra Ferrell - I Could Drive You Crazy

23. Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well

24. Lemon Twigs - My Golden Years 

25. Eric Church - Darkest Hour

26. Coco Jones - Here We Go

27. Lenny Kravitz - Human 

28. Kendrick Lamar - Luther

Reissues

1. New Jill Swing - Various (Ace)

2. Thom Bell: Sound of Philadelphia Soul 1969-83 (Ace)

3. Lone Justice - Viva Lone Justice

4. Pour A Little Sugar on It: American Bubblegum 1966-71 - Various (Cherry Red)

5. Pushin' Too Hard: American Garage Punk 64-67 - Various (Strawberry)

6. Little Big Town - Greatest Hits

7. McCoy Tyner & Joe Henderson - Forces of Nature (Blue Note)

8.  Faces - At the BBC 70-73  (Rhino)

9.  Elvis Presley - Memphis  (Legacy) 

10. Music from Laurel Canyon 67-75 - Various (Grapefruit)

11. Jon Savage’s Secret Public 1955-79  - Various (Ace)

12. Earl Young Drum Sessions 1965-77 - Various (Ace)

13. New Guitars In Town: Power Pop 1978-82 - Various (Cherry Red)

Tom's Favorite Christmas Songs (Updated 2024 Edition)

Updated Christmas 2024 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. Ethiopians - Ding Dong Bell

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.  Cold Crew - Rappin' Christmas