For The People (Music Related) Who Died (In 2018)

Pause & Play always has the best remembrance page for artists and music industry names who passed away.

RIP 2018 Music Related Names

Playlist for 12/27

1975 - Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships
Ruston Kelly - Dying Star
Mandy Barnett - Original Cast: Always Patsy Cline
Jeff Tweedy - Warm
Doug Paisley - Starter Home
Arthur Buck - s/t
Anderson.Paak - Oxnard
H.E.R. - s/t

My Childhood Christmas Memories

My Dad had a handful of vinyl LP's that he played at Christmas.  Until I got older and brought my own CD's to our Holiday get together, his albums were the only ones I heard.  For many years.
Elvis being the the King in our house as well, his two Christmas albums (from 1957 and 1971) got the most plays.  The other three or four were from Country singers (Merle Haggard, a Country compilation) and Pop singers like Engelbert Humperdinck.

Of all those, the one that always got played, even when I would bring my own Xmas albums, was Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas from 1971.  There are 11 songs on it, and a few keepers: "It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)", "If I Get Home On Christmas Day", and the masterpiece, a 7 minute bluesy, down home and slightly dirty version of "Merry Christmas Baby", with James Burton providing stinging guitar.  Everyone should hear it once in their life.

My Mom was German, so we celebrated the Holiday on Christmas Eve.

So, every year I still play both Elvis Christmas albums, but it's the 1971 release that triggers memories of sitting in a crowded living room, opening presents, having a good time.
Those Christmas album memories are for my Dad (who passed in 2008) and Mom (2014).  They are my way of giving both a great big hug and kiss on Christmas Eve.

Tom's Top Songs & Reissues 2018

Also: Tom's Top Albums of 2018

Reissues
1.  Prince - Anthology: 1995-2010   (Download/Streaming Only)
2.  Outlaws & Armadillos: Country's Roaring 70's - Various
3.  Louvin Brothers -Love & Wealth:Lost Recordings
4.  Jon Savage's 1968: Year The World Burned - Various
5.  Stax '68: Memphis Story - Various
6.  Liz Phair - Girly-Sound to Guyville
7.  John Coltrane - Both Directions At Once
8.  George Jones - Live In Texas 1965
9.  Bob Seger - Heavy Music: Complete Cameo Records 1966-1967
10. Elvis Presley - '68 Comeback Special: 50th Anniversary
11.  Paris In The Spring - Various
12.  Joe Strummer - 001
13.  Tom Petty - American Treasure
14. Memphis Rent Party - Various
15. Oxford American Magazine Music Issue (North Carolina) - Various
16. Beatles - White Album (reissue)
17. ELO - Secret Messages (reissue)
18. Chris Cornell - s/t (Compilation)
19. Paul Heaton - Last King of Pop

Songs
1.  Kacey Musgraves - Slow Burn/Space Cowboy
2.  Camila Cabello - Havana
3.  Pistol Annies - Best Years of My Life/Got My Name Changed Back
4.  Childish Gambino - This Is America
5.  Zedd w/Maren Morris - Middle
6.  Chris Jansen - Drunk Girl
7.  Neko Case - Curse of the I-5 Corridor
8.  Janelle Monae -  Make Me Feel
9.  Lori McKenna - People Get Old
10. Ella Mai - Boo'd Up
11. John Prine - Summer's End
12. Ariana Grande - No Tears Left To Cry
13. Luke Combs - She Got The Best Of Me
14. Kendrick Lamar & Sza - All The Stars
15. Ashley McBryde - Little Dive Bar In Dahlonega
16. Khalid & Normani - Love Lies
17. Brandi Carlile - Joke
18. Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - Shallow
19. Christine and the Queens ft. Dam Funk - Girlfriend
20. Brothers Osborne - Shoot Me Straight
21. Jason Aldean w/Miranda Lambert - Drowns The Whiskey
22. Ashley Monroe - Hands On You
23. Brent Cobb - Come Home Soon
24. Mandy Barnett - It's All Right
25. American Aquarium - World Is On Fire
26. Dan & Shay - Tequila
27. Mary Gauthier - Bullet Holes In The Sky
28. Becky Warren - We're All We Got
29. Dierks Bentley w/Brothers Osborne - Burning Man

Tom's Top Albums of 2018

1.  Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
2.  Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer
3.  Pistol Annies - Interstate Gospel
4.  Ashley McBryde - Girl Going Nowhere
5.  John Prine - Tree of Forgiveness
6.  Amanda Shires - To The Sunset
7.  Neko Case - Hell-On
8.  Fantastic Negrito - Please Don't Be Dead
9.  Mary Gauthier - Rifles and Rosary Beads
10. War and Treaty - Healing Tide
11. Brandi Carlile - By The Way, I Forgive You
12. Mandy Barnett - Strange Conversation
13. Tune-Yards - I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life
14. Chloe Mclorin Salvant - Window
15. Becky Warren - Undesirable
16. Willie Nelson - Last Man Standing
17. Noname - Room 25
18. Eric Church - Desperate Man
19. Elle King - Shake The Spirit
20. Lori McKenna - Tree
21. Mike and the Moonpies - Steak Night at the Prairie Rose
22. Black Panther - Soundtrack
23. I'm With Her - See You Around
24. Brent Cobb - Providence Canyon
25. Pusha T - Daytona
26. Sam Morrow - Concrete and Mud
27. Blood Orange - Negro Swan
28. Aaron Lee Tasjan - Karma For Cheap
29. Ruston Kelly - Dying Star
30. Lily Allen - No Shame
31. English Beat - Here We Go Love
32. Rosanne Cash - She Remembers Everything
33. Charley Crockett - Lonesome As A Shadow
34. Kamasi Washington - Heaven and Earth
35. Anderson.Paak - Oxnard
36. Janiva Magness - Love Is An Army
37. Chills - Snow Bound
38. Colter Wall - Songs of the Plains
39. Boz Scaggs - Out of the Blues
40. Joshua Hedley - Mr. Jukebox
41. JD McPherson - Socks
42. Mavericks - Hey! Merry Christmas
43. Rodney Crowell - Acoustic Christmas
44. Kurt Vile - Bottle It In
45. Jake Shears - s/t
46. Will Hoge - My American Dream
47. Brothers Osborne - Port Saint Joe
48. Paul Weller - True Meanings
49. Alejandro Escovedo - Crossing
50. Christine and The Queens - Chris
51. Rick Springfield - Snake King
52. Ashley Monroe - Sparrow
53. Cody Jinks - Lifers
54. Amos Lee - My New Moon
55. Bottle Rockets - Bit Logic
56. Kelly Willis - Back Being Blue
57. Meshell Ndegeocello - Ventriloquism
58. Sons of Kemet - Your Queen Is A Reptile
59. Bettye Lavette - Things Have Changed
60. Prince - Piano & A Microphone 1983
61. Jwff Tweedy - Warm
62. Doug Paisley - Starter Home
63. Leon Bridges - Good Thing
64. Mitski - Be The Cowboy
65. Charles Bradley - Black Velvet
66. John Oates - Arkansas
67. Old 97's - Love The Holidays
68. Robyn - Honey
69. Soccer Mommy - Clean

Greatest Christmas Songs

Below is a list of some of my favorite Christmas songs. There may be multiple versions of the same song, by different artists.  Suggestions are welcome for ones that I've missed.

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 Autrey - 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 Autrey - Here Comes Santa Claus
30. Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis
31. Roy Orbison- Pretty Paper
32. Elvis Presley - Santa Claus Is Back In Town
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. Wham - Last Christmas
37. Chuck Berry - Run Run Rudolph
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 Autrey - 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. Elvis Presley - If I Get Home On Christmas Day
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. Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
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. James Taylor - Go Tell It On The Mountain
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 Reindeeer
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. Mavis Staples - Christmas Vacation
122. Youngsters - Christmas In Jail
123. Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - Christmas Without You
124.  Emmylou Harris - Christmas Time's A-Coming
125.  Dick Shawn - Snow Miser Song
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. Jona Lewie - Stop The Calvary
132. NRBQ - Merry Christmas Wish
133. Kay Starr - Man With The Bag
134. Zach Schmidt - I'm Drunk Again This Christmas
135. Nick Lowe - Christmas at the Airport
136. Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rapping
137. Kenny Rogers - Kids
138. Clarence Reid - Winter Man
139. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
140. Shirley Booth & Mickey Rooney - Year Without Santa Claus
141. Kinks - Father Christmas
142. Peggy Lee - Christmas Spell
143. El DeBarge - Christmas Without You
144. Ventures - Sleigh Ride

Playlist for 12/17

JD McPherson - Socks
Any Major Doo Wop Christmas - Various (Download)
Eric Clapton - Happy Xmas
Old 97's - Love The Holidays
Mavericks - Hey! Merry Christmas!
Rodney Crowell - Christmas Everywhere
Dailey & Vincent - Sounds of Christmas
Michael McDonald - Season of Peace
John Legend - Legendary Christmas
Aretha Franklin - This Christmas
Stylistics - Christmas
William Shatner - Shatner Christmas
Monkees - Christmas Party
Dave Brubeck - Dave Brubeck Christmas
John Prine - John Prine Christmas

Playlist for 12/10

Stax '68: A Memphis Story - Various
Muscle Shoals: Small Town, Big Sound - Various
Oxford American Southern Music Issue:North Carolina (Magazine + CD)
Loudon Wainwright III: Surviving Twin (Netflix Special)
Mark Knopfler - Down The Road Wherever
Art Brut - Wham! Bang! Pow! Let's Rock Out

Playlist for 12/4

Charles Bradley - Black Velvet
Bob Dylan - More Blood, More Tracks (Bootleg Series Vol. 14)
Beatles - White Album Esher Demos
Barbra Streisand - Walls
Rhett Miller - Messenger
Amos Lee - My New Moon
Greta Van Fleet - Anthem of the Peaceful Army
Struts - Young & Dangerous

Magazines I Read (2018 Edition)

Below is a list of Magazines (Print) that I read on a regular basis.  Updated for 2018.

American Songwriter
Bass Player
Beatlefan
Big Takeover
Billboard
Blue Suede News
Blues Revue
Classic Pop  (UK)
Classic Rock  (UK)
Down Beat
Echoes of the Past
Elvis The Man and His Music  (UK)
Empire Magazine  (UK)
Endless Summer Quarterly
Entertainment Weekly
Flashback (UK)
Goldmine
GQ
Guitar Player
Guitar World
In These Times
Jazz Times
Living Blues
Magnet
Modern Drummer
Mojo  (UK)
Mother Jones
Nation
New York Magazine
New Yorker
Now Dig This  (UK)
Oxford American
People
Q  (UK)
Record Collector  (UK)
Relix
Rolling Stone
Shindig (UK)
Sports Illustrated
Tape Op
Ugly Things
Uncut  (UK)
Under the Radar
Vanity Fair
Vintage Guitar
Vintage Rock (UK)
Vive Le Rock  (UK)
Wired