Playlist for 12/28

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023 Documentary) 

Albert Brooks - A Star Is Bought

Albert Brooks - Comedy Minus One

Jaime Wyatt - Feel Good

Cat Power - Sings Dylan: 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert

Juliana Hatfield - Sings ELO

Andre3000 - New Blue Sun

Luther Dickinson - Magic Music for Family Folk

Barry Manilow’s A Very Barry Christmas (TV Special) 

CMA Country Christmas (TV Special)

Playlist for 12/23 (Christmas Albums)

Statler Brothers - Christmas Card

Red Simpson - Trucker's Christmas 

Johnny Cash - Christmas Spirit 

Los Lobos - Llego Navidad

Alligator Records Christmas Collection - Various

Ray Conniff - Christmas With Conniff

Chet Atkins - Christmas with Chet Atkins

Stax Christmas - Various

Swing Time Christmas - Various

Marty Robbins - Christmas With 

Bill Anderson - Christmas

Teddy Pendergrass - This Christmas

Cher - Christmas

Johnny Mathis - Christmas Time Is Here

Samara Joy - A Joyful Holiday

Gregory Porter - Christmas Wish

Brandy - Christmas with Brandy

Harry Belafonte - To Wish You A Merry Christmas

Fitz & the Tantrums - Perfect Holiday

A Very Special Acoustic Christmas - Various

A Christmas Record - Various (ZE)

Tom’s Top Albums/Songs/Reissues of 2023

I alway says this but it's true, it's possible that my favorite album of the year is one I haven't heard yet.  So much music, so little time.   I'm still catching up on records that were released decades ago.  But this list is a good snapshot of what I heard and liked in 2023. 

1.  Jason Isbell - Weathervanes

2.  Tyler Childers - Rustin' In The Rain

3.  Allison Russell -  The Returner

4.  Molly Tuttle - City of Gold

5.  Olivia Rodrigo - Guts

6.  Janelle Monae - Age of Pleasure

7.  Ashley McBryde - Devil I Know 

8.  Brandy Clark - s/t

9.  War and Treaty - Lover's Game

10. Margo Price - Strays/Strays II

11. Lana Del Rey - Did You Know There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.

12. Sufjan Stevens - Javelin

13. Zach Bryan - s/t

14. Mitski - Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We

15. Iris DeMent - Workin’ On A World 

16. Rhiannon Giddens - You're The One

17. Morgan Wade - Psychopath

18. Margo Cilker - Valley Of Heart's Delight

19. National - First Two Pages Of Frankenstein/Laugh Track

20. Jenny Lewis - Joy'All 

21. Jaime Wyatt -Feel Good

22. Corrine Bailey Rae - Black Rainbows

23. Elle King - Come Get Your Wife

24. Chris Stapleton - Higher

25. Rodney Crowell - Chicago Sessions

26. Jessie Ware - That Feels Good

27. Mayer Hawthorne - For All Time

28. Boygenius - The Record

29. Kelsea Ballerini - Rolling Up The Welcome Mat

30. CMAT - Crazymad, For Me

31. Hiss Golden Messenger - Jump For Joy 

32. Megan Moroney - Lucky

33. Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want To Turn Into You

34. Sunny War - Anarchist Gospel

35. Kara Jackson - Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love

36. Anohni & the Johnsons - My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross

37. Marty Stuart - Altitude

38. Lucinda Williams - Stories From A Rock n Roll Heart

39. Robbie Fulks - Bluegrass Vacation 

40. Parker Millsap -Wilderness Within You

41. Layng Martine Jr.  - Music Man

42. Brent Cobb - Southern Star

43. Joe Henry - All The Eye Can See

44. Billy Strings - Me/And/Dad

45. Buddy Miller & Julie Miller - In The Throes

46. Willie Nelson - I Don't Know A Thing About Love

47. Lori McKenna - 1988

48. Victoria Monet - Jaguar II

49. Hold Steady - Price of Progress

50. Jamila Woods - Water Made Us

51. Jess Williamson - Time Ain't Accidental

52. Arlo Parks - My Soft Machine 

53. William Prince - Stand In The Joy

54. Hozier - Unreal Unearth

55. Hives - Death of Randy Fitzsimmons

56. Juliana Hatfield - Sings ELO

57. Jon Batiste - World Music Radio

58. Tanner Adell - Buckle Bunny

59. Brothers Osborne - s/t

60. Robert Forster - Candle and the Flame

61. Willie Nelson - Bluegrass

62. Belle & Sebastian - Late Developers

63. Tracy Nelson - Life Don't Miss Nobody

64. Bethany Cosentino - Natural Disaster

65. Renee Rapp - Snow Angel

66. New Pornographers - Continue As A Guest

67. Chappell Roan - Rise and Fall of A Midwest Princess

68. Meshell Ndegeocello - Omnichord Real Book 

69. PJ Harvey - I Inside The Old Year Dying

70. Barbie the Album - Various (Soundtrack)

71. Amanda Shires & Bobbie Nelson - Loving You

72. Dave Matthews Band - Walk Around The Moon

73. Tanya Tucker - Sweet Western Sound

74. Turnpike Troubadours - A Cat In The Rain

75. Bully - Lucky For You

76. Dolly Parton - Rockstar

77. Blind Boys of Alabama - Echoes of the South

78. Wilco - Cousin

79. Paul Simon - Seven Psalms

80. Eddie 9V - Capricorn

81. Teenage Fanclub - Nothing Lasts Forever

Songs  (I'm not a stickler for release dates.  If a song made its impact in 2023, then it gets listed)

1. Miley Cyrus - Flowers

2. Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves - I Remember Everything

3. October London - Back To Your Place

4. Jenny Lewis - Psychos

5. Jake Shears - Too Much Music

6. Chris Stapleton - White Horse

7. Tyla - Water

8. Tyler Childers - In Your Love

9. Jelly Roll - Need A Favor

10. Jungle - Back on 74

11. Taylor Swift - Cruel Summer

12. Anohni - It Must Change

13. Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam

14. Shakira & Bizarrap - Bzrp Musica Sessions Vol.53

15. Paul Russell - Lil Boo Thang

16. Lana Del Rey - A&W

17. War & Treaty - That's How Love Is Made

18. Iris DeMent  - Workin' On A World

19. Brittany Howard - What Now

20. SZA - Kill Bill

21. Billie Eilish - What Was I Made For

22. Luke Combs - Fast Car

23. Victoria Monet - On My Mama

24. Dua Lipa - Dance The Night

25. Olivia Rodrigo - Get Hm Back

26. Kelsea Ballerini - If You Go Down 

27. Jason Isbell - Death Wish

28. Boygenius - Not Strong Enough

29. Janelle Monae - Lipstick Lover

30. Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire

31. Rema & Selena Gomez - Calm Down

32. Hiss Golden Messenger - Nu-Grape

33. Ryan Gosling - I'm Just Ken

34. Renee Rapp - Snow Angel

35. Noah Kahan - Stick Season

36. Sufjan Stevens - Javelin

37. William Prince - When You Miss Someone

38. Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine

39. CMAT - Stay for Something

40. Bethany Cosentino - It's Fine

41. Jaime Wyatt - World Worth Watching

42. Jonas Brothers - Waffle House

43. Doja Cat - Paint the Town Red

44. Caroline Polachek - So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings

45. Maren Morris - The Tree

Reissues 

1. John Coltrane & Eric Dolphy - Evenings At The Village Gate (Impulse)

2. Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night - Various (Ace) 

3. Written In Their Soul: Stax Songwriter Demos - Various (Stax Box Set)

4. She's Got the Power! Female Power Pop, Punk & Garage - Various (Ace)

5. Replacements - Tim (Let It Bleed Edition) (Rhino)

6. Looking For Magic: American Pop In the Seventies - Various (Cherry Red)

7. Holy Church of the Ecstatic Soul 1971-83 - Various (Soul Jazz)

8. Jon Savage's 1980-82 Art of Things To Come - Various (Ace)

9. Guerilla Girls! She-Punks & Beyond 1975-2016 - Various (Ace)

10. This Is Flying Dutchman - 1969-75 - Various  (Ace)

11. Best of Wattstax - Various (Craft)

12. Dolly Parton Songbook - Various  (Ace)

13. Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium - Various (Craft)

14. Howdy Glenn - I Can Almost See Houston (Ominvore)

Top Christmas Songs (2023 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. Cold Crew - Rappin' 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

My 2023 Uproxx Music Critic’s Poll Ballot

 Once again I voted in the Uproxx Music Critic’s Poll. Close to 300 critics participated this year. 

Here’s the link to my 2023 ballot:

Tom Lane 2023 Uproxx Music Critic’s Poll Ballot

Playlist for 12/10

Jimmy Buffett - Equal Strain On All Parts

Shooter Jennings & the Werewolves of LA Do Zevon 

Nellie McKay - Hey Guys Watch This

Dolly Parton - Rockstar

Chris Stapleton - Higher

Live at Daryl’s House w/Glenn Tilbrook (Daryl Hall Series:2023) 

Blind Boys of Alabama - Echoes of the South

Victoria Monet - Jaguar II

Poll: Beatles U.S. Singles

The latest poll I voted on was Beatles Billboard U.S. Singles.  Not songs, singles.  Listen to this countdown at popgoldradio.com

"She Loves You", Beatles : 1
"Yesterday", Beatles : 2
"Something", Beatles : 3
"Ticket To Ride", Beatles : 4
"Strawberry Fields Forever", Beatles : 5
"Let It Be", Beatles : 6
"I Saw Her Standing There", Beatles : 7
"I Want To Hold Your Hand", Beatles : 8
"Hey Jude", Beatles : 9
"Penny Lane", Beatles : 10
"Help!", Beatles : 11
"A Hard Day's Night", Beatles : 12
"Eleanor Rigby", Beatles : 13
"Can't Buy Me Love", Beatles : 14
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends (released 1978)", Beatles : 15
"Eight Days A Week", Beatles : 16
"I Am The Walrus", Beatles : 17
"We Can Work It Out", Beatles : 18
"I Feel Fine", Beatles : 19
"All My Loving", Beatles : 20
"Day Tripper", Beatles : 21
"Come Together", Beatles : 22
"All You Need Is Love", Beatles : 23
"Twist And Shout", Beatles : 24
"And I Love Her", Beatles : 25
"Get Back", Beatles with Billy Preston : 26
"Hello Goodbye", Beatles : 27
"I'm Down", Beatles : 28
"Don't Let Me Down", Beatles with Billy Preston : 29
"Nowhere Man", Beatles : 30
"Paperback Writer", Beatles : 31
"Revolution", Beatles : 32
"She's A Woman", Beatles : 33
"Love Me Do", Beatles : 34
"Yellow Submarine", Beatles : 35
"I Should Have Known Better", Beatles : 36
"From Me To You", Beatles : 37
"Lady Madonna", Beatles : 38
"Please Please Me", Beatles : 39
"Rain", Beatles : 40
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", Beatles : 41
"Act Naturally", Beatles : 42
"Do You Want To Know A Secret", Beatles : 43
"Got To Get You Into My Life", Beatles : 44
"I Don't Want To Spoil The Party", Beatles : 45
"The Long And Winding Road", Beatles : 46
"P.S. I Love You", Beatles : 47
"Slow Down", Beatles : 48
"Thank You Girl", Beatles : 49
"The Ballad Of John And Yoko", Beatles : 50
"You Can't Do That", Beatles : 51
"Baby It?s You (live at the BBC in 1963, released 1994)", Beatles : 52
"I'm Happy Just To Dance With You", Beatles : 53
"I'll Cry Instead", Beatles : 54
"Matchbox", Beatles : 55
"Roll Over Beethoven", Beatles : 56
"If I Fell", Beatles : 57
"Why", Beatles with Tony Sheridan : 58
"Yes It Is", Beatles : 59
"Baby, You're A Rich Man", Beatles : 60
"Ain't She Sweet", Beatles : 61
"Free As A Bird", Beatles : 62
"What Goes On", Beatles : 63
"There's A Place", Beatles : 64
"Real Love", Beatles : 65
"The Beatles' Movie Medley", Beatles : 66
"The Inner Light", Beatles : 67
"Now And Then", Beatles : 68
"My Bonnie (Lies Over The Ocean)", Beatles with Tony Sheridan : 69
"Boys", Beatles : 70
"Sie Liebt Dich (She Loves You in German)", Beatles : 71

Playlist for 12/2

Sampha - Lahai

Streets - Darker the Shadow Brighter the Light

Allan Holdsworth - Metal Fatigue

Looking For The Magic: American Power Pop In The Seventies - Various (Cherry Pop Box Set)

Jessi Colter - Edge of Forever 

Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond

Jamila Woods - Water Made Us