Sy Mann - Switched On Santa

Sy Mann - Switched On Santa

It's that time of the year again. I guess no one liked the disco Christmas album I posted last year. I can't imagine why. Here's another Christmas album this time with the music being played with a Moog synthesizer. You may not like disco (understandably so), but it's hard to resist Moog synthesizer Christmas music. Even the legendary Jean-Jacques Perrey is involved with this album. You can't go wrong here (or am I wrong?).

I know most of the sharity sites are posting Christmas music of some sort and some of you are probably tired of all this Christmas music that's being blared from your favorite sites, the radio stations who decide to inundate the airwaves with only Christmas music instead of the usual overplayed popular soft rock pap and just about all of the retail stores whose employees for some reason say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". If you're not into all this Christmas music posted everywhere, too bad. I'm posting it here too because we at the Basement appreciate Christmas especially the one who blesses us with his blessings. That's right I'm talking about the one and only St. Nick (also known as Santa Claus in some parts of the world). If the opening bars during the first few seconds of Sy Mann's verson of "Jingle Bells" or his rendition of "My Favorite Things" doesn't send chills up your spine then either you're a socialist commie waging war against Christmas or you just don't like electronic music. I think the former is much more likely.

We love this time of year where we get to shop and consume without a care in the world. Not only are we engaging in the All-American activities of shopping and consuming, but we are doing it while somehow bringing hope and joy to others who lack hope and joy. Black Friday sales rule. So do those baskets with the artifical processed cheese, the berry jellies, and the summer sausage made up of several mystery meats (I think). Those things especially rule as they do not even have to be refrigerated. Neighborhoods with lots and lots of lights and kitschy lighted fixtures and nativity scenes also rule. I love me some Christmas lights especially if other people do it so I don't have to. Putting up lights myself takes up too much time. The extra time I have leaves me with more time to devote to this blog and my other blog. I think it works well with me blogging and other people decorating.

I am willing to admit that I do not enjoy the process of wrapping gifts that I bought for other people. It seems tedious and perhaps I just lack the ability, patience, and desire to beautifully wrap things with wrapping paper (with Christmas decor of course). I know I can get gifts wrapped at the various retail establishments, but since I'm a cheapskate, I end up doing the wrapping myself. I think I've already spent enough money on the damned things even with everything 10% off the regular price. I do really enjoy the unwrapping process as it is the greatest moment of the holiday season as I am shimmering with ecstatic anticipation in the hopes that what I asked for is underneath the wrapping paper. Either the thing I desire is unwrapped or it's something I absolutely do not want such as socks or underwear or worse cologne. Depending on what is unwrapped I am either overcome with joy or overcome with disappointment and asking St. Nick "What did I do to deserve this? I already have too much cologne from the past several years that I do not have a need for especially that Tommy Hilfiger stuff. Why do people think I need or want cologne? I've been good for most of the year so what gives? I think I would rather have a gift card to Wal Mart or Arby's instead. Seriously."

Getting back to this LP, I posted it last year in another online project that is on hiatus at the moment. Out of the usual spirit of generosity I thought I would post it again this year. There may be several other sites that are posting this too. I am not totally sure and I do not really care. It's Christmas. If I can give this to one person whose only Christmas music is, let's say the atrocious "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer" and save this person by providing this wonderful Christmas music then I will have done my part in providing hope and joy.


Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer {2:11}

2. Jingle Bells {1:43}

3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town {2:02}

4. Tijuana Christmas {1:58}

5. My Favorite Things {2:24}

6. The Little Drummer Boy {2:37}

Side 2

1. Christmas Bells {1:52}

2. White Christmas {2:51}

3. Joy to the World {1:04}

4. When Christmas Comes {2:30}

5. Angels We Have Heard on High {1:42}

6. Silent Night {2:04}

7. What Child is This {2:04}