John & Yoko End Our Holiday Countdown

All good things must come to an end. I truly hope you enjoyed the journey since Thanksgiving!

I wish we'd all wake up this morning and discover that war, indeed, is over. Peace is a real possibility.

Diplomacy ~ NOT bombs!

Jim Backus' New Year's Eve Song Is Delicious

It's New Year's Eve, loveys and I couldn't let the day go by without playing this tune on our Countdown.

Backus and his wife, Henny, are the voices you'll hear on this novelty song that I first heard on a Dr Demento collection. It is completely ad-libbed. I love Henny's smoker's laugh.

Drink your champs responsibly tonight sweetie-dahlings!

Happy New Year!

ABBA on Our Countdown to the New Year

Agnetha, Frida, Bjorn and Benny -- collectively known as the super pop group ABBA -- want to wish us all a Happy New Year in this song they wrote for the holiday. See video below.

Get those horns, bells and noisemakers ready because New Year's Eve is just around the corner!

Rufus Wainwright Asks What You're Doing New Year's Eve

Rufus Wainwright is curious as to whether you're available on New Year's Eve.

Here on my holiday Countdown, he croons Frank Loesser's lovely,  perennial "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" beautifully.

Only two more days till New Year's Eve. What are you doing? Let us know.

Mae West's New Year Resolutions

Mae West got into the swing of the 1960s and gave us her New Year's Resolutions as well.

Enjoy this bonus track on our holiday countdown. Only four days left until we say goodbye to 2015. It was a very good year!

Liza & Alan Cumming Say It's Cold Outside

Liza Minnelli and Alan Cumming teamed up to do this perennial winter favorite for a Broadway Cares benefit album.

This is one of the more charming covers of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in my humble opinion.

My Christmas Countdown continues  until New Year's Day!

Julie London on Our Christmas Countdown 2015

The Countdown to New Year is on! It's Boxing Day, but I doubt I'll be boxing in any sense of the word.

Julie London was another of my childhood crushes. Even then, I loved my divas and admired her cool.

When I wrote my song "Heartbreaker City" for Kevin Scott Hall to perform, I wrote it with the late Ms London in mind.

Here is Julie London this Yuletide week!

Darlene Love for Christmas Eve on Our 2015 Countdown

A perennial favorite first recorded by Phil Spector in 1963, Darlene Love's
"Christmas, Baby Please Come Home" was written by Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry.

As David Letterman used to announce, "It's not Christmas until Darlene Love sings this song."

So, here it is for Christmas Eve on my holiday countdown for the year! Merry Christmas, everyone!

Elton John Steps Into My Christmas on Our 2015 Countdown

One of the best modern, original Christmas songs! We are all ready to step into Christmas to the tune of this rock'n'roller.

Christmas is only two days away, and my Countdown will carry on till New Year's Day with added songs for that occasion.

Happy holidays! Step in!

Christmas Countdown 2015 Bonus with Pet Shop Boys

Bing Crosby, are you listening to Pet Shop Boys?

Christmas is a time of peace, remember. So don't have too much champagne and shout out anything stupid, like "I could rip all your guts out for Christmas!" at your family members!

It's true that it doesn't always snow at Christmas. The Pet Shop Boys explain.

Merry Christmas as our Countdown continues!

Christmas Wrap to The Waitresses on My 2015 Christmas Countdown

Still wrapping your gifts? Do it to this great '80s song from The Waitresses!

My Countdown certainly would not feel complete without this.

I saw The Waitresses in the 1980s at Danceteria (one of my favorite clubs ever) where they performed their hit, "I Know What Boys Like."

But here they are with this fantastically clever Christmas song. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas! Now wrap those presents!

It's a Disco Christmas on My 2015 Christmas Countdown with Universal Robot Band

We're in a disco state of mind this year during the holiday season. So do the bump, to "Disco Christmas" by the Universal Robot Band, around the tree.

Universal Robot Band had one other dance-club hit, that being "Dance and Shake Your Tambourine."

The back-up vocalists do the singing while Rudolph and Santa kibitz in this 1977 number.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a very disco holiday!

Disco Santa Claus on My 2015 Christmas Countdown

I believe the Raindolls were not a real group but a bunch of session singers and musicians who were put together for this one-off.

Still, it was a popular club tune in the '70s that was a hit on the dance music charts at the time of its release.

The title pretty much says it all. Note the very '60s girl group-styled harmonies. Nice, smooth arrangement and band work.

Have a very merry disco Christmas!

Charo Brings Santa Claus to My 2015 Christmas Countdown

While still in a latin mood, here is some holiday cheer from Charo! The song was produced by The Salsoul Orchestra and was a big disco hit at this time of year on the dance floor. It was also a #1 hit on the dance-music harts,

Hear how Charo makes this number her own in her inimitable style, and Merry Christmas as my Christmas Countdown continues!

Now, donde esta Santa Claus? Totally adorable.

It May Be Winter Outside on My Christmas Countdown 2015

Another '60s girl-group song with a distinctly Diana Ross and The Supremes/ Motown sound to it. Cold hands, warm heart!

The song was a big hit for Love Unlimited in the '70s when BarryWhite gave it a more Phil Spector Wall of Sound production.

But here is the original by Felice Taylor as my Christmas Countdown rolls merrily along!

Joan Baez on Sunday's Christmas Countdown 2015

I had this as a teenager and loved playing it during the holidays. It still sounds magnificent to me today!

Baez sings a classic carol, reverent and perfect for our Sunday's Countdown song. Conducted by Peter Shickele.

Enjoy this as our Christmas Countdown 2015 continues. By the way, I just bought a recent remastered cd of Noel on Amazon. It also has bonus tracks, previously not on the original.

Joan Baez: what a voice!

Cool Yule by Louis Armstrong Delivers on My 2015 Christmas Counttdown!

My Christmas Countdown grooves on this year with this 1953 number by the legendary Louis Armstrong.

The song was written by the late Steve Allen who, besides being an iconic tv host on late-night tv, was a magnificent musician and composer.

This song was later covered by a number of artists, including Bette Midler.

Happy holidays and have a cool yule!

Christmas Countdown 2015 Continues with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as Sisters!

Here's an opportunity to see Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye camp it up singing "Sisters" in the movie White Christmas.

This is a rare chance to see Bing be campy. Danny Kaye, however, seems to be much more into the moment. Work them hips, girlfriend!

The script requires the male costars to cover for the ill Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney characters.

Happy holidays as my Christmas Countdown carries on!

Christmas Countdown 2015: Christmas with Mommie Dearest

Dan-o-rama expertly put together this video collage with music and much comedy and wit.

Many of the images are from the film Mommie Dearest, of course. Songs by Darlene Love and by The Ronettes are from the Phil Spector Christmas album.

And then the video segues into Barry Manilow and further holiday merriment!

Enjoy as my Christmas Countdown carries on!

To watch the video, click on "Watch on YouTube" within the link below.

The Weather Girls Write Santa on My 2015 Christmas Countdown

"This is an open letter to Mr. Santa Claus!"

The Weather Girls -- Martha Wash and Izora Whitehead -- started as Sylvester's back-up girls known as Two Tons o' Fun. They became The Weather Girls when they recorded "It's Raining Men" for my friend Bob Esty and the late Paul Jabara, who.

Here, they want a man for Christmas. So enjoy, disco around the tree and let it snow!

Oh, and Santa's voice is actually that of Paul Schaffer's, who co-wrote the song.