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!

Bette Midler Back on Christmas Countdown

Peace on Earth! It's Christmas Day.

Wishing you all a happy holiday!

From The Divine Miss M's 2006 album, Cool Yule, here's her special holidays version of Julie Gold's "From a Distance."

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!

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!

Darlene Love: All Alone on My Christmas Countdown 2015

This song is from the soundtrack of the movie Home Alone 2. Sung by Darlene Love and backed by the E Street Band featuring the late Clarence Clemmons playing a very mean sax.

The production is very Spector-esque and may remind you of an earlier Darlene Love song, the title of which is referenced herein.

And it's true that nobody ought to be all alone on Christmas. Spend it with ones you love and gather round the computer listening to my 2015 Christmas Countdown!

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!

Madonna on Our Christmas Countdown 2015

Does Madge know how to wear a Christmas tree or what!

It's the holiday season, so celebrate with this great seasonal remix of "Holiday" as our Christmas Countdown carries on!

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!

Christmas Countdown 2015 with El Vez

El Vez is the latino comic impersonator of Elvis. He's also a very sexy dude, as you can see in the video!

Wishing everyone a very warm little Christmas and a Feliz Navidad from the bottom of my heart!

Bette Midler Arrives on Our 2015 Christmas Countdown!

This was an ideal song for Bette Midler to sing on her 2006 Cool Yule Christmas album. After all, she was raised in Hawaii!

This is a cover song originally recorded by Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters.

Beautifully arranged and sung, led in by "optimistic voices"! Simply click on the Youtube link below.

Enjoy, as my 2015 Christmas Countdown continues!











https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ED-wvHNW8

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!

Christmas Countdown 2015 with Frost on the Moon

Big band leader Artie Shaw and vocalist Peg LaCentra make a wonderful team on this winter classic I simply adore.

When I was dj-ing, I would always add this to my sets for a retro end to the night. It was a big favorite.

Keep warm and keep spring in your hearts as my Christmas Countdown this year!

From 1936....

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: Santa Claus Is a Black Man

I first heard this song on John Waters' Christmas album, A John Waters Christmas. I still pull out the cd to play at Christmas season every year.

Although Megyn Kelly and her ilk at Fox News may insist that Santa is white, we know better. Santa, after all, is a fantasy figure and we can imagine him any way we please.

But this song, a very 1970s variation on "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," is  intended strictly to entertain.

Merry Christmas to all as our Christmas Countdown continues!

Christmas Countdown 2015 featuring Kaye Starr

Kaye Starr is waiting for the man with the bag. Hmmm...!

Wondering what was in it as Starr is surely twinkling!

Still, a rare, great holiday treat from a superb singer. A true blast from the past!

Wait no longer. Kaye, because here he is on Buddy Beaverhausen's Christmas Countdown!

Errr... May we check your bag?

Better watch out now!

Christmas Countdown Continues with Jimmy James as Bette Davis

I want to wish ya a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart! Feliz Navidad!

Here's impressionist Jimmy James as Bette Davis singing "Feliz" on our Christmas Countdown this year.

Season's greetings!

Lene Lovich on My 2015 Christmas Countdown

Lene Lovich's "New Toy" became associated with the holiday season, officially, when Target used the song  in its tv ads in the 1990s.

The song, ironically, is about material addiction and was written by Thomas Dolby ("She Blinded Me with Science"). Lene blinds us with neediness in this tune.

Upbeat New Age dance music, Lene performed this at clubs internationally, even at NYC's Studio 54!

For the crass materialism in all of us. By the way, I'm sick of the Hoover!

Gee Whiz, It's Christmas on My 20015 Christmas Countdown

This holiday song is seriously cute! Carla Thomas is known as The Queen of Memphis soul, but she had a number of '60s girl group-sounding songs in her repertoire.

Happy holidays from Buddy B as our 2015 Christmas Countdown continues with "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas!"