Shows
Holly Jolly X'masuYasuko Agawa's "Come In Christmas"Welcome to episode 121 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Yasuko Agawa’s 1990 album, “Come In Christmas.” I hope you enjoyed learning about and listening to Yasuko Agawa. This album was a really pleasant surprise, and it’s one I’ve listened to multiple times since getting it. I’m still trying to back on track, but I do plan on getting out one more episode before the end of the month, so join me next time when I talk about the 1997 compilation, “Winter Gift Pops.” It’s a fun album you’re sure t...
2024-09-2541 min
Holly Jolly X'masuYuzoh Kayama's "White Christmas"Welcome to episode 120 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Yuzoh Kayama’s 1983 album, “White Christmas.” I hope you enjoyed Yuzoh Kayama’s “White Christmas.” He’s been a massive star in Japan since the 60s. One difficulty I had writing this episode was the fact that there’s such a wealth of information about him. I did my best to cover the highlights, though. I’ll get to his music from the 60s eventually. I’ll do my best to get caught up before October. I have a couple great albums...
2024-09-1642 min
Holly Jolly X'masu80's Christmas Singles - Part 1Welcome to episode 119 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about a selection of Christmas singles from the 1980s. I hope you enjoyed this collection of songs from 1984. I was hoping to get a couple other 1984-themed episodes out this month, but between my daughters’ school and sports starting back, a severe lack of sleep, and a dozen other crises popping up throughout the month, I was lucky to get this episode out. As usual, I’ll be spending the next few weeks trying to get back on schedule. In the meantime, enjoy the c...
2024-08-2946 min
Holly Jolly X'masuChristmas In July - 2024Welcome to episode 118 of Holly Jolly X'masu! For my fifth annual Christmas in July episode, I’ll once again be covering a mix of tropical, summery, and out-of-season Christmas songs from a variety of artists. I hope this episode added a little Christmas spirit to your summer. These episodes where I pull songs from a variety of records and CD’s are a lot of work, but they’re also a lot of fun. I cut down on the number of songs this time, mainly so I could stretch out the ones I have left into an...
2024-07-2644 min
Holly Jolly X'masuTakehisa Kono And The HighwaysWelcome to episode 117 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the Christmas music from the obscure Group Sounds band, Takehisa Kono and the Highways. I hope you enjoyed the Highways’ Christmas music. One of the things I enjoy most about collecting Japanese Christmas music is that there’s such a wealth of it to discover. The sonojournals and flexi-discs add another entire layer to it. Almost none of the music that was exclusively released on flexi-disc ever made it to vinyl or CD, and there is very little reliable documentation about them. It’s...
2024-07-1829 min
Holly Jolly X'masuX'mas Golden HitsWelcome to episode 116 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1970 album, “X’mas Golden Hits,” by the Candle-Light Orchestra and the Singers Three. I hope you enjoyed “X’mas Golden Hits” as much as I do. While some of the albums labeled “Now Sound” can put you to sleep, this is one I can listen to over and over again. It’s loaded with fun arrangements, and the Singers Three never disappoint. Join me back here next time for the Christmas music from the obscure Group Sounds band, Takehisa Kono and the Highwa...
2024-07-1143 min
Holly Jolly X'masuYoung ChristmasWelcome to episode 115 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1962 compilation, “Young Christmas.” [] I hope you enjoyed “Young Christmas.” It’s one of my favorite albums, not just because of the music, but also because of how scarce it is, and how lucky I was to get such an affordable copy. When I started researching this, I didn’t realize this would turn into a True Crime episode, at least in part. There was a lot more I could have added to Katsumi Shigeru’s story, but after multiple cuts and edits, I still...
2024-06-3027 min
Holly Jolly X'masuTeruaki Kawamura's "Merry Christmas Everyone"Welcome to episode 114 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1963 album, “Merry Christmas Everyone – Folk Dance Party,” produced by Teruaki Kawamura and the Japan Recreation Association. I hope you enjoyed “Merry Christmas Everyone.” Despite the objections to it and the song’s problematic history, I’ve always been fascinated with Japan’s relationship to “Turkey In The Straw.” I’ve had a few people tell me I should avoid it altogether, but as I stated in the episode, it’s something you really can’t avoid if you’re collecting Japanese Christmas music. It was on on...
2024-06-2736 min
Holly Jolly X'masuAkihiro MiwaWelcome to episode 113 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this special mini-episode, I talk about the 1957 Christmas single from Akihiro Miwa. I hope you enjoyed learning about Akihiro Miwa and listening to his music. His “Jingle Bells” is one of my favorites. Like I said in the episode, I was only able to scratch the surface about all he’s been through and accomplished over the years, so be sure to Google him if you want to learn more about him. Join me back here next time when I talk about Teruaki Kawamur...
2024-06-0116 min
Holly Jolly X'masuTokyo Cuban Boys' "Christmas Dance Party"Welcome to episode 112 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the Tokyo Cuban Boys’ 1966 album, “Christmas Dance Party.” This is a wonderful album. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do. For a popular, prolific band with a career spanning nine decades, you’d think I’d have been able to find a little more biographical information about them. Their Wikipedia entry is short and repetitive, while their profile on their official website is mostly just a list of dates. I will talk about them a bit more when I cover Chiem...
2024-05-2540 min
Holly Jolly X'masuChristmas For Anyone?Welcome to episode 111 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 2004 compilation, “Christmas For Anyone?” I hope you enjoyed “Christmas For Anyone?” I’d say that it’s another of those unassuming albums loaded with a stellar lineup of lesser-known musicians, but that cover is anything other than unassuming. It’s a great collection, though, and one I’d already listened to multiple times before starting on this episode. Join me back here next week for an album I bought way back in the early days of my collecting. It’s...
2024-05-1845 min
Holly Jolly X'masuSuperman SantaWelcome to episode 110 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the children’s book and album, “Superman Santa,” from 1986. I hope you enjoyed “Superman Santa.” While I would have loved a Casiopeia Christmas album, this was still a lot fun. It has an amusing premise and enjoyable music, and the book really adds to the experience. I’ll post the pictures below. Join me back here next month for a pair of great episodes. Up first is the 2004 compilation, “Christmas For Anyone?” It has an interesting blend of jazzy tunes and a...
2024-04-2541 min
Holly Jolly X'masuJingle JazzWelcome to episode 109 of Holly Jolly X'masu! April is Jazz Awareness Month, and in this episode, I talk about the 1998 album, “Jingle Jazz.” I hope you enjoyed “Jingle Jazz” as much as I do. I love a good Christmas Jazz album, and this one is one of the better, more recent ones in my collection. I know a fair number of people who won’t give Jazz a chance. Jazz encompasses such a wide array of styles, though, that that’s almost like saying they won’t give music a chance. I don’t listen to enough to be a...
2024-04-191h 15
Holly Jolly X'masuPro Wrestling SpectacularWelcome to episode 108 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, for my special Pro Wrestling Spectacular, I’m pitting the 1970s Christmas albums of pro wrestlers the Destroyer and Thunder Sugiyama against one another in order to determine which deserves the title of the Christmas World Heavyweight Champion. This was a fun episode for me. I hope you enjoyed both wrestlers’ albums as much as I did. I watched a ton of wrestling when I was younger and went to the closed-circuit broadcasts of Wrestlemanias 3-6, watching all the action on the jumbo screens at Dayt...
2024-04-061h 18
Holly Jolly X'masuWhistle Christmas!Welcome to episode 107 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 2008 album, “Whistle Christmas,” by Whistle Man. I hope you liked “Whistle Christmas!” as much as I do. Like I said in the episode, this is definitely better than my other April Fools offerings. I’ve mentioned before that I tend to listen to these albums at least a dozen times while researching and writing an episode. That can be a struggle occasionally, but it really wasn’t a problem this time around. There are only one or two songs I ever skipped while...
2024-04-0130 min
Holly Jolly X'masuAkiko's "Have Yourself A Merry Little ChristmasWelcome to episode 106 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Akiko’s 2017 album, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” I hope you enjoyed this second episode about Akiko. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” has really grown on me since getting it, and while working on this episode. It’s a fine album with some great performances, and one I’ll be listening to more in the future. Join me back here next week for my special April 1st episode. I’ll be talking about the 2008 album, “Whistle Christmas!” by Whi...
2024-03-2542 min
Holly Jolly X'masuAkiko's "A White Album"Welcome to episode 105 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Akiko’s 2007 album, “A White Album.” I hope you enjoyed “A White Album.” Japanese Jazz from the 1960s was one of the main reasons I started collecting, but a lot of fantastic Christmas Jazz albums have come out of Japan over the past twenty years as well. It’s always fun discovering something new. Join me back here on the 25th for Akiko’s second Christmas album, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” It features more stripped-down arrangements and puts a lot more...
2024-03-1845 min
Holly Jolly X'masuA.S.A.P.'s "Merry Christmas Wish"Welcome to episode 104 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, for Black History Month, I talk about the 1993 album, “Merry Christmas Wish,” by the American R&B trio, A.S.A.P. I hope you enjoyed “Merry Christmas Wish.” I was thrilled when I found it, mainly because of how few English versions there are of these songs I’ve been collecting over the past several years. This is a fun, solid album and it lets me throw some Japanese songs into my regular Christmas playlist without any pushback from my kids, who sometimes get annoyed whe...
2024-02-2543 min
Holly Jolly X'masuCoffee Haus' "Acoustic Xmas"Welcome to episode 103 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 2009 album, “Acoustic Xmas,” by Coffee Haus. I hope you enjoyed “Acoustic Xmas” as much as I did. I really like this album and will still play it all the way through when I’m in the mood. I’m still working to get back on schedule so I haven’t been very active on social media. I’m hoping things settle down in March. Join me back here on the 25th when, for Black History Mon...
2024-02-1840 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEpisode 102: Mari Yoshiko's "Singing Christmas Party"Welcome to episode 102 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Mari Yoshiko’s 1962 album, “Singing Christmas Party.” I hope you enjoyed “Singing Christmas Party.” I’m playing catch-up after last month so I don’t have much to add here. I did manage to get a record with her version of “Toy Cha Cha Cha,” which I mentioned in the episode, but I haven’t had the time to rip the vinyl so I couldn’t include it as a bonus song in this episode, which I’d hoped to do. Be sure to join me bac...
2024-02-1136 min
Holly Jolly X'masu90's Christmas Singles, Part 1Welcome to episode 101 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about a selection of Christmas singles from the 1990s. It’s been a rough month, but I’m getting this one out just under the wire. After a ridiculously hectic and restless December, I needed a little time off, so this will be the only episode I get out in January, but I’ll try to have my next episode out early next week. After that, I’m hoping to be back on track.
2024-02-0153 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEpisode 100: Last Chance's "White Christmas"Welcome to episode 100 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the phenomenal 1971 album, “White Christmas,” from the obscure Korean band, Last Chance. Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe this is my 100th episode. It’s been a lot of work, but I’ve really enjoyed it. I want to thank you all for listening in, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it half as much as I have. I also hope Last Chance’s “Jingle Bells” really knocked your socks off. I can only imagine how awesome it would have been seeing them pe...
2023-12-3138 min
Holly Jolly X'masuLove, Live, Life's "Rock-In X'mas"Welcome to episode 99 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the mind-blowing 1971 album, “Rock-In X’mas,” by Love, Live, Life + X. Merry Christmas! I hope this lived up to your expectations and helped liven up your day. Other than some really obscure cassettes and small or private label albums, there aren’t too many Japanese Christmas albums that are harder to come by than this one. This was a real holy grail for me, and I’m glad I can finally share it with you. Join me back here on New...
2023-12-2546 min
Advent Calendar HouseThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever🎄It’s 1983, and the Worst Kids in the World are taking over the church Nativity play, smoking in the ladies’ room, and helping themselves to the sacramental grape juice. Join us as we meet the Herdmans in a classic Christmas story turned TV movie starring Loretta Swit from M*A*S*H and a young Fairuza Balk in her on-screen debut. **** 🎙 Guests: Scott Leopold (Holly Jolly X’masu) Bob Baker (Festive Foreign Film Fans) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: 1. Today’s TV Tropes: It’s the Best Whate...
2023-12-181h 09
Holly Jolly X'masuKayo Ishu's "Scat Christmas"Welcome to episode 98 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Kayo Ishu’s 1968 album, “Scat Christmas.” I hope you loved “Scat Christmas” as much as I do. Kayo Ishu is great, and this is one of my favorite Japanese vocal albums. I have a few other albums done in a similar style, including a few with Singers Three, but this is the best of the bunch. As promised in the episode, here are links to videos of the “11PM Theme.” The second one features a brief shot of Kayo Ishu singi...
2023-12-1840 min
Veterans of Culture Wars101: Holly Jolly X'masu and Christmas Underground: Scott Leopold and Jim GoodwinNiche Christmas music enthusiasts Scott Leopold of the Japanese Christmas music podcast "Holly Jolly X'masu" and Jim Goodwin of the contemporary indie rock Christmas music blog "Christmas Underground" help spread some Christmas cheer around the VCW hall by podcasting loud for all to hear. Scott shares a couple of his favorite songs he's covered on his podcast and we all talk about the what real meaning of "the real meaning of Christmas" means to us.
Check out Christmas Underground, and read Jim's review of Zach's record here: https://christmasunderground.com/2020/09/11/zach-malm-the-darkest-time-of-year-2017-2020/
2023-12-121h 07
Holly Jolly X'masuChristmas Song / New Year's SongWelcome to episode 97 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1968 album, “Christmas Song / New Year’s Song.” This was a much more enjoyable album than I thought it would be. I love it when a record exceeds my expectations, and this one really blew them away. This tends to be my busiest, most hectic time of the year, and my podcast is one of those things that I’m often tempted to put to the side. When I really like an album, though, it encourages me to keep going. I picked five real...
2023-12-1143 min
Advent Calendar HouseAn American Christmas Carol🎄 It’s 1979, by way of 1933 — or the other way around — and the human from Fraggle Rock has broken into my garage with a haunted choir of singing children. Join us as we turn the dial on our haunted time-traveling radio to find Henry Winkler at the height of his fame as the Fonz hiding under multiple layers of makeup as a Scrooge figure in Great Depression-era New England. **** 🎙 Guests: Tom Coombs (The Pop Daddy) Scott Leopold (Holly Jolly X’masu) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: 1. Watch “An Amer...
2023-12-101h 06
Holly Jolly X'masuA Bach ChristmasWelcome to episode 96 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio,” performed by the Meiji Gakuin University Glee Club at their 10th anniversary Christmas concert. I really enjoyed working on this episode and getting this album. It’s completely out of my comfort zone so it was something of a challenge for me. I’m happy with how it turned out, though, and I hope you enjoyed it as well. Join me back here next week for a real treat. I’ll be talking about the 1968 album, “Christmas Song...
2023-12-041h 56
Holly Jolly X'masuShoji Suzuki's "Swingin' Christmas"Welcome to episode 95 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Shoji Suzuki’s 1961 album, “Swingin’ Christmas.” I truly hope you enjoyed this episode. This is one of my favorite albums and played a huge part in my collecting journey. I’d love to say it’s the best album in my collection, but I actually have several others that blow it away. I’ll be covering one of those on Christmas Day. I mentioned Shoji Suzuki’s biggest hit, “Suzukake No Michi,” and I wanted to share a video of it with you...
2023-11-2538 min
Holly Jolly X'masuShoji Suzuki's "Merry Christmas"Welcome to episode 94 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Shoji Suzuki’s 1963 album, “Merry Christmas.” This is a great album and I can’t tell you how excited I was when I first learned that Shoji Suzuki had made another Christmas album. Of the two, “Merry Christmas” seems to be the harder one to come by. I believe I’ve only seen two copies come up for auction. The first time I saw it, I settled in for a protracted bidding war, but I managed to get it for a reasonable price. ...
2023-11-1830 min
Holly Jolly X'masuX'mas All Star Jazz ParadeWelcome to episode 93 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1959 compilation, “X’mas All Star Jazz Parade.” This is a great album and I hope you’ve enjoyed it. This really kicks off my Christmas season, and I have some phenomenal music headed your way. I’ll be focusing on Shoji Suzuki the rest of this month. Although Akira Ishikawa sparked my interest in Japanese Christmas music, Shoji Suzuki’s music is easily as responsible for turning it into an obsession. Join me next time for his 1963 album, “Merry Christmas,” then listen in on the...
2023-11-1132 min
Holly Jolly X'masuMr. Magoo's Christmas CarolWelcome to episode 92 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this special Christmas Podcasters Day episode, I talk about “Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol,” from 1962. I can’t tell you how much I love this special. It’s one of those things from when I was kid that has really stood the test of time. Jule Styne and Bob Merrill’s music is a big reason for that, as are the performances of Jim Backus, Jack Cassidy and the rest of the cast. I was really only able to scratch the surface about the special and the people involv...
2023-11-0135 min
Holly Jolly X'masuGoro Ito's "Christmas Songs"Welcome to episode 91 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 2010 compilation, “Christmas Songs,” from producer Goro Ito. I hope you enjoyed at least a few of the tracks on “Christmas Songs.” A few of them are real stand-outs and make this album one that’s worth tracking down. Be sure to join me back here on November 1st for Christmas Podcast Day, which is the day a bunch of us Christmas podcasters release special episodes to kick off the season and encourage our listeners to check out some of the other g...
2023-10-2548 min
Holly Jolly X'masuYuki Izumine's "Let It Snow!"Welcome to episode 90 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Yuki Izumine’s 2008 album, “Let It Snow!” I’ve mentioned before that part of why I started collecting Japanese albums was to find new Christmas Jazz albums. I’ve managed to add a ton of fantastic Jazz to my collection, and they’re some of my favorite albums to share with you. My episodes between now and Christmas will feature more Jazz than normal, including one album that took me over two years to track down, and another that’s considered one of the holiest...
2023-10-1147 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEpisode 89: MIDI's "Winter Tales 2"Welcome to episode 89 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1992 compilation, “Winter Tales 2,” from the MIDI label. I hope you’ve enjoyed MIDI’s wintry compilations over the last two episodes. Despite the repetitiveness, there are some real gems included on them. I’m looking forward to revisiting a few of the artists when I cover their other Christmas songs. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get this episode out this month, but I made it just under the wire. I’m caught up for the moment, and I’m h...
2023-10-0150 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEpisode 88: MIDI's "Winter Tales"Welcome to episode 88 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1988 compilation, “Winter Tales,” from the MIDI label. As I said in the episode, this is a really solid album. You’d be hard pressed to find a more varied group of artists, but the resulting product flows together well. There really isn’t a bad track here. I hope you found at least a few you enjoyed. Be sure to join me back here in a few days for the 1992 follow-up, “Winter Tales 2.” Then listen in next month as a I cover a g...
2023-09-2859 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEpisode 87: Merry Christmas, Mr. LawrenceWelcome to episode 87 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1983 movie, “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence,” and its soundtrack. As I said in the episode, this one has been a long time coming. August was the first time since I started my podcast that I missed putting out an episode. I haven’t even been able to stay active on social media due to a lack of time and an excess of pain. I’m finally on the mend, though, so I hope to be back on track soon. If you haven...
2023-09-2134 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEpisode 86: Christmas In July - 2023Welcome to episode 86 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this special Christmas in July episode, I talk about a selection of summery Christmas songs from a variety of artists. As I said in the episode, I really enjoy putting these episodes together. It gives me a chance to share some songs that might not fit in another episode, and artists I wouldn’t be able to cover otherwise. At this point, I think I’ve found all the low-hanging fruit, so it will take a lot of digging to find other Summer Christmas songs. I have plent...
2023-07-2549 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEpisode 85: The Spacemen's Christmas MusicWelcome to episode 85 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the Christmas music from the Spacemen. These really are three of my favorite records. They helped embody the excitement of collecting when I first got started. It felt like the more I searched for and researched them, the closer I’d get to finding a copy. I’d find listings at record shops where they’d gotten one in months earlier, but had sold out before I even knew the shop existed. I even exchanged emails with one collector who had final...
2023-07-1127 min
Holly Jolly X'masuGolden Christmas PartyWelcome to episode 84 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the 1964 compilation, “Golden Christmas Party.” This is a great album and I was awfully glad to add it to my collection. The fact that Michishiro is on it yet the guys in Japan didn’t know about it really surprised me. It gives me hope that I’ll be able to uncover some more rarities. I’ve found a few things on 8-track and Laser Disc that they don’t include on their lists, but I’m not quite willing to invest in thos...
2023-06-2536 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEpisode 83: Yoshiyas Ueda and Swing West's Electric Guitar ChristmasWelcome to episode 83 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about Yoshiyas Ueda and Swing West’s “Electric Guitar Christmas.” I keep saying I’m a sucker for these flexi-discs. Whether it’s a sonojournal, a promotional flexi, a musical greeting card, or a cardboard postcard, I have a hard time passing on them when they show up for sale. They’re poorly documented overall, and a lot of them are hidden gems, containing great music from unknown artists. I’ve been lucky enough to get some of the most sought-after flexis and I loo...
2023-06-2026 min
Holly Jolly X'masuKeiichiro Ebihara’s "Blue Christmas – Trumpet Mood Collection"Welcome to episode 82 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the 1959 album, “Blue Christmas – Trumpet Mood Collection,” by Keiichiro Ebihara And The Lobsters. I’ve had a lot of “most wanted” albums since I started collecting. This one spent nearly a year in my top three. Thankfully, it proved to be as good as it was elusive. Cleaning it up proved to be a struggle and you can still hear a lot of noise in my files. It took me about as long to digitize it as it did to finally get a...
2023-05-2928 min
Holly Jolly X'masuHiro Tsunoda’s "Ballad X’mas"Welcome to episode 81 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about Hiro Tsunoda’s 1991 album, “Ballad X’mas.” This was a fun episode to work on. I love Tsunoda’s voice, and the non-Christmas songs on his album gave me something a little different to talk about. It also let me discover Zapp’s version of “Ooo Baby Baby.” As a native Daytonian, I was surprised to learn a few months ago that Zapp was pretty big in Japan. I was lucky enough to cross paths with Roger Troutman once back in my teens. We we...
2023-05-251h 02
Holly Jolly X'masuLisa Ono's "Boas Festas 2 - Feliz Natal"Welcome to episode 80 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about Lisa Ono’s 2004 album, “Boas Festas 2 – Feliz Natal.” This is coming out a lot sooner than normal after my last episode. Despite all the setbacks I’ve been facing over the past few months, I wanted to make sure I got both episodes out this month. I’m hoping things calm down and I’m able to get back to a more regular release schedule. As I said last time, I really hope you enjoyed Lisa Ono’s music as m...
2023-04-3036 min
Holly Jolly X'masuLisa Ono's "Boas Festas"Welcome to episode 79 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about Lisa Ono’s album, “Boas Festas,” from 2000. Over the past three years, I’ve pointed out multiple times that I don’t speak Japanese and have, therefore, apologized for some of my pronunciations. This time, I have to point out that I don’t speak Portuguese, so if my friend Ernesto is listening, I’m sorry for mangling some of the names. That said, I can’t overstate how thrilled I was to discover Lisa Ono’s music. Her Christmas CD’s have become two...
2023-04-2551 min
A Cozy Christmas PodcastAlastair Sim's A Christmas Carol, with special guest Scott LeopoldHello everyone, in today's episode we take a break from The Chimes, and I invited Scott Leopold from the Holly Jolly X'masu podcast to help me talk about one of the greatest adaptations of A Christmas Carol - the 1951 version starring Alastair Sim! Find out about our favorite characters, quotes, and the powerful message that the film has that compliments the original book so perfectly. Check out Scott's podcast: https://hollyjollyxmasu.libsyn.com/ Buy me a coffee? www.ko-fi.com/cozychristmas Ornaments, Mugs, and Notebooks: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CozyChristmasPodcast
2023-04-0651 min
Holly Jolly X'masuWoodpecker Merry ChristmasWelcome to episode 78 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the Korean funk classic, “Woodpecker Merry Christmas,” from 1985. As I said in the episode, this certainly didn’t align with my expectations. I have a couple others that did, though, so when I mention “Korean Christmas” in the future, you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise. My main disappointment here was all the skips. This is one of two albums I’ve gotten where the skips were this bad. The other is an LP by a Japanese pop g...
2023-04-0144 min
Holly Jolly X'masuMieko Hirota's Christmas MusicWelcome to episode 77 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about Mieko Hirota’s Christmas music. One of the most fascinating things about collecting Japanese records has been discovering these phenomenal singers and musicians I’d had no knowledge of before. Mieko Hirota was an amazingly talented performer, and while she’d had some exposure in the US, I’d never heard her name until three years ago. As much as I’ve enjoyed the Christmas aspect of my collection, I’ve gotten just as much pleasure exploring othe...
2023-03-2935 min
Holly Jolly X'masuHideko Kojima's "Christmas On Hammond - Jingle Bells"Welcome to episode 76 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about Hideko Kojima’s 1970 album, “Christmas On Hammond – Jingle Bells.” This month has been a bit tumultuous, to say the least. I’ve had a lot of issues that have kept me from working on my podcast, and just about anything else. I wanted to make sure I got these two episodes out, so I’ll be cutting my blog posts short. I will point out that Hideko Kojima’s album was one of the most pleasant surprises of my collection. I didn’t expect...
2023-03-2837 min
Holly Jolly X'masuChris Hart's "Christmas Hearts 2"Welcome to episode 75 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about Chris Hart’s 2022 album, “Christmas Hearts 2.” I hope you enjoyed this second look at Chris Hart’s music. Like I said last year, I really admire the way he followed his dream and turned it into a successful career in Japan. Be sure to join me in March as I cover a pair of fantastic female artists for Women’s History Month. Up first is Hideko Kojima’s “Christmas On Hammond – Jingle Bells” from 1970. It’s a fun, funky album that reall...
2023-02-2542 min
Holly Jolly X'masuSweet German JazzWelcome to episode 74 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the Christmas flexi-discs released by the confectionary company, Juchheim. When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to spin on my record player was “It’s A Super Spectacular Day” from the 1980 Mad Magazine Super Special. A few years later, it was superseded by “I’m A Boinger” from the Bloom County collection, “Billy And The Boingers Bootleg.” Thanks to those and a few other I had, I’ve always had an affinity for flexi-discs. When I started co...
2023-02-1445 min
Holly Jolly X'masuRiichi Maki's "New Sounds Of Christmas"Welcome to episode 73 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the Riichi Maki’s 1971 album, “New Sounds Of Christmas.” I have several albums that were extremely difficult to acquire, but none of them really compare to this one. Thankfully, the effort was worth it, as this is a great album. I would have liked to have learned a little more about Riichi Maki, although I’m glad I was able to find at least a little information about him. Several of the artists I’ve looked up recently have far less informa...
2023-01-2549 min
Holly Jolly X'masuThe Royal Hawaiian Boys' "Christmas In Hawaii"Welcome to episode 72 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the Royal Hawaiian Boys’ album, “Hawaiian Time Vol. 3: Christmas In Hawaii.” I’m in a rush to get this out so I won’t have much to say here. My 2022 was awful. I gave a friend this analogy: Years ago, we saw Lebron James play in the high school championships, right before he joined the NBA. It was literally like watching a top NBA star playing against high school kids. In terms of awfulness, that’s how 2022 was in comparison to 2020 and ’2...
2023-01-1829 min
Holly Jolly X'masuThe Blue Diamonds' ChristmasWelcome to episode 71 of Holly Jolly X'masu! For my special New Year’s Eve episode, I’ll be talking about the 1960 album, “The Blue Diamonds’ Christmas.” Growing up, when we weren’t listening to Christmas music, my mom almost always had the Oldies station playing. I was always partial to the Everly Brothers and their wonderful harmonizing. When I first heard the Blue Diamonds, the Everlys were the first thing I thought of. It was no surprise that Ruud and Riem got their start emulating Don and Phil. The more I listened to it, the more I start...
2022-12-3126 min
Holly Jolly X'masuChristmas LoversWelcome to episode 70 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the virtually unknown 1988 City Pop compilation, “Christmas Lovers” from BBM Records. This is one of those albums that gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it. I’d spent hours listening to City Pop Christmas songs and playlists on YouTube, and I was familiar with all the really popular songs and most of the more obscure ones as well. Everything here was entirely new to me, and each of the songs was fantastic. How it’s flown under the radar for...
2022-12-2557 min
Holly Jolly X'masuMint Sound's X'mas AlbumWelcome to episode 69 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the phenomenal 1987 compilation, “Mint Sound’s X’mas Album.” When it comes to Japanese Christmas compilations from the 1980s, Yen Records’ “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” seems to get most of the attention. It’s a great, groundbreaking album, but I don’t think it holds a candle to Mint Sound’s. I actually prefer “Winter Lounge” to “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” but I think this one outshines them both. It has a great mix of songs and you never forget that you’...
2022-12-181h 19
Holly Jolly X'masuKing Orchestra’s "Jingle Bell – Christmas Karaoke Collection"Welcome to episode 68 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the King Orchestra’s 1978 album, “Jingle Bell – Christmas Karaoke Collection.” Despite some disappointment, I was glad to finally add this album to my collection. When I first started buying these records, I built a fairly substantial wishlist, and any time I finally get one of the albums that’s been on it from the beginning, I get a feeling of satisfaction. That might change when I listen to it, but at least I can enjoy the achievement for a little while.
2022-12-1140 min
Holly Jolly X'masuThe Hibari Children’s Chorus’s “Good Child’s Christmas Party"Welcome to episode 67 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the Hibari Children’s Chorus’s 1965 album, “Good Child’s Christmas Party.” How can you not love that album cover? Although not what I planned, this episode will go down in infamy as my (hopefully only) COVID episode. I tested positive last week and it really kicked my butt. You might be able to hear it in my voice a bit throughout the episode. I’m still on the mend, but I’m hoping to be back to at least 90% in...
2022-12-0431 min
Holly Jolly X'masuA Very "Big In Japan" ChristmasWelcome to episode 66 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be wrapping up my “Big In Japan” month with a selection of records from a variety of artists who found their biggest or initial success in Japan. This is easily one of the episodes I’ve been most excited to record. While the nostalgia invoked by Bob McGrath, and the relative notoriety of Jennifer Connelly’s record were big deals, those paled in comparison to everything I was able to uncover about Paul Anka’s “Christmas In Japan.” I’ve mentioned before that I’m not in the bes...
2022-11-2455 min
Holly Jolly X'masuBig In Japan, Pt. 2: “The Ventures’ Christmas Album”Welcome to episode 65 of Holly Jolly X'masu! For my second “Big In Japan” episode, I’ll be talking about the Ventures and their 1965 album, “The Ventures’ Christmas Album.” I was on the fence about covering this album since it was originally a US release, but considering how big the Ventures have been in Japan for nearly six full decades, I wanted to make sure I included them in my “Big In Japan” month. I’ve taken some liberties with my editing this episode, but I hope you’re still able to enjoy the album, and that it encourages y...
2022-11-1830 min
Holly Jolly X'masuBig In Japan, Pt. 1: Janet Lynn’s “A Joyful Christmas With Janet”Welcome to episode 64 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In the first of my “Big In Japan” episodes, I’ll be discussing American figure skater Janet Lynn’s 1973 album, “A Joyful Christmas With Janet.” I’ve always been intrigued by the “Big In Japan” phenomenon. It wasn’t something I gave a lot of thought to when I first started collecting Japanese Christmas music, though. However, not long after I started checking the various Japanese sites for other albums I could get, I started seeing Janet Lynn’s album show up. I had no idea who she was at the time, but I...
2022-11-1141 min
Holly Jolly X'masuJackey Yoshikawa's "Christmas With Blue Comets" - RemasteredWelcome to episode 63 of Holly Jolly X'masu! For Christmas Podcast Day, I’ve remastered one of my earliest episodes, where I discussed Jackey Yoshikawa’s 1966 album, “Christmas With Blue Comets.” November 1st is Christmas Podcast Day. It kicks off the peak season for Christmas podcasters, and a lot of us try to do something special to mark the day. This year, I’m revisiting my fifth episode. I’ve added a new introduction, replaced the original music with the re-recorded songs at the correct speed, and replaced the intro and exit music with a few songs from J...
2022-11-0137 min
Holly Jolly X'masuWe Wish You A HappyWelcome to episode 62 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the 2010 compilation, “We Wish You A Happy.” A lot of my collecting requires leaps of faith. So many of the albums I buy aren’t available online, so I can’t sample them in advance. This is especially true of the older ones, but even a lot of the music from the 1990s and later still can’t be streamed. I learned early on that the bloggers I rely on for recommendations have vastly different tastes than I do, so while a reco...
2022-10-2556 min
Holly Jolly X'masuKaoru Akimoto's "Tenor Sax Mood White Christmas"Welcome to episode 61 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Kaoru Akimoto’s 1968 album, “Tenor Sax Mood White Christmas.” I’ve collected a variety of things throughout my life. No matter what I’ve been collecting at the time, I’ve always had a handful of items that seemed just beyond my reach. In each case, I’ve managed to get at least a couple of those things I never thought I’d own. Sometimes, they turn out to be a huge disappointment. Luckily with my record collecting, each of the albums I’ve gotten...
2022-10-1841 min
Holly Jolly X'masuWhite Album '90Welcome to episode 60 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the 1990 compilation, “White Album ‘90.” This is a fun album overall and I enjoyed listening to it again while preparing for this episode. Some of the tracks are real standouts, and if I were to do a “best of” playlist, I’d include at least three of the songs from this album. I’m still not sure why it took as long as it did to find a copy, but it was definitely a worthy addition to my collection. It’s been...
2022-09-2546 min
Holly Jolly X'masuMika Kanai's "Clam Chowder"Welcome to episode 59 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Mika Kanai’s 1997 album, “Clam Chowder.” I’m sometimes surprised by how hard it is to find various albums. Some seem to never show up for sale, while others are readily available from sellers on Amazon and other sites, but for exorbitant, unrealistic prices. “Clam Chowder” was in the former category. No matter how much I searched, there just weren’t any copies to be had. More frustrating, though, are the albums I’ve passed on in the past and not s...
2022-09-1951 min
Holly Jolly X'masuThe Night Before ChristmasWelcome to episode 58 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the 1988 compilation, “The Night Before Christmas.” My lack of free time really hit a critical point this month, which is why this episode is a few days late. I’ve been looking forward to covering this album because it’s really one of the best 80s compilations. It’s also the only place you can find most of the songs on the album. Only Kazuo Zaitsu and Hidemi Yamamoto’s songs were released elsewhere. I hope you’ve enjoyed...
2022-08-3051 min
Holly Jolly X'masuKen-Ichi Sonoda's "White Christmas - Happy Christmas Party"Welcome to episode 57 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Ken-Ichi Sonoda’s 1981 album, “White Christmas – Happy Christmas Party.” As much as I like this album, I was really hoping to find more background on Ken-Ichi Sonoda. Between the sparse amount I could find online, and a complete lack of free time, this episode is a little light on content. I’m hoping this turns out to be a rare exception. I have most of my schedule for the rest of the year planned out and I might be wor...
2022-08-2245 min
Holly Jolly X'masuChristmas In July - 2022Welcome to episode 56 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this special Christmas In July episode, I’ll be discussing a variety of summery Christmas songs from a diverse group of artists. This year’s episodes was fun to put together, although I ran into a lot of speed bumps along the way. The order containing several of the songs was delayed by more than a week, then work and family life pushed me back even further. Lastly, a staff shortage at the grocery store took away several hours of editing time on the 25th, so I had no way to get...
2022-07-261h 00
Holly Jolly X'masuYumi Matsutoya's Christmas SongsWelcome to episode 55 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be Yumi Matsutoya’s Christmas songs. When it comes to Japanese Christmas music, there are a handful of really key artists. Over the past forty years, one of the most influential is Yumi Matsutoya. She’s certainly not the most prolific when it comes to Christmas music, but she helped to revive public interest, and she furthered the success of Japanese Christmas pop songs. While original Christmas pop songs were being written in Japan as early as the 1950s, until the late 1970s they w...
2022-07-1850 min
Holly Jolly X'masuYumi Matsutoya's "Surf & Snow - Volume One"Welcome to episode 54 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Yumi Matsutoya’s classic 1980 album, “Surf & Snow – Volume One.” For as big as Yuming is, and considering how easy it is to find reviews, critiques and opinions about her online, I was surprised by the sparse amount of biographical information about her. The highlights are covered, but not nearly to the granular degree of other artists, even ones far less popular or accomplished. I still managed to learn a decent amount about her, which always makes my research more enjoyable. One thing that...
2022-07-1251 min
Holly Jolly X'masuNaomi Sagara's "White Christmas"Welcome to episode 53 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Naomi Sagara’s 1975 album, “White Christmas.” I’ve mentioned before how collecting Japanese Christmas albums can sometimes be a real crap shoot. So many of them, especially older ones, have no presence online, so I often have no idea how they’ll sound once I finally get them. This was another of those cases where I pleasantly surprised with the results. While some of the songs are dated, I truly enjoy the entire album and it’s one that I’ve returned to mult...
2022-06-2541 min
Holly Jolly X'masuNaozumi Yamamoto’s “Xmas Home Party"Welcome to episode 52 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Naozumi Yamamoto’s 1973 album, “Xmas Home Party.” Over the past two years, I’ve bought a few albums that didn’t live up to my expectations. Most of them were still thoroughly enjoyable albums. In each case, though, an overzealous, ill-informed, or even dishonest review or blog post led to me expecting something other than what I received. In the case of the blogger who sung Yamamoto’s praises and gave the impression that everything he did sounded like “Branded to Kill,” I suspect...
2022-06-2041 min
Holly Jolly X'masuGoro "Smiley" Asahina's "Dancing Through Blue Christmas"Welcome to episode 51 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Goro “Smiley” Asahina’s 1967 album, “Dancing Through Blue Christmas.” Just speaking as a collector, this is the sort of album I live for. Not only is it virtually unknown, both here and in Japan, but it contains an original song that can only be found here. Finding songs and albums like this are a huge thrill. As a result, the episodes where I cover music that can truly only be heard here are even more enjoyable. I hope you’ve enjoyed lis...
2022-05-2540 min
Holly Jolly X'masuKing Records’ “Merry Christmas (Bouquet of Hearts Present Series)"Welcome to episode 50 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing the 1977 compilation, “Merry Christmas (Bouquet of Hearts Present Series),” from King Records. When I started buying records a couple years ago, I had one very short-term goal: To buy the half dozen albums I’d heard about while trying to find Akira Ishikawa’s “Drum Christmas Drum.” Off the top of my head, those were “Drum Christmas Drum,” Jun Fukamachi’s “Now Sound Christmas,” Jimmy Takeuchi’s “White X’mas Drum Drum,” Chiemi Eri’s “Chiemi Sings Christmas Carols,” Jackey Yoshikawa’s “Christmas With Blue Comets,” and Take...
2022-05-191h 24
Holly Jolly X'masuEiji Kitamura's "Santa Clarinet"Welcome to episode 49 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be wrapping up my discussion about Eiji Kitamura and his Christmas music, with his fantastic 2001 album, “Santa Clarinet.” While Akira Ishikawa’s “Drum Christmas Drum” kicked off my interest in Japanese Christmas music, the Jazz, Group Sounds and Mood Kayo albums of the 1960s really cemented my obsession, while the City Pop Christmas music from the 1980s broadened my collecting horizons and led to me finding an even wider variety of music. One of the things I love about Eiji Kitamur...
2022-04-2553 min
Holly Jolly X'masuEiji Kitamura's "Dancing Christmas" and "Golden Christmas Songs"Welcome to episode 48 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this first of two episodes about legendary clarinetist Eiji Kitamura, I’ll be discussing his 1965 EP, “Dancing Christmas,” and his 1988 album, “Golden Christmas Songs.” As I mentioned in this episode, Eiji Kitamura’s music is some of the earliest Japanese Christmas music I came across. While my attempts to get all three of his albums were frustrating at times, I was thrilled to finally own them all. It was just as enjoyable learning about him and finding that, at 93 years old, he’s still performing and recording. ...
2022-04-2356 min
Holly Jolly X'masuPochettes' "Non-Stop Silent Night"Welcome to episode 47 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing the 1992 album “Non-Stop Silent Night,” by Pochettes & Reindeers. Seldom does one ever come across an album of this caliber, capable of eliciting a truly visceral reaction from audiences, even upon repeated listening. The quality and craftmanship are unparalleled. It truly stands out from the other albums in my collection. I can honestly say that when compared to Akira Ishikawa, Jun Fukamachi, Jimmy Takeuchi, Nobuo Hara and Shoji Suzuki, it’s in a league of its own. I hope Pochettes really m...
2022-04-011h 07
Holly Jolly X'masuIruka's "Noel - Fantastic Winter Story"Welcome to episode 46 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, in honor of Women’s History Month, I’ll continue my coverage of Iruka’s music by discussing her 1990 album “Noel – Fantastic Winter Story.” As much as I liked Iruka’s albums when I first got them, I’ve grown to appreciate them even more as I’ve researched her life and listened to them repeatedly over the last few weeks. I think both albums are great, and each appeals to me in a different way. “Noel” has a more polished and mature sound to it, while “From the Bo...
2022-03-2558 min
Holly Jolly X'masuIruka's "From the Bohemian Forest"Welcome to episode 45 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, in honor of Women’s History Month, I’ll be discussing Iruka’s 1977 album “From the Bohemian Forest.” As you’ve likely noticed, I’m still way behind schedule. I was hoping to have this episode out on the 18th. I’m doing my best to get caught up and will hopefully be back on track next month. Over the course of my collecting, I’ve found that some albums are a real crapshoot. Their covers don’t always give an indication of what y...
2022-03-2132 min
Holly Jolly X'masuChris Hart’s “Christmas Hearts – Winter Gift”Welcome to episode 44 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, in honor of Black History Month, I’ll be discussing Chris Hart’s 2015 album “Christmas Hearts – Winter Gift.” As I mentioned in the episode, Chris Hart’s journey from his early life in California to his success in Japan is a wonderful and inspiring story. I really enjoyed learning more about him, and I hope you found him as interesting as I did. I’ve been behind schedule all month for a variety of reasons. As I was writing and recording this episode, the Ukrainian...
2022-02-271h 07
Holly Jolly X'masuMay J.'s "Christmas Songs"Welcome to episode 43 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing the 2016 album, “Christmas Songs” by the R&B Pop artist, May J. When I first started collecting Japanese Christmas music, I didn’t buy much contemporary music. My main focus was the 1960s through 1980s. As I got more, though, and started doing my podcast, I started checking out more recent music. I’ve found some great albums, so I’m glad I expanded my horizons a bit. I’ve mentioned before that, for a while, I relied on some sharing sites to find...
2022-02-1937 min
Holly Jolly X'masuChewing Gum's "Christmas Best Hits"Welcome to episode 42 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Chewing Gum’s wonderful 1974 album, “Christmas Best Hits.” I’ve been lucky enough to get some fantastic records over the past two years, and this really is one of the best. There’s not a song on the album I don’t enjoy. I also listened to their greatest hits CD while preparing this episode and was impressed by everything I heard. Their earliest music is not only enjoyable, but is all the more impressive when you consider how young Rika and Mami Matsuda...
2022-01-2543 min
Holly Jolly X'masuJapanese Christmas Folk MusicWelcome to episode 41 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode I’ll be talking about Christmas songs by Japanese Folk singers. I’ve pulled these songs from half a dozen different records from the late 60s and early 70s. Some are familiar standards, but the real standouts here are the original songs. I’ve been wanting to do this episode for quite a while now. When I initially started collecting these albums, the bulk of what I bought were full albums. I had a fairly short list of records I wanted to get and only a coup...
2022-01-1841 min
Holly Jolly X'masuMerry X'mas With The ShadracksWelcome to episode 40 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the Shadracks’ 1970 album, “Merry X’mas With The Shadracks.” It’s a fun album full of Christmas standards by the Japanese Folk band. I’m sometimes surprised by the records I come across while searching for Japanese Christmas albums. One unexpected gem was an EP I stumbled across about a year ago called “Christmas on Campus.” It was listed as a folk album, but I couldn’t get much more from the description. When it finally arrived about a month later, I found it to be a d...
2022-01-1133 min
Holly Jolly X'masuSingaporean ChristmasWelcome to episode 39 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this year-end bonus episode, I talk about Singaporean Christmas music. One of the things I’ve really enjoyed over the years is finding just how much “undiscovered” Christmas music is really out there. Forgotten old nuggets from the US are becoming increasingly rare due to how many people have been searching them out and sharing them over the past few decades, but there’s tons of new Christmas music being created each year, and some of it is quite good. Outside of the US, ther...
2021-12-3159 min
Holly Jolly X'masuThe Paradise Garage's "Snow Flakes"Welcome to episode 38 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1978 album, “Snow Flakes,” by the Paradise Garage. It’s a groovy collection of Yuletide Disco! One of the best parts of this hobby is that feeling I get when I finally get an album I’ve spent months trying to acquire. The excitement I felt over “Snow Flakes” wasn’t quite on the same level as Jun Fukamachi’s “Now Sound Christmas,” but it was close. I had a couple near misses along the way. One was due to the fact that I stopped check...
2021-12-251h 01
Holly Jolly X'masuPochettes' "Non Stop! Christmas"Welcome to episode 37 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the 1982 album, “Non Stop! Christmas,” by Pochettes. As I mentioned in the episode, I didn’t know what to expect when I got this. Having worked with an airbrush for several years in high school and college, I liked the cover. I was hoping for a bit more Disco, but I wasn’t entirely displeased overall. I’m sure not everything on the album will appeal to everyone, but I’m hoping each of you listeners enjoys at least some of what’s on it.
2021-12-1839 min
Holly Jolly X'masuKoichi Oki's "The Man From YUKIGUNI"Welcome to episode 36 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about Koichi Oki’s 1975 album, “The Man from YUKIGUNI.” This album was something of a gateway drug for me. It not only solidified my interest in Japanese Christmas music overall, but it led me to discovering the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra’s music, and it introduced me to the Electone. Electone and other electronic organ albums were quite popular in Japan from the mid-60s until the early 80s. As I mention in the episode, Michishiro was the Electone pioneer. He put out multiple...
2021-12-1145 min
Holly Jolly X'masuKing Records' "Merry, Merry X'mas" - Remastered EpisodeWelcome to the remastered edition of Episode 4 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I discuss the granddaddy of all Japanese Christmas compilation albums: King Records’ “Merry, Merry X’mas,” from 1963. This revered classic really established the gold standard for Christmas compilations in Japan. I considered redoing the whole episode, but due to time constraints, that wasn’t plausible. Instead, I redid my introduction and included the full songs from my recently-obtained vinyl copy of the album. You can’t imagine how thrilled I was to finally get this. I’d bid on it several times before b...
2021-12-0438 min
Holly Jolly X'masuSatoru Oda's "Tenor in X'mas"Welcome to episode 35 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I discuss Satoru Oda and his 1964 album, “Tenor in X’mas.” It’s a wonderful mood album by the acclaimed tenor saxophonist. For the longest time, this was one of my favorite Japanese Christmas albums. To be honest, though, for the longest time it was one of the few Japanese Christmas albums of which I’d found a decent download. Most of the small handful of 1960s Japanese Christmas Jazz albums I’d found online were in fairly bad shape. The copy I found of Satoru Oda w...
2021-11-2536 min
Holly Jolly X'masuThe Lotus' "Christmas Guitar Beat"Welcome to episode 34 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this episode, I talk about the Lotus’s 1965 album, “Christmas Guitar Beat.” It’s a fantastic collection of Yuletide and Surf Rock gems. This is one of a handful of Japanese “Christmas” albums I know of that don’t have a lot of Christmas music on them. The Christmas songs that are on here are pretty great, and this would have been a genuine classic if it had been entirely Christmas. As it is, it’s a curious memorial to a talented group of young guys who didn’t quite man...
2021-11-1832 min
Totally Rad Christmas!Bangles “A Hazy Shade of Winter” ( w/ Scott Leopold)What’s up, dudes? Scott Leopold from the Holly Jolly X’masu podcast joins me to really dig into the Bangles and their version of the Simon & Garfunkel classic “A Hazy Shade of Winter” some for the “Less Than Zero” film! We talk about Susanna Hoffs, chord structure, and rocking out on an electrified version of an older tune! So grab some egg nog, turn on some Christmas lights, and jam out to this episode!Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.co...
2021-09-271h 05
Totally Rad Christmas!Night of the Comet (w/ Scott Leopold)What’s up, dudes? Scott Leopold from Holly Jolly X'masu podcast and I go back to when 99% of the Earth's population was turned to red dust as we break down the 1984 gem "Night of the Comet"! Is there Christmas in it? Yep, even some carol source music! Zombies, scientists, cheerleaders, uzis! This flick has it all! So hunker down in a steel reinforced projection booth and check it out!Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, du...
2021-05-111h 08
The Joker by Scott LeopoldThe Joker by Scott Leopold - Episode TwoThe Joker by Scott Leopold - Episode Two
2020-11-2508 minThe Joker by Scott LeopoldThe Joker by Scott Leopold - Episode OneThe Joker by Scott Leopold - Episode One
2020-11-2507 min
Totally Rad Christmas!Leon Redbone “Christmas Island” (w/ Scott Leopold)What’s up, dudes? I’m joined by Scott Leopold from Holly Jolly X’masu podcast to talk the genius that was Leon Redbone and his bodacious “Christmas Island” album! What’s Tin Pan Alley, you ask? Find out here! We get into the mystique of the man and his musical style! Don’t forget to vote in Gag Me with a Spoon! Check it out to the max!Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!
2020-11-1359 min
The Smart-A** HistorianKing Leopold and the CongoWe are back from the holidays and we take a look at King Leopold and his intentions in the African Congo.
2020-01-091h 09
History Dweebs - A look at True Crime, Murders, Serial Killers and the Darkside of HistoryLeopold and Loeb - The Murder of Bobby FranksNathan Leopold, Jr. and Richard Loeb , commonly known as "Leopold and Loeb", were two wealthy students at the University of Chicago who kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Robert "Bobby" Franks in Chicago, in 1924, in what was widely described as "the crime of the century". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2015-07-0141 min