Christmas song #21:

Vince Guaraldi Trio--My Little Drum



Well, I devoted three days to the greatest Christmas album of all time, so I might as well devote 2 days to the 2nd greatest Christmas album of all time, the soundtrack to the greatest Christmas special of all time.

I suppose I could try to go into a lot of detail as to why the album is great, but really, you should know this already. But I would like to say that I love how it matches the special's melancholy almost toe to toe, which makes it just as essential listening as the special is essential viewing around this time.

Anyway, it's a collection of your favorite standards with a couple originals all done in a contemplative jazzy sort of way. And you probably know a lot of the tracks from this album, but today is devoted to a track that I'm assuming not a lot have heard before, but I think it's one of the standout pieces from the album. But that might be because I--unlike just about every other person on Earth--love "The Little Drummer Boy."

Most people describe it as a slog and quite repetitive... which I can't really deny, because that's sort of the reason I enjoy the song. But only in certain circumstances. There needs to be as little instrumental backing as possible, and in most cases, it just needs to be a single voice (although there are a couple choir versions I like.) And that voice needs to have a particular gravitas in order to lend the song its weight. In other words, I like my "Little Drummer Boy" renditions to be as boring as possible.

So I am including this Vince Guaraldi version pretty much because it might just be the most palatable version of the song in existence. And so maybe--just maybe--the song will win a couple people over. Not likely, but still.

I think it's designed to even win over those who normally hate the song, too. Gone is the dirge atmosphere and all the "rump-ba-bum-bums" in favor of a slightly somber yet still comforting jazz tune. Plus, there's a children's choir acting as the percussion section. I don't think any possible human being can hate that. In the end, though, it's just quiet and lovely. And that's about all you can ask for.

It wasn't included in the actual special, so this is the bonus treat you get for listening to the album. Or at least *I* think it's a treat.

BONUS SONG:



Because I didn't want to post too many videos tomorrow (you know, a day after I posted three), here's an extra one today. And because if this song doesn't make you imagine snowflakes slowly drifting from the sky, then you need to move to somewhere where it's f***ing cold.