KDHX 88.1 FM
- Are You Gonna Miss Me, Too?-Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel (Sincere, melodic vocals, with just the right hint of a twang. I remember buying the CD, "Oh, The Stories We Hold," at Webster Records and wishing that someone would play it on the radio. Finally, someone did.)
- Ye Mele-Papudinho ("Radio Rio" got off to a strong start today, thanks to Andrea's choice of this vocally and instrumentally lively track.)
- The Very Thought Of You-Nancy Wilson (Polished, elegant vocals on this well-covered standard. I also recommend two piano renditions of it, by Liz Story and Billy Taylor.)
- Grantstand-Grant Green (This title track from a strong 1961 album features Grant's fast, breezy guitar in a mood that's sustained for nine minutes.)
- Caroling, Caroling-Nat King Cole (A somewhat overlooked carol that gives credit to Christmas bells for their melodious ringing. The Manhattan Transfer's version is also recommended.)
- Minute By Minute-The Doobie Brothers (A great keyboard fade-in and smooth, subtler-than-usual vocals from Michael McDonald; I hear why R&B stations play it, as well as oldies stations.)
- In Your Eyes-Peter Gabriel (Arguably, this is Gabriel's best hit, thanks to a powerful performance of universal, heartfelt lyrics.)
- Frosty The Snowman-The Ronettes (The Ronettes sing "Frosty..." with a light, uptempo touch that works. I never hear America's rendition on the radio, but the band behind such hits as "Ventura Highway" and "A Horse With No Name" also recorded a strong, uptempo rendition worth hearing.)
- Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)-Vince Guaraldi Trio (This picked up my spirits on this rainy morning, and I imagine it had the same effect on others in traffic. As endearing as the vocal rendition from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is, the instrumental rendition sets the mood for Christmas just as well. Fifty years ago, Charles Schulz's imaginative characters met Vince Guaraldi's imaginative music for the first time in a half-hour special. What a perfect match that was--the best jazz accompaniment you could ask for and the most thoughtful comic strip writing brought to life.)
