"Where's The Retro in the Holidays?" pt. 1 'Yule Log'

There is no other time of the year that the Retro Vibe is so thick.
 

It’s not hard to find Retro elements all around during the holiday season. Pulling out your Christmas tree ornaments & decorations that were handed down from past years(some, even generations). Also, the latest trend in party themes, The Tacky Sweater Party comes to mind. 

  In entertainment, there are so many Classic Black & White films and Classic audio recordings, that come out during the span between Thanksgiving and New Years. Versions of Christmas songs by the famous crooners can be heard on radio, TV, malls, Shopping Centers and just about everywhere. How many times can you watch, “Its a  Wonderful Life” or “Miracle on 34th Street”? It’s tradition. The association of these holiday films and tunes echoes back to a simpler time which really is the message here: Giving, Sharing & Enjoying. Also the idea of ‘kicking back’ and smelling the roses which is main idea of the ModernRetro Lifestyle.

 

Yule Log (TV program) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Yule Log was created in 1966by Fred M. Thrower, President and CEO of WPIX, Inc. Inspired by an animated Coca-Cola commercial a year earlier that showed Santa Claus at a fireplace, he envisioned this television program as a televised Christmas gift to those residents of New York who lived in apartments and homes without fireplaces. This also provided time for employees of the television station to stay home with their families, instead of working for the usual morning news program.


The original program was filmed at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the Mayor of New York CityJohn Lindsay, at the time. An estimated US $4,000 of advertising (along with a roller derby telecast that night) was canceled on Christmas Eve for the show's inaugural airing. Thrower, and WPIX-FM programming director Charlie Whittaker selected the music, based largely on the easy listening format the radio station had at that time, with the likes of Percy Faith (whose rendition of "Joy to the World" is played at the beginning and the end of the telecast), Nat King ColeArthur Fiedler and the Boston "Pops" Popular Orchestra, Mantovani, and the Ray Conniff Singers to name a few. During the filming, the producers removed a protective fire grate so that the blaze could be seen better; a stray spark damaged a nearby antique rug valued at $4,000......

 

 

Mr. Lounge’s Holiday Yule Log

 

 

 

 

Here is my YouTube music & ambience video that I’ve put together that will help get you in the mood. It is a High Definition(HD) video of logs burning in my fireplace with a stereo recording of the crackling fire combined with Holiday music, that is a real audio / visual experience.

‘Mr. Lounge’s Yule Log’ features a beautiful song titled, “All Through The Night”, a Welsh Folk song dating back to the 1700’s. With the help of my friends Joe Grieco on piano & Tom Majesky on guitar, I added some layers of percussion instruments, vocals and alto sax to the arrangement.  The beautiful melody comes through with a nice pulsating groove to give the song an updated feel yet still retain the simple, calming ambiance.

 

 

  BTW - There are so many great tunes that can only be played at this time of year. It’s fun to pull out the classics for a short period of time every year. The window of opportunity is short which make them extra special. 

Holiday Cran-Tini

 

 

  “All Through The Night” is a Holiday Classic yet it can work on it’s own so you can enjoy the “Log” anytime you need a 5 Minute break and a cozy fire to curl up to.

 

 

The video featured cocktail is a classic Crantini. 

 

1 oz Cranberry juice, 

2 oz Vodka, 

1 oz Triple Sec, 

A swirl of Vermouth, 

Shaken and strained to a chilled Martini glass with a couple of lime twists and fresh cranberries(soaked in vodka) for Holiday effect.

 

  I had fun putting the Video together but it got a little sloppy after I needed multiple ‘takes’ due to production malfunctions...

 

 

Also check out my rendition of “Silent Night”, where I perform ‘Live in Studio’ the classic Holiday tune in a SmoothJazz / Modern Lounge style that also works well ‘Late Night’.

 

 

 

Have a Safe & Happy Holiday!

 

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