Best of Lists: 2009 & Decade

It’s the end of 2009, as well as the end of the ’00 decade. So here are some “Top” Lists.

Rolling Stone’s 25 Best Albums, Songs of 2009

Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums, Songs of ’00s.

Top 10 Pop Songs of 2009 – AOL Radio Blog

Top 10 Artists of 2009 – AOL Radio Blog

Best Albums of 2009 – AOL Radio Staff

Jazzy Christmas

Holly Cole
Santa Baby

Christmas Blues

Harry Connick Jr.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Please Come Home for Christmas

Happy Chanukah!

Until Christmas, I’ll post holiday videos to help you get into the holiday spirit.

Let’s begin with the Festival of Lights. Instead of one day of presents, we have 8 Crazeee nights…Happy Chanukah!

Here’s a great animated performance of Adam Sandler’s classic by Neil Diamond:

Kenny Ellis gives a jazzy spin to two Chanukah tunes.

Swingin’ Dreidel

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah

My Menorah (to the tune of My Sharona)

To Connie… Love, Jenna

To Connie…Love, Jenna was recorded live in New York City at the Metropolitan Room. Jenna Esposito’s homage to Connie Francis features new versions of Francis’ hits like “Who’s Sorry Now,” Stupid Cupid,” “Lipstick On Your Collar,” and “Where The Boys Are.” Jenna also included lesser-known songs like “My First Real Love,” inspired by Connie’s hidden romance with teen idol Bobby Darin, and the rockin’ “Are You Satisfied?” and “Send For My Baby.” Selections from Francis’ Italian albums include “Mama” and “Tango Della Gelosia.”

Esposito is joined by Fortune Esposito (her father) on guitar, David Crone on piano, Michael Blanco on bass, Brian DeWitt on drums, and Brian Broelmann on saxophone, flute, mandolin, and ukulele, along with backup vocalists Kelly Esposito-Broelmann and Rob Langeder.

Ms. Esposito is well versed in all things Connie. It’s nice to hear about how some hits came to be and some behind the scene gossip about those legendary songs. Esposito has soul and charm.

I was lucky enough to see Esposito perform on Valentine’s Day 2009 and was pleased with her playfulness and voice range. I wanted to attend one of the several Connie shows performed by Esposito but was unable to. I’m glad to have the CD to listen to this lovely tribute to one of our original teen idols.

Otis Redding & The Bar-Kays

On December 10, 1967, Otis Redding’s tour plane crashed into Wisconsin’s Lake Monona, killing him and four of five members of the R&B group the Bar-Kays, Redding’s backup band. Redding was only 26 years old. One last member of the Bar-Kays was on a commercial flight.

“(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay,” which Redding started recording only three days earlier, was released in January 1968, and went to No. 1. The whistling parts of that song were part of that first recording, with the intention of being replaced with new lyrics.

(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay

Respect (the original)

I’ve Been Loving You Too Long

Here is his last TV performance, less than a day before his death.
Try a Little Tenderness

The lost members of the Bar-Kays were eventually replaced and here is the new band with a new look playing “Son of Shaft” at Wattstax in 1972.

Imagine

Today marks the 29th anniversary of John Lennon’s death on December 8, 1980. Below, some of John’s songs to remember the peace-loving Beatle.