Tuesday Tunes 179: Advent Countdown 4 🎍

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As I did last time, I’m combining my regular Tuesday Tunes series with the seasonal Advent Countdown, which is why you’re getting a double title again this week. I try every year to include a few more serious songs in the mix, and it seems a good idea to do them all in one set, to build their own little theme. These have all been played here before, but they are songs with a meaning and a message that we shouldn’t forget in the midst of the headlong rush towards the big day of celebrations, which is why I’m playing them again. It is an added bonus for me that I like them all, too, and they also give me the opportunity to play a couple that were chart hits, for those who might like something more familiar.

Today’s first song is one that I expect just about everyone will know:

That reached #4 in the UK in December 1972, when it was first released, though its best rating was #2 in 1980, and it was a hit single in many other countries. It had previously been released in 1971 in the US, and has charted there on several occasions, as indeed it has here too. It is currently at #19, keeping a run going of reappearances since 2007.

This next one is seen as a novelty hit, but it carries a serious message under its jaunty little tune:

That wasn’t a US hit, but it reached #3 here in 1980, and was a big chart hit in Australia, New Zealand, and in many European countries. It is a regular Christmas favourite here, and has reached our charts a further ten times since its original release, including this year – back in this week at #68. I’m guessing that it will be new to most American readers, though, apart from those of you who may remember it from my playing it before. There is a kind of odd link between these first two songs: for one of the five weeks he spent at #3 Jona Lewie was held off the #1 spot here by two John Lennon songs, which hit the top again after he was murdered on 8 December of that year – one of them being Happy Xmas (War Is Over), the other was Imagine. Fifty one years on since the Lennon one was first released here and forty three years for Lewie there is, sadly, still a relevance to both of these which we shouldn’t ever forget, even at a time of celebration. Current events in Ukraine and Gaza/Israel are everyday reminders.

This next one is another that carries a meaningful message, but is far from being well known – unless, again, you’ve seen it here before. When I first played this I remarked that I would imagine that many of you are familiar with the story of the unofficial truces between German and British troops on Christmas Day 2014 in WW1, during which gifts were exchanged and a game of football was played in the no-man’s land between the trenches. English readers won’t be surprised to hear that Germany won the game (without having to go to penalties), but it provided the background to a remarkable song:  

That remastered video was released in 2014, to mark the centenary both of the Christmas truces and the beginning of WW1, although the song itself dates back to 1977. Not to be confused with the New Zealand folk singer with the same name, Mike Harding will be known to some here as a radio presenter of folk and roots music programmes, but he has also had a long career as a folk singer and songwriter of some note, with a wide range of publications and TV broadcasts to his name, plus many albums. Amongst all the other strings to his bow he has also been a stand up comedian, and actually had a #22 hit here in 1975 with his song The Rochdale Cowboy. I saw him play live a couple of times at my university’s folk club – he was a regular visitor, and his shows were almost as much a collection of extremely funny anecdotes as they were of music. But he also has a sensitive side, as this song demonstrates. The video for it is as beautiful and heartfelt as the song. To complete the story, 50% of the proceeds from its 2014 re-release were shared between the Royal British Legion and the Help For Heroes charities.

Today’s two remaining songs aren’t anti-war messages, but they are both reminders of what the season may mean for us. This next one is from one of my favourite musicians: I’m not a particularly religious person, but I can appreciate that the meaning of this time of year may have become a little lost. Here’s a reminder:

The video that someone has compiled for this track is inspired. The images match perfectly with the beauty of Jackson Browne’s lyrics, which should prompt us all to consider our beliefs and our behaviours. Religion can be a wonderful support for people, but it can also be damaging and divisive. In a world which has so much division we need to heed lessons like this one. Although this was Jackson’s song it first appeared as a guest performance on The Bells Of Dublin, an album of seasonal songs released by The Chieftains in 1991 – I recommend the album highly. This song was first released under Jackson’s name as a single in 1997, to promote his first ‘Best Of’ album, The Next Voice You Hear: I think it is stunning.

Today’s final tune is from another of my favourites. This one is actually a retelling of the Nativity and is also accompanied by a lovely video that has been made for it by a fan:

As I said, I’m not religious but the first time I heard this was while I was driving. I had to pull over, as it isn’t really safe to drive when tears are springing to your eyes. It still has that effect on me: even more so when I first played it in 2021, as I was nervously awaiting the birth of my second granddaughter – who celebrated her second birthday last Friday. This was the closing track on Steve Earle’s third album, Copperhead Road: I’ve always loved the album, which is probably still my favourite of his, though it has some stiff competition! The harmony vocals are from Maria McKee, formerly of the band Lone Justice, who is best known in the UK for her 1990 #1 hit Show Me Heaven. A really beautiful song to bring today’s set to a close, I think.

As this is my more serious set I toyed with the thought of not including an ad this time, but decided I would keep the run going. Whatever you might think of Amazon, I hope you agree that this little gem captures the spirit of gifting for the season very well, with a suitably perfect soundtrack of one of my favourite Beatles songs:

I hope you haven’t minded my taking a more serious side to this set of tunes – I think we should all take some occasional time out to reflect on the important things in life, especially at Christmas. I’ll see you again in a couple of days for the next part of my Advent Countdown, so take care until then 🌲

44 thoughts on “Tuesday Tunes 179: Advent Countdown 4 🎍”

  2. I wasn’t aware of either the Jackson Browne or Steve Earle tracks, thanks for highlighting them. I can certainly imagine the Chieftain’s doing the JB song, I may check it out.

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    • I’m glad you liked them, Paul. Both are standout songs for me. The Chieftains’ version is, as you’d expect, a bit more Irish in its treatment, but still undeniably Jackson on vocals. That’s a good album, too: one of their collaborative ones.

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  4. Of course, you can never go wrong with Jackson Browne or John & Yoko, but my favorite today is the Steve Earle tune. Simply a beautiful tune! Today’s ad was marvelous too. I hold no ill will toward Amazon. I do a lot of business with them while also trying to support our local merchants.

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  5. Nice selection Clive, as always. Amazon raises a lump in a lot of folks’ throat but this one was the right kind.
    Agree with others on your eye for a cartoon. (But why didn’t the Pirate Cap’n say ‘aaaargh’ not ‘Damn?’)

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    • Thank you, I’m glad you liked them, and it was good to be able to show Amazon in a better light than they usually get.

      As to that cartoon, I suggest you blame the cartoonist I ‘borrowed’ it from 🤣

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  6. Great song picks again. Touching songs! And like you said, Christmas is a good time to reflect on the important things in life.
    I also can’t help but add that God is good at stirring your heart in ways you don’t expect. Like having to pull over on the road because of a certain song. 🙂
    Perfect ending with the Amazon ad! ❤

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