Willie Nelson - Pretty Paper (1979)

Willie Nelson
Pretty Paper (1979, Columbia)

"Willie Nelson? Yes please, of course! This beautiful, and traditional Christmas album will be my final post of the year as I leave tomorrow for family time. If you don't like Willie's voice then you probably suck. Put this on with the family, get some drinks and play a board game! You won't regret it. Thanks for a great year everyone, happy holidays and I'll see you again in 2016!" - DD

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Various ‎Artists - Christmas Rap (1987)

Various Artists
Christmas Rap (1987, Profile Records)

"Now this is Christmas rap! I believe it was just a cash-grab inspired by the success of Run-DMC's classic Christmas In Hollis, opening track, but it holds up pretty well regardless (w/ some exceptions). Get a blaster on yr shoulder, lay some cardboard out on the living room floor and git cho' self a B-boy holiday dance party underway today!" - DD

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Crew X - Christmas Rap Music (1990) (Cass.)

Crew X
Christmas Rap Music (Cass.) (1990, Silver Bells Music)

"Clippity clap, tippity tap!! As far as hip hop goes this "shit" is "whack". Fa la la la la la la la la laaaa!! Ya hear?! If there seems to be too many la's in there it's because there is. Rap?! But fear not fuglies. As redonk as this "entirely recorded on a casio w/ Christmas demo's" tape be, there is a saving grace in the closing moments that has officially made its way onto my "fav x-mas songs of all time" list. That's right, it's The Christmas Rap! Dig in foolies 'n coolies!" - DD

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Smokey Robinson & The Miracles ‎- Christmas With The Miracles (1963)

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Christmas With The Miracles (1963, Tamla)

"Some glistening and warm soul for a nice relaxing Christmas. The Miracles really kill it here, so gather 'round the fire and groove on these hearty jammers!" - DD

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Matt Wilson - Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O (2010)

Matt Wilson
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O (2010, Palmetto Records)

"Excellent jazzer comp of 14 Christmas classics for all you beats out there; including covers of The Chipmunks, Lennon and Charlie Brown! Get a little toasty with some White Russians this season and jam on these honkin' skronkers!" - DD

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Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra ‎- Christmas Carols (1958) (LP)

Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra
Christmas Carols (1958, Dot Records)

"This feels like the staple Christmas album, the one every Christmas movie after 1958 took it's songs from. It's warm, glowing and full of joy. Love is all around us, so forget about corporate greed hang-ups and religious ties, put petty squabbles aside, curl up with your family & friends, have a few drinks (alcoholic or otherwise) and spend some quality time with the people you love!" - DD

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The Roches - The Roches (1979)

The Roches
The Roches (1979, Warner Bros. Records)

"The Roches will not appeal to everyone. There is something undeniably quirky or goofy about their music, some would likely say corny. Yet there are moments, and for me an underlying current, of satiric warmth and genius. Songs like Hammond Song or Damned Old Dog overflow w/ narrative mastery and vocal power. In the end you may hate this album. The first time I heard it I fell in love, the second I bought my own copy, and each time since it's become more and more important to me. Good luck!" - DD

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Note: This will be the last album I post this year outside of Christmas tunes. I wanted to stop at 44 posts, but also wanted to beat my previous years (aside from 2010 when I was jobless and spending a lot of time at home listening to music) so I will post a few Christmas albums I've been into this year and hopefully you enjoy them. It's been a fantastic year for BT and it couldn't have happened without all of the incredible feedback I've received from everyone. Thank you so much for the continued support and interest!! And here's to a successful 2016 as well, happy holidays everyone!

Hailu Mergia and the Walias - Tche Belew (1977)

Hailu Mergia and the Walias
Tche Belew (1977, Kaifa Records)

"Some more deliciously grooved out Ethiopian beauty; here we get a nice soulful jazzercise from organist Hailu Mergia and his excellent band. For more goodies I suggest a dig through the Éthiopiques series, so many remarkable jams! Now tune in and vibe sweet babies on these funky rhythms!" - DD

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Kourosh Yaghmaei - Back From The Brink (2011)

Kourosh Yaghmaei
Back From The Brink (2011, Now-Again Records)

"Excellent compilation of tracks from Iranian rocker Kourosh Yaghmaei. I hadn't heard him until this came out and have been in love with it since (incredible beach music), so hopefully you'll enjoy it too. Please grab, and dig these groovy sounds!" - DD

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Various Artists ‎- Colonial Vipers (1982)

Various Artists
Colonial Vipers (1982, Trumpett)

"Pretty svank electronic comp from '82. I initially grabbed this to get more Muziekkamer (if anyone knows where to find more let me know) and decided to share as I don't think it's readily available online (could be wrong). There are definitely a few duds (Nine Cirkles, lyrically, are the dumbest shit - at least on this) but overall a good haul of tracks from Trumpett. Heave, ho and swallow ya repulsive pukes!" - DD

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John Hegre & Maja S. K. Ratkje - Ballads (2006)

John Hegre & Maja S. K. Ratkje
Ballads (2006, Dekorder)

"Subtle barely begins to describe the intricate weave created here by these two monsters of sound, both eclectic masters of composition. The thing I like most about the album is that, unlike many of its ilk, there seems to be almost no tension. Everything is warm and smooth and mixes effortlessly into the fabric. Sleep tight little munchkins, and svelge dette milky godhet." - DD

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Su Tissue - Salon De Musique (1984)

Su Tissue
Salon De Musique (1984, Adversity LTD)

"Here we have an elegant and propelling bit of modern classical from the always alluring Su Tissue, of Suburban Lawns fame. This is a severe departure from that; simple variations on a simple piano melody w/ accents and shifting instrumentation throughout. Mood music of the highest grade, so drift out my beauties!" - DD

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Pierre Henry - Futuristie (1980)

Pierre Henry
Futuristie (1994, Philips / Musique Française d'Aujourd'hui)

"Just ridiculously, ridiculously good. Best digested in solid bursts with an unshakable attention to detail. Eat loud kiddies!" - DD

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The Mystic Tide ‎- Solid Sound..Solid..Ground... (1994)

The Mystic Tide
Solid Sound..Solid..Ground... (1994, Distortions Records)

"I'm extremely pleased to be sharing this with all of you! It's one I've wanted to post for five years or more but was unable to as my copy was destroyed. Finally, at long last, one of the great garage/surf/psych-rock bands of all time are alive and well on BT. I would absolutely put this among my favourite albums of all time (not something I normally do w/ compilations) and I hope you can as well. Get it now and don't look back friends!" - DD

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Modo Koagon ‎- Ebb (2015) (LP)

Modo Koagon 
Ebb (LP) (2015, HARADA)

"An eclectic trove of trinket-collage, field recordings, cling-clang, jazzy sax, synthery and percussive blips and rips; MK's third release is his first as a solo artist and truly showcases his prowess, bringing sensitively crafted intricacies to the forefront. If peace is what you're after then sprawl out and jam this ditty biddies!" - DD

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CM von Hausswolff - Three Overpopulated Cities Built By Short-sighted Planners, An Unbalanced And Quite Dangerous Airport And An Abandoned Church (2004)

CM von Hausswolff
Three Overpopulated Cities Built By Short-sighted Planners, An Unbalanced And Quite Dangerous Airport And An Abandoned Church (2004, Sub Rosa)

"Another von Hausswolff dronepocalypse for you fugly ducks. I find this one quite soothing, the low tones specifically make me lull into my warm and friendly safe space, but it's likely not for everyone. To gain a better understanding of intention I suggest reading the label's write up on the purchase page linked below, and for those into lofty soundscapes and slow trips I say dig in and chew it friends!" - DD

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Junglepussy - Satisfaction Guaranteed (2014)

Junglepussy
Satisfaction Guaranteed (2014, Vice Records)

"Easily among my favourite hip hop albums of 2014, Junglepussy has a sweet flow, crazy good beats, and exceptional rhymes. I don't really understand why she isn't everywhere right now, or why she has no physical releases, but hopefully that'll change soon. Get this stat if you like things good." - DD

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Prophet - Right On Time (1984) (LP)

Prophet
Right On Time (LP) (1984, Treasure / Beat Electric)

"One slick shit for all y'all groovers and shakers out there. Prophet's likely the most eloquent disco-funkgasm-shazam I've experienced, but if not he's certainly at the top of the list! Feet slide, hips jive and grooves ride when you're Right On Time, dig? Incredible licks, top vocals, gorgeous synths, and a few skewed time signatures make for some far out fantastic goodness (ripped from the original release!). "Can I be the one that makes you feel so good, baby"? Yes Prophet, you can. Please do!" - DD

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Mix-O-Rap ‎- DMR (2014) (Cass.)

Mix-O-Rap
DMR (Cass.) (2014, PPU)

"Another golden, doody-whopper courtesy of the excellent bedlam of funky love that is Peoples Potential Unlimited. Got some uber pimplical rhymes on this jam, harsh drum machines and fuzzed out home recordings; all of which make for an exceptional hip hop tape that deserves to be heard by all. Pop it and lock it kiddies, Mix-O-Rap spits game!!" - DD

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Jaap Blonk - Lifespans (2013)

Jaap Blonk
Lifespans (2013, Kontrans)

"If you're unfamiliar w/ Blonk's canon he's primarily toiled in avant-garde vocal performance, though in the past decade or so has added electronics to his repertoire. For fans of his older work this particular album may not be ideal; an ever expanding, myriad force of electronic slog intended for high volume, headphone mind expulsion ("jellyfication" if you will). But if you're willing it's a wild time! Tune out and swallow my jiggly bits." - DD

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