I’m a Christmas nut. I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but I freaking love everything about the season – the lights, the food, the festive mood, and maybe most of all, the amazing holiday music. My favorite Christmas tracks are nostalgic, particularly the ones from the 1950s through the early 1970s that remind me of my early childhood. This is why I love the original WPIX Yule Log, a Christmas Eve television tradition since 1966. Originally conceived by WPIX General Manager Fred Thrower to bring old-fashioned holiday hearth experiences to New Yorkers, the “classic” WPIX playlist – like the Disneyland and Magic Kingdom Main Street Christmas loops compiled by “voice of Disneyland” Jack Wagner – brings many of my absolute favorite Christmas recordings together in a single, quirky package.
Being a West Coaster and a child of the 1980s, my first TV Yule Log experience happened care of KOFY TV-20, the legendary independent station in the San Francisco Bay Area known for its crazy dog bumpers. I remember hours of Philadelphia Brass, but I’m fairly sure the playlist was similar to the following WPIX playlist, which features everyone from Percy Faith to David Rose:
You can see and hear the rest of the loop with this playlist:
Anyway, I hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving and a wonderful Christmas! And if you’re like me in that you have a California house without a fireplace, I’ll see you in front of the Yule Log!
12/17/2013 UPDATE! Someone’s been posting portions of the 1984 KOFY TV-20 Yule Log broadcast to Youtube! I’m including the two available portions below…
For more Christmas music goodness:
- TheYuleLog.com: WPIX Yule Log fansite – This one has a complete history of the WPIX Yule Log and a complete playlist!
- Music Collection: A Christmas Music Box – our Christmas favorites, including David Rose and others featured on the WPIX Yule Log broadcast
- My Christmas favorites at Amazon.com
- Rita Ford “A Music Box Christmas” tracks at Amazon (these are from the Disneyland/Magic Kingdom Main Street Christmas loop)
- MiceAge’s Disneyland Main Street Christmas Loop playlist
The WPIX Yule Log and classic Christmas music http://t.co/EPX7qR1A #Chistmas #YuleLog #WPIX