Keith Richards - Run Run Rudolph

What do The Grateful Dead, Kelly Clarkson, and Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mahyem all have in common? They've all recorded one of my favorite Christmas Songs - Run Run Rudolph.

But the version I prefer is by today's birthday boy, Keith Richards, who turns 70 years old today. Crikey. Happy birthday, Keith.

Keith's version is fantastic. It's gritty, it's rocking, and it's Keith Richards for crying out loud. It was released as a single and the B-side is Pressure Drop with Toots and the Maytals. How awesome is that!?

First recorded by Chuck Berry in 1958, the song was released as the single Run, Rudolph, Run on Chess Records (the same fantastic label that released The Gems' Love For Christmas). All subsequent releases of the song have been under the title Run Run Rudolph. Probably because that's what it says in the lyrics. I'm just guessing.

Buy it at iTunes here.

Buy it at Amazon here.

The Gems - Love For Christmas

Oh how I love the song Love For Christmas by The Gems. The Gems was a Chicago-based group from the early 1960s and featured a very young Minnie Riperton. Minnie went on to have a number one hit with Lovin' You in 1974. The Gems were on the Chess Records label, started by a couple of Polish immigrant brothers with the last name of Chess. Go figure. Love For Christmas was written by Raynard Miner, who also wrote the Jackie Wilson hit (You're Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher.

 All that said, Love For Christmas is a terrific holiday song.

 You can buy the song on iTunes here.

 Get it at Amazon here.