24 Comments
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Robert C. Gilbert's avatar

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kevin and thank you for all you do for the community of Substack music writers.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Merry Christmas to you & yours as well! I'm always happy to help where I can!

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Robert C. Gilbert's avatar

My favourite version of 'Merry Christmas Baby' is probably Elvis' from 1971. Recorded completely off-the-cuff and with such a slow boil of a groove, it's probably one of his most spontaneous, unguarded performances. Redding's version is up there too, of course!

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Matt Springer's avatar

agreed, this is a great version too!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm going to have to go find it and give it a spin today!

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Jessica B. Sokol's avatar

YES! To Otis, today and every single day.

And happy holiday, Kevin! Great choice.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Happy holidays to you too! I've been on a huge Otis kick lately.

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Jessica B. Sokol's avatar

I’m always on an Otis kick! Have you read Dreams To Remember?

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I haven't! Should I let it cut to the front of my reading list?

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Jessica B. Sokol's avatar

I would! It’s fucking fascinating.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

That's all I needed to hear. Adding it now!

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Jessica B. Sokol's avatar

Let me know what you think!

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Holly Rabalais's avatar

Started off my morning with this--and now I actually feel like pushing through the final cleaning and cooking for those young adult kids coming home tonight!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm happy to hear it! I've just read your latest newsletter-- I had to laugh at your comparing hungry teenagers to locusts swarming one's kitchen. I mean, the accuracy... lol.

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Matt Springer's avatar

such a great song, excellent choice! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Merry Christmas to you & yours as well!

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Glenn Cook's avatar

Charles Brown was a friend of mine for the last decade of his life, and I love the duet he did with Bonnie Raitt. But the Elvis and the Otis versions are classics too. Give my essay on Charles a read at some point: https://open.substack.com/pub/glenncook/p/charles-browns-legacy?utm_source=direct&r=727x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

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Glenn Cook's avatar

Also, meant to tell you how much I enjoy your work and the variety of your posts! Happy holidays!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

Thank you! That really means a lot to me, and I appreciate it.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

I'm on it!

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Redding's version is my favorite as well. The organ and bells really convey a wintery feel.

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

100% agreed.

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Jen Zug's avatar

Awww thanks for reminding me of this song -- I love the Bruce Springsteen version! Hope you had a great Christmas, Kevin!

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Kevin Alexander's avatar

It was good! Cold, but good. I hope yours was a well!

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