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Up To Date

Not Your Parents' Christmas Music

If you celebrate Christmas, chances are you know all the classic names that go along with it. Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Elvis are synonymous with Yuletide cheer, but what about new compositions?

On Tuesday's Up to Date, we dive into some Christmas deep-cuts with two disc jockeys, who spin up the holiday spirit year after year. From new to obscure songs, we hit the worlds of country, rockabilly and R&B.

Guests:

  • John Wendland, host and producer of Memphis to Manchester on 88.1 KDHX in St. Louis 
  • Roy Kasten, senior writer for the Riverfront Times in St. Louis and disc jockey and host of Feel Like Going Home at 88.1 KDHX in St. Louis

Their top songs:

  • Listen to the Bells Ring by Lisa Mychols
  • Children, Go Where I Send Thee by Nick Lowe
  • How to Make Gravy by Paul Kelly  
  • Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
  • Cold Dark Night by Sam Phillips
  • Just Like Christmas by Low
  • Just Because It Was Christmas by Rough Shop
  • Calling On Mary by Aimee Mann
  • Everyday Is Christmas by Charles Bradley and the Gospel Queens
  • Must Be Santa by Bob Dylan
  • The Man With All the Toys by Husky Team
  • River by Cee Lo Green

Suggestions from our listeners:

  • We Three Kings (album) by The Roches
  • Christmas (album) by Chris Isaak
  • Christmas at the Airport by Nick Lowe
  • Christmas Island (album) by Leon Redbone
  • I Want An Alien For Christmas by Fountains Of Wayne
  • Chiron Beta Prime by Jonathan Coulton
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When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
Cody Newill is part of KCUR's audience development team. Follow him on Twitter @CodyNewill or email him at cody@kcur.org.