This is all fantastic, and my favorites so far are the crazy Bach-meets-Raymond Scott-meets-Romantic Piano Concerto version of "Jingle Bells", and for the presence of Percy Faith's "Brazilian Sleigh Bells", which I used to play at Christmas parties (back when people had Christmas parties and hired pianists for them) all the time to the bafflement of most. (Though the Herb Alpert inspired cuts are pretty great, too.)
Thanks for posting, Onya! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all -- stay safe, stay healthy!
Special thanks to FSMer Paul MacLean for tipping us off to 1975 supermarket music:
Thanks for the mention!
Agreed on the grocery store music vs. film music of today -- though my tolerance for Christmas shopping music ended after I took a job as a mall Santa Claus (I applied to be a photographer but they already had enough photographers -- and I desperately needed a job after bumming around for the summer and fall after graduation).
But constant replays of easy listening arrangements of "White Christmas" (complete with xylophones!) and "March of the Wooden Soldiers" had me begging for a cyanide capsule after one week.
I admit though, the college girls posing for pictures while sitting on Santa's lap did help take the edge off a bit.
There’s probably more deep emotion and lovely melody in mid-‘70s supermarket music than in 99% of the film music today.
Agreed 100%.
Also, LOVE the vintage department store Christmas upload. Fantastic stuff.
How things have changed. I remember the general mocking of easy listening Xmas music in the 70's for being kitsch. Now I hear structure and melody that I find very enjoyable and soothing.
There’s probably more deep emotion and lovely melody in mid-‘70s supermarket music than in 99% of the film music today.
More like 99% of music today. I often hate going shopping just because of the utter shit they play in the background. I specifically have avoided retail jobs because of it.
There’s probably more deep emotion and lovely melody in mid-‘70s supermarket music than in 99% of the film music today.
More like 99% of music today. I often hate going shopping just because of the utter shit they play in the background. I specifically have avoided retail jobs because of it.
20 years ago, George Michael’s “Last Christmas” was the bane of every retail worker’s existence; whatever Mariah Carey was warbling at the time was a close second.
I can only imagine how much worse the music has gotten since then. Is there a musical equivalent of Hallmark Channel Christmas movies? Do the rappers rap Christmas raps?
Don’t tell me if they do.
As for hostility to 1970s Muzak, that seems to have been the Boomer counterculture’s reactionary response to melody and civilized sound levels, as represented by The Carpenters and other musical acts. The over-the-top stage shows of Acid Rock, Glam Rock, Prog Rock, Heavy Metal, and whatever other hideous creation of that time was considered “cool.”
Paul MacLean, You Were a Mall Santa too? Now I do feel at home here. I also did Elementary Schools and Farmers Markets. Have also been mistaken for yeti during snow storms.
Paul MacLean, You Were a Mall Santa too? Now I do feel at home here. I also did Elementary Schools and Farmers Markets. Have also been mistaken for yeti during snow storms.
I was only Santa at the mall -- though one day after work they asked (well, required) me to stick around and greet a bunch of little kids.
I wasn't very good at it I have to admit. I'd done acting in college, but mostly in edgy comedy sketches. The hardest part about playing Santa was suppressing my irreverent sarcasm (that and the runny noses).
It was a lot easier playing the Easter Bunny (yeah, they hired me back) -- no speaking required!
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I worked Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I'm off today.