In the Christmas Spirit: James, Jewel and Dr. John, with Leon Redbone | Eastern North Carolina Now

   In this most eclectic mix-bag of videos, we stay in the holiday spirit, as we move ever closer to Christmas Day. Joining us is a mirthful James Taylor (actually from Carrboro / Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a place where the creative grist of a great many of his best tunes originate), the always preposterous Dr. John with Leon Redbone (long one of my favorites from my personal Christmas compact disc, but alas no videos, save this one), and a rather bizarre video of the always incomparable Jewel Kilcher.

   With eclectic grouping, one might rightfully consider that I am cleaning out the proverbial video pantry, and in some ways; yes I am, but this is a great group of some great holiday songs.

We begin with "Frosty the Snowman." The quality of the video is moderately poor, but this rendition by Dr. John with Leon Redbone is very rare and nearly priceless ... but in a good way. Take a good gander at the black and white footage, and see if you notice any from Bedford Falls, New York.


An always happy, and well-centered James Taylor, doing his white-man-blues version of "Jingle Bells" here below:


James Taylor does his version of Joni Mitchell's classic "River" here below. The volume my be a bit low, so crank it up a bit.



A weird, remarkable and heartfelt rendition of the "Wizard of Oz" classic, "Over the Rainbow" by Jewel here below. How is this a Christmas classic? Because CBS would play this once-a-year "must-see-TV," during the 1960's, sometime in Autumn, and "by golly" that is close enough for me.


    Publisher's note: If you are really in the Christmas spirit, or just in the need for more, please click here to access all of the holiday spirit in melody and narrative that BCN can harness and offer for this Yuletide Season.