Old School Special: RetroRanch Christmas

In the wake of Gene Autry's 1949 holiday success with "Rudolph, the. Red Nosed Reindeer," the genre of fantasy Christmas in the Wild West got a huge shot in the saddle.  

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesterYule, when the new sheriff in town wore red suspenders, herded reindeer, and had spurs that went jingle jangle jingle bells.  

Ernest Tubb, George Jones, Buck Owens, Loretta Lynn, and even little Miss Gayla Peevey launch into a holiday hoedown sure to unhinge some maverick memories and make room for new ones.  

Always time for a plug before we get the fire going. Subscriptions to the Retrofit newsletter are free for now, so that should fit in with most budgets. Click the little doodads to find out more. Also my book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Old West" is still out there, Pony Express should get it to you by Twelfth Night.

Now let’s saddle up and take to a tinsel trail full of rowdy rarities, seasonal sensations, and St. Nicholas nuggets.  

Load your Red Ryder carbine action 200-shot air rifles a get ready for visions of sagebrush sugarplums! Happy Holiday trails, it's the all new RetroRanch Christmas!

Playlist: Artist. “Title” Album. Label, Year.

• Gene Autry. "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" Gene Autry Sings Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town. LaserLight, 1949

• Buck Owens and His Buckaroos. "Jingle Bells" Christmas with Buck Owens and his Buckaroos. Sundazed, 1965

• Tex Ritter. "Christmas Carols by the Old Coral" I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus. Viper, 1945.

• Bill Monroe. "Christmas TIme's A-Coming" Hillbilly Holiday. Rhino, 1951.

• Ernest Tubb. "I'll Be Walking the Floor This Christmas" Blue Christmas. Decca , 1964.

• Jody Levins. "Jingle Bells Boogie" Rockabilly Xmas. Buffalo Bop, 1954

• Brenda Lee. "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus" Rockin' Little Christmas. MCA, 1956.

• Michael Landon. "Santa Got Lost in Texas" Bonanza Christmas on the Ponderosa. RCA, 1962.

• Lorne Greene. "Stuck in the Chimney" Bonanza Christmas on the Ponderosa. RCA, 1962.

• Johnny Horton. "They Shined Up Rudolph's Nose" Christmasville USA. Mapletone, 1959.

• Buck Owens and His Buckaroos. "Santa's Coming in a Stagecoach" Christmas with Buck Owens and His Buckaroos. Sundazed, 1965

• Gene Autry. "Santa's Coming in a Whirlybird" Here Comes Santa Claus. Varese Saraband, 1957

• Sonny Cole. "Santa to the Moon" Rockabilly Christmas. Buffalo Bop, 1958

• Jimmy Dean. "Little Sandy Sleighfoot" Billboard Greatest Country Christmas Hits. Rhino, 1957

• Eddy Arnold. "Will Santa Come to Shanty Town?" Christmas with Eddy Arnold. RCA, 1962.

• Ferlin Husky. "Lonely Christmas" Christmas All Year Long. Capitol, 1967. :

• Hank Thompson. "Gonna Wrap My Heart in Ribbons" Hillbilly Holiday. Rhino, 1965.

• Gayla Peevey. "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time. Rhino, 1952.

• Jimmy Boyd. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" Christmas with Jimmy Boyd. Philips, 1952

• George Jones. "My Mom and Santa Claus" Hillbilly Holiday. Rhino, 1961.

• Loretta Lynn. "To Heck with Old Santa Claus" Hillbilly Holiday. Rhino, 1967.

• Little Joey Farr. "Big White Cadillac" Rockabilly Xmas. Buffalo Bop, 1958

• Tennessee Ernie Ford. "Christmas Dinner" Christmas on the Range. Capitol, 1951.

• Johnny Cash. "Christmas As I Knew It" Christmas with Johnny Cash. Sony Legacy, 1963

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“The past is a blast!”

© 2023 Mike Flanagan