and I need some ideas for songs that feature good harmonica solos. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Anything with Little Walter should work. He's the best.

Also, Magic Dick with the J. Geils Band was a bit of an underrated genius on the instrument.

Bob Dylan plays the blues harp, of course.

Anything by Toots Thielman. He did do a version of the Sesame Street Theme that's pretty rocking.

Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You" has a great harmonica solo by Stevie.

Anybody have a good version of "Carol of the Bells" they want to post at BR?

I nabbed a nice brass version from the Pittsburgh Symphony, but I'd like a choral version with, you know, bells.

Hmmm, I organized all my xmas songs together and changed their genre to "Christmas" on iTunes and then made a smart playlist of it and put it on random.

Which is making me hear a bunch of songs I'd missed or overlooked before. So let me report:

"Blow Northern Wind" by Mediaeval Babes is gorgeous.

"Surfer's Holiday" by Annette is a catchy tune.

"Toyland" by Leon Redbone is dreamy.

"Precious Child" by Tony Trischka is fantastic bluegrass. Actually, I know that one, and I think I posted it with Wintergrace.

Thanks, Hec. (I really enjoyed the Matilda pics you posted earlier in Natter - such big eyes, such a pretty and inquisitive-looking baby.)

To fill a different category I have been listening to Dwight Yoakam all evening trying to pick my favorite of his uber-neo-Bakersfield country songs. I freaking LOVE Dwight Yoakam. His old stuff, his new stuff. It's all so good. I have always wanted to see him live and have never made the effort. I should.

edit: I wish I liked Holiday music. But... I just don't. Your mixes always sound lovely, though.

I freaking LOVE Dwight Yoakam.

Dwight rocks. I particularly love his Roy Orbison bits like "Thousand Miles From Nowhere" - probably more than his Buck Owens stuff.

He used to play with X and Los Lobos!

Did you see this baby picture?

Or this one? (Matilda's Buddy Hacket impression)

How about Emmett and the Little Wooden Boy of Love? (A special for Tick fans. A summer camp wood shop project he did for his own amusement two years ago.)

Now Playing: Shorty Rogers west coast jazz version of the Nutcracker. "The Swingin' Plum Fairy" is a favorite. Mostly played on stand-up bass.

The Buddy Hackett is priceless. All the bathtub ones are nuclear bombs of cuteness.

He used to play with X and Los Lobos!

I know! I have been reading up on him this evening. Such a rebel. And that voice. Mmmm.

I downloaded (emusic) and have been listening to his 2003 album Population Me for the last hour - it was first album (I think) after he left Reprise. It's very good. Lots of variety in instruments (accordians!) and Willie for at least one song.

I was going to suggest Willie for the harp. I'm positive there's a Spoon song with a harmonica solo, too, but I can't think of which one, offhand.

OK, I am putting up my Christmas mix on BR. I was going to call the whole thing "Yule Shoot Your Eye Out," but then this title occurred:

Stuffing Stockers 2006

01 Thanksgiving - George Winston
02 Emmanuel - William Ackerman
03 Near Northern - Turtle Island String Quartet
04 Lord of the Dance - Christmas Revels
05 Gaudete - Mediaeval Baebes
06 Dona Nobis Pacem - Richard Stoltzman
07 Salva Nos - Mediaeval Baebes
08 Lullaby - Nox Arcana
09 Sugar Rum Cherry - Duke Ellington
10 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - BNL/Sarah MacLaughlin
11 Christmas - Blues Traveler
12 Merry Xmas from the Family - Jill Sobule
13 So This Is Christmas - Acceptance
14 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Death Cab for Cutie
15 You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
16 Santa Baby - Rev Run & the Christmas All-Stars
17 Oi to the World - No Doubt
18 The Christians and the Pagans - Dar Williams
19 Christmas Night of Zombies - MxPx
20 Es Y'golonac - The Arkham Carolers
21 Feast of Lights - TMBG
22 Bizarre Christmas Incident - Ben Folds
23 It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fish-Men - The Arkham Carolers
24 Dig That Crazy Santa Claus - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
25 Yule Shoot Your Eye Out - Fall Out Boy
26 Christmas at Ground Zero - Weird Al

It starts out quiet and reflective and winterice, and gets progressively weirder funkier angrier funnier. Tracks 20 and 23 are probably best appreciated by Lovecraft fans.

I've had a chance to listen to more of Santasia (the Xmas mashup project I linked to) and some of it is choice -- I particularly am fond of "Give da Jew Girl Toys" (yes, there are a couple Hanukah-themed mashups in the set).

Off to download!

Hec, I have about 5 "Carol of the Bells" but none are great. I posted the best choral one to PR.