B.W.'s PLAYLIST/ KHSU, 90.5/ SAT., 17 DEC. 2011

As far as Xmas records, it get tough to find something that's not tired and, well, interesting. The recent offering by She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward), A Very She & Him Christmas, was a pleasant surprise. M. Ward's arrangements and sparse guitar accompaniments fit nicely behind Deschanel's excellent vocals. She has just that touch of "theater singing" with jazz and pop touches to make it her own. Where's the reindeer?
BOY WONDER'S HOT CIRCLES/ 10PM-MIDNIGHT

Vaquina Mansa/ CESARIA EVORA (’99, Café Atlantico) [1941-2011]

Bossa Cubana/ LOS ZAFIROS (‘60s, ’99 collection, Bossa Cubana)

Ya Se Ha Muerto Mi Abuelo/ JAUNECO Y SU COMBO (’07 collection, The Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru)

Dis-Moi Oui/ EL REGO ('60s, ’11 collection, El Rego et Ses Commandos)

(My Baby Loves) Chili Dogs/ DUSTY BROOKS (‘51, ’11 collection, The Oxford American Southern Music CD #13)*

Memories Are Made of This/ DEAN MARTIN (‘56)

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas/ SHE & HIM (’11, A Very She & Him Christmas)*

‘Til the Real Thing Comes Along / NICK LOWE (’11, The Old Magic)

Salt Water/ ZOE BOEKBINDER (’11, Darling Specimens)*

Daisy, Where Did You Go/ MARISSA NADLER (’11, self titled)

Skyway/ THE REPLACEMENTS (’87, Pleased to Meet Me)

15 Feet of Pure White Snow/ NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS (’01, No More Shall We Part)

Christmas Time Is Here/ WOODS (’11, MP3 single)*

The Wicked &The Blind/ THE DO (’11, Both Ways Open Jaws)*

IRM/ CHARLOTTE GAINSBOURG (’09, IRM)

69 Annee Erotique/ SERGE GAINSBOURG ('69, '03 collection, Intials S.G.)

Just to Walk That Little Girl Home/ MINK DEVILLE (’80, Le Chat Bleu)

Heroes & Villians/ THE BEACH BOYS (’67, ’11 issue, The Smile Sessions)*

Nothing Is Good Enough/ AIMEE MANN (’99, Bachelor No. 2)

God’s Comic/ ELVIS COSTELLO (’89, Spike)

Yacht Dance/ XTC (’82, English Settlement)

Waterloo Sunset/ THE KINKS (’67, Something Else)

We Could Send Letters/ AZTEC CAMERA (’83, High Land, Hard Rain)

Moon Over Goldboro/ THE MOUNTAIN GOATS (’06, Get Lonely)

Safe Travels (Don’t Die)/ LISA HANNIGAN (’11, Passenger)*

Blue Christmas/ SHE & HIM (’11, A Very She & Him Christmas)*

Streets of Your Town/ THE GO-BETWEENS (’88, 16 Lovers Lane)

Tenere Taquim Tossam/ TINARIWEN ('11, Tassili)

*new or recent release