Jingle All The Way  -  St. Nick  -  Year  - Who Knows? 

This song was once played by many morning shows, including a couple of mine decades ago.  It's in the same vain as Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.  This is just two minutes of total silliness, but after you hear it, you are a few things. First, you're glad it's over.  Second, your laughing (smiling at least).  And third, wanting to share this with someone you know will love it more than you.

If you've never heard it, take listen.  It comes out of the Jukebox on December 26  - Merry Christmas!!

I came across this article from which I learned quite a bit about a Holiday tradition, and feel compelled to share it with you! I'm particularly intrigued on the National Forests topic within. Here's everything you to know about the Christmas Tree industry, and then some! 

Why are Christmas trees so expensive? The economics of the U.S. holiday tree industry - Study Finds 

We cannot end the week without mentioning and saying a BIG congratulations to Darius Rucker who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday. 

Of course, he gained fame as the frontman to Hootie & the Blowfish before going solo and changing things up for Country music. He has had much success in both arenas and is now finally being recognized for that work with his own spot on the famous sidewalk.

Congrats Darius!!!

Ashley McBryde stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform "The Devil I Know":

 Let Your Love Flow  - The Bellamy Brothers 

I proudly played this song for 20 years on country radio and it always sounded good.  I know songs #2, #3 and #4 were powerful and very deep on my favorites list, so this is the perfect finish.  A different kind of powerful.

I've loved this song my whole life, as it's one of the most positive and feel good songs ever. It launched Howard and David Bellamy to incredible heights.  The Bellamy Brothers were shot into stardom by this one recording and went on to have a lot of big country songs over the next 20 years, with 52 singles and 20 #1 hits.  This is one of the most loved and most played songs of the 20th Century (fact).  It had a very long life as it was a big hit in dozens of countries around the world over the course of many years.  It even climbed back onto the charts in the UK in 2010. It's been in movies, TV programs, advertising campaigns and has been recorded by dozens since.

The Bellamy's are from rural Pasco County Florida and moved to Los Angeles to start a musical career.  This song was written by an unknown roadie for superstar Neil Diamond named Larry E. Williams.  He offered it to Diamond but he said "no."   Hit maker Johnny Rivers also said "no."  Then Dennis St John, Diamonds drummer called the Bellamy's who were unknown studio session players and said basically, "This song is perfect for you guys."  The legend says they went over, used Diamonds band and recorded it in "2 or 3 takes."  Done!   This went on to be spun on about every country, pop, adult contemporary radio station there was, and even some Christian stations played it.

This is the perfect 3 minute mix of artist, musicians, arrangement, and production. This also possesses a very rare attribute most songs don't.  The second this starts, somehow you know it's a special song, you almost have to listen as its positive vibe is undeniable.  It makes you happy and glad you're alive.  It's also the kind of song we don't record much anymore, as positive isn't as prevalent as it once was in music.  But read the comments as you play this video.  This song is high on many all time favorites lists.  Every artist, regardless of stature, from Luke Combs to the artist that just got off the bus in Nashville today, hopes and prays one day they have a song this big and this remembered.  

I asked them once in an interview if they had any clue they just recorded a song that would be that big, and they said essentially, "We just hoped someone would play it on the radio."   -  We did.

Let Your Love Flow was in international hit and one of the best, most successful country, pop, hit songs ever recorded. But don't just ask me, ask the world.

Last Week #2

My Full Profile On The Bellamy Brothers

Big meal season is still here and maybe you are getting ready to host a big holiday gathering. Mashed taters are always a favorite and here are the keys to making the best ones imaginable. 

Delish!

The Best Mashed Potatoes

Last Sunday may have been the Browns best win all year.  They beat the Jags in a game they had to have.  It was not their cleanest game by any means, but they got it done and in December, that's all that matters.  Well done!

It was good to see the Browns play like a veteran team.  There were no stupid behind the back double reverse calls on offense that kill drives and games.  They made the plays that had to be made on both sides of the ball and on special teams, while facing a team that wanted this game just as badly.

Remember a few years ago when the owner was quoted, "We need an adult in the room." ?  The reference was to the on and off the field maturity level they perceived from Baker Mayfield and traded him a short time later. Of course that stuff is subjective, and honestly it was uncalled for in a professional setting.  Sure Baker had his moments that were not his best, but I suspect a lot of that was due to the immense generation gap between Baker, the owner, and the coaching staff.  The next move was to sign a guy with a highly checkered past and guaranteed him a kings treasure.  A move that has yet to pay dividends.

Enter Joe Flacco.  38 years old, Superbowl Champion and MVP.  The Browns got him off his couch after no one else wanted him, and honestly I don't think the Browns did either.  But under these extraordinarily tough circumstances, they had no choice.  They worked him out, agreed to sign, and then tried hard not to play him in favor of a rookie draft pick.  Then, at the end of their very short rope, they decided to give him a go.  And guess what?  After running Baker out of town, dumping a few QB's for nothing, and the rest of their newly drafted and freshly chosen cast of QB characters one by one got hurt, failed with some doing both, Old Man Flacco has been by far the best.  Finally, a football adult!

Flacco is a grown man that's done all there is to do in the NFL over many years.  He's the oldest QB playing right now, and has been a starter, a backup, a clip board holder, cut, released, uninvited, mocked  -  and a champion.  He makes the Browns offense look calmer and more cohesive than any one player has in years.  He's smart, has a cannon arm and is a leader.  It's impossible for these players not to look at him as such, as many played "him" in Madden, or watched him growing up. He's brought a sense of order to a tough situation.

There's no drama, no lawyers, no social media nonsense and there are no excuses.  He has a job to do, and by his own words, there is still more to do and to learn.  He's come here humble, professional and prepared.  If Stefanski and the front office is smart, they should get out of Flacco's way and let him do what guys with champion pedigree do - WIN!  Joe Flacco is a leader, and I don't think the organization knew that they just wanted a healthy body.  Plus, he's pretty much the only champion on this roster.  He's been where no one running this team has ever been.

It's the irony of Browns ironies.  Sign and draft a bunch of guys that were never gonna win the games you needed to for various reasons, then reluctantly put a guy in you really wish you didn't have to and he gets it done. Seems in the end the owner was right, we did need an adult in the room and now we have one kind of by accident and luck.  Joe Flacco right now is making the front office look good for finding him, but even that has a large double edge.  The further we go with Flacco, the worse half of 240 million guaranteed dollars out the window looks.

How far can Flacco take the Browns?  He took the Ravens all the way in a different time. But the great gift Joe Flacco has given the Browns is this.  With his age, story,  demeanor, unassuming way, skill level and incredible professionalism, plus his gratitude for this last big opportunity.  He is going to make a lot of Browns fans want to cheer for the Browns again. 

All of that, is how adults act and what adults do.

In my recent blog about my new Blazer, I included a few television advertisements from the late 90's promoting the vehicle. Searching for these led me down a YouTube rabbit hole of old automotive commercials, and there's too many good ones for me not to share with you here! Some make me laugh and some make me cringe, and all of them are perfectly antiquated. Enjoy these time capsules as we flash back to cars and trucks from years past!

Before I came into work today, Buttercup and I FINALLY got our decorations up at the house. Now keep in mind, all I really do is put up a couple stockings on the fireplace for us. I have a small fake tree that I could put up in my dining room but I think Buttercup would be too curious and just knock it over. 

That said, he was a very big helper today! I put up the hooks on the mantle because they're heavy, but Buttercup kept meowing at me insisting I let him hang up the stockings! ;) (the stories you tell when you have the fur children...lol)

I really meant to take a picture before I left to come into work tonight. I forgot though since I was running a little late. Maybe another post about our Christmas season will still come later and I can get a picture for you then!

In case you missed some of my articles this week from WQMX.com here is a recap. Thanks for reading and listening today and every day!

BROWNS - Standing In Your Own Way

Eat Of The Week

50 Favorites From 40+ Years #2

Forgotten Jukebox - M-90

Country Music Memory Lane - John Anderson B-Day (revisit)

Wynn At The Movies And More