By SweetHomeAlabama
Let's start this list with well wishes for the new year. Despite some dated 1980s references, ABBA's hopeful ode is still a radio favourite for ringing in the new year.
Sir Elton finds the first month of the year to be "the month that cares" in January, while Pilot's big international hit of the same name is more apprehensive.
January sees the end to the festive lights and decorations as Low sings in Taking Down The Tree. In much of the world the month is cold and blead as The Sundays find the city desolate and vacant in Leave This City.
Tori Amos sings of a January girl apparently all alone in a tiny scary house by the woods in Black-Dove, while Bonnie McKee waits for January to arrive to make sexual intercourse legal. Who knows? It might lead to a January Wedding as sung by The Avett Brothers.
Bing Crosby sings of romance bringing warmth like a bit of June In January but meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, the month brings the height and heat of summer. January 26 is Australia Day Down Under but A.B. Original are having none of the celebrations.
In the States, January 8 marked The Battle Of New Orleans as sung of in a highly fictionalised tale by Johnny Horton. The date became a federal holiday but was later rescinded as the Civil War raged and the battle was reassessed.
But perhaps this month finds the perfect opportunity to return home for a visit, as the Christmas rush is over and the travel season is still months away. Steve Forbert sings of his return home to Mississippi on the week of January 23-30, 1978 : the exact dates and title of the song: "I ain't no saint and I don't pretend to be, but I hope you all found a friend in me." Or at least a song or two to make January special!
Almanac A-List Playlist:
ABBA - Happy New Year (Loud Atlas)
Elton John - January (BanazirGalbasi)
Pilot - January (Maki)
Low - Taking Down The Tree (ShivSidecar)
The Sundays - Leave This City (DiscoMonster)
Tori Amos - Black Dove (January) (severin)
Bonnie McKee - January (Naguchi)
The Avett Brothers - January Wedding (Fred Erickson)
Bing Crosby - June In January (Naguchi)
A.B. Original - January 26 (Nicko)
Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans (TarquinSpodd)
Steve Forbert - January 23-30, 1978 (Fred Erickson)
When Bowie Died and Beyond B-List:
David J - The Day That David Bowie Died (VikingChild)
Keith LeBlanc - Major Malfunction (Uncleben)
Screaming Trees - Sworn And Broken (happyclapper)
Mara & David - January's Dream (BanazirGalbasi)
Neil Young + Promise Of The Real - Wolf Moon (tincanman2010)
Yusef Lateef - The Plum Blossom (pejepeine)
Guru's Wildcard Pick:
The Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew - Super Bowl Shuffle
That moment where Americans and gridiron football surrendered to the idea of singing pro ballers that had been gracing the pop charts in the UK and other countries for years. The 1985 Chicago Bears were one of the most colourful ("The Fridge","Sweetness", Jim McMahon's headband messages) and most dominating teams on the field and Super Bowl XX on 26th January 1986 was one of the most lopsided victories in history. Since the American charts had always incorporated radio airplay reports as a neutralising factor, the fact that this silly rap record came one notch shy of making the national Top 40 meant they dominated the airwaves too.
The Super Bowl has always been a sort of secular American holiday that doesn't appear on the calendar but inspires as many parties and celebrations as New Years and was always in January. But since 2004, with the longer schedule and bye weeks, it's become a February holiday.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Looking both ways: songs about the month of January. The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.
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