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  WINDY CITY TIMES

Pop Making Sense
Special to the Online Edition of Windy City Times
by David Byrne with Tony Peregrin
2009-12-02

This article shared 2286 times since Wed Dec 2, 2009
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This holiday season, if you are not going to buy those on your list a gift certificate from your favorite LGBT-owned businesses, just remember the gift of music.

On Friday, Dec. 4, Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark, hosts Christmas with the Crawfords. Yes, Chicago's beloved Joan Crawford-inspired punk meets New Wave outfit The Joans is having another holiday concert. Also in for the yuletide joy are The Handcuffs and Blue Ribbon Glee Club. Advance tickets are available at www.fleshhungrydog.com .

Out saxophonist Dave Koz's annual affair A Smooth Jazz Christmas will have all-star guests David Benoit, Rick Braun, Brenda Russell and Peter White. A Smooth Jazz Christmas seduces the Windy City with a stop at The Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress, on Saturday, Dec. 5. Koz's Greatest Hits is out now.

Make the holidays a gay ole time with The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus' spectacular Christmas Follies. Add a queer twist and a wink to seasonal favorites, as the hysterical and sentimental performance will take place at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, on Friday-Saturday, Dec. 11-12. Tickets are available at www.cgmc.org .

There are jokes that Palm Springs has no high schools, since the resort city is heavily populated with retirees and gays. Earlier this year Barry Manilow donated $500,000 worth of musical instruments Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area schools.

Who cares if Manilow might be family, even if the bachelor got his start as Bette Midler's pianist in New York City's bathhouses in the early '70s? His career entered its second life with 2006's chart-topper The Greatest Songs of the Fifties.

The "Copacabana" singer will have three shows at The Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River, Rosemont, on Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 17-19. Joined by a 56-piece orchestra, the entertainer will serenade fans with his hits as well as material from his latest In the Swing of Christmas.

The true meaning of the season is often overlooked. Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for Cure Vol. 11 is the ultimate holiday evergreen. This compilation donates proceeds to Broadway Cares Equity Fight AIDS. On the latest installment, casts from the top touring productions and The Great White Way contribute festive material.

It is perfectly ironic for the cast from Altar Boyz to sing "O Chanukah, O Chanukah." Even the cast from the Jersey Boys adds humor with "12 Days of a Jersey Christmas." This double-disc set not only makes the ideal present for your dear showtune fanatics, but Carols for a Cure also serves as a present to holiday party hosts and to that certain someone you never know what to gift.

For an extra serving of country flavor, consider the charitable collection My First Ride. Here, Ronnie Milsap and Trace Adkins provide the uptempo title track. Some of the other country musicians featured are George Strait, Vince Gill and John Michael Montgomery. Coco Jones bravely tackles a version of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" and Mike Field remakes Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me."

These artists join forces to raise money for Fraternal Order of Police and International Association of Firefighters' ( IAFF ) Disaster Relief Funds. My First Ride can be purchased at www.bleverecords.com .

The multitalented Doris Day has received recognition in material by Wham!, Billy Joel and The Beatles. Now, Broadway veteran Nellie McKay salutes the film legend with Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day.

Classics "The Very Thought of You" and "I Remember You" are woven in between the subtle "If I Had to Dream" and the upbeat "Dig It." Normal As Blueberry Pie would make a terrific gift for your folks or anybody who would like to take a special trip down memory lane with McKay.

Have a favorite gym bunny? Need some help losing those extra winter pounds? Centaur's compilation Party Groove: White Party 10 will raise those bpm.

Mixed by Randy Bettis, this thumping continuous mix opens with the magnificent teaser "It's a Celebration," as Madge sings parts of Madonna's recent stomper. Blow off the winter blues with Georgie Porgie's "Brand New Day" and Quincy McQ's "A Beautiful Song." Chicago's very own Ralphi Rosario breathes new life into Vanessa William's spin on "The Real Thing." Also included is one of the year's hottest hits from overseas, "Heartbreak Make Me a Dancer" by Freemasons featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

This high-energy 13-track compilation will be out Dec. 8. Party Groove: White Party 10 is one of the best mixes from Centaur.

Not all CDs need to be about music. Live from Atlantic City, Kathy Griffin serves up the laughs on Suckin' It for the Holidays. Her latest debuted at the top spot on the comedy album charts—not very D-List.

Don't worry—the Oak Park native still has plenty of ammunition after her darling target Clay Aiken came out. Nobody is safe from Griffin. Suze Orman, Griffin's own mother and reality-TV personalities Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt and Donald Trump are the recipients of Griffin's zingers and trademark stories. Griffin continues to fearlessly end up on other celebrities' naughty list to her fans' delight.

While schlepping all over to make sure you have something for everybody on your list, just remember: The most important gift is what you get yourself. Moby's Wait for Me is an otherworldly blend of melancholy love songs and instrumental masterpieces.

The New York multi-instrumentalist is reissuing this underappreciated set in a deluxe format, featuring bonus tracks and a DVD of live footage. Trust me; Moby's beautiful "JLTF" and "Hope Is Gone" will alleviate any holiday stresses.


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