The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Must Be Santa,” the single of The Weeklings latest album, “Christmas,” on JEM Records. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEM RECORDS
Elvis was the Pelvis. Jerry Lee was Killer. The Beatles were The Fab Four. Well, The Weeklings are The Mashers, kings of the musical mashup.
Their latest, “Must Be Santa,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Must Be Santa” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Dec. 6 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
Continuing their tradition of tinkering with Beatlesque themes, The Weeklings throw another curve ball by mashing the holiday classic “Must Be Santa” with the iconic “Helter Skelter.” The results transform “Must Be Santa” on JEM Records from a fanciful children’s song into a bona fide heavy rock anthem. The children’s memory game lyrics of the song direct the listener to happy holiday times, but all the while, The Weeklings are cranking up the guitars and drums!
Other Weeklings mashups include “Revolution Wonderland” (The Beatles’ “Revolution” with “Winter Wonderland”), “Christmas Time Is Here Again” (The Beatles’ holiday classic with their “Magical Mystery Tour deep cut “Flying”), as well as “Mr. Soul Satisfaction” (Neil Young’s “Mr. Soul” with the Stones’ “Satisfaction”).
The original 1960 version of “Must Be Santa” was written for and released by Mitch Miller, and the song was also more recently covered in a polka-meets-klezmer style by Bob Dylan. The Weeklings have applied a new twist to a classic to produce a cheerful romp that is most welcome for the holiday season!
A very active act at Christmas, The Weeklings feature their latest holiday single on their new JEM album, “Christmas.” The 16-song collection mixes original holiday-themed songs with powerful rock renditions of seasonal classics!
Lefty Weekling (aka Glen Burtnik) and Zeek Weekling (aka Bob Burger) composed nine tracks for the album to cover a broad spectrum of musical styles, as well as sprinkle unexpected interjections of musical interludes throughout the record. The lead original tracks include “Christmas Day,” “Another Year,” “Festivus,” “Star Carol” and “Gonna Be Christmas.”
Determined to lift everyone’s spirits this holiday season, The Weeklings provide something for everyone with their light-hearted LP, ranging from J.S. Bach’s album-opening “Joy” to the comical interlude version of “Dreidel.” On “Joy,” lead guitarist Rocky Weekling (John Merjave) burns through the classical melodies of Bach and Beethoven, as well as mashup snippets from The Beatles and Queen. The Weeklings wax whimsical with “Dreidel,” a traditional Yiddish song that celebrates the spirit of Hanukkah. Throughout “Christmas,” such charming touches as bicycle bells and the sounds of musical toys would put a smile even on Scrooge’s face!
For those who don’t celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, The Weeklings also have a track for “the rest of us!” The band’s original song, “Festivus” is inspired by the faux holiday invented by the Seinfeld character Frank Costanza as a ridiculous alternative to the traditions and commercialism of the season.
Joining drummer-percussionist Smokestack Weekling (Joe Bellia) and the rest of the Traveling Wilburys/Beatles-inspired all-star band on the album are the Ocean Avenue Stompers Horn Section and the Red Ryder BB Gun Singers Choir.
The Weeklings have a hot weekend of holiday shows coming up. On Dec. 21 at My Father’s Place in Roslyn on New York’s Long Island, The Weeklings Holiday Bash will feature JEM label mate Paul Collins. On Dec. 22 at The Vogel in Red Bank, the sold-out The Weeklings & Friends Holiday Hullabaloo will continue the all-star seasonal tradition started by Glen Burtnik’s Xmas Xtravanza more than 30 years ago.
The Weeklings also will play Jan. 16 at Milton Theatre in Delaware, the 25th anniversary Light of Day Festival on Jan. 17 at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park with Dramarama, Bobby Mahoney, SONiA and Pete Mancini, and Feb. 8 at Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center for a Beatles Bash with an orchestra.
For more, visit http://www.weeklings.com. For more about JEM Records, click https://jemrecordings.com.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
