It’s the Seventh Day of Christmas, and your true love, and yours truly, are back with the third delivery of musical gift suggestions for the Twelve Days. (And a goose that the latter left laying on the Sixth Day: an album by the eclectic late 60s/early 70s rock band, Goose Creek Symphony.)
Seven Swans a Swimming
Swans are less common than geese, and so are references to the same in song. So, on the Seventh Day, your honey will have to make do with the works of Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong, both among the artists on Black Swan Records, America’s first African-American-owned recording company; “At the Drop of a Hat” by Flanders and Swann, the British comedy duo; "I Can Help,” Billy Swan; and three of the last four Led Zeppelin studio albums, all recorded on their Swan Song label.
Eight Maids a Milking
This one wasn’t easy for Santa, either, so your true love’s Eighth Day visit will bring you something by Band-Maid, the all-girl Japanese group; an Iron Maiden album (can’t name one, so you’ll have to gift hint); “Marrying Maiden,” It’s a Beautiful Day; and the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” and with it “Pretty Maids All in a Row.” And, to fill out the quota, for inspiration we’ll also have to use what the maids are doing, as in “The Milk of Human Kindness” by Procol Harum; “Milkcow Blues Boogie,” Elvis Presley; “Milk Cow Blues,” either Willie Nelson’s album or the 1965 Kinks single; and “Safe as Milk,” Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band.
Nine Ladies Dancing
This was a walk, or maybe a waltz, in the park, and should be brought on the Eleventh or Twelfth, instead of the Ninth, Day: ”Sweet Cream Ladies,” the Box Tops; “Lady Stardust,” David Bowie; “That Lady,” the Isley Brothers; “Dark Lady,” Cher; “Lady Marmalade,” Labelle; “Lady,” Styx; “Disco Lady,” Johnnie Taylor; “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” Jan and Dean; and “Lady Godiva,” Peter and Gordon. Bonus selections of “She’s a Lady,” Tom Jones; “Dear Lady Twist "Gary U.S. Bonds; “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” Vic Dana; and “Lady Luck,” Lloyd Price.
Ten Lords a Leaping
The delivery on the Tenth Day of Christmas could include any early album by Deep Purple, with Jon Lord on organ; an album by Beat Generation/hipster comedian Lord Buckley, if possible the one including “The Nazz,” his monologue on Jesus of Nazareth; and “Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends,” by Screaming Lord Sutch, considered by some to be the worst rock album of all time (despite the efforts of rock heavies such as Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Nicky Hopkins).
Another lump of coal in your Christmas stocking would be “Here Come the Lords,” the debut album by Lords of the Underground, a rap group. Then there’s “Jeans On,” Lord David Dundas; “My Sweet Lord,” George Harrison; “Work Me, Lord,” Janis Joplin; “Thank the Lord For The Night Time,” Neil Diamond; “Presence of the Lord,” Blind Faith; and “Lord Have Mercy, If You Please,” by ragtime and blues legend Blind Willie McTell (or the White Stripes’ cover of his “Lord Send Me an Angel”).