The Thanksgiving Playlist 2018

Thanksgiving is tomorrow here in the States. I really don’t know if I’m shocked or excited. There’s no time for that, as we are hosting my side of the family here, with my granddaughter, Son #1 and his wife, Son #2 and his wife, my dad and stepmom, my stepdad and my aunt, who is the sister-in-law of my mom. For my little family, this is an event that is bursting at the seams. And, just wait until my boys have even more children, but that’s down the road a bit…I think.

For Thanksgiving, I have a couple of weird traditions. First, I will watch the famous WKRP in Cincinnati episode entitled “Turkeys Away,” perhaps the funniest twenty minutes in TV history, all the while wearing my “Turkey Drop” T-shirt. Then, I will follow the WKRP episode with The Band’s The Last Waltz on DVD, since it was recorded on Thanksgiving Day way back in 1977. Though the movie and album and album have little to do with Thanksgiving, it is a very important piece of rock history and is quite enjoyable to watch and listen.

Likewise, I love to call attention to much of the artwork that combines Thanksgiving and rock music, for some whimsical fun. Which leads me to the cherry on top, so to speak: The Playlist. I started this thing back in the Nineties when my late mother-in-law wanted a CD of “nice” music to be played during the festivities. In the pre-iPod days, that meant this was limited to 20 songs. Now, thanks to streaming, I have 65 songs! Yes, it IS a bit OCD, but what can I say…I just may have some deep psychological issues. But, if you think that’s bad, well, you wouldn’t believe that total number of Christmas songs I have on my “music” computer. Let’s just say that I have about two weeks worth of songs, though most do not really warrant any replays EVER.

Now, after that introduction, here’s my 2018 Thanksgiving Day (and I emphasize day!) Playlist. I hope you enjoy it (or at least you can cherry pick the songs you prefer).

1. Adam Sandler – “Thanksgiving Song” (1993)
2. Alanis Morissette – “Thank U” (1998)
3. Andrew Gold – “Thank You for Being a Friend” (1978)
4. Ariana Grande – “Thank U, Next” (2018)
5. Arlo Guthrie – “Alice’s Restaurant” (1967)
6. Ben Harper & the Blind Boys of Alabama – “Mother Pray” (2004)
7. Big Country – “Harvest Home” (1983)
8. Big Star – “Thank You Friends” (1975)
9. Bill Withers – “Family Table” (1975)
10. Billie Holiday – “Autumn in New York” (1934)
11. Bing Crosby – “I’ve Got Plenty to Be Thankful For” (1947)
12. Bob Dylan – “Turkey Chase” (1973)
13. Bob Marley & the Wailers – “Give Thanks & Praise” (1983)
14. Boz Scaggs – “Thanks to You” (2001)
15. Brian Wilson – “Roll Plymouth Rock” (2004)
16. Descendents – “Thank You” (1996)
17. Devo – “I’m a Potato” (1979)
18. Don Henley – “My Thanksgiving” (2000)
19. Drake – “Keep the Family Close” (2016)
20. Drive-By Truckers – “The Thanksgiving Filter” (2011)
21. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes – “Home” (2009)
22. Ghostface Killah – “Food” (2015)
23. Graham Parker – “Almost Thanksgiving” (2004)
24. Green Day – “Macy’s Day Parade” (2000)
25. Greg Kihn Band – “Family” (1982)
26. Hank Williams Jr. – “Family Tradition” (1979)
27. James Browne – “Mashed Potatoes” (1959)
28. Jellyfish – “Family Tree” (1992)
29. John Mellencamp – “Check It Out” (1987)
30. Johnny Cash – “I Am a Pilgrim” (2003)
31. Kacey Musgraves – “Family Is Family” (2015)
32. Kanye West – “Family Business” (2004)
33. Kendrick Lamar Feta. Big Pooh – “Thanksgiving” (2009)
34. Lady Gaga – “Orange Colored Sky” (2011)
35. Led Zeppelin – “Thank You”
36. Loudon Wainwright III – “Thanksgiving (live)” (1993)
37. Louis Armstrong – “What a Wonderful World” (1967)
38. Love – “Be Thankful for What You Got” (1974)
39. Mary Chapin Carpenter – “Thanksgiving Song” (2008)
40. Mary J. Blige – “Kitchen” (2009)
41. My Morning Jacket – “Thank You Too!” (2008)
42. Natalie Cole – “Be Thankful” (1977)
43. Nate Rateliff & the Night Sweats – “Thank You” (2015)
44. Neil Young – “Harvest” (1972)
45. Ohio Players – “Jive Turkey” (1974)
46. Paul Simon – “Mother and Child Reunion” (1972)
47. Phillip Phillips – “Home” (2012)
48. Phish – “Farmhouse” (2000)
49. Ray Charles with James Taylor – “Sweet Potato Pie” (2006)
50. Ray Davies – “Thanksgiving Day” (2005)
51. REO Speedwagon – “Flying Turkey Trot (live)” (1976)
52. Rumer – “Thankful” (2010)
53. Sam & Dave – “I Thank You” (1968)
54. Shonna Tucker & Eye Candy – “A Family Dinner” (2013)
55. Simon & Garfunkel – “Homeward Bound” (1966)
56. Sly & the Family Stone – “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (1970)
57. The Band – “King Harvest (Has Surely Come)” (1969)
58. The Christians – “Harvest for Home” (2002)
59. The Cranberries – “Ode to My Family” (1994)
60. The Hollies – “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” (1970)
61. The Isley Brothers – “Harvest for the World” (1976)
62. The Shins – “Young Pilgrims” (2003)
63. Vince Guaraldi Trio – “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (2012)
64. XTC – “Harvest Festival” (1999)
65. ZZ Top – “I Thank You” (1979)

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Don’t forget about the big event scheduled for Friday: Record Store Day Black Friday! Lots of great limited releases scheduled. I better not lose out on a couple of my choices to some college-aged hipster since I have been living and dying with many of these artists since the Seventies. Oh well… See you next week!

Author: ifmyalbumscouldtalk

I am just a long-time music fan who used to be a high school science teacher and a varsity coach of several high school athletic teams. Before that, I worked as a medical technologist at three hospitals in their labs, mainly as a microbiologist. I am retired/disabled (Failed Back Surgery Syndrome), and this is my attempt to remain a human. Additionally, I am a serious vinyl aficionado, with a CD addiction and a love of reading about rock history. Finally, I am a fan of Prince, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, R.E.M., Hall & Oates, Springsteen, Paul Weller & his bands and Power Pop music. View all posts by ifmyalbumscouldtalk