Every year around this time we like to take a break from our usual musical discoveries and get together with old friends for what we call the All Songs Considered Holiday Spectacular, a seasonal special done in the tradition of old-time radio.
A few years ago, we rented a cabin in the mountains for a big holiday party but nobody came. The next year we set out on a road-trip to the nation's heartland to find the true spirit of the season, but got snowed-in and stuck at a roadside motel. Last year we were jettisoned into space.
So you can forgive host Bob Boilen for feeling a little disheartened as he and co-host Robin Hilton settled in to record this year's holiday spectacular. After deciding he's had enough of the season, Bob storms out of the studio and finds himself taking a Dickensian journey, with visits from some old friends, including Carrie Brownstein, Dan Auerbach, Aimee Mann, Ben Folds and more.
So gather your friends and family around the warm, crackling podcast listening device of your choice and take a journey in sound with us. Just click the audio link at the top of the page. You can also get this episode in the All Songs Considered podcast.
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