Wondering what to give that oldies lover for the holidays? Here's a handy guide to Christmas / Holiday gifts for people who love oldies music from the '50s, '60s, and '70s, selected by me, your Oldies guide at About.com. These items are all brand-new for 2006, so you can be sure they haven't been given as gifts before! As always, if you have a suggestion for upcoming lists, feel free and e-mail me!

1. The Beatles - The Capitol Albums Vol. 2

Beatles albums remain big sellers all over the world, but any Fab Four fan worth his salt knows that not all Beatles albums are created equal -- Capitol routinely released different British and American albums of the group's music in the early and mid-Sixties. This latest in a series of American releases doesn't feature any unreleased gems, of course, but it does replicate four of the original US albums with newly mastered classics -- and it replicates the original US mono and stereo mixes, most of which have never been made available in the digital age, so these tunes will sound fresh again, remarkably enough.More »

2. Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, & Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson

There are already a number of books out there dealing with the strange saga of the Beach Boys and their reclusive resident genius Brian Wilson, but Peter Carlin's recent bio benefits from a fan's geeky obsession: he asks all the tough, deep, questions you'd put to the band's principals and other confidantes, if you could, and matches that with a detailed analysis of the band's hundreds of hours of studio chatter and aborted projects. A fascinating new angle on one of rock's most famous tragedies. Read an excerpt from "Catch A Wave" right here!More »

3. Secret Agent Man: The Ultimate Johnny Rivers Anthology 1964-2006

Know someone who loves Johnny Rivers? Chances are you do, even if they don't realize it themselves: this Baton Rouge native scored 17 Top 40 hits between 1964 and 1977, most of which get plenty of airplay today. ("Mountain Of Love," "Secret Agent Man," and "Poor Side Of Town" are only the tip of the iceberg.) This new budget 2-disc comp features all of his big Sixties hits on one disc, then switches over to his Seventies "retro" phase, where he puts his signature stamp on several golden oldies, before landing on some brand-new studio material. His output reads like a list of American rock standards. All in one place.More »

4. Richie Valens - In Concert At Pacoima Jr. High

Released in 1960 to capitalize on the singer's untimely recent demise (in the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly), "In Concert" is one of the rarest and most satisfying live concert documents of its era. Happily now available again on CD, it not only captures perfectly the winsome innocence and Tex-Mex flavor of Valens' classic catalog, it also manages to encapsulate the feel of the Fifties sock hop, an invaluable cultural experience rarely captured on record. That alone should make your favorite oldies fan's eyes light up when you tell them you managed to find this one. The sound's not great, but was it ever?More »

5. James Dean 2007 Calendar

The original Rebel Without a Cause and one of two film icons of machismo in the oldies era (the other, natch, being Brando), James Dean continues to fascinate fans new and old, which is nothing short of a miracle, considering his entire film output before his untimely 1955 demise consisted of exactly three films. Fortunately, there were a lot of photographers around as well, and this official 12" X 12" calendar reproduces 12 candid shots in b&w and color. A must-have for fans of the actor.More »

6. Great Rock Drummers of the Sixties

Bob Cianci's definitive look at the explosive new breed of skin-pounders in Sixties rock -- now available in an updated and expanded second edition -- is an invaluable addition to any drummer or oldies fan's bookshelf. Not only does Cianci hit all the British Invasion favorites, his knowledge of the era's great session drummers is impressive, and there's also a ton of classic B&W photos to make the stories they tell even more alive. Fans of the 1989 original will also be glad to know he's updated the history of all his living icons since then.More »

7. Teac GF-350 Turntable CD Recorder Player

Yes, it's a retro CD player, expertly crafted to look like a vintage turntable. But there IS a turntable inside, and better still, one that can record your favorite vinyl artifacts of yesteryear onto the new digital format. If your favorite oldies fan has a favorite 45, LP, or even 78, they can preserve it for prosperity -- or just sit back and enjoy the grooves of their favorite artifacts from yesteryear! Features a 3.5 watt amp, twin 3-inch speakers, front-panel .125-inch headphone jack, built-in radio, remote, and a set of RCA inputs that let you record from almost any analog source!More »

8. Chuck Berry - Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll

There may be no better rock documentary than Taylor Hackford's 1986 bio of Chuck Berry entitled Hail! Hail! Rock 'N' Roll. But that landmark has never been given the lush DVD treatment it deserved -- that is, until now. Four discs' worth, too. The first DVD is a wonderful new remastering of the film, which itself was organized around a live all-star tribute to Chuck on his 60th birthday; the second features some complling outtakes, and the third and fourth "Witnesses To History" discs feature lengthy interviews with other legends of the era, which places Berry in a proper historical context.More »

9. 60's Decade Box Gift Basket - Classic 60's Candy

When was the last time you (or someone you loved) "smoked" a candy cigarette? Chowed down on a Clark Bar? Tried on a pair of edible wax lips? Popped a Sen-Sen in their mouth? Well, this basket of candy will bring back an era like no other, assembled as it is from confectionary brands made famous back in the day. There's also a 40's, 50's, 70's and 80's set, so you can adjust the decade accordingly; all feature 30 pieces (five pounds!) of candy and related snack items in a handsome gift box. The perfect stocking stuffer!More »

10. Elvis Presley - The Ed Sullivan Shows

The historic footage of Elvis Presley's three appearances on TV's Ed Sullivan Show in the Fifties -- even the infamous "not below the waist" appearance -- have been recycled many times. This DVD set, however, puts those musical moments in a historical context, offering up the entire Sullivan shows from September 9, 1956, October 28, 1956, and January 6, 1957 and allowing us to see the cultural explosion in context. Hardcore fans will want this just for the previously unreleased extras, especially Elvis' August 7, 1955, date at Magnolia Gardens near Houston, Texas and some of the first shots of Lisa Marie.More »

What do you think?

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