The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

It's a merry mid-December for us on No Returns! This week we discuss L Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

Alyssa Savino is a writer, a pop culture enthusiast, and is "deeply Midwestern." Subscribe to her newsletter, Soft Earlobe, listen to her "mini-podcast" (often about snacks) Xylophone Break, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Kevin Krein is a writer and host of the Anhedonic Headphones Podcast. His music writing (and some of his non-music writing) is on Anhedonic Headphones, or you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.

Opening Credit Music:

“It’s Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries,” written by Benjamin Romans, CJ Baran, Carly Rae Jepsen, and James Flannigan; performed by Carly Rae Jepsen. Interscope, 2020.

Closing Credit Music:

“Too Much,” written by Carly Rae Jepsen, John Hill, Jordan Palmer, Noonie Bao, and Sammy Leighton Clay; performed by Carly Rae Jepsen. Dedicated, Interscope, 2019.

Episode Music Credits:

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie; performed by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. In Harmony 2, Columbia 1981.

“Santa Claus Go Straight to The Ghetto,” written by Alfred Ellis, Charles Bobbit, and Hank Ballard; performed by James Brown. A Soulful Christmas, King, 1968

“Up On the Housetop,” written by Benjamin Hanby; performed by Gene Autry. Columbia, 1952.

“Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” traditional; performed by Ray Conniff. We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Columbia,1962.

“(Everybody’s Waiting For) The Man With The Bag,” written by Irving Taylor, Dudley Brooks, and Hal Stanley; performed by Kay Starr. Capitol Record, 1950.

“Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,” written by Johnny Marks; performed by The Temptations. The Temptations Christmas Card, Motown, 1970.

“Santa Tell Me,” written by Ariana Grande, Savan Kotecha, and Ilya Salmanzadeh. Republic, 2014.

“Santa Baby,” written by Joan Javits, Philip Springer, and Tony Springer; performed by Eartha Kitt. RCA, 1953

“Santa’s Coming For Us,” written by Sia Furler and Greg Kurstin; performed by Sia. Everyday is Christmas, Atlantic, 2017.