Send us a text

Ray Conniff’s Christmas albums are everywhere once you start listening for them. Living rooms, department stores, car radios, and childhood memories you did not realize were soundtracked until much later.

In this episode of Who Ordered the Pie?, Christopher revisits the warm, brassy, harmony-heavy world of Ray Conniff’s holiday records. The ones that sat somewhere between background music and full-on seasonal event. We talk about why these albums felt so different, how Conniff’s arranging style brought Broadway energy into the home, and why songs like Ring Christmas Bells could feel dramatic, fast, and almost theatrical compared to the softer crooner classics of the era.

These records may be a little old-fashioned and a little corny, but they are also deeply woven into family traditions, late nights, and the feeling that Christmas had officially arrived.

This week’s cocktail is designed to match that mid-century holiday mood. Clean, classic, and just clever enough to feel special.

The Peartridge Martini

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz dry vermouth
• 1/2 oz cranberry juice
• 1/2 oz St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur

How to make it

1. Add all ingredients into a shaker and shake well.
2. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
3. Garnish by expressing a lemon peel, then add a single cranberry

Crisp up front, with pear and gentle spice underneath. Exactly the kind of drink you would expect next to a turntable and a stack of Ray Conniff records.

Support the show

Who Ordered the Pie? a music history podcast with custom cocktail pairings.
Show notes, recipes, and extras: WhoOrderedThePie.com
Follow: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube • Instagram

Send us a text

This week, we’re raising a glass to the Christmas songs that pair better with a drink.
Not the picture-perfect holiday tunes, but the ones born in bars, lounges, casinos, and late nights. Songs with stories behind them and a little spirit in their step.

We explore the rowdy origins of “Jingle Bells,” the heartbreak behind “Please Come Home for Christmas,” the Tahoe-lounge roots of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” the cinematic chaos of “Fairytale of New York,” and the warm ache of John Prine’s “Christmas in Prison.”
It’s a look at the real history behind some of the most enduring holiday songs, and why they still hit differently.

It’s a holiday playlist built for dim lights, soft music, and a well-made cocktail, the perfect blend of Christmas music history and cozy winter vibes.

This Episode’s Cocktail: The Yuletide Old Fashioned

Ingredients
• Two ounces bourbon
• One bar spoon maple syrup
• Two dashes Angostura bitters
• One dash black walnut bitters
• Orange peel
• Cinnamon stick

How to make it

1. Add the bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass with ice and stir until chilled.
2. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.
3. Garnish with an orange peel and a cinnamon stick.

Warm. Comforting. Perfect for a holiday toast.

If you enjoy the show, share it with a friend and leave a rating.

Merry Christmas from Who Ordered the Pie?!

Note: This episode is marked explicit due to a brief reference to explicit language from one of the featured songs.

Support the show

Who Ordered the Pie? a music history podcast with custom cocktail pairings.
Show notes, recipes, and extras: WhoOrderedThePie.com
Follow: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube • Instagram

Send us a text

Some of the most unforgettable moments in pop music did not come from the stars at all, they came from the voices standing right beside them.

In this episode, we shine a spotlight on the uncredited and under-recognized singers whose performances helped turn good songs into timeless hits. From Chris Norman’s smoky surprise on Suzi Quatro’s “Stumblin’ In,” to Kiki Dee’s perfect blend with Elton John, to the powerhouse session vocalists behind Sergio Mendes, Phil Collins, Meat Loaf, and Michael Jackson, these are the names you never knew, singing the parts you will never forget.

You will hear how:
• Suzi Quatro and Chris Norman recorded “Stumblin’ In” in a single magical take
• Elton John turned to Kiki Dee when Dusty Springfield fell ill
• Sergio Mendes chose two unknown voices for his biggest U.S. hit
• Phil Collins built a duet with Marilyn Martin without ever sharing a booth
• Ellen Foley delivered the explosive vocals for “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”
• Siedah Garrett recorded with Michael Jackson but was not credited on the sleeve

This week’s cocktail: The Duet
A simple, smooth, harmony-in-a-glass.
• 1 ounce bourbon
• 1 ounce amaretto
• 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup
Shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh cubes. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Two voices, one blend, in cocktail form.

If you love pop history, studio secrets, and the thrill of discovering the story behind the song, this one is for you.

Support the show

Who Ordered the Pie? a music history podcast with custom cocktail pairings.
Show notes, recipes, and extras: WhoOrderedThePie.com
Follow: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube • Instagram