Alan Mann - CHRISTMAS ON THE BLOCK - (higher res)

[corbettwise]

Does anyone know where in Upper Darby this video was shot? It looks a bit like North Carol blvd or it could be somewhere around Stonehurst or Bywood.

[trekcets]

Thanks for the lyrics it was annoying me, not knowing.....Great great song!!

[Spotella]

It's so sad that very few people outside the Philly area have ever heard this.

[babel1967]

@Spotella always my thoughts exactly when I hear this one. It's rarely even played in Philly any more. Such a beautiful Christmas song.

[AlisterSinister]

Unfortunatly with local Radio stations fading away, songs like this are going to be lost forever.

Someone current needs to re-make this

[Roo11Roo]

Wow! I edited this video 28 years ago at VideoSmith in Philly.

[TheGogetter2011]

philly is full of rude pricks who think their tough. Good song though

[babel1967]

@TheGogetter2011 what a lame comment.

[TheGogetter2011]

@babel1967 If u say so. I'm sorry did i offend your delicate sensibilities by saying something that was true hahahahaha

[trekcets]

What is the lyric right before the the title is sung?????

[AlisterSinister]

@trekcets the 1st and 3rd time the kids sing "and they see all the colors that we cannot", the 2nd and 4th time is " the beuty is the blessing , love is all we got"

[babel1967]

@trekcets Beauty is a blessing / love is all we've got. And there's is the most beautiful Christmas on the block.

[ABlastFromYourPast]

GREATEST CHRISTMAS SONG OF ALL TIME PHILLY ROCKS !!!

[Hatchet63]

I agree Pierre introduced this to me also 20+ years ago still tune him in on christmas eve every year

[jpc08109]

If it weren't for Pierre Robert and WMMR I never would have heard the awesome song

[TTBluez]

Best Philly Christmas song, Happy Holidays Philly !!!

[knockovers4aedan]

Just beautiful! Merry Christmas! Philly rocks!!!

[noochnooch]

my favorite christmas song...hope you don't mind, but i went ahead and upgraded the audio of your clip...it's posted in the "video responses" section

[rich5901]

Wow, i directed this... 27 years ago! Can't find my copy, thanks for posting!

[kamxiv]

RIP Alan Mann. Talented young man, gone too soon. This song always brings tears to my eyes. Philly Rocks! Always did, Always will. Thanks for sharing this vid.

[wallyzworld66]

One of my favorites - Thanks Pierre for introducing me to this 20 + years ago!

[ProfessorEggflesh]

Thanks so much for posting this! I've asked Perry if he had a copy of it years ago, but he didn't. I have to call him and tell him about this.

[murph1245]

A simply beautiful Christmas Song. Proud to say it's a Philly original.

[skinyviny1]

@murph1245

As a transplant to Austin Tx I play this for people down here and after explainthe story and play again there is not a dry eye and Im proud to say I knew Alan and he is Philly

[jackaloopa]

merry christmas to all...

[Pipistrello]

I have ALWAYS loved this song since I first heard it on WMMR back in the 80s. SO hard to find! Thanks for posting the video!

[folkfish]

I finally got the 45 of this last week on ebay, and it went right in my jukebox at home. I am Jewish, and this is the most played song right now in my home.

[ProfessorEggflesh]

@folkfish - You've restored my faith in humanity!

[Pscudmizzle]

About 5 Years ago, Wmmr Gave this away as a free download (along with Eddie Lawrence's "Jaguar"). Relive the 80s may have the download available. I wish Alan were still around to get the rights of the song back so more people can hear it. There is no other Christmas song that better captures the true spirit of the human condition than this one, yet a commercial radio station monopolizes it. Tragic indeed. Hustle to your next Christmas errand and this song will stop you dead in your tracks.

[jackaloopa]

@Pscudmizzle

i think you said it better than i could...merry christmas...

[npbentley]

Alan dated my Aunt - my brothers and I are also in the video as well

[kinger317]

WOW! I haven't seen this in years. I am one of the kids in the video, I would be glued to MTV every Christmas morning until they showed this video. THANK YOU to whomever posted this!

[CONNIEGAS]

It's not Christmas until I hear this song. I always request it from Pierre Robert of WMMR. I was told by a former dj of 'mmr that 'mmr's company owns the rights to the song so we'll never hear it on another station. And now!! thanks to my kids - they found it on Youtube. How wonderful. I can tell all of my friends from out of the area to listen. I've talked about this song for years (since before Alan tragically passed) to my friends from out of the area.

[psa24]

WOW. I can say nothing but WOW everytime I hear this song. My favorite Christmas song.

[pogo4pres]

Alan Mann had heard of a home in Upper Darby Pa, that was a group home for the blind. Every Christmas the people of the group home would decorate a tree in front of the house, and every year theirs was always the most beautiful tree. Alan was moved by the story and wrote this song as a sort of tribute to them and their spirit (I guess). All know is I never can hear this song and not have a tear or three. And hearing it always reminds me of the tragic way he died.

[bluenotesharp]

I worked on this video... and did sound for the band at that time. It was filmed on a quiet street in Upper Darby PA... It was the first ever independent video to be aired on the fairly new MTV network. Rest peacefully my friend . You are alive in our hearts.

[Mofocadlak]

The Alan Mann Band's Christmas on the Block was (and still is) one of my very favorite X-mas songs.  Sad yet uplifting at the same time. Wonderful! Still sad thinking how he died. Way too young.

[raylu126]

R.I.P Alan!!!!

[terryhahahaha]

My fav Christmas song - Philly in the 80s was great - I even have this on 45 (YES it was out on 45). Ahhhhhh the memories!

[folkfish]

I have desparately been looking for this 45. Any idea where I could get one??

[eastcoastpj]

i'm from Philly. How come I never heard this song until now? Great song!

[bagcpa]

cause you musta not listened to Pierre Robert on the mighty WMMR

[kgrear30]

i'm from Virginia Beach and i've never heard this till now. What a great Christmas song. One of the best i've ever heard.

[xknid]

the song is even better whne you know the story behind it

[asiamommi]

One of favorite Christmas songs.Alan Mann is a missed talent.

[sooz0305]

I just love this. I miss Philly and this makes me so happy to hear at Christmas. Thank you so much for posting this! Merry Christmas.

[zeevon9]

thanks so much for posting this!  Brings back very good memories.

[Hatchet63]

i agree great song always think of wmmr an pierri robert

[jpc08109]

I remembere the first time I heard this song on WMMR, other than hearing it on here I never heard it played anywhere else and it is a shame because it is a great song

[delcopa2]

Thanks, much better. I posted this after saving to my favorites. Will save this one now.

Thank you!!! every Christmas Eve I shop and listen to Pierre Robert's show and he plays this song. I cry every year.

now i can listen to it online.

[silkcity19]

Wow goosebumps remembering this song ,Philly had so much talent in the 80's it was unbelievable

[Sharpshooter85]

A Philadelphia classic.

Thank you for posting this and Merry Christmas!

[folkfish]

I love this. Thank you. Now if you anyone could tell me where to locate a 45 of it for my jukebox, my search would be complete.

[Greatconvergence]

For many years I heard this song played on WMMR

near Christmas.

It was like a Philly tradition.

However some years ago I stop listen to the radio.

But every year I'd remember this song and seach for it online.

I'm glad I could finally find it this year.

It is one of the best Christmas songs of all time.

[MagicHitch]

I knew Alan, great talent, nice guy...

We shared stages, we shared good times, he parted way too soon,,,

Forever,

Keith Lock

[jackjpope]

This video was made on my mothers Street in Upper Darby Pa, in front of her house, but I can'tremember what year.

[boatnut68]

Much better !