Media References

Tunes and Tales

1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018

Return to Media References Main Page

2005/02/16: "Dread of Sunday Night Even Afflicts People Who Like Their Work," The Wall Street Journal, February 16, 2005, at B1, on-line at http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/0,,SB110851172725755888,00.html; reprinted in Wall Street Journal (Europe), February 16, 2005, at A7; Asian Wall Street Journal, February 17, 2005, at A8; Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT), February 17, 2005, at M1; "Cubicle Culture: Sunday night signals dread even for work lovers," Sunday Gazette-Mail (Charleston, WV), April 17, 2005, at 5F:

"Sunday night television shows are a refuge for some. Lawrence Savell, an attorney at Chadbourne & Parke, says he spent his youth watching 'Mission: Impossible,' knowing that 'when the show ended, that meant my weekend was over, it was time for bed.'

"As he got older, his Sunday slump became less severe, but when he had kids, he relapsed. 'On the couch with 'Mission: Impossible' at 11 has been replaced by in the rocking chair with boy and milk at nine,' he says, 'and the Sunday night blues are a lot tougher than they were before.'"

2005/07/00: "Need a chuckle?," The Reporter (Valparaiso University School of Law Library), July 2005, at 5 http://jury.lel.net/library/libraryinfo/reporterjuly2005.pdf:

"http://www.lawhumor.com has an impressive list of links to articles poking fun at lawyers and the law, many of them from respected publications such as the ABA Journal and the National Law Journal. This site also features a selection of legal parodies such as 'Nerds in a Mass,' sung to the tune of 'Barbara Ann' about taking the bar exam; and 'The Time for Cramming,' sung to the tune of 'The Sounds of Silence.'" (fourth of ten legal humor sites listed)

2005/10/00: "WEBSITE OF THE WEEK[:] Lawyer humor nearly catches up with library humor," WarriorLibrarian.com, October 2005:

"Despite Lawrence Savell's website opening with audio of dubious intent, the rest of the content could be awarded various accolades concerning originality, a deviation from the stereotype, and of course downright rib-tickling funny.

"The Law Librarian fraternity would certainly appreciate the not excessively subtle allusions on the site that states it is 'dedicated to the proposition that zealous representation of clients and furtherance of the public good can be only enhanced by a healthy willingness to poke fun at ourselves appropriately on occasion'.

"In fact, it is almost on a par with Warrior Librarian. But apart from that, it's pretty good ..."

News Coverage of New CD, "You Don't Wanna Cross Santa," Begins Here:

Autumn 2005: "LawTunes releases 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa,'" The Alaska Bar Rag, Autumn, 2005, 29 AK Bar Rag 4:

"LawTunes (www.lawtunes.com) has released 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa,' a new CD of humorous original lawyer holiday rock-and-roll songs, composed, performed, and produced by practicing litigation attorney Lawrence Savell.

"The title track, 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa' (cross, as in cross-exam), details the potential pitfalls of an aggressive litigation strategy against St. Nick come December 25. Another cut, 'Billin' on Christmas Eve,' is a ballad with which all people who make sacrifices for their careers can identify. The new CD is available separately, or as part of the new 'LawTunes Holiday Trio' set, which includes Savell's other offerings, 'Legal Holidaze' and 'The Lawyer's Holiday Humor Album.'

"LawTunes songs take on a broad range of subjects regarding lawyers, the law, the legal system, and related matters. These include life (and strife) as a lawyer generally, including the commitments and sacrifices that are required, as well as the rewards; lawyer marketing/business development; continuing legal education; document review and production; expert witness identification and development; and bar exams.

"Savell's musical take on the legal world started with performances at the University of Michigan Law School's 'Law Revue' (alleged) talent show in the early 1980s.

"Savell says that, 'LawTunes' CDs are "the perfect gifts for the apparently-limitless population of lawyers, law students, law professors, and the people who work with, live with, know and/or love them. They're also a great choice for law firm, corporate legal department, or other office or law school holiday party giveaways and client or staff holiday gifts.'""

2005/11/22: Press Release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/11/prweb313557.htm

Pickup: LawFuel.com: http://www.lawfuel.com/index.php?page=press_releases&handler=focus&pressreleaseid=4771

Pickup: Jaffee Legal Search: http://66.241.198.73/index.cfm?fuseaction=Home.ShowArticleDetail&ArticleID=3423&SectionTitle=LawTunes%20Releases%20You%20Don%27t%20Wanna%20Cross%20Santa%20%2D%20New%20CD%20of%20Humorous%20Original%20Lawyer%20Holiday%20Rock%2Dand%2DRoll%20Songs&TitleImage=st-lfn.gif&MiniToolBarName=MenuLFN&selected=lfn

2005/11/23: "Making a List?," The Wired GC, November 23, 2005, http://www.wiredgc.com/topics/general/:

… be sure to check it twice to see that music from Lawtunes is on it. (The site can load a bit slow; adjust your speakers before you click and hear “Rainmaker Reindeer”…)

Here are samples from such law firm holiday party favorites as:

–”Billin’ on Christmas Eve”: mp3

– “You Don’t Wanna Cross Santa”: mp3

All this and more from New York attorney Lawrence Savell.

More info from the press release.

If it’s not your cup of nog for a party tape–why not have these playing while your clients are on hold?

2005/11/26: "Law & Order: Holiday tunes unit," The Journal News (Lower Hudson Valley, NY), November 26, 2005, at D1; copy online as "Burbs: Lawyer puts law to music," http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051126/BUSINESS01/511260307/1066/BUSINESS01:

"Attorney Lawrence Savell has heard all the jokes disparaging his profession and wants to use his musical ability to show people lawyers have a sense of humor. '

"Savell, a Croton-on-Hudson resident who defends companies sued for product liability, has released his third compact disc of humorous holiday songs that poke fun at lawyers and the legal profession. The CD, called 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa' (Cross refers to cross examine), is named for its lead song. The disc also includes another song called 'Billin' on Christmas Eve.'

'''It's a message to the public that lawyers, despite the stereotypes, are not humorless people,' he said. 'They can actually poke fun at themselves. That's different from the popular perception, which is of these people who have no sense of humor and very full of themselves. I'm trying to pierce that impression a little bit.'

"The song 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa' is a bouncy tune about a lawyer who defends a client whose splintery roof caused an injury to one of Santa's reindeer. The lawyer learns the risk of an aggressive cross-examination of the big bearded man in the red suit.

'''They say you gotta be good if you want that toy,' Savell sings. 'The last thing is Santa you want to annoy. You don't wanna cross Santa on the witness stand. Don't cross Santa. You gotta understand that an exam giving him the third degree gives you a lump of coal beneath your tree.'

"The song says the case ended with the jury hung like mistletoe.

"Savell, 48, who has turned part of his house into a recording studio, and who uses a computer, said he sold more than 1,000 copies of his first two CD's, 'Legal Holidaze' and 'The Lawyer's Holiday Humor Album.'

"He got an email yesterday from a company in South Africa interested in buying the three-CD set. On Wednesday, he got an e-mail from a law firm in San Francisco that wanted to play one of his songs, 'Let 'Em Sue,' at its annual holiday party. The name 'Let 'Em Sue' is a parody of 'Let it Snow.'

"He said he wants the songs to be easily understood by people who are not lawyers and don't have much contact with lawyers. For instance, he thinks the story of lawyers working late on Christmas Eve is one anyone who makes sacrifices for their career can understand.

"The CDs are available at his Web site (www.lawtunes.com)."

(color) | (greyscale)

"As an antidote, there has long been a thriving business in novelty songs and parodies, among them Martin Mull's Santafly, Stan Freberg's Green Christmas, Father Guido Sarducci's I Won't Be Twisting This Christmas and the Bob & Doug McKenzie version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. First day's gift: Beer.

"That tradition continues. A recent e-mail touted a CD of holiday-themed songs about lawyers (as in Let 'Em Sue, a parody of Let It Snow.) You can find out more at www.lawtunes.com."

2005/11/28: "Just in time: The LawTunes holiday CD," Robert Ambrogi's LawSites, November 28, 2005, http://www.legaline.com/2005/11/just-in-time-lawtunes-holiday-cd.html:

"New York lawyer Lawrence Savell has released his latest CD of holiday songs for lawyers, 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa.' This is Savell's third compilation of humorous, holiday rock-and-roll songs, all composed, performed and produced by him. You can find them all through his Web site, LawTunes.

"On this latest release, the title track details the potential pitfalls of an aggressive litigation strategy against St. Nick come Dec. 25. Another song, 'Billin' on Christmas Eve,' is described as a ballad that will ring true to anyone who makes sacrifices for the sake of their career.

"I wrote about Savell last year in my article, Laughing at Lawyers and the Law."

2005/11/28: "Gimme Gimme This, Gimme Gimme That: More Gifts They Really Want," Grunion Gazette/Downtown Gazette (Long Beach, CA), November 28, 2005, http://www.gazettes.com/ggogg11282005.html:

"For the not completely self-absorbed among us, the gift-buying season is here. While many shoppers fret over what to get the proverbial 'person who has everything,' we realize there are even harder folks to shop for. For those cases, there is my.style’s multi-part Gimme Gimme Online Gift Guide (GGOGG for short).

. . .

"For The... Litigious Laugher

"If you think 'I Fought The Law' is the only legal ditty worth singing, then you’re out of order! Practicing litigation attorney Lawrence Savell’s latest album, 'You Don’t Wanna Cross Santa,' is a collection of 'humorous original lawyer holiday rock-and-roll songs.' The title track is about the pitfalls of an aggressive litigation strategy against St. Nick. Savell’s previous holiday effort, 'Legal Holidaze,' includes such courtroom crowd pleasers as 'Catchin' CLE (The Continuing Legal Education Song),' 'North Pole Bar Exam' and the 'Jingle Bells' parody 'Bill Those Hours.' Buy these holiday albums separately or as part of a three-pack that includes Savell’s “The Lawyer’s Holiday Humor Album.” Just don’t trying any illegal downloading. (www.lawtunes.com)"

2005/11/28: "Minnesota Bar Buzz," The Minnesota Lawyer (Minneapolis, MN), November 28, 2005:

"A gift for lawyers you can get for a song

"Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Sorry. We can't help you. However, we can provide a suggestion for a cheesy gift for that lawyer who may be on your naughty list.

"New York lawyer/musician/humorist Lawrence Savell has a law-related holiday CD out called "Legal Holidaze." The CD's subtitle describes the contents as: 'Words and Music, Allegedly Humorous.' Among the holiday 'favorites' on this CD are 'Rainmaker Reindeer,' 'Catchin' CLE' and 'North Pole Bar Exam.'

"The following stanza - taken from 'Billin' on Christmas Eve' - gives you the flavor of the songs on the CD:

'The big tree glistens in the mist
As Santa-helpers mark their lists
While in the building just behind
We're wrapping up things of another kind
Downstairs the people are millin', our hearts are willin'
But we're Billin on Christmas Eve
Billin' on Christmas Eve.'

The CD, which was actually released last year, retails on Amazon.com for a mere $18.99 - or about what it would cost to Fed-Ex last year's fruit cake to that lawyer on your list."

2005/11/29: "Oh Come, All Ye Baleful," Maisonnueve (Canada), November 29, 2005, http://maisonneuve.org/index.php?&page_id=12&article_id=1949

"Please allow me to also suggest . . . 'You Don’t Wanna Cross Santa,' LawTunes's newest compilation of humorous lawyer-centric Christmas rock 'n' roll hits"

2005/12/00: "Breaking Through in December: Tips for Scoring Ink During the Page-Cluttered Holidays," Media Relations Insider, December 2005, at 2-3, available on-line at http://www.mediatrainingworldwide.com/MediaRelationsInsider.pdf:

"'The key is having some kind of hook to the holidays, bearing in mind that for some products and services it may be quite a stretch,' confirms Lawrence Savell, an attorney for Chadbourne & Parke LLP. Every year during the holidays, Savell produces 'CDs of original, allegedly-humorous, law-related rock-and-roll holiday songs that are composed, performed, and produced by this practicing litigation attorney.'

"Savell’s CDs, which include songs like 'You Don’t Wanna Cross Santa' ('cross' as in cross-examine, of course), and 'Billin’ on Christmas Eve,' have received coverage in The New York Times, CBS Newsradio, and a long list of other outlets. 'What could be more newsworthy than a lawyer with a sense of humor around the holidays?' he asks.

"Although you don’t have to be a satirical songwriting powerhouse to score coverage, cleverly or humorously tying your news to an aspect of the holidays will boost your chances for getting a second look from editors." [spelling of my name corrected]

2005/12/01: "A legal twist on holiday tunes," Cincinnati Enquirer, December 1, 2005, at 1E, copy available at http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=10E41A121C2EBCA8&p_docnum=1&p_theme=gannett&s_site=cincinnati&p_product=CEQB:

"Lawyers should have a sense of humor, what with all the jokes circulating at their expense. 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa,' the third CD of 'allegedly-humorous' law-related rock 'n' roll songs composed, performed and produced by attorney Lawrence Savell includes the title song that details the pitfalls of an aggressive litigation strategy against St. Nick and 'Billin' on Christmas Eve' described as a ballad. Clips of the silly songs and information on two previous CD albums 'Legal Holidaze' (with 'Bill Those Hours,' a parody of 'Jingle Bells') and 'The Lawyer's Holiday Humor Album' (with 'Let 'Em Sue,' a parody of 'Let It Snow'), can be heard at www.lawtunes.com. New, two-song CD, $3.99; album CDs $16.99, all plus handling."

2005/12/05: "Sing it to the judge," Washington Business Journal, December 5, 2005, online at http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2005/12/05/focus2.html:

"So you have all your holiday shopping done. Great. Except, of course, for that one gift. The one for that lawyer in your life who has positively everything. What to do?

"Well, if that legal eagle also has a sense of humor, this CD might just make for some great stocking work product. LawTunes (www.lawtunes.com) has released 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa' (Cross? Like cross-examine? Get it?), a compilation of humorous original lawyer holiday rock songs. In fact, the Web site states that the target audience humbly includes 'Lawyers, Law Students, Law Professors, and the People Who Work With, Live With, Know and/or Love Them.'

"But wait! There's more!

"'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa' is actually the third in the series, following the previously rockin' albums 'Legal Holidaze' and 'The Lawyers Holiday Humor Album.' The new CD is available separately or as part of the 'LawTunes Holiday Trio' set.

"What kinds of songs find their way onto such albums? Here's a quick medley of the hits: 'Billin' on Christmas Eve' (both studio and live cuts), 'Let'em Sue' (sung to the tune of 'Let It Snow'), 'Santa vs. Acme Sleigh,' and the ever-popular 'Rainmaker Reindeer.'

"The songs are all composed, performed and produced by practicing litigation attorney Lawrence Savell. He dedicates his singing side work to the 'proposition that lawyers' zealous representation of clients and furtherance of the public good can only be enhanced by a healthy willingness of lawyers to poke fun at themselves appropriately on occasion.'"

2005/12/06: "On the Lighter Side" D.U.L.L. NEWS - Newsletter of the Duke University Law Library, December 6, 2005, http://www.law.duke.edu/lib/dullnews.html:

LawHumor.com listed second under recommended "Legal humor websites and blogs"

"Don't have time for any more books right now? Here are some fun online sources, instead: . . .

"LawHumor.com - http://www.lawhumor.com/

"Check out the 'Typo-Man' comic book and song parodies such as 'The Time for Cramming' ('Hello, Gilberts my old friend…,' sung to the tune of 'The Sound of Silence'), which are among the many humorous items at attorney Lawrence Savell's website."

2005/12/07: "Are you listening?," San Jose Mercury News, December 7, 2005, at 1E, 5E, copy online at http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/music/13343211.htm?source=rss&channel=mercurynews_music:

"Lawrence Savell, 'The LawTunes Holiday Trio' (LawTunes) -- If you've got a lawyer on your holiday list, check out this New York litigator's tongue-in-cheek holiday rock offerings at www.lawtunes.com. The latest is 'You Don't Want to Cross Santa' -- as in cross-examine -- backed by 'Billin' on Christmas Eve.' But Savell, who started writing satires for the talent show at University of Michigan, also has two other full-length holiday CDs. They are definitely cheesy and decidedly homespun. Savell obviously believes in 'a healthy willingness of lawyers to poke fun at themselves.'"

2005/12/10-11: "So Sue Me, Santa," The Wall Street Journal (Weekend Edition), December 10-11, 2005, at B3:

"CROONIN' COUNSEL is back: Product-liability lawyer-cum-musician Lawrence Savell has released 'You Don’t Wanna Cross Santa,' his third album blending Christmas and contracts. This two-cut disc features a new version of 'Billin' on Christmas Eve,' as well as the title track. It follows previous years' 'Legal Holidaze' and 'The Lawyer's Holiday Humor Album,' the album cover of which features the office-attired Mr. Savell surrounded by keyboard and multitude of medicines that help explain the song 'All I Want for Christmas is a Stomach Lining.' Groupies include mothers of lawyers, customers from abroad and even Mr. Savell’s partners at Manhattan’s Chadbourne & Parke LLP."

Caption (photo of "The Lawyer's Holiday Humor Album"): "'This image is protected. Wrote a little song about it . . .'"

2005/12/12: "Legal lyricist strikes again," The National Law Journal, "Voir Dire" column, December 12, 2005, at 19:

"WHO BUT A LITIGATOR would write a holiday song lyric rhyming 'Christmas Day' with 'ex parte'?

"The perpetrator of that gem is Lawrence Savell, the singer/songwriter behind 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa,' which surely will become a Yule classic. That's cross as in cross-examine. Seems the old elf is not so jolly when a rooftop mishap leads to litigation and you grill him too aggressively. 'An examination giving him the third degree gives you a lump of coal beneath your Christmas tree,' Savell learns.

"The tune appears on a three-disc CD collection that the Chadbourne & Parke attorney is pitching on his Web site, www.lawtunes.com. Other titles include the cheeky 'Rainmaker Reindeer' and the somber 'Billing on Christmas Eve.'

"According to his Web site, Savell got his start in show business in the University of Michigan Law School's 'Law Revue' and has been self-recording for several years. He says it's all in good fun and to humanize the profession.

"'I'm never going to win a Grammy,' he said in an interview. 'If it makes lawyers feel better about the hours they put in, and other people feel better about lawyers, then I feel I will have achieved my objective.'

"Surely worthy goals. But he plans to keep his day job."

2005/12/15: "Holidays with Lawyers," episode of "Coast to Coast" Show, broadcast on The Legal Talk Network, December 15, 2005 (sole guest), http://www.legaltalknetwork.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=59:

Website summary: "Put the briefs and blackberrys away and have a good-spirited laugh at the legal community. Coast to Coast, hosted by Attorneys and Law.com bloggers, J. Craig Williams and Robert Ambrogi, brings listeners a special treat for the holidays. Lawrence Savell, Esq. from the New York firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, shares his musical scales of justice from LAWTUNES just in time for your holiday listening. You Don't Want To Cross Santa (just one song you'll hear). It's music, it's humor and it will be one of the best half-hours you'll spend between the holiday crush and the courthouses this season! Happy Holidays!"

(Website summary)

LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST: http://www.legaltalknetwork.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=59

If you have trouble, the MP3 can be downloaded here as well: ltn-20051215.mp3 (15 MB)

2005/12/16: "The Gift Speaks for Itself: Our First (Allegedly) Annual Shopping Guide Showcases Gifts for Lawyers, by Lawyers" ABA Journal eReport, December 16, 2005 (formerly at http://www.abanet.org/journal/ereport/d16lawgift.html):

"Ho, Ho, Ho! Does the sound of every street-corner Santa make you cringe at the thought of the holiday shopping that you haven’t yet done because you’ve been preoccupied with, oh, a few little things like clients, trials, closings and depositions?

"Fear not, hardworking lawyers. We are making your life easier with our First (Allegedly) Annual Holiday Gift Guide. From music to books to the simply humorous, we think you can’t go wrong with our picks because everything here is made by lawyers for lawyers.

"TUNES

"Who doesn’t love a good Christmas carol over the holidays? Check out New York City lawyer Lawrence Savell’s collection of legal-themed holiday music, including transformed holiday favorites like, 'Let ’Em Sue,' 'All I Want for Christmas Is a Stomach Lining' and 'Billin’ on Christmas Eve.' Savell’s three-CD set is available for $34.95 at www.lawtunes.com."

2005/12/16: "Laughing all the way[:] Dashing through the music stores, look for gifts to jingle humor bells," The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) December 16, 2005, http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/378313.html:

"Today is when panic officially sets in. You meant to do your holiday gift-shopping long ago -- but you've just realized that December is half gone, Christmas is barely more than a week away and you haven't even started yet. Fear not. There's still just enough time, and you don't even have to settle for the obvious hits of the day.

"That's where we come in with our annual 'alternative' gift guide of strange musical artifacts. Some of the following items are wonderful, some are awful, some are ridiculous or even downright bizarre. But good or bad, they'll all make far more of an impression than the latest chart-topper from Mariah Carey.

. . .

"LawTunes, 'You Don't Wanna Cross Santa' (www.lawtunes.com, $3.99) That's 'cross' as in 'cross-examine,' backed with 'Billin' on Christmas Eve.' Here we have the latest legal-themed songs from Lawrence Savell, a litigation attorney from New York who dabbles in music on the side. It's also available as part of a three-disc set with Savell's earlier efforts, 'Legal Holidaze' and 'The Lawyer's Holiday Humor Album.' 'Outside the streets are fillin', the chestnuts grillin', but we're billin' on Christmas eve.'

"And a merry little subpoena to you, too."