Friday, December 22nd, 2006
I kind go kind of nuts about Christmas. It’s always been hard to wait, so I typically begin to celebrate early. For years I dressed as a Christmas caroler for Halloween, singing door-to-door for treats. The songs are so fun to play on the guitar! Here’s some that I enjoy getting to hear around this time of year. Please compare my list with your own.
30. Elmo & Patsy: “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” 1983.
This song is so horrible. Reminds me of growing-up in North Carolina. Makes me feel like getting a sled-ride while tied behind a four-wheeler. I love it.
29. New Kids on the Block “This One’s for the Children” 1989?
Oh man. Maurice Starr is a filthy genius. What a weird falsetto vocal at the end! My friends Joel and Ryan got me into this and the New Edition Christmas album. I don’t even remember these from the 1980’s for some reason. Oh, and this video features their skillful stool-sitting dance. For further research, check-out NKOTB’s “Funky Christmas” rap.
28. Brenda Lee “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” 1950’s(?)
27. Modern Mandolin Quartet Tchaikovski’s Nutcracker Suite. 1991
26. Wham! “Last Christmas” 1980’s.
Go on, embrace the cheesiness!
25. Biff Rose: “Santa Claus World” 1969.
24. Dean Martin: “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” 1950’s?
23. Joel Pickell: “Don’t Be Scared There is a Savior” 2003.
This guy is more obsessed with Christmas than anyone I know.
22. “Built to Spill: “Twin Falls” 1994.
21. Caetano Veloso: “In the Hot Sun of a Christmas Day” 1971.
20. The Mary Hamhocks: “Christmas Kiss” 2003.
Liz Janes and husband Mike Kaufmann team-up for this poppy ode to mistletoe.
19. New Edition Christmas Collection 1980’s
My favorite is the one with the chorus “So glad it’s Christmas,” but I can’t remember its title.
18. Joni Mitchell: “River” 1971.
From her excellent Blue album.
17. John Lennon/Yoko Ono: “Happy XMAS/War is Over” 1971
16. Burl Ives: "Holly Jolly Christmas" 1960’s?
I think that this is the version with the 12-string acoustic guitar.(?)
15. Pedro the Lion 7” Christmas Singles 2002-2006
I like this idea a lot. The Marbles, Saturday Looks Good to Me, and probably others have done little records devoted exclusively to the holiday too.
14. Andy Williams: "Do You Hear What I Hear?" 1965.
13. Dennis Wilson: “Morning Chrismas” 1977.
Gorgeous moody solo Beach Boy song.
12. Nichole & the Dreamcatchers Krismus Karuls EP 1982.
favorite track: “Dog of Gold” runner-up: “Santa-Santa”
Wacky set of seven Christmas songs. Produced by the elusive art-thief Gary Gooper. According to the liner notes, this was recorded by a robot, a preaching robot.
11. Judy Garland: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” 1944(?)
10. Sufjan Stevens Songs For Christmas Boxset 2001-2006.
Who can resist “Put the Lights On the Tree”?
9. The Season’s Glreekins The Season’s Glreekins EP 1998.
Ten original songs recorded by a five-person band with semi-elaborate arrangements on a 4-track recorder in Chattanooga, TN. Lasts 15 minutes. They played one show. (Okay, I admit it, I was in this band—is it wrong to like it so much?)
8. Esquivel Merry X-Mas 1959-1962.
Favorite track: “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Lenny Smith got me into this. It’s indispensable.
7. Soundtrack to The Shanty Where Santy Claus Lives 1933.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024547
This is an old black-and-white Christmas Cartoon–the music is especially great.
6. Eyeball Hurt & The Medicine: Christmas Music for Family or Children 1996.
favorite track: “The Stocking Song”, with the lyrics “What did you get in your Christmas stocking? Mine was filled with skulls… One of them was smiling.” Fellow Canadian artist Jonathan Dueck sent me this lo-fi nonsense album a couple years ago.
5. Simon & Garfunkel: “Star Carol” 1960’s.
This is my choice for the sweetest Christmas lullaby of all time, and their version is my favorite. I like to sing it and change the lyric “bed” to “bit” so that the phrase reads “Sweetly asleep on a bit of hay.” It makes it so that Jesus is so tiny that he can’t even fit on a whole piece of hay! The Ultimate preemie!
4. Argent: “Christmas for the Free” 1972.
Former Zombies songwriter with one of my very favorite Christmas songs
3. Paul McCartney: “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” 1979.
Gosh is this ever catchy!
2. The Beatles The Beatles Christmas Record 1963-1969.
Favorite song: “Christmastime is Here Again” 1967
Favorite skit: “Everywhere it’s Christmas” 1966
I have a Korean bootleg of this album on compact disc. Sometimes I think it’s my absolute favorite thing of theirs.
1. Larry Norman “The Day That a Child Appeared” 1971(?)
I don’t have much information about this piano song. It’s included on his record named Bootleg. (it’s not actually a bootleg, though). The weight of the chord progression is so amazing.
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