C/D: Christmas music

Side one:
Run-DMC, Christmas in Hollis
Donny Hathaway, This Christmas
Nat King Cole, The Christmas Song
The New Christy Minstrels, Tell It On the Mountain
The Wailers, Sound the Trumpets
Elvis, Blue Christmas
The Pogues, Fairytale of New York
Bruce Springsteen, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Otis Redding, Merry Christmas, Baby
(exerpt) Pete Seeger, The First Noel
Low, Just Like Christmas
Joan Baez, Coventry Carol/Good King Winceslas
Vince Guaraldi, Christmas Time Is Here
Atmosphere, If I Was Santa Claus
Eek-A-Mouse, The Night Before Christmas
Tracy Chapman, O Holy Night
James Brown, Hey, America
Jose Feliciano, Felix Navidad
(experts) Bob Rivers, Osama Got Run Over By a Reindeer/The Mistletoe Disco Band, Winter Wonderland/Leon Redbone, There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Side two:
The Ramones, Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)
Band Aid, Do They Know It's Christmas?
Charles Brown, Please Come Home For Christmas
Elvis, Here Comes Santa Claus
Vince Guaraldi, O Tannenbaum
Nat King Cole, O Little Town of Bethlahem
Joe Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas [good, but wish I had the Judy Garland version]
Clarence Carter, Backdoor Santa
Dark City Sisters, Jabulani Nonke
Low, Little Drummer Boy
Freddy Mc Gregor, Irie Christmas
Otis Redding, White Christmas
Elvis, Silent Night
The Sensations, Every Day Is a Holiday
TLC, Sleigh Ride
Trailer Trash, Welcome Here
Solomon Burke, Presents For Christmas
William Bell, Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday
(excerpt) Jackson 5, Up On the House Top

"Fuck Christmas" by Fear
"No Christmas" by the Wedding Present
"Step Into Christmas" (Elton John cover) by the Wedding Present
"Frosty the Snowman" by the Cocteau Twins
"There Ain't No Sanity Clause" by the Damned

By the way, in case anyone's shopping, or would like to talk about albums instead of songs, here are the records and CDs I took my songs from. The first ten double as my current favorite Christmas collections of all time:

Nat King Cole, The Christmas Song
Joan Baez, Noel
Elvis, The Complete 50's Masters
The New Christy Minstrels, Merry Christmas!
Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Original Soul Christmas
Low, Christmas
Slow Jams Christmas, Volume 1
Trailer Trash, Hell, It's X-Mas
Pete Seeger, Traditional Christmas Carols
James Brown, Santa's Got a Brand New Bag
Reggae Christmas from Studio One
Band Aid, Do They Know It's Christmas?
A Very Special Christmas
A Very Special Christmas Live From Washington, D.C.
MTV TRL Christmas
The Pogues, If I Should Fall From the Grace of God
Ramones Anthology: Hey Ho Let's Go!
Dark City Sisters and Flying Jazz Queens
A Reggae Christmas
'Tis the Sampler
Duke Reid's Treasure Chest: Treasure Isle
Atmosphere, Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere Ep's
A Motown Christmas Volume 2
Christmas at Rao's
Leon Redbone, Christmas Island
Christmas Disco
Bob Rivers, White Trash Christmas

I love all Christmas music, even the "bad" stuff. Only thing I can't tolerate is Kenny G and, yes, Mannheim Steamroller. Bad instrumentals, forget it. But all the other crap is great.

Ned's right, too. As are most of you. (Someone must've mentioned Wham's "Last Christmas" up in there, yes?)

"Miss Donahue died on December 9, 1996 after a year-long battle with
lung cancer. She was 40. If you are ever in the Cleveland area and
would like to visit her grave site, she is buried in Holy Cross
Cemetery, Section 13, Lot 782."

Christmas 'portable' CD80 GO!

1. Vince Guaraldi Trio - O Tannenbaum

2. Bing Crosby - White Christmas

3. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song

4. Frank Sinatra - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

5. Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock

6. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

7. Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad

8. The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping

9. John Denver & The Muppets - Stille Nacht (Silent Night)

10. Burl Ives - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

11. Gene Autry - Here Comes Santa Claus

12. Burl Ives - Holly Jolly Christmas

13. Dean Martin - Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

14. Earth Kitt - Santa Baby

15. Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

16. The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

17. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?

18. Belle & Sebastian - O Come O Come Emmanuel

19. Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy

20. John Coltrane - My Favorite Things

21. Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Suite Opus 71a: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy

22. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time is Here

ze xmas is rockin my world right now y'know

"Christmas is Now Drawing Near" on Coil's "Winter Solstice" EP and the cover of "Old Toy Trains" that Sonic Boom posted on his website a couple of years ago are both lovely.

Oh. I should've checked to see if the MP3 was even still posted. It's not. Sorry. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Check out "Frohes Fest" by Unheilig. German carols in the style of Laibach or Rammstein, done totally straight and beautifully produced. If that sounds good, you need to download it now! "Kling, Glockchen, Klingelingeling!"

the best Christmas song =

Tom Waits, "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"

Check out "Frohes Fest" by Unheilig. German carols in the style of Laibach or Rammstein, done totally straight and beautifully produced. If that sounds good, you need to download it now! "Kling, Glockchen, Klingelingeling!"

-- Soukesian, Monday, December 24, 2007 9:22 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

thanx 4 the tip

My Christmas present to yall is this song
Red Red Meat - Welcome Christmas

Also, I like the Yes singer's version of "The Holly and the Ivy" the best. (Jon Anderson)

HMHB own this thread.

I've started listening to Christmas music. Have you? What are the Christmas releases you're looking forward to this year?

Concord has reissued Christmas with Sinatra and Friends and Ray Charles: The Spirit Of Christmas.

A Fine Frenzy (who?) "will be releasing the six-song EP Oh Blue Christmas, available exclusively at Target, Target.com and the Target area on iTunes."

What else?

Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan is a gorgeous collection of Christmas songs.

Playlist
Sufjan Stevens - Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!
Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Paul McCartney- Wonderful Christmas Time
Mariah Carey- All I Want for Christmas Is You
Slade - Merry Xmas Everyboy
Sufjan Stevens - Put the Lights on the Tree
Elton John - Step Into Christmas
John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War is Over)
The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christma
The Pogues - Fairytale of New York
Chris Rea - Driving Home for Christmas
Shakin Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry

Eels - Christmas is Going to the Dogs
Dean Martin - Let it Snow! x3
Sufjan Stevens - Amazing Grace
Bright Eyes - Away in a Manger
Mike Oldfield -In Dulee Jubilo
Bob Dylan - Little Drummer Boy
Diana Krall -Winter Wonderland
Frank Sinatra - The First Noel
Sufjan Stevens - O Come O Come Emmanuel
Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas
Frank Sinatra - Hard! The Herald Angles Sing
Sufjan Stevens - The First Noel
Mud - Lonely This Christmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbMYyU3lPi8

jeez leave it till December YOU'RE RUINING IT FOR EVERYONE.

No mention of Kurtis Blow yet?

Thread bumped because it was a long car ride home with half the radio stations now switched over to full-time Christmas music.

None of which played "Christmas Rappin"

Josh L, mediafire your playlist pretty please with Xmas sugar on top.

Last couple Christmases, selections from Amahl and the Night Visitors was really doing it for me.

Could somebody maybe share with me the Sonic Boom "Old Toy Trains" cover and the ZE Records comp?

Wait, nevermind, I found the Sonic Boom track (which was released as Dean & Britta f/ Sonic Boom, apparently).

You haven't lived until you've heard Cher and Rosie O'Donnell's "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" with Rosie's vocals autotuned or whatever that thing was on Cher's voice in "Believe":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhNs42nhkhA

It's either Vince Guaraldi, Slade, the new Dylan for lols, or nuthin

Has anybody ever heard the Rotary Connection Christmas album? I picked it up for a buck over the weekend, but haven't listened to it. (Just not in the mood yet.)

Lou Rawls

http://felt.planetaclix.pt/Related/images/denimaster.jpg

Low's Christmas album, right this second. It's starting to achieve Guaraldi stature for me after a decade's worth of playing it.

Recently got the 2-on-1 John Fahey's k-klassik Xmas alb's. the 1968 solo & the 1975 (mostly) duo's with Richard Ruskin. Waaaaay cool yule tunes.

Ingo Star Cruiser's cover of Low's Just Like Christmas, more ramshackle and even christmassy than the original.

Just made this, anyone want a copy?

01 The Dandy Warhols - Little Drummer Boy
02 Cristina - Things Fall Apart
03 Cocteau Twins - Frosty The Snowman
04 Low - Just Like Christmas
05 Dean & Britta with Sonic Boom - Old Toy Trains
06 The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York
07 Saint Etienne - I Was Born on Christmas Day
08 XTC - Countdown to Christmas Party Time
09 TLC - Sleigh Ride
10 The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
11 Run DMC - Christmas in Hollis
12 Sonics - Santa Clause
13 The Raveonettes - Come On Santa
14 Six By Seven - I Believe In Father Christmas
15 Teenage Fanclub - Christmas Eve
16 Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
17 Fear - Fuck Christmas
18 The Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
19 The Vandals - Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairies.
20 Lisi - My Silent Night
21 Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'
22 Alan Vega - No More Christmas Blue
23 Prince - Another Lonely Christmas

Um, yes! You know where to find me.

Yes please. Does anyone have the playlist for the one spencer chow did a few years back, I still have all the tunes but not the order.

*ssssshhhh!!! http://www.sendspace.com/file/10legh *

'Last Christmas' has been owning me pretty hard

No love for the Carpenters' Christmas Portrait? Maybe it's just because I grew up on it, but it's the warmest and homey-est feeling Christmas album I know of. If, y'know, that's your thing.

Usually can't stand Bob Dylan, but video and song here is pretty cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVs6X9yIM_k

yes the new Dylan Xmas in the Heart is astounding and an instant holiday classic.

just remembered, Type O Negative - Red Water (Christmas Mourning)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9kKA698_WE

I'm looking for good recommendations for any Christmas or holiday music that falls under the category of noise, metal, experimental, or hiphop..

I just heard King Diamond's "No Presents For Christmas" for the first time which is some major LMAO action..

And I heard a few tracks off 2 Live Crew's xmas album a few days ago which sounds surprisingly awesome.

Kurtis Blow's "Christmas Rappin" is the be all and end all of Christmas hip-hop imo.

Oops, already said that on this thread less than a month ago.

this, douglas leedy's electronic christmas, is moogtastic.

http://christmasyuleblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/douglas-leedy-very-merry-electric.html

loscil's take on xmas ...

http://loscil.ca/blog/?p=146

I still stand by my Xmas comp...

http://www.quartzcity.net/wp-content/uploads/blogpicts/christmas_cookie_crumbs.jpg

CD 1:
XTC – “Psychedelic Christmas”
The cast of Twin Peaks – “The Twelve Days Of Christmas”
Patsy Raye – “Beatnik’s Wish”
The Ravers – “Punk Rock Christmas”
Tuscadero – “Holidays R Hell”
Dead Moon – “Christmas Rush”
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – “Big Yule Log Boogie”
Shitbirds – “Christmas Is A Comin’ (May God Bless You)”
The Chills – “Christmas Chimes”
The Wombles – “Wombling Merry Christmas”
Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 – “Fat Christmas”
Sparks – “Thank God It’s Not Christmas”
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – “There’s No Lights On the Christmas Tree Mother, They’re Burning Big Louie Tonight”
Mystery Science Theater 3000 – “(Let’s Have) A Patrick Swayze Christmas”
John Baker – “Christmas Commercial”
Man Or Astroman? – “Frosty The Snowman”
The Moog Machine – “O Holy Night”
August Darnell – “Christmas On Riverside Drive”
Hypnobeat – “Jingle Club”
The Raveonettes – “The Christmas Song”
The Walkmen – “Christmas Party”
Martin Mull – “Santa Doesn’t Cop Out on Dope”
Patty Duke and Norman Vincent Peale – “You Can Keep Christmas”
Half Man Half Biscuit – “All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit”

CD2
Six Million Dollar Man – “Christmas Lights”
The Flaming Lips – “Christmas At The Zoo”
Madness – “Inanity Over Christmas”
Mark Mothersbaugh – “Rudolph The Space Deer”
The Go Go’s – “I’m Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek”
Fountains Of Wayne – “I Want An Alien For Christmas”
Patty Marie Jay – “Space Age Santa Claus”
Pink Floyd – “Merry Xmas Song”
The Dickies – “Silent Night”
Grandaddy – “Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland”
Katie’s Kitchen – “Cooking A Delicious Holiday Ring Mold”
James Brown – “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto”
Saint Etienne – “I Don’t Intend To Spend Christmas Without You”
Giant Sand – “Thank You Dreaded Black Ice, Thank You”
Thin White Rope – “Christmas Skies”
Calexico – “Gift X-change”
Martin Mull – “Santafly”
Bad News – “Cashing In On Christmas”
unknown – “Rocking Disco Santa”
Steve Martin & Paul Simon – “Silver Bells”
Sally Kellerman – “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”
Spectrum – “Santa Claus”
Assistant Manager of the Haybridge – “Merry Christmas”

A compilation of Saint Etienne's Xmas releases was supposed to happen, wasn't it?

my private christmas song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcfuPyjlxQk

Just posted elsewhere, fwiw:

Best Thing I Heard Today: Brenda Lee doing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

And has anybody heard this? It's in our rotation and is surprisingly, non-ironically good. Though some of it is dumb.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Q4R71N1NL._SS500_.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEvGKUXW0iI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlJYPZ0UwC0

I'm an oldie but still find Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas" the best xmas song ever

so glad this became a standard

Such weird drumming on the bridge parts

hi everyone

the temptation's version of rudolph the red-nosed reindeer is unfuckwithable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aECuU_RN6Aw

Plenty of good stuff on this thread, but this my favourite. Amazed it's not more widely known.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDXZsydJU2c

The second best thing Jordy did:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT_c9GrZQk8

That Jordy song is ace!
I've spent the last month listening to Christmas songs non-stop in order to compile my seasonal mix CDs. Each year it gets harder to find great songs I haven't used before, but it's lots of fun.

This was last year's edition:

Rev. J.M. Gates - Did You Spend Christmas Day In Jail?
Curtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'
Bessie Smith - At The Christmas Ball
King Stitt - Christmas Tree
Can - Silent Night
Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes
Unknown Artist - God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
Low - Just Like Christmas
The Maytals - Happy Christmas (The Christmas Song)
The Beach Boys - Melekalikimaka
Lord Executor - Christmas Is A Joyful Day
Ventures - Jingle Bell Rock
Rufus Thomas - I'll Be Your Santa, Baby
James Brown - Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto
Belle & Sebastian - The Twelve Days Of Christmas
The Free Design - Close Your Mouth It's Christmas
Kingston Trio - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Shirley Collins & Davy Graham - The Cherry Tree Carol
Cocteau Twins - Frosty The Snowman
Asobi Seksu - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
AKIM & The Teddy Vann Production Company - Santa Claus is a Black Man
Jean-Pierre Massiera - Bonne Année 1969
Wooden Shjips - Auld Lang Syne

My mix this year ...

Jacobstowe Wassail - Waterson:Carthy
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - Aimee Mann
Feliz Navidad - Sea Of Bees
Little Drummer Boy - Pink Martini
Holy Night - Thomas Denver Johnsson
Hey Santa! - Hannah Peel And Tunng
The Wassail Song - The Boy Least Likely To
Melodias Navidenas - Tony De La Rosa
Christmas Song - Joy Zipper
There's Trouble Brewing - Jack Scott
Ain't No Chimneys In The Project - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Carta Santa Claus - Linda Escobar
Last Christmas - Le Sport, Montt Mardié & Mr Suitcase
Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry
All I Want For Christmas - The Genuine Fakes
I Don't Intend to Spend Christmas Without You - Saint Etienne
Boogaloo Santa Claus - J.D. McDonald
That'll Be Christmas - Thea Gilmore
Christmas All Summer Long - Deer Tick
Anorak Christmas - Sally Shapiro
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - The Jackson 5
I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas
Run Away With Me - Jens Lekman
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Temptations
Oh What A Christmas - El Perro Del Mar
My New Year's Resolutions - Mae West
Good King Wencelas - John Fahey
New Year's Greetings from … - Quiet Riot

Would love to find a way to make the Dio/Iommi version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen work in the mix, but I know it would cause everyone who gets the CD to take it off the minute that song came on ...

This is the Christmas album I want to buy:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Hearwhatwehear.jpg

I'm listening to the "A Glasgow Wassail" compilation on Sonic Oyster Records and wondering whether anyone would appreciate some festives Richard Youngs/Heather Leigh (Murray) drones...

In a word, yes.

Spent one Christmas Eve night at the DInkytowner where my DJ friend played this entirely too loud and nearly got us all kicked out. And then he switched over to some Salsoul Christmas music. Good memories.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pFdsQh9cc8

You could make an excellent mix of anti-festive Christmas songs (I guess someone already has). I just heard the new Trembling Bells + Bonnie Prince Billy song "New Year's Eve's The Loneliest Night of the Year", it's beautiful but utterly depressing...

I Don't Believe in Christmas by the Sonics is ideal for your anti-Christmas mix, although it might be a bit too partyish.

People pretty please post your Xmas mixes. I'll offer SOMETHING in return. I will.

Any Xmas releases of note this year? The Boy Least Likely To have one. Then "Jason Mraz Contributes "Winter Wonderland" to A Very Special Christmas Series Benefiting Special Olympics." And "Sea Of Bees cut a rad version of "Feliz Navidad" with proceeds benefiting the Trevor Project." This looks best of all: "Destination... Christmas!, the hilarious holiday album by The Superions (featuring the unmistakable lyrics and vocals of The B-52s front man, Fred Schneider), hits stores around the world today. The album defines the modern Christmas classic with a traditional twist. “It’s hard to say who our musical influences for this project were, because we don’t want to get sued,” says Fred."

The Saint Etienne Christmas album, A Glimpse of Stocking, is very nice. Website only - not in stores.

Any Xmas releases of note this year?

The new Sean Smith album -- titled Christmas, but of course -- scratches a good 'if you liked John Fahey's Christmas albums' itch, in large part because it doesn't sound like Fahey at all while still working in the 'hi I like acoustic guitar and doing things with it' vein.

About 15 years ago i went out and bought twenty-some christmas albums. I made this mix and dubbed 20 or 30 to give out to friends. Each and every track is a killer.

Carol of the Bells - John Fahey/Richard Ruskin
Santa Done Got Hip - The Marquees
Jingle Jangle - The Penguins
It’s Christmas - Jimmy Wakely
Christmas Time Blues - Roy Milton
Christmas Blues - Canned Heat
I’ve Got My Love to Keep me Warm - Billy Holiday
Christmas Blues - Gatemouth Moore
Far Away Christmas Blues - Little Esther Phillips and Johnny Otis
(It’s Gonna be a Lonely) Christmas - The Orioles
White Christmas - The Drifters
Jingle Bells - Jimmy Smith
We Free Kings - Roland Rashand Kirk
Jingle Bells - Booker T. & The MG’s
Wonderful Christmas Night - Dan Grissom
Silent Night - John Fahey
Please Come Home for Christmas - The Insight
Merry Christmas Baby - Charles Brown and his Band
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
Santa’s Secret - Johnny Guarnieri w/ Slam Stewart
Here Comes Santa’s Pussy - The Froggs
Silent Night - The Tim Fuller Experience
Jingle All the Way - Leena Horne
Jingle Bells - Leo Watson
Greensleeves - J. Smith/K. Burell/G. Tate
Blue Xmas - Miles Davis
O’ Little Town of Bethlehem - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
When Joseph was an Old Man - The Clancy Brothers
Russian Christmas Overture - John Fahey/Richard Ruskin
I’ll be Home for Christmas - The Pilgrims

Any Xmas releases of note this year?

Trembling Bells have a 7" with Bonnie Prince Billy and Mike Heron, which is great. The "Complete James Brown Christmas" has been released, but it mostly adds some not-so-interesting instrumentals to what everyone already knows. As Ned pointed out, the Sean Smith album is lovely.

There's a big long list at http://www.hipchristmas.com/annuals/new_releases/2010.php but it's mostly uninteresting tat.

Hee's another good site to keep track of new (and old) releases:
http://falalalala.com/

The most recent post as of right now:
http://falalalala.com/2010/12/an-uncle-daddy-christmas/
also contains a linked to someone's (doomed?) attempt to keep track of and review the daily Xmas-related additions to Rhapsody

I also usually keep track of this blog during December:
http://www.christmasagogo.blogspot.com/

Again, a mix of old and new, but mainly new. Specialises in indiepop and music from continental Europe, plus the occasional oddity.

Just discovered this gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reGkPIUbq8k

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XiXOpnzyKv4/TJmRfqmJhnI/AAAAAAAAFxE/c40TI0gBi-Y/s1600/merry+christmas+II+you.jpg

rocks

I am seriously considering getting Susan Boyle's Christmas album

You could make an excellent mix of anti-festive Christmas songs

Any such comp would have to include Departure Lounge's wonderfully humbuggy "Christmas Downer". No youtube that I can find but it goes "take me away from this obscene festive consumer frenzy/Some fairy lights and tinsel don't make up for the fact that it's freezing".

suspectarrain's mix looks splendid. i wanna hear it! until then i'm gonna have to content myself with Vince Guaraldi.

The best Christmas music is definitely the stuff that got hauled out in your house every year/stuff you associate with Christmas. There's an old tape of people singing Christmas songs somewhere in my Mum's house that must have been bought on a trip to America in 1982. I wish I could find it as the songs from it just chime whenever I feel the slightest bit Christmassy.

About four years ago I watched 30th Century Man just before going to sleep on Christmas Eve. Watched it on my ipod in bed at my Dad's house, and now I always feel like listening to Scott Walker at that time of year.

The best Christmas music is definitely the stuff that got hauled out in your house every year/stuff you associate with Christmas.

Definitely. I'll always rate Johnny Mathis and the Kingston Trio for that reason.

see also: Nat King Cole

On the anti-festive/emotionally devastating side of things...this is probably my favourite Christmas song ever but the only mix you could put it on is one that is "Christmas in my Soul" 10 times in a row:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO7-_xJz8CQ

shit, that's amazing. gonna have to avoid the temptation to break it out and ruin any christmas parties i attend, now.

(The most butchered song ever: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.")

this is probably true but i find most iterations of this really easy to listen to; it can sound really smarmy if the singer reaches for the poignancy in the lyrics and doesn't pull it off, but most versions either nail that tone or don't even try and sing it with like, no emotional content and the tune still idly carries it along.

that tune is one of the strongest melodies ever written IMO

i've had the new mariah carey xmas album since early november, and it's so exciting that i can finally listen to it now that it's december

particularly looking forward to the "extra festive" version of "all i want for christmas is you"

seriously considering getting all 9 of the Chanticleer Christmas albums

anti-festive Christmas songs

Culturcide - "Depressed Christmas"

btw Pandora's Classical Christmas channel owns as long as yous kip the occasional Rutter piece

Pretty much settled on the tracklisting for this year:

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - Jingle Bells
James Brown - Soulful Christmas
Mr. T - Merry Christmas from Mr. T
The Sonics - Santa Claus
Hector Lavoe/Willie Colon - Aires de Navidad
Harvey Averne Band - Let's Get it Together for Christmas
The Flirtations - Christmas Time is Here Again
Aztec Camera - Hot Club of Christ
The Aggrovators - Santa Claus Dub
O'Jays - Christmas Just Ain't Christmas
Rotary Connection - Silent Night Chant
Chanters - African Noel
Caetano Veloso - In the Hot Sun of a Christmas Day
August Darnell - Christmas on Riverside Driver
Reuben Anderson - Christmas Time Again
Nathaniel Mayer - Mr. Santa Claus
Gloria Wood - The Futuristic Christmas Tree
Wild Man Fischer - I'm a Christmas Tree
Linda Cassady - Is Santa Claus a Hippy?
Cold Chillin' Juice Crew - Cold Chillin' Christmas
Jayram Acharya - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Shirley Collins - The Gower Wassail
Banjo or Freakout - Christmas is Coming
The Beach Boys - Christmas Morning

"Morning Christmas", not "Christmas Morning".

mediafire or it didn't happen

It's been mentioned upthread, but the piano at the end of Darlene Love's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) destroys me everytime.

lou rawls + david axelrod production :

http://images.uulyrics.com/cover/l/lou-rawls/album-merry-christmas-baby.jpg

best track = good time christmas

Love that Lou Rawls.

Some fantastic Christmas mixes here

I like Sonic Boom's cover of Santa Claus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1etdqgngAM
There are a lot of fantastic holiday tracks in here!

Xmas organ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v3arZp5byU&feature=related

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM-HF9B2joY&feature=related

One of my favs, from Rhode Island ‘80s punk band Rash of Stabbings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ekgDJou6G0

http://s.ecrater.com/stores/53443/4aa5c19e7e8d4_53443n.jpg
Album Share – A Cabbage Patch Christmas

1 Best Time Of Year
2 Deck The Halls
3 Christmas Favorites
4 Sleigh Ride
5 One More Dream 'Til Christmas
6 Christmas Hoop-De-Do
7 Mrs. Santa Claus
8 Gimme-Gimme Take-Take
9 Children Go Where I Send Thee
10 All One Family At Christmas

my favorite was track 4 - Sleigh Ride (stream it)

This looks best of all: "Destination... Christmas!, the hilarious holiday album by The Superions (featuring the unmistakable lyrics and vocals of The B-52s front man, Fred Schneider)

I've been listening to songs on their myspace, and I so wish I could call it 'hilarious', or even 'good,' but it's sadly, painfully cheesy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqK8RaHUYDo

Is it just me, or is the deliberate butchering of the melody line on Mannheim Steamroller's "Deck the Halls" impossibly obnoxious?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLvU-eSbFD0

Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas From The Family"...I only discovered him a year or two ago and I think it's pretty great.

A Very Special Christmas album (minus Bon Jovi's Backdoor Santa, which I hate)

Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) - Alvin & The Chipmunks.
I should hate this song with every fibre of my being but it makes me giggle uncontrollably. I love the way hula-hoop sounds like "Hoonahh Hoohhh"

My favorite of all time, unfuckwithable is Perry Como's Christmas album: love love love his Twelve Days of Christmas, and Twas The Night Before Christmas.

Jackie Gleason's Christmas albums, anyone? Love love love.

usually christmas music is a dud for me - unless sung by bob dylan :)

"Santastic V" - new collection of Xmas mash-ups

http://santastic4.com/V/

includes Cee Lo vs Jackson 5: Forget You, Santa! / F**k you, Santa!

I heard the song "Little Saint Nick" on a store radio, and thought it was pretty good-- even though I thought during the entire song that they were saying "Merry Christmas, Satan."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSynDh_K0EE

Beach Boys have a good repertoire of catchy songs with ridiculous lyrics (in some cases they just swapped in some Christmassy lyrics into another song), but by far the greatest of their Christmas contributions is "Morning Christmas":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4F1h2RHZDI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG_vABhZ8vc

THE BEST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER

that Homer & Jethro christmas album from 68'

"spread the good word"
http://s3.directupload.net/images/101216/reg8w37f.jpg

1. White Christmas Darlene Love 2:52
2. Frosty the Snowman The Ronettes 2:16
3. The Bells of St. Mary's Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans 2:54
4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town The Crystals 3:24
5. Sleigh Ride The Ronettes 3:00
6. Marshmallow World Darlene Love 2:23
7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus The Ronettes 2:37
8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Crystals 2:30
9. Winter Wonderland Darlene Love 2:25
10. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers The Crystals 2:55
11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Darlene Love 2:45
12. Here Comes Santa Claus Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans 2:03
13. Silent Night Phil Spector and Artists 2:08

three or four of the above, + 6 or 7 more.

ah crap, meant that for a hoy hoy's list thread.

can i just

fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive
golden
riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiings

I'm already kind of burned out on Christmas music, been listening to it all month to prepare the annual mix CD.

i only just started, with this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDBMzGq1vhs

Yeah, that's a good one!

today's discovery: The Mills Brothers

awesome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWPQcWKWw84

i only just started, with this:

http://www.youtube.com/v/EDBMzGq1vhs&fs=1&hl=en

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, November 27, 2012 3:45 PM (Yesterday)

aw man this kicks ass

i'm sick of xmas music but i'm excited about the music my group is doing for our xmas concerts. i bet you're not sick of howells' "a spotless rose" yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8nlryCOomI

or "adam lay ybounden":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhMgfU_iEoI

omg gb they are beautiful

could never get tired of that!

Breaking the sanctity of the thread somewhat, this is going on the compilation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYe7F59xiVE

As is this disco sensation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otPK3m3s04A

This year's family Christmas CD consists of …

1 Miss Frances – ’Twas the Night Before Christmas (Part One)
2 Mahalia Jackson - Go Tell It on the Mountain
3 Scala & Kolacny Brothers – Wintersong
4 Sufjan Stevens – Sleigh Ride
5 Kate Risby – The Holly and the Ivy
6 The Roches – Good King Wenceslas
7 Harvey Arlene Band – Lets Get It Together This Christmas
8 Tracey Thorn – Maybe This Christmas
9 The Temptations – Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
10 Calexico – Green Grows the Holly
11 The Youngsters – Christmas in Jail
12 Punch Brothers – O Come, O Come Emmanuel
13 The Chesterfield Kings – Hey Santa Claus
14 Scritti Politti – Snow in Sun
15 Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler – Marshmallow World
16 Jimmy Smith – Jingle Bells
17 Saint Etienne – 21st Century Christmas
18 Irma Thomas – May Every Day Be Christmas
19 Ernest Tubb – Merry Texas Christmas You All
20 Little Joey Farr – Rock’n’Roll Santa
21 Pet Shop Boys – It Doesn’t Often Snow at Christmas
22 Keith Richards – Run Rudolph Run
23 Detroit Junior – Christmas Day
24 Mariene Paul – I Wanna Spend Christmas With Elvis
25 Andrew Bird – Auld Lang Syne
26 Miss Frances – ’Twas the Night Before Christmas (Part Two)

5 Should be Kate Rusby

Ok, just finished brewing up this year's batch:

Oscar the Grouch - I Hate Christmas
Celia Cruz & La Sonora Matancera - Jingle Bells
Lou Rawls - Good Time Christmas
Mistletoe Disco Band - Silver Bells
John Zorn - Winter Wonderland
Man or Astroman? - Frosty the Snowman
Huey 'Piano' Smith and the Clowns - White Christmas Blues
Michigan and Smiley - Drummer Boy
Stormy Weather - Christmas Time is Coming
Lou Levy - Jingle Bell Rock/Deck the Halls
Cordell Jackson - Rock and Roll Christmas
Bobbie Boyle - Santa Claus Goes Modern
Pee Pee Dynamite - A Groovy Christmas and a Happy New Year
The Galaxies - Christmas Eve
Shonen Knife - Sweet Christmas
Al Hirt - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Red Simpson - Truckin' Trees for Christmas
Nina - Do You Know how Christmas Trees are Grown?
The Young Tradition with Shirley and Dolly Collins - Is it Far to Bethlehem?
The Stridells - I Remember Christmas
Gruff Rhys - Post Apocalypse Christmas
Momoiro Clover Z - Santa San
The National Jazz Orchestra of Scotland - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Lou Rawls - Good Time Christmas

i should think so.
this is my all time fave xmas track.
dug out the album earlier today just so i can play this ....

The National Jazz Orchestra of Scotland - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

is this the, erm, actual National Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, or is it an iteration of Bill Wells' National Jazz Trio of Scotland? (If the latter, what release is it on?)

Eh yeah it's the Bill Wells "trio", oops. They just put out a Christmas album!

today i introduced myself to Leontyne Price. so pretty!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1memQ3H7Fc

also Jussi Bjorling! O Holy Night in swedish, incredible tenor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nrDfqoYzNo

dunno was just feeling kinda opera-y today

search: leontyne price doing "we three kings of orient are"

in fact, here it is!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WhAQ1ckQEI

oh wow, beautiful

shameless self/friends promotion, this comp is great:

http://sartorialrecords.greedbag.com/buy/all-ready-for-the-25th/

This is not as great as its writeup, but it's still fun:

Finders Keepers sister label Cache Cache and X-Ray Pop's Doc Pilot inaugurate an ongoing collaboration to plunder the hidden depths of one of the most original and productive independent groups of the French DIY domestic synth pop/pocket punk funk/homemade tape scene with this cut AND paste Christmas cartridge of well loved and unknown festive interference spanning the first 20 years of the groups self-propelled anti-career. With a consistent omnipresence on European tape co-ops through the 80s and early 90s this troupe of battery operated cabaret cosmonauts combine duel French femme vox with alternating dreamy metronomic private pop or erratic pulsating cosmic rock via their Casio-to-cassette production line. A standout track on the lauded rare alternative funk compilation and sited as a closely guarded influence for the well informed X-Ray Pop are a group who are easy to scratch the surface but almost impossible to get the bottom of, with a warren of unexplored passages they truly are a band with musical gift that keeps on giving!

Precariously bridging gaps between Fontaine, Robeiro, Sunforest, Cluster, ESG, Williams and Currie, The Plastics, Weekend, Stereolab and faithful generations of adventurous continental Walkmans, this group sends a 9v current from Elli and Jacno to Elly and Rikkert and, if at all possible, provides pop punks equivalent of Vera Chytilova’s Daisies, maybe... Joyeux Noël!

I heard this for the first time tonight and teared up...unaccompanied makes it v haunting and tender

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjlck_QX4Z8

Mall-store muzak was playing "Now That's What I Call Today's Christmas" earlier today. I was so miserable the entire time I was there. Serious-ass "destroy."

"Are there any K-Pop Christmas songs?" I wondered. Of course there are - most of what I've found are insipid, but this is cute and nuts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rET24WLL89Y

The National Jazz Trio of Scotland - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

yeah this is really good! i saw them at cafe oto and as much as i like bill wells in general i wasn't 100% convinced by their takes on the christmas traditionals, but now that i have the recordings i'm coming around to them.

also as it's past uk midnight, merry christmas!

indeed merdy, backatcha, enjoy the seasonal excess !

so, am i the only person who likes the tim wheeler/emmy the great crimbo album ?

Merry Christmas, folks!

I put my mix up on Mixcloud: http://www.mixcloud.com/ialadnaes/christmas-2012/

my choir director sent us youtubes of poulenc's four christmas motets. so beautiful.

here's videntes stellam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy1PTnYnRMM

definitely too early to start with this, but it has happened.

I had a blast of it the other week.

i have been secretly listening to the christmas fm station

i know it's too early but :D

Happened today for me, on the radio...I actually started, secretly, three weeks ago. Here and there. No playlists.

:)

Had my first encounter with Xmas music of 2013 tonight while shopping in a bookstore that had some horrible version of "Marshmallow World" playing over their speaker.

Christmas music can kiss my ass

In a Bleak Hindquarter

just the traffic passing by for this bloke...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHFdYYIaEIc

Christmas music is hard.

Tom Lehrer not mentioned once in this thread

"Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" is more of an Easter song, really.

Does anyone know about 80s Benelux electronic/industrial/ambient comps "Oscar's X-Mas Songs"?

http://www.discogs.com/Various-Oscars-X-mas-Carols-1984/release/504675
http://www.discogs.com/Various-Santa-Claus-Comes-Oscars-X-Mas-Carols-1985/release/794802
http://www.discogs.com/Various-Is-That-You-Santa-Claus-Oscars-X-Mas-Carols-Vol-3/release/793284

yesssss minimal wave christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJvU0ub2fVg

John Zorn's A Dreamers Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Mtoqt92Ek

my current favorite christmas albums:
-Louvin Brothers Christmas
-Ser Christemas - The Elizabethan Singers (Louis Halsey conductor)
really feeling trad carols at the moment

also finally was introduced to Aimee Mann's Christmas album and I looooooooove it

the new xmas album by the polyphonic spree is just gorgeous.

Christmas merengue/bachata/cumbia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOddkg4YhRQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trX--P5cSoA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxroevObByU

not so hot on the polyphonic spree album tbh

This year's Christmas mix:

Batman - Christmas Carol Caper
Electric Jungle - Funky Funky Christmas
Banda Jaripera - Otra Vez Navidad
The Klezmonauts - Joy To The World
Kay Martin and Her Body Guards - I Know What You Want For Christmas
Joe Gibbs - Let X-Mas Catch You In A Good Mood
The Trashmen - Dancin' With Santa Claus
Little Eva and Big Dee Erwin - I Wish You A Merry Christmas
Lord Nelson - Party For Santa Claus
Pastor TL Barrett and The Youth For Christ Choir - Jingle Bells (Part 1)
Bert Jansch - Mary and Joseph
Margo Guryan - I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You
Marlene Paul - I Wanna Spend Christmas With Elvis
Coldcut - Coldcut's Christmas Break
Lynne Richards - Christmas In Ireland
The Soulful Strings - Sleigh Ride
Magic In Threes - We Three Kings
Nazir Ali, Nahid Akhtar and Mehnaz - Happy Chrismis
Margie Joseph - Christmas Gift
Chucho Avellanet - Winter Wonderland
Jimmy Smith - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
X Ray Pop - Fuzzy Christmas
The Everly Brothers - Christmas Eve Can Kill You
Mista E - Mista E Says Merr(e) Xmas And A Happ(e) New Year

http://www.mixcloud.com/ialadnaes/christmas-2013/

ilxor mackro alerted me to wprb, playing 25 straight hours of christmas punk rock and hiphop and weirdness. in hour 6 or 7 right now

ANYBODY ELSE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS YET? JUST ME?
whereas normal people are probably thinking of how their 2014 Top 10's are looking (well, normal music nerds), I am busy beefing up my Christmas song collection. For one, I love Christmas music, and two, my local newspaper here in Texas has a Christmas playlist competition I am yet to win, despite my pandering with the odd terrible Fabulous Thunderbirds track.
Anyway, I'm kind of treating this guy's WFMU playlists like the Stranded discography or something.
http://thehoundblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/x-mas-part-one.html

This year I will win!

I am always excited about Christmas! There's a lot of good stuff in that list. What's the competition about?

Or rather, how does it work?

the local newspaper here has a best Christmas playlist contest, judged by the staff on criteria like sequencing and originality. I guess.

here's the last one, they are a bit intermittent about it: http://www.austin360.com/news/entertainment/music/holiday-playlist-contest-2012-we-have-winners/nTXJg/

went christmas music foraging at my used record store & found THIS awesome euro time-life compilation
(I'm not gonna lie, I totally bought it just for Wizzard)

http://hitparade.ch/cdimag/-time_life_the_rock_collection_-_rock_christmas_a.jpg

CD 1:
1. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
2. Elton John - Step Into Christmas
3. The Beach Boys - I'll Be Home For Christmas
4. Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again
5. David Essex - A Winter's Tale
6. Darts - White Christmas
7. Wham! - Last Christmas
8. The Pretenders - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
9. Laura Nyro - Christmas In My Soul
10. Mud - Lonely This Christmas
11. Boney M. - Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord
12. Gary Glitter - Another Rock 'n' Roll Christmas

CD 2:
1. The Jets [UK] - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
2. Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas
3. Squeeze - Christmas Day
4. Shakin' Stevens - Blue Christmas
5. New Kids On The Block - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
6. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
7. Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas
8. The Weather Girls - Dear Santa (Bring Me A Man This Christmas)
9. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling
10. Greedies - A Merry Jingle
11. Elvis Presley - Santa Claus Is Back In Town
12. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody

http://hitparade.ch/compilation/Time-Life:-The-Rock-Collection-Rock-Christmas-105894

oh and this (I have the Have a Nice Day set, had no idea this existed!)

http://www.allmusic.com/album/have-a-nice-christmas-holiday-hits-of-the-70s-mw0000626272

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0001/505/MI0001505866.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

http://www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4901

^ Saint Etienne presents: Songs for a London Winter.

I'm groaning at the effortless predictability of that compilation. Tracklist, title, cover, sleevenotes, ad copy et al. all apparently created by a St Etienne compilation app.

Yeah, I can see that. It was posted in more of a "I wonder if this is of interest?" kind of way than as an endorsement.

Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas

have a pretty low tolerance for Xmas pop, but enjoy hearing this

Dinah Washington's Ole Santa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UMwfdY_90s

I love Chet Bakers' underrated as fuck Silent Nights. It is more like an album to commit suicide to, but still a wonderfully majestic shambles of a christmas album.

^^^OTM!

From the great Dust to Digital release, Where Will You Be Christmas Day?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBcJGIwy3Ns

some incredible advice in this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11258606/Cool-party-playlist-how-to-compile-the-ultimate-one.html

has anyone seen the Edyie Gorme and Trios Los Panchos Christmas record anywhere?
http://www.allmusic.com/album/navidad-means-christmas-mw0000264013

This year's mix.
1 Hell's Threshold Clark Griswold
2 My Girlfriend (Forgot Me This Christmas) The Click Five
3 Holly Jolly Christmas Old 97's
4 Santa Done Gone Hip The Marquees
5 Frosty the Snowman The Ronettes
6 I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You Saint Etienne
7 Winter Wonderland Peggy Lee
8 Cool Yule Louis Armstrong
9 Run Rudolph Run Keith Richards
10 Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus George Jones & Tammy Wynette
11 I Love The Holidays Office Romance
12 Last Month Of The Year Chris Isaak
13 2,000 Miles Mark Kozelek
14 My Christmas Card To You The Partridge Family
15 The Little Drummer Boy Kenny Burrell
16 Christmas Wrapping The Waitresses
17 Christmas Lights Billy Childish
18 It's Christmas Time Yo La Tengo
19 Linus and Lucy Vince Gueraldi Trio
20 Christmas All Summer Long Deer Tick
21 Please Come Home For Christmas The Insight
22 The Christmas Waltz She & Him
23 No Lou This Xmas Tom Dyer
24 Happy Xmas (War Is Over) Vanessa Carlton
25 A Christmas Duel The Hives & Cyndi Lauper
26 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Cat Power

man, only a week til coffee shops no longer require earplugs

would happily take most of that list over the crap you usually hear in coffeeshops

well yeah last night i got the recordings no one need ever hear again

could definitely do without most of the 40s/50s standards at this point. also kind of resent any song about snow since i live in the desert.

Here's mine:

1. The Snaildartha 6 - A Snail Is Born
2. The Salsoul Orchestra - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
3. Martin Mull ft. The Sondra Baskin Glee Club - Santafly
4. Gilberto Santa Rosa - Medley De Navidad
5. The Boss Jaguars! - O Come, O Come Emmanuel
6. The Dukes Of Dixieland - Frosty The Snowman
7. Fire Eyes - O Falling Snow
8. Bob Seger & The Last Heard - Sock It To Me Santa
9. The Goons - I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas
10. Saturday's Children - Deck Five
11. Gable Hall School Choir - Reggae Christmas
12. Bindley B - Santa Looking For A Wife
13. Vin Bruce - Christmas on the Bayou
14. Booker T & The MGs - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
15. Sheb Wooley - Santa Claus Meets The Purple People Eater
16. Debbie & The Darnels - Santa Teach Me To Dance
17. Whistle - Santa Is A B-Boy
18. Tav Bains - Dil Diya (Last Christmas)
19. Owen Gray - Christmas Greetings
20. Carollers From The Royal Hotel, Dungwort - Pentonville
21. John Denver - Christmas For Cowboys
22. Douglas Leedy - Joy To The World
23. The Uniques - Merry Christmas Darling
24. Machinefabriek - Silent Night

http://www.mixcloud.com/ialadnaes/christmas-2014/

OMG Christmas on the Moon with Tim Dinkins (i.e. this thing) has just been added to Spotify. No Christmas playlist complete without a track from it.

you'd think that John Denver christmas album would be amazing, but it's not.

I wouldn't think that, actually. :-)

Brave Combo did a live webcast from their studio last week that made me as happy as anything has this holiday season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PZzFlcGb2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaRaZlYbwq0

this one you guys.

I find "Christmas for Cowboys" quite special but the Denver album as a whole isn't great. The Red Simpson Christmas album, on the other hand:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK5CZZpaQ4Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQfZj_QHspg

i kinda love this album.
twee excess.
crimbo excess.
no shame.

a bit more xmas glam in the groove ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMiTNe8gHIg

and not one mention of the girls aloud xmas album !?

which i happen to think is rather bloody good.

My 2014 Advent Calendar / mix

Bobby Sherman - Prologue
01 The Bird and The Bee - A Christmas Compromise
02 Earth, Wind and Fire - December
03 Hot Chocolate - Brand New Christmas
04 Frank Sidebottom - Christmas is Really Fantastic
05 Kierra Sheard and Chrisette Michelle - Angels We Have Heard On High
06 The Soulful Strings - Snowfall
07 Kelly Clarkson - Underneath the Tree
08 Celia Cruz - Jingle Bells
09 Princess Superstar - Hope I Sell A Lot of Records at Christmas
10 Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - Santa Claus is Coming To Town
11 Douglas Leedy - The Coventry Carol
12 Far East Movement feat. MNEK - Christmas in Downtown LA
13 Nina and Frederik - Christmas Time in London Town
14 Roland Kirk - We Free Kings
15 X Ray Pop - Fuzzy Christmas
16 Christopher Lee - Darkest Carols, Faithful Sing
17 Ariana Grande - Santa Tell Me
18 Susan Kay (w/ Tim Dinkins) - I Won't Let You Lick My Candy Bar
19 Raymond Scott - Siberian Sleighride
20 Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
21 Eric Winstone and His Band - Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?
22 Man Or Astroman? - Frosty the Snowman
23 William Shatner - Good King Wenceslas
24 Siouxsie and the Banshees - Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant
Bobby Sherman - Amen

Link to Spotify playlist - http://t.co/ehXNuIfcZf or http://spoti.fi/1wF8f64

Merry Chritsmas!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T-3FtRFsxw

ctrl-f indicates a lack of John Prine in this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD2_gx9PrZc

15 X Ray Pop - Fuzzy Christmas

so good

Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuTWA6SBupY

Departure Lounge - Christmas Downer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOgBcA_oWuI

Feeling this right now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StpqrzdLTFM

Happy Holidays everyone.

(Just posted this on a thread for Nico at ILM, but maybe I should have posted it here?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5WlUKxLKT4

oh hey I never heard that version before

real talk there is no better Christmas song than "Morning Christmas"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of72CQmBKvw

Fantastic Everlasting Gobstopper - Schoolgirl Psychedelia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah9U5BHoiF4

that Dennis Wilson song is amazing!

The Flirtations - Christmas Time Is Here Again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6wjchvZMDE

Kathy & Carol - Brightest and Best

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzQz8nzWs2A

Chauntelle DuPree - Walking in the Air

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQR0oVYJLPE

I've never even seen The Snowman, but this is beautiful

I must be the only person I know who does not like Phil Spector's Christmas Album.

Give me Andy Williams and Johnny Mathis any day. They remind me of my grandfather's Oldsmobile and his Benson & Hadges.

It is mentioned a few times itt, but I just got Jimmy Smith's Christmas album and highly recommend it. Groovy.

Off thread topic, but his Dynamic Duo lp with Wes Montgomery is also essential.

Actually it contains the seasonal Baby, Its Cold Outside so sort of on topic

I bought the Air Supply christmas album for $3. Yet to find out if I overpaid

this thread has reminded me of my own posting re the xmas album by the boy least likely to.
had totally forgotten about it.
off to go a digging.
the tim wheeler/emmy the great xmas album is a lot of fun aswell.
that said, my fave, is still the girls aloud mini-lp that came with early editions of 'chemistry'.
love that way more than all the over exposed classics.

that beach boys song seandalai posted last christmas is fab.

not really into the festive tune spirit yet tho, usually i'm already itching to put together an all-christmas playlist by mid-november :'(

2015 Mix.
Take It Russ Clark Griswold
What Christmas Means to Me CeeLo Green
Merry Christmas, Baby Beach Boys
Dear Santa Mr. Little Jeans
I Was Born On Christmas Day Saint Etienne
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town Lou Rawls
Run Run Rudolph Dwight Yoakam
Must Be Santa Bob Dylan
Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus George Jones & Tammy Wynette
Countdown to Christmas Anchovy
Silver Bells Raul Malo
Only You (with James Corden) Kylie Minogue
Silent Night Nick Lowe
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Darlene Love
Mistletoe Justin Bieber
It's ChristmasTime Yo La Tengo
Sleigh Ride The Soulful Strings
Winter Night Eydie Gormé
Christmas Time's A Coming Emmylou Harris
Lonely Pup (In a Christmas Shop) Adam Faith
Christmas Wrapping The Waitresses
Christmas Blues Charles Brown with Bill Doggett
Hang a String of Lights Great Lake Swimmers
Only Dust Behind Allo Darlin'
Children Go Where I Send You Nina Simone
Christmas Eve Firefox AK & Tiger Lou

Los Straitjackets pretty reliably kill it on Christmas tunes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CFsaNKRTIs

thanks to Stevie D for the XTC 'Countdown To Christmas' recommendation (7 years ago lol) it's amazing.

haven't started on this yet

all the talk about the free folk scene a little bit back got me listening to richard youngs' "festival of carols" from '92. pretty good!

see also: https://www.discogs.com/Various-A-Glasgow-Wassail/release/1158092

Any "classical" Christmas recommendations?

Annual plug for my big playlist of classic (not classical) but underloved Christmas songs: https://open.spotify.com/user/seandalai/playlist/1c1STHtL9vh4ZDHgvwYNoc

Rostam has a pretty nice version of 'Fairytale of New York' on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/album/2mMLPgz8Z83RQ4aDSDHxdN
Love to know who is singing with him.

here's this year's rotation. Starting to realize I have a lot of xmas music!

Beatles - Christmas singles
Vince Guaraldi - Charlie Brown Christmas
V/A - Ultra Lounge: Christmas Cocktails
Enya - Christmas EP
V/A - Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records
Carpenters - Christmas Portrait
Carpenters - An Old Fashioned Christmas
V/A - Christmas with the Rat Pack
Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker Suite (Karajan, Berlin)
Lawrence Welk - Jingle Bells
Lawrence Welk - Merry Christmas
Jackie Gleason Orchestra - Merry Christmas
Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters - A Merry Christmas With
Beach Boys - Christmas Album
Elvis Presley - various Christmas songs
and several random xmas singles (Wham, Queen, Prince, James Brown, Mariah Carey, etc)

god I can't wait until I don't have to write anything else and can start listening to my Christmas music

girls aloud vs xmas : mini-lp : perfection.

oh, as i have said before.
sorry.

Only very recently realized how many wonderful Xmas classics came from the Phil Spector album. Dude's a total POS but boy could he make some music.

They've been playing the I Heart Radio Christmas channel at work this week, and I swear it's just a 2 hour mix looped over and over. I mostly can't hear it at my desk, only when I'm walking around, but I'm sure I've heard Bobby Helms "Jingle Bell Rock" and Darlene Love "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" at least 3 times each day.

This is the worst Christmas song I've heard in a long while. I heard it in a store and almost had to drop everything and get out of there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSzYapIhhI

This, on the other hand, is great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JpKiqublLQ

I wish “a Minor Threat Christmas” was a thing

skronk Christmas in an Albert Ayler style: https://marswilliams.bandcamp.com/album/mars-williams-presents-an-ayler-xmas-vol-2

yeah, was blasting out 16 minute xmas medley off that this morning - very good.

Probably not a popular opinion around here, but I picked up Diana Krall’s Christmas Songs in a charity shop, and maybe I’m just a sucker for a contralto voice but I’ve listened to it daily for the last couple weeks.

A Christmas Gift to You from Phil Spector
The New Possibility by John Fahey
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade
Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC

Bleak AF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQgsiSth0Rk

Probably not a popular opinion around here, but I picked up Diana Krall’s /Christmas Songs/ in a charity shop, and maybe I’m just a sucker for a contralto voice but I’ve listened to it daily for the last couple weeks.

Seems like I've heard a couple different covers of William Bell's "Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday" on Holiday Muzaks so far this year, and I am so here for it getting added to the Great Xmas Songbook.

At a crafts & arts store: an album of acappella + beatboxing songs, featuring a rendition of Cohen's Hallelujah.

highly recommend Amanda Shires’ ‘For Christmas’ album

mostly original songs ~about~ Christmas that are really good & vibey - and produced without the usual christmassy instruments but still gives a christmas feel
warm sound, gorgeous piano in a big room
and a couple xmas standards

anyway i love it

also Aimee Mann’s ‘Another Drifter In The Snow’ had been a yearly favorite for many years now

Didn't know the Aimee Mann one so listened to it this morning and it is indeed very nice so thanks for that

I still prefer Sarah McLachlan's Wintersong though which has something of the same vibe

Alela Diane made a really nice one this year-https://open.spotify.com/album/0f65HaoVulkki85T2gTGeJ

My winter/Xmas playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1m444tcGkY42aZ2y8Fadmm

(Hood, mum, Stina Nordenstam etc)

My poll of 50 of my yearly favorites is still active for another few days:
Holiday Playlist Favorites!

In a moment of extreme geekiness, I made a playlist that (originally) contained every song mentioned in a Twitter thread in which BBC Radio 3's Elizabeth Alker had asked about people's favourite Xmas/seasonal music. I had the idea that I'd bung everything on Spotify and delete anything I didn't want to hear again ... but, as with many of these things, I ran out of enthusiasm. Here's what's left:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/16lHO2Lh2D6tbFPE1k5IFC

I intended to immerse myself in Christmas music this year, but have failed so far. The Christmas songs that I like have a tendency to clash against one another, like so many mismatched, tacky ornaments. How do I fit the Ramones next to Neil Diamond next to Alexander O'Neal? I've been struggling through trying to build a playlist for years. I can never seem to make it a listenable journey. How many versions of Have Yourself a Merry Little do I have to sit through before I find the right one? The right one is a Mountain Goats version that JD sang for the Onion AV Club 12 years ago that barely exists online anymore and is definitely not on Spotify - what kind of pale substitute is fucking Frank Sinatra, anyway?

Just call me Scrooge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zELoHtKDp5I

One of my favorite modern Christmas songs is Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year by Rosie Thomas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYtR-a356Mg

there are some great jamaican christmas music mixes around, but I couldn’t find one that was kind of focused on a vintage ‘60s rocksteady sound. so i made this one. threw some ska and mento in for good measure ;)

https://www.mixcloud.com/abschied/christmas-in-jamaica/

Two new-to-me Christmas delicious chestnuts I’ve been gifted this year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYaB3q_h0ZE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orAVtA7mris

Also it has come to my attention that I love descant

What a spectacular compositional device. I wish they existed outside of carols and hymns, just a beautiful concept

mr veg got me the 1995 Luther Vandross christmas album <3

Lawrence is an unlikely source of Christmas songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAD0Q2h6lkU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbF5cDppz-4

Indeed

Prince's Another Lonely Christmas sounding like a sex jam instead of a carol is A+

fyi we are 75 minutes into jon solomon's 35th annual 25-hour christmas marathon on WPRB princeton: https://marathon.christmas

i worked in retail for much too long, so this is literally the only xmas music i now listen to

Holiday Rarities: Bing still chasing that White Christmas lightning, ditto Ella, Dinah, Louis Prima, Jo Stafford, June Christy, Julie London, Lambert Henricks & Ross (Jl and LHR my faves so far). Some of this is Seasonal, not strictly Xmas, which helps, as does lack of familiarity.
https://indianapublicmedia.org/afterglow/holiday-rarities.php

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gy6WyZQBtI

The WPRB marathon is the best! I submitted my Mortal Khristmas track last year and he played it <3

(this track)
https://soundcloud.com/found-river/lords-of-yuletide-reindeer-syndrome-mortal-khristmas

nice!

Strolled candy cane lane 2nite listening to Duke Pearson's classic xmas album on Blue Note, Merry Ole Soul.

Every year, the night before Christmas, at peak manic-children sugar rush, I terrorize the family with "Santa's Coming Over" by Low.

2 EPs/mini-albums that I formed attachments to over consecutive pandemic xmases that was way of propition to their real but slight merits - last year I was played them both constantly as chill out music in between the EPs/albums/mixes/whatever from bree runway, raye and shygirl (all nov 2020 and all still miraculous pieces of work, among the best UK pop of the millennium) so I definitely overrated them by association but they're still among the more bearable xmas music I've heard (towards the R&B side of "Traditional")now I have covid again so I'm bringing it all back

tinashe's comfort & joy EP - it's fine, often good, the arrangement I'm not sure the trap beat always works but I'll take it over sleigh bells and she sounds great as usual

kadhja bonet's california holiday EP - this is a very nice continuous vibe and in the right set and setting it would be a cool moodsetter. it gets a little wispy towards the end but it never sounds unpleasant even when she's covering my least favourite xmas hit (cutting the sleigh bells and making the synth calm down a little make a world of difference)

in conclusion these EPs are fine and even good a lot of the time but you don't need them

Last year's best new-to-me Christmas song discovery was "Maybe Next Christmas" by Ron Sexsmith, one of those artists I've long heard good things about but never really checked out, something I need to do if "Next Christmas" is indicative of his work, as that's a great song. This year I heard Tyler Shaw's cover of it on the radio, and see Tracey Thorn and a few others have covered it too. Are there any Christmas songs from the 21st century that are undisputed holiday standards yet? This may become amongst the first.

Guru Guru, "Dagobert Duck's 100th Birthday"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMWWbDIcfR0

(Dagobert Duck is the German name for Scrooge McDuck - though Scrooge is actually mentioned in the lyric)

I had never heard "December" before, it hasn't been covered much. I'm also not really familiar with Kay Starr and I'm now kinda fascinated with her voice, so win/win.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCOHYBPl12k