C/D: Christmas music

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.