C/D: Christmas music

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!