# Christmas Music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361 "2003-11-10T06:04:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/1 "2003-11-10T06:04:24Z")
Howdy folks, Yeah, it ain’t even Thanksgiving yet but by god I’m getting started early this year. Every year I try to come up with a list of Christmas songs I want to hear but I’ve never gotten started on it early enough. I have yet to nail down a copy of the version of Carol of the Bells I love the most though luckily I like almost every version I’ve heard. So what are some of your favorite holiday songs and who sings them? No reason to limit this to Christmas songs in particular. [ul] [li]O Holy Night - Charlotte Church[/li][li]O Holy Night - Eric Cartman[/li][li]Christmas Time is Near - The Chipmunks[/li][li]Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses[/li][li]So This is Christas - John Lennon[/li][li]Carol of the Bells - Any Version, even Mr. Mackey[/li][li]Winter Wonderland - Anyone[/li][li]Let it Snow - Lena Horn[/li][li]Santa Baby - Ertha Kitt[/li][/ul] Sure there’s more, that’s just off the top of my head. Marc ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/2 "2003-11-10T08:07:12Z")
The Brian Setzer christmas album released last year is great. There’s a duet with… oh, crud, I’ve forgotten her name, the lady who was on The Flintstones – that’s it, Ann Margrock - I mean, Ann-Margret. Brian Setzer and Ann-Margret doing “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Also a bad-ass version of the Nutcracker Suite, arrangement apparently by Les Brown although I’ve never heard his. Home for the Holidays - Perry Como I’ll Be Home For Christmas - nearly anybody, although I have a swell Sinatra version Feliz Navidad ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/3 "2003-11-10T12:27:10Z")
The Pogues’ **"Fairytale of New York"** The Chieftains’ **Bells of Dublin** cd, with Elvis Costello’s ‘St. Stephen’s Day Murders’ the very _first_ **“A Very Special Christmas”** Special Olympics benefit cd… I think it’s the one where Annie Lennox sings ‘Winter Wonderland’ I have an ancient vinyl record which belonged to my parents; it is the Trapp Family Singers (of Sound of Music fame) singing very old carols in Latin and German, their harmony is beautiful and the carols are soothing. ---
**Author:** ![born\_too\_late](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@born\_too\_late](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/born_too_late)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/4 "2003-11-10T13:15:36Z")
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is just about the only xmas music I can stand. Bah humbug. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/5 "2003-11-10T13:15:37Z")
\*\* A Broadway Christmas \*\* is my favorite Xmas CD. \*\* A Hollywood Christmas \*\* is good too. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/6 "2003-11-10T13:21:34Z")
On the _third_ Very Special Christmas (I think that’s the one) Blues Traveler does an astonishing original song called ‘Christmas’. It’s truly a feel good extravaganza. ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/7 "2003-11-10T13:22:42Z")
An all-time favorite of mine: Merry F\*\*\*ing Christmas - Mr. Garrison ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/8 "2003-11-10T14:13:07Z")
**born too late** how about Tom Lehrer’s Christmas Carol? Kill the turkeys ducks and chickens Mix the punch, drag out the Dickens Even though the prospect sickens Brother here we go again That and The Waitress’ Christmas song (called?) are the ONLY Christmas songs I ever want to hear again. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/9 "2003-11-10T14:16:30Z")
FTR, the John Lennon Song is called “Happy X-Mas (War Is Over!)” ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/10 "2003-11-10T14:24:18Z")
Merry Christmas, If that’s OK by the MST3K guys. I wish it could be Christmas Everyday by a british band who’s name escapes me. Santa Clause is Coming to Town Jackson 5 ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/11 "2003-11-10T14:27:03Z")
Stop the cavalry by Jona Lewie. ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/12 "2003-11-10T15:01:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Caprese \* > \*\*the very _first_ **“A Very Special Christmas”** Special > Olympics benefit cd… > I think it’s the one where Annie Lennox sings ‘Winter Wonderland’ > > \*\* And Stingarooney singing “The Angel Gabriel.” Good stuff, good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Interior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@Lux\_Interior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Interior)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/13 "2003-11-10T15:09:14Z")
I really like **No Doubt’s** _Oi to the World_. Also from one of the _A Very Special Christmas_ albums. > [@](#): > > On the third Very Special Christmas (I think that’s the one) Blues Traveler does an astonishing original song called ‘Christmas’. It’s truly a feel good extravaganza. _There comes a time for Christmas And I really have to ask If this is feelin’ merry How much longer must it last?_ I love that one, too! It is on the third one. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/14 "2003-11-11T09:14:09Z")
**Zebra** That would be Roy Wood [http://www.roywood.co.uk/](http://www.roywood.co.uk/) doing his Phil Spector thing. Actually that one is also accepable. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/15 "2003-11-11T12:54:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lux Interior \* > \*\*I really like **No Doubt’s** _Oi to the World_. Also from one of the _A Very Special Christmas_ albums. > > _There comes a time for Christmas > And I really have to ask > If this is feelin’ merry > How much longer must it last?_ > > I love that one, too! It is on the third one. \*\* Hey! He comes around in the end! > [@](#): > > If it’s hannukah…or kwanzaa > Solstice, harvest or December twenty-fifth > Peace on earth to everyone > And abundance to everyone ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/16 "2003-11-11T12:59:12Z")
I like the Mannheim Steamroller’s renditions of several Christmas carols. They put a nice twist on many familiar melodies. The same can be said for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I also agree with Sting’s version of “The Angel Gabriel”. ---
**Author:** ![jinty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jinty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jinty)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/17 "2003-11-11T13:17:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Small Clanger \* > \*\*That and The Waitress’ Christmas song (called?) are the ONLY Christmas songs I ever want to hear again. \*\* That’ll be Christmas Wrapping. Christmas Wrapping and Fairytale of New York are my two favourite Christmas songs, but they make me so damned sad, 'cos the female leads on both songs are now dead. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/18 "2003-11-11T13:43:14Z")
When it comes to Christmas give me the oldies, the classics, the ones you hear in the mall. My father used to work at a radio station so he knew which albums were the best; it’s taken me many years to acquire these (pre-Amazon). **Johnny Mathis** - Merry Christmas **Percy Faith** - Music of Christmas **Arthur Fiedler & the Boston Pops** - any one of several, but make sure it has Anderson’s arrangement of _A Christmas Festival_ on it somewhere **Bert Kaempfert** - Christmas Wonderland (this is THE album, I don’t care that you never heard of Bert Kaempfert, you’ll have to trust me) **Chet Atkins** - Christmas with Chet Atkins **Ray Conniff and the Ray Conniff Singers** - We Wish you a Merry Christmas **Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme** - That Holiday Feeling (only available via their website) Plus, of course and already mentioned, Vince Guaraldi’s _Charlie Brown Christmas_; also love Eartha Kitt. I’m still looking for a really good Perry Como and need to add Nat King Cole. And, it’s not an album, but **Charles Brown** ’s “Merry Christmas Baby” is really great (it’s that bluesy one). ---
**Author:** ![Olive\_The\_Other\_Reindeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Olive\_The\_Other\_Reindeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olive_The_Other_Reindeer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/19 "2003-11-11T14:28:26Z")
Not sure this is a ‘must have’, except to satisfy morbid curiosity: “Little Drummer Boy” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (from their first album) I had the album when I was a kid - hated that verision. Sort of a punk-rock beat. But, YMMV ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361/20 "2003-11-11T14:47:08Z")
Rats! Rats! It’s actually Anderson’s arrangement of _Sleigh Ride_ that’s soooooo good, especially when performed by Fiedler & the Pops. Make you get up and dance! Actually all the Anderson arrangements are really good. _Feliz Navidad_ is also terrific - but, you know, when you’ve got Jose Feliciano, you got no complaints. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-music/212361.md?page=2)