I hate Christmas music. The only two songs I like are:
Little Drummer Boy, any version. Makes me cry every time.
And
A Porky Pig impersonator singing Blue Christmas. Too funny!
My favorite Christmas song is Charles Brown’s “Merry Christmas, Baby.” The original release. Very soulful and bluesy. Available on dozens of Xmas compilations and blues compilations…it was a huge hit back around 1950.
I don’t like many “new” Christmas songs…I prefer adaptations of hymns, carols, and classics. That said, here’s my Best Albums:
CHRISTMAS by Bruce Cockburn…very folky, world-musicky effort from this Canadian politico/singer/songwriter. His version of “Mary Had a Baby” is percussion-strong and delightful.
CHRISTMAS by Jorma Kaukonen, the lead guitarist for the old Jefferson Airplane, and later, for Hot Tuna. He pulls some nice things out of his old hairy hippie grabbag, including a nice acid-y “What Child is This?”
David Grisman’s Christmas album…nice bluegrass/newgrass takes on the classics. A real swinging “Auld Lang Syne,” too.
The Irish Rovers’ SONGS OF CHRISTMAS is one I’ll need to pick up this December. It has “Miss Fogerty’s Christmas Cake” on it…another classic of Celtic humor.
For background music I like Lorraina McKennitt’s “To Drive the Cold Winter Away”, technically not a Christmas album more of a winter solstice album. I also use to have a great jazz album called “A Jazzy Little Christmas” which was a compilation album. Unfortunately I’ve lost it and unable to find it anywhere, I fear it’s out of print.
“The Muppet Christmas Carol” is fun, as well I have the “Grinch who Stole Christmas” CD which is basically the cartoon put on disc. It’s a lot of fun to listen to and no one (so far) has been unable to resist singing along.
Nothings beats the Time Life Classic set that my Dad bought off T.V. one year. It has the best version of everything.
I brought the Squirrel Nut Zippers CD last year and I’m surprised how much I like it.
Someone already mentioned the Pogues “Fairy Tale in New York” but that is my all time favorite.
Someone mentioned the Home Alone CD, you shouldn’t have to get off Ebay. I bought it off Columbia House, of all places, last year.
We’ve probably got at least 30 x-mas CDs - MS. D buys a couple of new ones every year.
One of my faves is by the **Tractors[/]. Has a neat boogie woogie roadhouse feel.
As a kid, I really liked **Hardrock, Cocoa, and Joe[/].
Never really cared for Suzy Snowflake:
If you want to take a sleigh ride-
The ride’s on me!
I mean, how gross is that?!
Sorry 'bout that bolding.
When singing along with the Drifters’ White Christmas, which part do you sing.
The bass: “Ba-da-da-dum,”
or the falsetto: “Well, I-yi-yi-yi’m dreaming…”?
And whenever you are singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, do you add, “He’s the big fat man with the long white beard”?
Does anyone know the full extent of the Bare Naked Ladies’ Christmas tunes? I’ve heard they released quite a few, but not an album.
To add to my favorites…
Father Christmas- The Kinks
Little Drummer Boy - Joan Jett
I’ll Be Hating You For Christmas - Everclear
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
And for grade B cheese level tunes, you can’t go wrong (well actually you can) with “What Do You Buy A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Has A Comb)” From the ill concieved Star Wars Christmas Album.
My absolute favorite album is Vince Guaraldi’s Charlie Brown Christmas, which actually happens to be playing in my stereo right now. I tend to enjoy the classic albums (Nat King Cole, etc.) much more than modern remakes by current pop stars. They just seem to get me in that Christmas spirit much better. For some reason N’Sync’s Christmas album just doesn’t pack the same punch.