The first Noel, by just about anyone one.
the version of “It came upon a Midnight Clear” from the movie "A Midnight Clear ( I think it was by Sam Phillips). Great movie, great song.
You want brilliance BEFORE I’ve had my coffee!!!
“Mary Had a Baby,” the West Indian carol. Great call-and-response tune. “The people keep a-comin’ but the train done gone.”
The third movement of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. Three in D Minor. There’s just something incredibly Christmas-y about it, with that boys’ choir and all.
Uke
The Holly and the Ivy when instrumental is my favorite, after that, is Silent Night
The best version of Silent Night is on the Muppet Christmas Album.
>>Being Chaotic Evil means never having to say your sorry…unless the other guy is bigger than you.<<
—The dragon observes
Silent Night…by Bad Religion
Little Drummer Boy…by Tori Amos
Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight…The Ramones
Grinch,Whirling Dervishes
Oi to the World…No Doubt
so you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts. what’s so amazing about really deep thoughts? Tori Amos
’LiZa JaNe:
There is a version of “Two Step 'Round the Christmas Tree”, performed by Michael Martin Murphy, on the CD “Country Christmas” (Warner Special Products.)
ZenBeam:
I have that “A Jazz Christmas” CD too. It’s the first time I ever heard “Deck us all with Boston Charlie” actually performed. Thanks to the Straight Dope Message Board, now I know the full words to the song!
smeggy:
You can find a sung version of “Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella” on the CD “Carols for Christmas, Volumes I and II”, peformed by the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir and Brass Ensemble, conducted by David Willcox, Rykodisc, 1985. If you get the CD, you should also try and find the accompanying book, that has the lyrics and music for all the carols on the album. The CD has many traditional carols that you don’t often hear nowadays.
I mentioned before that my favourite version of “O Holy Night” is by Nat King Cole, but I forgot about this other very good version I have on a christmas album:
Zan Vévédé (O Holy Night), by Angélique Kidjo (a singer from Benin) on “World Christmas”, a christmas album to benefit the Special Olympics, metro blue label. I heartily recommend the album, with performers from Africa and Brazil performing unique versions of your favourite Christmas song.
La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit.
H. de Livry
“Christmas in Hollis”–RUN DMC
Reality Chuck and Kara, Pogo lovers after my own heart, my recollection is…
Good King Sauerkraut looked down
On his feets uneven
As the snoo lay round and bout
All kerchoo achievin’
(or, Deep and even Steven, depending on the book)
The next line is “Snoo? What’s snoo?” I dunno, what’s new with you?"
My non-Pogo favorites are:
The Holly and the Ivy
I Saw Three Ships (is this the title?)
Suo Gan (Welsh carol)
Allons Pastoreaux
While I’m not fond of the traditional version of Away in a Manger there is an alternate tune that is very pretty…