At Christmas time, my family traditionally engages in a mild battle of wills over what goes on the stereo. My father is a collector of Christmas music (both secular and religious), and when we’re at my parents’ place, he is the acknowledged Master of the Playlist. But this year, my family is coming to stay with me…so I have to come up with some tracks to put on!
My favorite Christmas music is the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi. Actually, pretty much anything that Vince Guaraldi touched is good Christmas fare — it’s quiet, pleasant jazz that can happily fill the background. To get started with Guaraldi’s catalogue, check out the Peanuts stuff (get the newer remastered CD’s with bonus tracks!), then check out 1964′s The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi, which is pretty much the best cocktail party album ever.
Moving past Christmas jazz, I enjoy Sufjan Stevens’s Christmas EPs, which were recently released on CD (previously they were mostly available via illicit web downloads). The new under-$20 CD box set (which has five discs!) includes Sufjan’s Christmas albums recorded each year since 2001, featuring banjo, vocals, and lots of indie rock Christmas cheer. These EPs feature a mix of traditional songs and originals, all with that great Sufjan Stevens feeling. Check out the box set, and try the MP3 listening/download links (in the right-hand column) to get an idea of the sound.
Finally, for some free old-time Christmas recordings, check out Vintage Christmas Wax: Revisited, a collection of free links to online MP3s recorded on wax cylinders — including tracks recorded by the Edison Concert Band in the very early twentieth century! (Thanks to Whitney at Pop Candy for the link!)
Try the NPR story A Very Tolerable Christmas for samples of the Sufjan Stevens material, plus great music from Low and The Weepies.
So what music do you play at Christmas? Share your suggestions in the comments!
Comments (51)
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I worked at a record store last Christmas, and the Sufajan box set was like the Holy Grail of Christmas CDs for the indie crowd. I agree that the Charlie Brown Christmas is probaly one of the finest Christmas albums ever.
posted by Jonathan on 12-20-2007 at 10:12 am
Yuck! Run away! Christmas music is tiresome and cheezy and every year gets played earlier than the year before. It’s everywhere and it’s noise pollution. Mood music for consumerism, that’s what it is. I have finally weaned my family away from the plague of gift giving and ensuing stresses. We now celebrate year’s end with cookie baking sessions, parties, glorious dinners and family happiness.
Happy New Year!
posted by Alice on 12-20-2007 at 10:13 am
Anything by Bob Rivers. Even my mother loves ‘Walking around in women’s underwear’. Though I must say, Weird Al’s ‘The night Santa went crazy’ or ICP’s ‘Santa Claus is a Fat Bitch’ are my favorites.
posted by Shannon on 12-20-2007 at 10:14 am
the only Christmas album I own is the Twisted Sister xmas album called “Twisted Christmas” (appropriately enough)
there’s just something about the traditional carols being sung in hard rock hair band style that makes me smile…
and it’s been fun subjecting my coworkers to the Twisted Cheer.
posted by Jennifer on 12-20-2007 at 10:17 am
Jamie Randolph – White Christmas
One of my favourite songs, let alone Christmas songs. Last year it was available on his site, I don’t know if it is anymore, but google it. It’s worth it.
posted by Shaina on 12-20-2007 at 10:27 am
Well if you want to hear Christmas tunes done in any conceivable style, try Ringo Starr’s “I Wanna Be Santa Claus” album. There’s ballad-style “Christmas Eve”, skiffle-style “Christmas Dance,” island-style “White Christmas”, Eastern/Indian style “Pax Um Biscum”…
I love my XM radio station Special Xmas. You hear the strangest and most wonderful things. All the Bob Rivers stuff. And I heard the best lounge version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?” by Richard Cheese.
While I like my traditional stuff like Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” sometimes it gets a little much and you need a little Special Xmas.
posted by Beth on 12-20-2007 at 10:27 am
My two favorite “alternative” Christmas songs are:
“Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues with Kirsty MacColl. Any Christmas song with lyrics like, “You’re a bum, you’re a punk, you’re an old slut on junk” and “Merry Christmas you’re arse, I pray God it’s our last” is a perfect antidote to sappy tunes.
The other one is a bit more eclectic, “Chiron Beta Prime” by Jonathon Coulton. All of Coulton’s stuff is pretty darned great.
Since I can’t post links here, just go to YouTube and you can find videos for both songs.
posted by Christopher Palmer on 12-20-2007 at 10:36 am
Sorry, guys, but I have to go with the sickingly popular Trans Siberian Orchestra. Being an orchestra nerd, it touches a special place in my heart.
posted by Erin on 12-20-2007 at 10:41 am
No doubt, Elvis Christmas. I keep it in the car year-round.
posted by dw on 12-20-2007 at 10:43 am
My favorite Christmas song is The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York”. It starts with the line “It was Christmas Eve in the drunk tank” and has a lovely bit in the middle where the two singers start calling each other names. My second favorite is the Kinks’”Father Christmas”.
I like The Robert Shaw Chorale and Peter, Paul, & Mary for more traditional Christmas songs.
Working in retail, I’m pretty fed up with holiday music by this time of year. There’s just not enough different non-religious songs. Some days it seems like all we hear is a rotating selection of “Baby it’s Cold Outside”, “Last Christmas”, and ” A Very Special Christmas”,often with two or three different versions of the same song being played in a row.
posted by Camille on 12-20-2007 at 10:44 am
Charlie Brown Christmas is wonderful.
The TSO story albums are great because of the wildly different types of music on each disc. My favorite songs from them are “Old City Bar” and “Christmas Canon”
Also, the Barenaked Ladies Christmas abum with “Elfs Lament” is a hoot.
posted by Mike on 12-20-2007 at 10:53 am
All-time favorites are:
Charlie Brown Christmas
Elvis – Blue Christmas
Bing Crosby – White Christmas
Other than that, I subscribe to what my Dad tells my Mom every year, “You don’t listen to that crap the rest of the year because it sucks.”
I was in Spencer Gifts the other day and there was a song called “I saw Daddy kissing Santa Claus”. Pretty funny.
posted by Dusty on 12-20-2007 at 10:56 am
I can be a scrooge at Christmas. But my husband loves Christmas music. In the town we lived in for most of our married lives – one of the stations played Christmas music the whole month. TOO MUCH FOR ME.
Our comprimise is limited listening time. (The night the tree goes up, Christmas eve and Christmas day.) And no Techno-Dance Christmas or Rap Christmas.
I can handle a few nights of Elvis, or the jazz type music.
And I refuse to have anything Christmas until AFTER Thanksgiving. I want to celebrate each holiday.
posted by Elizabeth on 12-20-2007 at 10:56 am
When i was growing up my dad would always play this one xmas album that had all these completely random songs it. My sister and I’s favorite was “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!” and we’d sing along loudly. Its still my favorite holiday song.
posted by kirsten on 12-20-2007 at 11:00 am
I was surprised at how much I liked the Barenaked Ladies Christmas Album. it’s really nice, a combo of classics and newer, more random stuff.
My parents have a great/odd album of Reggae Christmas music. The best song is “Santa Clause Don’t Come to the Ghetto.”
I can’t help but like the horrilby whiny Willie Nelson Christmas Album. My dad used to play it when I was little, so it just sounds like christmas to me. It’s terrible though.
As a kid we also had the Disney Christmas Album. Again, terrible. STill love it.
And of course, since I was a child of the 80s, The Chipmunks Christmas Story was the best. Ever. I hate that they’ve remade the Chipmunks, but I still love the original.
posted by jenny on 12-20-2007 at 11:00 am
As a man in my 40′s, I learned to read, in the late 60′s , early 70′s by reading Charlie Brown books. So, naturally, I was exposed to all of the Charlie Brown specials on TV. I believe that there is no more overrated Christmas music than the Charlie Brown stuff. That many of us have that music deeply ingrained because it reminds us of a happy childhood is one thing….but is it actually good Xmas music? My personal opinion is ‘no.’
I do love the TSO cds, and one all-time favorite is The Waitresses “Christmas Rapping.” Also, the rock collections called “Merry Axemas,” and assorted songs on each of the “Very Special Christmas” cds.
posted by smug on 12-20-2007 at 11:03 am
TSO, without a doubt. Going to see them in concert againg this year. Love Old City Bar, The Music Box, Christmas Dreams.
posted by Dani on 12-20-2007 at 11:06 am
I have to agree with BNL and The Charlie Brown Christmas CD’s, good thing CD’s on’t wear out.
Does anyone know of The Ray Conniff (spelling?) Singers. My late grandparents had a ton of those records and I used to listen to the Christmas Albums when I was little. And of course Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby as well.
posted by KLWS on 12-20-2007 at 11:14 am
A couple of years ago there were a couple of cds released by the Fab Four, a Beatles tribute group, that cleverly married traditional Christmas carols with familiar Beatles tunes (example: Joy to World sounding like “Please Please Me”)- The titles were “A Fab Four Christmas” and “Have Yourself A Fabulous Little Christmas.” These were a lot of fun – you’d swear it was the 60′s again with the actual Beatles doing Christmas songs.
Another favorite of mine is by the December People “Sounds Like Christmas” which does familiar carol in the styles of bands like Pink Floyd, Genesis, Queen and Yes, among others.
posted by Vic on 12-20-2007 at 11:15 am
I LOVE Old City Bar! And I just realized I haven’t played my TSO yet this year. I think it’s time to dig it up…
posted by Erin on 12-20-2007 at 11:15 am
A few good alternate titles:
Raveonettes – Christmas Song
Enya – What Child is This
and don’t laugh- Christine Aguillera “Angels we have heard on high”
Also got to throw in some classics, like Deano Martin and Bing Crosby/Andrews Sisters for a nice jazzy mix.
posted by jjaser on 12-20-2007 at 11:17 am
My favorite is the Bright Eyes Christmas album. It’s somewhere in between really great Christmas music and anti-Christmas music, given that he has the ability to make even a happy song sound depressing (but still strangely beautiful).
I also have a classical guitar Christmas cd that’s really good, and a They Might Be Giants holiday cd. I think I also bought a Johnny Cash Christmas cd last year, but I don’t remember being very impressed by it. Time to give it another listen, I guess.
posted by Molly on 12-20-2007 at 11:25 am
A shout to my fellow TSOers :D
Also, the Carpenter’s Christmas Album is phenominal. It’s a true classic. Everyone should own it. EVERYONE.
Frankie, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como were common at our house.
Gotta have the Jackson 5′s “I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause”
Eartha Kitt’s original “Santa Baby”
Rosemary Clooney singing “O Holy Night”
Mariah Carey “All I want for Christmas is you” XD
Sarah McLaughlin and Barenaked Ladies do a *sweet* folksy duet of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We three kings.
My parents also had a version of “Do you Hear what I hear?” sung by an Opera singer that was _beautiful_. I can’t find it anywhere now. sigh.
Clay Aiken’s christmas album is also (almost suprisingly) Excellent. Though don’t waste your cash on Michael Buble’s only 7 songs are two of them are the same, but one is live.
In the realm of Christmas songs that make me cringe: I love the Newsboys, but Christmas Shoes, I sadly admit turns me into a teary mess, and the next time I hear “Grown up Christmas List” I’m going to throw something through a window. Also on the list “Last Christmas”, “The 12 Days of Christmas” and most manefestations of “The Little Drummer Boy”
posted by Ashley on 12-20-2007 at 11:32 am
My dad always played “Christmas on the Border” by Gary Chapman when I was growing up. It is fun blues/rock music. I love the album becasue it reminds me of listening to it non-stop during the christmas season for so many years. My mom and sister HATE it because, well, it reminds them of listening to it non-stop during the christmas season for so many years.
posted by Mara on 12-20-2007 at 11:36 am
Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC!
Even though I grew up in Brooklyn, this song always reminds me of my childhood Christmases!
I’m also a big fan of Eartha Kitt’s “I’m Gettin’ Nothin’ For Christmas” and Ann Margaret’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”.
posted by Oshi on 12-20-2007 at 11:36 am
I tend to try to sneak in jarring non-traditional Christmas songs into the play list, and my wife counters by detecting and removing them when found.
I agree with Camille, “Fairytale of New York”, is an awesome song… very coarse and crass with the name calling in the center of the song, but with a bizarre undercurrent of actual affection…
posted by Jason! on 12-20-2007 at 11:44 am
Can’t remember the name of it, can’t locate it in my collection, but Jethro Tull has a Christmas album from just a few years ago (think more along the lines of “Bouree” as opposed to Aqualung). I occasionally hear “We Five Kings” (their rendition of We 3 Kings) on the radio here.
posted by Jim on 12-20-2007 at 12:01 pm
I love the Boney M Christmas album. Their version of “Mary’s Boy Child” is a classic but all the songs on it are great.
posted by Linda on 12-20-2007 at 12:09 pm
Elvis Christmas music.
Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas music.
Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector (The Crystals, The Ronettes, etc.)
Other songs not on those albums:
Surfin’ Santa
Mambo Santa Mambo
Christmas Island
posted by Emily on 12-20-2007 at 12:15 pm
There are only 3 songs I MUST hear every holiday or it just doesn’t feel right:
1. I Want a Hippopatamus for Christmas
2. Muppets 12 Days of Christmas
3. Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth – David Bowie and Bing Crosby
posted by Elaine on 12-20-2007 at 12:35 pm
My favorite Christmas song collection is John Waters (Hairspray, Pink Flamingo’s, et. al. ) Favorite Christmas Songs. Best song is “Here Comes Fatty with a Sack of S%#@.”
posted by bert baker on 12-20-2007 at 1:09 pm
Wow, no one’s mentioned James Brown’s Christmas Record — it’s got funkers, ballads, the whole thing!
posted by Jack on 12-20-2007 at 1:14 pm
I’m surprised there isn’t as much love for Sufjan’s box set. It has some very beautiful renditions of classics, and also some new ones. With titles like “Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!”, “Did I Make You Cry on Christmas? (Well, You Deserved it!”, and “That was the Worst Christmas Ever” how could you not love it?
posted by Kevo on 12-20-2007 at 1:38 pm
For my yearly dose of metal and cheer, I’m a big fan of the song “No Presents For Christmas” by King Diamond. Definitely not for everyone, though. King is an acquired taste, even amongst metalheads. There’s also a track called Christmas on his 2003 album The Puppet Master that features an interesting arrangement of The Little Drummer Boy, but the song fits best in the context of the album. I’m not sure how much I can recommend it on its own.
Another good one is the album “A Brutal Christmas – The Season In Chaos”. Various bands doing cover songs in various styles, from power metal to death metal.
Although they’ve been mentioned already, TSO and the Twisted Sister Christmas Album are worth mentioning again. Good stuff.
posted by FTD on 12-20-2007 at 1:39 pm
Harry Connick Jr. Nice and mellow, but I’ll only listen to it once a season. Like Alice above, I get tired of hearing Christmas music and rarely play any. I typically try to avoid it.
posted by Fran on 12-20-2007 at 1:41 pm
The only two Christmas albums my husband and I own are Sufjan’s boxed set and James Taylor’s Christmas album. That must tell you something. Sufjan is my husband’s personal favorite, but his music is genius. And you have to at least give him kudos for writing his own original Christmas music and not just doing his rendition of the favorites.
Growing up we had a cassette with Barbara Striesand’s Christmas album on one side and Willie Nelson’s Christmas album on the other. That was Christmas for us. Barbara’s “The Best Gift” is a family favorite with my three siblings all being born within 3 weeks of Christmas, and I can’t go a year without hearing Willie’s “Blue Christmas.”
“Mary Did You Know” gives me chills every time I hear it too.
posted by Andrea on 12-20-2007 at 1:50 pm
I worked at a clothing store for three years. EVERY year, Mariah Carry’s “All I want for Christmas is you” was on there. If I EVER hear it again, my ears may bleed.
posted by Erin on 12-20-2007 at 2:25 pm
Some of my faves:
Donny Hathaway, “This Christmas” – on permanent loop this time of year.
The Carpenters, “Merry Christmas Darling” – cheesy, i know, but I love her voice.
Kenny Loggins, “Celebrate Me Home” – I got homesick in college (go Duke!), so I love this one
Mormon Tabernacle Choir – “Hallelujah Chorus” – enough said.
one new fave:
“In the Bleak Midwinter”, any good chorale – brings tears to my eyes.
posted by Regina S on 12-20-2007 at 2:27 pm
“Weird Al” Yankovic’s “The Night Santa Went Crazy” has been mentioned, but I haven’t seen his other Christmas classic, “Christmas at Ground Zero.”
posted by Sillstaw on 12-20-2007 at 2:40 pm
“Christmas Caravan” by the Squirrel Nut Zippers
posted by weeble warble on 12-20-2007 at 3:14 pm
My favs are Christmas with the Rat Pack, there is a wonderful version of Frank singing Christmas waltz
and of course The Muppets and John Denver Christmas (not a huge fan of John Denver but i loooove the Muppets)
posted by Lindsey U on 12-20-2007 at 3:30 pm
the john denver muppets christmas album. ms. piggy singing “christmas is coming the goose is getting fat, please do put the penny in the old man’s hat. if you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do, if you haven’t got a ha’penny then god bless you!” it just makes me happy. and i can’t STAND most x-mas music. blargh!!!
posted by mri on 12-20-2007 at 4:19 pm
My favorites (some of which I have been listening to ever since I can remember & pilfered from my mom’s collection) are:
1. Noel by Joan Baez
2. The Little Drummer Boy by The Harry Simeone Chorale
3. Finally It’s Christmas with The Singing Angels (a group of tweens & teens from Cleveland)
4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer soundtrack
5. Christmas Portrait by The Carpenters
6. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi
7. The Andy Williams Christmas Album
8. White Christmas by Bing Crosby
9. The Nutcracker Suite
10. In the Christmas Mood by Glenn Miller
11. anything by Trans Siberian Orchestra
posted by Julie on 12-20-2007 at 4:38 pm
When I was growing up my father somehow managed to record our Christmas albums onto a VCR tape that we would then play through the speakers. Complicated, I know, but we could just pop that thing in and listen to 8 hours of uninterupted music that we liked! To this day, though, the holidays don’t feel like they have started until I hear the Muppets/John Denver Christmas, Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and John Denver’s Rocky Mountain Christmas (in that order). Beyond that, The Ultra Lounge Christmas CDs always offer up a random and fun collection of tunes.
posted by Karen on 12-20-2007 at 4:44 pm
My favorite Christmas song isn’t a Christmas song at all…all three of Adam Sandler’s Hanukah Songs are HILARIOUS!!
Benny Grunch and the Bunchs’ “The 12 Yats of Christmas” is my other favorite! (I’m from New Orleans.)
http://www.bennygrunch.com
posted by Mary on 12-20-2007 at 9:33 pm
As an atheist who has always celebrated “Christmas” with a non-religious family and non-practicing friends, I still give out presents. One recurring gift is the Secular Caroler’s Songbook, a mix CD I make each year with very holiday-sounding songs (bells, choirs, organs, fireplace stuff, etc.) without any religious baggage. Here are the first two mixes:
Last Year:
1. Nattöppet by Detektivbyrån
2. Sleeping Lessons by The Shins
3. Oversleeping by I’m From Barcelona
4. This is the Dream of Win & Reg by Final Fantasy
5. Let It Snow by Bit Shifter
6. The Warning by Hot Chip
7. Pancho by Tortoise and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
8. I’ll Keep It With Mine by Nico
9. Maple Leaves [EP Version] by Jens Lekman
10. We’re Both So Sorry by Mirah
11. I Felt Your Shape by The Microphones
12. Hazey Jane I by Nick Drake
13. Love in the Dakota by Walt Mink
14. The Lucky One by Au Revoir Simone
15. Rose Hip November by Vashti Bunyan
16. Skating by Vince Guaraldi Trio
17. My Lady Story by Antony and the Johnsons
18. 16, Maybe Less by Iron & Wine/Calexico
19. Ba Ba by Sigur Rós
20. Tahquamenon Falls by Sufjan Stevens
This year:
1. Parachute by Shugo Tokumaru
2. ADHD by Jonas Game
3. Click, Click, Click, Click by Bishop Allen
4. The Magic Position by Patrick Wolf
5. Hey, Dad! by Final Fantasy
6. A Postcard To Nina by Jens Lekman
7. The Greater Times by Electrelane
8. Snow Tip Cap Mountain by The Octopus Project
9. Cardinal Mountain by Truls & the Trees
10. Beaten Thursdays by Prefuse 73
11. Focal Point by Valgeir Sigurdsson
12. Humble Peasants by The Most Serene Republic
13. Mirador by Efterklang
14. Nuage II by Sylvain Chaveau
15. Blessed Brambles by Múm
16. Baibaba Bimba by Tenniscoats
17. Thru Thick Night by Erik Enocksson
18. Skinny Love by Bon Iver
19. Cold Days From The Birdhouse by The Twilight Sad
20. The World’s Greatest by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
posted by themadjuggler on 12-20-2007 at 10:26 pm
Hey everybody,
Thanks so much for the suggestions! I’m going to buy a bunch of these records and make this Christmas playlist a Very Special Christmas Playlist. !
posted by Higgins on 12-21-2007 at 1:49 am
Let’s not forget the Christmas carols by H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society.
My personal favorite is “The Carol of the Old Ones”, linked in the sig.
posted by Yog-Sothoth on 12-21-2007 at 6:39 am
The strangest items on my holiday mix (www.assortedstuff.com/?p=2309) are:
I Want an Alien for Christmas – Fountains of Wayne
Merry Christmas from the Family – Robert Earl Keen
Christmas Smorgasbord – Swedish Chef
Don’t Shoot Me Santa – The Killers
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Barenaked Ladies
And I agree that Barenaked for the Holidays is a must have for the season.
Frankly, I like anything that comes at the holidays from an alternative (re: warped) point of view. :-)
posted by Tim on 12-21-2007 at 12:23 pm
HOW is it possible that I am the first one to mention Spinal Tap’s “Christmas with the Devil?”
Dude. My sister and I had a whole Christmas with the Devil themed party, complete with MST3K’s “Santa Claus” (in which the jolly old Mexican elf [what, you didn't know he was Mexican?] battles a devil named Pitch).
Aside from that, Brenda Lee and the Charlie Brown song. Christmas party!
posted by Sarah on 12-21-2007 at 1:57 pm
how could you forget the Christmas albums by John Fahey (iTunes calls him “famously abrasive and eccentric”)
posted by mary on 12-22-2007 at 11:16 am