My family is big on the Christmas season - choosing a tree, cookie decorating, first sledding tracks, etc. Vermont makes the cheer pretty contagious, with blankets of snow and a multitude of Rockwellian scenes. The frustrating part for me has been locating the perfect soundtrack. I've purchased an embarrassing number of really bad holiday compact discs. Each time I purchase a new one I hold out that it will have classic tunes, a jolly spirit, and perhaps some interesting newbies. Sadly they seem to be rife with absolutely annoying tracks (Wham, Kenny G, Chipmunks).
This year I decided to stop looking elsewhere and make a compilation of the best within my collection. Below is that mix. I think I've put together something that has the right temperament - upbeat but not grating. Feel free to let me know what is missing.
- Jingle Bells | Frank Sinatra
- O Come O Come Emmanuel | Sufjan Stevens
- The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) | Nat King Cole
- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer | Jack Johnson
- Silent Night | Johnny Cash
- Little Drummer Boy | Ray Charles
- No Christmas for Me | Zee Avi
- It's the Most Wonderful time of the Year | Andy Williams
- Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas | Frank Sinatra
- White Christmas | Bing Crosby
- Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming | Feist
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | Gene Autry
- Baby, It's Cold Outside | Dean Martin
- A Holly Jolly Christmas | Burl Ives
- Christmas Song | Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds





10 comments:
Vince Guaraldi Trio
Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas"
Eartha Kitt, "Santa Baby".
Sufjan Stevens, "That was the worst christmas ever"
great list-- i love finding new versions of classic songs. vince geraldi - linus and lucy is a great one to add. trans-siberian orchestra - a mad russian's christmas or god rest ye merry gentlemen. bing crosby/david bowie - little drummer boy. just a couple of my favorite yearly songs! don't know if they could find a place in your mix.
Here's a sideways holiday song:
Klezmatics, "Man in a Hat" (well, you could imagine it's a klezmer homage to santa claus
and then... when it all becomes too much and you need to indulge in a bit of cynicism, this:
Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)
Miles Davis & Bob Dorough
Great mix, but I can't believe no one has commented on the accompanying Wham photo. Wow.
Exactly!
I dare Sony Music to re-issue the Wham single with that picture as it's front cover! LOL
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