Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Best Christmas Mix Ever


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. 
  1. Jingle Bells | Frank Sinatra
  2. O Come O Come Emmanuel | Sufjan Stevens
  3. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) | Nat King Cole
  4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer | Jack Johnson
  5. Silent Night | Johnny Cash
  6. Little Drummer Boy | Ray Charles
  7. No Christmas for Me | Zee Avi
  8. It's the Most Wonderful time of the Year | Andy Williams
  9. Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas | Frank Sinatra
  10. White Christmas | Bing Crosby
  11. Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming | Feist
  12. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer | Gene Autry
  13. Baby, It's Cold Outside | Dean Martin
  14. A Holly Jolly Christmas | Burl Ives
  15. Christmas Song | Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Vince Guaraldi Trio

Anonymous said...

Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas"

Rob said...

Eartha Kitt, "Santa Baby".

Anonymous said...

Sufjan Stevens, "That was the worst christmas ever"

Mike said...

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.

Rob--Again said...

Here's a sideways holiday song:

Klezmatics, "Man in a Hat" (well, you could imagine it's a klezmer homage to santa claus

Anonymous said...

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

Anonymous said...

Great mix, but I can't believe no one has commented on the accompanying Wham photo. Wow.

jds said...

Exactly!

Disco D said...

I dare Sony Music to re-issue the Wham single with that picture as it's front cover! LOL