

MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS
Run Rudolph Run (1958)-Chuck Berry. If I properly researched this, I might find that this was probably the first Rock n Roll Christmas song. With Berry’s signature guitar keeping a story about Rudolph company, you would never think it would work, but it does.
Wonderful Christmastime (1979) - Paul McCartney. This song isn’t just cheesy, it is cheese. But I really like it. Remember, the list is my favorite Christmas songs, not the best Christmas songs.
Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto (1968) - James Brown. Only the Godfather of Soul can tell Santa where to go. Telling him “you will see mothers/and Soul brothers,” just in case he forgets where he is.
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (1971) - John Lennon. It was during his “advertising campaign for peace” that he wrote this song and even put up a few billboards around New York City. A bit naïve maybe, but in a good way.
All Alone on Christmas (1992) - Darlene Love. Yes it’s from a lame Home Alone movie, but what a great voice to go with a great message - nobody oughtta be, alone on Christmas.
Do They Know it’s Christmas (1984) - Band Aid. Another cheesy song, but I like it. And I like a lot of the people that were on it like U2, Sting, Peter Weller and Freddy Mercury just to name a few.
Christmas Time is Here (1965) - Vince Guaraldi Trio. Mena can attest to this. If you worked at Tower Records at Christmas, you know “A Charlie Brown Christmas” completely. They had been known to play it a few times during the holidays. Even now, I walked into a store yesterday and heard the subtle piano intro to this song, I was reminded as I have been so many years before, that Christmas time was surely here.

Wonderful Christmastime (1979) - Paul McCartney. This song isn’t just cheesy, it is cheese. But I really like it. Remember, the list is my favorite Christmas songs, not the best Christmas songs.

Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto (1968) - James Brown. Only the Godfather of Soul can tell Santa where to go. Telling him “you will see mothers/and Soul brothers,” just in case he forgets where he is.

Do They Know it’s Christmas (1984) - Band Aid. Another cheesy song, but I like it. And I like a lot of the people that were on it like U2, Sting, Peter Weller and Freddy Mercury just to name a few.


The Christmas Song (1963) - Nat King Cole. This one means so much to me personally for so many reasons. But let’s just say that the haunting vocals by one of the greatest American singers ever make it special as well.

Happy Holidays!
I played A Charlie Brown Christmas on a loop while cooking and eating Christmas Eve dinner. It's not really Christmas until you hear that magical collection of tunes. And if I recall correctly, the in-store rotation at Tower in the Village during the holidays had a Christmas album played for every non-holiday record, but A Charlie Brown Christmas was the one album that was on the playlist all day. Yeah...
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Tower, that's where I first heard The Pretenders' version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" many, many years ago. It still is, to this day one of my Christmas staples.
(It was originally on the first A Very Special Christmas album [A&M-1987], which also includes "Christmas in Hollis".)
And "It's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" was on "A Very Special Christmas" as well, which is my all time favorite Christmas song. I love that album, I play it every Christmas.
ReplyDelete