I think it only fitting that on a week where I am listing my favorite Christmas songs, one of the artists on my list has finally and deservedly been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. No, I’m not talking about Alice Cooper and his jolly Christmas tunes (could you imagine that?), but the great Darlene Love. I was also impressed to see one of America’s greatest song writers, Tom Waits, finally be inducted as well, but fucking Neil Diamond? Look, one day I will go “Eddie Trunk” on you and write a scathing attack on the Rock and Roll Hall of LAME and their stupid nomination process (Grandmaster Flash and ABBA are in, Rush, Iron Maiden and KISS are still waiting…brilliant) but it’s Christmas and I’m officially in the spirit, so here is something that my older readers saw a few years ago…
As much as a good Christmas song can bring back wonderful childhood memories and immediately transport you to a simpler, happier time, a bad Christmas song (The Beach Boys, Beyonce, Mariah Carey) can make you wanna go on a three state killing spree. In hoping to avoid the latter, I have listed my all-time favorite Christmas songs, enjoy them as I have for so many great seasons. So here they are, in order this time…
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.
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.
Christmas in Hollis (1987) - Run DMC. Run DMC can claim so many firsts when it comes to Hip-Hop. And this is the first accessible Christmas rap song. Sure Beat Street had one in 1984, but this one is better and doesn’t talk about spending your welfare money playing numbers.
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.
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (1987) - U2. The original was done by musical genius turned trigger-happy maniac Phil Spector, vocals by the great Darlene Love. But since I grew up on U2 I kinda like this version better. Don’t worry, Darlene Love does the background vocals on this one, so I can be forgiven.
Happy Holidays!
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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.
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