I used to hate Christmas. I know, call me Ebenezer Grinch, but it’s true. There’s still something about the commercialization of the holiday season that nauseates me. And, seriously, do you know anybody that actually likes eggnog? I mean, really…
It’s amazing how things change. Being married to Sunny is partially to blame (my wife wants to get out the Christmas music by the end of September), but now I’m one of those guys that can’t wait to get the decorations out & start trimming the tree. Now I know many of you still have your jack-o-lanterns on the front porch (if they weren’t smashed to smithereens last night), but I’ve been anxiously waiting to debut my All-Time Christmas Mix CD list. This is your one-stop, must-have CD mix for the holiday season. I promise if you make a mix CD with these songs in this order, you can kiss those bah humbugs good bye. Feel free to join in and let me know which ones you like (and dislike).
Without further adieu, I give you the All-Time Christmas Mix:
Track 1 – Blue Christmas, Elvis Presley. You gotta start things off with a classic. What makes this song great is that everyone has an impression, curled lip and all. Even our dog Andy gets in on the action on this one.
Track 2 – Feliz Navidad, Jose Feliciano. By the time Christmas arrives, you never want to hear this thing again, but it’s pure fun the first 200 times!
Track 3 – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), U2. Bono and the boys don’t dissapoint on my favorite rock holiday song ever.
Track 4 – White Christmas, Bing Crosby. No holiday album is complete without Bing. The perfect track to take it down a notch.
Track 5 – Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt & Henri Rene. This oldie was resuscitated on a GAP commercial a few years ago. No matter, it’s a great vocal.
Track 6 – Adeste Fideles, Frank Sinatra. Old blue eyes singing O Come Let Us Adore Him.
Track 7 – The Chipmunk Song, The Chipmunks. Come on, you know you sing along…
Track 8 – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLaughlin. BNL’s signature sound on a holiday classic.
Track 9 – Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee.
Track 10 – Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms. These two should be on everyone’s Christmas mix.
Track 11 – Sleigh Ride, Harry Connick, Jr.. I know it’s Christmas at our place when I hear this first track on Harry Connick’s Christmas CD.
Track 12 – All I Want For Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey. This is Sunny’s all-time favorite Christmas song, so what can I say? It’s either enjoy it or be miserable…
Track 13 – Welcome To Our World, Chris Rice. I enjoy silly holiday songs as much as the next guy, but there are also songs out there like this that embrace what this season is all about: the glorious Good News of God with us! Rice’s lyrics will be rolling around my brain for the next two months, which is something to be thankful for.
Track 14 – Jingle Bells, Frank Sinatra. A unique arrangement sung by a one-of-a-kind voice.
Track 15 – Christmas Time Is Here, Vince Guaraldi Trio. Takes me back to being 8 years old sitting cross-legged in front of the TV watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special on TV.
Track 16 – The Little Drummer Boy, Harry Simeone Chorale. Another classic.
Track 17 – Mele Kalikmaka, Bing Crosby. A guilty holiday pleasure.
Track 18 – A Holly Jolly Christmas, Burl Ives.
Track 19 – ‘Zat You, Santa Claus?, Louis Armstrong. I promise you, I do a better Louis Armstrong than anyone I know. Ask Sunny.
Track 20 – Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah, The Barenaked Ladies. This has to be my all-time favorite Hanukkah song…even better than the Adam Sandler one.
Track 21 – The Christmas Song, Mel Torme. Simply fine.
Track 22 – Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Bruce Springsteen. The Boss takes us home in fine fashion, rounding out our holiday mix.
There you have it, folks. Feel free to let me know what you think! Happy holidays!
already & not yet 
Dude, it’s NOVEMBER 1ST! Come back around about December 20th. OK? Where is the Jason with edge I used to know and love?But since you asked and since I feel it is appropriate due to the timing of your list: Loudon Wainwright’s “Suddenly it’s Christmas” is a must.Pierce Pettis–“Miriam”Michael McDermott–“Little Drummer Boy”Billy Squier–“Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You”Band-Aid–“Do They Know It’s Christmas?”I’m sure I’ll think of more but check those out.By the way, Tracy actually loves egg nog.
I am with Sunny on the Mariah Carey song…I really do just love singing along with her Christmas album. And that song is the best one. I know…I know…it’s Mariah Carey, but I guess once a fan, always a fan. 5th grade memories are filling my mind.. Ok, enough of that. Merry Christmas. Wait, no, Happy Thanksgiving? Maybe for now I should stick to Happy Day After Halloween! 🙂 See you soon! ~Jenna
Nice list, even if I am wearing shorts. I’m pretty sure my favorite Christmas song is The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole, though I haven’t heard Mel Torme’s version. Every time I hear it I want to grab a cup of hot coffee or cider, build a huge fire, and sit and watch it.
I still got edge. I’m not the one listening to chick music, dude. Seriously, something about having kids just changes you. I used to hate Christmas because it was such a family holiday, but now, with our kids, I actually look forward to it. Something about developing our own traditions as our own family that just excites me. And Christmas music gets me fired up for that these days.Dan, you gotta check out Torme’s version. Didn’t he write the song? I think so.
I know your lack of enthusiasm for all songs with female artists, but you’ll have to take my word on this one…Kay Starr’s, (Everybody’s Waiting for) The Man With the Bag, gets me in the mood for Christmas like no other, well Connick’s Sleigh Ride does run up there pretty close!Target featured it in their X-mas ads a couple of years ago (2001 I think)!
I’ll have to check it out. I’m not completely anti-female with regard to my listening choices. I just tend to be very white and very male when it comes to my music. But I’ll give it a listen.
Hey, uh, Jason if you ever accidently burn that theoretical mix, and by chance, you, uh, accidently burn two of them, remember me would ya?Your mix needs a little liturgy, though. How about Agnus Dei by Capella Gregoriana on that all-time classic Christmas CD “Gregorian Christmas, Chants & Motets.” Believe me, that one will take you to places you’ve never been before.If you’re looking for a good Christmas tradition for your family, try Advent on for size. That one’s been sitting around for centuries just waiting for edgy guys like your to stumble over. We use our Advent wreath at dinner time in the weeks leading up to Christmas and colors and the soft glow of the candles only heighten the anticipation of Christmas morn! Also, there’s some really cool Advent calendars for kids that might be fun when the twins are a little older.We have also found the Lessons and Carols service at Sewanee (usually the first weekend in December) a meaningful addition to our holiday menu. You have to wait in line for a few hours for that one, but the students come by and chat and feed you hot cider and cookies to make it more tolerable.Finally, check out a Christmas Eve service at one of the many fine liturgical churches in the area. If you’ve never knelt at the altar rail and received Jesus in the bread and wine at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, then buddy, you haven’t lived yet! It’s enough to keep you glowing through Christmas and on into the New Year!
You’re right, Jason, Torme did write The Christmas Song, and all this time I thought it was Nat King Cole. I just listened to 30 seconds of it on Amazon, and I think I like it better. You have rocked my paradigm of Christmas music.
I’m here to enlighten, Dan. I’m a restorationist at heart, baby.
Mike,I’ll, uh, make a CD of Christmas music sometime and, uh, I might have an extra copy for you. I love the holiday “suggesetions” bro. Keep ’em coming. I hear the Gregorian version of Grandma Got Run Over… is a classic.
Jason, my man, where’s Weird Al’s The Night Santa Went Crazy? That song’s great!- Jake “The MatchMaker” Bennett