So by now those of you who know me know that I’m something of a Christmas music connoisseur. Before I married Sunny I was pretty much an Ebeneezer Scrooge come Christmas time. Christmas music just annoyed me and I pretty much avoided getting into the Christmas spirit until about Dec. 23rd. But Sunny always gets the Christmas music out in October and somewhere along the way, I just learned to enjoy it.
For the past several years, Christmas music has become a big part of our holiday tradition. Every year, I’ll make a Christmas mix that becomes our primary listening for that holiday season. I’ve now compiled quite a catalog of Christmas tunes and I’ve come up with my Ultimate Christmas mix. I’m sure I’ll keep tweaking it every year (maybe something from the new Harry Connick Christmas disc will crack the list), but for now, this is the canonical version of my Essential Christmas music. Here are the ground rules: I limited myself to 25 songs, only one version of a particular song allowed (so no multiple versions of “Jingle Bells”, for instance), and only one song per artist (otherwise the list would be made up of 7 or 8 Elvis songs). Got it? Good.
Without further adieu, I give you Jason’s Essential Christmas Mix:
We’ve been spinning the Christmas tunes for a few weeks now, and I’ve compiled my favorite playlist. I think you can find most of these on iTunes. I limited myself to one song per artist.
- Christmas Time Is Here – Vince Guaraldi Trio. Over the last couple of years, this has become my favorite Christmas song. It takes me back to being a child sitting cross-legged in front of the TV watching the Charlie Brown Christmas special in footed pajamas. Nice.
- Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley. This is my all-time favorite song to impersonate. Rumor has it I once recorded a music video for it. I will neither confirm nor deny this.
- The Christmas Song – Mel Torme. Simply fine. Required listening. If you listen closely, you can hear Mel clear his throat just before he sings.
- Sleigh Ride – Harry Connick, Jr. I challenge you not to tap your toes to this one.
- White Christmas – Bing Crosby. I love me some Mele Kalikimaka but this is Bing’s best Christmas performance.
- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2. Bono and boys rock this one out.
- Feliz Navidad – Jose Feliciano. Yeah its kitsch. So what. This is just pure fun. You know you like it.
- Adeste Fideles – Frank Sinatra. A beautiful song. A singular voice. A perfect marriage.
- Baby It’s Cold Outside – Dean Martin. Smooth as silk, baby. Can’t go wrong with Frank and Dino back to back.
- Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt & Henri Rene. Avoid the Madonna remake and go for this classier original.
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan. In a short amount of time, this has become the signature version of this tune for me. For some reason, this song makes me want to drink coffee and wear sweaters. Weird.
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen.
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Martina McBride. You really should pick up her Christmas album. Not a bad song in the bunch, but this is the best of the lot.
- A Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives. Burl, you’ll always be Sam the Snowman to me.
- The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late) – The Chipmunks. Gotta have this one for the kids. They love it. And I love that they love it.
- All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey. This one’s for Sunny. I know it’s Christmas time when she starts singing this one into her hairbrush.
- The Little Drummer Boy – Harry Simeone Chorale.
- Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms.
- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee. A Christmas playlist would be incomplete without these three stellar tunes.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry. We used to listen to my sister’s vinyl LP of this holiday classic by the singing cowboy.
- Angels We Have Heard On High – Chris Tomlin.
- ‘Zat You Santa Claus? – Louis Armstrong. You’ve probably never heard this one, but it’ll make for a fun addition to your holiday music. I love imitating this song. I plan on teaching it to the kids this year.
- It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – Ella Fitzgerald. Come on, how can you go wrong with this one?
- Happy XMas (War Is Over) – John Lennon, Yoko Ono, & the Harlem Community Choir.
- Welcome to Our World – Chris Rice. I love songs 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 a good thing.
Bonus track: Winter Wonderland – Elvis Presley. I know I said only one song per artist, but I can’t keep this one off the list. It’s my favorite Christmas song and, come on, if you’re gonna bend the rules for anybody, it’s Elvis. Or Cash. So there you go.
Copies of Jason’s Essential Christmas Mix are available to family and friends for a nominal fee. Or if you just ask nicely. Happy holidays, folks!
already & not yet 
I like your list. I would have to add a few songs from Amy Grant and Kenny G.
I thought about adding “Carol of the Bells” for you. But I already gave you Mariah Carey, so I figured that was enough!
What? No “Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy” by Garth Brooks? sheesh, what kind of a list is this?I’ll never forget when we sang Jingle Bells at a Spring Choral Concert, only after we sang Grandma’s Feather Bed by John Denver. We were cool.
Were? We are cool, my friend.And yes, I remember singing “Jingle Bells” at the spring concert. I played “Grandma’s Feather Bed” for the kids the other day and when I did the chicken and pig sounds, they cracked up. Do you have a video of that somewhere? It’s probably tucked away with the AM 1000 tape and the “Light My Fire” music video. May that one never see the light of day.
I want a copy! 🙂 I looks like a great list . . . I’ll send you some money for a CD!
Actually, I think I do have a copy of both of those performances somewhere…
i’ll take a copy
Laura Beth, email me or Sunny your address and I’ll send you a copy.
Hello, I have been a lurker on your post, and I respect so many of your opinions. What are your feelings about Christmas in regards to bringing the birth of Jesus into it? I know it is not documented at this time of year, but do you feel it is ok to set aside this time to honor that? Just curious. I look forward to your response.
Anonymous,I guess I’m of the opinion that it’s as good a time as any to reflect on the birth of Christ. It’s historically spurious to claim he was born at this time of year (I think most scholars believe it was in April). But I don’t have a problem making it all about Jesus. I know others would disagree and I’m sure they have good reason for feeling the way they do.