14 Christmas Songs You Should Listen To

 

 Over the past few years, I've been doing my GETTING IN THE MOOD posts. Sharing Christmas songs and albums I love. I thought it was time to do a new version, sharing some of my favorites Christmas songs. Many of them not traditional. Unique songs and unique versions of traditional songs.

So, let's get right to it...

1. The Kinks- "Father Christmas"....The poor kids anthem, and a classic Kinks riff...




2. Billy Squier- "Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You"...Showing my age...The days when MTV played music...Totally underrated Christmas song...





3. Dead Sara- "Snow in Los Angeles"  Released a few years, I immediately fell in love with this song. The awesome Singer of Dead Sara is now also singing with Linkin Park.




4. "White Christmas" is not only a classic but hands down one of my favorites. I'm not sure I've come across a bad version, but I love  This is the coolest, grooviest, and my favorite version of "White Christmas" by Booker T. & the MG's

5.  "Blue Christmas"  This one is an old standard...It always makes me think of those I wish were still with us. I don't like Elvis...And since one of my favorite bands did it a few years ago, I'll go with them...Our Lady Peace...





6. The Pretenders- "2000 Miles"...I just flat-out love this song...My favorite song from the Pretenders...

7. JD McPherson's "All the Gifts I Need" from his album "SOCKS" has an oldies vibe but it's from 2018.  The album is all original, humorous, with heart and rockin'. 

8. "Be Good at Christmas" by Katie Malco. And after this, checkout more of Katie Malco. She isn't talked about enough and her 2020 album "Failures" is the best album that was released in that God awful year!

9. Daniel Mustard- "Since Santa Ain't Coming"...I shared this many years ago...An anti-Christmas song, from a guy who just months before recoding it was homeless. He was discovered by Opie and Anthony and know as "Homeless Mustard." Opie helped and funded him getting a couple EP's recorded. Awhile back Mustard fell off of social media. I hope he's still making music somewhere.

10. This next one is unique, but I think it's a great take on the classic. Phoebe Bridgers (featuring Fiona Apple and Matt  Berninger : "7 O'clock News/Silent Night"

11. Pearl Jam- "Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)" Back in the early '90s none of us expected  these guys to do a Christmas song, but they did, and it's excellent...

12. "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"  -Tom Waits...It's a beautiful song about, just what the title says...There is also a great remake by Neko Case...

13. A classic we all love from Charlie Brown, "Christmas Time Is Here"...This version comes from sister and brother duo, Jocelyn and Chris Arndt. They do a lot of Bluesy-Rock stuff but this is acoustic, nice and mellow.

14. A song that I'm sure has parts that offend people these days, but it a beauty, sung by an ugly fucking dude. The Pogues classic, "Fairytale of New York."

Getting In the Mood : Best Christmas Albums (vol.10)

I think it's pretty clear I'm a guitar guy, and there has been plenty of guitar on this list, and today we are adding more.

Joel Paterson : "Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar"

Paterson is an exception guitarist with a love for Christmas music as he released his second Christmas Album this year., "The More the Merrier." I haven't gotten it yet but I'm hoping Mrs. Claus brings it to me! For Hi-Fi Christmas we'll start with "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

Now we'll move onto his soulful take on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

How about "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

His take on "Jingle Bells" is such a great groove! Oh and he does "Jingle Bells Rock on this album too.

As we know, I always go with "White Christmas if it's on an album, and I need to keep hearing it, because it doesn't look like we're gonna have snow in Erie for Christmas. But in fucking April we'll have 6 feet.

Let's do one more, because I love me some good guitar playing! "Christmas Time Is Here."

Enjoy!

Track List: 

1. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

2. I'll Be Home For Christmas

3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

4. Mele Kalikimaka

5. Silver Bells

6. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

7. Jingle Bell Rock

8. Blue Christmas

9. Pretty Paper

10. Jingle Bells

11. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

12. White Christmas

13. Winter Wonderland

14. Christmas Time Is Here

Getting in the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 9)

 

We're back with volume 9 of the best Christmas albums and we're going with an album full of oldies and goodies! 

A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector : Various Artists 

Since this song has been on most of my lists, we'll do it again. Darlene Love's take on "White Christmas."

When you think Phil Spector you think the Ronettes and then you think "Sleigh Ride."

And you gotta love The Crystals version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!"

We can't forget Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans with "The Bells of St. Mary."

This is just great old school Christmas tunes that you kids out there need to get hip to.

Enjoy

Track List:

1.White Christmas (Darlene Love)

2. Frosty the Snowman (The Ronettes)

3. The Bells of St. Mary (Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans

4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (The Crystals)

5. Sleigh Ride (The Ronettes)

6. A Marshmallow World (Darlene Love)

7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (The Ronettes)

8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (The Crystals)

9. Winter Wonderland (Darlene Love)

10. Parade of The Wooden Soldiers (The Crystals)

11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)  [Darlene Love]

12. Here Comes Santa Claus (Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans)

13. Silent Night

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 8)

 

It's been a busy week or so and I haven't been able to get back to the list, but Christmas is fast approaching so it's my duty to get you the quality Christmas tunes! With number 8 we're going to rock a bit.

Bad Religion: "Christmas Songs"

There's something wonderfully ironical about Bad Religion rocking out Christmas songs, and they don't shy away from religious ones. Lets get started with "O Come , O Come Emmanuel."

As you should know by now, "White Christmas" is one of my favorite Christmas songs, so we have to hear their version!

And this next one, takes me back to the days at St. James Elementary School, but we didn't do it like this..."Angels We Have Heard On High."

If your looking to spice up your Christmas music playlist, and get a little umph, this is the way to go. Enjoy!

Track List:

1. Hark the Herald Angels Sing

2. O Come All Ye Faithful

3. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

4. White Christmas

5. Little Drummer Boy

6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

7. What Child Is This?

8. Angels We Have Heard On High

9. American Jesus

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 7)

 

Well for volume 7 we are going back...Back to my youth, back to Cleveland, Ohio. The Singing Angels is a Cleveland youth choir that was formed in 1964. My parents had a Christmas album of theirs and every year while we opened presents, The Singing Angels were the soundtrack to our unwrapping. A few years back, while missing my mom, I started searching itunes for that album. I couldn't find the exact one, but I found a 2005 version with almost all the same songs. The Singing Angels always hit me in the feels.

The Singing Angels: Somewhere in My Memory

Here is the closing number on the Album, "We Wish You the Merriest."

Here is "One Little Candle."

Next, we have "Away in a Manger." My Catholic upbringing peaking through with this album.

We'll close with "Merry Christmas Darling." This one isn't on the updated album, but it's on that one I remember so fondly, and this is my blog so I can do what I want.

That concludes this trip down memory lane. If you enjoy any of this, checkout The Singing Angels. 

Track List:

1. The Most Wonderful Time of the Tear

2. Somewhere in My Memory

3. Jingle Bell Rock

4. Away in a Manger

5. Step into Christmas

6. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

7. Sing for Hanukkah

8. A-Caroling We Go

9. We Need a Little Christmas

10. Feliz Navidad

11. One Little Candle

12. O Holy Night

13. We Wish You the Merriest

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 5)

 

We are onto volume 5 and this one is all old standards done by some of the great crooners. You can thank my parents for this one, as this was one of my father's went to when decorating or wrapping presents. 

The Rat Pack: "Christmas With the Rat Pack"

Let's start at the beginning with Dean Martin and "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"

Next, we'll go to Sammy Davis Jr. and "Christmas Time All Over the World."

And you can't have The Rat Pack without "old blue eyes" himself. Here's Frank Sinatra with "The Christmas Waltz."

Of these guys, I'm a big Dean Martin fan, so we'll go with one more of his numbers..."I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

The album is all oldies and goodies. pour yourself a drink, kick back, relax and enjoy.

Track List:

1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!  (Dean Martin)

2. Mistletoe and Holly  (Frank Sinatra)

3. Christmas Time All Over the World  (Sammy Davis Jr.)

4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing  (Frank Sinatra)

5. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm  (Dean Martin)

6. The Christmas Waltz  (Frank Sinatra)

7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  (Dean Martin)

8. Jingle Bells  (Sammy Davis Jr)

9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas  (Frank Sinatra)

10. Baby, It's Cold Outside  (Dean Martin)

11. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear  (Frank Sinatra)

12. Winter Wonderland  (Dean Martin)

13. The Christmas Song  (Sammy Davis Jr)

14. The First Noel  (Frank Sinatra)

15. White Christmas  (Dean Martin)

16. I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only In My Dreams)  {Frank Sinatra}

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 4)

 

So, our latest edition of Getting in the mood: Best Christmas Albums we're going a different direction. This is the first on our list that isn't an album full of standards. 

JD McPherson: "SOCKS" has an oldies vibe and nods to tradition Christmas songs, but it's from 2018 and is so much more. Original, humorous, with heart and rockin'. Let's start with the opening track, "All the Gifts I Need."

I mentioned humous...When I heard the next song, "Bad Kid," I honestly laughed out loud at some of the lyrics. And it has a great groove to it.

We can't skip the title track, "Socks" a true anthem for the kids out there, unsatisfied with some of their gifts.

And who hasn't had the "Ugly Sweater Blues"

I also mentioned this album having heart. If you didn't hear any of it yet, here's some of it. "What's That Sound?"

Besides Socks, JD McPherson has released a number of Christmas singles. He also does non-Christmas music. He's doing a Christmas tour this month, if he passes by your town, check him out.

Track List:

1. All the Gifts I Need

2. Bad Kid

3. Hey Skinny Santa

4. Socks

5. Every Single Christmas

6. Ugly Sweater Blues

7. Holly, Carol, Candy & Joy

8. Santa's Got a Mean Machine

9. What's That Sound?

10. Claus Vs. Claus

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 3)

 

Here we are again, getting in the mood. Be sure to check the previous two posts, as well as the Getting in the Mood posts from 2020. Today we are on number three of my picks of the best Christmas Albums. If you didn't get the hint from number two, I'm a big guitar guy and I love Surf guitar and Surf Rock. So today I give you...

The Ventures:  "Christmas Joy"

Let's start with their take on "Winter Wonderland"...What a groove.

Next up, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Not how you typically would expect to here this one, which is why I like it. A totally different feel and vibe to it.

Now lets get to that oldy but goody, "Sleigh Ride." If you're talking about Surf Rock and Christmas, this is exactly what you want to hear. Straight rocking, big drums, plucky groove and all.

How about one more for good measure. "Jingle Bells" opening up the album with a strong bass line, bring in the drums, organ and guitars boys...

That's some quality Christmas grooving.

Track List:

1. Jingle Bells

2. We Wish You a Merry Xmas

3. Winter Wonderland

4. Joy to the World

5. O Christmas Tree

6. Silent Night

7. Jark! The Herald Angels Sing

8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

9. O Holy Night

10. The Christmas Song

11. Sleigh Ride

12. We Three Kings

13. What Child is This

14. O Come All Ye Faithful

15. Deck the Halls

16. Feliz Navidad

17. Christmas Joy

Enjoy!

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 2)

 

 We're back with the second installment of Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums. Today's pick is from a legendary Jazz guitarist. One of my all-time favorites, and one of Jimi Hendrix's major influences...

Kenny Burrell: "Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas"

We'll start with the opening track, "The Little Drummer Boy." It starts out how you may expect a Jazz guitarist to put their spin on the song, but eventually Burrell goes off with a solo that any shredder would love to play, and he's doing it clean with no pedalboard tricks. 

Now we'll move onto his rendition of my favorite, "White Christmas." Burrell's is beautiful, smooth and soulful. I simply elegant.

Now we move on to "Children Go Where I Send Thee." This is a total jam! Mixing Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Bing Band, the song just rips. You can't help but tap your foot and smile.

Burrell puts his unique and skillful style on every one of these classics, and for anyone who may say Jazz is boring or dull...There is nothing boring or dull about this album. Check it out kids!

Track List:

1. The Little Drummer Boy

2. Have Yourself a Merry Littles Christmas

3. My Favorite Things

4. Away in a Manger

5. Mary's Little Chile

6. White Christmas

7. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

8. The Christmas Song

9. Children Go Where I Send Thee

10. Silent Night

11. Twelve Days of Christmas

12. Merry Christmas Baby

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums ( vol. 1)

 

In 2020 I did a series of posts titled "Getting in the Mood," all about some of my favorite Christmas songs. This year we are going to be talking about Christmas albums. It's easy to put out one good song. It's something special to put out a album full of Christmas "bangers" as the kids say. Some may not find all the songs on these albums to be "bangers" but fuck them! They're clearly uncultured shit-bags who don't appreciate jazz, blues, soul, rock and the classics the way this old fucker does.

So, number one on the list...

Booker T. & The MG's: "In the Christmas Spirit"

This is the coolest, grooviest, and my favorite version of "White Christmas" which is one of my favorite Christmas songs.

And how about this jam of "Winter Wonderland!"

Then they take "Silver Bells," a traditional slow, somber tune and give it soul, and it's a version you actually hear plenty of jingle bells in, and in the end as it fades out they give you a taste of the songs original tone.

Every song from beginning to end is fantastic and grooves.

Full Track List:

1. Jingle Bells

2. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

3. Winter Wonderland

4. White Christmas

5. The Christmas Song

6. Silver Bells

7. Merry Christmas Baby

8. Blue Christmas

9. Sweet Little Jesus Boy

10. Silent Night

11. We Three Kings

12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Check it out!

Getting In the Mood (vol. 3)

 

Here we are, day three of this ten day build up to Christmas, with some of my favorite Christmas songs. Our first two days we went non-traditional, but after getting some snow last night, I'm feeling traditional. Oddly, Erie, PA seemed to get the least amount of snow in the state.

So today I'm giving you an old standard but I'm going to post a few versions of it. Why? Because it's one of those classics that has been done different ways and in different styles and they're all good.

 The song, "Sleigh Ride."

How can you not love the Ronettes?

Next we're going back to my old home town which is often knocked and so few people know about the wealth of culture and talent there. The Cleveland Orchestra was always amazing.

Next, since I love Jazz, The Count Basie Orchestra takes their turn.

Next, a genre I feel is unappreciated. Here's The Ventures version.

And of course there is the old faithful, Johnny Mathis.

To be honest, my favorite version is done by Cleveland's own, The Singing Angels. I couldn't find a video version with good audio. You can find it on their album "We Wish You the Merriest" and on streaming services. It takes me right back to decorating the tree with my mom as a kid and we played the album every Christmas morning while we opened presents. I probably listen to their version the least, but those memories make it my favorite.

Enjoy some Christmas music, play in the snow, hug the ones you love. See you tomorrow. 

Getting In the Mood (vol. 2)

 

Today, I'm still not feeling super Christmassy. I blew some money at the Hallmark store and hit the liquor store, but I'm not quite there yet. Still haven't gotten my snow either and the news of the day doesn't help. The news every day doesn't help my mood much, but there was something that I just learned that didn't help the mood. Not national or worldwide news, just in my personal orbit about people I care about. Sending love back to a number of people in Cleveland. 

Today we are going to do a two-for because they short songs, and fuck it, it's my blog. First, Phoebe Bridgers (featuring Fiona Apple and Matt  Berninger : "7 O'clock News/Silent Night"

Yes I said we were going to do a two-for and I'm staying in the same vibe with number two and sticking with Phoebe Bridgers who is so good at setting that vibe. Next up is her "Christmas Song"...Don't expect some Nat King-Cole or Johnny Mathis shit.

I hope you enjoy them. Maybe tomorrow I'll give you something a little more traditional.

Getting In The Mood

 

We all know 2020 has been a big-ole bag of shit and I would say a large number of us are in a battle with anxiety, stress and depression. Personally I have been feeling on edge for weeks and have waves of depression. COVID life life sucks! 

Our family started earlier then ever pumping Christmas cheer into our house. (Yes I said Christmas! I celebrate Christmas, I respect other holidays, but I celebrate Christmas, and I'm talking about me and my life so I'm talking about Christmas, not Holidays! Not everything is a political and social justice fight.) We put the tree up and decorated before Thanksgiving. I did the outside lights a week later. The Elves on the Shelf have been in full force. In our house we have three Elves and three Elf pets to deal with. We have watched a bunch of Christmas movies and have driven around looking at lights. We're really trying...But I'm not there yet, and that's unusual for me. 

In the past I have posted blogs about my top and favorite Christmas movies and songs. I started looking through them and they are definitely changing as time goes by. Instead of doing a ranking, since we are ten days away from Christmas, each of these ten days I am going to post a Christmas song I love. No order, just what I'm feeling that day. 

Today's song, since I think getting some snow falling might help me get in the mood, I give you a song from one of my favorite bands, Dead Sara : "Snow in Los Angeles"

A Beezer's Dozen...My Top 12 Christmas Songs

It's the Holiday Season...And I haven't felt very festive...I've been too busy at work, and too broke to really get going into Christmas too much...We also just knocked out Molly's 4th birthday Sunday...4 years already...Holy shit...Now that both the girls birthdays are out of the way, it's time to get our Christmas on...So, I thought I'd revisit the old Christmas songs to see if that would help get me in the spirit...

So lets get right to it...

1. The Kinks- Father Christmas....The poor kids anthem, and a classic Kinks riff...




2. Billy Squier- Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You...Showing my age...The days when MTV played music...Totally underrated Christmas song...





3. Dead Sara- Snow in Los Angeles...This is a new one...Released a couple years just after I had done a list of Christmas songs...This one shot up right away on my list...




4. Pearl Jam- Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time) Back in the early '90s none of us expected  these guys to do a Christmas song, but they did, and it's excellent...





5.  "Blue Christmas"  This one is an old standard...It always makes me think of those I wish were still with us...I'm sure there are plenty of people feeling this year...I don't like Elvis...And since my favorite band did it a couple years ago, I'll go with them...Our Lady Peace...





6. The Pretenders- 2000 Miles...I just flat-out love this song...My favorite song from the Pretenders...




7. Daniel Mustard- Since Santa Ain't Coming...I shared this a couple weeks ago...An anti-Christmas song, from a guy who just months before recoding it was homeless...





8. Let it Snow...Another old standard...You gotta love how Dean could lay it down...And I have to say, the Rat Pack Christmas album is awesome...





9. Silent Night....I'm going with the Sarah McLachlan version...But there are so many great versions, it's hard to screw up...If you really want to get depressed check out the Lisa Hannigan version...Uhgg





10. Chris Cornell- Ave Maria...Everyone knew the Soundgarden front man could sing, but when he did this for 1997's  "A Very Special Christmas Volume 3" everyone was blown away to hear just how amazing of a singer he is...




11. "Memory"  -Savatage...Long before you heard of TSO, some of those guys were in a group called Savatage that loved to write Metal Operas...This is from one called "Dead Winter Dead"...It's also where that famous TSO "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) came from...



12. "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"  -Tom Waits...It's a beautiful song about, just what the title says...There is also a great remake by Neko Case...




That's it...What do you think?  What are your favorite Christmas songs?

If you're interested, here's my LIST of the 15 top Christmas Movies...

Have a week...

The Beeze.

Monday Moaning (The Beeze's Top 10 Christmas Songs)

This week the normal Monday Moaning is taking a break...It's just before Christmas and I've been all wrapped up in getting things ready for Christmas...We have our annual Christmas Eve party...Plus I have to pick up the Christmas dinner duties because my Mom was slowed down by some health issues...Don't worry, she's fine...Minor thing, but it threw my folks a wrinkle...My brothers aren't in any position to pick up the slack, so it's on us...

Anyways I've spent no time on sports between work, and the Christmas prep...So, I'm going with music...Music as always been big in my life...Ever since I was a kid...My Mom teaching me about the Beatles and Stones...My dad teaching me about Blues and Jazz...Then my older brothers brought in their influences...I've been hooked on music forever...So this week, since I've been sharing different Christmas song each week, we'll get into the full list...Well, at least the top 10....

1. The Kinks- Father Christmas....The poor kids anthem, and a classic Kinks riff...





2. Billy Squier- Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You...Showing my age...The days when MTV played music...Totally underrated Christmas song...





3. Dead Sara- Snow in Los Angeles...This is a new one...Released last year just after I had done a list of Christmas songs...This one shot up right away on my list...





4. Pearl Jam- Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time) Back in the early '90s none of us expected  these guys to do a Christmas song, but they did, and it's excellent...





5.  "Blue Christmas"  This one is an old standard...It always makes me think of those I wish were still with us...I'm sure there are plenty of people feeling this year...I don't like Elvis...And since my favorite band did it a couple years ago, I'll go with them...Our Lady Peace...





6. The Pretenders- 2000 Miles...I just flat-out love this song...My favorite song from the Pretenders...





7. Daniel Mustard- Since Santa Ain't Coming...I shared this a couple weeks ago...An anti-Christmas song, from a guy who just months before recoding it was homeless...





8. Let it Snow...Another old standard...You gotta love how Dean could lay it down...And I have to say, the Rat Pack Christmas album is awesome...





9. Silent Night....I'm going with the Sarah McLachlan version...But there are so many great versions, it's hard to screw up...If you really want to get depressed check out the Lisa Hannigan version...Uhgg





10. Chris Cornell- Ave Maria...Everyone knew the Soundgarden front man could sing, but when he did this for 1997's  "A Very Special Christmas Volume 3" everyone was blown away to hear just how amazing of a singer he is...





That's it...What do you think?  What are your favorite Christmas songs?

If you're interested, here's my LIST of the 15 top Christmas Movies...

Have a week...And a Merry Christmas!

The Beeze.