Jiminy Crickets! Is it time for another holiday playlist again already? The dancing Santa Claus on my hearth makes me think that it IS! Well, in that case - here is this month's playlist. I tried to find a balance of personal favorites and unusual suspects. Hopefully the result is a playlist that feels both fresh and familiar. Ho Ho Hope you enjoy!
1. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Andy Williams) - This optimistic anthem seemed like a great way to start this year's mix. When Andy sings it, I almost believe it.
2. Do They Know It's Christmas? (Band Aid) - The original version that inspired countless other celebrity choruses to sing for charity. As usual, this first attempt is much better than the efforts that would follow.
3. Ole Santa (Dinah Washington) - Peaceful Christmas ditty. You can almost visualize the children drifting off to sleep with smiles on their faces as they wait for Santa.
4. The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot (Vera Lynn) - Something tells me Vera was NOT the life of the party. Definitely a Debbie Downer tune, but I love the 1940's feel.
5. Snowflakes (Jeremy Fisher) - Sweet, nostalgic holiday stylings from Jeremy Fisher.
6. Christmas Island (Ella Fitzgerald) - I think the Andrews Sisters version is my fave, but since that was on last year's list I've substituted Ella's swinging cover.
7. Fairytale of New York (the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl) - Hot-headed Irish couple visits New York, discovers the meaning of Christmas, gets arrested for disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
8. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Dean Martin) - Dino's version of the holiday classic.
9. The Christmas Waltz (Kristin Chenoweth) - Broadway & Glee star graces us with a Christmas greeting.
10. One Happy Christmas (Tammy Wynette) - I think the best Christmas songs are the ones that fit the vocalist and their personal style. It seems a lot of singers will pick popular songs and try to sing them and it just doesn't sound right. This tune, from Tammy's 1970 album Christmas with Tammy, sounds like a song she would have sung anyway. It just happens to be a Christmas song.
11. Angel /Holiday version/ (Jack Johnson) - Holiday version of his 2007 acoustic ballad
12. White Christmas (Bing Crosby) - A classic.
13. Chilly Winds Don't Blow (Nina Simone) - Nina's not trying to have a White Christmas. Snow is cold, bitches.
14. Flowers in December (Mazzy Star) - Quiet, wistful winter ballad
15. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (Mabel Scott) - Mabel's barn-storming boogie will melt the snow off anyone's chimney.
16. Merry, Merry Christmas (Koko Taylor) - We lost Ms. Koko in 2009, but her bluesy vocals keep the spirit alive.
17. Operator (Manhattan Transfer) - I checked out their Christmas albums, but somehow kept coming back to this gospel song off their 1975 debut album. Probably not intended as a holiday song, but I love it anyway.
18. O Holy Night (Mahalia Jackson) - Okay, this is a gospel holiday song. Amen.
19. I'll Be Home for Christmas (She & Him) - New Girl Zooey Deschanel teams up with M. Ward for an uber-cool Christmas album. Once again - the laid back instrumentation seems perfectly suited for her voice (see comments from #10). No bells and whistles, just awesomeness.
20. Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me (Elvis Presley) - A bodacious Elvis holiday song that ISN'T "Blue Christmas".
21. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (the Carpenters) - Karen Carpenter could pretty much sing anything and it would sound good. Well, maybe not Heavy Metal...but anything else.
22. Sleigh Ride (the Ronettes) - Ronnie & the gang frolic in the snow. Not sure if Cher is singing back up on this song, but she sang back up on several Ronettes tunes.
23. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Diana Krall) - Smooth and mellow rendition that reminds me of sipping hot chocolate and watching the snow fall.
Hope everyone has a great Christmas and holiday season! See you in 2012!
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