"Welcome Christmas" How The Grinch Stole Christmas soundtrack
-the most articulate nonsense worded expression of the holiday spirit.
"Go Power At Christmas Time" James Brown
-did anyone reinvent Xmas music more fearlessly than JB? (see also "Hey America")
"Sleigh Ride" Squirrel Nut Zippers
-a spritely fun arrangement
"(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag" Kay Starr
-60+ years old, and still hip
"Sugar Rum Cherry" Duke Ellington
-fantastic rearrangement of the Nutcracker movement
"Jingle Bells Cha-Cha-Cha" Pearl Bailey
"Santa Claus Is Skaing To Town" Granville Williams
-cool runnings, mon.
"Santa Claus Is Back In Town" Elvis Presley
-all his xmas tunes are solid, but this is the one with the Elvis swagger
"Merry Christmas, Baby" Otis Redding, Ike & Tina Turner
-Otis's version of Charles Brown is dripping with soul, but Tina squeezes even more guts out (Southern Culture on the Skids do a nice one too).
"Winter Weather" Benny Goodman & Peggy Lee
-Interesting how many 40s masters just haven't been improved upon.
"White Christmas" Jimmy McGriff
-of all the jazz Xmas arrangements, McGriff's is as funky as it gets.
"Back Door Santa" Clarence Carter
-like I need to explain?
"Come On Christmas" Ringo Starr
-Beatle Richard brings a swell glam rock tune.
"Jingle Bells" The Blue Hawaiians
-another great rearrangement, surfer style (Jimmy McGriff's version is also swinging)
"Take A Break Guys" Brian Setzer Orchestra
-The Stray Cat swinger brings some Basie/Bond bravado to "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
"My Favorite Things" The Supremes
-no one's topped their sweet, sexy version.
"Here Comes Santa Claus" Ramsey Lewis Trio
-these cats did a lot of xmas tuneage, but this is the best of them.
"Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy" Buck Owens
-I don't favor most country christmas stuff, but Buck did a solid sequel to Gene Autry with this.
"Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" The Cadillacs
-fantastic doo wop arrangement
"Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto" Snoop Dogg
-not only the best hip hop holiday tune, but one of Snoop's most solid
"Christmas With The Devil" Spinal Tap
-"Silent Night/Violent Night" need I say more?
"Reggae Christmas Eve In Transylvania" Count Floyd
-SCTV's horror M.C. raps the most ridiculous xmas song of all time.
"Thanks For Christmas" The Three Wise Men (a.k.a. XTC)
-about the only new wave era xmas tune that stands the test (the Waitresses just depress).
"Soul Santa" Brook Benton
-social commentary inside a Hallmark card
"Let It Snow" Diana Krall
-Mrs. Costello breathes life into a cliche.
