‘Tis (almost) the season, Mbirders,

Dave has asked me to put up my annual Xmas mix again this year for your easy listening pleasure.

Per usual, it showcases this years’ particular pop obsessions (Roxy Music, the Bee Gees, the Manics [although I left out the Dead!]), outre cover versions (Cee Lo, J Tull, Jon Anderson), and selections from my Christmas vault that I propose for canonization (Ed Gerhard, John Prine, Byron Lee). Now –  I submit to you this question: what makes the Glam and Power Pop sub-genres the ground most fertile for holiday originals.? Taste and see!

[jplaylist]

1. Giddie Up - The Dumbells (aka Roxy Music) 

2. Three Ships - Jon Anderson

3. Please Come Home For Christmas - The Insight (featuring Johnny & Edgar Winter)

4. Christmas Time In Motor City - Was (Not Was)

5. Let’s Get It Together This Christmas - Harvey Averne Band

6. Winter Wonderland - Byron Lee & The Dragonaires

7. Mele Kalikimaka - Arthur Lyman

8. Merry Christmas Baby - Dr. John

9. Hey Santa Claus - The Moonglows

10. The Wildest Christmas - The Boys Next Door

11. Deck The Halls - Metal Mike, Alison & Julia 

12. Merry Christmas Will Do - Material Issue

13. Please Leave Me Home For Christmas - Imperial Drag

14. Ghost of Christmas - Manic Street Preachers

15. Christmas, Bring Us - The Grip Weeds

16. Christmas Was Better In The 80s - The Futureheads

17. White Christmas - The Wedding Present

18. Christmas Spirit - The Wailers

19. Christmas in Prison (Live) - John Prine

20. Christmas '83 - Centro-matic

21. Silver Bells - Arlo Guthrie & Ed Gerhard

22. God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - Jethro Tull

23. Christmas Must Be Tonight - The Band

24. Children Go Where I Send Thee - Odetta

25. River - Cee Lo Green

26. Thank You for Christmas - Bee Gees

If you’d like to hear more selections, please check out my treasure trove of Christmas goodness on A Rather Lovely Thing, the Fishwick family blog. Adeste Fideles!

COMMENTS

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11 responses to “December Playlist: Happy Birthday Baby Jesus 2012”

1. SMF says:

   12/04/2012 at 10:18 am

   Amazing!! Another great one!!

   Reply
2. David Zahl says:

   12/04/2012 at 10:41 am

   The Manics! What an incredible playlist. Thank you Web Guy.

   Reply
3. Jeff says:

   12/04/2012 at 10:56 am

   Another Christmas power pop gem: “Joseph, Who Understood” by the New Pornographers. Captures the mystery of God made flesh from a neglected perspective.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nOm81MqeCI

   Reply
   • James The Web Guy says:

     12/04/2012 at 12:10 pm

     Love it, straight into my Xmas pop stash box!

     Reply
4. Paul Zahl says:

   12/04/2012 at 11:03 am

   Argent! (among your Ghosts of Christmases Past)

   Reply
   • David Zahl says:

     12/04/2012 at 11:28 am

     Amen!

     Reply
   • James The Web Guy says:

     12/04/2012 at 12:05 pm

     Yes, discovering that Argent jam was the veritable gift of the Magi last year…

     Reply
5. B.I.C says:

   12/04/2012 at 4:21 pm

   What?!? No Run-D.M.C “Christmas in Hollis”?? or Listener’s “You Know He Knows, Don’t You? Well, He Knows Regardless.”

   Check this beauty out:

   [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84qdcCo7cgU&w=420&h=315%5D

   Reply
   • James The Web Guy says:

     12/04/2012 at 9:09 pm

     “Christmas in Hollis” was on the non-archived, extremely rare inaugural ’05 mix, along with Kurtis Blow’s “Christmas Rappin”‘. Didn’t know the other joint, thanks!

     See also, Sweet Tee “Let The Jingle Bells Rock”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHLSiIVxjUs

     Reply
     • B.I.C says:

       12/04/2012 at 11:11 pm

       The Sweet Tee jam is awesome. Thanks for the rec! Actually, the Listener has a whole Christmas EP called Just In Time For Christmas that is pretty amazing.

       I totally forgot about Kurtis Blow! Great one also!

       Reply