Do You Hear What I Hear?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – trees are going up, lights and decorations are being hung, but maybe something is missing. Some tunes to help get you through the holiday season.

Shortly after Thanksgiving, one or two local radio stations switch over to all Christmas music, which I would welcome, if they had any variety at all. It’s the same songs and artists all the time. There’s only so much Mannheim Steamroller I can take.

So here it is – A mix of new and old, from upbeat and fun to slow and sentimental. Now I know there are some omissions. Springsteen’s version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “All I Want for Christmas” by Mariah Carey. And certainly no versions of “Baby It’s Cold Outside”.

I present my Christmas Mixtape for 2020:

- Linus and Lucy – Vince Guaraldi Trio – What better way to start than this classic. Bop your head and dance like the Peanuts characters while this one plays.

- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love – The original is the best version (sorry U2 fans). The Phil Spector produced album of Christmas songs is one of the best collections around and this song tops them all.

- Funky Little Drummer Boy – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – I have a soft spot for Sharon Jones and this number will get you movin’ and groovin’ as you hang the ornaments on the tree.

- Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys – Beautiful harmonies and that California sound dominate this track. So grab your surfboards and egg nog.

- River – Joni Mitchell – Technically it’s not about Christmas (it’s about a broken relationship), but it’s become something of a modern Christmas standard. Plus it’s Joni Mitchell so…that’s something great.

- Christmastime – Aimee Mann – The first of two songs from Mann on this playlist. Written by her husband Michael Penn (originally from the movie Hard Eight), the gentle sway of the song fits so well with the classic Christmas vibe.

- Christmas Child – Carbon Leaf – One of my favorite bands - This fun track paints Christmas through a child’s eyes and the build-up and anticipation of that special night. It’s a favorite sing-along in our house.

- Put A Little Love In Your Heart – Al Green and Annie Lennox – Originally performed by Jackie DeShannon, this classic closes out the Christmas movie “Scrooged”. It’s a great remake by two of the best voices in music.

- Last Christmas – Wham! – A must on the list. Did you know that this song was the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century in the UK until 2015 (the song that overtook it comes later). Also, George Michael, wrote, performed, produced and played every instrument on the track (sorry Andrew Ridgley).

- I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas – Lake Street Dive – Originally released in 1953 as a Christmas novelty song, Lake Street Dive’s version is silly and fun and just as quirky as they are.

- Christmas In Hollis – Run-D.M.C. – Sampling the Christmas track “Backdoor Santa” by Clarence Carter, the rap trio almost didn’t make the song as a few years previous, Kurtis Blow released the track “Holiday Rappin’” and D.M.C. didn’t want to look like copycats. So glad they did!

- Wonderful Christmastime – The Shins – One of the most debated of holiday songs. It’s a true love/hate relationship with this song originally done by Paul McCartney (I fall into the hate category) but the updated version from The Shins is one I’ve grasped onto. It adds a nice quirkiness to an already goofy song.

- Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses – Maybe the most underrated song on this playlist, there’s a sly New Wave feel throughout the song and the horns add a nice R&B flavor.

- Ribbons and Bows – Kacey Musgraves – A newly written Christmas song is always welcome, especially when it involves such a great talent like Musgraves. The 50s style girl-group sound shines on this track co-written by pop-songstress Julia Michaels.

- 2000 Miles – The Pretenders - While many people believe the song's title and lyrics refer to two long-distance lovers who miss each other over the holidays, it was actually written for the group's original guitar player, who died the year before the song was released. Still, when Hynde belts “I hear people singing. It must be Christmas time,” I get chills.

- Let It Snow – She & Him – A flirty, playful version by Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward that makes you want to stare out the window sipping hot chocolate.

- (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays – The Carpenters – Karen Carpenter could sing the phone book and I’d listen. The song reminds me of growing up, watching any Christmas special on PBS. It’s nostalgia at its best.

- Sleigh Ride – Ella Fitzgerald – Lady Ella’s easy breezy version is carried by her phenomenal voice. A true classic.

- “Underneath the Tree” – Kelly Clarkson – No, I’m not yelling her name like Steve Carrel in “The 40-Year Old Virgin” but close to it. I love Clarkson. She’s not pretentious, she’s got killer pipes and tackles this tune with amazing gusto.

- Twinkle (Little Christmas Lights) – JD McPherson – The jive-jumping song from the Oklahoma rocker keeps you going after Clarkson. The songs checks all the boxes and should become an all-time classic.

- Wrap Me Up Under the Christmas Tree – A Great Big World – The pop duo shine with a catchy song about the love of each other and not just presents.

- Father Christmas – The Kinks – A working-class tough kid song that adds dashes of humor, but touches on the plight of those that don’t have, especially during the holidays.

- Christmas All Over Again – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – An underappreciated holiday classic. If nothing else, Tom Petty makes it cool to like Christmas music.

- Fairytale of New York – The Pogues (featuring Kirsty MacColl) – An Irish-folk style ballad/waltz that I consider one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time. The storytelling isn’t the most uplifting but go into any bar during the holidays and when this one comes on, I guarantee at least half the bar will be singing along.

- Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding – I mean, it’s Otis Redding, one of the greatest singers of all time. His soulful, funky take on this track (a B-side to his version of “White Christmas”).

- Calling On Mary – Aimee Mann – Another original off of Mann’s Christmas album One More Drifter in the Snow.

- Christmas Dinner – Peter, Paul and Mary – I first listened to this song in my parent’s basement on my dad’s record player. It makes me feel warm inside picturing the fireplace going holding the album cover in my hands. It’s such a Dickens-like story.

- Donna and Blitzen – Badly Drawn Boy – From the movie “About A Boy”, a lovely, sentimental ballad that warms the heart. Somewhat unknown in the US, it’s a great companion to the “Fairytale of New York”

- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – The Jackson 5 – Another one from an album I listened to in my parent’s basement (A Motown Christmas). I loved The Jackson 5, so many great songs, and their version of this tune is innocent and magical.

- It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams – A true classic that should be on every holiday playlist. Perfection.

- What Christmas Means to Me – John Legend – Recorded by many, made famous by Stevie Wonder, the John Legend version is a solid upgrade from all other covers. And he gets Wonder to guest on his version. Not too shabby.

- Green Christmas – Barenaked Ladies – Let’s go up north for this one. Originally recorded for the movie “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” this easy going track touches on a bah-humbug feeling in a fun way.

- A Christmas to Remember – Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers – It’s Dolly. It’s Kenny. Together again. For Christmas!

- Hey! Merry Christmas! – The Mavericks – Channeling Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, The Mavericks deliver a rousing Christmas tune that’ll have you dancing around your kitchen Christmas morning.

- O Come O Come Emmanuel – Sufjan Stevens – A haunting version of this classic hymn that Stevens puts his own stamp on. It feels so wintry to me. Like standing in an open field, looking up into the sky as snow falls all around you.

- Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon and Yoko Ono – Released in 1971, the song, recorded with the Harlem Community Choir, was also produced by Phil Spector. It’s an anti-war song that because of its title, has become a Christmas staple.

- Go Tell It On The Mountain – James Taylor – Like Karen Carpenter, I could listen to James Taylor sing anything including the menu from Grotto Pizza. Taylor’s version of the famous African-American spiritual song is considered a Christmas carol as its original lyrics celebrate the Nativity of Jesus.

- I Love You More Than Christmas Snow – Marie Miller – One of my daughter’s favorite singers released this original tune a couple of years ago. It’s a song, as Miller puts it, “about falling in love so hard that you are willing to give up something as precious as a winter wonderland.”

- Pretty Paper – Willie Nelson – Willie originally wrote this in 1963 and it was originally recorded by Roy Orbison. Nelson wrote it after remembering a man who used to sell pencils and paper on the street in Texas. To attract the attention of the people, the man announced, "Pretty paper! Pretty paper!"

- Christmas Time Is Here – Ben Rector – The newest selection on the playlist is from Rector’s 2020 Christmas album. Originally heard on the 1965 television special “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, Rector captures the ease and beauty of the original.

- This Christmas – Donny Hathaway – One of Hathaway’s most popular songs, he was "very upbeat during the session" and that he "knew what he wanted to do musically and the impact he wanted to make with this song" regarding the representation of African Americans in Christmas music.

- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra – Perfect way to close out the playlist. It feels so intimate, like Frank is sitting in a room with only you, singing/telling you the song.

It’s also my wish to you – Have yourself a merry little Christmas (or however you celebrate the holiday season).