20 Favorite Xmas Recordings Of All Time

1. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - ANDY WILLIAMS
Arguably the greatest recording of all time in any musical genre, Mr. Andy Williams' masterwork is so over-the-top with manic energy that by the time it's over, you almost believe its rather preposterous premise. An ounce less of pomposity and it would've fallen flat; as it is, it's a testament to the fact that sometimes going for the gusto is the most heroic thing to do. In anyone else's hands, this would've sucked.

2. Sleigh Ride - JOHNNY MATHIS
I'm biased, because Mathis' Merry Christmas was the definitive December album of my youth. Nonetheless, Percy Faith's arrangement is so clean you could eat off it, Mitch Miller's production induces non-stop tingles in the spine, and Johnny's such a show-off with his e-nun-ci-a-tion that you just can't wait to hop in that sleigh that is as big as a whale and is about to set sail.

3. Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto - JAMES BROWN
Just as relevant now as it was when it came out 35 years ago. The best of the "social commentary" ones. With a groove like this, it's a song that deserves to be played in July.

4. Feliz Navidad - JOSE FELICIANO
Bright and peppy without being obnoxious, you could re-write the lyrics of this tune to tackle any mundane topic you want and the song still would work. Not just a perfect Christmas single, this is a perfect single, period.

5. Christmas Wrapping - THE WAITRESSES
The jaded almost-anti-holiday anthem comes of age with this now-classic. Arguably just as good as Blondie's "Rapture."

6. Linus & Lucy - VINCE GUARALDI TRIO
If it ain't exactly Christmas music according to the letter of the law, few pieces of music evoke the season like this one.

7. The Saddest Time Of The Year - SPOONER
A melancholy gem from the band that evolved into Garbage. From Yuletunes, a comp put together by the legendary power-pop band Shoes.

8. One Christmas Catalogue - CAPTAIN SENSIBLE
In the same vein as The Waitresses' tune, and almost as good, but sadly much lesser-known, although I did hear it in a Men's Wearhouse store recently. Shimmery new wave synth-pop from the ex-bassist of The Damned.

9. Someday At Christmas - STEVIE WONDER
He didn't write it, but Wonder carries the tune of this utopian anthem with such conviction that you'll be convinced otherwise.

10. Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) - RAMONES
A punk-pop classic. Also worth checking out is the ballad version Joey cut solo, released posthumously last year on the EP Christmas Spirit...In My House.

11. Jesus Christ - BIG STAR
The band that influenced everyone that's come since doesn't offer commentary, just lays out the fact that a guy with that particular name was born today. An anthem of rebirth.

12. Father Christmas - THE KINKS
Good, clean fun with a Robin Hood twist and a frantic guitar-and-drums attack.

13. This Christmas - DONNY HATHAWAY
Festive without being stupid. I think that about covers it.

14. Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You - BILLY SQUIER
Yeah, Beavis & Butt-head hated on it, but I submit that this whoop-it-up sing-a-long is a hell of a hoot. It's also Billy Squier's second best song.

15. Merry Christmas Everybody - SLADE
First in a trio of glam classics clustered near the end of this list. If you don't like this song, come over here right now and I'll beat the crap out of you.

16. Step Into Christmas - ELTON JOHN
It's a little tired now--and that is a factor in this list. If this one weren't so overplayed, it might have landed in the top 10. Still great anyway. Glam pop at its finest.

17. Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - JOHN LENNON & YOKO ONO
Mushy, ok, yes. But the sentiment, and the performance, are more than on the mark. One of only a few known examples in musical history where a choir of children is actually sort of bearable to listen to.

18. Fairytale Of New York - THE POGUES FEATURING KIRSTY MACCOLL
Another Christmas-by-association one, this incredibly well-crafted song seems to grow in stature every year, a status it richly deserves.

19. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - ROY WOOD'S WIZZARD
Earning third place in the glam trifecta, this huge U.K. hit by Move and ELO co-founder Wood busts out the kitchen sink and damn near hits you over the head with it. Doink.

20. Donde Esta Santa Claus? - AUGIE RIOS
I can't tell you much about Augie Rios, but I can tell you that this song, though perhaps a teeny bit cloying, is awfully, well, cute.

BONUS...
Mike C.'s Top 10 Essential Xmas CDs


1. Santa's Got A Brand New Bag
JAMES BROWN
(Rhino, 1988 compilation - subsequently re-released slightly retooled, with different artwork and title)

2. A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector
VARIOUS
(Phil Spector Records/ABKCO, 1963)

3. Someday At Christmas
STEVIE WONDER
(Motown, 1966)

4. Merry Christmas
JOHNNY MATHIS
(Columbia/Legacy, 1958, reissued 2003)

5. Christmas Party With Eddie G.
VARIOUS
(Strikin' It Rich/Columbia/Legacy, 1990 compilation)

6. Punk Rock Xmas
VARIOUS
(Rhino, 1995 compilation)

7. Ultimate Christmas
THE BEACH BOYS
(Capitol, 1998 compilation)

8. Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Xmas
VARIOUS
(Rhino, 1996 compilation)

9. A Charlie Brown Christmas
VINCE GUARALDI TRIO
(Fantasy, 1965)

10. The Original Soul Christmas
VARIOUS
(Atlantic/Rhino, 1968)