Here’s this year’s Christmas mix, a gift for my legions of readers! I’ve always liked Christmas music, traditional and re-interpreted, and have a modest collection of seasonal CD’s from which most of this mix was assembled. Herewith, a annotated track list and a picture of the cover art.
Incidentally, the most interesting holiday music show I’ve seen this year was a concert by the Raleigh Ringers, shown on one of the city’s many public channels. Catch it if you can – this ensemble plays on the largest collection of handbells in the world, and the music has a kind of gigantic human-driven music box air to it that’s perfect for tunes like Carol of the Bells and portions of the Nutcracker Suite; even the physical movements of the ringers as they wave the bells and then quickly – but gracefully – suppress the sustained notes are lovely.
And now, the tracks:
1. The Drifters – White Christmas. Next to Crosby’s, I like this doo-wop version the best. Great bass and falsetto parts, and listen for the Jingle Bells fragment that ends it.
2. Sting – Gabriel’s Message. A song I didn’t know until I heard this version, with a techno underbeat and an ethereal production. Quite beautiful, and an English accent always makes carols sound more authentic somehow. It’s the Dickens thing.
3. South Park – Carol of the Bells. Intentionally dumb voices make this rendition work in some weird way. I love this tune, and this version makes the lyrics perfectly clear.
4. Canadian Brass - Here We Come A Wassailing. Brass and Christmas go together well, and this Paganesque drinking tune is another favorite of mine.
5. The Crystals – Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Some songs were just made for the Phil Spector treatment; this is one of them. Springsteen’s version is a cover of this one.
6. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby. A gold-digger’s wishlist, and Kitt turns on the eros when she urges Santa to “hurry down my chimney tonight”. Have yourself a Freudian little Xmas!
7. Lionel Hampton – Boogie Woogie Santa Claus. From the Rhino collection, Hipster’s Holiday, a good romp.
8. Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). For those with Seasonal Affect Disorder, there are a number of songs that cover the yearning and loneliness that this rolling time of the year can bring. This is one of the best, and another Spector wall-of-sound production.
9. Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock. At least one shlocky Christmas novelty pop song had to be on the list. Just be thankful it’s not “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” or “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”.
10. Louis Armstrong – Cool Yule. The great horn player and consummate entertainer just having fun.
11. James Taylor – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Now let’s all get quiet, and let a sentimental tear fall into our eggnog. I thought of putting Garland’s version on here, but even though his voice is a pale shadow of hers, Taylor has a flatter affect and I think it works better on this song.
12. Diana Krall – Christmas Time Is Here. …and if James Taylor were a woman, and recorded another melancholic Christmas tune, he would be this woman and it would be this tune.
13. Crash Test Dummies – The First Noel. A real surprise when I first heard it. This is a traditional take on another classic carol, and it’s a beauty. Good voices, great arrangement, with a gruff baritone lead, and some intricate harmonies.
14. Canadian Brass – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. I like the minor key lines in this song, which make the “tidings of comfort and joy” sound close to depressing.
15. Mel Torme - The Christmas Song. Jack Frost roasting on an open fire, chestnuts nipping at your nose. A lounge singer’s carol to go with your Christmas martini.
16. Tom Lehrer – Hannukah In Santa Monica. An ecumenical sidetrip to the land of latkes and dreidels, served up with Lehrer’s antic wit. Next year, a track from the Klezmer Nutcracker.
17. Bruce Springsteen – Merry Christmas Baby. The Boss sends his best to all you virtual New Jerseyites from way down the shore. Clarence does, too (rumor: he was named for the angel in It's A Wonderful Life).
18. The Pogues – Fairytale of New York. A Christmas love song on the skids. The boys of the NYPD choir were singing “Galway Bay” and the bells were ringing out on Christmas day. A fine song, featuring Shane MacGowan and the untimely departed Kristy MacColl.
19. The Eurythmics – Winter Wonderland. Annie Lennox sings strongly as usual over a tasty electronics-heavy production. When I was a little kid (and knew nothing about the various titles of Christian clergymen), I wondered why they would pretend a snowman was “parse and brown” and just what “parse” was anyway.
20. Fahey & Robb – Deck The Halls & We Wish You A Merry Christmas. From an all-acoustic steel guitar set of seasonal instrumentals, this one is immaculately tasteful and cool.
21. Jorma Kaukonen – What Child Is This. Jorma in his electrified mood; another fine guitarist doing his Christmas thing.
22. Hallelujah! From an all-star R&B version of Handel’s Messiah, this rousing gospel arrangement of the monster chorus will have you on your feet shouting “Amen!”. Irresistible, and the climax of the set.
22. The Orioles – What’re You Doing New Year’s? And the final track, the question that was once so important in our High School days. Me and Mrs. DJ Stan prefer a good chocolate cake and a good bottle of Champagne. Watching the ball drop isn’t necessary, although I still miss Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians - just a little.
So to all of you out there, Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Io Saturnalia! Joyous Kwanzaa! And in the New Year, if you can’t always get what you want…well, you know the rest.
