Mannheim Steamroller, 1984+
Not to be confused with that other instrumental group associated with the holidays (their turn comes next week), Mannheim Steamroller’s takes on holiday standards are wonderful examples of modernizing traditional music.
Tag Archives: Christmas
My Favorite Christmas Songs 2015 #12
“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas,” Gayla Peevy, 1953
“Kid logic is a wonderful thing,” I’ve often said, but this little girl has clearly thought her plan all the way through!
My Favorite Christmas Songs 2015 #11
“Home For the Holidays,” Perry Como, 1959
The holidays mean travel to visit loved ones and this tune always puts me in a traveling mood. This is actually the second version Como recorded, love that big brass sound!
My Favorite Christmas Songs 2015 #9
“Winter Wonderland,” Huey Lewis and the News, 1984
I’m trying to not duplicate songs on this list, but I have to have my all-time favorite group represented. Huey Lewis and the News have had a few a cappella songs on their albums over the years; recording this classic near the height of their popularity.
My Favorite Christmas Songs 2015 #8
“Frosty the Snowman,” Willie Nelson, 1979
There have been a number of wonderful renditions of Gene Autry’s “Frosty the Snowman” over the years: the original, Jimmy Durante’s rendition from the TV special and even the Beach Boys have covered the standard. I thought I’d go with Willie Nelson:
My Favorite Christmas Songs 2015 #1-6
As I looked over my list of Christmas songs from last year, I realized that I left out quite a few good ones in my effort to highlight songs and covers that folks may not have heard of. Thus, I’ll start out this year playing catch up with some standards:
#1 – “The Christmas Song,” Nat King Cole, 1946
How else could I start?
#2 – “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” Burl Ives, 1964
Counting “There’s Always Tomorrow” from last year, this makes the second song on my list from the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” holiday special. The song was originally to be sung by the character of Yukon Cornelius. Yeah, I can’t see it, either.
#3 – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Gene Autry, 1949
The original version of the story of “Santa’s 9th Reindeer.” I remember singing it in Cub Scouts and the troop all goofing with it; repeating the ‘reindeer’ in the chorus and adding words to the lyrics.
#4 – “Happy Holidays/Holiday Season,” Andy Williams, 1963
“Happy Holiday” was originally sung by Bing Crosby in the 1942 film “Holiday Inn.” “The Holiday Season” was added later to make this classic medley.
#5 – “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Andy Williams, 1963
Another wonderful standard from Andy Williams. I’ve always wondered: Was telling ghost stories at Christmas time really a thing way back when?
#6 – “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Brenda Lee
To my ears, Brenda Lee sounds as if she’s singing about ‘punkin’ pie’ but that only adds to the song’s charm.
My Favorite Christmas Songs!
I’m usually not one for re-runs, but here’s the list of my favorite Christmas songs I compiled last year. I didn’t include the links, but that’s what The Google and the search box at the right is for. :3
- Please Come Home for Christmas, The Eagles
- Winter Wonderland, The Eurythmics
- Little Saint Nick, The Beach Boys
- If It Doesn’t Snow on Christmas, Gene Autry
- Baby It’s Cold Outside, Dean Martin
- Christmas Vacation, Mavis Staples
- What Child is This, Llona Byrd
- White Christmas, The Drifters
- Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Band Aid
- Santa Claus and His Old Lady, Cheech and Chong
- There’s Always Tomorrow, Janice Orenstein
- Feliz Navidad, Jose Feliciano
- Wonderful Christmastime, Paul McCartney
- Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, Bruce Springsteen
- Last Christmas, Wham!
- Happy Xmas, John Lennon and Yoko Ono
- Run Rudolph Run, Chuck Berry
- Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy, Bing Crosby / David Bowie
- Someday at Christmas, Stevie Wonder
- Merry Christmas Darling, Carpenters
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings, Barenaked Ladies featuringn Sarah McLachlan
- We Need a Little Christmas, Percy Faith and his Orchestra and Chorus
- Blue Christmas, Elvis
- A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack
- Christmas at Ground Zero, Weird Al Yankovic
My Favorite Christmas Songs #24
“A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack,” Vince Girauldi Trio, 1965
I don’t know that there’s much more I can say about the seminal TV special and its jazzy soundtrack.
TRIVIA: The tune everyone refers to as “The Charlie Brown Song” is actually named “Linus and Lucy.”
My Favorite Christmas Songs #20
“Merry Christmas Darling,” Carpenters, 1978
Christmas songs old and new are frequently covered by different artists over the years, and such is the nature of these things. Personally, I think this one shouldn’t be touched.
TRIVIA: the official name of the duo was just ‘Carpenters’ without the definitive article.
My Favorite Christmas Songs #18
“Peace On Earth/The Little Drummer Boy,” David Bowie and Bing Crosby, 1977
Recorded for a television special (Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas) in September 1977, the counterpoint “Peace on Earth” was specifically written for David Bowie, who reportedly hated “The Little Drummer Boy” and refused to sing it, although he does accompany Bing at the start. Those two great talents from two different times combined to make something wonderful.
Sadly, Bing Crosby passed away five weeks after the taping at the age of 74 and David Bowie at the age of 69 in 2016.
The video below has the full segment, the song starts at about 1:45
Eduardo Soliz 