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Author Topic: It's that time of year - your pick of 3 obscure Xmas songs  (Read 9950 times)
kwan_dk
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« on: November 28, 2013, 12:25:03 PM »

Ok, so there is a lot of great holiday music out there that drowns in the usual sea of Last Christmas / Driving Home for Christmas / Jingle Bell Rock etc each December. I'd love to see which three personal favourites people can throw on the table for those of us who are fed up with the usual stuff. Please, let's try to point each other to something cool, but overlooked - something that probably not a lot of us have heard already.

I'll go first.

For me, Christmas and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound is inseperable. So I'll get the ball rolling with three perfect examples of how to combine this:

The Hives & Cyndi Lauper - A Christmas Dual (2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My5Bzf0PQhc

Metro Jets - Jingle Jangle Christmas (2006)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMLIiWAUTdA

The Kik - A Christmas Song for You (2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkKuIJFKuBM

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« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2013, 12:51:27 PM »

Robert Goulet- Hurry Home For Christmas (I guess Will Ferrell is a fan too)
The Manhattan Transfer- A Christmas Love Song
Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme- That Holiday Feeling
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« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2013, 01:26:49 PM »

Just the three that came first to mind:


Everly Brothers - Christmas Eve Can Kill You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xl_kMvlzV0


Johnny Paycheck - Christmas is
(couldn't find this on youtube)

http://www.amazon.de/johnny-paycheck-christmas-is-MP3-Downloads/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=Johnny%20Paycheck%20Christmas%20Is&page=1&rh=n%3A77195031%2Ck%3AJohnny%20Paycheck%20Christmas%20Is


Freddie King - Christmas tears

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i2wypLkWkY
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« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2013, 04:45:16 PM »

Robert Goulet- Hurry Home For Christmas (I guess Will Ferrell is a fan too)
Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme- That Holiday Feeling

Great ones, krabklaw! I have an autographed copy of the That Holiday Feeling CD by Steve & Eydie. Also, great topic! I'm sorry but I have to list more than three; love Christmas music! police

Henry Mancini - "Carol For Another Christmas"
Mario Lanza - "The Virgin's Slumber Song"
David Rose - "The Christmas Tree"
Frank Sinatra - "Christmas Memories" and "Whatever Happened To Christmas"
Perry Como - "Christmas Eve"
Joy Williams - "Here With Us"
Merle Haggard - "Santa Claus And Popcorn"
Ella Fitzgerald - "The Secret Of Christmas"
The Band - "Christmas Must Be Tonight"
The Moody Blues - "December Snow"
Mantovani - "Christmas Bells"
Julie London - "I'd Like You For Christmas" and "Warm In December"
Bert Kaempfert - "Jingo Jango" and "Toy Parade"


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Summertime Blooz
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« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2013, 09:41:03 PM »

Oh! I have to add 'Thanks For Christmas' by The Three Wise Men ( aka XTC). That record is awesome.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SMgxtwiH44
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« Reply #5 on: November 29, 2013, 03:25:35 AM »

Here are three more from me.

The first one might not be so obscure to some around here, but still. Ceeloo Green had a horrible cover of it on his Christmas album from, I think, last year.

Donny Hathaway - This Christmas (1970)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1mVUEHeUE

Ronny & the Daytonas - Winter Weather (1966)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FTBGLaWx8c

... and I really like this one that came out last year:

JD McPherson - Twinkle (Little Christmas Lights) (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTTKis3IJ-s



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« Reply #6 on: November 29, 2013, 05:52:49 AM »

Here are three more from me.

The first one might not be so obscure to some around here, but still.

Donny Hathaway - This Christmas (1970)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1mVUEHeUE

Johnny Mathis (78 years old and still sounds great!) recorded a cover of "This Christmas" on his NEW Christmas album.

A few more:

Kate Bush - "December Will Be Magic Again"
Smashing Pumpkins - "Christmastime"
Jack Jones - "Some Children See Him"
Simon & Garfunkel - "The Star Carol"
Dan Fogelberg - "Snowfall"
Ferrante & Teicher - "Brazilian Sleigh Bells"
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« Reply #7 on: November 29, 2013, 07:01:51 AM »

Nick Lowe has an entire new album of xmas tunes called Quality Street that is great and a "sleighbell  free zone"!
(haven't figured out how to link to videos with this device yet!)
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« Reply #8 on: November 29, 2013, 07:24:00 AM »

1. Steklovata - Novi God: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_rmLmrCv6E



2. Boney M - Feliz Navidad: http://youtu.be/cqpi-e_iLcQ?t=10s
« Last Edit: November 29, 2013, 07:26:12 AM by Swedish Frog » Logged

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« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2013, 12:10:32 PM »

Here's kinda an answer song to "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus".

George Jones - "My Mom And Santa Claus"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbmTRZEKM4o


Charles Brown - Please Come Home For Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itdNoGtPQ3I


Charles Brown - Merry Christmas baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba3kEkatBOk


Dean Martin - The Christmas blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3k396MkeJY


John Lee Hooker - Blues for Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIOcxEsX2pE


Elvis Presley - Merry Christmas baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdhcFrPrzGE


Johnny Cash - Blue Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SezBcCX0No


Ray Charles - Rudolph the red nosed reindeer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLnhVRTI8NI


Joe Tex - I'll make everyday Christmas for my woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9HOs_uVhuE
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To sum it up, they blew it, they blew it consistently, they continue to blow it, it is tragic and this pathological problem caused The Beach Boys' greatest music to be so underrated by the general public.

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« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2013, 01:53:04 PM »

Lots of great stuff posted - I'll certainly investigate further.  Smiley

Here are a few more:

This is possibly my favourite Christmas song of all time...

Over the Rhine - Darlin' (Christmas is Comin') (2006)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Zu95cHK2U

The Rosebuds - I Hear (Click Click Click) (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykD8_fe6PGs

Attic Lights - Why Should Christmas Be so Hard (2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hkjFe-ne6g

The last one should certainly appeal to Beach Boys fans...
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« Reply #11 on: November 29, 2013, 01:55:56 PM »

Oh! I have to add 'Thanks For Christmas' by The Three Wise Men ( aka XTC). That record is awesome.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SMgxtwiH44

Fantastic song! It was stuff like this I was hoping to discover by starting this thread. Thanks.
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« Reply #12 on: November 29, 2013, 09:49:03 PM »

Steven Page-A Different Sort of Solitude

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDcTzAezxlU

Weird Al-Christmas at Ground Zero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t039p6xqutU

Barenaked Ladies-Deck the Stills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqMARMtIfZ4
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« Reply #13 on: November 30, 2013, 04:28:40 AM »



Barenaked Ladies-Deck the Stills

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqMARMtIfZ4


Love that!  Grin
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To sum it up, they blew it, they blew it consistently, they continue to blow it, it is tragic and this pathological problem caused The Beach Boys' greatest music to be so underrated by the general public.

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« Reply #14 on: November 30, 2013, 08:22:59 AM »

1. My Evergreen by Squirrel nut Zippers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5VzvhH0DCg

2. Atlas Eets Christmas by The Flaming Lips with Plastic Ono Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paR5E5PSSs4

3. Father Christmas by The Kinks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni04_SF-HRQ

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« Reply #15 on: December 01, 2013, 05:18:45 AM »

I offer y'all "Just Like Christmas" by Low from their 1997 EP Christmas. It's a good'un.
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« Reply #16 on: December 01, 2013, 10:27:12 AM »

Cocteau Twins: Frosty the Snowman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQZlUEyObhc
Pansy Division: Homo Christmas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAhDe8dwsIE
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci: Christmas Eve http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP8UIocMYyw
South Park's Mr Garrison: Merry F***ing Christmas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFNqvcTtfz8
They Might Be Giants: Santa's Beard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YpYROJNlFo
Hawksley Workman: Let's Make Some Soup http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCNpwJ72pBw
John Cale: Child's Christmas in Wales http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9IKnVVRsmk
Magnetic Fields: Mr Mistletoe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JlxmeuaHZs
Steeleye Span: The King http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_4lhU6q46Y
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« Reply #17 on: December 01, 2013, 03:58:18 PM »

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Christmas All Over Again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EzQu_7UzZk

Wyatt Funderburk: Merry Christmas (I'm in Love With You): http://wyattfunderburk.bandcamp.com/track/merry-christmas-im-in-love-with-you
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« Reply #18 on: December 02, 2013, 01:20:47 PM »

Here are some Chuck Berry christmas numbers for you:

Run Rudolph run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY4_d_JILH4

Spending Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPUEbd6h9PU

Merry Christmas baby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPmRI1lZKns

Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vibKu_-ZWuk


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a diseased bunch of mo'fos if there ever was one… their beauty is so awesome that listening to them at their best is like being in some vast dream cathedral decorated with a thousand gleaming American pop culture icons.

- Lester Bangs on The Beach Boys


PRO SHOT BEACH BOYS CONCERTS - LIST


To sum it up, they blew it, they blew it consistently, they continue to blow it, it is tragic and this pathological problem caused The Beach Boys' greatest music to be so underrated by the general public.

- Jack Rieley
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« Reply #19 on: December 09, 2013, 04:06:13 PM »

The Roomates " ITS CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtflglbEC-A

The Crystalairs "HERE COMES CHRISTMAS"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXE6PP7KNLE
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« Reply #20 on: December 11, 2013, 02:32:30 AM »

Not an obscure song, but probably a version most of you aren't familiar with:

Swedish opera singer Jussi Björling's O Holy Night: http://open.spotify.com/track/1zZAo2svewOprAfphYjGL5, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofKk_Etapq4

I've never been an opera fan, but this song gets me every time with the dynamic backing track and the interplay between it and the singer.
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« Reply #21 on: December 23, 2013, 07:52:39 AM »

"Blue Christmas" by Lou Reed & Friends:

http://youtu.be/xIYtlzAJUcg
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« Reply #22 on: December 24, 2013, 08:31:14 PM »

Laura Nyro - Christmas in My Soul -   On my Christmas Cake each year, I use a bit of this song:
Red and Silver
On the leaves...
snow falls softly
through the trees...
On Christmas
 Christmas
 in
 my
 Soul
What can I say...I will love her forever.  Morning came to, the windows of the world.
Bobbie Gentry - Away in A Manger -   It was Christmas night 1978 that she appeared on The Tonight Show, then quietly disappeared into her life.
The Temptations - My Christmas Tree -  Eddie Kendricks owns this.  From the Christmas Card album 1970.  Written by Jimmy Webb in 1965 for the Supremes, but nobody has ever done it better than The Temps.
I know you said three, but let me add one more - Sheriff John sure is.  Grin
Bernadette Peters - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (live 9 December, 1996 in New York City) - She sent some happy people off into the night with that one...
Merry Christmas Everybody
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« Reply #23 on: November 16, 2014, 11:19:35 PM »

Oh! I have to add 'Thanks For Christmas' by The Three Wise Men ( aka XTC). That record is awesome.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SMgxtwiH44

Fantastic song! It was stuff like this I was hoping to discover by starting this thread. Thanks.
Your comment made me check this 1st. Didn't hear anything by this band save "The Last Balloon" (in the "Name 1 song you wish the BBs should've covered") & "Pale & Precious". I recall not liking the singer's voice, but somehow I liked it here. It helps too that it's not standard, at least I wouldn't call it a Christmas classic. Well-crafted arrangement.

Some of my favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea-txLHxNxM (Sun 60 "Merry X-mess")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckJowfwtVlQ (NRBQ "Christmas Wish")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZnyKP2B3Zw (same song, cover by She & Him)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PcOou9FPPI (Cyndi Lauper "Early Christmas Morning")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viqUps-FiUA (Randy Travis "Jingle Bell Rock"; top v-n)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2mh5zPj7Lc (Jethro Tull "Ring Out Solstice Bells")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeyHl1tQeaQ (Shakin' Stevens "Merry Christmas Everyone")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG1UAV_eAKI (Elton John "Step into Christmas")

Will check the other ones that new to me. And check my Winamp for more.
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« Reply #24 on: November 17, 2014, 07:05:56 AM »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZtfhH19JgU (Chris Stamey Group "Christmas Time", but this one is live from a year ago with Peter Holsapple)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3tJXb3mGT4 (Bob Seger & the Last Heard "Sock It to Me Santa"; cool rocker)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfiDWpHDu_w (The Residents "Santa Dog"; the James Bond of Christmas tune)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9hirFHx2J4 (Bob Wills "Santa Is on His Way"; I like the narrative/spoken bits)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ZG8MJ64ic (Vince Guaraldi Trio "Linus & Lucy")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5souTq65bmM (Stevie Wonder "The Christmas Song"; heard it in Dec 2006 & it's since been one of my absolute favorites; the guy was only 17!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UJcrYrDcws (Jackson 5 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"; lil Michael was like Robertino Loretti, another big favorite of mine, best version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejOgf-19eeg (Frightened Rabbit "It's Christmas So We'll Stop")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNHuCL6rzxo (Homer & Jethro "All I Want for Christmas is My Upper Plate)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-iFsxSNN2c (Spike Jones & his City Slickers "All I Want for Christmas is My 2 Front Teeth"; I'm a big fan of Spike Jones' humor)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNisChLFoTo (The Roomates "Christmas Ain't My Friend"; Steve named "It's Christmas Time Again", here are 2 others)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jx0kEQ34Gk (The Roomates "Christmas Bells")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxNemfdMnOU (Slade "Merry Christmas Everybody"; I don't like Noddie's voice, but I do the cheery melody)
Merigail Moreland "I Want My Mommy & Daddy Together for Christmas" (obscure, no link on youtube)
Luther's "Christmas Goose" (to date, I believe it's the only Christmas song done by a Smiley board member)
Coca Cola commercial (the only commercial that is tolerable)
Entire album of Carnie & Wendy's "Hey Santa"
Brian's version of "Joy to the World"
Speaking of: "Christmasey"
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