Southern River posted something yesterday saying that The Handsome Family is offering a free download of So Much Wine. It's a very dark take on the festivities and is hardly Merry Xmas Everybody but it's a fantastic song. I think it's available via their label's website - loosemusic.com

But my band has been asked to play our town's Christmas Lights switch on on friday and i've been hastily rehearsing our version of "fairytale of new york" so i'm in a christmassy frame of mind much earlier this year.

my favourite Christmas songs are "I want an alien for christmas" by Fountains of Wayne, "Everythings gonna be cool this christmas" by Eels, "Santa Claus go straight to the ghetto" by James Brown and "A Change at Christmas (Say It Isn't So)" by the Flaming Lips

all worth seeking out...

for all this!

She's just brought out a Christmas album and it's great! It's only available as an import I think. Got it for $15 delivered.

http://www.marychapincarpenter.com/

I've got a great CD which I bought in 2000, called 'It's a Cool Cool Christmas' which was produced by XFM. Contemporary artists doing christmas songs, and not just the usual songs, their own ones too. The Eels one does stand out, so does one called 'Feliz Navidad' by someone whose name I can't remember!

Found it :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-Cool-Christmas-Various-Artists/dp/B000051TTC

Oh, and that's just reminded me : 'Alan Parsons In A Christmas Wonderland' by Grandaddy is brilliant!

Rich

I think this might be an opportune moment to remind people of The Word's lovely 2007 Advent Calendar, 25 yummy pieces of festive YouTube goodness.

I've got a ready made Christmas mix of classics which runs like this

Marc Bolan - Christmas Message
Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa
Keith Mansfield - Snowman Stomp
Jingle Bells - Booker T and the MG's
Ramsey Lewis Trio - Here Comes Santa Claus
Oscar Peterson - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Stu Hamm - Sleigh Ride
Up With the People - Jingle Bell Beat
Anita Kerr Singers - Jingle bell rock
Soulfoul singers - Santa Claus is coming to town
Soulful Strings - Sleigh Ride
Edwin Starr - Snowflake Boogie
The Rhodes Kids - Winter Wonderland

And it's also worth getting your mittens on these...

Billy May Orchestra - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer(Malibu Remix)
Al Hirt - Nutty Jingle Bells
CCC - Body Sleighin'

Written when fog was thicker but still good for today

No sun--no moon!
No morn--no noon!
No dawn--no dusk--no proper time of day
No sky--no earthly view
No distance looking blue
No road--no street
No "t'other side the way"
No end to any Row
No indications where the Crescents go
No top to any steeple
No recognitions of familiar people
No courtesies for showing 'em
No knowing 'em!
No mail--no post
No news from any foreign coast
No park--no ring--no afternoon gentility
No company--no nobility
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds,
November!
"November" by Thomas Hood (1799-1845)

A Spaceman Came travelling by Chris De Burgh. Say what you like about the mulletted lover of ladies in red, everything about this song is just ace. And in it he appears to be claiming that Jesus was an alien galactic traveller. Far out!

But in second place I'd have to nominate the McGarrigle/Wainwright clan's version of Jackson Brown's Rebel Jesus from Anna and Kate McGarrigle's brilliant Christmas album of a couple of years ago. Great lyrics, great tune, beautifully sung. Fair brings a tear to eye. Not on youtube but you can hear it here.

Not the only things I'll be listening to as time marches on towards Christmas, but as they haven't been mentioned yet:

Waterson:Carthy - Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man
Loreena McKennitt - A Midwinter Night's Dream

The Springsteen version.

"Have you been a good boy Clarence? Is Santa going to bring you a new saxophone?"

Great fun

The Rat Pack Sings Christmas is always enjoyable.

The Waitresses - Christmas Rapping

I've got a Motown Xmas Cd which is pretty enjoyable, as well.

2000 Miles- The Pretenders
Just Like Christmas- Low
I Will Cry At Christmas- Denim
Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)- The Ramones (or the Asobi Seksu cover, if the Ramones version is too obvious!)
I Wish That I Could Stay (The Christmas Song)- The Raveonettes
Christmas Song- Joy Zipper
Christmas Song- The Relationships
Sleigh Ride- The Ronettes

You should all have:

Jethro Tull - Christmas song
Nat King Cole - Chestnuts roasting on an open fire

... Aimee Mann's "Another Drifter In The Smow" which was released the other year is quite excellent - some wonderfully inappropriate arrangements of Crimble tunes (a couple of which are resolutely Hawaian (?sp?) for no apparent reason) are great fun.

There are a couple of good tracks on Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong", in amongst the slightly insufferable twee stuff. I actually like her version of Merry Xmas War Is Over.

I also ensure that "A Merry Jingle" by the Greedies is no my Crimble play list - half of Thin Lizzy and half of the Sex Pistols having a bit of a larff in a pub rocky way. Who couldn't like that - place tongue firmly in cheek.

Finally, for sheer pant wettingly awfulness, have a listen to Jewel's Christmas album, particularly the absolutely awful version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - possibly the worst thing ever recorded in the history of music.

Bells ringing? Check.
Children singing? Check.

Winter suits Goldfrapp, doesn't it?

For the folkies amongst you...

http://www.free-reed.co.uk/midwinter

who was name checked in another thread the other day wrote the excellent Winter Song which appears on the 1st Lindisfarne album.

I likes

It's Hard To BE A Jew At Christmas - South Park
Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
Santa's Secret - Johnny Guanieri and Slam Stewart (Santa Claus is smoking reefer etc)
Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Xmas
The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot - Nat King Cole (now IS the time for your tears)
Santa Doesn't Cop Out On Dope - Martin Mull
St Stephen's Day Murders - Elvis Costello & the Chieftains

and Mark Ellen's Smash Hits Xmas Party of 1000 Stars thingee

This is proper lovely and can be got on eMusic.

When I prepare my Green Christmas compilation. So named after the Barenaked Ladies track from their seasonal CD.

The Monkees - Riu, Chiu. This is how I imagine the Word staffers celebrate in the office...before retiring to the pub. Or is it all wine bars in Islington.

My favourite Christmas Album is Leon Redbone's 'Christmas Island'. Well worth £7.99 of anyone's money

My favourite Christmas song is (I'll say it very quietly) Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'. I don't have much time for La Carey, but this is a belter.

aka Kevin bloody Wilson's Very Kevin Christmas always goes down well in my local watering hole.

which i bought last month . it is actually more of a boxed set with five disks included along with a songbook , cartoon sheet and christmas stickers which i purchased for a tenner . i cant tell you yet if it is any good because its a bit early to ply it ! also votes for the mccarrigles christmas album and the Aimee mann one which i must try to get hold of.

Whilst looking for Elmo & Patsy's classic Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, I came across the Bob Rivers cover Grandma Got Dismembered By A Chainsaw
Plus other classics
Chipmunks Roasting on An Open Fire
Walking Round In Women's Underwear (Yes, it's a Christmas Song)
plus many many more
Afraid I lack the technical nouse to post them here.
Seek and ye shall find.

humbug. Bloody hate Christmas.

Perry Como owned Christmas? I still love this

even if I'm more in Patrick's camp these days (and Joni Mitchell's - Sarah McClachlan does the honours here)

The Low Christmas album, and especially their sLowcore version of "Little Drummer Boy".

"Santa's Beard" by They Might Be Giants

"Things Fall Apart" by Cristina

"Have a Kung Fu Christmas" from the National Lampoon album "Goodbye Pop"

Review
Gary Hoey has delivered many rock remakes of classic Christmas carols throughout his career, but on The Best of Ho! Ho! Hoey, he collects them all onto one album along with some new versions. All the songs are well-known Christmas classics, mixing both secular and Christian carols together. The bizarre part of the whole affair is the arrangements of the songs: Although he may not have written them, he sure does not mind rewriting them to his style. What this makes for is heavy, shredding versions of "God Rest," "Greensleeves," and other melancholy Christmas favorites. With so many slow, peaceful renditions of these songs available, Hoey's approach is not only fresh but also unique. Sure, listeners who do not like guitar virtuoso music will probably not warm up to this album anytime soon, but rock fans who are looking for an up-tempo, aggressive alternative to most Christmas music may want to try this out. ~ Bradley Torreano, All Music Guide

"Thanks For Christmas" by The Three Wise Men is a good one - XTC using a pseudonym.

Oh and the Aimee Mann album "Another Drifter in the Snow" is wonderful.

While it doesn't seem right discussing christmas in November, I have no problem discussing christmas songs - I'll happily discuss my favourite summer song in the middle of winter as well.

Fountains of Wayne can really do no wrong so of course I like their three christmas songs.
The Ze compilation "A Christmas Record" contains no filler and three classics in
1. Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping"
2. Cristina "Things Fall Apart"
3. Davitt Siggerson "It's a Big Country" (I erroneously bought a whole album by him once on the strength of this track - don't make the same maistake!
I can happily listen to the Phil Spector album all the way through (OK.... nearly all the way through - you know where it has to be stopped!)
The XTC christmas songs as The Three Wise Men are fine as well.
I do like the Giant Sand song "Thank You Dreaded Black Ice, Thank You" where the result (if I understand the lyrics correctly) is a fatal black ice induced car crash on christmas eve!

How do I like all this and still hate bloody christmas and all it stands for?

The Manics released a stonking free Christmas download via their website last year. It's called Ghost of Christmas. I'm sure it'll be on YouTube if you can be bothered searching for it.

The Low Christmas EP is superb too.

SUDDENLY IT'S CHRISTMAS
Loudon Wainwright III

Suddenly it's Christmas,
Right after Hallowe'en.
Forget about Thanksgiving;
It's just a buffet in between.
There's lights and tinsel in the windows;
They're stocking up the shelves;
Santa's slaving at the North Pole
In his sweatshop full of elves.

There's got to be a build-up
To the day that Christ was born:
The halls are decked with pumpkins
And the ears of Indian corn.
Dragging through the falling leaves
In a one-horse open sleigh,
Suddenly it's Christmas,
Seven weeks before the day.

Suddenly it's Christmas,
The longest holiday.
When they say "Season's Greetings"
They mean just what they say:
It's a season, it's a marathon,
Retail eternity.
It's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree.

Outside it's positively balmy,
In the air nary a nip;
Suddenly it's Christmas,
Unbuttoned and unzipped.
Yes, they're working overtime,
Santa's little runts;
Christmas comes but once a year
And goes on for two months.

Christmas carols in December
And November, too;
It's no wonder we're depressed
When the whole thing is through.
Finally it's January;
Let's sing "Auld Lang Syne";
But here comes another heartache,
Shaped like a Valentine.

Suddenly it's Christmas,
The longest holiday.
The season is upon us;
A pox, it won't go away.
It's a season, it's a marathon,
Retail eternity.
It's not over till it's over
And you throw away the tree.

Ray Charles - The Spirit Of Christmas (As in the Christmas Vacation scene with Clark in the attic watching old cine films of his family past)

Blues Traveler - Christmas (With a hook as good as "Hook")

Mary J Blige - Christmas in the City

Smashing Pumpkins - Christmastime (Billy Corgan does Xmas,yes it's true!)

Billy May & Orchestra - Christmas Mambo (Absolute quality after a few egg nogs with Mrs.Clause in her little red dress!

Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) A Letterman Show Xmas Tradition

Chris Isaak - Washington Square

Anything on Low - Christmas will do the trick too, and if you can find on Ebay...
Richard Hawley - Silent Night http://www.mute.biz/ecards/richardhawley/xmas06/index.html given away at a pre xmas gig of his a couple of years ago now

This isn't the clip I remember but it's the only one I can find.

Don't forget some of the fantastic mashup Christmas records, such as these Go Home Productions classics:
http://planetmondo.blogspot.com/2007/12/countdown-to-christmas-pt-4-snow...

"Christmas on the Block" (J-Lo vs Macca) is one of the all-time peaches.

which manages that rare trick of being nostalgic without being sentimental

I've just ticked the boxes on iTunes to allow Christmas tunes back on my iPod for the next 6 weeks, so here are some of my faves:

Alexander O'Neal - My Gift To You (album)
Andy Williams - Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells
David Essex - A Winter's Tale
David Grant - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (a reggaefied Tony Visconti produced version, no less)
Diana Krall - Christmas Songs (album)
Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
Enya - And Winter Came... (something about her sound just suits Christmas perfectly, though if you subscribe to the South Park view of her, this is not likely to change your mind)
Frank Sinatra - Sinatra Christmas Album
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Christmas Song
Grimethorpe Colliery Band - A White Christmas with... (album)- got to have a bit of brass at Christmas.
Hely-Hutchinson - Carol Symphony (some of which was used in the TV series "The Box Of Delights")
Jason Donovan - When You Come Back To Me (yes I know, but it's the only one of his I ever liked)
Jethro Tull - Ring Out Solstice Bells
Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rapping
Leroy Anderson - Sleigh Ride
Lou Rawls - Christmas Is The Time (album)
Point Of Grace - A Christmas Story (album), especially "Carol of the Bells"
Prince - Another Lonely Christmas
Procul Harum - A Christmas Camel (would make a great hip-hop sample)
Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis
Saint Etienne - I Was Born On Christmas Day
Stevie Wonder - The Christmas Collection (Album)- only got round to listening to this a few days ago, and wonderful from start to finish.
Sufjan Stevens - O Holy Night

and the album that stands with the Spector one as being the true sound of Christmas to me - The Torero Band's "Tijuana Christmas" album - came out on MFP in 1968, had a brief CD release eventually and is now deleted, but you can get it on eBay.

I also love the aforementioned Spector, Low, Ze Records & Aimee Mann albums, and never seem to tire of hearing the Wizzard single either.

"It's Cliched to be Cynical At Christmas" - a recently discovered gem

Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! by Sufjan Stevens

Feels Like Christmas by Cyndi Lauper

Carolina Christmas by Squirrel Nut Zippers (especially the line "Grandma's on the fiddle, Granpa's on the bass")

And my vote is for Fairytale of NY as the best modern Christmas song...

I also recommend Christmas Remixed and Merry Mixmas if you want laid back beats and 50s/60s Christmas classics in a cheesy-but-acceptable-party/soiree stylee: mighty versions of "(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man with the Bag" and "The Merriest" amongst others.

by Pet Shop Boys was a freebie that they gave away to fan club members a few years ago. Unlike most of those freebies, this is an absolutely cracking song and would have made a great single - not quite up there with It's A Sin, but better than West End Girls

or you can hear it in a Xmas mix I put up at http://8tracks.com/magneticfields/it-doesnt-often-snow-at-christmas along with a load of other not so well known tracks