The First List

I LOVE lists. I like to think about how I would rank things. And since it is almost Christmas and this new blog DESERVES a list, here are the ten best Christmas songs ever. But first...

...let's talk the importance of Christmas music. Sure it is mostly goofy, older pap but it encourages me. It is the one time of the year that people allow music from another time, another generation, to be played on the airwaves. I don't have to hear that crappy, programmed music targeted for the reality-tv generation. I get a few weeks of Bing, Gene, Burl, Johnny, Dean, Frank, Brenda and Tony.

So to the ten best. I will do my best with my limited collection and knowledge to give you who I think recorded the DEFINITIVE version. In some cases that could be the original. In others it will be a cover. If it IS a cover, I will try and give you who recorded the first version. If it is the original I will try to give you my favorite cover of the song. And remember, this is my list. You disagree? Let me know. And then make your own list.

10. "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy" - by Buck Owens. What? Who has ever heard this song? It is my favorite song based on that catching-daddy-dressed-as-Santa theme. Sure, you are used to the tired verson catching mommy acting less than lady-like. But I prefer to think that not everyone's mother would give it up to a jolly old man in a sleigh.
Notable Covers: I don't think that anyone has ever really covered this one. But they should.

9. "Nuttin' For Christmas" - by Stan Freberg (with Dawes Butler). I am sure you have heard the more watered down, less humorous version by _________(fill in the blank). But this version is superb. Freberg plays the troubled tike in a way that the Brits would call "perfec." You will recognize the voice because Stan voiced many 50's cartoon shorts for various studios, most notably for the Warner's Loony Tunes/Merry Melodies line. But the kid not being able to hold the "sooooooooo" long enough for the backup singers to spell him into the chorus, the kid swallowing to get a breath because the pacing of the song is so fast, the fact he is in-cahoots with the cat burglar at the end of the song all work together to make the best novelty Christmas song. Avoid songs about stoned out grandparents being mauled on Christmas Eve and enjoy this timeless Freberg classic.
Notable Covers: This is a cover, to be sure. I have NO idea who has covered it, although every grade school music teacher has had some precocious, toothless rowdy belt it out every December.

8. "The Christmas Song" - by Nat King Cole. Everyone has heard it. Everyone loves it. I love it too. I don't think it is the best Xmas song ever. Cole does give the seminal and definitive performance of it though. But every diva who has churned out a Christmas album has included this song.
The Original: Mel Torme wrote this song, so I am assuming his original lies around somewhere. But Cole made this song his own. A classic.

7. "Frosty the Snowman" - by Harry Connick, Jr. Okay, this song sung by Harry on his second Christmas album (both of which are the greatest Christmas albums of all time ranking up there higher than the Beach Boys Christmas album) called Harry for the Holidays is amazing. That New Orleans brass literally slaps your face off to start the song and brings a bounce to this song that really grooves. There are hundreds and hundreds of versions of Frosty. This is the best. By far.
Other Great Covers: Burl Ives did a nice one. Gene Autry as well. But other than Harry's version, the best version of Frosty is one from the 80's by Dr. John and Leon Redbone. I dig it too.

6. "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney. I think this came on the London Town album. Macca brings a memorable Christmas tune. It is happy. Lively. Loaded with synth beats. I list it this high because I am a HUGE Macca fan. Three of the four Beatles recorded some holiday songs. This is one of two recorded by Macca ("Rudolph the Red-nosed Reggae" is the other) and the superior Christmas offering. It is fluffy and froo froo. But I still love it.
Covers: There are a few out there. None that really work, though.

5. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" - by Brenda Lee. Great song. I have always liked it. Lil Brenda Lee is a Christmas must each year. And I am always surprised at how many teenagers love this version too.
Great Covers: I have heard a lot of good ones. My favorite cover is Brian Setzer's version.

4. "Little Saint Nick" - by the Beach Boys. Their Christmas album is underrated. I think it is one of the three best ever. I love most of the songs on there. But this is the one we all know. And for good reason. It is a great song. Brian Wilson is a genius. Mike Love is perhaps the second-most opportunistic performer in pop music history. Only one other person has been luckier and ridden someone's coattails into history more effectively.
Great Cover: The best cover is by none other than Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. Yes. Muppets. Animal brings it home.

3. "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" - by John & Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band. John Lennon sings a Christmas protest song. That first line "And so this is Christmas..." is just a classic. A great contemplative look at life, living, war and Christmas. Remember what I said about Mike Love? Here is #1 on the Golden Coattailers List: Yoko Ono. Never has someone's last name been so apt a decsription. What do you say when you find out a Yoko song is playing? Oh no. EDIT: I had more to say here. But someone pointed out that a youth minister should not have said that someone should have been shot. So I certainly do not want to offend someone's delicate sensibilities. I will withdraw the offensive statement and get back to playing ping pong, learning how to play "Over the Mountains and the Seas" on guitar and learning more wacky games you can play with marshmellows. Excuse me.

2. "Blue Christmas" - by Elvis Presley. Everyone's favorite. Elvis proved he was still the man by bringing this song exactly what it needed; that sort of depressed moan. Every cover since cover's THIS version, not Ernest Tubb's original. When you sing this, you copy Elvis. You do not try something original. You copy the King. For good reason. Great song.

1. "White Christmas" - by Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters. What? Where is the Binger's version? Certainly HIS is the best version? Not so fast, Mr. Morimoto. Even though the Drifters lineup probably changed three times during the recording sessions that brought us their version of WC, absolutely NOBODY can replace Clyde McPhatter. His voice is golden. Taken too soon, to be sure. This version is the greatest Christmas song ever. The Drifters float us into the song. They ease into Clyde's moaning and moving vocals. Has there been a better doo-wop, black vocal group lead than Clyde? Sure eventual Drifter Ben E. King was good. The Orioles' Sonny Til is amazing. Earl "Speedo" Carroll (The Cadillacs) is wonderful too. Johnny Maestro (The Crests), Dion (The Belmonts), Maurice Williams (The Gladiolas, The Zodiacs), Sollie McElroy (The Flamingos), Nate Nelson (The Flamingos), Bobby Lester (The Moonglows), Harvey Fuqua (The Moonglows), Frankie Lymon (The Teenagers), Little Anthony (The Imperials) were all great. But there was no Clyde. His tenor soars. You can hear his heart break in each song. Great. The best ever. Agree?