indy mike's Pick ONE returns - Cracking good Christmas songs

Since I started the naughty list for yucky Chrsitams tunes, I figgered equal time oughta be shared with the songs of the season that are really good. While we're at it, I'm making this an official indy mike Pick ONE thread - quick review of the control freak rules for this game: Pick ONE ttune that fits the thread (in dis case, xcellent Xmas tunes), tell us why it fits the bill, mention a good sounding source and hit Submit. Only one tune per customer per hour - the hour starts when the big hand on the analog clock hits the 12. Here we go!!!!

Batting lead-off is Elvis' sinsational Lieber and Stoller penned Santa Claus Is Back In Town.
Knocked out by L&S in record time, Elvis stamped this with the patented Presley presence - I can't hear this enough!

 

"Back Door Santa" - Clarence Carter

("I ain't like ol' Saint Nick. He don't come but once a year. Ho ho ho...."

 

"Christmas(Baby Please Come Home)"--Darlene Love

Can't get better than this...not easily, anyway!

 

That''s about as good as they get!

 

"Thanks for Christmas" by XTC. It conveys real joy, and actually sounds like a holiday song.

 

Chuck Berry's Run, Run Rudolph (or Run, Rudolph, Run depending how it is listed).

 

"Christmas Wrapping"--Waitresses. My favorite all-time original rock Christmas song.

Beware of the mugging of this classic, perpetrated by the Spice Girls!

 

Bing Crosby and David Bowie doing Little Drummer Boy. Just love the way it sounds.

 

Lou Rawls's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Others have done good versions of this one--Sinatra, Judy Garland--but Rawls makes it so completely his own that to me it's *the* rendition. I love the little chuckle he gives after repeating "out of sight" in the first verse.

 

Julie London's "I'd Like You For Christmas"

Take a look at my holiday avatar, and you'll know why...

I've got it on Shout Factory's Yulesville, but it's on a bunch of holiday comps. Unfortunately, they all seem to have been mastered by Bob Norberg.

 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams; very un-indy mike, I know, but it just sez Christmas, ya know...

 

For the last several years, it also says "Back To School Time" too!

 

The Christmas Song-Nat King Cole....It's THE Christmas Song for me...It can bring on the Holiday cheer in 90 degrees...
I prefer the original 1986 The Christmas Song compact disc...

 

Bruce Springsteen - Merry Christmas Baby.

Still sounds great to me after many listens.

 

Yup, just knocks on your noggin and shouts "Merry Christmas"!!!! Indeed!

 

Not exactly a feel-gooder, but...

"Christmas Eve Can Kill You" by The Everly Brothers, from RCA LP "Stories We Could Tell" (early '70's?). Rhino didn't think it was good enough to put on that 4cd set, but if you've ever hitch-hiked in the cold around Christmas, this'll bring the memories flooding back!

John.

 

Jingle Bell Slide - Jack Scott - in glorious STEREO on Bear Family BCD 15445 Scott on Groove

 

"Elf's Lament"- Barenaked Ladies

From their Barenaked For The Holidays album. If "One Week" and it's follow-up clones turned you off to these guys, give this holiday album a chance. It turned out to be better than their last regular album. "Elf's Lament" is a throwback to the goofy, fun tunes from their earliest albums. One of Santa's elves complains about working conditions, pay scales and the lack of an elf union.

Runner up is "Deck The Stills", in which the band, in four part harmony, sing the lyrics "Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young" over and over again to the tune of "Deck The Halls." It's much funnier than I'm making it sound here.

 

"Mary's Boy Child"--Harry Belafonte

Gentle gem from '56.....many versions out there, but this is the keeper....

 

I have the spectacular Carmen Dragon/Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra Christmas set spinning - Joy to the World will have you jump outta yer seat and race for the volume - the dynamic range on this disc is W-I-D-E (just ax Steve, yesman, Larry N.)...

 

"Millie pulled a pistol on Santa" by De La Soul on their classic disk "De La Soul is Dead."

 

Say - that's one I'd like to hear (especially in GLORIOUS STEREO)!!!

 

The entire album "Music of Christmas" by Percy Faith ... a great CD to put on and relax on Christmas Eve ... which what I do every year. (This CD, however, is in need of a remaster ...awfully hissy...)