Good day. Because I can not get to all of you a with patented Lono Christmas Rock 2004® CD, I am going to let you in on a set list. I have been collecting and compiling Christmas rock for about five years now, and have it down to a satisfying and diverse 15 songs or so. So, let's begin.
1. Happy Xmas, War is Over - John Lennon
2. Wish I had a River - Joni Mitchell
3. Feliz Navidad - Big Head Todd & the Monsters
4. 12 days of Christmas - Bob & Doug McKenzie
5. Deck the Halls - Ottmar Liebert
6. Father Christmas - the Kinks
7. Santa Clause is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen & the E St band
8. Baby Please Come Home - U2
9. The Chanuka song - Adam Sandler
10. Santa Baby - Louis Armstrong with Earha Kitt
11. Let me Sleep, it's Christmas Time - Pearl Jam
12.Blue Christmas - Elvis
13. The Piano has been Drinking - Tom Waits
14. Do they know it's Christmas - Band Aid
14.Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry
15. Linus & Lucy - Vince Guaraldi
Obviously this isn't all inclusive. I have about 80 files of various christmas-ness. This list is meant to be diverse. There is jazz, a bit of classical, an homage to our Jewish friends, and of course Elvis. Certainly add you own ideas at the bottom. The order of the playlist is pretty flexible, with the exception of #1 and #2. Those have to be there. Trust me.
The variations just on this list are nearly infinite. There are about 8 different rock and roll versions of 'Run Rudolph Run', but I find Berry's to be the definitive one. Elvis has about three different Christmas CDs on the market (trust me, I have two of them), and frankly almost any Elvis Xmas song can be subbed in. This was the old pilled up and wasted Elvis, so I find them all pretty amusing. As for the Band Aid song, I am referring only to the first one. There are at least 3 different variations on the Sandler 'Chanuka song' as he updates it every few years. You will have a tough time finding that Big Head Todd version of Feliz Navidad, but it is worth looking for. I got it as a mailer from my friendly local Clear Channel outlet here in Denver (Big Head Todd is from Denver, see) from KBCO last year. The Tom Waits song? True, it has nothing to do with Christmas technically. However, give it a listen and tell me it doesn't remind me of drinking with your relatives in some bizarro environment.
The Eatha Kitt 'Santa Baby' is certainly not rock, but is probably the best Christmas song ever written. You are forbidden from making a holiday compilation and not using that track.
In closing, I should warn you. There is a glut of bad Christmas stuff out there. Here is your first hint, anytime any band for any reason makes an entire Christmas CD - stay away! Only Elvis and the Peanuts gang are allowed to be that self indulgent. The NOW folks make Christmas Cds, but are always more pop than rock.
Article comments
1 - haithanh
chao ban !
2 - ClubhouseCancer
No comment on your choices, but the Elvis Christmas album ("Blue Christmas") was recorded in 1957.
Also, some of your titles are off.
3 - the legs
you gotta be kiddin me?
no "fairytale of new york"?
4 - BRICKLAYER
I noticed there are no Clay Aiken selections on here. Please re-think, and revise as necessary.
5 - Eric Olsen
CC, perhaps Lono is referring to the live version of "Blue Christmas"?
6 - ClubhouseCancer
There's one on the 1971 Christmas album. But the 1957 version is the really famous one, and i'll be that's the one he;s referring to. if not, sorry.
I just wanted to point out that the "fat pilly old Elvis" didn't record any Christmas music. There are just two Elvis Christmas albums, the 1957 classic and the 1971 "Wonderful World of Christmas." The 1957 has sold millions and millions of copies and makes up the bulk of all the "Christmas with Elvis" kind of compilations
One can feel free to find Elvis's Christmas music campy kitsch, but know that the most famous of it comes from his most thrilling period.
The 1971 isn't bad, either, and comes at another high point for Elvis, the "done-with-movies-back-to-music" period that followed the 1968 comeback special. Not pilly at all.
7 - Eric Olsen
thanks CC, great info - the '50s was a great time for contemporary Xmas music, I guess I'll have to write a post aobut it
8 - Al Barger
Big missing link: The Phil Spector A Christmas Gift for You album. That whole thing is totally rockin, and totally necessary. It's some of his very best work.
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" with Darlene Love is probably the most effective dramatic performance.
Also, the Crystals' "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" from this album would add some texture. The Wall of Sound was just MADE for Christmas stuff.
9 - andy marsh
I see the McKenzie brothers on there. Did we ever get a defintion of a tuke?
10 - Mark Saleski
isn't a toque just a plain 'ole wool/knit, pull-it-on-your head winter-type hat?
maybe mr. carruthers can verify this (though for some reason i imagine him wearing a bowler...don't know why)
ps. i actually played "beer hunter" once in college. we used old milwaukee.
11 - andy marsh
I know they discuss it in the song, but I don't remember if they ever actually give the definition. I was wondering about the spelling also...
12 - Mark Saleski
right around the time we actually played beer hunter, i had a roommate who might as well have been from canada: he was from madawaska, maine (check a map...it's really up there).
he had the skinny on this stuff.
he also used to bring budweiser purchased in canada. man, it was funny to see the word "Imported" stamped on the label.
13 - Lono
as the initial author, I will weigh in on the 'tuke' discussion. Frankly, I don't even know how to spell it. But... it IS a knitted wool cap of sorts.
As for the Elvis comments, I honestly thought they were later Elvis recordings. The CDs I have a all re-issues and so don't have any decent recording dates. There is just so much hubris (along with brilliance) on some of those tracks.
14 - someone
wheres little st. nick and wonderful christmas time
15 - Lori
I am a Canadian (and a fan of the Mckenzie Brothers) and it is spelled touque. It is a wool hat, and that should end all discussion on that topic.
Do you have a site that gives an online listening link to the 12 days of Christmas by the brothers?