I love the Christmas season and I love Christmas music.
Good Christmas music, that is; a heartfelt rendition of “Silent Night” or “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and you’ve got me hooked. But I swear upon all that is good and holy, if I have to hear Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” ever again in my life, there will be dire consequences. But I digress…
This year is — to best of my knowledge — fifteen years since some college buddies and I first compiled a mix of, let’s say, “non-traditional” Christmas music. We’ve refreshed it a few times through the years and have each spun off our versions of the mix.
Today kicks off an advent calendar for music lovers: 24 days (plus some bonuses mixed in here and there) featuring lesser known holiday music by a diverse range of artists. We’ve got everything from 1960’s soul to 1990’s punk and points in between and beyond. Country, folk, blues, rock, rap, fast, slow, sentimental, irreverent, sad, funny, family friendly, and delightfully not family friendly.
My hope is that this advent calendar is a good continuation of that old college tradition and that, in the process, I can turn you on to 24+ good holiday tunes that you might not otherwise know.
Enjoy!
The Collection
A new song will be posted each day, December 1 through December 24.
- The Ramones – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)
- Solomon Burke – Presents for Christmas
- Calexico – Green Grows the Holly
- Robert Earl Keen – Merry Christmas from the Family
- Cracker – Merry Christmas Emily
- Lightnin’ Hopkins – Santa
- MU330 – X-Mas Card
- Fountains Of Wayne – I Want An Alien For Christmas
- Great Lake Swimmers – Hang A String Of Lights
- Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – Time of the Season
- Suddenly, Tammy! – Rock ‘N’ Roll Santa Claus
- The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Xmas Time (It Sure Doesn’t Feel Like It)
- Clarence Carter – Back Door Santa
- Matt Arthur & The Bratlanders – I Won’t Have A Merry Christmas This Year
- Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick – One Christmas At A Time
- MxPx – Christmas Day
- Hayes Carll – Grateful for Christmas
- Folk Uke – All I Want For Christmas
- Chuck Berry – Merry Christmas Baby
- The Band – Christmas Must Be Tonight
- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Christmas All Over Again
- Willie Nelson – Please Come Home for Christmas
- Andrew Bird – Auld Lang Syne
- Johnny Cash – Silent Night