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Edited on Sat Dec-06-03 05:40 PM by NightTrain
Before I get too deeply into this, one caveat:
The lion's share of my favorite Yuletide music is either from the soul/R&B camp, or it's comedy/novelty records that skewer the crass commercialism of the season. Having said that, here's what I came up with (listed in no particular order)....
PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, Charles Brown (1960)
Everything that man recorded shined with the utmost dignity. Yes, Brown was a blues singer, but his style eschewed vocal and instrumental gymnastics, along with other assorted histrionics, in favor of the quiet, dignified outpouring of uptown R&B. Plenty for those with the ears to appreciate it.
If you only know the Eagles' remake of "Please Come Home For Christmas," you're truly missing out!
GREEN CHRISTMAS, Stan Freberg (1960)
Along with having made his fortune creating some of the funniest and most innovative TV and radio commercials of all time, Freberg had a series of hit singles and LPs during the Eisenhower and Kennedy years. On top of hysterically funny parodies of songs like "Sh-Boom," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Day-O," and "The Yellow Rose of Texas," Freberg came out with this two-part single, which mercilessly bashed those who put the profit motive over the true meaning of the holiday season.
PAPA NOEL, Brenda Lee (1959)
On the flip side of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," the 12-year-old Lee cuts loose with a furious rockabilly-flavored number about ol' Saint Nick coming to the bayou on Christmas Eve. In return for his efforts, Santa finds heaping plates of crawfish and jambalaya waiting for him near the fireplace. Hey, why not? Sugar plums must get dull after a few hundred servings!
SLEIGH RIDE, The Ventures (1965)
The Yuletide chestnut played in the Ventures' inimitable surf style. The perfect soundtrack to a weekend of snowboarding
MONSTER'S HOLIDAY, Bobby "Boris" Pickett (1962)
The follow-up to Pickett's #1 classic, "The Monster Mash," has Dracula, Frankenstein, Igor and the werewolf planning to rob Santa's sleigh. But this proves unncecssary as the man in red brings the monsters just what they wanted: a toothbrush for Drac, an electric shaver for Wolfie, a back brace for Igor, and a tricycle for Frankie. (Don't ask how an eight-footer like Frankenstein could possibly fit on a trike!)
THERE'S TROUBLE BREWIN', Jack Scott (1963)
Jack's just waitin' for the arrival of the man who stole his girl's heart on Christmas Eve. Seems he's this chubby cat with thick white whiskers who dresses in red, flies around in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, and is fixin' to come down Jack's chimney tonight. Well, our boy'll be waitin' for that sumbitch with his Telecaster at the ready!
RUN RUDOLPH RUN, Chuck Berry (1958)
"Run run Rudolph, Santa's gotta make it to town/Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down." 'Nuff said!
WHITE CHRISTMAS, The Drifters (1954)
Nice mid-tempo doo-wop take on the Irving Berlin standard, with bass man Bill Pinkney handling the lead vocals on the first half. For the other 50%, we're treated to the late Clyde McPhatter's crisp, clear, gospel-flavored tenor. Who needs Bing Crosby when you've got this record?
SILENT NIGHT, Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns (1961)
This hunk of New Orleans R&B was such a radical departure from all previous versions of "Silent Night," it was pulled from the ariwaves and store shelves not long after its release. Seems the Christian fundies didn't like the recording! Gee, where we have heard that before?
BACK DOOR SANTA, Clarence Carter (1968)
Not exactly a Christmas song. Rather, it's one of Carter's classic macho baosts with a holiday flavor. "They call me Back Door Santa, but I come more than once a year." Ahem!
WHO TOOK THE MERRY OUT OF CHRISTMAS, The Staple Singers (1970)
A hearfelt, humanistic, and utterly soulful plea to stop obsessing over the damned presents and remember whose birthday we're supposed to celebrate on December 25th. Even an atheist like me could get behind that message!
SANTA CLAUS GO STRAIGHT TO THE GHETTO, James Brown (1968)
In which the Godfather of Soul urges the fat man not to bother with him on Christmas as, per Brown, he already has everything he'll ever need. Rather, he tells Santa, go to the poor sections of the world's cities and gives nice presents to the kids who need them the most. One more reason that JB is my all-time favorite musical performer!
I could go on, but I think you get the idea.
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