Christmas Playlists

Every year I like to create some Christmas playlists. Right now there are three hundred and ninty one Christmas tunes loaded into my iTunes library. That might sound like a lot, but once you start making playlists, the gaps and inconsistencies soon appear. For example, I have eleven versions of The Christmas Song, but only one example of the Good King Wenceslas.

Of course, these lists are deeply personal. There are some popular tunes that don’t appeal to me, like Happy Xmas (War Is Over) and Fairytale of New York. But, far more offensive are the smooth jazz and faux bossa nova versions that fill retail spaces all over the globe. Insincerity is never appealing, but, at Christmas time it is downright offensive.

Anyway, here are my two main playlists for the 2010 season;

Christmas Carols
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Barenaked Ladies
Carol Of The Bells – The Bird & The Bee
O’ Little Town Of Bethlehem – Bob Dylan
We Three Kings – Crash Test Dummies
Silent Night – Ella Fitzgerald
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear – Giovanna Imbesi
When A Child Is Born (Soleado) – Gladys Knight & The Pips Featuring Johnny Mathis
Carol for Another Christmas – Henry Mancini & His Orchestra
Go Tell It On The Mountain – James Taylor
Bethlehem Town – Jars Of Clay
O Come All Ye Faithful – Julie Andrews
O Come O Come Emmanuel – Kendall Payne
Joy To The World – Nat King Cole
Angels We Have Heard On High – Paul McCandless
What Child Is This – Ray Charles Traditional
In The Bleak Mid-Winter – Sarah McLachlan
Star Carol – Simon & Garfunkel
Cherry Tree Carol – Sting
Away In A Manger – Sufjan Stevens
The Wexford Carol – Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss, Natalie MacMaster
You can check out previous to this Christmas Carol playlist on iTunes.

Christmas/Holiday Songs
White Christmas – Crash Test Dummies
This Christmas – Donny Hathaway
Sleigh Bells – Garth Brooks
Presents For Christmas – Solomon Burke
‘Zat You Santa Claus? – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Jingle Bells – Lisa LoebMusic:Music:Compilations:Maybe This Christmas Tree:10 Jingle Bells.m4a
Soul Santa – Brook Benton
The Christmas Blues – Bob Dylan
Silver Bells – Booker T. & The MG’s
Christmas Day – Dido
Moonlight In Vermont – Jane Monheit
The Christmas Song – Henry Mancini & His Orchestra
River – Ally McBeal
Song For A Winter’s Night – Sarah McLachlan
All I Want For Christmas Is You – Tony Bennett
I’d Like You For Christmas – Julie London
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer – Jack Johnson
Christmas Time Is Here – Diana Krall
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – James Taylor
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? – Rufus Wainwright
You can check out previous to this Christmas/Holiday song playlist on iTunes