The following Christmas song archive includes my favorite holiday songs that you may or may not hear on the radio. While I love all the popular classics you hear throughout the holidays on the radio, in stores, in elevators, and on TV, I wanted to give a little love to these fantastic songs that deserve a place on your holiday playlist.
Chris Isaak: Christmas on TV
While he’s more well-known for his rockabilly revivalist style, Chris Isaak has put out some of the best new original Christmas music in the last 20 years! Amongst his fans, Isaak’s holiday albums, Christmas, released in 2004, and Everybody Knows It’s Christmas, released in 2022, are hugely popular and have resulted in holiday-themed tours for him in November and December year after year. The artist known more famously for his song Wicked Games, featured in the TV show Twin Peaks, even has a live Christmas album, Chris Isaak Christmas Live on Soundstage, which includes 17 holiday tracks! It’s no hyperbole to say that his “Christmas” album is in the top ten of my collection. He once said of his Christmas output that he “wanted an album that you put on while your guests come in and take off their coats. They’re eating turkey and listening to the music. They’re starting to argue about politics and you turn it up a little louder.”
Fun fact: Isaak wrote all the origin songs from his debut Christmas album in three weeks after spending months listening to as much Christmas music as he could.
JD McPherson: All the Gifts I Need
Oklahoma born American singer songwriter JD McPherson, who is best known for his retro rock and roll sound, released one of my favorite holiday albums in 2018 called Socks. This dance-a-thon of holiday jingles is a must have for any rock and roll Christmas music fan or those just looking for some fantastic songs, period. I’ve highlighted All the Gifts I Need here, which is my favorite song on the album. But every song is great on this update album of all original holiday tunes. And if you’re thinking of getting someone some socks this Christmas, switch things up and give them Socks from JD McPherson. I promise you they won’t be tossing this gift aside!
Fun fact: In 2022, McPherson joined Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on their Raise the Roof tour as both lead their guitarist and opening act.
Harry Connick Jr: (It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus
With four holiday-themed albums, Harry Connick Jr., is fast becoming this generation’s Andy Williams but with a jazzier feel. One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs was written by Connick himself and comes off his first holiday album, When My Heart Finds Christmas. It’s called (It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus and this upbeat tune tells the story of a boy, his family and the big guy himself, Santa, in a rollicking holiday song that is an absolute must for any Christmas playlist. Connick re-released a new version of the song on his latest holiday album, Make it Merry, which debuted last year. I much prefer the original version but you can listen to both and decided for yourself. As far as Connick and the holidays, he typically takes his holiday music show on tour every fall leading up to Christmas so look for tour dates sure to be coming soon.
Fun fact: In an interview with Penn Live Patriot News, Connick said his favorite holiday song is Sleigh Ride for its “unusual composition.”
Squirrel Nut Zippers: Hot Christmas
Inspired by 1920s jazz, vaudeville, and more, the Squirrel Nut Zippers have been bringing us their original electric songs since their debut album in 1995. Their 1998 holiday album, titled Christmas Caravan, was recorded on a hot summer day in New Orleans. I thought I’d pluck one song from this fantastic holiday album, a must-have for any Christmas music fan by the way, called “Hot Christmas.” It seems in keeping with our celebration of Christmas in July.
Billy Joel: She’s Right on Time
With his 100th consecutive sell out at Madison Square Garden, CBS special, and current tour with Stevie Nicks, Billy Joel has been in the news a lot lately. What you may not know is that he wrote a Christmas song, which appears on his Nylon Curtain album. “She’s Right on Time” was written around Christmas time and Bill Joel has stated more than once that it’s one of his personal favorites from his lengthly catalog of tunes. The song was an uplifting love song that acted as a counter weight to some of the more serious songs on the album, such as Allentown and Goodnight Saigon, which were dealing in very heavy themes. Joel considered Nylon Curtain to be “his Sgt. Pepper’s” and said it took him the longest of any of his albums to record.
Puss N Boots: Christmas All Over Again
Most people have heard of Norah Jones as a smooth jazz singer and singer songwriter who had a smash hit with “Come Away with Me.” But did you know that she was also a member of an alt-country super group called Puss N Boots with jazz artist Sasha Dobson and country player Catherine Popper? While they started out just playing for fun for family and friends, we’ve been lucky that they’ve started to record their musical magic. My personal favorite is a 5-song holiday EP called “Dear Santa,” which they released in 2019. While Jones has gone on to record and release her own solo Christmas album, this one is a fantastic precursor to that effort. In addition to “Christmas All Over Again,” my favorites include “It’s Not Christmas ‘Til You Come Home,” and “Silent Night.” Jones’ solo Christmas album is also worth a listen (“I Dream of Christmas”), which she released in 2021.
The Living Sisters: Merry Happy Christmas
As a lover of Christmas and holiday music, one of my very favorite collecting moments occurs when I discover a great new song or album from an artist I’d never heard before. Just such a moment occurred this week with the discovery of The Living Sisters “Harmony is Real: Songs for a Happy Holiday,” which was released 10 years ago in 2014. This folk super group was formed as a hobby of sorts for Inara George, Eleni Mandell, Backy Stark, and Alex Lilly back in the early 2000s. A Crosby, Stills and Nash-esque band of four, the band gets together occasionally when each takes time off from their solo careers. And boy are we lucky they do. Their unique take on the holidays includes originals and covers and even a Hanukkah song called, “Hanukkah.” While each tune is unique in and of itself, and covers a variety of musical styles, the one constant is the incredible melding of these beautiful voices in songs like “Little Drummer Boy.” My favorites, if forced to choose, include “Merry Happy Christmas,” “Christmas in California,” and “Silver Bells,” but the entire album is terrific. Maybe it’s time for you to invite these wonderful sisters into your home via iTunes, Spotify or where ever great holiday music can be found.
Gavin Guss: It’s Santa
The thing about Gavin Guss is that it’s hard to find out information about Gavin Guss. Sure, he’s got a website, Facebook page, Bandcamp presence, etc., etc., but his evolution as a musician and songwriter is a bit mysterious. I’ve been able to dig up bits and pieces on Mr. Guss, like music he’s made under the monikers Screaming Santas, Tycoons, and even “Gavin Guss,” but the last new album he put out was in 2012. Which is a shame, because he is supremely talented. And he’s also written and produced a series of Christmas-themed songs, the latest being “It’s Santa” that are fantastic pop gems. They represent some of my very favorite recent Christmas song discoveries and I wanted to share this one with you. And if you’re out there Mr. Guss, I’d love to chat about your strong feelings about the holiday season and December, your evolution as a songwriter, influences (I think I hear a few in your music), and share that with our audience at Christmaseveryminute.com. In the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys this pop gem from a very talented singer songwriter.
Old 97s: Wintertime in the City
The Old 97s, an American rock band from Dallas, Texas, released a superb holiday album in 2018 under the guidance of lead singer Rhett Miller. The Old 97s are one of the pioneers of the alt-country movement and have produced one great album after another since forming in 1992. And their holiday album is no exception, which is filled with nine fantastic originals like “Wintertime in the City” and “Rudolph was Blue” and one traditional song in “Auld Lang Syne.” Rhett told Rolling Stone in an interview published in December 2018 that he had to convince the rest of the band to come onboard the Old 97s holiday album train, but they eventually fell for the songs he produced for them. The Old 97s “Love the Holidays” is another must have album for your Christmas playlist. Get the bonus album with additional tracks, including Angels We Have Heard on High, God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, Up on the Housetop, and Blue Christmas.
Ramsey Lewis Trio: Here Comes Santa Claus
From the superb 1961 release the “Sound of Christmas,” “Here Comes Santa Claus” is the third track off this gem of a holiday album from the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Best known for their hit “The In Crowd,” the Sound of Christmas rose to #8 on the Billboard Christmas LP chart after its release. The trio followed up with their “More Sounds of Christmas” album in 1964, which is just as good as the first. If you like the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi, you will love this one too!
Neil Halstead: The Man in the Santa Suit
When musician Jack Johnson decided to record and release a series of ongoing Christmas albums from his Brushfire label called Warm December, he turned to friends like English musician Neil Halstead to fill out his lineup. Johnson has since released three Warm December Christmas albums, with new ones apparently in the works. One of my favorite songs from the trilogy of albums was released on the first one and is called Man in the Santa Suit, which is written and performed by Halstead, who’s an English musician widely known as the lead singer of the band Slowdive. On a related note, Mountains of Wayne put out a fast version of Man in the Santa Suit that is worth a listen. A portion of the proceeds from all Warm December album sales go to support children’s music education.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: The Light of Christmas Day
When Robert Plant and Alison Krauss released their long-awaited follow-up to the Grammy winning Raising Sand in 2021 (Raise the Roof), fans were elated that they’d finally gotten back together again. But, in fact, they had already reunited six years earlier in 2015 for a single song for the “Love the Coopers” movie soundtrack, which is today’s holiday song spotlight. “The Light of Christmas Day” is a striking tune in keeping with the style that fans have come to know and love from this amazing duo. Plant and Krauss created a wonderful ode to the holidays in what is a solemn but upbeat tune. Definitely a must have for any holiday playlist.
Blondfire: Underneath the Mistletoe
California indie pop duo Blondfire and their original Christmas song, Underneath the Mistletoe, appeared on their exclusive iTunes holiday EP. The band started as a duo of brother and sister Bruce and Erica Driscoll. Bruce eventually left to lead his own band and Blondfire has been a solo act with Erica since 2015. This is one of my favorite alt music Christmas tunes with its catchy hooks and upbeat sound.
The Mavericks: Christmas Time (Is Coming ‘Round Again)
The Mavericks performed this gem on their holiday album, “Hey! Merry Christmas.” Lead singer Raul Malo told Entertainment Weekly his inspiration for the new album was quite simple. “People ask how we were inspired to write Christmas songs,” said Malo of the album. “You’re really never inspired to write Christmas songs. During the holidays you’re inundated with the stuff. You might come up with an idea, but you’re busy: you’ve got family, there’s one party after another, this and that, and then it’s over. It’s like ‘Oh damn, I didn’t write my Christmas record.'” Noting that many of the classics were written by professional songwriters, Malo says, “It’s not like they were inspired, no, it was a task. You have to kind of approach it in that regard and forget inspiration,” he says, before adding with a laugh, “How about poverty? That’s my inspiration.”
The Smithereens: Christmas Time All Over the World
The Smithereens eighth studio album was a Christmas-themed gem with originals and covers. This one is my personal favorite and always appears on my holiday playlist. A highlight is the jangly guitar work of Jim Babjak, who also wrote Waking Up on Christmas Morning, another classic.
