I HATE the corny songs like 'Winter Wonderland' or 'Jingle Bells'.

Besides being a beautiful song, it was first played on a guitar as the mice had eaten holes in the bellows of the old church organ.

Others that I haven't tried playing that I really like are: "O Magnum Mysterium", and two gospel songs: "Mary's Boy Child" and "Rise Up Sheperds And Follow".

Merry Christmas to all

Also, Happy Hanukkah to all of our Jewish steelers.

I didn't know this until I read it in a music magazine last year that Silent Night has been sung & recorded by more artist, played and sung in more country countries than any other ever song written.

So simple yet so beautiful (at least until I heard Little Richard sing it that is).

[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 20 December 2006 at 04:28 PM.]

And despite what Leslie thinks I don't consider "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bells" corny songs, rather fun songs to play and sing. I also like "Santa Claus is Coming to Town", "Frosty the Snowman", "Jingle Bell Rock", etc, etc.

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John Parker
Zumsteel SD10 3x5
Peavey Session 400
Fender Steel King

"Nothing But a Child"--Robin & Linda Williams (first version 1996)

Honorable Mention:

"The Christmas Trail"--Don Edwards, Michael Martin Murphey et al.

"Silent Night All Day Long"-John Prine

"Buy War Toys for Christmas"-The Foremen

"12 Days of [Hawaiian] Christmas"-The Waimanalo Keikis

"Old Toy Trains"-Roger Miller

EVERYTHING on Gregg Miner's "Christmas Collection Vol. 1 & 2." All this and killer booklets showing a fabulous collection of vintage and bizarre instruments. http://www.minermusic.com/

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*--"Wildwood Flower" www.kpfk.org, Sat 12/23 6-8 a.m. PST and archived for a week thereafter, the webmaster tells me.

[This message was edited by Ben Elder on 21 December 2006 at 01:07 AM.]

"Merry Christmas From The Family" by Robert Earl Keen

Any of the Buck Owens and the Buckaroos Christmas songs, because growing up every Friday morning ofter thanksgiving day my mom would play that Buckaroo Christmas record. She would get out all the Christmas decoration and completely decorate the place while that album was blasting through the house.

So my list would have to have some of those great Buck songs(most of 'em penned by Red Simpson)

"Santa looked a lot like daddy"

"Santa's gonna come in a stage coach"

"I'll Be Home For Christmas", a song written during the war, is especially touching. IMHO, nobody does it like the original Mills Brothers.

"Have Yourself A Merry Merry Christmas", the Lou Rawls version; smooth, jazzy, and with an absolutely impeccable band.

"Jingle Bell Rock", by Bobby Helms. Probably the most popular and commercial of all the Christmas songs, it's normally the first Christmas song I hear each year on the radio.

"Scarlet Ribbons", by Jim Reeves. Not normally thought of as a Christmas song, it still works as a very good one, nevertheless, carried by Reeves' flawless voice..

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 24 December 2006 at 05:57 AM.]

I used to a bit of a "music snob" about Christmas tunes. Kinda reflected my catholic upbringing, basically nothing written prior to 1900, mostly classical compositions.

I've mellowed somewhat, and nowadays, a lot of the seasonal tunes from the 40's and 50's make me feel nostalgic. Nat King Cole on The Christmas Song, Bing crooning [i]Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas[i].

And even the corny, kiddy songs some have mentioned can be redone in a cool way.

I heard a guy on NPR the other day doing a great solo version of "jingle bells" with guitar and "mouth trumpet," (trumpet-like sounds made with just his mouth).

And what about Ray Charles' "Santa Claus is coming to town" and other songs? The main reason I like that (along with his singing) is the electric piano; I just love the sound of the instrument.

{Edited to add} Oh, and ditto on "little toy trains" or anything by Roger.

[This message was edited by Cody Campbell on 24 December 2006 at 03:01 PM.]

One of my personal favorites is "Run Run Rudolph" by Chuck Berry.

[This message was edited by Tom Olson on 25 December 2006 at 09:31 PM.]

"Boogie Woogie Santa Claus"

"Christmas Tears"

Tom Olson and Will Houston, check out Jimmy Buffett's cover on his Christmas Island CD, as well as Dave Van Allen's on his "Ho,Ho,Ho" thread. Enjoy!

[This message was edited by James Cann on 27 December 2006 at 12:29 PM.]

quote:

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James Cann Wrote:

Sorry, but every time I hear Burl Ives sing "Holly, Jolly Christmas," I think, somebody slap him!

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