Christmas Vinyl Countdown: Looking at Some Classic and Not-So-Classic Holiday Records

With the holiday season upon us, let's make like the Ghost of Christmas Past and look back at our historic examination of Xmas vinyl from 2015. Last year we devoted 25 days to listening to and singing the praises of some new and old records, all Christmas-themed. We still have many of these records in the shop, as well as some new classics. You should also check out our 5.99 bins, which are chock-ful of weird and wonderful Xmas records from all periods and genres.

This is a real "Good, Bad, and Ugly" type list, so be prepared for some duds, some crtiticisms, and some hidden gems.

Here's the list. (click on the albums to read our posts):

25. Santa Claus is Canadian by Various Artists
24. Christmas Cheer by Les Paul and Mary Ford
23. Imagene Peise: Atlas Eats Christmas by The Flaming Lips
22. Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Fred Astaire and Friends
21. A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio
20. Country Christmas by Various Artists
19. Elvis' Christmas Album by Elvis Presley
18. Rocky Mountain Christmas by John Denver
17. A Dave Brubeck Christmas by Dave Brubeck
16. Christmas Wishes by Anne Murray
15. An Oscar Peterson Christmas by Oscar Peterson
14. Merry Merry Christmas by New Kids on the Block
13. A Very Special Christmas by Various Artists
12. The Jackson 5 Christmas Album by The Jackson 5
11. Christmas Songs by Bad Religion
10. The Sounds of Christmas from Blacks by Various Artists
9. Christmas with the Chippers by The Chippers
8. Light of the Stable by Emmylou Harris
7. Ace Records presents Rhythm & Blues Christmas by Various Artists
6. It's a Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
5. A Very She & Him Christmas by She & Him
4. Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift for You by Various Artists
3. Burl Ives' Christmas Album by Burl Ives
2. If I Should Fall From Grace With God by The Pogues
1. Christmas 1979 by Wild Billy Childish

25 Holiday Records: 1 : Christmas 1979 by Wild Billy Childish

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

Our last record is by a personal fave of Royal Cat and a special surprise:

#1

Christmas 1979

by Wild Billy Childish and the

     Musicians of the British Empire

Damaged Goods Records

DAMGOOD 296

2007

Billy Childish (Milkshakes, Thee Headcoats, Thee Mighty Caesars) is a favourite of ours here at Royal Cat but we had no idea of this record's existence until we were given a copy as an early Christmas prezzy. Billy Childish is the keeper of the Garage Rock flame in the UK and this is a classic garage Xmas LP from that enchanted isle. We only saw Billy once, in Toronto with The Makers back in the mid-90s but he's been going strong since the late-70s.

It seems that no matter what incarnation of his band he is making music with, Childish always returns to the same basic heroes: Link Wray, The Sonics, The Who, and all of the great garage standards. Many of these are referenced on this record, with the tunes lifted from classic tracks, with new punk rock xmas lyrics pasted on top. They all rock. Some nice harmonies. Some nice feedback. Some nice spoken word intros. Perfect!

Merry F***ing Christmas To You All!

Tracklist:

Santa Claus
Christmas Lights
Knick Knack Paddywhack (Chuck It In The Bin)
Father Christmas Is Dressed In Green
A Poundland Christmas
A Quick One (Pete Townsend's Christmas)
Mistletoe
Dear Santa Claus
Comanche (Link Wray's Christmas)
Merry Christmas Fritz
Christmas Hell
Christmas 1979

Check it out:

25 Holiday Records: 2: If I Should Fall From Grace With God by The Pogues

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

Our next record only has one Xmas song on it!

#2

If I Should Fall From Grace with God

by The Pogues

Rhino/Warner

1988/2015

So this is the Pogues record with "Fairytale of New York" on it. Not the only reason for buying the record, since it is one of the top 3 Pogues records and a classic of its type, but this is the reason the record is on this list. One of the least sentimental, least seasonal love songs/duets ever, it is still a work of beauty. Very punk, even if it is by a band specializing in a punk take on traditional Irish music. Here's the song!

25 Holiday Records: 3: Burl Ives Christmas Album

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

This next record is by a beloved childhood favourite!

#3

Burl Ives Christmas Album

by Burl Ives

Columbia ‎– CS 9728

1968

Burl Ives is a beloved childrens entertainer who also has a great track record as a serious folk musician and dramatic actor. He is kind of the white Leadbelly in the sense that he popularized many traditional folk tunes during the 1950s and 60s folk revival and made them palatable for a middle class white audience. Most of us know him from his kids records and his turn as the Snow Man narrator in the animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer tv special. He sings some classic songs on that show, none of which are included on this record. In fact, this is not the Burl Ives record you should own. It is very traditional and ballad-y, sung in a gentle boring way that lacks any of the pep or inventiveness of many of Burl's performances. 

Tracklist

A1 It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

A2 Silent Night, Holy Night

A3 O Little Town Of Bethlehem

A4 O Holy Night

A5 Happy Birthday, Jesus (A Child's Prayer)

B1 Oh What A Lucky Boy Am I

B2 Jingle Bells

B3 Santa Mouse

B4 Ava Maria

B5 The Christmas Story

B6 Medley: Thy Rebuke; Behold

25 Holiday Records: 4 : Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift For You

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

Our next record is one of the all-time great Xmas albums.

#4

A Christmas Gift for You

by Producer Phil Spector and Various Artists

Phil Spector records

originally released 1963

This classic features a collection of songs by the groups and proteges Phil Spector made famous. Classic songs given the Spector "wall-of-sound" touch that, for many of us, still resonate with a modern, big-city, soulful feeling. Check it out!

Tracklist:

TacklHide Credits

A1 –Darlene Love White Christmas

Written-By – Irving Berlin

A2 –The Ronettes Frosty The Snowman

Written-By – Walter Rollins*, Steve Nelson (4)

A3 –Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans The Bells Of St. Mary

Written-By – A. Emmett Adams, Douglas Furber

A4 –The Crystals Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Written-By – Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots

A5 –The Ronettes Sleigh Ride

Written-By – Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish

A6 –Darlene Love Marshmallow World

Written-By – Carl Sigman, Peter De Rose

B1 –The Ronettes I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Written-By – Tommie Connor

B2 –The Crystals Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Written-By – Johnny Marks

B3 –Darlene Love Winter Wonderland

Written-By – Dick Smith (3), Felix Bernard

B4 –The Crystals Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers

Written-By – Léon Jessel

B5 –Darlene Love Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Written-By – Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry, Phil Spector

B6 –Bob B. Soxx And The Blue Jeans Here Comes Santa Claus

Written-By – Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman

B7 –Phil Spector And Artists Silent Night

Written-By – Traditional

25 Holiday Records: 5: A Very She and Him Christmas

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

Our next record is a modern easy listening classic.

#5

A Very She and Him Christmas
Merge Records
MRG424
2011/2015
green vinyl!

She and Him are the light rock/folk duo made up of Matthew Stephen Ward and Zooey Deschanel. He plays guitar and sings and she plays piano and ukulele and sings. It's very sweet and pleasant. They write a lot of their own music but this is a cover/classic album of Xmas tunes. Zooey has kind of become a Christmas icon since she starred in Elf as the department store employee who falls in love with the titular Will Ferrell character, famously singing a duet of "Baby It's Cold Outside" in the shower. We like this record quite a bit. Chances are, if you hear one of these songs on the radio or a playlist this year, it will be their version.


Tracklist
The Christmas Waltz 2:37
Christmas Day 3:24
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 3:42
I'll Be Home For Christmas 2:26
Christmas Wish 2:58
Sleigh Ride 2:44
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree 2:00
Silver Bells 1:57
Baby, It's Cold Outside 2:17
Blue Christmas 3:24
Little Saint Nick 2:10
The Christmas Song 2:26

25 Holiday Records: 6: It's a Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

R.I.P. Sharon Jones: 1956-2016

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

This next one is fast becoming a new fave!

#6

It's a Holiday Soul Party

by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Dap-Tone 

2015

What a great couple of years Sharon Jones has had. She's gone from surviving cancer to filling stadiums and she's topped it off with this great Christmas record. We sold quite a few of these this year and it looks set to take on the status of a new modern classic. There's even a Hannukah song!

Tracklist

8 Days (Of Hannukah) 3:42

Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects 2:22

White Christmas 2:17

Just Another Christmas Song 3:08

Silent Night 4:16

Big Bulbs 2:56

Please Come Home For Christmas 2:58

Funky Little Drummer Boy 3:18

Silver Bells 3:19

World Of Love 3:19

God Rest Ye Merry Gents 2:17

25 Christmas Records: 7: Rhythm & Blues Christmas (Ace Records)

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

Okay, we lied! This next record isn't on vinyl!

#7

Rhythmn & Blues Christmas

by "all your favourite stars"

Ace Records

DVCHM 1128

2006

We have been sticking to vinyl on this list but we special-ordered this disc and decided to keep a copy for ourselves. Perfect Xmas eve listening. Ace Records is the famous European label known for reissuing tons of rare rock records and 45s in cd form. Meticulously packaged and researched, all of their products are highly recommended. This Xmas compilation seems just made for us here at Royal Cat Records, with some great blues, RnB, and doowop from the likes of BB King, Lowell Fulsom, and a ton of people you may never have heard of (some are anonymous!)) but you will love it. Highlights? They are all great. Fun vocal novelties, great instrumentation, just perfect!

01

Christmas Celebration - B.B. King

02

Christmas - Smokey Wilson

03

Preview

Xmas Baby - Riff Ruffin

04

Merry Christmas Baby - Mari Jones & Johnny Moore Orch.

05

Christmas Bells - Bobby Nunn

06

Santa Claus Baby - The Voices

07

Christmas Time - The Debonaires

08

God Gave Us Christmas - Oscar McLollie & The Honey Jumpers

09

I Want You With Me Christmas - Jesse Belvin

10

I Wanna Spend Christmas With You Part 1 - Lowell Fulsom

11

I Wanna Spend Christmas With You Part 2 - Lowell Fulsom

12

Merry Xmas - Little Willie Littlefield

13

Gonna Have A Merry Xmas - The Nic Nacs

14

Crazy Santa Claus - The Debonaires

15

My Christmas Baby - Smokey Hogg

16

Christmas Blues - Sylvester Cotton

17

White/Hot Christmas - The Elves

18

Santa Claus Boogie - The Voices

19

Dig That Crazy Santa Claus - Oscar McLollie & The Honey Jumpers

20

White Christmas - Hadda Brooks

Various Artists (Fun Time) - Rhythm & Blues Christmas (MP3) - Ace Records

25 Holiday Records: 8: Light of the Stable by Emmylou Harris

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

Our next record is a gentle country classic!

#8

Light of the Stable
by Emmylou Harris
Warner Brothers Canada
XBS 3484
1980

This is a 1980 Canadian pressing of the 1979 classic by country superstar Emmylou Harris. Emmylou was famously the muse, musical collaborator and romantic ladyfriend of Gram Parson --their romance is legendary and second only to Johnny and June Carter Cash in the annals of western/americana lore. Everybody, especially country stars, does a Christmas record and Emmylou is no exception. She acquits herself well here, with several great performances.

This is a record with a lot of expensive guitars and other stringed instruments on it. Ricky Skaggs plays on several tracks. Lots of strings, pickin' and strummin'. Lots of mandolin. Most of the songs  are fairly conventional country interpretations of the seasonal subject matter. We don't think Emmylou wrote any of these herself, but she puts her own wonderful distinct warbling vocal spin on them. Several are very pretty. The best track is the title track that rounds out the record, with vocal assists from the amazing trio of Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Willie Nelson; three of the greatest voices in the genre. This is a quiet record, like it's buried under a blanket of snow.

Tracklist:

A1 Christmas Time's A-Coming
Autoharp – Brian Bowers (2)
Banjo, Mandolin – Ricky Skaggs
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Guitar [Arch-top] – Brian Ahern
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Written-By – Tex Logan
2:45

A2 O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Guitar [Gut String] – Brian Ahern
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Mandolin, Violin – Ricky Skaggs
Written-By – Lewis H. Redner*, Phillips Brooks
3:39

A3 Away In A Manger
Arranged By – Jonathan E. Spillman*
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Guitar [Gut String] – Brian Ahern
Mandolin – Albert Lee
Vocals – Nancy Ahern
Written-By – Martin Luther (3)
2:35

A4 Angel Eyes (Angel Eyes)
Acoustic Guitar – Brian Ahern, Rodney Crowell
Bass – Mike Bowden
Clavinet – Tony Brown (4)
Drums – Mike Ware
Electric Guitar – Frank Reckard
Harmony Vocals – Ricky Skaggs, Willie Nelson
Mandolin – Ricky Skaggs
Pedal Steel Guitar – Hank Devito
Percussion – Brian Ahern
Written-By – Rodney Crowell
3:16

A5 The First Noel
Arranged By – B. Ahern*
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
2:36
B1 Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem
Autoharp – Brian Bowers (2)
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Fiddle, Acoustic Guitar, Harmony Vocals – Ricky Skaggs
Guitar [Arch-top] – Brian Ahern
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Written-By – A. L. Phipps*
3:02

B2 Little Drummer Boy
Acoustic Guitar – Emmylou Harris
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Bass [Six String] – Brian Ahern
Clavinet – Tony Brown (4)
Drums – John Ware
Electric Guitar – Frank Reckard
Guitar [High Strung] – Rodney Crowell
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Mandolin – Ricky Skaggs
Pedal Steel Guitar – Hank Devito
Percussion – Brian Ahern
Written-By – Harry Simeone, Henry Onorati, Katherine Davis*
4:00

B3 Golden Cradle
Arranged By – N. Ahern*
Guitar [Gut String] – Brian Ahern
Vocals – Nancy Ahern
Written-By – Traditional
2:04
B4 Silent Night
Acoustic Bass, Bass [Six String] – Brian Ahern
Acoustic Guitar – Emmylou Harris
Arranged By – Brian Ahern
Autoharp – Brian Bowers (2)
Harmony Vocals – Cheryl Warren, Sharon Hicks
Pedal Steel Guitar – Hank Devito
Violin, Guitar [Acoustic] – Ricky Skaggs
Written-By – Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr
3:32

B5 Light Of The Stable
Acoustic Guitar – Brian Ahern, Emmylou Harris
Bass – Emory Gordy, Jr.
Drums – John Ware
Electric Guitar – James Burton
Guitar [High Strung] – Rodney Crowell
Harmony Vocals – Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson
Pedal Steel Guitar – Hank Devito
Piano – Glen D. Hardin*
Written-By – Elizabeth Rhymer, Steven Rhymer
2:25

Check it out:

25 Holiday Records: 9: Christmas with The Chippers

We're counting down to Christmas Day with a list of 25 records we have in the shop at Royal Cat Records! Why? Because vinyl rules!

This next one is another novelty oddball record, with a Canadian twist.

#9

Christmas with The Chippers

by Various Nameless Artists

Arc Records

AX-3

196-???

This is another beautiful "Canadian vernacular" design from the anonymous staffer at Scarborough's Arc Records, the Canadian discount company responsible for so many weird and wonderful records in the 1960s and 1970s. The cartoon artwork is pretty charming, the colours all work together and combine with the font for a very striking package. Of course "The Chippers" are a rip-off of The Chipmunks, that creation of David Seville aka Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., the producer, writer, and performer who first came up with the idea to make little comedy records with sped up voices. The Chipmunks are still going strong, with a new movie in theatres this week, but The Chippers are long-gone.

Arc put out at least two versions of this record, with different covers but the same songs. The songs here are classic Xmas fare, with orchestral and big band accompaniment and the cute Chipmunk-sounding voices singing along. As background music it could almost be ignored if not for those voices! And you know the kids are just going to play this over and over until we go crazy!!! We're not sure if this was actually produced and recorded in Canada or if it was a package that Arc bought from a U.S. outfit. No credits as usual with these things. Check out the youtube clip below for the actual music.

Tracklist
A1 Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
A2 There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays
A3 Frosty The Snowman
A4 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
A5 Let It Snow
A6 White Christmas
A7 Jingle Bells
B1 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
B2 Winter Wonderland
B3 Sleighride
B4 Deck The Halls
B5 O Tannenbaum
B6 Good King Wenceslas
B7 Twelve Days Of Christmas