David McGee Picks The Essential Christmas Albums

from "The Book Of Rock Lists"

Dave Marsh was a pretty big deal in the rock world when he published The Book Of Rock Lists in 1981. He cofounded Creem Magazine in 1969, helped write and edit the first Rolling Stone Record Guide (1978), and wrote Born To Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story (1981). Comparatively, The Book Of Rock Lists was a lightweight tome, full of humor and whimsy. But, in between lists like "The 12 Fattest Rock Stars" and "Onan's Greatest Hits: The 25 Greatest Songs About Masturbation" you'll find real journalism and insightful criticism - by Marsh, coauthor Kevin Stein, and a who's who of rock critics.

For me, "David McGee Picks The Essential Christmas Albums" (page 504 in the first edition) was hugely important. I was about 20 years old when I read it, and I'd been collecting records for about a decade. But, McGhee's list showed me a world of cool Christmas music that I had barely even glimpsed. Up till that point, Christmas music was my parents' music: adult, reverent, boring. From that point on, I began to find my own Christmas music - ultimately thousands of holiday records that rock, roll, swing, and twang. Eventually, we ended up with this website, and you'll note a suspicious similarity between McGee's list and my own Top 20 Albums.

The Book Of Rock Lists describes David McGee as a "softball star and sentimentalist par excellence" who "writes Record Worlds 'New York, New York' column and is the publication's assistant managing editor." He would go on to write books about Carl Perkins, B.B. King, and Steve Earle. These days, he publishes Deep Roots, an online journal about "roots music and meaningful matters."

1. Elvis Presley, Elvis' Christmas Album (1957)
   This contains Presley's definitive recording of "Blue Christmas"; a tough, tasty Leiber-Stoller blues, "Santa Claus Is Back in Town"; and some stirring, more meditative moments, such as "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)" and "I Believe."
2. Elvis Presley, Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas (1971)
   By turns stately and reflective, low-down and rocking, Elvis turns in one bravura performance after another. Where do its virtues begin? Try the ironic treatment of Charles Brown's Christmas blues classic, "Merry Christmas, Baby," fueled by Presley's rousing, slightly lascivious vocal and James Burton's stinging guitar solos. Or try any of several altogether breathtaking ballad performances, particularly the first three cuts on side two, one of which ("If I Get Home on Christmas Day") may well be the King's best recorded vocal.
3. various artists, Phil Spector's Christmas Album (1963)
   A grand, masterful stroke that is the ultimate rock statement in Christmas albums. Most of Spector's famed troupe of artists are present here, turning in exceptional performances all around, most of them on such Christmas standards as "Jingle Bells" and "Bells of St. Mary's." Of special note: Darlene Love's vocal on "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." And if there's any doubt about Spector's sentimental side, listen to his spoken coda at the end of side two.
4. Stevie Wonder, Someday At Christmas (1967)
   A gem from first cut to last, with Wonder in top form vocally. The rewards here are many, in both standard ("Ave Maria") and original material (none composed by Wonder, however). The socially conscious title track makes the album.
5. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Season for Miracles (1970)
   A mellow outing graced by Smokey's subtle interpretation of "Deck the Halls" and a bossa nova-cum-R&B arrangement of Stevie Wonder's "I Can Tell When Christmas Is Near."
6. The Supremes, Merry Christmas (1965)
   A pop delight. In addition to an ingratiating, languid treatment of "Silver Bells," the Supremes turn in a blockbuster performance on a little-recognized classic, "Little Bright Star." Harvey Fuqua's Phil Spector-influenced production presents a grand challenge for Diana Ross, and she responds with one of the best overall album performances of her early career.
7. Jackson 5, Christmas Album (1970)
   This strikes a neat balance between lighthearted seasonal fare ("Frosty the Snowman" is a standout) and more sentimental tunes along the lines of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Young Michael Jackson's interpretation of "Give Love On Christmas Day" is a revelation.
8. various artists, Soul Christmas (1968)
   Not in print but worth searching for. A compilation, the album features exemplary performances by Joe Tex, Booker T. and The MG's, Clarence Carter, Carla Thomas, Solomon Burke, and King Curtis, among others. Otis Redding's mordant rendering of "White Christmas" conjures up an image of a Christmas dream that is so bleak it might have given Irving Berlin second thoughts about having written the song in the first place.
9. various artists, Rhythm & Blues Christmas (1976)
   Another compilation, this one contains ten songs recorded between 1949 and 1967. It includes one of the indisputably great Christmas sides in Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters' 1954 recording of "White Christmas," noteworthy in part for McPhatter's shattering solo on the chorus, which Elvis copped, almost note for note, on his first Christmas album.
10. various artists, Christmas Gift 'Rap (1970)
    This features the Temptations, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles singing songs from their respective Christmas albums. No higher recommendation could be given.

Honorable Mention

11. The Whispers, Happy Holidays To You (1979)
    Impassioned, sensitive vocalizing by one of the finest young black groups around. The title song and "This Christmas," written by Donny Hathaway, are particularly memorable.
12. The Ventures, Christmas Album (1965)
    Guaranteed to bring a smile. Each song begins with the first few bars of a popular rock song of the mid-1960's, when this album was recorded. Lennon-McCartney's "I Feel Fine" inexplicably worked into "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" must be heard to be believed. Collector's item.
13. The Beach Boys, Christmas Album (1964)
    A fairly nondescript collection, to be sure, but notable for Brian Wilson's lovely song "Christmas Day," which also features Al Jardine's first recorded vocal solo. It also contains the hit single, "Little Saint Nick," another Wilson original.
14. Paul & Paula, Holiday For Teens (1963)
    Though forever linked with one of rock's most tepid eras (the pre-Beatles sixties), Paul & Paula (particularly the latter) were not without talent, as this record amply demonstrates. The open-minded will find much to admire in the tasty, bluesy treatments of several standards as well as in the scintillating guitar and sax work throughout. Most of all, Paula's vocals are surprisingly hard-edged, a fortunate development in light of Paul's faceless crooning. Charlie McCoy is the uncredited harmonica player on "I'll Be Home For Christmas."
15. John Fahey, The New Possibility (1968) and Christmas with John Fahey (1975)
    John Fahey's solo guitar recordings of inestimable beauty and eccentricity. A Christmas message with a difference.
16. Vince Guaraldi Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
    Guaraldi's evocative, lyrical soundtrack for the CBS-TV special is the quintessential "mellow" Christmas recording. Floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee, with musical styles ranging from neo-impressionism to be-bop.
17. Emmylou Harris, Light of the Stable (1979)
    Harris' Yule offering is yet another vehicle for her pristine, ethereal vocals. Christmas carols seem to have been written with Harris in mind. Neil Young, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt join in on the title tune.
18. Merle Haggard's Christmas Present (1973)
    One side of Haggard originals (including "If We Make It through December," a devastating and all-too-true account of a blue-collar Christmas) and Christmas standards, of which "Silver Bells" is top-notch. An unbeatable combination.
19. Willie Nelson, Pretty Paper (1979)
    Willie sounds pretty bored, but there is beauty in his ennui if you stick with him long enough. An oddly moving album that could just as well have been titled "Blue Christmas" for its stark vision of the holiday season.
20. various artists, The 12 Hits Of Christmas (1976)
    A dozen hits of Yuletides past, from Gene Autry's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock," Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and "The Chipmunk Song." Also included are the original and still-unsurpassed versions of "The Little Drummer Boy" (Harry Simeone Chorale) and "Do You Hear What I Hear" (Bing Crosby).

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