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This index lists the essential songs (not all the songs) contained on the albums reviewed in Hip Christmas, plus singles, album tracks, or one-hit wonders not otherwise included on those albums. Whenever possible, the artist's name is linked to my review of the best Christmas album (not necessarily the only or original album) on which to find the song.

Barring that, the names will be linked to a place where you may buy the song (usually Amazon). If there's no link, it means that, to my knowledge, the song is not available on CD or MP3. Of course, the list will expand as I write more reviews. And, nothing's perfect - especially me and my crazy list. Please send additions, corrections, criticisms, and suggestions via email.

  • A Soalin' (Peter Paul & Mary, 1962) [close]

    Peter Paul & MaryThe wildly popular folk trio Peter Paul & Mary adapted the gentle, intricate "A'Soalin'" from the traditional "Wassailing Song," incorporating "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as a countermelody. The song tells the sad story of a hungry lad at Christmas, singing for food, drink, or a little money - but if the listener has none, "then God bless you." For the curious, "soal cake" is more commonly spelled "soul cake," and it is a small, round spice cake given to beggars on All Souls Day, November 2. In return, the beggars promised to pray for departed souls.

    "A Soalin'" is from the group's 1963 sophomore album Moving, the same album that had already produced two smash hits, "Puff, The Magic Dragon" and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind." For the holidays, "A'Soalin'" was extracted as a single b/w "Hush-A-Bye" and proved a much more modest hit, registering briefly on the Billboard Christmas chart, peaking at #15. As a Christmas song, however, it's kind of been forgotten. The original recording never appeared on a Christmas album, and it has been anthologized in the U.S. only once - on Peter Paul & Mary's big ol' boxed set, Carry On (2004). All the same, the song became a staple of their live show, and the trio reprised their performance on both In Concert (1964) and A Holiday Celebration (1992).

  • Adeste Fideles (Roches, 1989)
  • Admit That It's Christmas (You've Got To) (Zest Of Yore, 2003 and 2004)
  • After Christmas (Jackie Mittoo, 1979)
  • After New Year's Eve (Heartbeats, 1957)
  • Ain't No Chimney In The Big House (Von Bondies, 2001)
  • Ain't No Chimneys (In The Projects) (Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, 2009)
  • Ain't No Santa (Trick Daddy, 2002) [close]

    Trick DaddyA resounding "Bah! Humbug!" if there ever was one, Trick Daddy's "Ain't No Santa" makes a case for Kris Kringle as the creation of a racist society to pacify oppressed, ethnic minorities. Think what you will, but the Trickster's Christmas dreams are bleak, indeed. He envisions a world dominated by racist cops, ineffectual politicians, and clueless educators - and precious little opportunity for guys like him. Forced into crime, he pleads "I hope God would forgive me after I spent it on his children." Mr. Daddy concludes, "There damn sure ain't no Santa Claus," adding in true gangsta style, "If you think I'm gonna change, you can kiss my ass." "Ain't No Santa" is available only on Trick Daddy's album Thug Holiday which, despite appearances, is not a Christmas album.

  • Ain't Nothin' Like Christmas (Shelby Lynne, 2010)
  • Alabaster (Andrew Bird, 2019)
  • All Alone On Christmas (Darlene Love, 1992)
  • All Hail Santa (Anti-Heroes, 1988)
  • All Hopped Up On Jingle Bells (Punchline, 2008)
  • All I Got For Christmas Was This Lousy Boy (Bunnygrunt, 2003)
  • All I Ever Want (Under The Christmas Tree) (Cute Lepers, 2008)
  • All I Really Want This Christmas (Little Jackie, 2009) [close]

    Little JackieThe first surprising fact about Little Jackie is that she is not an actual person, but rather a Brooklyn-based duo composed of singer Imani Coppola and multi-instrumentalist Adam Pallin. Purportedly, the name derives from the 1989 Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam hit "Little Jackie Wants To Be A Star." Anyway, the second surprising fact - for me, at least - is the murky origins of "All I Really Want This Christmas," a charming, witty, funky, but dark song. I discovered it in 2011, when the pair released it in conjunction with their Plush Moon album Made4TV, with which the now-deleted digital single shared cover art. But, Little Jackie goes back at least as far as 2008, when they had some success (mostly overseas) with a single, "The World Should Revolve Around Me," from their debut album, The Stoop. And, it was in the wake of that success that Little Jackie released "All I Really Want This Christmas" directly to their fans in 2009 - probably through Bandcamp (which would make Little Jackie early adopters of the now-humongous platform), as well as YouTube.

    None of which addresses why you should care about the song. And you should. Like a lot of Little Jackie's music, "All I Really Want This Christmas" conceals social criticism and jaundiced cynicism with pop sheen and an irresistible groove. Yes, it has a good beat and you can dance to it. But, do you want to? In less than three minutes, Imani Coppola name checks global warming, the swine flu, commercialism, loneliness, the Great Recession, and more. No wonder that all she really wants for Christmas is a sense of humor and a bottomless cocktail!

  • All I Wanna Do Is Shag For Christmas (BellRays, 2005)
  • All I Want (Stephen Bishop, 1991)
  • All I Want For Christmas (Ray Charles, 1985)
  • All I Want For Christmas (Explosive Head, 2012)
  • All I Want For Christmas (Macy Gray, 2015)
  • All I Want For Christmas (Larks, 1951)
  • All I Want For Christmas (John Waite, 1997)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle (Dora Bryan, 1963) [close]

    Dora BryanDora Bryan's "All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle" is a British novelty record that is one of several Christmas songs spawned by the Beatlemania phenomenon that began in 1963 (read more). What makes this one special is the fact that it actually predates the Beatles' invasion of America, which commenced with the Fab Four's appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964. Musically speaking, Bryan's "Beatle" is a quaint, cute ditty - not a rocker befitting the band in question. Warbling the song in an accent somewhere betwixt Eliza Doolittle and Angela Lansbury, Bryan tells her mum, "I don't care whichever one she gets me - Ringo, John, Paul, George, they're all the same." Geez... Still, it reached #20 on the UK charts, and the Beatles reportedly parodied it themselves on the BBC.

    Two things to note. First, "All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle" has never been issued on a legitimate CD, though it shows up with some frequency on bootlegs and public domain compilations. Second, Dora Bryan was actually a pretty big deal - as an actress, mainly, and mostly in England. She was a full 40 years old when she recorded her Beatle song, and she'd recently won a BAFTA award for Best Actress in the 1961 film A Taste of Honey. That was probably the peak of her career, but she would continue acting on stage and screen till the early 21st century. She died in 2014 at the age of 91.

  • All I Want For Christmas Is A Go-Go Girl (Bey Ireland, 1966)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is A Job (Soulphonics, 2011)
  • All I Want For Christmas (Is A Little Bit Of Music) (Huey "Piano" Smith & The Clowns, 1962) Top 100 Song
  • All I Want For Christmas Is A Rest (Is It Only Another Day?) (Dropkick, 2022)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is A Rock 'n' Roll Guitar (Stompers, 1980)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is A Spice Girl (Paul Griggs, 1997)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is Halloween (Happy Fangs, 2013)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is Love (Julianne Hough & Jordan Fisher, 2019)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is My Daddy (Buck Owens, 1968)
  • All I Want For Christmas (Is My Girl) (New Edition, 1985)
  • All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)
  • All I Want For Christmas (Is World Peace) (Timbuk 3, 1987)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You (C. Quents, 1964)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You (The 88, 2009)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You (Foghat, 1981)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You (Carla Thomas, 1963 and 1966)
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You (Tony Bennett, 2004)
    - originally issued as Christmas Love Song
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You
  • All I Want For Christmas Is You (Joss Stone, 2007)
  • All I Want For Christmas... (Shonen Knife, 1999) [close]

    Shonen KnifeWritten and recorded with Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth, Shonen Knife's "All I Want For Christmas" expresses the time-honored sentiment of making the holiday season less materialistic, more loving. Moore's strange, sweet words prompted singer Naoko Yamano to exclaim, "I felt his warm mind when I read the lyrics," though she renders them nearly unintelligible with her heavy Japanese accent. "All I Want For Christmas" has never appeared on a CD outside of Japan. Initially, it was released in three radically different mixes on a specially-packaged CD single. Later, the "normal" version was included on the Japanese Shonen Knife compilation Millennium Edition (2001). The band had previously released another holiday song, "Space Christmas" (1991), later compiled on their CD, The Birds And The B-Sides (1996).

  • All I Want For Ismas (Jacob Miller and Ray I, 1978)
  • All I Want Is Truth (for Christmas) (The Mynabirds, 2010)
  • All I Wanted Was A Skateboard (Super Deluxe, 1995)
  • All My Christmases Came At Once (Bee Gees, 1968)
  • All That I Want (The Weepies, 2004)
  • All The Stockings (Jingle Punx, 2023)
  • All Through the Night (Heart featuring Richard Marx, 2013)
  • All Wrapped Up In You (Diplomats Of Solid Sound, 2018)
  • All Year Long (Amber deLaurentis, 2010)
  • Almost Christmas Day (The Automatics, 2007)
  • Almost Christmas Time (Dwight Twilley, 2005)
  • Almost Thanksgiving Day (Graham Parker, 2004)
  • Almost Too Early For Christmas (Jimmy Fallon & Dolly Parton, 2022)
  • Alone For Christmas (Sofia Talvik, 2023)
  • Alone On Christmas Day (Phoenix featuring Bill Murray, 2015)
  • Alone On New Year's Eve (Manhattans, 1966)
  • Alone This Holiday (The Used, 2002)
  • Already Miss Christmas (Paul Sikes, 2012)
  • Always Christmas (Pete RG, 2013)
  • Always Winter Never Christmas (XTC, 1991) [close]

    XTCA clever, catchy song, "Always Winter, Never Christmas" started out as a mere home recording by XTC MVP Andy Partridge, and it was relegated to a cassette called Window Box given away at the 1991 XTC Music & Friends Convention in Barrie, Ontario. Thankfully, the song was more widely released - though not by much - as a b-side on the CD single Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead (1992). It also appeared on an obscure Japanese EP called Demo Tracks (1992) and, much later, on the surround sound reissue of Nonsuch (2013, B00EG0MVOI). "Always Winter" is a finely drawn, melancholy little song, full of Partridge's all-too-clever lyrics - which rather mask the fact that the song is about sexual frustration, not a lack of holiday spirit.

    All that said, when it comes to Christmas, XTC will always be best remembered for their 1983 single, "Thanks For Christmas," released under the pseudonym Three Wise Men. The a-side is anthologized with some regularity, but both "Thanks For Christmas" and its b-side, "Countdown To Christmas Party Time," can be found on the XTC rarities album Rag & Bone Buffet (1990).

  • Am I Too Old For Christmas? (The Ashes, 2012)
  • Amazing Grace
  • And Anyway It's Christmas (!!!, 2013)
  • And The Salvation Army Band Plays (Helen Love & Ricardo Autobahn, 2012)
  • And To All A Good Night (Five Chinese Brothers, 1997)
  • Angel And The Little Blue Bell (Brenda Lee, 1964)
  • Angel Eyes (Emmylou Harris, 1979)
  • Angel On The Tree (Allen & The Lads, 1965)
  • Angel, Won't You Call Me? (The Decemberists, 2003)
  • Angels (Tiffany, 2020)
  • Angels Christmas (Wild Honey, 1973)
  • Angels From The Realms Of Glory (Roger McGuinn, 2021)
  • Angels We Have Heard On High
    • Decibels (2004)
    • Roches (1990)
    • Rondelles (1999) [close]

      RondellesBeginning as a lo-fi, DIY, riot grrl sensation, Albuquerque's Rondelles polished their act almost into the realm of power pop - and they were better off for it. The band's no-frills take on the traditional Christmas carol "Angels We Have Heard On High" is more the latter than the former, however, featuring perhaps the most rudimentary guitar solo in the history of the known universe. But, what it lacks in finesse, it makes up in attitude, with its driving beat, insistent farisa organ, and Juliet Swango's cool vocals combining into a simple but memorable performance. The song was Included on Shined Nickels and Loose Change (2001), an odds-n-sods collection, while the track originated on a CD included with the 'zine Cool Beans (issue #11). Sadly, the Rondelles only lasted for two formal albums and a handful of singles, but they played a small yet crucial role as 90's alternative rock developed into the diverse indie scene of the 21st century.

  • Annual Animal Christmas Ball (The Belmonts, 1988)
  • Another Beatles Christmas Record (Beatles, 1964)
  • Another Christmas (Fuzzy Navels, 2007)
  • Another Christmas (MxPx, 2016)
  • Another Christmas (Yobs, 1979)
  • Another Christmas At Home (Eux Autres, 2006)
  • Another Christmas Beer (Fear, 2000)
  • Another Christmas Song (Jethro Tull, 1984)
  • Another Christmas Song (Remington Super 60, 2017)
  • Another Christmas with My Baby (The Grapes & Friends, 2023)
  • Another Lonely Christmas (Prince, 1984) Top 100 Song [close]

    PrinceReleased as the non-LP b-side of "I Would Die 4 U," a Top 10 single from the film Purple Rain (1984), "Another Lonely Christmas" is a melodramatic ballad cut from the same cloth as the rest of that fabulous soundtrack - generally acknowledged as Prince's artistic zenith. Highlighted by the Purple One's deathless threat to "drink banana daiquiris till I go blind," "Another Lonely Christmas" reached #5 on the Billboard Christmas charts the same year. The song showed up on a Warner Brothers vinyl promotional album called Yulesville (1988) but has never been included on a commercially-released Christmas record. Prince, however, included it on his own 3-CD retrospective, The Hits/The B-Sides (1993). An extended version of "Another Lonely Christmas" was released on the 12-inch vinyl single of "I Would Die 4 U" and was never reissued until both the 7- and 12-inch versions were included as bonus tracks on the 2017 expanded edition of Purple Rain.

  • Another Lonely Christmas (Belton Richard, circa 1970)
  • Another Perfect Christmas (Keith LuBrant, 2002)
  • Another Rock And Roll Christmas (Gary Glitter, 1984) [close]
    Gary Glitter

    Gary Glitter's "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" (1984) was a Top 10 hit in England, but it rarely pops up on Christmas collections. Turns out there's a good reason for that. In America, Gary Glitter was a one-hit wonder known mostly for the weird, quasi-instrumental song "Rock And Roll, Part 2," which became a Top 10 hit in 1972 during the glam rock craze. It was actually a b-side of a more straight-ahead song called, predictably, "Rock And Roll, Part 1."

    In Europe, however, Gary Glitter (an Englishman, real name Paul Gadd) was one of the biggest stars of the 1970's, with a long string of hits that spanned the decade including "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock And Roll)," "I Am The Leader Of The Gang (I Am)," and "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)," which Joan Jett later covered to great effect. Taken from Glitter's 1984 album, Boys Will Be Boys, "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" hit #7 on the UK charts, and it proved to be his last big hit.

    With his career already in decline, Gary Glitter was charged with possession of child pornography in 1997, then convicted and imprisoned in 1999. In the coming years, he would remain in trouble (or jail) in a variety of countries for a variety of child sex-related charges, including rape. Unsurprisingly, "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" rarely popped up on Christmas compilations thereafter, and Gary Glitter's music largely disappeared from the marketplace. Even "Rock And Roll, Part 2," which had become a ubiquitous chant at sporting events, evaporated from the culture.

    Before Glitter's well-warranted cancellation, "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" appeared on Rhino's Have A Nice Christmas: Holiday Hits Of The '70s in America and on numerous European holiday collections, including the first two editions of The Best Christmas Album In The World... Ever! It's also usually included on later hits collections like The Ultimate Gary Glitter: 25 Years Of Hits (2000) and All That Glitters: The Best Of Gary Glitter (2011).

  • Another Song About Christmas (MXPX, 2008)
  • Another Year (Leo Sayer, 1974)
  • Anytown USA (Stratocruiser, 2011)
  • Are You Coming Home For Christmas? (Webb Brothers, 2014)
  • Are You Coming Over For Christmas? (Belle & Sebastian, 2007)
  • Are You Lonely Tonight, Mrs. Claus? (Dan Wilson, 2010)
  • Are You Ready For Christmas? (Luther n' B.B.B.'s, 1987)
  • At Christmas Time (WJLP, 2014)
  • At The Christmas Ball (Bessie Smith, 1925)
  • Auld Lang Syne
    • Baghdaddios (1998)
    • Black On White Affair (1970)
    • Jackie Cain-Roy Kral Sextet (1949)
    • Cucumbers (2002)
    • Dollyrots (2023)
    • Force MD's (1984)
    • Girlschool (2010)
    • Infant Kings (1997)
    • Mary Karlzen (2003)
    • Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians (1939) [close]

      Guy LombardoHip? Not even close. Guy Lombardo's "Auld Lang Syne" doesn't swing so much as somnabulate. And, if you listen to the words, the song isn't about New Year's or Christmas or anything related to the holiday season. But, how do I not include this venerable old tune, a favorite at midnight on December 31st seemingly since the beginning of time? Guy Lombardo, in fact, was instrumental in associating "Auld Lang Syne" with the holidays since he began playing it on his popular New Year's Eve radio broadcasts as far back as 1929.

      Lombardo recorded "Auld Lang Syne" many times, the first happening in 1939 during his brief stint at RCA Victor; see The Most Fabulous Christmas Ever! (1999) or Swingin' Christmas Party (2002). He waxed it again in 1947 as a single for Decca Records b/w "Home On The Range," and this version is included on Enjoy Yourself: The Hits of Guy Lombardo (1996). A new version was included on his 1961 Decca LP, New Year's Eve With Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians; this rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" is just a minute long, and it also appears on Oglio's The Coolest Christmas (1994). A 1956 Capitol Records version showed up on Guy Lombardo In Hi-Fi (1961) and again on Sing The Songs Of Christmas (1967) - though I suspect that the latter was yet another recording. The Capitol master is often featured compilations like Merry Christmas Baby (1991) and Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails (1996).

      The thing is, these recordings are all based on very similar arrangements, and the discs that contain them are often poorly annotated - if at all. The RCA and Capitol versions even nearly identical in length (a little over two minutes). You can tell them apart mainly by the recording quality: the older RCA version is transferred from 78-rpm records, whereas the new Capitol version is taken from tape. The 1947 Decca master, however, runs about two-and-a-half minutes and is the only version to feature vocals. All of which is my way of saying, the history of Guy Lombardo's greatest hit is rather murky, so take my discography with a grain of salt (and a glass of champagne). Readers?

      Amazingly, though Lombardo tallied over 200 Billboard hits from 1927 through 1954, none of his (at least) four recordings of "Auld Lang Syne" ever made the charts. Several other artists have done so, however, including Frank Stanley (1907), the Peerless Quartet (1921), Bobby Darin (as "Christmas Auld Lang Syne," 1960), and - yikes! - Kenny G (1999). But, for a really hip version, seek out Bobby Rey's rocking "Corrido de Auld Lang Syne" (1959, featured on Rhino's Mambo Santa Mambo).

      Guy Lombardo died in 1977. His minute-long rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" features his own hearty greeting, and a better epitaph has never been written. "Happy New Year, everybody," the old Canuck intones, "a very happy New Year!"

    • Vaughn Monroe (1949)
    • MXPX (2009)
    • Martin Sexton (2005)
    • Sit n' Spin (1994)
    • Yobs (1980)
  • Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone (Slade, 1985)
  • Ave Maria
    • Chris Cornell with Eleven (1997)
    • Nina Hagen (1989) [close]

      Nina HagenCalled "the Mother of Punk," semi-operatic princess Nina Hagen has conducted a career quite unlike any other, resembling none except - and this is a stretch - a Teutonic Grace Jones (or maybe a kooky Kate Bush). Hagen's dignified, heavily-synthesized, rock rendition of Schubert's "Ave Maria" (sung in the original German) is fairly typical of her artistic approach, engendering - as Ira Robbins puts it - "a total lack of self-consciousness in both delivery and subject matter." The recording is also, I cannot deny, something of an excuse to show off Hagen's impressive pipes, and it sits rather uncomfortably against her more edgy repertoire. Regardless, the song was released in Europe as a track from her eponymous 1989 album, in her native Germany as a b-side on the CD single of "Michail, Michail (Gorbachev Rap)," and next door in Austria as a 7-inch single b/w "Hold Me."

    • Neal Schon (2017)
    • Sugarboom (1994)
  • Away In A Manger

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