skip to content

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.

  • Pakylėtas Gruodis (Evgenya Redko, 2022)
  • Pancho Claus (aka Poncho Claus)
  • Pancho's Christmas (Mel Blanc, 1959)
  • Pantomime - Everywhere It's Christmas (Beatles, 1966)
  • Papa Noel (Brenda Lee, 1959)
  • Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
  • Party For Santa Claus (Lord Nelson, 1963)
  • Pass Me A Drink (It's Christmas) (Whitney Nichole, 2012)
  • Peace (Norah Jones, 2001)
  • Peace On You (Three Hour Tour, 1992)
  • Peaceful Christmas (Danny Boy, 1996)
  • Peace On Earth (The Automatics with Steve Jones, 2007)
  • Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (Bing Crosby & David Bowie, 1977) [close]

    Bing Crosby & David BowieMostly, this website celebrates Christmas music that "rocks, rolls, swings, or twangs." In that light, writing about Bing Crosby is problematic, because Der Bingle did none of those things. But, just before his death, Crosby managed one last session that would cement his legacy as the King of Christmas for a younger generation who thought of him as little more than an old fogey who sold orange juice. Crosby historian Steven Lewis describes the event:

    One of the more surreal moments in pop music history took place September 11, 1977, when the leading American pop star of the first half of the 20th century met and performed with one of the most innovative rockers of the last half. Crosby was in London to conduct a concert tour and tape his annual Christmas TV special. It was Bing's idea that he should have as a guest on his TV show a young star. Someone suggested David Bowie. Bing had never heard of Bowie, but his kids had, so an invitation was sent to the rock star. Bowie, as it turned out, was a secret fan of Der Bingle and jumped at the chance to perform with him.

    Bing's idea was that he and Bowie would perform "The Little Drummer Boy" as a duet. Bowie felt the song did not showcase his voice very well, so the writers added "Peace on Earth," which suited Bowie's voice quite well. Two musical spokesmen of different generations met for the first time on the morning of the taping, rehearsed for just an hour, and finished their duet in only three takes. Bing was impressed with Bowie and gave him his phone number at the end of the taping. Bing told an interviewer four days later that he considered Bowie "a clean cut kid and a real fine asset to the show. He sings well, has a great voice, and reads lines well. He could be a good actor if he wanted."

    Bing CrosbyBing died just a month later, dropping dead of heart failure on October 14 while playing a round of golf. David and Bing's performance aired on November 30 after Crosby's death, forming a memorable tribute to his broad appeal. In fact, TV Guide chose the duet as one of the 25 best musical moments in television history. "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy," however, was not released commercially until 1982 when David Bowie's former label RCA issued it on 45 backed with Bowie's "Fantastic Voyage" (later issued on CD single by Oglio Records).

    In the years since, the duet's reputation has grown considerably, spawning a fair number of cover versions and a bizarre video by comics Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Bowie and Bing's recording itself has been reissued many, many times - though often in a single edit that excises the opening dialogue between Crosby and Bowie - which is no small part of the song's charm.

    The full-length version can be found on later editions of Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics and Oglio Records' 1994 compilation The Coolest Christmas, and the single edit can be found on The Crosby Christmas Sessions (2010), New Wave Xmas (1996), VH1: The Big 80's Christmas (2001), and many others - especially in Europe, where Christmas compilations are a minor industry. Interestingly, the track rarely shows up in David Bowie's catalog, appearing only on an early limited edition of The Singles 1969 To 1993 (1993) and A New Career In A New Town (2017), one of a series of mammoth boxed sets documenting his entire career. Finally, it's worth noting that television in 1977 was, by definition, mono, so all recordings of "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" are mono, as well.

  • Peppermint Winter (Owl City, 2010)
  • Pete's Dad (Porno For Pyros, 2023)
  • Pillow Fight Skies (The Sinclairs featuring Jane Horrocks and Rat Scabies, 2020)
  • A Pimp's Christmas Song (Snoop Dogg with featuring Bishop Don "Magic" Juan and Jake The Flake, 2008)
  • Place for Peace (Sam Phillips, 2019)
  • Player's Ball (Outkast, 1993)
  • Please Come Home For Christmas
  • Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas) (John Denver, 1973)
  • Please Don't Take Our Tree For Christmas (The Nutty Squirrels, 1960)
  • Please Mr. Santa Claus (Evan Johns & The H-Bombs, 1990)
  • Po' Folks Christmas (Bill Anderson, 1968)
  • Pocketful Of Mistletoe (Sonny James, 1966)
  • Politically Incorrect Christmas Song (Mary Karlzen, 2007)
  • Poppa Santa Claus (Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters, 1950)
  • Poor Mister Santa (Andre Williams, 1997)
  • Postcard From London (Ray Davies with Chrissie Hynde, 2010)
  • Pour Another Ounce of Rum in the Eggnog (by Heather Blush And The Uppercuts, 2010)
  • Praise Jah, It's Christmas (Alton Ellis, 1993)
  • Present Face (Garfunkel & Oates, 2009)
  • Presents (Stratocruiser, 2010)
  • Presents For Christmas (Solomon Burke, 1967) Top 100 Song
  • A Present For Santa Claus (Eddy Arnold with his daughter Jo Ann, 1954)
  • Present Without A Bow (Kacey Musgraves & Leon Bridges, 2016)
  • Pretty Good Christmas (Disappointment Choir, 2013)
  • Pretty Little Dolly (Mona Abboud, 1966)
  • Pretty Paper
  • Prince Of Peace (Johnny Nash, 1969)
  • Pulverized (Ralphie's Red Ryders, 2021)
  • Punk Rawk Christmas (MXPX, 2009)
  • Punk Xmas (Holly Beth Vincent, 2008)
  • Purple Snowflakes
    • Jesse Baylin (2014)
    • Leon Bridges (2021)
    • Marvin Gaye (1964) [close]

      Christmas In The CityThough one of Motown's biggest stars, Marvin Gaye never released a Christmas song during his lifetime - which was cut tragically short when he was shot and killed in 1984 by his own father. But, Gaye recorded at least four holiday songs that have been postmously released. One of them, "Purple Snowflakes," is actually an alternate version of his 1965 hit, "Pretty Little Baby." Gaye originally wrote the song (with Clarence Paul and David Hamilton) in 1964 as "Purple Snowflakes," a lushly romantic, mildly psychedelic ode to Christmas in the city - perhaps intended a Christmas single that year. But, for whatever reasons, it was shelved and turned into a more conventional love song that, when released in 1965 as a non-LP single, became a fairly big hit, reaching #25 on Billboard's pop chart and #16 on the rhythm & blues chart.

      "Purple Snowflakes" was finally released in 1993 on Christmas In The City, a collection of rare holiday tracks from Hitsville USA, and later included on A Motown Christmas Vol. 2 (2001) and The Ultimate Motown Christmas Collection (2009), among others.

      Best I can tell, "Pretty Little Baby" and "Purple Snowflakes" use the exact same backing track, though - as released, at least - the latter song runs about 20 seconds longer. Also, "Purple Snowflakes" is usually presented in stereo, whereas "Pretty Little Baby" - and most Motown singles of the era - is pristine mono.

  • Put Christ Back Into Christmas (Red Foley, 1953)
  • Put One Foot In Front Of The Other (from "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town") (Mickey Rooney & Keenan Wynn, 1970)
  • Put The X Back In Xmas (Candye Kane with Country Dick Montana, 1993)
  • Put The X Back In Xmas (Stratocruiser, 2013)
  • Queen Of Bliss (Luscious Jackson, 1994)
  • Questions (MxPx, 2009)

[top of page]