Sad to say but Christmas music has become big business. Forget the religious aspects.  This is little more than an attempt to wring every last possible dollar out of the consumers billfold.  Every year dozens of artists feel the need to release Christmas albums.  I'm sure most of them feel they're giving their legions of fans a Christmas present, but the fact of the matter is most of these albums are rubbish.  As an example, did the world really need to hear the late Regis Philbin's 2005 "The Regis Philbin Christmas Album"?  My opinion - no.

If you do the back-of-the-envelop calculation there has to be a catalog of thousands of holiday album and perhaps millions of individual "Christmas" songs.  For goodness sakes, everyone from Bob Dyan to William Shatner has recorded a Christmas album.  How do you even begin to pick classic songs from the forgettable, or even shameful?

Well, I certainly don't have the answers, but I can add to the endless list of favorite Christmas songs. There are some great Christmas songs out that didn't make my list because they were just so overplayed (Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas Time" comes to mind).  Others simply irritate me.  Does anyone really need to hear Mariah Carey's “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, or Wham's "Last Christmas" again?   Anyhow, remember these songs reflect my tastes which means lots of '60s, '70s and '80s choices.  My list is no better; no worse than anyone else's; though it may be somewhat more diverse.  Again, remember my opinions are nothing more than opinions.  If you disagree, feel free to ignore the list.

Comments, suggestions and corrections always welcome - send them to RDTEN1@aol.com

LAST UPDATED NOVEMBER 29, 2025

ARTIST: Donnie Hathaway

SONG TITLE: This Christmas

WRITER(S): Donny Hathaway - Nadine McKinnor

RUNNING TIME: 3:32

YEAR: 1982

YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhKVSZsRxQM 

Similar to Stevie Wonder, the late Donnie Hathaway had a special voice.  Smooth, silky and sophisticated, it's seldom been showcased as well as on "This Christmas".  Yes, the track is super commercial, but it hides that commercial edge with a Hathaway vocal that seems to recognize what makes the season special.  No it isn't Black Friday sales ...

Cartoonist Lonnie Milsap was commissioned to create a promotional video for the song. See the above link. 

ARTIST:  The Waitresses

SONG TITLE: Christmas Wrapping

WRITER(S): Chris Butler

RUNNING TIME: 5:23

YEAR: 1991

YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMfBL0VEaAE 

The late Patty Donahue turns in a great performance on what was essentially a throwaway tune.  Not a big Christmas guy, guitarist Chris Butler finished writing the song's lyrics while riding a taxi to the recording studio.  It was certainly an odd song for a new wave band, but the jittery melody and the single-grouchy-woman-doesn't-like-Christmas-time lyrics were hysterical. And it ultimately has a Happy Christmas ending.

ARTIST: Chris Rea

SONG TITLE: Driving Home for Christmas

WRITER(S): Chris Rea

RUNNING TIME: 3:57

YEAR: 1986

YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrOAoNPdBb4 

In addition to being a great Christmas song anyone who has had to drive home for the holidays will be able to identify with the lyrics), this one's interesting from a marketing perspective.  It was originally released as the "B" side of Rea's 1986's "Hello Friend" 45.  Three years later Rea included it as a track on his "New Light Through Old Windows" retrospective LP.  The track  was then re-issued as a single.  It charted in the UK, but has done better with each successive year.  It's just charming and hypnotic.  It's been recorded by other acts, but Rea's original remains the standout.

The video captured Rea lip synching the song for the TopPop televisionn program.

ARTIST: Brenda Lee

SONG TITLE: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

WRITER(S): Johnny Marks

RUNNING TIME: 2:02

YEAR: 1961

YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7QPZti18Dk 

It blows my mind to realize Brenda Lee was just thireen when she recorded the song.  It also blows my mind to realize most people know the song from the 1990 flilm "Home Alone".  How can it be that I'm suddenly so old?

ARTIST: Run DMC

SONG TITLE: Christmas In Hollis

WRITER(S): Rick Rubin - Steve Ett

RUNNING TIME: 2:57

YEAR: 2014

YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR07r0ZMFb8 

Scott has a rap song on his list?  C'mon, how can you not love this one?  Plus it was recorded and released for a charity album.

ARTIST: James Brown

SONG TITLE: Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto

WRITER(S): James Brown - A. Ellis - Hank Ballard

RUNNING TIME: 2:55

YEAR: 1968

YOUTUBE LINK: James Brown-Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto

Probably the oddest choice on my list, but you cannot go wrong with a Christmas song that's funky and makes a social statement at the same time.

ARTIST: Vince Guaraldi Trio

SONG TITLE: Christmas Time Is Here

WRITER(S): Vince Guaraldi - Lee Mendelson

RUNNING TIME: 2:44

YEAR: 1965

YOUTUBE LINK: Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal)

This may be one of my earliest childhood musical memories ...  I can't tell you how many times I've seen the television show ...  Say fifty times - once a year for most of my life. That personal history may explain why this one resonates with me.  It just reminds me of a simpler time.   Included on the CBS television special "A Charlie Brown Christmas" the accompanying soundtrack album included instrumental and vocal versions of the track.  Featuring the San Rafeal, California St Paul’s Episcopal Church choir, the vocal version is the one.  

ARTIST: Bruce Springsteen

SONG TITLE: Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town

WRITER(S): Haven Gillespie - J. Fred Coots

RUNNING TIME: 4:13

YEAR: 1981

YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcV8INh0d7g

Springsteen and Christmas just seem to go hand in hand.  This live tune captures Springsteen and the E. Street Band at their most fun.  Wonder is Santa will bring me a copy of the "Lost and Found" boxed set?

ARTIST: The Beach Boys

SONG TITLE: Little Saint Nick

WRITER(S): Brian Wilson 

RUNNING TIME: 2:00

YEAR: 1963

YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_3HLtW8mCw 

How can you go wrong with including a Beach Boys tune?  The Santa Claus-drives-a-hot-rod has a distinctive early-'60s vibe, but decades later this baby rocks out.  Another early childhood memory that still brings a smile to my face.

ARTIST: The London Symphony

SONG TITLE: Messiah, For unto us a child is Born

WRITER(S): George Frideric Handel

RUNNING TIME: 3:57

YEAR: 1741 

YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS3vpAWW2Zc 

When you're inundated with all the commercial trappings of the Christmas season (which includes Christmas music being played before Thanksgiving is over), it's very easy to forget what the Christmas season is really about.  I'm as guilty as anyone, but hearing Handel's glorious melody coupled with Charles Jennen's libretto (the accompanying lyrics) helps me remember what makes the season important.  I'm not sure it makes me a better person, but there is just something magical about this oratorio.  I suspect that God is not all that thrilled with mankind.  We seem determined to destroy ourselves ... Perhaps Handel's "Messiah" is one of those things that pleases him.