So a few of my favorite Christmas Tunes - some of which Nathan didn't mention

Ah, the Holidays. I love the lights, the cold weather (when we can get it in Texas), the food and camaraderie. And, as we've discussed, the music.

The older I get, the more I realize its a time of year for dwelling a bit in the past, enjoying the same movies, songs, decorations, etc... over and over. That's a good thing. We need a chance to reflect on who we are, who we were and who we can be next year, and if it takes putting a fake tree in your living room and hanging gaudy baubles from the branches to do that, that's okay.

That doesn't mean every year is that same. Every Christmas is, of course, different. For some its the first year of a new romance. For others, its the first year alone. For some its Christmas with a new baby, while others may just see it as a day when they can get overtime during a shift at the toll booth. But so it seems appropriate that with all the ways we filter Christmas, so, too, should we have a wide variety of songs.

Here are some more favorites:

Miss Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas:



Mr. Bing Crosby with White Christmas (which held the record for best-selling record for decades, btw):



I'm not sure Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keene is popular outside of the Great State of Texas, but around here, its definitely got some traction. And, yes, people always sing along.  Apologies to those of you from outside Texas.





Ms. Darlene Love singing Baby, Please Come Home (this is a top 3 type favorite for me. Do not accept U2 covers):




The Pogues and Ms. Kirsty MacColl (RIP) on Fairytale of New York:




And there's no video of this track, recorded circa 1963 -  Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, The Bells of St. Mary's.  Its also not, technically, a Christmas song.  The movie "The Bells of St. Mary's" was released during the Holiday season (only a small part of it actually takes place during Christmas), but somehow its become a quasi-Christmas classic.  And its a really great movie, too.  I confess to getting a little weepy at the end.

Anyhow, Bob B. Soxx (I am guessing: not his real name), just kills on this song.

Special Bonus Tracks:

-From Mr. Mojo Nixon, a man who has made a career out of not really caring a whole lot/ not taking it all too seriously, Sleigh Ride.  In one take.  Without ever bothering to look up the lyrics.

-and this isn't a song.  I'm just posting this for Jamie.  It's the long-forgotten Stick Figure Theater's take on Its a Wonderful Life.