Not necessarily my 12 favorite Christmas songs, but if I did a list of 25 or so, I'd include these. And you'll notice I didn't really stop at 12, partly because I picked two versions of the same song. Hey, every one likes a little something extra at Christmas. What are your favorite seasonal songs?
1. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
Possibly my favorite contemporary Christmas song. It's not the season until I hear this (preferably 10 or 20 times).
2. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin
Ahh Dean Martin. Now this guy knew how to sing the holidays.
3. Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
A fun, story song. Doesn't hurt that I was 20-something when this was first released. Something frantically romantic about the season in those days.
4. Run Rudolph Run - Keith Richards / Toots & The Maytals
Yes, the Chuck Berry version may be better. But no one makes a Christmas punch like Uncle Keith.
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Barenaked Ladies
My favorite tune to sing while caroling as a young lad. Like this version, as well as the Jars of Clay rendition.
6. Winter Wonderland - Aimee Mann
Really hard to pick a version of this song that I like best. You could do a lot worse than Aimee Mann's though.
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - T Bone Burnett
I know I'm doubling up on titles here, but this stark, acoustic arrangement reminds me of a cold, dark Christmas Eve just before the shepherds see that glorious star.
8. Skating - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Evoking so many wonderful childhood memories. Captures the energy of the season like few other songs.
9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Shawn Colvin
I don't listen to enough of Shawn Colvin. The holidays -- and this song -- provide opportunities to remedy this.
10. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
What's Christmas without a king (or three)?
11. Silent Night - Sarah McLachlan
My son's favorite Christmas song, and the lullaby we sang to him almost every night as a child.
12. Jingle Bells (1999 Digital Remaster) - Frank Sinatra
You know if I have Dean and the party and don't invite Frank, there's going to be trouble.
13. White Christmas - Bing Crosby Classic.
14. Let It Snow - Diana Krall
Last one. Diana Krall's voice goes down like a warm, Christmas Eve night cap.
