TMI Question of the Week - Christmas Edition

Cover of A Very Special ChristmasIf you could only listen to three Christmas albums over and over, which one would it be?

That's easy. It would be 1987's A Very Special Christmas compilation. It was a benefit album for the Special Olympics organization that had some of the biggest artists of that time. There have been sequels put out since but the original remains my favorite. Here's the song & artist list:

1. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" – The Pointer Sisters
2. "Winter Wonderland" – Eurythmics
3. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" – Whitney Houston
4. "Merry Christmas Baby" – Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
5. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – The Pretenders
6. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" – John Cougar Mellencamp
7. "Gabriel's Message" – Sting
8. "Christmas in Hollis" – Run–D.M.C.
9. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" – U2
10. "Santa Baby" – Madonna
11. "The Little Drummer Boy" – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
12. "Run Rudolph Run" – Bryan Adams
13. "Back Door Santa" – Bon Jovi
14. "The Coventry Carol" – Alison Moyet
15. "Silent Night" – Stevie Nicks

My second favorite Christmas album is 1988's Twisted Christmas. It's a comedy song album that is so funny. My Favorites are the 12 Pains of Christmas and a Message From the King. Here's the song list:

1. The Twelve Pains of Christmas (3:36)
   
   • Parody of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Sung as a normal Christmas carol, with each verse comically recited by a participant in a painful or undesirable activity.
2. The Chimney Song (2:06)
   
   • Original song, sung by a young child (or impersonator). The song describes the ensuing months after Santa Claus gets stuck in some one's chimney.
3. We Wish You Weren't Living With Us (0:44)
   
   • Parody of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Sung as a normal Christmas carol. About relatives who overstay their visit, becoming a nuisance to the host.
4. Wreck the Malls (2:02)
   
   • Parody of "Deck the Halls" performed as glam metal. About excessive Christmas shopping.
5. A Visit from St. Nicholson (4:30)
   
   • Parody of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clark Moore, with actor Jack Nicholson instead of St. Nicholas.
6. O Come All Ye Grateful Dead-Heads (1:23)
   
   • Parody of "O Come All Ye Faithful." Sung as a normal Christmas carol. Song about Grateful Dead fans.
7. I'm Dressin' Up Like Santa (When I Get Out on Parole) (3:06)
   
   • Original song, in the western swing genre.
8. The Restroom Door Said, "Gentlemen" (1:33)
   
   • Parody of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." Sung by an all-male a cappella chorus.
9. Foreigners (2:07)
   
   • Parody of "Angels We Have Heard on High."
10. Joy to the World (1:22)
    
    • Hard rock instrumental version of traditional song.
11. A Message from the King (2:18)
    
    • Spoken word piece by Elvis Presley impersonator. Depicted as Elvis being up in "rock 'n roll heaven" and giving a special message about the importance of Christmas while stuffing his face with various foods.

My third Christmas album is 2002's Boogie Woogie Christmas by the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Brian Setzer was the lead singer for the 1980s rockabilly pop band the Stray Cats who did a few rockabilly big band Christmas albums. This one is my favorite:

1. Jingle Bells - 2:22
2. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - 3:02
3. Winter Wonderland - 2:40
4. Blue Christmas - 2:48
5. Santa Claus Is Back In Town - 3:48
6. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Duet with Ann Margret) - 3:43
7. The Nutcracker Suite - 7:13
8. (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag - 2:48
9. Sleigh Ride - 2:40
10. So They Say It's Christmas - 4:46
11. O Holy Night - 4:49
12. The Amens - 0:59

My absolute favorite Christmas song is not on any of these albums. It's Happy Christmas (War is Over) from John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Others that didn't make these albums that I love are:
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jackson Five
Last Christmas - Wham, although it's not so much a Christmas song as it is a fuck you song.
Please Come Home For Christmas - the Eagles
Step Into Christmas - Elton John
All I Want For Christmas is You - Mariah Carey

Related articles

• Top 10 Christmas Songs (fitnessfoodandwhateverelse.wordpress.com)
• Cool Christmas Tuneage: My Top 10 Favorite Christmas Songs (unfinishedperson2.com)
• Seven Christmas Albums to Rock the Holidays (slightlyinsightful.com)