The Chris Moeller Archives

5 Best Christmas Songs: A Correction - by Aaron Moeller

A merry Christmas to all of you from the Chris Moeller Archives shadow blogger, Aaron.

In Chris' list of the five greatest Christmas recordings a couple days ago, he inadvertently left out the five best songs and replaced them with five (inferior) ones - how embarrassing for him. Anyway, he asked me to step in and correct things. (Actually, I rather like his list. I'd gladly list his five tunes as my numbers 6 thru 10.) Chris' guilty conscience at excluding him led Chris to mention Phil Spector in his posting, even though the man wasn't ultimately represented on Chris' list. Here then is the real list, including two versions originally produced by the beyond-strange, hermitic, gal-murdering, musical genius, record producer...


5. "Blue Christmas" - Elvis Presley, 1957- Lest we forget that Christmas - for many - is the loneliest time of the year. The King offers up a harsh, mournful, real world alternative to the pristine holiday standard. "You'll be doin' all right, with your Christmas of white, But I'll have a blue, blue Christmas". Take that, Bing Crosby!

4. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, 1984 - The classic recording of this song is the rare chance to annually hear a concert recording of the greatest live rock 'n roll band in history on your local classic-rock radio station, complete with between-song stage chatter, holiday antics and general tomfoolery. "Clarence, have you been practicing, have you been rehearsing real hard so Santa will bring you a new saxaphone!?" The spirit of Christmas. The spirit of rock 'n roll. Here's another fun version by the band.

3. "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" - Darlene Love, 1963 - This one's become a late night TV holiday tradition, thanks to David Letterman. Who would have thought that as Love aged, her voice would only get stronger and sweeter? (And isn't that a beautiful sounding sentence? I'm a damn poet.) Tune in to the Late Show Friday night to hear the 2006 rendition.

2. "Christmas Time is Here" - Vince Guaraldi Trio, 1965 - Chris tried to deny this one in favor of a more upbeat Peanuts holiday tune, and while the entire album is certainly wondrous, accept no substitutes. (Chris will say anything contrary for attention. He doesn't believe half of what he says.) If the other songs on this list are perfect for your holiday party, this one's for the cold, solitary, late night Christmas Eve, looking out a window at the darkened earth and reflecting on another year gone. There's a vocal performance of the song on the same album (performed by a children's choir) that reminds us how bright and hopeful the song's lyrics are, but it only serves to underscore how truly mournful the instrumental performance is. There's a point - at about the four minute mark - that hits me every time. After the song has dissolved into a bass solo, Guaraldi recovers the melody on his piano, playing with such feeling that we're reminded - even beyond Christmas songs - this may well be the saddest song ever recorded.

1. "Sleigh Ride" - The Ronettes, 1963 - Ding-a-ling-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding! The sexiest group in rock history, led by That Voice - little Veronica Bennett/Ronnie Spector - ultimately blows all the other rock 'n roll Christmas pretenders out of the water. Starting mildly with holiday chimes, then some bass, then sound effects (the clickity- clack hooves and whinnying of a horse), by the time the hard-charging melody kicks in, we've been barely prepared for the entrance of the ultimate rock and roll voice. Soon the song is driving along, snow is falling, friends are calling, and we're in the throes of rock ecstasy, all the while snuggled up together like birds of a feather. Ahh... that voice. A million other hearts can be heard breaking as - for at least two and a half minutes - she pledges her love and affection to only one. "It's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with YOU". With me? Man oh man, Christ the Savior is born.

posted by Anonymous @ 6:37 PM