[Video: Steve Martin, Edie Brickell, and the Steep Canyon Rangers, “The Strangest Christmas Yet.” You can pop open a transcript of the lyrics here.]
Want to visit the pages for earlier playlists, which include videos, other songs, and some background material not in the “official” current list? Here y’go:
| 2008 | 2009 | |
| 2010 | 2011 | |
| 2012 | 2013 | |
| 2014 | 2015 | |
| 2016 | 2017 |
As always beginning in 2008, I’ve added ten new songs; the list therefore now includes 110 songs (well, the first just a scrap of dialogue). Total time required to listen to the whole thing, start-to-finish: now just shy of six hours. This means that — unless you’re interested in only this year’s ten — the best way to play the whole things is in random order, as background so to speak. Here’s the magic button to do that: click on it, and the mix pops open in a separate little window, and will start to play automatically (if you’re not happy with the order, close the pop-up window and click the button again):
tracks=”Dialogue from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’@00_dialoguefromacharliebrownchristmas.mp3,
Hodie Christus Natus Est@01_hodiechristusnatusest_anonymous4.mp3,
Three Spanish Villancicos/Dadme Albricias@02_threespanishvillancicos_dadme_albricias_waverlyconsort.mp3,
Home for the Holidays@03_homefortheholidays_perrycomo.mp3,
Joy to the World@04_joytotheworld_mannheimsteamroller.mp3,
The Holly and the Ivy@05_thehollyandtheivy_georgewinston.mp3,
O Holy Night@06_oholynight_celticwoman.mp3,
12 Days of Christmas@07_12daysofchristmas_denvermuppets.mp3,
Nutty Jingle Bells@08_nuttyjinglebells_alhirt.mp3,
Deck the Halls@09_deckthehalls_theroches.mp3,
Mary’s Boy Child@11_marysboychild_charlottechurch.mp3,
River@12_river_peyrouxlang.mp3,
Variations on the Kanon by Pachelbel@13_variationsonthekanonbypachelbel_georgewinston.mp3,
The Toy Trumpet@14_thetoytrumpet_fiedler.mp3,
Santa Baby@15_santababy_earthakitt.mp3,
Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer@16_rudolphtherednosedreindeer_mannheimsteamroller.mp3,
The Wexford Carol@17_thewexfordcarol_celticwoman.mp3,
Jingle Bells@18_jinglebells_briansetzerorchestra.mp3,
I Saw Mommy Kissing Sanda Claus@19_isawmommykissingsantaclaus_jimmyboyd.mp3,
Silent Night@20_silentnight_cumberlandgapreunion.mp3,
Cold Dark Night@21_colddarknight_samphillips.mp3,
Blue Christmas@22_bluechristmas_elvispresley.mp3,
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen@23_godrestyemerrygentlemen_loreenamckennitt.mp3,
The Chipmunk Song@24_thechipmunksong_thechipmunks.mp3,
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas@25_haveyourselfamerrylittlechristmas_franksinatra.mp3,
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear@26_itcameuponamidnightclear_londonphilharmonicorchestra.mp3,
Winter Creek@27_wintercreek_tonyelman.mp3,
Toy Packaging@28_toypackaging_saragroves.mp3,
Mary’s Boy Child@29_marysboychild_harrybelafonte.mp3,
Ring Christmas Bells@30_ringchristmasbells_rayconniffsingers.mp3,
Dig That Crazy Santa Claus@31_digthatcrazysantaclaus_ralphmarterie.mp3,
The Christmas Song@32_thechristmassong_natkingcole.mp3,
It Really Is (A Wonderful Life)@33_itreallyis_indigogirls.mp3,
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town@34_santaclausiscomintotown_johnnymercer.mp3,
Baby It’s Cold Outside@35_babyitscoldoutside_deanmartin.mp3,
Sleigh Ride@36_sleighride_ferranteandteicher.mp3,
Shakana Santa Shake It@37_shakanasantashakeit_bodolliswildmagnolias.mp3,
Silver Bells@38_silverbells_neildiamond.mp3,
Branle de l’Officiel@39_branledelofficiel_tavernerconsort.mp3,
Carol of the Bells@40_carolofthebells_georgewinston.mp3,
The Nutcracker: Overture@41_nutcrackeroverture_tilsonthomas_philharmonia.mp3,
O Tannenbaum@42_otannenbaum_vinceguaralditrio.mp3,
Christmas on the Moon@43_christmasonthemoon_troyhess.mp3,
I Wonder as I Wander@44_iwonderasiwander_barbrastreisand.mp3,
Jingle Bells@45_jinglebells_franksinatra.mp3,
Ave Maria@46_avemaria_alhirt.mp3,
Christmas Gumbo@47_christmasgumbo_artneville.mp3,
Frosty the Snowman@48_frostythesnowman_ellafitzgerald.mp3,
I’ll Be Home for Christmas@49_illbehomeforchristmas_deanmartin.mp3,
Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht@50_stillenachtheiligenacht_choirofkingscollege.mp3,
Christmas Is Coming@51_christmasiscoming_knightsong.mp3,
Pat-a-Pan@52_patapan_mannheimsteamroller.mp3,
The Little Drummer Boy@53_thelittledrummerboy_viennaboyschoir.mp3,
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas@54_haveyourselfamerrylittlechristmas_toriamos.mp3,
The First Noel@55_thefirstnoel_cumberlandgapreunion.mp3,
Toy Symphony I: Allegro@56_toysymphonyiallegro_isoloistidizagrebantoniojanigro.mp3,
Venid Fieles Todos@57_venidfielestodos_liubamariahevia.mp3,
White Christmas@58_whitechristmas_corporalblossom.mp3,
O Holy Night@59_oholynight_perrycomo.mp3,
Oíche Chiúin@60_oichechiuin_enya.mp3,
Some Children See Him@61_somechildrenseehim_georgewinston.mp3,
Baby It’s Cold Outside@62_babyitscoldoutside_sheandhim.mp3,
Winter Wonderland@63_winterwonderland_bingcrosby.mp3,
Nuttin’ for Christmas@64_nuttinforchristmas_barrygordon.mp3,
Go Tell It on the Mountain@65_gotellitonthemountain_mahaliajackson.mp3,
Jingle Bell Rock@66_jinglebellrock_bobbyhelms.mp3,
The Twelve Days of Christmas@67_thetwelvedaysofchristmas_rayconniff.mp3,
Jingle Bells?@68_jinglebells_barbrastreisand.mp3,
Light of the Stable@69_lightofthestable_emmylouharris.mp3,
The Nutcracker: Final Waltz@70_thenutcrackerfinalwaltz_bostonpops.mp3,
I Saw Three Ships@71_isawthreeships_mannheimsteamroller.mp3,
Patapan@72_patapan_julieandrews.mp3,
Fairytale of New York@73_fairytaleofnewyork_pogues.mp3,
The Twelve Gifts of Christmas@74_twelvegiftsofchristmas_allansherman.mp3,
Good King Wenceslas@75_goodkingwenceslas_loreenamckennitt.mp3,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer@76_rudolphtherednosedreindeer_perrycomo.mp3,
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree@77_rockinaroundthechristmastree_brendalee.mp3,
Let It Snow@78_letitsnow_lenahorne.mp3,
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring@79_jesujoyofmansdesiring_chloeagnew.mp3,
Silent Night@80_silentnight_sleepingatlast.mp3,
Hark the Herald Angels Sing@81_harktheheraldangelssing_mannheimsteamroller.mp3,
Home for the Holidays@82_homefortheholidays_robertgoulet.mp3,
Christmas Day in the Morning@83_christmasdayinthemorning_padraiginniuallachain.mp3,
Mistletoe and Holly@84_mistletoeandholly_franksinatra.mp3,
Christmas Day Is Come@85_christmasdayiscome_caitrionaoleary.mp3,
Oh Christmas Tree@86_ohchristmastree_bobbycliftonoechestra.mp3,
Wizards in Winter@87_wizardsinwinter_transsiberianorchestra.mp3,
Meli Kalikimaka@88_melikalikimaka_bingcrosby.mp3,
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear@89_itcameuponamidnightclear_kelsiesaison.mp3,
Silent Night@90_silentnight_celticwoman.mp3,
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town@91_santaclausiscomingtotown_bostonpops.mp3,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!@92_letitsnow_deanmartin.mp3,
Do You Hear What I Hear?@93_doyouhearwhatihear_roches.mp3,
Sleigh Ride@94_sleighride_ronettes.mp3,
Children Go Where I Send Thee@95_childrengowhereisendthee_nicklowe.mp3,
Gagliarda@96_gagliarda_mannheimsteamroller.mp3,
I’ll Be Home for Christmas@97_illbehomeforchristma_dianakrall.mp3,
Merry Christmas Baby@98_merrychristmasbaby_charlesbrown.mp3,
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer@99_rudolphtherednosedreindeer_hotclubofsanfrancisco.mp3,
The Light of Christmas Morn@100_thelightofchristmasmorn_celticwoman.mp3,
(Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With the Bag@ramh_xmas/1801_everybodyswaitinmanwiththebag_kaystarr.mp3,
Qué Verdes Son@ramh_xmas/1802_queverdesson_losstraitjackets.mp3,
Silver Bells@ramh_xmas/1803_silverbells_tonybennett.mp3,
The Wexford Carol@ramh_xmas/1804_wexfordcarol_tootsweet.mp3,
Ugly Sweater Blues@ramh_xmas/1805_uglysweaterblues_jdmcpherson.mp3,
Ave Maria@ramh_xmas/1806_avemaria_celticwoman.mp3,
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas@ramh_xmas/1807_haveyourselfamerrylittlechristmas_serenaryder.mp3,
The Day It Snows on Christmas@ramh_xmas/1808_thedayitsnowsonchristmas_allentoussaint.mp3,
Mary’s Little Boy Child@ramh_xmas/1809_maryslittleboychild_andreprevin.mp3,
Still Still Still@ramh_xmas/1810_stillstillstill_mannheimsteamroller.mp3″ captions=”Peter Robbins et al.;Anonymous 4;Waverly Consort;Perry Como;Mannheim Steamroller;George Winston;Celtic Woman;John Denver and the Muppets;Al Hirt;The Roches;Charlotte Church;Madeleine Peyroux/k.d. lang;George Winston;Arthur Fiedler + The Boston Pops;Eartha Kitt;Mannheim Steamroller;Celtic Woman;The Brian Setzer Orchestra;Jimmy Boyd;Cumberland Gap Reunion;Sam Phillips;Elvis Presley;Loreena McKennitt;The Chipmunks;Frank Sinatra;London Philharmonic Orchestra;Tony Elman;Sara Groves;Harry Belafonte;Ray Conniff Singers;Ralph Marterie and His Band;Nat King Cole;The Indigo Girls;Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers;Dean Martin;Ferrante and Teicher;Bo Dollis + Wild Magnolias;Neil Diamond;Taverner Consort,Choir,+ Players (Andrew Parrott,conductor);George Winston;Michael Tilson-Thomas + Philharmonia Orchestra;Vince Guaraldi Trio;Troy Hess;Barbra Streisand;Frank Sinatra;Al Hirt;Art Neville;Ella Fitzgerald;Dean Martin;Choir of King’s College,Cambridge;Knightsong;Mannheim Steamroller;Vienna Boys’ Choir;Tori Amos;Cumberland Gap Reunion;I Soloisti di Zagreb + Antonio Janigro;Liuba María Hevia;Corporal Blossom;Perry Como;Enya;George Winston;She + Him;Bing Crosby;Barry Gordon;Mahalia Jackson;Bobby Helms;Ray Conniff Singers;Barbra Streisand;Emmylou Harris;Arthur Fiedler + The Boston Pops;Mannheim Steamroller;Julie Andrews;The Pogues (feat. Kirsty McColl);Allan Sherman;Loreena McKennitt;Perry Como;Brenda Lee;Lena Horne;Chloe Agnew;Sleeping at Last;Mannheim Steamroller;Robert Goulet;Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin;Frank Sinatra;Caitríona O’Leary and Rhiannon Giddens;Bobby Clifton Orchestra – Int’l Children’s Choir – Whitney Keys;Trans-Siberian Orchestra;Bing Crosby + The Andrews Sisters;Kelsie Saison;Celtic Woman;Arthur Fiedler + The Boston Pops;Dean Martin;The Roches;The Ronettes;Nick Lowe;Mannheim Steamroller;Diana Krall;Charles Brown;Hot Club of San Francisco;Celtic Woman;Kay Starr; Los Straitjackets; Tony Bennet; Toot Sweet; JD McPherson; Celtic Woman; Serena Ryder; Allen Toussaint; André Previn; Mannheim Steamroller” text=”Pop Out to Shuffle!” shuffle=”y” autoplay=”y” pos=”rel-C”]
Alternatives, if you don’t want the randomized sequence:
A plain old chronologically-accurate playlist — no pop-up and no random sequence, just start to finish (although you can open it in a pop-out window by clicking (duh) the little “Popout” button at the top left):
…and here are the ten 2018 selections only. As with the complete list, this player just runs through the songs in sequential order, with no shuffle mode:
In any case, or even if you don’t want to listen at all, you might want to glance at the complete current list of song titles and performers. (Note: this is just a listing; you cannot play music from it.)
Now — not that you’re actively wondering — why the “recommended” method of listening (pop-out and shuffle, using the special link so labeled above), rather than listen to the songs in order? Well, as I said, this is the eleventh year for which I’ve done a Christmas-music post. Two specific implications of this fact (cribbed, almost verbatim, from last year’s post):- In that time, I’ve started exhausting the back catalogue of music I remember from days gone by, and have begun to rely on suggestions from other sites, on songs newly discovered from artists or albums I’m not familiar with, and so on. So you’ll find that the selections over time have shifted from the old standbys, to the somewhat more
quirkyeclectic end of the spectrum. For my taste, this will eventually make each year’s list too uniformly unfamiliar… and whatever else might be true about the holiday, I value the familiar! - I’ve also developed a practice of trying to balance each year’s music among songs of different types. For instance, I’ve taken to juggling the more recent selections to include both old and new artists/performances; performances by men and women; instrumentals and vocals; “edgy” and/or energetic vs. quieter and/or contemplative renditions; shorter vs. longer songs; and so on. Mixing up the complete list via shuffle mode will distribute these properties much more evenly over time.
- Finally, I like the idea — even if just imagined — that you can visit RAMH, pop out the playlist, close your other browser windows, and just set the thing going via remote speakers or headphones while you pursue other holiday matters: hanging decorations, cooking, partying…
And now… on to the wool-gathering!
Every year, just assembling a slate of potential candidates for this mix involves dozens of small but excruciating decisions. Not only do I scroll through a by now enormous* list of winter-holiday music already available to me in some form. And then, then comes the hard part: narrowing the slate of possibles to ten. And one ultimate test, listenability, almost always brings me to the year’s final cut.
One man’s listenability is another man’s Muzak, of course, and yet another man’s noise — none of which so much as glances at the tastes of the other 50% of the populace. But after I myself have listened to the candidates more than a couple times, some of them almost start screaming at me: I’m a clever song, but who would ever want to hear me repeated twice in the same hour?!? And some tunes which I chose just for their Offbeat Quotient are just a bit too… out there.
Yet all of this melodramatic angst must be weighed against the inescapable pleasures of finding new artists, whole new songs, which jingle my Christmas bells in delightful ways.
This year, for instance, I happened upon the Canadian songbird Serena Ryder — a name which I’d previously not so much as even read before, although she’s been successful for over ten years. Wikipedia’s opening paragraph about her says, among other things: “An accomplished songwriter and musician, she also possesses a five-octave vocal range and is considered a mezzo-soprano. Her timbre has been described as slightly nasal with a raspy lower register.” That alone would have interested me. But then here she came in 2018 with a whole album of Christmas music, Christmas Kisses ; the style of its cover photo (shown at right) resembles that of a dozen similar albums by less interesting voices and artists in the Christmas-cocktail-music vein. A delightful surprise. Her appearance on this year’s list won’t be the last.
On the quirky eclectic side of the balance sheet, this year I offer you: Los Straitjackets. Like Ryder, they’re far from newcomers, dating back in their case to the 1990s. (For a time, they were a recurring fixture during Christmas season on the old Conan O’Brien late-night talk show.) As for their contribution to this year’s list, “Qué Verdes Son” is nominally merely the Spanish version of “O Tannenbaum/Christmas Tree”; but in Los Straitjackets’ hands it becomes a subtly swinging surf-guitar tune; if it had been recorded in, say, 1963, this performance might have fit comfortably somewhere in my old Melodía Pegadiza series of posts. As with Serena Ryder, I’m confident that this won’t be their only RAMH appearance.
This summer, Amazon announced an upcoming change to the terms of their agreement with paid subscribers to their Music Storage service. Ever since they’d instituted the paid service, you could use it to organize and listen to your entire musical collection (up to 250,000 songs!); you just uploaded the (MP3) music you’d gotten from other sources, whether downloaded from music publishers’ and artists’ sites, ripped from CDs or LPs, whatever. Given the realities, the deal probably couldn’t have lasted — and this, per their announcement, was the cutoff year. Starting in September, the only music I could store on their service was music which I’d purchased from Amazon.
They offered to mitigate the blow a little: if you specifically requested, you’d be allowed to keep on their service any of the music you’d already uploaded as of the deadline. If you didn’t ask, though, they’d delete any “alien” music. You bet I opted in, but I couldn’t help wondering how many long-term users received a genuine shock the next time they tried to use their old familiar playlists… And even for me (and again, probably for many others), this was a nuisance this year. I’d never depended on Amazon 100% when it came time to organize the culled lists, let alone post them here. But it sure helped to have, y’know, everything ultimately in one place — regardless of its source. I’d found both Serena Ryder and Los Straitjackets elsewhere — closer to their own pockets, as it were — but now I had to buy from Amazon to include them in my master list. The artists would still get a cut, of course, just a smaller one: a cut of the cut, so to speak. Argh. Just… argh.
Grinchy practices of the digital-music business aside, I had fun assembling this year’s list, as I do every year. I hope you’re continuing to enjoy it, too — and I hope (as always) the last couple weeks of 2018 prove to be the two weeks you need them to be!**__________________
* “enormous”: now over a thousand songs, which — if played end-to-end — would take two-and-a-half days. That’s a whole lotta elevator music!
** Totally inoffensive cross-cultural seasonal greeting © 2018 by John E. Simpson.
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