[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):
[popout font_family_1=”verdana” font_family_2=”lucida” width=”500px”
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”]
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!
