For those of you jonesing for Christmas tunes, enjoy the return of this team effort!
UPDATED WITH THE ORIGINAL CHARLES BROWN VERSION (thanks to BigSteve)!
This post initially appeared 12/22/08.
You may recall the recent work led by Townsman Northvancoveman in compiling The Rock Town Hall Christmas Record. Today we share with you the selections, as sequenced by The Great 48. These tracks will be posted through the holiday season. Enjoy!
1. Elvis Presley, “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”
1. Elvis Presley, “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”
2. Chuck Berry, “Run Rudolph Run”
2. Chuck Berry, “Run Rudolph Run”
3. The Beach Boys, “Little Saint Nick”
3. The Beach Boys, “Little Saint Nick”
4. Martin Newell, “Christmas in Suburbia”
4. Martin Newell, “Christmas in Suburbia”
5. The Kinks, “Father Christmas”
5. The Kinks, “Father Christmas”
6. The Waitresses, “Christmas Wrapping”
6. The Waitresses, “Christmas Wrapping”
7. The Ventures, “Sleigh Ride”
7. The Ventures, “Sleigh Ride”
8. Elvis Presley, “Blue Christmas”
8. Elvis Presley, “Blue Christmas”
9. The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl, “Fairytale of New York”
9. The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl, “Fairytale of New York”
UPDATED WITH THE ORIGINAL CHARLES BROWN VERSION (thanks to BigSteve)!
10. Charles Brown, “Please Come Home for Christmas”
[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/C05.-Charles-Brown-Please-Come-Home-For-Christmas.mp3|titles=C05. Charles Brown – Please Come Home For Christmas]10a. Originally posted version – yet Pince Nez’ed for not being the original!
10. Charles Brown, “Please Come Home For Christmas”
11. The Pretenders, “2000 Miles”
11. The Pretenders, “2000 Miles”
12. The Plastic Ono Band, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
12. The Plastic Ono Band, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
13. Big Star, “Jesus Christ”
14. Darlene Love, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
14. Darlene Love, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
15. Vince Guaraldi Trio, “Christmas Time Is Here”
15. Vince Guaraldi Trio, “Christmas Time Is Here”
[Vinyl types: the side break is between tracks 7 and 8.]
Sorry to be pince nezzing, but the version of Charles Brown’s “Please Come Home For Christmas” posted here is not the one I grew up hearing. The one I know, which I assume is the original, is streaming at:
http://www.imeem.com/people/syRBz/music/XaY5DXc-/charles_brown_please_come_home_for_christmas/
Note the slower tempo.
Believe it or not, I’ve been looking for “Father Christmas” for a while now. Thanks!
Thanks! This is a pretty cool comp, we should give ourselves a pat on the back!
Even though I’m still pretty new to these parts, I have really enjoyed getting involved with many of these discussions. I know I’m not the only one who thinks way too much about things that probably should not matter. I want to wish all of you the very best and safest holiday!
Since being here, I have come to a greater appreciation of the later Animals albums, realized that I do in fact prefer The Faces to The Stones, decided that Klaatu in fact are not The Beatles, that I have gay love for Pete Townshend, Jimmy Page was pretty funny in that Firm clip, I should not be ashamed of my adoration of Jeff Lynne, that I may or may not like XTC as much I probably should, and many others…Thanks, Rock Town Hall.
Here’s to 2009!
TB
PS–Speaking of things I think about that I shouldn’t, I’m going to make a prediction for the future: James McCartney, Sean Lennon, Julian Lennon, Dhani Harrison, and Zak Starkey will tour together. I even went to far as to track down pictures of these lads and amazed myself at how much like their famous dads they resemble.
BigSteve, I apologize for not knowing the version you grew up with. If only you’d invited me over when we were kids… 😛 If I can determine the slower version for download, I’ll swap it in. Thanks.
TB, it’s been a blast having you on board. And you, too, sad-eyed Townsperson who may be sitting beside a bay window, tracing a lone raindrop as it rolls down the windowpane!
Great record guys. Does anyone else think “Jesus Christ” is ripe for covering. I picture someone who can just wail doing it, I even for a second imagined, forgive me, Josh Groban or The Three Tenors or whatever they are called. The song is that grand.
Anyway, it looks like I unwittingly created a new template that may have some legs here; the vote and the seconding of that vote. It seems appropriate for a town hall meeting, don’t you think? We should have some interesting lists come out of this format.
By the way, nice job on the cover art Mod. That’s Billy Gibbons (By the way I’m a ZZ Top fan so I anticipate having it out with a few of you!) Prince and Jeff Lynne, right?
I’d like to share my Xmas tune collection with my RTH buds:
http://snuh.livejournal.com/203070.html
http://snuh.livejournal.com/181004.html
http://snuh.livejournal.com/151741.html
http://snuh.livejournal.com/121742.html
More holiday music than you’d ever need.
Thanks, snuh! And thanks again for kicking this off at RTH, Northvancoveman. Yes, that is Gibbons, representing ZZ Top; Prince; and Jeff Lynne, representing ELO. This trio is also known as Hrrundi’s Holy Trinity of Rock.
For those of you that haven’t heard this, it’s the best xmas album you’ll ever hear!
Two years late this has now been updated thanks to you, BigSteve!
I feel much better now.
A Great compilation, but the one gigantic turd ion the punchbowl is that Waitresses song. As I recall, Berlyant came out of hibernation, strong-armed that one onto the list, and then disappeared just as quickly. While he’s not looking, I propose we swap out that song for Merry Christmas Baby by Charles Brown, Rocking Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee or White Christmas by the Drifters. Who’s with me?
Note on this great lost album, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love, which song I suggested the other day justified her upcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.
Also note, that tonight on Letterman is her annual appearance to sing this song. But I don’t expect a certain RTH contingent to care given their disdain for Paul Shaffer…
Very nice — love this. On a side note, I hadn’t listened to Kirsty MacColl for years. I need to pull out Electric Landlady tonight — R.I.P. Kirsty.
I also dislike that Waitresses song. I also would not nominate this, entertaining though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLNiYpAb23I
I heard this song on the all Christmas music radio station today and I’d like to nominate it as the worst Christmas song ever, possible the worst song ever, offensive on so many levels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpkI7GW2V34
Al — thanks for ruining Christmas Eve Eve for me. The horror!
That song is awesomely craptacular! Really, really swell.
I posted this one in the “Worst Holiday Anthem” thread and honestly, I’m a little disappointed that it didn’t get any comments. So I’ll try again with this one;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEazcxePMOY
Not me. I like that turd. I think The Waitresses were cool.
Someone sent that to someone on Facebook and I wound up seeing it. The comments turned into a “War on Christmas” thing, and they all loved the song. That’s just such a barfy song!
Ah, I see that she is dressed as the Ghost of Christmas Greed. Good one (horrible, actually).
Another excellent pick. And the original Scottish tartan on this album cover (which I owned, I admit), is very festive.
This is one of my favorite Christmas songs on one of my favorite Christmas albums. Just listened to it while wrapping presents:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IippcraBPKA