This has also given me the ability to listen to holiday music basically all day long over the last several days, which prompted me to start making an internal list of my favorite versions of classic Christmas and holiday songs.
Now you might be asking, "GMYH, what the fuck do you mean by 'classic'?" To that I say, mind your language around the children, and you wonder where they get it? And what I mean by "classic" is a holiday song that was around before the rock and roll era, so basically anything that was first composed or recorded before 1954, both religious and secular. And this list is purely remakes of said "classic" songs released since the rock and roll era began.
There are songs released in every decade from the '60s to the '10s, and there are songs released in a variety of genres, from rock to pop to soul to punk to R&B to grunge to metal. Some are straight versions of the song, while others take artistic liberties. As expected, there are several selections from the legendary 1963 album A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, as well as Motown's Christmas album from the early '70s and several offerings from heavy metal holiday albums. I was originally going to make this a Tuesday Top Ten, but there are too many songs.
I'm going to list (1) the song, (2) who sang my favorite remake (in some cases, I couldn't choose between two versions, so I listed both), (3) the year the remake was recorded or released, (4) depending on how old the song is, either the original recording artist or the composer (or "traditional" if it's a traditional song), and (5) the year of the original recording or when it was composed or purportedly originated. I'm also going to include a link to the song on YouTube, rather than embedding every song, as that would make this already long post even longer -- though I am embedding the first song just because. Looking at this list, it's safe to say that Bing Crosby and Gene Autry shaped holiday music in the 20th Century.
Also, a quick note. I have not yet come across remakes of the following songs that I like more than the originals:
-"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," originally recorded in 1951 by Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres & His Orchestra
-"Mele Kalikimaka," originally recorded in 1950 by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters
-"Santa Baby," originally recorded in 1953 by Eartha Kitt with Henri René and His Orchestra
-"The Christmas Song," originally recorded in 1946 by The Nat King Cole Trio (and recorded a few other times by Nat King Cole)
Here's the list, in alphabetical order by song title:
"12 Days of Christmas" by Bob & Doug McKenzie (1981)
Original: Traditional (1780)
Original: Traditional (1780)
While I do enjoy Twisted Sister's 2006 metalized version "Heavy Metal Christmas," it's hard to top Bob & Doug McKenzie's hilarious 1981 version. The McKenzie Brothers, of course, are Canadian comedians Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, who starred in SCTV before taking the McKenzie Brothers to the big screen in 1983's Strange Brew.
Original: Traditional (1799)
There really aren't as many modern versions of the New Year's Eve staple "Auld Lang Syne" as you might imagine, but New Wave of British Heavy Metal stalwarts Girlschool put out a rocking version in 2008.
Original: Don Cornell and Laura Leslie with Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra (1949)
This song has taken a lot of heat over the last decade and has attempted to be canceled because of its perceived "get her drunk and date rape her" theme, but what I assume many don't realize about the song is that it was meant as a song about single female empowerment. At a time when it was societally frowned upon for a single woman to stay at her boyfriend's (or any other unrelated man's) abode, the female part in this song was constantly coming up with weak excuses as to why she shouldn't stay, when in reality, she wanted to stay over. And the line "what's in this drink?" was actually a common line at the time, used as a joke to blame your actions on booze. But anyway, enough of my liberal defense of the song. My favorite version is the 1964 version by bandleader and trumpeter Al Hirt and the beautiful actress Ann-Margaret.
Original: Frances Alda (1919)
The first of many entries from the Phil Spector Christmas album, I love the call-and-response of "the bells shall ring out" and Darlene Love's "yeah yeah."
Original: Doye O'Dell (1948)
Until a couple days ago, I thought Elvis's famous 1957 version was the original, but alas, it was first recorded by Doye O'Dell nine years earlier. And you might think that Elvis's version is my favorite, but it ain't. While I do love his version, Collective Soul's 1995 version -- which is grunge set to a Bo Diddley beat -- is my favorite.
Original: Thomas Oliphant (composer) (1862)
"Deck the Halls" has been around for 160 years. I listen to it every year when I cover my hallways with holly. The Miracles' 1970 version adds a Motown twist to the song, and it's silky smooth.
Original: Traditional (1823)
There aren't as many version of this song out there as you would think -- or at least not as many rock versions. Post-grungers Eve 6 give it an expectedly post-grunge treatment.
Original: Gene Autry and The Cass County Boys (1950)
One of the many holiday songs that Gene Autry first made famous, "Frosty the Snowman" the song predated the now-famous Rankin Bass animated TV special by 19 years. The Ronettes' version has the full Phil Spector Wall of Sound treatment.
Original: Traditional (1650s)
LA punk pioneers Bad Religion can apparently sing the hell out of a traditional Christmas song, as they proved with their appropriately titled 2013 album Christmas Songs. They punk up "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" real good.
Original: Charles Wesley and George Whitefield (composers) (1739)
And the same goes with this one, which starts out with some nice harmonies.
Original: Judy Garland (1944)
Twisted Sister rejuvenated themselves with their 2006 A Twisted Christmas album, which is a rocking good time. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a traditionally slow and kind of somber tune, and that's how the band starts it off, before they realize they're Twisted Sister, and then they turn up the volume and speed.
Original: Gene Autry (1947)
Another from the Phil Spector Christmas album, Bob B. Soxx & The Blue Jeans' version of "Here Comes Santa Claus" is an aural explosion of instruments and Christmas cheer.
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" by The Ronettes (1963) and John Mellencamp (1987)
Original: Jimmy Boyd (1952)
Neither The Ronettes nor The Coug' can do any wrong in my book, and I love both of their versions of this song. They are very different, with The Ronettes' version being pure '60s soul/pop, while Mellencamp's version is more of a folksy country rock song.
Original: Bing Crosby (1943)
In 2009, AOR mainstays REO Speedwagon put out an 18-track Christmas album, Not So Silent Night . . . Christmas with REO Speedwagon. "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is another song that usually slow and kind of boring. REO gives it a soulful '50s doo wop feel with their version.
Original: Edmond Sears (composer) (1849)
This one is from the 1990 album A Creole Christmas, which has songs from various New Orleans and Louisiana artists. Blues singer Luther Kent's version of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" is a bluesy, soulful version.
"Jingle Bells" by Wayne Newton (1968) and The Miracles (1970)
Original: James Lord Pierpont (composer) (1857)
As I mentioned above, this is considered the first secular holiday song. Although it has come to be associated with Christmas, it was actually just about sleigh races. My two favorite versions are Wayne Newton's 1968 version with its horns and Vegas show feel, and The Miracles' 1970 playful Motown version.
Original: Isaac Watts (composer) (1719)
Speaking of Motown, The Supremes' triumphant version of "Joy to the World" almost makes me want to go to church, but then I remember how much I hated going to church.
Original: Vaughan Monroe (1946)
Twisted Sister's take on this lovely holiday classic starts with a take on the riff from Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave," and then it turns to a more traditional metal version of the song.
Original: The Trapp Family (1951)
I was a little surprised that "Little Drummer Boy" was only originally recorded in the '50s. No matter, as Joan Jett & The Blackhearts' 1981 version blows every other version out of the water. The fills from drummer Lee Crystal are spectacular.
Original: Bing Crosby (1950)
The first entry from the aforementioned Phil Spector Christmas album is also the first Bing Crosby cover.
Original: Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (1947)
I had always assumed this was originally recorded by Chicago's own Lou Rawls, but turns out it was originally recorded in 1947 by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, whose lead singer was Charles Brown, who would later have another popular Christmas hit with 1960's "Please Come Home For Christmas." But anyway, I love Rawls's version, and I love the last line: "I haven't had a drink this morning / But I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree." Still drunk from the night before, I assume.
Original: Ernst Anschütz (composer) (1824)
The originally German carol was covered on the 2011 compilation A Very Metal Christmas by The Rock Heroes. I don't know who that is, but I like their throaty, doom metally version of this song.
Original: John Francis Wade (composer) (1744)
Twisted Sister riffs on their classic "We're Not Gonna Take It" on this one, bringing Christmas joy to every little metalhead girl and boy. And the video is great too.
Original: Placide Cappeau (composer) (1843)
In 2009, Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford's post-Priest band Halford released Halford III: Winter Songs, a collection of Christmas and holiday songs, both new and old. He has one of the best and most powerful voices in metal history, so it's no surprise he crushes this one.
Original: Leon Jessel (composer) (1897)
The Crystals' version of this song is another classic from the Phil Spector Christmas album. Turns out there are only a couple songs on that album that didn't up on this list.
Original: Gene Autry (1949)
Another one originally recorded by Gene Autry, "Rudolph" is a modern Christmas classic. I love The Temptations' 1970 version that mixes it up a little, adding some call and response.
Original: Harry Reser (1934)
When the folks attending the Springsteen concert at C.W. Post College on Long Island on December 12, 1975 heard the band break into "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town," they probably didn't know it was being recorded, and they probably didn't know it would become one of the greatest holiday songs ever recorded. What's crazy is that it wasn't released until seven years later. This song is absolute perfection.
Original: Joseph Mohr and Franz X. Gruber (composers) (1818)
While "Silent Night" is usually another one of the slower and delicate Christmas songs, in 1975, singer/guitarist Elvin Bishop gave it a soulful, boogie woogie, country rock send up.
Original: Bing Crosby and Mary Richards (1950)
Another great metal holiday compilation album is 2008's We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year, which has appearances by too many metal and hard rock legends to name. "Silver Bells" from the album is a rocking version of the song, recorded by Queensrÿche's lead singer Geoff Tate, Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo, White Lion and Megadeth bassist James LoMenzo, and David Lee Roth, Steel Panther, and Korn drummer Ray Luzier.
Original: Arthur Fiedler and The Boston Pops Orchestra (1949)
The Ronettes + the Wall of Sound + a holiday classic = one of my all-time favorite holiday songs.
Original: Benjamin Hanby (composer) (1864)
The Jackson 5's version of "Up On the Housetop" teases you with a little "Here Comes Santa Claus" before turning into an updated Motown version of what is considered the second-oldest secular Christmas song after "Jingle Bells" and the first Christmas song to focus on Santa Claus.
Original: John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (composer) (1857)
Halford's version of this song is uptempo, rollicking, and majestic. I feel like I'm a fucking magi.
Original: Traditional (1800s)
Weezer released a 6-song Christmas EP in 2008, and their version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is my favorite version of that song. It almost sounds like the song was written for Weezer.
Original: Bing Crosby (1942)
Since Bing Crosby originally recorded "White Christmas" in 1942, it has been the most recorded Christmas song. The Drifters' 1954 version is a great one, but my favorite is Otis Redding's version, released posthumously in 1968. It drips with Memphis soul, with The MGs and the Memphis Horns undoubtedly providing the backdrop for Redding's amazing voice.
"Winter Wonderland" by Darlene Love (1963) and Stryper (live, 2003)
Original: Richard Himber and His Hotel Ritz-Carlton Orchestra (1934)
Darlene Love's version of "Winter Wonderland" from the Phil Spector album is a classic version, but a less well-known is Christian hair band Stryper's 2003 live version, which is a fun and rocking version with great harmonies from the Yellow and Black Attack.
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