As noted in prior posts, my exquisite taste in music is both a blessing and a curse.  Never is this more apparent than during the Holiday Season.  I swear to God, if I hear “Christmas in Dixie” by the Oak Ridge Boys one more time, or anything by Celine Dion, or Josh Groban, or Michael Bubble, or Michale Bolton, or The Chipmunks, I’m gonna puke; besides, it’s depressing to think how many of you out there only know Mariah Carey’s insipid version of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” And don’t even get me started on Justine Bieber.  So quit listening to all that holiday pablum on the “easy listening” stations, click on the green “play” button below, and dig these tunes, a baker’s dozen (that’s thirteen for all you Mississippi State graduates) of some classic Yuletide vibes.

1.  “White Christmas,” by Allen Toussaint.

2.  “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” by The Zion Harmonizers.

3.  “Mr. Grinch,” by Mojo Nixon and The Toad Liquors, complete with burps, snorts, and other foulness.

4.  “Christmas Trumpets,” by Ray Anthony.

5.  “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” by the incomparable Darlene Love.

6.  “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,” by Beausoleil.

7.  “It Won’t Seem Like Christmas (Without You),” by The King.

8.  “The Little Drummer Boy,” by Elvin Bishop.

9.  “Please Come Home For Christmas,” by the incomparable Johnny Adams.

10.  “Silver Bells,” by Wicked Wilson Pickett.

11.  “Jingle Bell Boogie,” by Big Jack Johnson.

12.  “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday,” by William Bell.

13.  “Silent Night,” by Charlie Musselwhite.

 

These tunes were compiled from the following albums:

A Creole Christmas : “White Christmas,” “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” and “Please Come Home For Christmas.”

 

 

 

 

Horny Holidays : “Mr. Grinch.”

 

 

 

 

Christmas Cocktails : “Christmas Trumpets.”

 

 

 

 

A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector : “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

 

 

 

 

Merry Cajun Christmas : “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.”

 

 

 

 

If Everyday Was Like Christmas : “It Won’t Seem Like Christmas (Without You).”

 

 

 

 

The Alligator Records Christmas Collection : “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Silent Night.”

 

 

 

 

Christmas Soul Special : “Silver Bells.”

 

 

 

 

Blue Yule : “Jingle Bell Boogie.”

 

 

 

 

The Complete Stax Volt Singles : “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday.”

 

 

 

 

 

Phil Spector then, with The Ronettes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phil Spector on trial for murder in 2007, looking remarkably like Keerock, the Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer.