I like Crosby's, Perry Como's and Harry Connick's versions.
the ultimate Xmas music mix!
- Thread starter Temis the Vorta
- Start date
Thanks!
Other non-morbid versions: B.B. King, The Manhattan Transfer.
Any opinions about the best versions of:
Carol of the Bells
Jingle Bell Rock
Silver Bells
Sleigh Ride
Is Elvis' Blue Christmas the best? Or is it Johnny Cash? Jon Bon Jovi? The Brian Selzer Orchestra?
Other non-morbid versions: B.B. King, The Manhattan Transfer.
Any opinions about the best versions of:
Carol of the Bells
Jingle Bell Rock
Silver Bells
Sleigh Ride
Is Elvis' Blue Christmas the best? Or is it Johnny Cash? Jon Bon Jovi? The Brian Selzer Orchestra?
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The Robert Shaw Chorale, from a recording of Christmas carols made in or around 1957 (now out of print, but reissued as part of this larger collection.) I've never heard a better one.
I have that silly Garmin commercial running through my head, now.
I love Richard Carpenter's arrangement of "Carol of the Bells." No words, but I don't think the song really needs the lyrics - at least not in HIS version.
It was quite some time before I ever realized that there actually were lyrics for "Carol of the Bells".
As an aside, that Carpenters Christmas album is among my VERY favorites of all time. Such talents in such display.
I picked up the Sufjan Stephens Christmas box set last year. I'm more a fan of him than Christmas, but I really like it. And it's mellow. My wife is a Christmas music fanatic and enjoys it as well. A good mix of traditional and non. Any box set with titles rangeing from "Silent Night" to "Do the Elf Boogey" to "I'm Sorry I Made You Cry on Christmas" is all right with me.
Also you can't go wrong with the Charlie Brown Christmas sound track.
Also you can't go wrong with the Charlie Brown Christmas sound track.
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Gotta put in a good word for B.B. King, both “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and "Please Come Home for Christmas."
So what does everybody think is the best and/or definitive version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"? This is one that I actually had some trouble with on my compilation. I've currently got the Tony Bennett version in there. (We know that Temis prefers Springsteen's.)
For my purposes, I tend to disqualify versions that don't have the "rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums" verse, but feel free to defend one if it happens to be your favorite.
One very clever version that omits the verse is the one by the Fab Four--a tribute band who put out some very clever releases of Beatlized Christmas songs. Amongst their many great matches, they did "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" a la "When I'm 64", with a bit of "Honey Pie" thrown into the middle eight.
Bing Crosby's version was a strong contender for the spot in my mix.
For my purposes, I tend to disqualify versions that don't have the "rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums" verse, but feel free to defend one if it happens to be your favorite.
One very clever version that omits the verse is the one by the Fab Four--a tribute band who put out some very clever releases of Beatlized Christmas songs. Amongst their many great matches, they did "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" a la "When I'm 64", with a bit of "Honey Pie" thrown into the middle eight.
Bing Crosby's version was a strong contender for the spot in my mix.
Though horribly dated, Sting's "Russians" is an amazing and haunting holiday plea for an end to the Cold War. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rk78eCIx4E&feature=related
And "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts roasting) by its composer, Mel "The Velvet Fog" Torme. (Father, btw of Star Trek's Tracy Torme.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znjkq0YUBxg
And, of course, Weird Al's "Weasel Stomping Day".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEOAh9RDIfI
And "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts roasting) by its composer, Mel "The Velvet Fog" Torme. (Father, btw of Star Trek's Tracy Torme.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Znjkq0YUBxg
And, of course, Weird Al's "Weasel Stomping Day".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEOAh9RDIfI
The Springsteen version uses the basic arrangement and vocal phrasing of the Crystals' version on the old Phil Spector Christmas album, which is one of my favorites once you get past a corny spoken intro.
Another great version is an instrumental by Booker T. & the MGs, which opens with a laid back, loping Steve Cropper-Duck Dunn rhythm groove before Booker comes in with his soulful B3. Their whole Christmas album is great.
Another good instrumental is by the Ventures, whose album combines Christmas traditionals with guitar riffs from popular '60s songs, I think "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" uses "Wooly Bully."
Speaking of the Phil Spector album, the Ronettes version of "Sleigh Ride" is also a classic.
--Justin
I dunno, I just listened to a clip of Lynard Skynyrd's version and I might like that better.
Or this guy named Joseph Spence - sounds like it's being sung by a werewolf. 
Okay here's the final list:
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Judy Garland; honorable mentions: Rockepella, Frank Sinatra
"O Holy Night" - Mariah Carey; honorable mention: Kathleen Battle (good option for those who dislike over-the-top versions)
“All Through the Night” – Peter, Paul and Mary; honorable mention: Perry Como
“The Christmas Song” – Rockapella; honorable mentions: Frank Sinatra, Chicago
“Christmas Wrapping” - The Waitresses
"Winter Wonderland" – Eurythmics, Elvis Presley (tie, so I got em both)
"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" - Lynard Skynyrd; honorable mention: Bruce Springsteen
“You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch” – Gary Hoey
“Carol of the Bells” – David Benoit; honorable mentions: George Winston, Straight No Chaser, Phantom Planet, Cody Kilby
"Let It Snow" – Los Straightjackets; honorable mentions: The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Michael Buble,
"Blue Christmas" – Jon Bon Jovi; honorable mentions: Elvis Presley, The Brian Selzer Orchestra, Gary Hoey
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (instrumental) - B.B. King
"Please Come Home for Christmas" - B.B. King
"Jingle Bell Rock" – Rascal Flatts, but they don't sell the song as a single
so I went for The Brian Setzer Orchestra; honorable mentions: Hall & Oates, Randy Travis, George Strait"Greensleeves" - Vince Guaraldi Trio; honorable mention: Alice Krauss (bluegrass version)
"Silver Bells" – Toby Keith
"Sleigh Ride" – The Ventures; honorable mentions: Reliant k, Squirrel Nut Zippers
"12 Days of Christmas" – Reliant k - except I don't think I could stand that one more than once so I skipped it
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I found a new classic!
Grandpa Got Ran Over by a Beer Truck! - Weird Al
Best song ever!
Probably not done by Weird Al...
I found a new classic!
Grandpa Got Ran Over by a Beer Truck! - Weird Al
Best song ever!
Probably not done by Weird Al...
Very definitely not by Al. Doesn't sound a thing like him, and the song isn't nearly up to Al's standards. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBJiNZz-KSo
It's just some nameless guy's unofficial sequel to "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer", and not a very good one at that.