Best and worst Christmas songs ?

[PaulWarning]

one Christmas song that I can't stand is a Wonderful Christmas Time a typical twee effort from Macca, like Lennon's though

[spectoremg]

Ring Out Solstice Bells by Tull. 1. Great tune. 2. No mention of Christmas. 3. A band totally on their game. 4. John Glascock.
Honorable mention: Run With The Fox by Chris Squire. No need to list it's greatness.
I can't really think of a worst - I quite like all of them.

[spongebob]

A massive +1 on Johnny Mathis' 'When A Child Is Born'. The best Christmas song IMHO.

Seasonal fans are might also be interested in the soundtrack to 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' - amazing stuff from the legend that was Vince Guaraldi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AZAo3Ia7DE

[Doctor J]

Tip o' the cap to Vulfpeck for this funky effort

https://vulfpeck.bandcamp.com/track/christmas-in-l-a

[Hobbayne]

Poor old Phil Spector spends his time sewing maibags nowadays. But you must agree that this is a classic.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAC3jp8Z5c4[/media]

Edited December 16, 2015 by Hobbayne

[EssentialTension]

http://youtu.be/AdpicC_6y4s

[paul_5]

I'm a big fan of "fairytale of New York" and a couple of the others. I was looking on the iTunes store earlier today with a view to buying the 'Now that's what I call christmas" compilation album, when I noticed it had some bad reviews - apparently folks bought the album last year and have had it deleted from their iTunes accounts as it has been re-issued (with exactly the same track listing), and there's no Cliff on there either. So ultimately, if there want to revel in the capitalist anthems of the season then they'll have to buy it again.

Humbug. We'll decorate the tree to 'Bitches Brew' again this year.

[BILL POSTERS]

Hard to be objective cos theyre all played to death. Aint been a good new one for years.

Worst has to be Keefs solo attempt at Run Rudoph Run from the 70s.

[discreet]

'Santa's got a big old sack - it's so heavy it hurts his back! And he only comes once a year!'

http://youtu.be/3SZf9LfiAYU

[Old Man Riva]

[quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1450290876' post='2931451']
Hard to be objective cos theyre all played to death. Aint been a good new one for years.

Worst has to be Keefs solo attempt at Run Rudoph Run from the 70s.
[/quote]
The Chuck Berry version came on the radio today - sounded great, grooved along like a good un..

[jbn4001]

My favourites are:
Slade - Merry Christmas everybody : fantastic melody and words. Very uplifting. Lovely guitar tone. Great bass line..
Paul McCartney : Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.. Again, incredibly uplifting.. and I love analogue synths .. and this has great synth.. I think a Yamaha Synclavier

I couldn't really give a stuff about any others. Those two stand out from my childhood and still make me feel happy at this time of year. Gonna go listen to them now,.

[Painy]

About 15 years ago I went to see Glenn Hughes play at the London Astoria 2. Awesome gig, his voice was amazing and the Vigier bass he played sounded immense.
After the gig I went to the merchandise stand, as you do, and they were selling his new charity Christmas album so thought I'd give it a punt.
It was not what I expected!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-bk85AUA1iA

I can imagine the conversation that lead to this being made:-

JJ Marsh - Hey Glenn, why don't you do a Christmas album?
Glenn Hughes - That's a great idea!
JJ Marsh - You could do it in a funky hard rock style.
Glenn Hughes - Or even better, I could make it sound like the soundtrack to a 70s porn film!
JJ Marsh - Idiot!

[Mykesbass]

My Favourite:
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus[/url]

As for worst, got to be Mistletoe and Wine

[jbn4001]

[quote name='jbn4001' timestamp='1450293264' post='2931475']
My favourites are:
Slade - Merry Christmas everybody : fantastic melody and words. Very uplifting. Lovely guitar tone. Great bass line..
Paul McCartney : Simply having a wonderful Christmas time.. Again, incredibly uplifting.. and I love analogue synths .. and this has great synth.. I think a Yamaha Synclavier

I couldn't really give a stuff about any others. Those two stand out from my childhood and still make me feel happy at this time of year. Gonna go listen to them now,.
[/quote]

Actually - McCartney track was a Yamaha CS80, as used to great effect by Vangelis for Blade Runner soundtrack
[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0QpG2Z54QI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0QpG2Z54QI[/url]

[borntohang]

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1450295276' post='2931517']
My Favourite:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus[/media]

As for worst, got to be Mistletoe and Wine
[/quote]

This is unironically my favourite thing Dylan has done in years. Going to suggest we put a version of this into the Christmas set this year.

[operative451]

Well, clearly...

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFELK_nqd5Q[/media]

Actually i've always liked 'when a child is born' too. And also 'Spaceman came travelling', even though its chris de bleurgh!

[lowdown]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1450289880' post='2931442']
[media]http://youtu.be/AdpicC_6y4s[/media]
[/quote]

Beautiful. I presume that stunning arrangement is Mr Riddle?

[kendall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH2umxtA_sc

Reubens effort - the best Xmas Number one that never was. I give you Christmas is Awesome.

[rasher80]

[quote name='jacko' timestamp='1450276743' post='2931277']
I really can't stand fairytale of newyork. Biggest pile of sh*te ever sung by an even bigger pile of sh*te. your opinion may vary. I'm currently really enjoying James Taylor's Christmas offering, particularly his funky version of jingle bells
[/quote]


A bit harsh!

[alyctes]

I can't say enough bad things about "A Spaceman Came Travelling". It on its own is enough to put me off C. de B. for ever.

I like some carols a lot. 'Adam Lay Ybounden', in particular, is fantastic. (Edit: the Boris Ord version.) Edit: And the 'Coventry Carol'.

Edited December 17, 2015 by alyctes

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1450351122' post='2931866']
I can't say enough bad things about "A Spaceman Came Travelling". It on its own is enough to put me off C. de B. for ever.

I like some carols a lot. 'Adam Lay Ybounden', in particular, is fantastic.
[/quote]guess it wouldn't do for us all to be the same, it's the only C de B song I can listen to

Edited December 17, 2015 by PaulWarning

[pete.young]

[quote name='rasher80' timestamp='1450350578' post='2931859']


A bit harsh!
[/quote]
Indeed. I never really got Shane McGowan until I started playing in a Pogues covers band and started to hear the detail. Christmas is only as far away as the next gig :-) Broad Majestic Shannon is magnificent too.
This is a nice version for people who don't like Shane much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGD0I5qdw8c


I like this lot for the sentiment (not work safe)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv9XZI3zwF4

and the Dropkick Murphy's take on it "The Season's Upon Us"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTx-sdR6Yzk

Worst is probably a toss up between Cliff and Spaceman came a travelling. Or anything by Chris de Burgh really.

[ras52]

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1450279100' post='2931300']
Johnny Mathis. I have my mum to thank for that as she subjected my younger self to his warblings relentlessly !
[/quote]

"The production on that album is amazing..."

[ambient]

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1450356558' post='2931951']


"The production on that album is amazing..."
[/quote]

I've not heard the album, but the song just shouts 'class', something lacking in most recordings. It's maybe of a different age though, where the product was more important ?

[RhysP]

[quote name='jbn4001' timestamp='1450293264' post='2931475']
I think a Yamaha Synclavier
[/quote]

The Synclavier was made by New England Digital, not Yamaha.