Now Hear This!: Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart

Ok, I admit it. I like Christmas music, but I've implemented one rule. I don’t listen to it until one week before Christmas. Sure when I was in the mall on November 1st and "Winter Wonderland" was playing, yes that early, I sang along, but you won’t hear it in my car or at my house until one week before. That’s why this past Monday, the radio I leave on for my dog was switched from 89.9 WJCT to 96.1 WEJZ, because I knew they’d be playing and playing and playing Christmas music.

Another little quirk I have, when it comes to Christmas music, is that the songs have to be old school. You can call me a music snob because I don’t even give the new stuff a chance. I guess it’s much like my affection for the classic holiday cartoons like How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Now that doesn’t mean I’m not without some guilty pleasures, it’s just that I prefer to stick with the oldies but goodies. Damn I sound a lot like my parents. Somebody slap me if I ever start a sentence off with, “Back in my day.”

Anyhow, I figured since it’s almost impossible to avoid these cheerful tunes, I’d give you 45 (in no particular order) of my holiday favorites. So grab some eggnog (adult version preferably), throw another yuletide log on the fire, curl up in your onesie and enjoy finding these Christmas classics. Well on second thought since the forecast calls for almost 80 degrees on Christmas day, screw the yuletide log and onesie, just get your drink on and enjoy the music. While you're at it, I'd like you to share your favorites with us. Have a safe and Happy Holidays.

Bing Crosby - "White Christmas"
Nat “King” Cole - "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)"
Bobby Helms - "Jingle Bell Rock"
Brenda Lee - "Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree"
Elvis Presley - "Blue Christmas"
Gene Autry - "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Jimmy Durante - "Frosty the Snowman"
Dean Martin - "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow"
Leroy Anderson - "Sleigh Ride"
Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Christmastime is Here"
Perry Como - "(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"
Frank Sinatra - "Jingle Bells"
Andy Williams - "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Bing Crosby - "The Little Drummer Boy"
Perry Como - "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
Doris Day - "Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane)"
Dean Martin - "Baby It’s Cold Outside"
Frank Sinatra - "I’ll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams)"
Johnny Mathis - "Silent Night, Holy Night"
Mahalia Jackson - "O Holy Night"
Ella Fitzgerald - "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"
Vince Guaraldi Trio - "O Tannenbaum"
Tony Bennett - "My Favorite Things"
Johnny Mathis - "Winter Wonderland"
Darlene Love - "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
Oscar Peterson - "O Christmas Tree"
Etta James - "This Time of Year"
Judy Garland - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
Eartha Kitt - "Santa Baby"
Otis Redding - "Merry Christmas, Baby"
John Williams - "Carol of Bells"
Johnny Mathis - "Silver Bells"
Jimmy Boyd - "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
Burl Ives - "A Holly Jolly Christmas"
Connie Francis - "The First Noel"
Carla Thomas - "Gee Whiz, It’s Christmas"
Bing Crosby - "Happy Holidays"
Gene Autry - "Up On the Housetop"
Barry Gordon - "Nuttin’ for Christmas"
Bobby Darin - "O Come All Ye Faithful"
Spike Jones - "All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)"
Singing Dogs - "Jingle Bells"
Elmo & Pasty - "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"
Run-DMC - "Christmas in Hollis"
The Royal Guardsmen - "Snoopy’s Christmas" (I still have the original 45)