Thursday, December 25, 2008

Playlist/212: A Very Kenny Christmas

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. In keeping with the holiday spirit, this week's playlist is comprised of songs I included on a "Christmas card" CD I mailed to all of my friends and family a couple years ago. (The disc had 23 but I was only able to upload a dozen.) It's one of those rare projects about which I have no regrets -- comprised of what I believe the best holiday-themed songs of all time. I hope you enjoy ...

You can listen to the whole mix below or in a new window HERE.



1. "Mistletoe and Holly" by Frank Sinatra
Forget about Andy Williams and Bing Crosby, Frank's is the best Christmas album of all time. This is will show you what I mean.

2. "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid
I'll never forget being a student at Dobson High when this song came out and what an eye-opener it was for this stupid middle-class kid that people are still starving elsewhere in the world. The Who's Who of the New Wave was such a thrill though, and I always thought (and still think) Boy George's vocals were by far the most moving. (And I'm still not completely convinced that's Jody Watley in there and not my beloved Sade!)

3. "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love
There's no competing with the Phil Spector Christmas album. And even though I'm more of a Ronnie Spector fan, Darlene's instant classic is without question the album's highlight.

4. "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
Who'd have thunk a holiday song from the perspective of the downtrodden could be so compelling and wonderful? (Kirsty always could turn water into wine.)

5. "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses
This has to be the only song that makes it seem all right to be single around the holidays. I sure miss ya, Patty. The reference to A&P always made me smile because it made me think of my stepfather's dad who was a truck driver for them when I was a kid.

6. "Hey Santa" by Carnie and Wendy Wilson
This should have been one of those new Christmas songs that became a holiday staple (a la Mariah's "All I Want for Christmas Is You"), but sadly it didn't happen. This song is adorable.

7. "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" by Annie Lennox and Al Green
A beautiful arrangement of a great song by two class acts.

8. "Frosty the Snowman" by The Ronettes
Ronnie's contributions to then-hubby Phil's Christmas album are pure delight. Michael and I try to see her Christmas show at B.B. King each year, but sadly this year our calendar was triple-booked that night. Luckily we'll always have the album to fall back on.

9. "Feels Like Christmas" by Cyndi Lauper
This might not really be a Christmas song, but Cyndi's simile is sure to sweep you off your feet, too.

10. "Christmas Day" by Beach Boys
I live for Brian Wilson's complicated arrangements and multipart harmonies. Yet it's the utter simplicity of this one that makes it so special.

11. "25th of December" by Everything but the Girl
Ben Watt wrote and sang this holiday gem, perhaps the only to examine father-son relationships and what it means to be "a man" in such a raw yet tender manner.

12. "I Was Born on Christmas Day" by Saint Etienne
This song makes me deliriously happy each time I hear it and has the word Christmas in its title, so that's good enough for me. (BTW: Is it just me, or does EVERYONE know a fistful of people who were born on Christmas Day? I know it's easier to remember than other people's birthdays, but it is kinda strange.)


  • View all Playlist/212 posts HERE.
  • 7 comments:

    Anonymous said...

    You gotta have Jonnie Mathis at Christmas.

    Mark said...

    See? You are Kenny! :p

    Marc Lallanilla said...

    What a great playlist -- love me some Pogues. And I was THIS close to putting "Christmas Wrapping" on my playlist a while back. Merry Christmas, y'all!

    Anonymous said...

    25th December by EBTG is one of the best songs ever- and totally a Christmas Day song. Somehow, this song always makes me feel good. Will you post the other songs in a list so we can see what else made your Christmas CD?

    Richard Wall said...

    WHAT?? No Eartha???? .....Good!

    Kenneth M. Walsh said...

    Sure, Dave.

    The complete list of songs is right HERE.

    Anonymous said...

    Thanks for posting the track list Kenny!