Christmas is nearly upon us, and I’m doing the best I can to get festive around here. Even my son said it just doesn’t feel like the holidays right now, and I know the reasons and agree with many of them. Feels like it just turned December and it’s been a rapid-fire, sometimes hostile work season, banging through gift shopping and party prepping, even doing much of it online. We threw a joint Channukah-Christmas party with our dear friends last Sunday as we’ve done for decades, sharing faiths and spirits (many spirits, lol) and warm laughter. 

Only then did it feel like the holiday season, as it will gathering with friends at a local pub tonight. I love holiday music, but my son loves it more, starting his barrages in July, then as early as November 1st. That kind of enthusiasm warms my heart, if pushes me sooner than I’m ready. Yet, I find myself eager to slap on Vince Guaraldi’s jazzterpiece soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas, rock ‘n roll Christmas albums from Brian Setzer and The Reverend Horton Heat, soul music Christmas cuts, even the solemn symphonics of traditional spiritual holiday music.

Normally Chuck Berry’s “Run Run Rudolph” would lead off my Christmas Jukebox edition of Five Things Friday, as my favorite Christmas cut ever. As ever, I love music from most walks of life and wish I could expand this into a mega Christmas playlist, but here are five yule time classics striking my immediate fancy.

Jingle ’em if you have ’em…

The Ventures – “Sleigh Ride”

Or is it a surf ride down the pipeline with red and green plaid-patterned baggies and jingle bells taped the head of the board? The Ronettes win the day with their version of “Sleigh Ride,” yet The Ventures ran, not walked (heh heh) with this palatable twanger. A gem of its time which still holds up.

The Carpenters – “Merry Christmas, Darling”

As a child, I was enchanted by this song as I was Karen Carpenter’s voice. If you were around during the 1970s, how could you not be? So so sad this poor woman had all the vocal gift in the world, yet suffered from an eating disorder which robbed us of her talents, long-term. I get far more sentimental when I hear this somber song over any other on the radio.

The Ramones – “Merry Christmas” (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”

Ramones, need I say more? 1-2-3-4!!!

Mavis Staples – “Christmas Vacation”

Always a mandatory Christmas movie pick for me and my son. It took Prince to expose me to the spectacular gospel stylings of The Staples Singers, and what delight it’s Mavis herself spreading one of the most cheerful holiday tunes ever to all the shenanigans surrounding her opening theme for Christmas Vacation. I still chuckle every year at the animated Santa getting the toy cannonball shot into his chubby nose!

Reverend Horton Heat – “We Three Kings”

A snazzy live rendition of RHH’s bossa nova-rockabilly take on the Christian hymn with some funky organ, to-boot. In my opinion, the Rev’s We Three Kings is the most underrated Christmas album of all-time.  Swing it!

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.