Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Recovering DJ's Holiday mix tape-part 1


As I've previously mentioned,I’m a Christmas music lover. Toss together some Pop with a little bit of Rock and Jazz and you've mixed a mélange of melodic goodness. It’s a sickness, but isn’t admitting that the first step towards Recovering? ☺

With so many holiday themed events comin’ down the chimney lo’ these next few weeks I bet you’re seekin’ ideas to keep the sassy Santa spirit a flowin'. Here’s a good start, in order of how many times they've played according to my iTunes: an 0bjective way put together a countdown.

Top 15
By order of iTunes play count

1-"Last Christmas" -Wham!
So so 80’s I know, it just makes me ache with nostalgia. And FYI, I’m not the only one who loves it… so **mleh** (I believe that's the sound of sticking out your tongue?) Say it aloud and see.

**Just discovered this has been covered by someone named Taylor Swift *Gasp**

2-"White Christmas"-Otis Redding
This version is from the “Love Actually” soundtrack- a new classic holiday movie in our household. It’s a little sad and soulful, but the warmth of Otis’s voice wraps around you like a musical muffler.


3-"A Charlie Brown Christmas"- Vince Guaraldi Trio
I couldn’t decide between, “O Tannenbaum”, “Christmas Time Is Here”, “Skating “ or “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” so I just threw in the whole thing.

An interesting story about the "Charlie Brown Special", tee hee.


4-"All I Want For Christmas Is You"-Olivia Olson
From "Love Actually" as well, you could use the Maria Carey version in a pinch though.


5-"Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Live)"-Bruce Springsteen
" He’s flyin’ over Michigan…down the Jersey Turnpike.." Whoop Whoop!


6-"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"-Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
Two of my faves rockin’ the Xmas tree Canadian style


7-"The Little Drummer Boy"-Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
From a Very Special Christmas, a great series of contemporary Christmas music. Not really my fave song in the world, but have to add Rockin’ Robert when you can.


8-"The Christmas Song"-Luther Vandross
I like other versions of this song, but love the late GREAT Luther!


9-"Wonderful Christmastime"-Paul McCartney
Happy Paul, before Linda died and that other psycho wife came a’ callin'.


10-"Same Old Lang Syne"-Dan Fogelberg
“We drank a toast to innocence, we drank a toast to now”...that "Rob Lowe on Saxophone" sound from “St. Elmo’s Fire"…C’mon this is quintessential 80’s people. I immediately bought this last year when he died. Along with that, and the older I get, “Same Old Lang Syne" gets a little more bittersweet with each passing year.


11-"Bells Will be Ringing" - The Eagles
Really, just keeping the 80's alive...


12-"Winter Wonderland"- Harry Connick, Jr.
From the “When Harry Met Sally Soundtrack” which is another one of those "Christmissy" movies that isn’t really billed as such.


13-"Happy Christmas (War is Over)"-John Lennon
Oh John…What if…!!??


14-"Run Rudolph Run"- Keith Richards
A new fave from last year, the Bryan Adams version was previously on the Recovering DJ Holiday Mix. Brits usually trump Canadians. Plus, if you buy on iTunes, it comes with a bonus rocker “Pressure Drop”


15-"Father Christmas"- The Kinks
This is upbeat and "it's easy to dance to Dick, I'll give it a 95" This always reminds me how much I forget I love Ray Davies.


Glancing over this list, I see I’ll have to add some more subjective favorites soon.