THE FIRST TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

The perfect Christmas song.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

"The Christmas Song" - Nat "King" Cole (1961)

THE SECOND TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

Irving Berlin wrote "White Christmas" for the 1942 musical film, "Holiday Inn" and it was actually done as a duet with Bing Crosby and actress Marjorie Reynolds (although her voice was dubbed by singer, Martha Mears). Bing recorded a solo version and it topped the charts that year.

Later, the song would appear again in another musical, appropriately titled, "White Christmas" in 1954 which also starred Bing Crosby.

This is another song that has been recorded by many, many people but Mr. Crosby's version is the only one in the Guiness Book of World Records as the Best Selling Single Of All Time with 50 million copies being sold.

"White Christmas" - Bing Crosby (1942)

THE THIRD TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

One of the best of the modern Christmas songs, "This Christmas" was originally written and recorded by the late, great Donny Hathaway. Of course, there are plenty of different takes of the song but this is still the only version that matters.   

"This Christmas" - Donny Hathaway (1970)         

THE FOURTH TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" was written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne in 1962 and was a plea for peace during the Cuban missile crisis. This song has been recorded by many different artists over the years but my favorite is by Whitney Houston. She was in her prime, delivered a stirring and passionate vocal plus the song has a great arrangement.

Her version was made as part of a 1987 Christmas themed album,  "A Very Special Christmas". It assembled other popular musical artists of the day and the proceeds went to benefit the Special Olympics. There have been seven other albums released in the series.

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" - Whitney Houston (1987)

THE FIFTH TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

The odd pairing of the elder Hollywood crooner and the younger glam-rock god was put together for what would turn out to be Bing Crosby's last television Christmas special, which merged the very familiar holiday song, "The Little Drummer Boy" with an original song written for the show, "Peace on Earth". This was done, apparently, because David Bowie hated the drummer boy song and didn't want to sing it. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it gave the song a fresh take and a Christmas classic was born.

"The Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth" - Bing Crosby & David Bowie (1977)

Here is the clip from the TV special:

THE SIXTH TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas songs aren't typically known for being romantic and sensual but that changed with The Carpenters. This original song, written by Richard Carpenter and Frank Pooler which features a beautifully touching vocal by Karen Carpenter, is the group at their very best.

"Merry Christmas, Darling" - The Carpenters (1970)

THE SEVENTH TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

This Christmas song is from another former Beatle with his wife, Yoko Ono but this actually began as a protest to the Vietnam War but has now evolved in to a holiday standard.

The song was produced by Phil Spector, along with John and Yoko and the background chorus is performed by the Harlem Community Choir. It reached number three on the pop charts in the U.S.

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon, Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band (1971)

THE EIGHTH TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

This is the former Beatle's musical contribution to Christmas in a song that is unusual because musically, it doesn't sound exactly like a Christmas song but that's the same reason why it makes it such a great Christmas song.

I could listen to this song anytime of the year.
"Wonderful Christmastime" - Paul McCartney (1979)

THE NINTH TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

There have been many versions of "Santa Baby" (Madonna's take is cute but a distant second) but none of them are effortlessly charismatic and sexy as the original created by the one and only Miss Eartha Kitt. A voice that was unique and special as the woman behind it.

"Santa Baby" - Eartha Kitt (1953)

THE TENTH TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

This Christmas song actually began as way to raise money and awareness to the famine in Ethiopia. Bob Geldof of the rock band, The Boomtown Rats wrote the song with Midge Ure of Ultravox and they assembled a group of British pop superstars to record this song.

The song was number one for five weeks and sold 3.5 million copies in the U.K. alone and is now a holiday classic.

"Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Band Aid (1984)



This is the music video of the making of the song. Let's see how many of these artists you recognize and know who they are. . .

THE ELEVENTH TUNE OF CHRISTMAS

I'm going to continue with another funny novelty song. I think the title pretty much sums it up.

"Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" - Elmo & Patsy (1979)

THE TWELVE TUNES OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas is almost upon us and, whether you want to or not, we have been hearing plenty of holiday music. We just have to accept that it's all part of the season. There are really not that many different songs or I should say, a wide variety of good Christmas songs but the classics out there have been done by many, many artists; a few great versions, many mediocre and some embarrassingly bad.

So for the next twelve days, I'm going to count down my favorite Christmas songs. These are also my favorite versions of each song (most tend to be the original) and they are not necessarily in any particular order but I guess the songs closer to the top are the ones I most prefer.

The first tune is the holiday novelty song by those cute animated critters, Alvin and the Chipmunks. This song was their only hit and it actually went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

It's a fun song and I still chuckle when I hear it.

"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" - Alvin & The Chipmunks (1958)