A holiday playlist introduction to classic rock

Many may have a preferred playlist for holiday songs around that bring comfort over the holidays. This is an introduction classic rock through a few songs that I’ve come to appreciate over time. Enjoy!

(Chuck Berry opens our listing with his classic Run Rudolph Run).

Beginning the list is this 1958 classic from Chuck Berry to get us started. Run Rudolph Run continues to be popular to this day.

(From left, From left, Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong of Cheech & Chong).

Santa Claus and His Old Lady by Cheech & Chong from 1971 falls more into the comedy genre, yet I get a chuckle from this for capturing an attitude. Richard “Cheech” Marin and Tommy Chong were formidable in their day.

(John Lennon, pictured here, offered Happy Xmas (War Is Over) with the Plastic Ono Band).

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band is a song hard to miss by folks streaming or catching music from the radio. The first holiday song on our list by a member of The Beatles, 1971 was the year this song entered the culture.

(Bruce Springsteen asking for a roll call of all the good little boys and girls)?

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band has taken on a bit of a life since it came on the scene in 1975.

(From left, Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing the duet for The Little Drummer Boy (Peace on Earth)).

The Little Drummer Boy (Peace on Earth) by Bing Crosby and David Bowie first played for the masses in 1977. My first remembered exposure came on MTV a few years later. The mixing of two generations of performer like this produced a beautiful song.

(The Kinks offered us a reminder to aim for equity in the song Father Christmas).

1977 also offered the world Father Christmas by The Kinks, which offers a more pragmatic spin on the notion of the holidays in reminding us with social commentary that not all are affluent with an experience of Santa Claus that is consistent.

(The Eagles as they were in 1978 sang of the bond of togetherness over the holidays).

Please Come Home for Christmas by the Eagles came along in 1978 as a solid remake of the 1961 number by blues singer and pianist Charles Brown.

(Paul McCartney and his wife Linda McCartney in 1984).

1979 offers us the song Wonderful Christmastime by former member of The Beatles Paul McCartney. Paul McCartney & Wings get the musical credit for this song, which when put alongside Happy Xmas (War is Over) by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band offers a bit of a difference in where the two primary songwriters were in the messaging of their music.

(From left, Bruce Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt enjoying the work of being musicians).

Merry Christmas Baby by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band rings in 1980 with a second song by the boss and the band. The song’s popularity grew with the release of a Special Olympics charity album in 1986.

(From left, Sting of The Police, Bono of U2 and Simon Colley of Duran Duran as part of Band Aid).

On the subject of popular holiday songs made possible by charity, Do They Know It’s Christmas by Band Aid. An effort of mainly English and Irish recording artists, the song was meant to offer aid for the famine in Ethiopia when released in 1984.

(John Mellencamp performed I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus).

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by John Mellencamp was a thematically lighter song released in 1987. The pacing in more upbeat and apolitical than some in this listing, yet musically appealing nonetheless.

(Bob Seger offering a rendition of The Little Drummer Boy).

The Little Drummer Boy by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band offered a second 1987 release, joining the Special Olympics album that included Mellencamp‘s I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and Springsteen‘s Merry Christmas Baby. Seger‘s song is notable for removing religious names and references.

(Bono of U2 in the video for the song Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)).

Also in 1987, U2 offered Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) in a romantic interlude as filled with passion as anything the band released.

(Trans-Siberian Orchestra made a light show and orchestration a large part of their live holiday performances over time).

Trans-Siberian Orchestra came along in the mid-1990s with a concept of classical music made contemporary with a rock and roll sensibility. Much of their catalogue is devoted to the music this post contemplates. Our decision here is to introduce the 1996 song Christmas Eve / Sarajevo by TSO.

(The Reverend Horton Heat would like you to know that Santa Claus is Coming to Town).

Also stylistically on point with this list yet perhaps stretching the genre of classic rock is Santa Claus is Coming to Town by The Reverend Horton Heat. I could help but hear the excitement of young children looking forward to the holidays.

Matt – Monday, December 14, 2020