We don’t normally do Christmas Mixtapes, instead I just write posts about how you should stop buying gifts for people and make myself sound like a miserable Dickensian character.
This year though, I’ve decided that by being in Mexico and not going out so much I have managed to avoid festive tune overload, so I have created not just one but two whole yuletide playlists.
This one is (mostly) full of more uppy happy sounding ditties, while the other is a more sombre and contemplative affair. You can check it out here: Christmas Songs Mixtape #1
For more of songs full of festive cheer, then I suggest you just stick on ‘A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector’ which is probably the best Christmas album ever made by anyone.
Just like normal, you can also listen to this mixtape as a Spotify or YouTube playlist.
Carol of the Meows by Guster
Carlo of the Bells was written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914, it has been recorded many, many times since and is an instantly recognisable piece of music. Replace the lyrics, whether it is the Ukrainian or English version, with meow’s and you get something surprisingly addictive and the intro to our playlist.
Jingle Bells by The Miracles
It’s Jingle Bells and there are so so many versions that you could choose from. Few, if any, are quite as good as this though.
Santa Claus by The Drifters
Taken from their Christmas album also containing some more well known tracks, this one is just a bit different and a bit great. I don’t know if I’m generally a big fan of the blues but I really like this.
Let it Snow by Dean Martin
Surely it needs no introduction. I’m listening in a place where I’m not sure it ever snows, but that doesn’t matter at all.
Presents for Christmas by Solomon Burke
If your only knowledge of Solomon Burke is from the book or movie High Fidelity then you are missing out on a lot, including this soulful Christmas wonder.
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love
This is a definite contender for the title of my favourite Christmas song ever. It’s just that good. I don’t even know why I love it but it makes me smile from a few notes in.
Early Christmas Present by Kate Nash
This song is actually far more about a sexually transmitted disease than it is about Christmas, but that’s not really a reason not to include it here, is it?
I Was Born on Christmas Day by Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne are massively underrated and craft fantastic pop songs and stories about Christmas or any other time of the year. The fact that when I was younger I was more than a little bit in love with Sarah Cracknell has nothing to do with it being included here at all.
The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
As with Dean Martin above, no explanation is needed. Written in 1944 and recorded in 1946 this is just timeless.
Fairytale of New York by The Pogues
It rounds off our first Christmas Mixtape and it gets the same place on this one too, because it can’t hurt to hear this twice in 21 songs and because I don’t feel like it is the season to be jolly until I hear Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl sing out this tragic yet hopeful tale.
Happy Christmas to one and all!