Nearly Perfect? : Time - Life Treasury Of Christmas

Here's a series of posts to try and rekindle my enthusiasm for (Dinsdale) Kringle's Folly. I'll grab tracklists from various commercially available Christmas compilations and give them a quick once over to see if there's really been any point at all in trying to make a Perfect Mix. Has my Perfect Compilation been out there all along? We'll see...


Time - Life Treasury Of Christmas

Disc 1

01. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
02. Medley: Winter Wonderland / Sleigh Ride - Dolly Parton
03. The Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeone Chorale
04. O Little Town of Bethlehem - Andre Previn
05. The Twelve Days of Christmas - Roger Whittaker
06. Hark, the Herald Angels Sing - Nat King Cole
07. O Holy Night - Perry Como
08 The Christmas Song - The Carpenters
09. Medley: Carol of the Bells / Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly - Robert Shaw Chorale
10. Twas the Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring and The Pennsylvanians
11. Here Comes Santa Claus - Elvis Presley
12. Santa s Beard - The Beach Boys
13. Christmas in My Home Town - Charley Pride
14. Away in a Manger - Ed Ames
15. Silent Night - Jim Reeves
16. Home for the Holidays - Perry Como
17. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
18. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
19. Good King Wenceslas - Morton Gould and The RCA Symphony Orchestra
20. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
21. Medley: Here We Come A-Caroling / O Tannenbaum / I Saw Three Ships - Atrhur Fiedler and The Boston Pops
22. Ave Maria - Leontyne Price with the Choir of St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Disc 2

01. Ding Dong Merrily on High - Roger Whittaker
02. If Every Day Was Like Christmas - Elvis Presley
03. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
04. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Perry Como
05. Jingle Bells - Jim Reeves
06. What Child Is This? - Andre Previn
07. Adeste Fidelis - Luciano Pavarotti with the National Philharmonic
08. I ll Be Home for Christmas - Perry Como
09. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Julie Andrews
10. Christmas in Dixie - Alabama
11. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Bing Crosby
12. Medley: Joy to the World / Angels We Have Heard on High - Robert Shaw Chorale
13. Blue Christmas - Glen Campbell
14. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus
15. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
16. Mary s Boy Child - Harry Belafonte
17. Rocking - Roger Whittaker
18. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Lena Horne
19. The First Noel - Sergio Franchi
20. Silver Bells - Kate Smith
21. Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
22. It s Beginning to Look like Christmas - Perry Como and The Fontane Sisters
23. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Philadelphia Orchestra and Chorus

Not a bad song in the bunch. 32/45 that I would consider favorites.A solid collection. Not quite perfect though is it?

ASCAP's Top 25 / 5

ASCAP has released their list of the most played Christmas tracks on radio over the past five years. Since I'm a fairly harsh critic of modern pop music, both in general and especially in the holiday music genre, I figure I should check the list twice and see if things are better or worse than I imagine.

#1 Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics

#2 The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat "King" Cole

#3 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders

#4 Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes

#5 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Frank Sinatra

#6 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Michael Bublé

#7 White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby

#8 Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Bobby Helms

#9 Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry

#10 Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra

#11 It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Written by: Edward Pola, George Wyle
Performed by: Andy Williams

#12 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee

#13 Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Kenny G

#14 I'll Be Home For Christmas
Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
Performed by: Amy Grant

#15 Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano

#16 Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Ronettes

#17 A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives

#18 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Written by: Meredith Willson
Performed by: Johnny Mathis

#19 Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley

#20 (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: Perry Como

#21 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
Performed by: John Mellencamp

#22 Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Gene Autry

#23 Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)

#24 Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid

#25 This Christmas
Written by Donny Hathaway, Nadine McKinnor
Performed by Gloria Estefan

Well, that didn't help. Apparently songwriters have forgotten how to write holiday songs that people want to record and other people want to listen to. The most recently written song is from Band Aid?

As for the list...

The top 12 is surprisingly sound. I wouldn't have guessed the number one but I suppose it crosses genres nicely. 13 is unlucky indeed. I'd rather have seen a different "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" than Johnny Cougar's make the list. The list only weakens again at number 25.

Of course the list's saving grace is the preponderance of classic tracks and the weak links are all of relatively recent vintage. At least programmers and DJs have the good sense to stick with the classics, it's just too bad they haven't been a bit more adventurous with the modern stuff.

Nearly Perfect? Top 100 Christmas Songs (V.A.)

Here's a new series of posts to try and rekindle my enthusiasm for (Dinsdale) Kringle's Folly. I'll grab tracklists from various commercially available Christmas compilations and give them a quick once over to see if there's really been any point at all in trying to make a Perfect Mix. Has my Perfect Compilation been out there all along? We'll see...

I've seen this set on a few blogs but couldn't find an official link to it. I'm not sure if it's a commercial release of an unofficial compilation but here goes...

Top 100 Christmas Songs

CD1
01. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas 03:47
02. Boyz II Men - Let it Snow 04:09
03. Michael Mcdonald - Every Time Christmas Comes Around 03:33
04. Marvin Gaye - I Want to Come Home for Christmas 03:23
05. Ashanti - Hey Santa 01:54
06. David Essex - A Winter's Tale 04:13
07. Aaron Neville - Such A Night 03:24
08. Olivia Newton-John - Christmas Never Felt Like This Before 03:51
09. Jackson 5 - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 02:57
10. Freddy Fender - Christmas Time in the Valley 02:24
11. Michael Ball - Driving Home for Christmas 03:57
12. Laura Fygi - the Very Best Time of Year 02:47
13. Gladys Knight - It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 04:36
14. Diana Ross - Little Bright Star 02:28
15. Patti Page - Where Did My Snowman Go 02:32
16. Ringo Starr - Dear Santa 05:11
17. Wes Montgomery & Jimmy Smith - Baby It's Cold Outside 05:58
18. Vanessa Williams - Go Tell it to the Mountain 05:47
19. The Temptations - Little Drummer Boy 03:21
20. The Moody Blues - Happy X Mas (War is Over) 02:35

Not a bad disc but only 8/20 are in my rotation with none that are making the Perfect list.

CD2
01. Bing Crosby - White Christmas 03:00
02. Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock 02:11
03. Brenda Lee - Winter Wonderland 02:22
04. Chante Moore - Christmas Morning 05:20
05. The Platters - Blue Christmas 02:00
06. Diana Ross & the Supremes - My Favourite Things 02:53
07. George Strait - Santa's on His Way 02:07
08. B.B. King - Christmas Celebration 03:38
09. Ella Fitzgerald - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 02:53
10. Will Downing - the First Noel 04:58
11. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling 04:04
12. Patti Labelle - That's What Christmas Means to Me 03:27
13. Jack Jones - Lullaby for Christmas Eve 04:13
14. New Edition - the Joy of Christmas 02:59
15. Shawn Philips - A Christmas Song 03:28
16. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - Christmas Lullaby 04:08
17. Singers Unlimited - Caroling, Caroling 01:15
18. The Statler Brothers - Away in A Manger 02:51
19. Dinah Washington - Ole Santa 02:44
20. Roger Whittaker - Little Shepard 02:52

9/20 this time with three crackers to lead the disc off. Again, a pretty good selection.

CD3
01. Mel Torme - the Christmas Song 02:46
02. Andrews Sisters & Bing Crosby - the First Snowfall 03:08
03. Pat Boone - I'll Be Home for Christmas 01:51
04. James Brown - Please Come Home for Christmas 03:22
05. Kid Creole & the Coconuts - Christmas on Riverside Drive 03:46
06. Free the Spirit - Last Christmas 03:52
07. Slade - Merry Christmas Everybody 03:43
08. Stephanie Mills - Christmas with You 04:56
09. Michael Jackson - Little Christmas Tree 03:38
10. Hanson - What Christmas Means to Me 03:40
11. Lionel Hampton - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus 02:45
12. Connie Francis - Baby's First Christmas 02:27
13. Billy Eckstine - Christmas Eve 03:05
14. Betty Carter - Home for the Holidays 04:31
15. BZN - Once Upon A Christmas 05:28
16. Nana Mouskouri - Deck the Hall Boughs of Holly 01:34
17. Rita Reys - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 04:21
18. Kim Weston - Wish You A Merry Christmas 02:37
19. Supremes - Joy the World 02:11
20. Gheorghe Zamfir - Little Drummer Boy 02:17

9/20. A bit dodgy here and there but not too bad. Once again the disc starts out really well and has a swell path in the middle.

CD4
01. 98 Degrees - this Gift 04:12
02. K - Ci & Jojo - Merry Christmas Baby 03:02
03. Steve Winwood - Christmas in Now Drawing 02:35
04. Shanice & Johnny Gil - Silent Prayer 04:58
05. Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - Jingle Bells 02:48
06. Oliva Newton John - There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays 04:09
07. The Moody Blues - December Snow 05:14
08. Brenda Lee - A Marshmallow World 02:34
09. Jackson 5 - Santa Claus is Coming to Town 02:24
10. Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes 02:53
11. Laura Fygi - A Song for Christmas 02:59
12. Ella Fitzgerald - Sleigh Ride 03:01
13. Louis Armstrong - Yule Cool 02:59
14. Commodors - Jesus is Love 04:58
15. Blue Diamonds - Christmas Day is Coming 02:48
16. Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rapping 04:00
17. Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run 02:43
18. James Brown - Signs of Christmas 04:40
19. Michael Ball - When A Child is Born 03:37
20. Venessa Williams - Hark the Herald Angels Sing 05:28

6/20. A few classic amidst a fairly ordinary selection.

CD5
01. Will Downing - All I Want for Christmas is You 04:04
02. Love Unlimited - it May Be Winter Outside 04:14
03. Boys II Men - Cold December Nights 04:10
04. 98 Degrees - Ave Maria 01:55
05. A-Teens - Happy New Year 04:24
06. The Kelly Family - Who'll Come with Me 03:10
07. Engelbert Humperdinck - Winter World of Love 03:22
08. Patti Labelle - O Holy Night 04:40
09. Michael Mcdonald - White Chistmas/winter Wonderland 03:29
10. Aaron Neville - the Star Carol 02:13
11. Marvin Sease - Funky Christmas 06:17
12. The Temptations - Silent Night 02:24
13. The Platters - All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth 02:14
14. Samatha Mumba - All I Want for Christmas 04:01
15. Connie Francis - O Little Town of Bethlehem 03:01
16. Rahsaan Patterson - Christmas at My House 04:56
17. The Supremes - Twinkle Twinkle Little Me 03:04
18. Stephanie Mills - it Doenst Feel Like Christmas 04:12
19. Larry Carlton - Ringing the Bells of Christmas 04:42
20. B.B. King - Auld Lang Syne 02:21

Oh dear. 2/20. That's not to say there are 18 bad songs on the disc - none of them are "bad", but almost none of them are really good either. Not a great showing for a compilation that bills itself as Top 100 songs.

Nearly Perfect? : Christmas Hits (2007)

Here's a new series of posts to try and rekindle my enthusiasm for (Dinsdale) Kringle's Folly. I'll grab tracklists from various commercially available Christmas compilations and give them a quick once over to see if there's really been any point at all in trying to make a Perfect Mix. Has my Perfect Compilation been out there all along? We'll see...

We start with Christmas Hits (2007) A 4 disc set, though since the fourth CD is made up of traditional carols I'll skip it.

Titles in bold indicate songs I'd consider for Heavy rotation during the holidays. Normal text indicates a perfectly good tune but not a particular favorite of mine and grayed out means I'd rather give it a miss - though it may not be because the song is rotten but because it's not what I consider a "real" Christmas song or has mere novelty value. Spelling mistakes courtesy of source. (I'm just a cuttin' and a pastin' here)

CD1

01 Andy Williams - Its The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
02 The Pouges Feat. Kristy Mccol - Fairytale Of New York
03 Pretenders - 2000 Miles
04 Shakin Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
05 Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas
06 Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry
07 Robson And Jerome - I Believe
08 Cyndi Lauper - Early Christmas Morning
09 Gloria Estefan - Love On Layaway
10 Charlotte Church - Dream A Dream
11 Steps - Merry X-Mas Everybody
12 Bo Selecta - Proper Crimbo
13 The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)
14 Eva Cassidy - Over The Rainbow
15 Sarah Mclachlan - Wintersong
16 Johnny Cash - The Little Drummer Boy
17 Frank Sinatra - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
18 T - Rex-Christmas Bop
19 Boney M - Marys Boy Child Oh My Lord

12/19 songs that I could see having on one of my comps with only one all time real classic plus a few modern ones. Take out the non-truly-Christmas songs and the novelty track and it's a pretty good selection.

CD2

01 Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
02 Christina Aguilera - The Christmas Song
03 Luther Vandross - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
04 Cliff Richard - The Millennium Prayer
05 Michael Bolton - White Christmas
06 Dido - Christmas Day
07 Nsync - I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You
08 Britney Spears - My Only Wish (This Year)
09 Toni Braxton - Holiday Celebrate
10 Backstreet Boys - Christmas Time
11 Air Supply - Sleigh Ride
12 Spike Jones And His City Slickers - All I Want For Christmas
13 Jackie Wilson - Deck The Halls
14 G4 - Silent 0
15 Natalie Cole - Jingle Bells
16 Linda Ronstadt - When You Wish Upon A Star
17 Brenda Lee - Rockin Around The Christmas Tree
18 Shakin Stevens - Blue Christmas
19 The Wombles - Wombling Merry Christmas
20 East 17 - Stay Another Day

6/20 and that's being kind


CD3

01 Wham! - Last Christmas
02 Westlife - I Have A Dream
03 Il Divo - O Holy Night
04 Angelis - Pie Jesu
05 Elvis Presley - Merry Christmas Baby
06 Frank Sinatra - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow
07 Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby
08 Aretha Franklin - Joy To The World
09 Gladys Knight And The Pips - Do You Hear What I Hear
10 Tony Bennett - Winter Wonderland
11 Doris Day - Ill Be Home For Christmas
12 The Edwin Hawkins Singers - Oh Happy Day
13 Mario Lanza - O Christmas Tree
14 Gay Gordon - Auld Lang Syne
15 Harry Belafonte - Marys Boy Child
16 Al Green - What Christmas Means To Me
17 Peter Auty - Walking In The Air
18 Johnny Mathis - When A Child Is Born
19 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love

14/19 a nice recovery with very little chaff though, once again, light on actual classic tunes.

So, not the worst selection I've ever seen but also not one that I'd want to be trapped on a deserted island with either.Especially that second disc.

Kringle's Folly

Just a couple of weeks until Halloween means the offfical start of the Christmas season is just around the corner.I've been doing sporadic work on the "Mix" and I'm a little but disappointed at how predicable the the final selection is turning out to be. Lots of the usual yuletide suspects. I had hoped to offer a revised version of the traditional holiday canon but the best are still the best. So there won't be any real revaltions but i'll still be posting the various compilations I've been, umm, compiling,  as well as asking all of you for your favorite collections of Christmas songs - store bought or home made.

More after All Hallows...

2 more sneak in...

A couple of additions...

• We Wish You A Merry Christmas - The Johnny Mann Singers
  (will likely be competing with We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Jingle Bells/Where Did My Snowman Go - Gunter Kallmann Choir)
  
  
• Christmas Is A 'Comin' (May God Bless You) - The Brothers Four
  (has the unenviable task of going against Bing's version)

16 more shown the door...

Some more very tough cuts. Cailoa/Ortolani and KT Tunstall both disappear from the master list and my current personal fave version of Baby It's Cold Outside gets frozen out as well. Some cuts were hard but inevitable - was there really any doubt that the Harry Simone Chorale version of Little Drummer Boy would beat out it's rivals?

As always the songs leaving the main comp. will end up on others comps because even the Perfect Christmas Mix would become tiresome if it was all you ever listened to.

1. Christmas Chimes - Andre Kostelanetz
2. Sleigh Ride - Al Cailoa & Riz Ortolani
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Andre Kostelanetz
4. Sleigh Ride - KT Tunstall
5. A Christmas Medley - Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops
6. A Time To Be Jolly - Bing Crosby
7. A Very Merry Christmas - Cliff Edwards
8. Angels We Have Heard on High - The Roches
9. Buon Natale - Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani
10. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Carmen McRae & Sammy Davis Jr.
11. Ding Dong! Merrily on High - The King's Singers
12. Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii) - KT Tunstall
13. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
14. The Little Drummer Boy - Anita Kerr Singers
15. The Little Drummer Boy - The Living Voices
16. I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You - Claudine Longet

10 more frozen out...

This just gets harder and harder. Gone is my last 12 Days type tune, the Andy Williams re-write "A Song and a Christmas Tree". I figure the Perfect mix has to have the real thing.

I still have a number of tunes with multiple version so next on my to-do list is getting each song down to a single, hopefully Perfect, example. I've really sent my self on a fool's errand this time. Oh well...

1. A Song And A Christmas Tree (The Twelve Days Of Christmas) - Andy Williams
2. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
3. Christmas Chopsticks - Bobby Vinton
4. Frosty the Snowman/Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Henry Mancini
5. Give Love on Christmas Day - The Temptations
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Julie Andrews
7. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Joao Bosco
8. Jingle Bell Rock - Anita Kerr Singers
9. My Christmas Tree - The Going Thing
10. The Sounds Of Christmas - Catherine McKinnon

16 more former candidates....

16 down, oodles to go. I've already blogged about my 12 days problem, it ituns out I've somehow missed finding the perfect "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as well. The search continues.

Quite a few favorites here but they're either the second most perfect version of a song (Bing's "And the Bells Rang") or just not quite right for this type pf compilation (the Line Material stuff). Every cut will end up on a supplemental volume though so, please, no hate mail from rabid Ray Conniff fans. (Or "Conniffreaks" as they like to call theselves)

1. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Mantovani
2. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Ray Conniff & Singers
3. Jing Jing A Ling - Honey And The Bees
4. Caroling Caroling - Lisa Ono
5. And The Bells Rang - Bing Crosby
6. Christmas Is - Percy Faith
7. Do You Hear What I Hear - The Gamble Folk
8. Jingle Jangle - The Penguins
9. O' Bambino - Harry Simeone Chorale
10. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - The Glad Singers
11. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - The Mike Sammes Singers
12. Winter Wonderland - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
13. Welcome Christmas - The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
14. The Kinds of Christmas - Line Material
15. Let's Trim the Christmas Tree - Line Material
16. Christmas Collage - Kathy Mattea

The Twleve Days of Christmas

Today I pit the three remaining versions of The Twelve Days of Christmas against each other and, much to my surprise, none of them seemed quite "perfect". I don't know how I overlooked better versions from other artists - perhaps it was the length and repetition inherent in the song that I unconsciously steered away from, maybe I was burned out from a surfeit of jolliness. I don't know but I've decided to keep Bing and the Andrew Sisters for now and move Mantovani and Ray Conniff to the supplemental volumes.

I even considered the Sesame Street version, featuring a stirring lead vocal from Cookie Monster, already destined for a kiddie themed mix but couldn't quite being myself to add it.

Do you have a favorite version of The Twelve Days of Christtmas you think I should consider? Let me know in the comments!

Perfect Candidates List - July Update

Update: Looks like I forgot to add a week's worth of new candidates a couple of months ago! New total is now 162 - I've updated the Master list (below) with the missing tunes...

Here's the most recent Master List. 162 top tinsel tunes. Time to get to work paring it down to something in the low double digits....

1. (There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays - Perry Como
2. A Christmas Medley - Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops
3. A Christmas Toast - Bing Crosby
4. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
5. A Marshmallow World - Johnny Mathis
6. A Merry Christmas At Grandmother's - The Andrew Sisters with Danny Kaye
7. A Merry Christmas Song - Living Strings & Living Voices
8. A Song And A Christmas Tree (The Twelve Days Of Christmas) - Andy Williams
9. A Time To Be Jolly - Bing Crosby
10. A Very Merry Christmas - Cliff Edwards
11. All I Want for Christmas (is my Two Front Teeth) - Nat King Cole
12. And The Bells Rang - Bing Crosby
13. And The Bells Rang - The Modernaires
14. Angels We Have Heard on High - The Roches
15. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Carmen McRae & Sammy Davis Jr.
16. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin
17. Blue Christmas - Johnny Mathis
18. Buon Natale (Means Merry Christmas To You) - Nat King Cole
19. Buon Natale - Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani
20. Caroling, Caroling - Nat King Cole
21. Caroling Caroling - Lisa Ono
22. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
23. Christmas Can't Be Far Away - Burl Ives
24. Christmas Carols - Lawrence Welk & His Champagne Music
25. Christmas Chimes - Andre Kostelanetz
26. Christmas Chopsticks--Bobby Vinton
27. Christmas Chopsticks - Andre Kostelanetz And His Orchestra
28. Christmas Collage - Kathy Mattea
29. Christmas Is - Lou Rawls
30. Christmas Is - Percy Faith
31. Christmas Is A-Comin'- Bing Crosby
32. Christmas Rush - Vincent Lopez
33. Christmas Time All Over The World - Sammy Davis, Jr
34. Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
35. Christmas in Killarney - Bing Crosby
36. Comfort And Joy - Simon & Garfunkel
37. Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong
38. Deck the Halls - Nat King Cole
39. Ding Dong! Merrily on High - The King's Singers
40. Do You Hear What I Hear - Andy Williams
41. Do You Hear What I Hear - Bing Crosby
42. Do You Hear What I Hear - Johnny Mathis
43. Do You Hear What I Hear - The Gamble Folk
44. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
45. First Snowfall Medley - The Carpenters
46. Frosty The Snowman - Jimmy Durante
47. Frosty the Snowman/Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Henry Mancini
48. Give Love on Christmas Day - The Temptations
49. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Ray Conniff
50. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - The Glad Singers
51. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - The Mike Sammes Singers
52. Happy Sleigh Ride - Ferrante And Teicher
53. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Julie Andrews
54. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Andre Kostelanetz
55. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - The Going Thing
56. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
57. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) - Elvis Presley
58. Here Comes Santa Claus - Doris Day
59. Here Comes Santa Claus - The Mills Brothers
60. Here We Come A-Caroling - Ray Conniff Singers
61. Holiday For Bells - Bert Kaempfert
62. Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
63. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Doris Day
64. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Joao Bosco
65. I'll Be Home for Christmas - Frank Sinatra
66. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Dean Martin
67. I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You - Claudine Longet
68. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Burl Ives
69. I Saw Three Ships - Nat King Cole
70. I Wouldn't Trade Christmas - The Sinatra Family
71. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Bing Crosby
72. It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas - Perry Cuomo
73. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
74. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Johnny Mathis
75. It Happened In Sun Valley - The Original Glenn Miller Singers
76. Jing-A-Ling-A-Ling - Wayne King and His Orchestra
77. Jing Jing A Ling - Honey And The Bees
78. Jingle Bell Rock - Anita Kerr Singers
79. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
80. Jingle Bells - The Norman Luboff Choir
81. Jingle Bells/Sleigh Ride - Henry Mancini
82. Jingle Jangle - The Penguins
83. Joy to the World - Percy Faith and His Orchestra
84. Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells - Andy Williams
85. Let's Trim the Christmas Tree - Line Material
86. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Andre Kostelanetz
87. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin
88. Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Randy Van Horne Singers
89. Little Drummer Boy-Peace On Earth -Bing Crosby & David Bowie
90. Little Jack Frost, Get Lost - Bing Crosby (with Peggy Lee)
91. Lullaby For Christmas Eve - Judith Durham
92. Medley: Pine Cones And Holly Berries (with It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas), We Wish You A Merry Christmas - The Living Voices
93. Medley: a. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, b. Deck the Halls, c. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing - Henry Mancini
94. Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii) - KT Tunstall
95. Merry Christmas Polka - Freddy Martin w. Merv Griffin
96. Mistletoe & Holly - Jack Jones
97. My Christmas Tree - The Going Thing
98. My Favorite Things - Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
99. My Favorite Things - Living Strings & Living Voices
100. O' Bambino - Harry Simeone Chorale
101. O Holy Night - Andy Williams
102. O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Domenico Savino And His Orchestra
103. Oh Come, All ye Faithful - Elvis Presley
104. Oiche Chiún (Silent Night) - Enya
105. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers - Dick Schory's Percussion Pops
106. Pretty Snowflakes - Patti Page
107. Ring Christmas Bells - We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Living Strings & Living Voices
108. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
109. Round and Round The Christmas Tree - Bing Crosby
110. Rudolf, The Red Nosed Reindeer Mambo - Billy May
111. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle And The Modernaires
112. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
113. Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Elvis Presley
114. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Peppermint Kandy Kids
115. Schlittenfahrt Zum Weihnachtma - James Last
116. Silent Night - The Norman Luboff Choir
117. Skating - Vince Guaraldi Trio
118. Sleigh Ride - Al Cailoa & Riz Ortolani
119. Sleigh Ride - Arthur Fiedler
120. Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
121. Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis
122. Sleigh Ride - KT Tunstall
123. Snow - Claudine Longet
124. Snowfall - Enoch Light
125. Snowfall - The Manhattan Transfer
126. Song of the Sleigh Bells - June Hutton
127. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Anita Kerr Singers
128. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Burt Bacharach
129. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
130. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) - Johnny Mathis
131. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
132. The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra
133. The Christmas Waltz - Peggy Lee
134. The First Noel - Domenico Savino And His Orchestra
135. The First Snowfall- Bing Crosby
136. The Holly And The Ivy - The Norman Luboff Choir
137. The Jolly Old Man In the Bright Red Suit - Vaughn Monroe
138. The Kinds of Christmas - Line Material
139. The Little Drummer Boy - Anita Kerr Singers
140. The Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeone Chorale
141. The Little Drummer Boy - The Living Voices
142. The Man with the Bag - Kay Starr
143. The Merriest - June Christy
144. The Secret of Christmas - Julie Andrews
145. The Sounds Of Christmas - Catherine McKinnon
146. The Sounds of Christmas - Johnny Mathis
147. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Andrews Sisters w/ Bing Crosby
148. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Mantovani
149. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Ray Conniff & Singers
150. Twas The Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring
151. Twas The Night Before Christmas - Jo Stafford
152. Twas the Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
153. Wassail Song O Christmas Tree I Saw Three Ships - Arthur Fiedler & the Boston
154. We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Jingle Bells/Where Did My Snowman Go - Gunter Kallmann Choir
155. We Wish You The Merriest - The Original Glenn Miller Singers
156. Welcome Christmas - The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
157. What Child is This - Vince Guaraldi Trio
158. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
159. Winter Weather - Jo Stafford
160. Winter Wonderland - Bing Crosby
161. Winter Wonderland - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
162. Winter Wonderland - Johnny Mathis

Perfect Candidates - July 7

Finally an update.

To tell the truth I've been a bit burnt out the last few weeks. It took half a year of non-stop Christmas music before I found myself actively avoiding the stuff but it did eventually happen. I think I'm coming out of it now though and hope to have posts up on at least a weekly basis from here on out. Famous last words...

Only one addition to report...

• Lullaby For Christmas Eve - Judith Durham

Perfect Candidates Update - June 1

Not too many additions this time out - blame the summery weather I suppose.

1. A Christmas Medley - Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops
2. Christmas Is A-Comin'- Bing Crosby
3. Joy to the World - Percy Faith and His Orchestra
4. Little Jack Frost, Get Lost - Bing Crosby (with Peggy Lee)
5. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers - Dick Schory's Percussion Pops
6. Snowfall - The Manhattan Transfer
7. The First Snowfall- Bing Crosby

HAL Kringle, my yuletide computer, had itself an episode while I was compiling the album list for this update and I lost the first half. I'll go back through my discs and add the missing entries to the next update. No, I don't think anyone actually cares.

Here's the post-crash list...

A Cabaret Christmas
A Christmas Festival - Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops
A Merry Christmas With Engelbert Humperdinck
Acoustic Hearts Of Winter - Aly & AJ
Angels' Glory - Kathleen Battle & Christopher Parkening
Antlers - Melanie
Christmas '64 - Jimmy Smith
Christmas: Through a Different Window - Ray Stevens
Christmas Disco - Mistletoe Disco Band
Christmas In July 2006-The Best From Ernie (Not Bert)
Christmas Is Calling - Roch Voisine
Christmas Sing In - Gunter Kallmann Choir
Christmas Song Book - Helen Merrill
Christmastime Is Here - Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops
Elf
Follow That Star - Stacey Kostes
For Christmas - Peter Kater
Gary Puckett At Christmas
Golden Memories Christmas
Haunted Mansion Holiday
Home For Christmas (RCA Dynagroove)
Jimmy Dean's Christmas Card
Jingle Bell Rock
Jose-Luis Orozco - Navidad Y Pancho Claus
Merry Christmas - The New Christy Minstrels
Nomad Christmas
Non-Stop Christmas Disco - The Roller Disco Orchestra
Not A Traditional Christmas - Jessica Harper
Original Music Box Favorites
Ralph Carmichael - 'Specially For Shepherds
Raphael Presents Christmas
Romantic Christmas
Santa's Own Christmas
Santa Claus Is Canadian - Ontario Lottery Corporation
Sing A Song Of Christmas - The Swingalongs
Stereo Motion Christmas
Switched on Santa! The Merriest Moog Synthesizer Plays Christmas Favourites - Sy Mann
Te Canto Navida
The Best Christmas...Ever
The Christmas Album - The Manhattan Transfer
The Columbia album of Christmas Music - Percy Faith and his Orchestra
The Huron Carol - Phoenix A Chamber Choir
The Reggae Christmas Collection
The Spirit Of Christmas - Living Strings
The Star Carol - "Tennessee" Ernie Ford
The Twelve Days of Christmas - The Salvation Army Band
The Twenty-fifth Day Of December - Staple Singers
The Voice of Christmas - Bing Crosby
Tijuana Christmas - The Border Brass
Ultimate Christmas Album
You Just Gotta Love Christmas - Peter Cetera
Yuletunes

Perfect Candidates Week Fifteen

Sorry I'm late with these (as if anyone was actually waiting for them) but Mother's Day weekend was surprisingly hectic.

It only took a few months but I've finally come to the realization that all this work has been unnecessary. The perfect Christmas compilation only needs a few tracks each from a couple of Johnny Mathis albums and you're all set. It took great determination to hold myself to six Mathis tunes in this week's additions.

1. A Merry Christmas Song - Living Strings & Living Voices
2. Angels We Have Heard on High - The Roches
3. Blue Christmas - Johnny Mathis
4. Comfort And Joy - Simon & Garfunkel
5. Do You Hear What I Hear - Andy Williams
6. Do You Hear What I Hear - Johnny Mathis
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - The Going Thing
8. Here Comes Santa Claus - Doris Day
9. Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii) - KT Tunstall
10. My Christmas Tree - The Going Thing
11. My Favorite Things - Living Strings & Living Voices
12. Ring Christmas Bells - We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Living Strings & Living Voices
13. Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis
14. Sleigh Ride - KT Tunstall
15. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) - Johnny Mathis
16. The Jolly Old Man In the Bright Red Suit - Vaughn Monroe
17. The Sounds of Christmas - Johnny Mathis
18. Twas the Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
19. Winter Wonderland - Johnny Mathis

Week 15 - Albums

Here are most of the albums I listened to, some more thoroughly than others naturally, while compiling this week's new additions to the master list. Song list to follow in a little while...

50,000,000 Santa Fans Can't Be Wrong! - The Dino Martinis
A Christmas Card - The Forester Sisters
A Christmas Carousel with Children's Bible Hour
A Christmas To Remember - The Jimmy Joyce Singers
A Family Christmas - John Tesh
A Sentimental Christmas - Gerry Beaudoin
A Sound of Christmas - Søren Sko
Brand New Year - Shedaisy
Cheetahlicious Christmas - Cheetah Girls
Chemistry Xmas - Girls Aloud
Chicago XXV - Chicago
Christmas - Kimberley Locke
Christmas - Tim Janis
Christmas 1968 With The Going Thing
Christmas Album - Johnny Mathis
Christmas At The Stables - Cleo Laine
Christmas Carousel - Peggy Lee
Christmas Classics - Burgess Meredith With Joe Reisman's Orchestra And Chorus
Christmas Disco Party - Max Fagen
Christmas Eve with Johnny Mathis
Christmas Favorites Sung By The Magnificent Magnavox Chorus
Christmas Is For You - Paulette Carlson
Christmas Is The Time - Lou Rawls
Christmas Pan Flute, Vol. 2
Christmas Time - The Pete King Chorale And Orchestra
Christmas With Kitty Wells
Christmas With The Chipmunks
Christmas in Europe
Christmas in My Heart - Connie Francis
Christmas with Paul Anka
For Christmas - Johnny Mathis
Give Me Your Love for Christmas - Johnny Mathis
Hallelujah He Is Born - Sawyer Brown
Have Yourself A Very KT Christmas - KT Tunstall
Home for the Holidays - Trisha Yearwood
It's Christmas Time
Jack Jones Christmas Album
Laughing All The Way - Kitty Stallings
Let It Snow - Michael Buble
Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites - Raul Malo
Marty Gold Children's Chorus - How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Merry Christmas - Andy Williams
Merry Christmas - Johnny Mathis
Music Box Christmas creations - Porter Music Box
Music For A Merry Christmas - Frank Chacksfield
Noels - Paul Mauriat
Nutcracker Suite - Duke Ellington
Osmond Family Christmas
Peace - Rotary Connection
Rock-A-Billy Christmas
Santa's Playlist - Sister Hazel
Simply The Best Christmas Album
Songs of the Season - Peter White
Sounds Like Christmas - The December People
Sounds of The Season - Elliott Yamin
Sounds of the Season - Taylor Swift
Spirit of the Carols - Thom Rotella
Star Bright - Vanessa Williams
Swing Along With Santa's Snowmen
The Christmas Album - The CompanY
The Joyous Sounds of Christmas - Johnny Largo at the Optigan
The Meaning of Christmas - Fred Waring
The Sounds of Christmas - Johnny Mathis
The Williams Brothers Christmas Album
Watching The Snow - Michael Franks
Well Seasoned - The Joy Strings
When It Snows - The Blenders
White Christmas - Living Strings & Living Voices

Nine more drops...

Nine more tracks drop from the main lis. Some wonderful music here - The Glad Singers were over-represented on the master list and so are over-represented here. I must have done half a dozen A/B comparisons of the Sinatra and Jack Jones versions of Mistletoe and Holly and in the end I found Sinatra's a bit too somber for the flavor the Perfect Mix is beginning to develop.

A new group of nominees coming soon (and it won't be a short list this time thanks to my hitting the Johnny Mathis section of my collection!)

1. Deck the Halls - The Glad Singers
2. Happy New Year - The Glad Singers
3. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly/Wassail Song - Hugo Winterhalter
4. Gee Whiz, It's Christmas - Carla Thomas
5. Gloria (Angels We Have Heard on High) - The Glad Singers
6. We Wish You A Merry Christmas - The Kingston Trio
7. Winter Wonderland - The Three Suns
8. The Little Drummer Boy - Henry Mancini
9. Mistletoe And Holly - Frank Sinatra

Perfect Candidates Week Fourteen

Here's a good sign - only two new additions to big list this week! And from a decent selection of albums too...

1. Good King Wenceslas - Mel Tormé
2. You Meet The Nicest People - Dinah Shore

Here are most of the albums I sampled this time out...

12 Saxophone Christmas Classics - Ace Cannon
60's Soul Christmas Party - Mark Baldwin
A Barbershop Christmas
A Caribbean Christmas - Tommy Beaumont
A Christmas Song - Russ Taff
A Drummer Boy's Christmas - Eric Darken
A Noteworthy Christmas
A Tapestry of Carols - Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band
Asi Es Nuestra Navidad - Gilberto Santa Rosa Y El Gran Combo
Christmas... It's a Love Story - Naturally 7
Christmas; Time For Song - Thurlow Spurr And The Spurrlows
Christmas Dreams - Liona Boyd
Christmas Memories = Barbra Streisand
Christmas Party - The Three Suns
Christmas Sing-Along with Mitch - Mitch Miller
Christmas Sing Song - Woody the Woodchuck
Christmas from around the World
Cool Jazz Christmas
Country Jul
December - Chris Botti
Faith of Our Fathers Christmas - John McCormack And Frank Patterson
Following Yonder Star - Scott Williamson
Funky Christmas
Gifts - Nashville Mandolin Ensemble
Greatest Christmas Songs of our Land - Vic Jordan
Guitars at Christmas - Guitars, Inc.
Holiday - Russ Freeman
Holiday For Teens - Paul and Paula
Home For Christmas - The Irish Tenors
In The Swing of Christmas - Brett Wales
Irish Tenors Christmas
It's Christmas Day - CBC TV's Singalong Jubilee Singers
It's Christmas Time In Holland
It's a Wonderful Life: Sax at the Movies for Christmas - Jazz at the Movies Band
Joyeux_Noel - Gisele_MacKenzie
Le Party Des Fêtes - La Famille Dion
Les Fans Chantent Noël - L'école Des Fans
Lil Wally Sings Polish Christmas Carols
Lynn_Anderson-The_Christmas_Album
Merry Christmas - Raymond LeFevre
Merry Christmas From Buck Owens & Susan Raye
Merry Christmas from Kukla, Fran and Ollie
Merry Monster Christmas
Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics
Mrs. Santa Claus (OST)
Music And Mistletoe - Howard Lopez
My Christmas Favorites - John Davidson
Noël, parle-moi - Marie-Denise Pelletier
Noel! Noel! Noel! - Michala Petri
Noel - Derri Daugherty, Riki Michelle, Steve Hindalong
O Santa Where Art Thou
Pac-Man Christmas Album
Santa's Bag: An All-Star Jazzy Christmas
Sing Christmas and The Turn of The Year - Alan Lomax Collection
Sing Me Home - Lisa Leuschner
Songs Of Christmas - Alan Lomax Collection
The Season...A Family Christmas Celebration - Fred Penner
The Sounds Of Christmas - The Three Suns
The Three Suns Present Your Christmas Favorites
Tis The Season - Fred Koch
White Christmas - Rosemary Clooney

Perfect Candidates: Week Twelve

So, after the trauma of pulling 27 yracks off the master list here I am adding a bunch more righ back on it.

1. A Song And A Christmas Tree (The Twelve Days Of Christmas) - Andy Williams
2. Caroling Caroling - Lisa Ono
3. Frosty the Snowman/Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Henry Mancini
4. Give Love on Christmas Day - The Temptations
5. Jingle Bell Rock - Anita Kerr Singers
6. Jingle Bells/Sleigh Ride - Henry Mancini
7. Jingle Jangle - The Penguins
8. Let's Trim the Christmas Tree - Line Material
9. Medley: Pine Cones And Holly Berries (with It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas), We Wish You A Merry Christmas - The Living Voices
10. Merry Christmas Polka - Freddy Martin w. Merv Griffin
11. O Holy Night - Andy Williams
12. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Anita Kerr Singers
13. The Kinds of Christmas - Line Material
14. The Little Drummer Boy - Anita Kerr Singers
15. The Little Drummer Boy - The Living Voices
16. The Sounds Of Christmas - Catherine McKinnon
17. Winter Wonderland - Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

27 more down...

I feel such a Grinch. 27 terrific songs cut from the master list. They'll all be back on one of the various supplemental playlists I'll work up once The Perfect is done - but still I feel as if I'm betraying some old friends...

1. 2000 Miles - Pretenders
2. A Five Pound Box of Money - Pearl Bailey
3. A Winter's Tale - Mike Batt & David Essex
4. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
5. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Lionel Hampton
6. Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant
7. Christmas - Rachelle Ferrell
8. Christmas Is The Best Of All - Johnny Tillotson
9. Christmas Love - The Rotary Connection
10. Come On, Ring Those Bells - Evie (Tornquist)
11. December Will Be Magic Again - Kate Bush
12. Deck The Halls - Sandler & Young
13. I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You - Margo Guryan
14. I Love The Winter Weather - Tony Bennett
15. It's Clichéd to be Cynical at Xmas - Half Man Half Biscuit
16. Just Like Christmas - Low
17. Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming - Feist
18. Mary, Did You Know - Kathy Mattea
19. Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
20. Merry Christmas Darling - Carpenters
21. Merry Merry Christmas Baby -Dodie Stevens
22. Midnight Sleighride - Sauter-Finegan Orch.
23. Ring out solstice bells - Jethro Tull
24. Silent Night - Elvis Presley
25. Sleigh Ride - The Ventures
26. Sleigh Ride - Voices of Walter Schumann
27. What Child Is This - Julie Andrews

Week 12 : Albums

In order to shorten some of these posts I'm going to experiment with using separate entries for each round of candidate's songs and source albums. Here are most of the albums I listened to in order to come up with the newest collection of candidates for TPXMASM...

A Christmas Sampler - Westminster Hi Fi
A Jazz-a-Bye Christmas
A King Family Christmas
A Million Dollars Worth Of Christmas Doo-Wop
A Sesame Street Christmas
Boas Festas - Lisa Ono
Can't Stop Thinking About Christmas - Universal Honey
Christmas Album - Catherine McKinnon
Christmas Dancing - James Last
Christmas Kisses
Christmas Time Is Here - Dianne Reeves
Christmas With Donald And Debbie - Donald O'Connor & Debbie Reyonlds
Christmas With The Don Les Harmonicats
Christmas with Korla Pandit
Doo Wop Christmas
Everything You Want For Christmas - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Gifts Of Comfort & Joy - Medwyn Goodall
Give Love at Christmas - The Temptations
Glade Jul - Sissel Kyrkjebø
Greatest Christmas Songs - Henry Mancini
Happy Holi-dee - Lenny Dee
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Wayne King and His Orchestra
Irish Christmas - Craig Duncan
Joyeaux Noel - Les Djinns Singers
Laughing All The Way - Kitty Stallings
Merry From Lena - Lena Horne
Noel Des Anges - Laurence Jalbert
Pastorale des Noels de France - Le Petits Chanteurs de Chaillot
Pop Idols the Xmas Factor
Süßer Die Glocken Nie Klingen - Vicky Leandros
Snowfall - Jackie Gleason & His Orchestra
Spirit of Christmas - Medwyn Goodall
The Christmas Album - Mighty Blue Kings
The Little Drummer Boy - The Living Voices
The Magic Of Christmas - Giovanni
The Temptations Christmas Card - The Temptations
Too Many Santas! - The Bobs
Underground Oldies Christmas Album
When It Snows - The Blenders
Wonderland of Christmas - Andre Kostelanetz

I should have this week's songs up soon, plus I'll try to pull a few tunes off the master list in a feeble attempt to keep the tally under 200.

Jingle Bells Ring-Off

While Jingle Bells is an undisputed classic I doubt we need more than one version on the Perfect Mix. I've gathered up the current candidates...

1. Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra
2. Jingle Bells - Glenn Miller and His Orch.
3. Jingle Bells - Johnny Cole
4. Jingle Bells - Johnny Mercer
5. Jingle Bells - Sammy Davis, Jr
6. Jingle Bells - The Norman Luboff Choir
7. Jingle Bells/Mele Kalikimaka - Alfred Apaka And The Hawaiian Village Serenaders
8. Jingling Brass - Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass
9. Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells - Andy Williams

...and now it's time to pick the best version
(in my humble opinion - your mileage may, and likely will, vary).

The Hawaiian version's long been a favorite but it's just can't cut it against this competition.

Sammy and Frank do great turns but I think they'll do just fine on a supplemental disc - plus both artists are still represented by other songs on the big list.

The Glenn Miller version's straight out of an old radio broadcast and suffers a bit in the audio department - plus the cigarette ad opening's less than ideal.

Johnny Cole's sounds classic on it's own but when placed in direct contrast against the rest it's clear it belongs on a supplemental.

Jingling Brass gets dropped since it's an instrumental version (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Andy Williams' take on Kay Thomson's Jingle Bells makes the cut since the song is enough of a variation that i don't consider it a duplication.

That leaves a pair of brilliant cuts - The Norman Luboff Choir and Johnny Mercer. Both tracks are in heavy rotation at Casa Kringle each holiday and it's hard t choose between the two. But, of the current crop, I'd have to say the Luboff version is so perfectly Christmas that it's starts snowing every time I play it.

So, I managed to drop 7 terrific , but just slightly less than perfect, songs from the master list. Thrilling, ain't it?

For more info on the song that sets the season visit Wikipedia.

karloff3 started a terrific Jingle Bells thread over at the Falalalala forums.

Do you have an absolute favorite vrsion of Jingle Bells I haven't covered yet?

14 down, 140 to go!

Well I've managed to drop 14 tracks (plus another duplicate) to reduce the candidate list down to 161. A mere 140 or so more than I need. No problem. Sure I'm likely to add a whole bunch more in the upcoming months but hey, how tough could it be?

The current over/under for supplemental volumes is 14 (including themed volumes I've been populating but not chronicling here on the blog (yet).

I guess it's time to have a couple of song showdowns - there's no point in carrying 10 variations on Jingle Bells or 4 Deck the Halls. Watch for them in the next few days.

Here are the 14 songs I reluctantly sent to the supplementals.

Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
Driving Home For Christmas - Michael Ball
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Joyce
It's Clichéd to be Cynical at Xmas - Half Man Half Biscuit
Jingle Bells - Diana Krall
Let It Snow - Ray Brown Trio
Little Drummer Boy - Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Three Suns
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Arthur Lyman
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) - Elvis Presley
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen
Twinkle Twinkle Little Me - Stevie Wonder
Vive le vent - Ginette Reno

Updated Master List - April 8

Holy Reindeer Droppings! I've let the list get a wee bit out of control. Nearly 200 songs! I guess I've got some serious pruning ahead of me.

Update: I found a few duplicates and dropped the total down to 176 -but still...176! And I've got more candidates waiting in the wings!

Updated Master List (April 8, 2008)

1. (There's No Place Like) Home For the Holidays - Perry Como
2. 2000 Miles - Pretenders
3. A Christmas Toast - Bing Crosby
4. A Five Pound Box of Money - Pearl Bailey
5. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
6. A Marshmallow World - Johnny Mathis
7. A Merry Christmas At Grandmother's - The Andrew Sisters with Danny Kaye
8. A Time To Be Jolly - Bing Crosby
9. A Very Merry Christmas - Cliff Edwards
10. A Winter's Tale - Mike Batt & David Essex
11. All I Want for Christmas (is my Two Front Teeth) - Nat King Cole
12. And The Bells Rang - Bing Crosby
13. And The Bells Rang - The Modernaires
14. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Carmen McRae & Sammy Davis Jr.
15. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin
16. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
17. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Lionel Hampton
18. Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant
19. Buon Natale (Means Merry Christmas To You) - Nat King Cole
20. Buon Natale - Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani
21. Caroling, Caroling - Nat King Cole
22. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
23. Christmas - Rachelle Ferrell
24. Christmas Can't Be Far Away - Burl Ives
25. Christmas Carols - Lawrence Welk & His Champagne Music
26. Christmas Chimes - Andre Kostelanetz
27. Christmas Chopsticks--Bobby Vinton
28. Christmas Chopsticks - Andre Kostelanetz And His Orchestra
29. Christmas Collage - Kathy Mattea
30. Christmas Is - Lou Rawls
31. Christmas Is - Percy Faith
32. Christmas Is The Best Of All - Johnny Tillotson
33. Christmas Love - The Rotary Connection
34. Christmas Rush - Vincent Lopez
35. Christmas Time All Over The World - Sammy Davis, Jr
36. Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
37. Christmas in Killarney - Bing Crosby
38. Come On, Ring Those Bells - Evie (Tornquist)
39. Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong
40. December Will Be Magic Again - Kate Bush
41. Deck The Halls - Sandler & Young
42. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly/Wassail Song - Hugo Winterhalter
43. Deck the Halls - Nat King Cole
44. Deck the Halls - The Glad Singers
45. Ding Dong! Merrily on High - The King's Singers
46. Do You Hear What I Hear - Bing Crosby
47. Do You Hear What I Hear - The Gamble Folk
48. Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
49. Driving Home For Christmas - Michael Ball
50. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
51. First Snowfall Medley - The Carpenters
52. Frosty The Snowman - Jimmy Durante
53. Gee Whiz, It's Christmas - Carla Thomas
54. Gloria (Angels We Have Heard on High) - The Glad Singers
55. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Ray Conniff
56. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - The Glad Singers
57. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - The Mike Sammes Singers
58. Happy New Year - The Glad Singers
59. Happy Sleigh Ride - Ferrante And Teicher
60. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Julie Andrews
61. Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Andre Kostelanetz
62. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Joyce
63. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
64. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) - Elvis Presley
65. Here Comes Santa Claus - The Mills Brothers
66. Here We Come A-Caroling - Ray Conniff Singers
67. Holiday For Bells - Bert Kaempfert
68. Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
69. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Doris Day
70. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Joao Bosco
71. I'll Be Home for Christmas - Frank Sinatra
72. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Dean Martin
73. I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You - Claudine Longet
74. I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You - Margo Guryan
75. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Burl Ives
76. I Love The Winter Weather - Tony Bennett
77. I Saw Three Ships - Nat King Cole
78. I Wouldn't Trade Christmas - The Sinatra Family
79. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Bing Crosby
80. It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas - Perry Cuomo
81. It's Clichéd to be Cynical at Xmas - Half Man Half Biscuit
82. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
83. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Johnny Mathis
84. It Happened In Sun Valley - The Original Glenn Miller Singers
85. Jing-A-Ling-A-Ling - Wayne King and His Orchestra
86. Jing Jing A Ling - Honey And The Bees
87. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
88. Jingle Bells - Diana Krall
89. Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra
90. Jingle Bells - Glenn Miller and His Orch.
91. Jingle Bells - Johnny Cole
92. Jingle Bells - Johnny Mercer
93. Jingle Bells - Sammy Davis, Jr
94. Jingle Bells - The Norman Luboff Choir
95. Jingle Bells/Mele Kalikimaka - Alfred Apaka And The Hawaiian Village Serenaders
96. Jingling Brass - Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass
97. Just Like Christmas - Low
98. Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells - Andy Williams
99. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Andre Kostelanetz
100. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin
101. Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Randy Van Horne Singers
102. Let It Snow - Ray Brown Trio
103. Little Drummer Boy - Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani
104. Little Drummer Boy-Peace On Earth -Bing Crosby & David Bowie
105. Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming - Feist
106. Mary, Did You Know - Kathy Mattea
107. Medley: a. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, b. Deck the Halls, c. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing - Henry Mancini
108. Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
109. Merry Christmas Darling - Carpenters
110. Merry Merry Christmas Baby -Dodie Stevens
111. Midnight Sleighride - Sauter-Finegan Orch.
112. Mistletoe & Holly - Jack Jones
113. Mistletoe And Holly - Frank Sinatra
114. My Favorite Things - Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
115. O' Bambino - Harry Simeone Chorale
116. O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Domenico Savino And His Orchestra
117. Oh Come, All ye Faithful - Elvis Presley
118. Oiche Chiún (Silent Night) - Enya
119. Pretty Snowflakes - Patti Page
120. Ring out solstice bells - Jethro Tull
121. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
122. Round and Round The Christmas Tree - Bing Crosby
123. Rudolf, The Red Nosed Reindeer Mambo - Billy May
124. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle And The Modernaires
125. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Three Suns
126. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
127. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Arthur Lyman
128. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
129. Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) - Elvis Presley
130. Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Elvis Presley
131. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen
132. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Peppermint Kandy Kids
133. Schlittenfahrt Zum Weihnachtma - James Last
134. Silent Night - Elvis Presley
135. Silent Night - The Norman Luboff Choir
136. Skating - Vince Guaraldi Trio
137. Sleigh Ride - Al Cailoa & Riz Ortolani
138. Sleigh Ride - Arthur Fiedler
139. Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
140. Sleigh Ride - The Ventures
141. Sleigh Ride - Voices of Walter Schumann
142. Snow - Claudine Longet
143. Snowfall - Enoch Light
144. Song of the Sleigh Bells - June Hutton
145. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Burt Bacharach
146. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
147. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
148. The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra
149. The Christmas Waltz - Peggy Lee
150. The First Noel - Domenico Savino And His Orchestra
151. The Holly And The Ivy - The Norman Luboff Choir
152. The Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeone Chorale
153. The Little Drummer Boy - Henry Mancini
154. The Man with the Bag - Kay Starr
155. The Merriest - June Christy
156. The Secret of Christmas - Julie Andrews
157. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Andrews Sisters w/ Bing Crosby
158. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Mantovani
159. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Ray Conniff & Singers
160. Twas The Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring
161. Twas The Night Before Christmas - Jo Stafford
162. Twinkle Twinkle Little Me - Stevie Wonder
163. Vive le vent - Ginette Reno
164. Wassail Song O Christmas Tree I Saw Three Ships - Arthur Fiedler & the Boston
165. We Wish You A Merry Christmas - The Kingston Trio
166. We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Jingle Bells/Where Did My Snowman Go - Gunter Kallmann Choir
167. We Wish You The Merriest - The Original Glenn Miller Singers
168. Welcome Christmas - The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
169. What Child Is This - Julie Andrews
170. What Child is This - Vince Guaraldi Trio
171. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
172. Winter Weather - Jo Stafford
173. Winter Wonderland - Bing Crosby
174. Winter Wonderland - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
175. Winter Wonderland - The Three Suns

Perfect Candidates Week Eleven

I know, I know! I've already got waaay too many songs to choose from and I haven't even included nine out of your own personal (and flawless) top ten. How can I keep adding candidates?

This week's newcomers...

1. And The Bells Rang - The Original Glenn Miller Singers
2. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Carmen McRae & Sammy Davis Jr.
3. Buon Natale (Means Merry Christmas To You) - Nat King Cole
4. Buon Natale - Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani
5. Christmas - Rachelle Ferrell
6. Christmas Can't Be Far Away - Burl Ives
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - The Mike Sammes Singers With Organ And Chimes
8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Joyce
9. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Joao Bosco
10. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Burl Ives
11. It Happened In Sun Valley - The Original Glenn Miller Singers
12. Jingle Bells - Johnny Mercer
13. Jingle Bells - The Norman Luboff Choir
14. Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Randy Van Horne Singers
15. Little Drummer Boy - Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani
16. O' Bambino - Harry Simeone Chorale
17. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
18. Silent Night - The Norman Luboff Choir
19. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Mantovani
20. We Wish You The Merriest - The Original Glenn Miller Singers
21. Winter Weather - Jo Stafford

Great, didn't I just struggle over getting rid of a couple of "Jingle Bells" and here I am adding two more. And couldn't I have at least made up my mind between the two "Buon Natale's"? Apparently not.

Quitw a few terrific albums this week - I really enjoyed revisiting some of these.

A Celtic Celebration - The Night Heron Consort
A Christmas Carol - David Austin
A Christmas Carol- Jordan Rudess
A Gift Of Song - Mason Williams
A Goodfellas Christmas
A Johnny Mathis Christmas
A Personal Christmas Collection - Robert Goulet
A Romantic Christmas - Richard Clayderman
A Smooth Jazz Christmas - Dave Koz & Friends
A Very Nostalgic Christmas
Beyond The Season - Garth Brooks
Christmas Carol - James Galway
Christmas In The Stars - Star Wars Christmas Album
Christmas Serenade in the Glenn Miller Style - The Original Glenn Miller Singers
Christmas Sky - Jordan Rudess
Christmas Songs - Mel Torme
Christmas Songs - Wayne Newton
Christmas Time Down South - Charlie Daniels
Christmas Variations - Rick Wakeman
Christmas With Patti Page
Christmas With The Platters
Christmas With the Norman Luboff Choir
Christmastime - David Benoit
December - Kenny Loggins
Enchanted Christmas - Anna Maria Mendieta
Ghosts of Christmas Past
Go Tell it on the Mountain - Blind Boys of Alabama
Hallmark presents Christmas With Tony Bennett
Happy Holidays-I Love The Winter Weather - Jo Stafford
Happy Holidays - The Lemon 5
Have A Merry Little Christmas -Al Hirt
Have Yourself A Souful Little Christmas - Kenny Burrell
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
Heavenly Christmas
Holiday Pops - Boston Pops Orchestra
Holly & Ivy - Natalie Cole
Home for the Holidays - Schooner Fare
Iceland - All About Eve
It Feels Like Christmas - Lettermen
Its A Cool Cool Christmas
Joy - Avalon
Mambo Christmas
Mantovani's Christmas Favorites
Merry Christmas - Brenda Lee
Merry Christmas - Joe Scruggs
My Christmas Dream - Sonny James
Original Big Band Christmas
Personal Christmas Collection - Doris Day
Poets & Angels - Ottmar Liebert
Remembering Christmas - Danny Wright
Sharing the Season, Vol. 4 - Lorie Line & Her Pop Chamber Orchestra
Snow the Get Easy Christmas Collection
Songs Of The Season - Peter White
Sound of Christmas - Al Caiola and Riz Ortolani
The Christmas Album - David Foster
The Christmas Song - Lawrence Welk
The Christmas Song - Roger Whittaker
The Greatest Hits Of Christmas - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Presence of Christmas
The Spirit of Christmas
The Star Carol - Tennessee Ernie Ford
UltraLounge - Christmas Cocktails 1-3
Vintervisor / WinterSongs - Triakel
What A Wonderful Christmas - Anne Murray
White Christmas - The Mike Sammes Singers With Organ And Chimes
Winter Magic - Hilary Stagg
Winter Wishes
Winter in Scotland, a Highland Christmas - Steve McDonald & Hollie Smith
Wurlitzer Christmas Carousel - Tom Meijer

Coming up in the next couple of weeks - another poll, another week's worth of candidates and the updated master list (with some new trims hopefully).

Perfect Candidates Week Ten

Just got back from an unplanned extended vacation in CT. so I'm a bit behind.

Here's another batch of Christmas Crackers vying for a position in the Perfect Christmas Mix.

1. A Christmas Toast - Bing Crosby
2. A Five Pound Box of Money - Pearl Bailey
3. A Time To Be Jolly - Bing Crosby
4. A Winter's Tale - Mike Batt & David Essex
5. And The Bells Rang - Bing Crosby
6. Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant
7. December Will Be Magic Again - Kate Bush
8. Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
9. I Saw Three Ships - Nat King Cole
10. It's Clichéd to be Cynical at Xmas - Half Man Half Biscuit
11. Just Like Christmas - Low
12. Let It Snow - Ray Brown Trio
13. Mary, Did You Know - Kathy Mattea
14. Oiche Chiún (Silent Night) - Enya
15. Round and Round The Christmas Tree - Bing Crosby
16. Sleigh Ride - The Ventures
17. Song of the Sleigh Bells - June Hutton
18. The Holly And The Ivy - The Norman Luboff Choir
19. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Ray Conniff & Singers
20. We Wish You A Merry Christmas - The Kingston Trio
21. What Child is This - Vince Guaraldi Trio

Many of this week's tunes came from the following albums (selected favorites in bold)..

(I was pleasantly surprised by The Moody Blues offering - I'd only sampled bits of it in the past but it's likely to get a lot more spins from me in future. The Bing Crosby album 'A Time to be Jolly" is a one of Der Bingle's later efforts and holds great sentimental value for me -thus four tracks make the list - how many will survive until the end remains to be seen.)

A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert
A Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi Trio
A Classical Christmas - Helmut Lotti
A Merry Affair
A Pooh Christmas
A Tapestry of Carols- Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band
A Time to be Jolly - Bing Crosby
A Washington Christmas - United States Marine Band
Best Christmas Album Ever
Blanca Navidad - Eydie Gorme y Los Pancho
C'est Noël Luis Mariano
Cambridge Singers - Christmas Night
Caribbean Christmas Party - The Merrymen
Carols & Capers - Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band
Celtic Christmas - Katie McMahon
Cheery, Vol. 1
Christmas All Over the World
Christmas Is For the Family - Dennis Day
Christmas Rocks
December - Moody Blues
Do You Hear... Christmas with Heather, Cookie and Raylene Rankin
Fröhliche Weihnacht überall - Calimeros
Frank Sinatra's Christmas Cabaret
Holiday Guitar - Dan Crary
In the Moon of Wintertime - Barbara Semmann
In the Spirit - Michael McDonald
Kidz Bop Christmas
Let's Share Christmas - John Pizzarelli
Meowy Christmas - Jingle Cats
Nature's Noel - Bruce Kurnow
Osmond Family Christmas
Radio City Music Hall Presents Songs Of Christmas - Stephen Hill Singers
Rock n' Roll Christmas - Dion
Sounds of Christmas - The Living Strings
The 20 Greatest Xmas Songs - Boney M
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
The Last Month Of The Year - The Kingston Trio
The Bing Crosby Christmas Album
The Sounds Of Christmas
The Three Tenors Christmas
The Ventures' Christmas Album
This is Christmas - Jimmy Joyce Singers
Trojan Christmas Box Set
Ultimate Christmas - Beach Boys
What Would Santa Say - Mark Shane
WOW Christmas
World Christmas
Yule B' Swingin' Too

Perfect Candidates Week Nine

Here are the latest additions to the Perfect Christmas List song candidate list.

A Marshmallow World - Johnny Mathis
And The Bells Rang - The Modernaires
Caroling, Caroling - Nat King Cole
Christmas Collage - Kathy Mattea
Deck The Halls - Sandler & Young
Do You Hear What I Hear - Bing Crosby
Driving Home For Christmas - Michael Ball
First Snowfall Medley - The Carpenters
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) - Elvis Presley
I Wouldn't Trade Christmas - The Sinatra Family
Jingle Bells - Diana Krall
Jingling Brass - Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass
Little Drummer Boy-Peace On Earth -Bing Crosby & David Bowie
Oh Come, All ye Faithful - Elvis Presley
Pretty Snowflakes - Patti Page
Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) - Elvis Presley
Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Elvis Presley
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen
Schlittenfahrt Zum Weihnachtma - James Last
Silent Night - Elvis Presley
Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
The Christmas Waltz - Peggy Lee
The Secret of Christmas - Julie Andrews
Twinkle Twinkle Little Me - Stevie Wonder

...and here are the best of where I found this week's tracks...

A Disney Family Christmas
A Renaissance Christmas - The Boston Camerata
Christmas - PlusOne
Christmas with Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass
Christmas with Julie Andrews
Country Christmas -Johnny Cash
Cowboy Christmas - Gene Autry
December II - Dag Kolsrud
Elvis' Christmas Album - Elvis Presley
Elvis Sings the Wonderful Songs of Christmas - Elvis Presley
Gipsy Christmas - Los Reyes
Happy Holidays - Sandler & Young
Hey, Mr. Christmas - V.A.
Holiday Sing Along With Mitch - Mitch Miller
Merry X-Mas from the Space-Age Bachelor Pad - Esquivel
Miracles - Kenny G.
Now! The Christmas Album - V.A.
O Holy Night - Luciano Pavarotti
Pretty Paper - Willie Nelson
Someday At Christmas - Stevie Wonder
Songs of the Season - Jane Olivor
Star Wars Christmas Album
That Christmas Feeling - Glen Campbell
The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry Christmas
To Drive the Cold Winter Away - Loreena McKennitt
White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Winterludes - V.A.
Wurlitzer Christmas - Matthew Ross
The world of Christmas Carols - Bach Choir
wonderful Christmas - James Last

Updated master list

This week I managed to pull 16 tracks off the candidate list including a couple of charming, but not quite perfect, versions of Santa Claus is Coming to Town. As usual I love all these tunes and will be making use of most of them in other comps eventually. That leaves us with 90 songs on the master list with a new batch of candidates being added tomorrow.

Farewell to...

Bossa Nova Medley - Living Strings & Living Voices
Christmas Time in Louisiana - Johnnie Allan
Deck The Halls - The Mike Sammes Singers
Good King Wencelas - Morton Gould
Hang Your Wishes On The Tree - Les Baxter Orchestra & Chorus
Jingo Jango - Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra
Little Drummer Boy - The Soulful Strings
Little Stowaway On Santa's Sleigh - The Golden Orchestra
Mistletoe And Wine - Cliff Richard
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - The Hiltonaires With The Tony Mansell Singers
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - The Goldiggers
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - The Ralph Hunter Choir
The Sleigh - Hugo & Luigi with Their Children's Chorus
The Old Sweet Songs Of Christmas - Frank DeVol & The Rainbow Strings
We Need A Little Christmas - The New Christy Minstrels
Winter Wonderland - The Peter Wood Singers

1. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders
2. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
3. A Merry Christmas At Grandmother's - The Andrew Sisters with Danny Kaye
4. A Very Merry Christmas - Cliff Edwards
5. All I Want for Christmas (is my Two Front Teeth) - Nat King Cole
6. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin
7. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
8. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Lionel Hampton
9. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
10. Christmas Carols - Lawrence Welk & His Champagne Music
11. Christmas Chopsticks--Bobby Vinton
12. Christmas Chopsticks - Andre Kostelanetz And His Orchestra
13. Christmas Is - Lou Rawls
14. Christmas Is - Percy Faith
15. Christmas Is The Best Of All - Johnny Tillotson
16. Christmas Love - The Rotary Connection
17. Christmas Rush - Vincent Lopez
18. Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
19. Christmas in Killarney - Bing Crosby
20. Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong
21. Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly/Wassail Song - Hugo Winterhalter
22. Deck the Halls - Nat King Cole
23. Ding Dong! Merrily on High - The King's Singers
24. Do You Hear What I Hear - The Gamble Folk
25. Frosty The Snowman - Jimmy Durante
26. Gee Whiz, It's Christmas - Carla Thomas
27. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Ray Conniff
28. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - The Mike Sammes Singers
29. Happy New Year - The Glad Singers
30. Happy Sleigh Ride - Ferrante And Teicher
31. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
32. Here Comes Santa Claus - The Mills Brothers
33. Here We Come A-Caroling - Ray Conniff Singers
34. Holiday For Bells - Bert Kaempfert
35. Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
36. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Doris Day
37. I'll Be Home for Christmas - Frank Sinatra
38. I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You - Claudine Longet
39. I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You - Margo Guryan
40. I Love The Winter Weather - Tony Bennett
41. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Bing Crosby
42. It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas - Perry Cuomo
43. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
44. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Johnny Mathis
45. Jing-A-Ling-A-Ling - Wayne King and His Orchestra
46. Jing Jing A Ling - Honey And The Bees
47. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
48. Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra
49. Jingle Bells - Glenn Miller and His Orch.
50. Jingle Bells - Johnny Cole
51. Jingle Bells/Mele Kalikimaka - Alfred Apaka And The Hawaiian Village Serenaders
52. Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells - Andy Williams
53. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Andre Kostelanetz
54. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin
55. Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming - Feist
56. Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
57. Merry Christmas Darling - Carpenters
58. Merry Merry Christmas Baby -Dodie Stevens
59. Midnight Sleighride - Sauter-Finegan Orch.
60. Mistletoe & Holly - Jack Jones
61. Mistletoe And Holly - Frank Sinatra
62. My Favorite Things - Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
63. O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Domenico Savino And His Orchestra
64. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
65. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle And The Modernaires
66. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Arthur Lyman
67. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
68. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Peppermint Kandy Kids
69. Skating - Vince Guaraldi Trio
70. Sleigh Ride - Al Cailoa & Riz Ortolani
71. Sleigh Ride - Arthur Fiedler
72. Snow - Claudine Longet
73. Snowfall - Enoch Light
74. The Bell That Couldn't Jingle - Burt Bacharach
75. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
76. The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra
77. The First Noel - Domenico Savino And His Orchestra
78. The Little Drummer Boy - Harry Simeone Chorale
79. The Man with the Bag - Kay Starr
80. The Merriest - June Christy
81. The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Andrews Sisters w/ Bing Crosby
82. Twas The Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring
83. Twas The Night Before Christmas - Jo Stafford
84. Vive le vent - Ginette Reno
85. Wassail Song O Christmas Tree I Saw Three Ships - Arthur Fiedler & the Boston
86. We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Jingle Bells/Where Did My Snowman Go - Gunter Kallmann Choir
87. Welcome Christmas - The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
88. What Child Is This - Julie Andrews
89. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
90. Winter Wonderland - Bing Crosby

Yules of the Game - North Pole Standards Time

As any one whose glanced over the track lists I've been posting has probably noticed - I have an affinity for the classic pop of yesteryear, these days commonly referred to as standards, and my Perfect Mix is absolutely going to reflect that. Because of this a number of my favorite Christmas albums are going to be entirely unrepresented in the candidates lists merely because they fall into the wrong genre.

There won't be much in the way of choral, classical, pure jazz, new age, celtic, traditional folk, album oriented rock, indie or altrock, blues or country & western. Many of my favorite tracks in these genres will end up on the themed compilations that I'm preparing concurrently with TPM but, despite my love, they won't make the final cut.

Besides my own personal passion for standards I feel they belong at the heart of any purportedly "Perfect" holiday mix because they truly are a vital part of the quintessential Christmas experience. The Perfect Mix is the one you put on when your closest family and friends come over to help trim the tree, it's an eighty minute audio distillation of everything that makes the holiday joyful. It should resonate with the young and the old, the hip and the square. These holiday standards, I believe, accomplish this like no other music can.

Naturally The Perfect Mix isn't always going to be "The" Perfect Mix. For a quiet dinner among friends you might want a nice selection of jazz or contemporary instrumental fare. Old friends from high school stopping by might lead you to break out the Rock and Roll. If the kids have their pals over it's time for Santa, Rudolph, Frosty and the Grinch.

While I was debating the shaky wisdom of starting this whole mix blog thingy I realized that I already had plenty of excellent, essentially "perfect", options for those times when a jazzy mix felt right, or a contemplative selection of New Age was called for. New Wave, Cajun, Blues,Country, Folk, Novelty. I have lots of terrific options on commercial releases that satisfy any jones I may have for different styles of festive tunage.What I hadn't found, despite spending far too much on pre-fab compilations and collecting dozens of mixes made by friends and family over the years, was my Perfect mix of songs.

Okay, that was just way too many words to use to simple explain why even though I love a lot of different styles of Christmas music I'll be concentrating on those songs that either are holiday "standards" or can play nicely with them. Sorry.