Christmas Music Blog - November 2011

The Smashing Pumpkins 'Christmastime' was one of the highlights on the 1997 charity album 'A Very Special Christmas'.

Calexico's Christmas song is quite removed from the bluster and tackiness of your average festive number. Didn't do them a whole lot of business mind.

The Ebonaires may be a band without an internet presence but in 'Christmas Love' they've given us a memorable seasonal present.

Those perennial makers of Christmas music the Very Most have taken a little known track from a little known Welsh act and make it twice as memorable.

Two of indie's leading lights get together and make sweet Christmas music. The first single 'Home For The Holidays' is a treat.

A soulful trip down Christmas past thanks to Motown's the Staple Singers.

Ron Holden and his Thunderbirds get festive and in the process get mean. Hardly tell from the way this bubbles along though.

A song that is generally thought to be the preserve of Christmas churchgoing is given a surprisingly upbeat update from Sufjan Stevens.

A number one, multi-million selling hit from December 1958 from the cartoon characters known as the Chipmunks.

Chosen as last year’s Coca-Cola Advert song, you may not recognise it from the title but you will definitely remember it from the tune. Train decided to create the track to ‘spread some happiness’ according to lead singer Pat Monahan. The chorus epitomizes the message with the lyrics;

From all the way back in 1963 and sounding as effervescent as ever, the Crystals' 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' is a piece of our Christmas heritage.

Definitely fits into the category marked old chestnut as Mabel Scott's 'Boogie Woogie Santa Claus' is a bolshie festive treat.

A nice contrast to the usual empty gestures offered by many Christmas tunes from the master Louis Armstrong.

A collection of compilations for those who care for the season but want to keep up their indie guard for the 12 days.

If you are a child of the 80's then prepare to be transported back thanks to Paul McCartney, Rupert and a chorus of Frogs.