Over the years, I’ve been collecting Christmas music from all over the Internet. Last time I checked, I had over 3 GB of music. Most of it was obtained through the courtesy of other bloggers; some of it I have no clue where I got it.

A lot of holiday music is rather bland. There’s only so much you can do with “White Christmas”, after all. And radio stations don’t even try to have a little variety – they can’t even break out of the same three or four “novelty” songs. It’s a little sad, since there’s really a heck of a lot of good, fun stuff out there.

Here’s a sampling of some of my favorites, with notes where I have something to note.

If I were better at music editing, I’d probably merge these all into one single MP3 file where the volume levels are perfectly balanced. But I am not, so I beg your indulgence for any sudden shifts in tone.

By the way, the zip file also contains a couple of “playlist” files in different formats. I hope at least one of them will work for you.

http://www.filefactory.com/file/1xx6l5dxtv6z/Christmas%20Mix%202014.zip

1. Christmas Is About The Best Time Of The Whole Year – Jackie Gleason

As Ralph Kramden, Gleason talks about the holiday spirit.

2. Welcome Christmas – Unknown chorus

Lyrics by Dr. Seuss; music by Albert Hague

3. Go Tell It On The Mountain – The Blind Boys Of Alabama

An old gospel tune by one of the greatest gospel groups.

4. Christmas Time’s a’Comin – Buddy Greene
5. Da Very First Christmas – Lucky Luck

Born in Texas, Robert Melvin “Lucky” Luck found himself in Hawaii in 1945. He fell in love with the Islands, and became an immensely popular entertainer and celebrity. This is his version of the Nativity, done in proper dialect.

6. Christmas In Hollis – Run-DMC
7. Jingle Bells – Booker T. and the M.G.s
8. We Wish You a Merry Xmas – Wendy Mae Chambers

Talk about unusual instrumentation, Chambers plays a collection of car horns.

9. The Boars Head Carol – unknown

A fifteenth century English carol, which has absolutely nothing to do with either Christianity or the purveyor of deli meats.

10. O Holy Night Cha Cha Cha – Brave Combo
11. The Night Before Christmas – Edna F. Pauli (San Fernando Valley, California, Mineral & Gem Society)

“Twas the Night Before Christmas” lends itself very easily to alternate lyrics. This one (dated 1958) was found at a thrift store in Utah.

12. Truckin’ Trees for Christmas – Red Simpson

Let’s tip our hats to all the men and women who shlep our Christmas stuff all over the country!

13. Black Adder Christmas Carol (excerpt) – Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson
14. The Silent Night’s Spangled Banner – PS #14 Marching Band

There’s a CD out there called “Blame it on Christmas”, which contains the standard Christmas songs, but arranged in very strange ways. Like this one, which is “Silent Night” for a marching band…

15. Deck The Halls – Kasio Kristmas

A little bit of computer-generated electronica

16. Papa Noel – Brenda Lee

The “B” side to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, it deserves more airplay.

17. Space Christmas -Shonen Knife

Some wonderful bubble-gum pop from Japan

18. Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) – Rev. Tom Frost
19. Santa Send a Fella – Rose Marie

The legendary Rose Marie, in the role of Sally Rogers, did this in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show.

20. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – The Galaxies
21. We Three Kings – D’Anse Combeau

Okay, now this is just silly….

22. The 12 Daze Of Christmas – Fay McKay

A star in Las Vegas in the 50s and 60s.

23. Christmas in Jail – The Youngsters

Don’t drink and drive at any time, not just the holidays.

24. O Tannenbaum – Kalliope Music Box (with bells)
25. 1952 Christmas Greetings – The Vancouver Midmores to the Regina Midmores

Probably another tag sale find, or perhaps an old family keepsake. But it’s a hell of a lot cooler than a simple card.

26. Joy To The World – Arthur Lynds Bigelow

Princeton’s Master Carillonneur, playing the carillon in the Graduate College’s Cleveland Tower.

27. Away In A Manger – Andy Griffith & Elinor Donahue

Mayberry’s Sheriff Andy Taylor and Ellie Walker perform this carol back when it was perfectly fine to mention religion with respect on national TV.

28. Apollo 8 Christmas Message

Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman send Christmas greetings from lunar orbit.