DON DAVIS’ HOLIDAY FAVORITES
You have to figure that XRT DJ’s will move beyond Blue Christmas/Santa Claus Is Coming To Town/Run Rudolph Run etc. even though they are fun songs too, so in that spirit:
Slade – “Merry Christmas Everybody”
(Noddy on vocals, and Chas Chandler of Animals bass playing and Hendrix managing fame as producer).
Robert Plant and Allison Krauss – “The Light of Christmas Day”
One of Robert’s many collaborations in a great career full of them.
Spoon – “Christmas Time Is Here Again”
This Beatles fan club release that the fab ones knocked out as quickly as they could so holiday vacations could begin, covered just right by Spoon.
The Who – “Christmas”
A tour through the main themes of their epic rock opera Tommy, with a nod to the holiday.
Run DMC – “Christmas In Hollis”
The hip-hop icons with a holiday shout out to their Queens neighborhood—back on the radar this year in the new holiday film Oh. What. Fun.
Jeff Tweedy – “Christmas Must Be Tonight”
Another gem in the Oh. What. Fun soundtrack from Chicago’s favorite son.
Greg Lake – “(I Believe In) Father Christmas”
A truly beautiful and heart-rending holiday tale of belief and disillusion.
Cheap Trick – “I Want You For Christmas”
Our favorite garage band, sending up their biggest hit.
Royal Guardsmen – “Snoopy’s Christmas”
Standing in for every other Charlie Brown, Vince Guaraldi and 60s holiday song that could have made this list.
The Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)”
Merry Christmas, all you punks!
Bonnie Raitt and Charles Brown – “Merry Christmas, Baby”
Great blues version of Otis Redding’s soul classic.
Leo Kottke – “Accordion Bells”
A perfect new age take on how the season feels.
The Killers – “A Great Big Sled”
Yes, there is Christmas in Vegas, too.
Hozier – “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
A BBC performance that captures all of Hozier’s slow burn passion.
The Kinks – “Father Christmas”
The ultimate blend of seasonal commercialism delivered with snarky perfection by Ray Davies, a nice valediction for a Christmas set!