Take Five: Christmas Songs

 Today marks the debut of a new occasional feature on the blog called Take Five. It's basically a list of my five favorite things in a particular category. Today we'll get into the Christmas spirit with my favorite Christmas songs. 

I have a confession. I am not a huge fan of Christmas music. Back in college when I was working as a disc jockey I worked a Christmas Eve and Christmas Day playing nothing but Christmas music. I discovered right away that Christmas music is (a) abundant and (b) of varying quality. It took me several years afterward before I would sit and listen to Christmas music for extended periods of time. Even now I can only take it in small doses. But there are five songs here (in no particular order) that will definitely put me into the Christmas spirit.

1. Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles (1978)

When Please Come Home For Christmas debuted in 1978 it became the first Christmas song to debut on the Billboard top 20 since Roy Orbison did it with Pretty Paper in 1963. This is a cover of a Charles Brown song that originally debuted in 1961 however the Eagles had far greater success with the song than Brown did. This is the classic Eagles lineup of Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Timothy B. Schmidt, Joe Walsh, and Don Felder. A wonderfully bluesy Christmas song. 

2. White Christmas - The Drifters (1954)

It's no secret that Irving Berlin's White Christmas is a holiday classic. Bing Crosby's version of the song is the best selling Christmas song of all time. But this doo-wop version from the Drifters is a whole lot of fun. This is the "early" version of the Drifters long before the runaway success they would have with Under the Boardwalk. The song went all the way to #2 on the Billboard R&B chart. It has become a Christmas classic having been featured in films such as Home Alone and The Santa Clause. 

3. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole (1946) 

One of the difficult things about trying to select my favorite Christmas songs is trying to first figure our which song to choose and then which version. With most holiday standards there are numerous versions available. But this is one instance where there is no improving on the original. Nat King Cole was the first to record this song and it is still the best version in my opinion. 

4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - James Taylor (2001) 

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas is arguably one of the most recorded Christmas songs. There are literally hundreds of versions of the song. The tune originally was written for the 1944 Judy Garland musical Meet Me in St. Louis. This version was actually recorded after Taylor had laid down tracks for his album October Road.  As a result, the recording has a spontaneity that is not necessarily heard in other versions of the song. I like this version of the song more than any other I have heard. 

5. Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965) 

There is one Christmas album that will get constant play around my house: A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi Trio. This jazz album became an immediate classic upon its release. It's hard to single out one track but this one will do the trick. It's one of the original compositions for the film and features a children's choir on the vocals. It captures beautifully the essence of the animated special.