The Top 5 Best Alternate Christmas Songs

Published on December 20, 2006 By Ionolast In Music

The URLs are to the lyrics only.

#5 "Sleigh Ride" by the Ronnettes. Not really a Christmas Song. It never mentions Christmas. It's a winter song. But with Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound", Ronnie's voice and the orchestra, it grabs me every time. http://www.41051.com/xmaslyrics/sleighride.html

#4. "The Marvelous Toy" by the Chad Mitchell Trio. Supposedly, it's also been recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary. I don't think I've heard their version. Not really a Christmas song, either, but like "Sleigh Ride", radio stations only play it at Christmas time for some reason. It's a marvelous song. http://www.brownielocks.com/marveloustoy.html

#3. "All I Want for Christmas is You" by Vince Vance and the Valiants. This is not the same one by Carla Thomas or Mariah Carey. It's bluesy, at times kind of loud and at other times kind of quiet. Great female singer. http://cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/vince-vance-&-valiants/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-14791.html

#2. "Do They Know it's Christmas?" by Band-Aid. Written by Bob Geldof to help with African famine relief, a plethora of British musicians recorded a better song than "We Are the World." http://www.80smusiclyrics.com/artists/bandaid.htm

#1. "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake and a slightly different version by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Borrowing a piece by Sergei Prokofiev, Greg Lake and Peter Sinfield wrote an outstanding song about the loss of innocence. I like Lake's version better. The orchestra makes it sound more majestic. http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/emerson,+lake+&+palmer/i+believe+in+father+christmas_20049796.html

Comments

anothermaso

on Dec 20, 2006

Oooh one of my favourite topics!

Have you heard "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues? Link

With one of my favourite (sadly departed) singers guest starring - Kirsty MacColl

And I also love "2,000 Miles" by the Pretenders Link

Sean Conners aka SConn1

on Dec 20, 2006

i always liked the waitresses tune, "Christmas Wrapping" and Bob & Doug McKenzie's version of the" 12 days Of Xmas." and how can ya leave out John Lennon's "Happy Xmas?"

Ionolast

on Dec 20, 2006

Have you heard "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues? Link

Nope.

And I also love "2,000 Miles" by the Pretenders

That's pretty good.

i always liked the waitresses tune, "Christmas Wrapping"

Haven't heard it.

Bob & Doug McKenzie's version of the" 12 days Of Xmas."

Very funny.

how can ya leave out John Lennon's "Happy Xmas?"

We're probably the only two people at JU who like it.

Texas Wahine

on Dec 20, 2006

We're probably the only two people at JU who like it.

I like it.

Sean Conners aka SConn1

on Dec 22, 2006

We're probably the only two people at JU who like it.

maybe so, along with wahine, lol...but i always kind of thought that was the biggest influence behind the band aid song...

Gideon MacLeish

on Dec 23, 2006

how can ya leave out John Lennon's "Happy Xmas?"

We're probably the only two people at JU who like it.

I like the song. Wanting peace is not a liberal/conservative issue.

Another one of my favs is the Kinks' "Father Christmas". And I also enjoy "Do they Know It's Christmas". I have to admit I'm not familiar with the rest of your list, but I'll check it out.

I consider TSO to be great for alternative Christmas songs.

Sean Conners aka SConn1

on Dec 23, 2006

another to add to the list, not a song per se, but the cheech & chong routine about the history of santa claus always cracks me up...esp the line i can relate to, "like i'm not from around here man, i'm from Pittsburgh. like, i don't know too many local dudes, man..." (chong)

Ionolast

on Dec 23, 2006

Another one of my favs is the Kinks' "Father Christmas".

Not sure if I've heard it.

"I played with that dude."

"Santa Claus isn't a musician."

"I'm hip, man. That dude didn't know any tunes."

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