'Tis the season for the radio to be filled with all sorts of holiday hits: traditional classics, modern renditions of old standards, and new originals fighting for their place in the Christmas song canon. To help you put together the perfect holiday party setlist, we asked , Dal musicologist and author of Girl Groups, Girl Culture: Popular Music and Identity in the 1960s, to share some of her favourite Christmas songs from the rock 鈥檔鈥� roll era.
Like most people, I suspect, I find the Christmas songs I cherish most are those that stir up memories of past Christmases, since this holiday more than any other centres around nostalgia. The best songs, though, are the ones that capture that sentiment while also sounding vibrant and hopeful!
1. The Crystals 鈥� : Naturally my list begins (and ends, actually) with Phil Spector鈥檚 1963 Christmas album, which manages to produce new listening pleasures for me every year. The Crystals鈥� take on 鈥淪anta Claus is Coming to Town鈥� is a near-perfect evocation of childlike excitement about Christmas, and is definitely my favourite version of the song. It鈥檚 a thrilling example of Spector鈥檚 famous 鈥渨all of sound鈥� production values, and the harmonies and changes to the melody introduced here have become standard in many other versions, the Jackson 5 (1970) and Bruce Springsteen (1975) among them.
2. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 鈥� : Joan Jett & the Blackhearts鈥� 1981 treatment of 鈥淭he Little Drummer Boy鈥� is another brilliant youthful performance: Jett is probably the only singer I know who manages to sneer sweetly! I love the brash edginess, and the way Jett rolls her 鈥淩s鈥�. This is also, oddly, one of the few versions of this song to include a drum solo.
3. The Pretenders 鈥� : The Pretenders 鈥�2000 Miles鈥� (1983) is bittersweet, the perfect soundtrack for reflecting on those we miss at Christmastime. The twinkling guitar tone and shimmering production suggest the sparkle of snowflakes in the air, and Chrissie Hynde鈥檚 aching voice is enjoyably melancholy, equal parts wistful and joyful.
4. Feist 鈥� : The 16th century hymn 鈥淟o How a Rose E鈥檈r Blooming鈥� might be my favourite traditional Christmas carol, but its shifting metre and odd phrase lengths make it difficult to fit with a rock鈥檔鈥檙oll groove. In my opinion, Feist鈥檚 2005 treatment does the best job at retaining the song鈥檚 mood of quiet wonder in a contemporary 鈥� but not cynical 鈥� setting.
5. Darlene Love 鈥� : And of course I conclude with Darlene Love鈥檚 magnificent 鈥淏aby Please Come Home,鈥� introduced on Spector鈥檚 1963 A Christmas Gift to You album. Love鈥檚 triumphant career, from exploited session singer to rock 'n' roll star, is one we can celebrate, and her masterful vocal performance, together with the grand orchestration, makes the song irresistible. It鈥檚 no wonder that she has been asked to perform it on David Letterman鈥檚 Christmas show every year since 1986! is glorious.
What鈥檚 your favourite holiday hit? Share in the comments.