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Christmas Songs & Singles. This index lists the essential songs (not all the songs) contained on the albums reviewed in my Christmas section, plus singles, album tracks, or one-hit wonders not otherwise included on those albums. Whenever
possible, the artist's name is linked to my review of the best Christmas album (not necessarily
the only or original album) on which to find the song.
Barring that, the names will be linked to a place where you may buy the song
(usually Amazon).
If there's no link, it means that, to my knowledge, the song is not available
on any CD. Of course, the list will expand as I write more reviews. And, nothing's
perfect - especially me and my crazy list. Please send additions, corrections,
criticisms, and suggestions via email.
- Jesus Christ
- Jing-A-Ling Jing-A-Ling
- Jingle Bell Hop (Jackson Trio, 1955)
- Jingle Bell Imitations (Chubby
Checker & Bobby Rydell, 1961)
Chubby
Checker - the "Twist" man - was the most valuable player of the Philadelphia-based
Cameo-Parkway label group. The Cameo stable also housed Bobby Rydell, one of
the more talented teen idols (c.f. Fabian) and a prolific hitmaker in his own
right ("Wild One," "Volare"). In 1961, the label mates recorded
an eponymous LP featuring a good-natured cover of Bobby Helms' greatest hit, "Jingle
Bell Rock." While the single reached #21 on the charts, what I treasure
most is it's weird little b-side, "Jingle Bell Imitations."
Unlikely as it seems, both Checker and Rydell were gifted impressionists, and
thanks to the duo's capacity
for mimicry, we witness a host of stars - Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, the Chipmunks,
and Crazy Guggenheim (actor Frank Fontaine) - rendering "Jingle Bells" in
a manner similar to Checker's first charted hit, "The Class." Unfortunately,
Cameo-Parkway has been notoriously strict with their master tapes, so neither
a- nor b-side saw the light of day for many years. Thankfully, "Jingle Bell
Rock" was
finally reissued on CD as part of the peachy-keen boxed set, Cameo
Parkway 1957-1967 (2005), but its wacky b-side remains scarce.
- Jingle Bell Rock
- Jingle Bell Rock (BoDeans, 1989)
- Jingle Bell Slide (Jack Scott, 1963)
- Jingle Bells
- Jingle Bells Cha-Cha-Cha (Pearl
Bailey, 1959)
- Jingle Bells Jam (Romeos, 1980)
- Jingle Bells Jingle (Platters, 1963)
- Jingle Jangle (Penguins, 1955)
- Jingle Jangle Jump (Dexter Gordon,
1952)
- Jingle My Bells (Strip Mind, 1993)
- Jingle-O The Brownie (Tennessee Ernie
Ford, 1960)
- Joseph, Who Understood (New Pornographers, 2007)
This shifting cast of Canadian alt-poppers released a three track "digital EP" on iTunes in late 2007. Called The Spirit Of Giving, it featured an unexceptional title track pulled from the group's recent album, Challengers. No matter, because "The Spirit Of Giving" could only be called a Christmas song in the most obtuse sense. One of the two remaining cuts (both non-LP), was a fun medley of covers - "Arms of Mary" (Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, 1976) and "Looking At A Baby" (The Collectors, 1967, who evolved into Chilliwack) - but it also stretched even the most liberal definition of an already loose genre. The third cut, however, was a real gem - a gorgeous song that breaks real lyrical ground. "Joseph, Who Understood" examines the biblical Christmas story from the surrogate father's perspective. "Mary, I'm trying to be cool," sings A.C. Newman as Joseph, but "you're asking me to believe in too many things." Repeatedly he asks, "Mary, is he mine?" Singer Neko Case harmonizes sweetly, but she never proffers an explanation, leaving Joseph to struggle with the unlikely story his new bride is feeding him.
- Johnny's Gone Sledding With Queen (Super
Deluxe, 1995)
- Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
- Joy To The World
- Joys Of Christmas (Chris
Rea, 1987)
- Jungle Bells (Dingo-Dango-Day)
- Just A Lonely Christmas (Moonglows,
1953)
- Just Once This Christmas (The Drag, 1995)
- Just Put A Ribbon In Your Hair (Alan
Jackson, 2003)
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