In most larger markets, one of the local pop stations will switch to an all-Christmas format from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day.
Even though it’s but once a year (albeit for a six-week stretch) the playlists on these station seem awfully thin, touching on the same songs year after year.
Now, Christmas songs tend to hearken to themes of tradition, of family, of memory. And so it can take awhile for a new Christmas song to become part of the accepted canon.
Below are a few Christmas songs that never seem to make those radio station playlists. They tend to be of a more recent vintage, although some are older. My only real rule is that it has to sound like Christmas:
“An Apple, An Orange, and a Little Stick Doll” by Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham and The Sweet Baby Blues Band
This track wasn’t included on any of their own albums, but instead was on 1994's “A Concord Jazz Christmas” compilation. This is one of my favorite Jeannie compositions, and Jimmy’s arrangement captures an old-fashioned sense of holiday sophistication. It’s got a great melodic theme, lovely lyrics — why it’s never been covered is beyond me.
“When My Heart Finds Christmas” by Harrick Connick Jr.
AllAboutMusic’s Scott Yanow inexplicably dismisses this song as “somewhat forgettable.” I think it hits the sweet spot between sentimentality and romance. The soaring choral refrain toward the end reminds of classic artists like Nat “King” Cole or Perry Como — even though this was the title track of Connick’s 1994 Christmas release.
“Christmas Time!” by Norah Jones
For her first Christmas release a year ago, Jones wrote a half-dozen originals to go with her interpretation of a sleigh full of covers. All six new songs are gems, but this was the only one of them that captured that holiday feeling for me.
“Downhill Sleigh Ride” and “Christmas Rule” by Jorma Kauknonen
Much like Jackson Browne’s two-fer combo of “The Load Out” and “Stay” from his 1977 album, “Running on Empty” (which for many years I thought was a single track), or Pure Prairie League’s “Falling in and Out of Love” and “Amie” (which were often played together on the radio in the 1970s), these two tracks from Kaukonen’s 1996 Christmas album are really a package. The instrumental run of “Downhill Sleigh Ride” sets the table for the tongue-in-cheek “Christmas Rule.” Both are anchored by Kaukonen’s stellar acoustic guitar playing, and both feature enough sleigh bells to immediately put you in the holiday spirit.
“It’s Not Christmas (Till You’re In My Arms)” by McGuffey Lane
The longtime Midwestern country-rock fixture never had that breakthrough hit to propel them to stardom, but this 1986 gem ought to get more love. A nearly perfect hook, great vocal harmonies, heartwarming lyrics.
“Christmas Time” and “Home for the Holidays” by The dB’s
The 2006 compilation “Christmas Time Again” features two get-stuck-in-your-head bits of ear candy by power popsters The dB’s. (Both songs were originally released in 1986 on an EP by The dB’s.)
Chris Stamey’s “It’s Not Christmas” manages to capture both the sound of jangle pop and the spirit of jingle bells — no easy task! The hook is deep, the arrangements lush.
“Home for the Holidays” was written by Peter Holsapple, and has more of a country feel to it — but is equally luxuriant on the ears.
-30-