I love anything Bing Crosby sang for the holidays, and boy, he has a large and popular catalog. But this one with Judy Garland is a favorite of mine, for its fun and upbeat tone.
Bing Crosby/Judy Garland - Rudolph
I like Martina's version of this song, probably because I sing in the same key as she does, so I can belt this song out! LOL.
M. McBride - O Holy Night
Growing up in a music family, I have a unique talent to be able to tell the difference in singing styles of such artists such as Jack Jones, Steve Lawrence, Vic Damone, et al. But Steve and Eydie Gorme (she of "Blame It On The Bossa Nova" hit) doing "Sleigh Ride" was and is one of my all time faves. Eydie sang slightly on the "sharp" side of the notes (as opposed to being "flat" which is what Randy and others always called "pitchy" on that Idol show) but accompanied with Steve, they hit a nice combo. Enjoy.
Steve and Eydie - Sleigh Ride
You know, it's not often in one's lifetime that a "song" becomes what is known in the music business as a classic. But that is exactly what Feliz Navidad became, back when I was a young adult. I just love this song.
Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
Another song that became a "standard" was the "Do They Know It's Christmas" sung by a group of 1980's musical talents calling themselves Band Aid. It was aired in July as a special called Live Aid to provide famine relief for Ethiopia. Bob Geldof was the spear head of this movement. I still get goose bumps when I hear this song.
Do They Know It's Christmas
I don't think any of us that saw the first Charlie Brown Christmas special ever forgot the memorable music by Vince Guaraldi. Of course, Cyrus Chestnut has taken over the mantle of this show and the songs, but the original was done by Vince.
Christmas Time Is Here
Then, of course, comes some of the songs made famous in the 1980's, like the Wilson sisters of Heart fame.
Blue Christmas
OK, time for some standards! Mel Torme wrote the song, but it was made famous by Nat King Cole ...
The Christmas Song
Of course, what would Christmas be without the Beach Boys, right? Especially for those of us on the West Coast with surfboards and all that.
Little Saint Nick
Ok, so closing out this top ten with the Bing. Songs back in the day had a "verse" and a "refrain." In White Christmas, this was the "verse," as written by Mr. Irving Berlin while in Beverly Hills, which one does not hear on the universal release of White Christmas by der Bingle:
The sun is shining, the grass is green
The orange and palm trees sway
There's never been such a day
In Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the 24th
And I'm longing to be up North...
White Christmas
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