I no longer devote much time to any music station. I long for the days of WNEW-FM which enjoys a Facebook page. No matter what music station you would dial up on terrestrial radio, the weeks leading up to the holidays means music that reflects that spirit and themes. A few years back Gotham co-founder Fred Klein, knowing my love of music, encouraged me to compile and share on our Fredslist listserve a holiday song list linking each tune to Youtube; eventually I also posted the list to my website. Last December before I took over this Sunday blog, I posted its 2015 iteration to LinkedIn. Before I post the list anew, now grown to 58 songs, I check each tune to make sure the links work. I did that yesterday just before running to my brother’s house to gather for Chanukah a bit early.

I remain open to suggestions so please go my website or youtube channel to view the entire set.

To wet your appetite, I share one dozen representative of my faves

Merry Xmas Baby – Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (New Year's eve 1978)

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen (original radio release-no video)

Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys (1963)

I believe In Father Xmas – Greg Lake (original version)

Run Rudolph Run – Chuck Berry

Snoopy's Xmas – The Royal Guardsmen

Xmas Wrapping – The Waitresses

Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer – Elmo and Patsy (1983)

Chanukah Song [PART 1] – Adam Sandler

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah – The Glee cast

It's Xmas Baby Please Come Home – Darlene Love (David Letterman show, 2014)

Happy Xmas – John Lennon

Please share your selections (with link to the video) to be considered for 2017.

Since I subscribe to Apple Music, my learned son challenged me last night to replicate the list in my iTunes; of course I expect to soon call him on that endeavor. In the meantime,

I wish all Happy Holidays in song.

Enjoy!!!

[editor's note: picture design by Marisa Jean Bearak]