My Top 10 Christmas Songs Of All Time

When it comes to Holiday music, things can get a little dicey. Too much, too soon and you can get sick of it, weeks before Christmas even arrives. But if you hear too little of it, it really does not feel like the season has properly kicked into gear. For whatever reason, 2022 has been one of those years where I feel like I haven't gotten my fill. As I started to curate (yet another) playlist of my favorites to listen to while wrapping gifts, I started to think how about how the ranking of my favorites might compare to others'. These things are deeply personal after all, rooted in nostalgia and fuzzy childhood memories. Anyway, below is my all time top 10 list. Take a listen and let me know which ones you might swap in or out to suit your own Christmas wish list.

Cheers and Happy Holidays to all.

Lamont

Listen On Apple Music

10. Christmas In Hollis - Run-DMC (1987) - Dropped at the height of their fame and filled with indelible lines, none better than this one "It's Christmas time in Hollis Queens...Mama's cookin chicken and collard greens."

9. Silent Night - The Temptations (1970) - Of all the hundreds of versions of Silent Night, this one remains as the gold standard.

8. Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto - James Brown (1968) - The funkiest Christmas song of all time.

7. Gee Whiz It's Christmas - Carla Thomas (1963) - The best song to play when you're getting dressed for a holiday party.

6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Lou Rawls (1967) - Lot's of folks have done justice to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, but for this jazzy version, Lou Rawls put his foot in it.

5. All I Want For Christmas - Mariah Carey (1994) - The very definition of an instant classic.

4. Someday At Christmas - Stevie Wonder (1967) - The J5 version has probably gotten more spins in my house over the years, but I give an ever so slight nod to this Stevie for his more melancholy take.

3. Christmas Rappin - Kurtis Blow (1980) - Once and forever a party starter.

2. Give Love On Christmas Day - The Jackson 5 (1970) - The whole album is essential, but this is my favorite cut.

1. This Christmas - Donny Hathaway (1970) - A classic among classics. Donny Hathaway, a Christmas tree, family and good friends. That's Christmas in a nutshell.

Honorable Mentions

Baby It's Cold Outside - Vanessa Williams / Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi / Cool Yule - Louie Armstrong / A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives / I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Dean Martin / Jingle All The Way - Lena Horne / Joy To The World - Whitney Houston / May Christmas Bring You Happiness - Luther Vandross / The Merriest - June Christy / Merry Christmas Baby - Natalie Cole / Mr. Heat Miser - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy / Rockin Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee / Santa Baby - Lina / Silver Bells - Stevie Wonder / That's What I Want For Christmas - Nancy Wilson / Toy Jackpot - Blackalicious / Up On The Housetop - The Jackson 5 / What Christmas Means To Me - Cee Lo Green / White Christmas - The Drifters / Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

Listen On Apple Music