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This index lists the essential songs (not all the songs) contained on the albums reviewed in Hip Christmas, 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, though used copies may be in circulation. 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.

  • I Am Santa (The Darkness, 2015)
  • I Believe In Christmas (Corvair, 2022)
  • I Believe In Christmas Eve (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 1970)
  • I Believe In Father Christmas
  • I Believe In Santa Claus (Mills Brothers, 1955)
  • I Believe In Santa Claus
  • I Believe In Santa's Cause (Statler Brothers, 1978)
  • I Believe In You (Sinead O'Connor, 1992)
  • I Bought You A Plastic Star For Your Aluminum Tree (Michael Franks, 1997)
  • I Can't Have A Merry Christmas, Mary (Without You) (Jerry Lee Lewis, 1970)
  • I Can't Help It, I Just Like Christmas (Rick Moranis, 2013)
  • I Can't Wait (Richard X. Heyman, 2013)
  • I Can't Wait For Xmas (Bell Peppers, 2013)
  • I Can't Wait Till Christmas (Teresa Brewer, 1953)
  • I Did It For The Toys (Dance Hall Crashers, 1996)
  • I Didn't Say Fudge (Ralphie's Red Ryders, 2023)
  • I Don't Believe In Santa Claus (Methadone Cocktail, circa 1993)
  • I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You (Saint Etienne, 1998)
  • I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here) (Old 97's, 2022)
  • I Don't Want To Be Alone For Christmas (Bill Haley & The Saddlemen, 1951)
  • I Dreamt That I Was Santa Claus (Lu Ann Simms, 1953)
  • I Farted On Santa's Lap (Now Christmas Is Gonna Stink For Me) (Little Stinkers, 1998)
  • I Feel It In My Bones (The Killers featuring Ryan Pardey, 2012)
  • I Give Up, What Is It? (Yogi Yorgesson, 1951)
  • I Got This For You (For Christmas) (Movieland, 2024)
  • I Had Sex With Santa (Barnes & Barnes, 1986)
  • I Hate Christmas (Ren & Stimpy, 1993)
  • I Hate Christmas (All Year Round) (Steel Miners, 1996)
  • I Hate December (Ivy, 1994)
  • I Hate Fuckin' Christmas (Rugburns, 1995)
  • I Hate Xmas (Vibrators, 2000)
  • I Hate You This Christmas (Kate Nash, 2013)
  • I Hear Jingle Bells (Freddy King, 1961)
  • I Heard The Angels Singing (Frankie Laine & The Four Lads, 1955)
  • I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
  • I Hope I Sell A Lot Of Records At Christmastime (Princess Superstar, 1999)
  • I Just Want You (For Christmas) (Royal Bliss, 2009)
  • I Like Christmas (Teresa Brewer, 1958)
  • I Like Christmas (I Like It, I Like It) (Barry Gordon, 1956)
  • I Love Christmas (Tommy James & The Shondells, 2004)
  • I Love The Winter Weather - see Winter Weather
  • I Love To Ride With Santa Claus (Jimmie Davis, 1953)
  • I Love Xmas (Screaming Santas, 1995)
  • I Love You Santa Claus (Werewandas, 2012)
  • I Need You Christmas (Jonas Brothers, 2020)
  • I Needed Christmas (Reba McEntire, 2021)
  • I Never Spend A Christmas That I Don't Think Of You (Statler Brothers, 1978)
  • I Really Don't Want Much For Christmas (Deborah Cox, 2020)
  • I Remember Christmas
  • I Said A Prayer For Santa Claus (Jimmy Boyd, 1953)
  • I Saw Mommy Cha Cha Cha With You Know Who? (Bonnie Sisters, 1955)
  • I Saw Mommy Do The Mambo (With You Know Who) (Jimmy Boyd, 1954)
  • I Saw Mommy Biting Santa Claus (Dollyrots, 2013)
  • I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
  • I Saw Santa In The Club Last Nite (Young MC, 2010)
  • I Tant Wait Till Quithmuth (Mel Blanc, 1951)
  • I Told Santa Claus (Fats Domino, 1993)
  • I Told Santa Claus I Want You (Surf Boys, 1966)
  • I Understand (Just How You Feel) (Auld Lang Syne)
  • I Wanna Be A King Of Orient-ah! (Elastica, 1994)
  • I Wanna Be Santa Claus (Ringo Starr, 1999)
  • (I Wanna Go) Surfin' with Santa! (Hollyberries, 2009)
  • I Wanna Goat For Christmas (Wilder Brothers, 1955)
  • I Wanna Spend Christmas With You (aka Lonesome Christmas) (Lowell Fulson, 1967)
  • (I Wanna Wear A) MIrrored Hat Like Slade (Swansea Sound, 2024)
  • I Want A Baby Brother For Christmas (Carolyn Binkley, 1965)
  • I Want A Beatle For Christmas (Becky Lee Beck, 1964)
  • I Want A Beatle For Christmas (The Fans, 1964)
  • I Want A Beatle For Christmas (Jackie & Jill, 1964)
  • I Want A Beatle For Christmas (Patty Surbey & the Canadian VIP's, 1964)
  • I Want A Big White Cadillac For Christmas (Little Joey Farr, 1960)
  • I Want A Boy For Christmas (Del Vetts, 1961)
  • I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
    • Lake Street Dive (2017)
    • Linda Gail Lewis (2023)
    • Love Tractor (2006)
    • Gayla Peevey (1953) [close]

      Gayla PeeveyOklahoman Gayla Peevey was just 10 years old when she scored a major hit in 1953 with "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas." She was one of many little kids with big voices who had hit records in the 1950's, including Jimmy Boyd ("I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"), Barry Gordon ("Nuttin' For Christmas"), and Brenda Lee ("Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"). But, the goofy children's song had largely been forgotten until revived by Dr. Demento in his 1985 series, The Greatest Novelty Records Of All Time, turning it into a tongue-in-cheek classic. Peevey would record several more Christmas songs, including "Angel In The Christmas Play" (1954) and "77 Santas" (1955), but "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" turned out to be her only hit. She would chart one more song, "My Little Marine," in 1960 under the name Jamie Horton - trying to shed her juvenile image, I suppose. It didn't work, and her career was over after 1962.

      A number of artists have since recorded "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas" including Love Tractor (2006), Gretchen Wilson (2009), and the Whiskeybelles (2013) but none have succeeded in making it sound very cool. Perhaps the closest we've come is Lake Street Dive (2017), whose Latin spin at least makes it danceable.

    • Whiskeybelles (2013)
    • Gretchen Wilson (2009)
  • I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas, Too (Aquabats, 2021)
  • I Want A Present For Christmas (J.B. Summers with Doc Bagby's Orchestra, 1949)
  • (I Want A) Rock & Roll Guitar (Johnny Preston, 1960)
  • I Want An Alien For Christmas (Fountains Of Wayne, 1997)
  • I Want Elvis For Christmas (Holly Twins with Eddie Cochran, 1956)
  • I Want Your Soul For Christmas (Schoolyard Heroes, 2008)
  • I Want My Baby For Christmas (Smokey Hogg, 1948)
  • I Want My Baby For Christmas (Jimmy Liggins & The Drops Of Joy, 1950)
  • I Want The South To Win The War For Christmas (Spike Jones, 1959)
  • I Want To Come Home For Christmas (Marvin Gaye, 1972) [close]

    Christmas In The CityMarvin Gaye poured a lot of righteous anger into protest songs like "What's Going On" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," both from his historic 1971 Tamla album. But, he exercised a surprising amount of restraint on his 1972 song, "I Want To Come Home For Christmas" - despite the fact that it tackled a subject as incendiary as the Vietnam War (read more).

    Rather than rail against a futile war, Gaye and his cowriter, Forest Hairston, personalized their message by telling the heartbreaking tale of a soldier trapped in a filthy prisoner-of-war camp as the war entered its waning days. "I'd give anything to see a little Christmas tree," begins, subsequently listing all the many symbols of Christmas (mistletoe, jingle bells, Santa Claus) and America (children, family, baseball) that are burned so deeply in the hearts of any P.O.W. Each verse ends, though, with the prisoner resigned that he won't see these dear sights "unless they stop the fight."

    Happily, the United States signed a peace treaty with North Vietnam in January 1973, and all American personnel were home by March. The fighting between North and South Vietnam continued, however, until 1975 when the Vietcong took Saigon and Vietnam - for better or worse - was reunified.

    Marvin Gaye recorded "I Want To Come Home For Christmas" in 1972 as part of a planned Christmas album, but the song wasn't released until 1990 when Motown included it on a boxed set, The Marvin Gaye Collection. It was later included on Christmas In The City, a 1993 CD of rare holiday tracks from Hitsville USA, and as a bonus track on the 1999 reissue of A Motown Christmas, the label's landmark 1973 compilation (read more). In 2019, the song was included on Gaye's You're The Man, a collection of 1972 recordings intended for a never-released album - though many tracks had been released in the intervening decades.

  • I Want To Go To Santa Claus Land (Bobby Helms, 1967)
  • I Want To Spend Christmas With Elvis
  • I Want You For Christmas (Cheap Trick, 2012)
  • I Want You With Me At Christmas (Jesse Belvin, 1956)
  • I Was A Teenage Reindeer (Jim Backus with Daws Butler, 1959)
  • I Was Born On Christmas Day (Saint Etienne, 1993)
  • I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas (Aimee Mann, 2005)
  • I Wish (Tha Dogg Pound, 1996)
  • I Wish Every Day Was Christmas (Suburban Legends, 2011)
  • I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day (The Wombles with Roy Wood, 2000) [close]

    The Wombles with Roy WoodThe English have a bit of a thing for Christmas songs. First of all, they get their knickers all in a bunch over which song will be #1 on Christmas - not necessarily a Christmas song, though it frequently has been. (This odd phenomenon even became the subject a 2003 movie, Love Actually, starring Hugh Grant.) Beyond that, the Brits go bonkers over Christmas songs in ways Yanks rarely do. Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody," for instance, was a huge hit across the pond (#1 for a month in 1973) while it didn't even chart in the US. Other UK Christmas #1's include "Lonely This Christmas" (Mud, 1974), "Mary's Boy Child" (Boney M, 1978), "When A Child Is Born" (Johnny Mathis, 1976), "Merry Christmas Everyone" (Shakin' Stevens, 1985), "Mistletoe & Wine" (Cliff Richard, 1988), and three different versions of Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (1984, 1989, and 2004).

    Anyway, as Bill Cosby used to say, I told you all that to tell you this... Two other peculiarly British Christmas hits were "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" (1973) by ELO founder Roy Wood and his new band Wizzard, and "Wombling Merry Christmas" (1974) created by musician/producer Mike Batt for a British childrens TV show. Both were great, glam-inflected songs, and both peaked at #4 on the British charts. So, somehow it seemed (almost) natural when in 2000 Batt mashed them up to create a new hybrid single that, nevertheless, ended up less impressive than its two components.

    The Wombles with Roy Wood"We've taken the two songs and made the silliest song ever by juggling the two bits together," Batt explained to the BBC at the time. The writer for the Beeb expected that the new Wombles/Wood record would "fight it out for the number one spot with releases from Westlife and the Spice Girls" - both pop sensations at the time. Instead, the #1 record in England on Christmas went to (believe it or not) juvenile TV sensation Bob The Builder and his theme song "Can We Fix It?" while the Wood/Wombles entry struggled to #22.

    "I Wish It Could Be A Wombling Merry Christmas Every Day" was originally issued as a CD single in two parts, with various b-sides and remixes - see part one and part two. Since then, it's proven tough to find, and has been anthologized only once - on early, limited edition pressings of the British CD, The Wombles Collection (now deleted).

  • I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
  • I Wish It Was Christmas Today (Julian Casablanca, 2009)
  • I Wish It Was Summer (At Christmas Time) (Jack Blackman & The Beautiful Wreck, 2019)
  • I Wish My Mom Would Marry Santa Claus (Gene Autry, 1953)
  • I Wish That It Would Snow In Austin (The Grapes & Friends, 2012)
  • I Wish To All (A Merry Christmas) (Eddie Floyd, 2011)
  • I Wish You A Merry Christmas (Little Eva & Big Dee Irwin, 1963)
  • I Won't Be Home For Christmas (Blink 182, 1997)
  • I Won't Be Home For Christmas (Kristeen Young, 2009)
  • I Won't Be Twisting This Christmas (Father Guido Sarducci, 1980)
  • (I Wonder) Who's Spending Christmas With You (Joe Dowell, 1961)
  • I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas (Yogi Yorgesson, 1949)
  • I'd Like To Trim A Tree With You (McGuire Sisters, 1955)
  • I'd Like You For Christmas (Julie London, 1957)
  • (I'll Be Glad When) Christmastime Is Done (Bite The Wax Godhead, 1994)
  • I'll Be Home For Christmas
  • I'll Be Home On Christmas Day (Elvis Presley, 1971)
  • I'll Be Killing You (This Christmas) (Loudon Wainwright III, 2013)
  • I'll Be Missing You (Under The Mistletoe) (Bonnie Guitar, 1966)
  • I'll Be On The Chimney (When Santa Comes Tonight) (Freddy Fender, 1977)
  • I'll Be Walking The Floor This Christmas (Ernest Tubb, 1954)
  • I'll Be Your Santa Baby
  • I'll Be Your Santa Claus (Eddie Floyd, 2011)
  • I'll Be Your Santa Tonight (Keith Urban, 2019)
  • I'll Have A Merry Christmas Without You (Flat Duo Jets , 1994)
  • I'll Make Everyday Christmas (For My Woman) (Joe Tex, 1967) Top 100 Song
  • (I'm Always Touched By Your) Presents, Dear (Syd Straw, 1993)
  • I'm Getting A Ukulele For Christmas (Carly Jamison, 2014)
  • I'm Getting Pissed for Christmas (Peter & The Test Tube Babies with GBH, 1998)
  • I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus (Brenda Lee, 1956)
  • I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas with a Dalek (The Go-Go's, 1964) [close]

    The Go-Go'sDaleks, I have learned, were mutants characters in the British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. This mod-sounding, guitar-driven novelty - annoying juvenile intonation notwithstanding - capitalized on the popularity of TV show. The Doctor Who franchise, I should note, is quite the cultural phenomenon in England, but in the United States its popularity was largely relegated to sci-fi geeks and right-wing paranoiacs - though much less so since the BBC rebooted the series in 2005. Anyway, the single is exceedingly rare, but it finally surfaced on compact disc with Who Is Dr. Who, a collection of Doctor Who-related tracks (RPM, 2000). Finally, it should go without saying (but won't) that these Go-Go's are not the Go-Go's who recorded "Our Lips Are Sealed." Who they are, exactly, remains as big of a mystery as Doctor Who himself.

  • I'm Gonna Tell Santa On You (Faron Young, 1953)
  • I'm Having Santa for Christmas (Lustra, 2007)
  • I'm Mad At The Fatman (Ray & Glover, 1992)
  • I'm Not A Pervert (Austrian Death Machine, 2011)
  • I'm Not Really In The Christmas Mood This Year
  • I'm Not Your Dad, I'm Father Christmas (Stratocruiser, 2013)
  • I'm On The Naughty List (Frankie And The Studs, 2017)
  • I'm Pickin' Fights For Christmas (Doye O'Dell, 1968)
  • I'm Trimming My Christmas Tree With Teardrops (Ernest Tubb, 1953)
  • I'm Your Private Santa Claus (Eddy Arnold, 1954)
  • I've Fallen In Love With A Snowman (Millie Small, 1964)
  • I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
  • I've Got Some Presents For Santa
    • Jenerators (1992)
    • Sarah Taylor & Billy Mumy (1994) [close]
      Sarah Taylor & Billy MumyThis titillating tune was written, played, and produced by Billy Mumy, best known as earnest Will Robinson from the oft-parodied 60's sci-fi TV show, Lost In Space. In the 70's, young Master Mumy formed Barnes & Barnes, the bizarre duo (in)famous for "Fish Heads," a song in regular rotation during the early days of MTV (when they had little else to play) and on Dr. Demento's syndicated radio show. Much later, Mumy collaborated with otherwise obscure vocalist Sarah Taylor on "I've Got Some Presents For Santa," which was played on the Demento show as early as 1991 under billing of Barnes & Nibbles, but was not commercially released until 1994. A smooth, smokey ballad, "Presents" manages to check off just about every sexual metaphor in the rich Christmas catalogue. Santa squeezes his big North Pole down Sarah's hot chimney - and that's just where the fun begins. Unfortunately, Mumy's b-side, "Holiday Affair" demonstrates the fine line between ribald and puerile, falling flat while using much the same cheeky conventions as "Presents For Santa." (Rhino released the song as a CD single, and it quickly fell out-of-print. It has never been reissued or anthologized. However, a 1992 live version by Mumy's band, the Jenerators, can be found on the 2000 compilation Mark & Brian: Little Drummer Boys.)
  • I've Had A Very Merry Christmas (Jerry Lewis, 1952)
  • Ice (Shelleyan Orphan, 1990)
  • Ich Hasse Santa Claus (I Hate Santa Claus) (Nina Hagen, 1999)
  • Iesu Faban: A Christmas Chorale (Mary Hopkin, 2014)
  • In Dulci Jubilo (Mike Oldfield, 1975)
  • In The Bleak Midwinter (Bert Jansch, 1974)
  • If Christmas Can't Bring You Home (Reigning Sound, 2004)
  • If Christmas Comes To Your House (Freddy Fender, ,1977)
  • If Everyday Was Like Christmas (Elvis Presley, 1966)
  • If I Could Spend Christmas With You (Tommy Roe, 1993)
  • If I Get Home On Christmas Day (Elvis Presley, 1971) Top 100 Song
  • If It Doesn't Snow On Christmas
  • If Santa Claus Could Bring You Back To Me (Jimmy Wakey, 1949)
  • If Santa Was My Daddy (Lael Calloway, 1956)
  • If We Can Just Make It Through Christmas (Chandler Travis Philharmonic, 2004)
  • If We Make It Through December
  • Il Est Né Le Divin Enfant (He Is Born The Divine Child)
  • In The Bleak Midwinter
  • In The Limelight (Stephen Bishop, 1974)
  • Irie Christmas (Freddie MacGregor, 1980)
  • Is Christmas Only A Tree? (Bing Crosby, 1955)
  • Is There Really A Santa Claus? (Red Foley, 1966)
  • Is This Christmas? (The Wombats, 2007)
  • It Ain't Christmas Yet (Ben Kweller, 2014)
  • It Ain't Christmas Without You (Roxy Roca, 2014)
  • It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
  • It Doesn't Feel Like Christmas
  • It Doesn't Have To Be That Way (Jim Croce, 1973)
  • It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas
  • It Feels Like Christmas (Ginger Coyle, 2012)
  • It Feels Like Christmas (Eddie & The Hot Rods, 2015)
  • It Feels Like Christmas Every Single Day (Carly Jamison, 2014)
  • It Isn't Christmas (Hayley Sales, 2013)
  • It Isn't Really Christmas Until Noddy Starts To Sing (Don Powell's Occasional Flames, 2019)
  • It Just Can't Be Christmas Without You (Kung Fu Monkeys, 1999)
  • It Just Wouldn't Be Christmas (Loud Family, 1994)
  • It Kinda Looks Like Christmas (Royal Guardsmen, 1967)
  • It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It's Spring)
  • It Must Have Been Love (Christmas for the Broken Hearted) (Roxette, 1987)
  • It Was A Silent Night At Least Until Jeff Lynne Arrived (Grandaddy, 2021)
  • It Won't Be Christmas (Till You're Here) (Julie C, 2010)
  • It Won't Be Christmastime ('Round Here) (RJ Comer of Dance Hall Pimps, 2012)
  • It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Jim Eanes, 1963)
  • It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You) (Elvis Presley, 1971)
  • It's A Big Country (Davitt Sigerson, 1981)
  • (It's A) Happy Holiday (Shells, 1962)
  • It's A Holiday (Material with Nona Hendryx, 1981)
  • It's A Merry Time (Sierra Swan, 2006)
  • It's A Peppermint Christmas (Peppermint Kicks, 2021)
  • (It's A) Tom Waits Christmas (Pony Death Ride, 2017)
  • It's A Technicolor Christmas When You're Jewish (Because The Moviehouses Never Close) (Tommy & The Greyhounds, 1985)
  • It's A Wonderful Life (Gonna Have A Good Time) (Fishbone, 1987)
  • (It's A Sad, Sad Time For Me) Elvis Won't Be Here For Xmas (Linda Hughes, 1977)
  • It's About That Time (The Idea, 1991)
  • It's Almost Christmas (Ingrid Michaelson, 2022)
  • It's Always Christmas At My House (Huntingtons, 1998)
  • It's Almost Christmas Time (Karen Basset, 2013)
  • It's Always Christmas Time (Al Jourgensen with Mark Thwaite, 2009)
  • It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
  • It's Christmas! (Bay City Rollers, 2023)
  • It's Christmas (Bouquet Of Veal, 1995) [close]

    Punk Rock XmasBouquet Of Veal was barely a band. After all, they only recorded two songs, "Dwarf Tossin'" - a Dr. Demento favorite - and "It's Christmas" (1995), a full-on surf punk assault on the season. The song certainly sounds happy, but there's no "goodwill towards men" here. Instead, this holiday is filled with candy, sex, booze, pee, and a comprehensive lack of charity. "It's Christmas, it's not for the Jews," the band declares. And, by the way, "Fuck you, stupid homeless guy, you put a damper on my jubilation."

    A sort of nepo baby band, Bouquet Of Veal featured Jonathan Rosner, son of producer David Rosner and stepson of singer Margo Guryan, and Travis Cowsill, son of Bill Cowsill of, duh, the Cowsills. Rosner was also one of the producers of Rhino's Punk Rock Xmas (1995), which includes "It's Christmas," and he went on to become a big wig in the music business. Both Bouquet Of Veal songs can also be found on a digital single issued many years later.

  • It's Christmas (Brave Combo, 1991)
  • It's Christmas (Davy Jones, 1997)
  • It's Christmas (Marvin & Johnny, 1958) Top 100 Song
  • It's Christmas (Modern Talking, 1987)
  • It's Christmas (Bob Morrison, 1966)
  • It's Christmas (Polyphonic Spree, 2003)
  • It's Christmas (Toots & The Maytals, 2011)
  • It's Christmas (Jimmy Wakely, 1953)
  • It's Christmas (All Over the World) (New Edition, 1985)
  • It's Christmas All Year Round (Charles Brown, 1961)
  • It's Christmas And I Fucking Miss You (Charly Bliss and Pup, 2020)
  • It's Christmas And I'm Sick (MXPX, 2004)
  • It's Christmas Everywhere (Paul Anka, 1960)
  • It's Christmas In Herald Square (Tony Bennett, 1998)
  • It's Christmas (Let's Pretend We're Fine) (Don't Call Me Ishmael, 2022)
  • It's Christmas Once Again
  • It's Christmas Once More (Mary Karlzen, 2007)
  • It's Christmas So We'll Stop (Frightened Rabbit, 2007)
  • It's Christmas Time (George Castelle, 1954)
  • It's Christmas Time (Five Keys, 1951) Top 100 Song
  • It's Christmas Time (Bubber Johnson, 1955)
  • It's Christmas Time (Jules Larson, 2010)
  • It's Christmas Time (Louvin Brothers, 1961)
  • It's Christmas Time (Mr. President, 2011)
  • It's Christmas Time (The Qualities, 1956)
  • It's Christmas Time (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 1970)
  • It's Christmas Time (Roses & Revolutions, 2014)
  • It's Christmas Time (Status Quo, 2008)
  • It's Christmas Time (Steel Magnolia, 2010)
  • It's Christmas Time (Sun Ra presents The Qualities, 1955)
  • It's Christmas Time Again (Backstreet Boys, 2012)
  • It's Christmas Time Again (Cecil Gant, 1950)
  • It's Christmas Time Again (Peggy Lee, 1953)
  • It's Christmas Time Again (Jimmie Davis, 1964)
  • It's Christmas Time (Again) (Molly Burch, 2024)
  • It's Christmas Time In Texas
  • It's Christmas Time (Hey We're Gonna Rock) (Flat Duo Jets, 1995)
  • It's Christmas Today (from "An Almost Christmas Story") (John C. Reilly, 2024)
  • It's Christmas (What's The Difference) (The Films, 2008)
  • It's Christmastime (Drunken Prayer, 2011)
  • It's Christmastime (Empty Hearts, 2016)
  • It's Christmastime In Louisiana (Johnnie Allan, 1987)
  • It’s Christmastime (Let’s Just Survive) (Kathleen Edwards, 2019)
  • It's Cold Outside (The Choir, 1966)
  • It's Different Now (Ice Choir, 2014)
  • It's Fucking Christmas (Pete Jones of Public Image Limited, 2012)
  • (It's Gonna Be) A Lonely Christmas
  • (It's Gonna Be A) Punk Rock Christmas (Ravers, 1977)
  • It's Just Another New Year's Eve (Barry Manilow, 1977)
  • It's Love On Christmas Day (Buzzed Meg, 2001)
  • It's Not Christmas (Kelley Ryan, 1991)
  • It's Not Christmas 'Til You Come Home
  • It's Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries (Carly Rae Jepsen, 2020)
  • It's Not Christmas Without You (V.D. King, 2022)
  • It's Now Christmas Day (Tommy Roe, 2015)
  • It's Santa (Gavin Guss, 2023)
  • It's Still Christmas (Marcella Detroit of Shakespeare's Sister, 2012)
  • It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year [close]
    The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas
    listen / buy

    Chip Taylor would be a rock legend if all he ever wrote was "Wild Thing," which became a garage rock classic after the Troggs took it to #1 in 1966 - and was later covered by everyone from guitar god Jimi Hendrix to punk icons X. But, Taylor wrote many more hits including songs as notable as the Hollies' "I Can't Let Go" (1966), Merilee Rush's "Angel Of The Morning" (1968), and Janis Joplin's "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" (1969).

    In 1968, Chip Taylor took a stab at a Christmas standard, "It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year," with his frequent writing partner, Al Gorgoni. Taylor recorded it as a non-LP single for Columbia Records, and his version went nowhere. Still, it's a very well-written song but, despite some high profile covers, it never took off - and one listen will tell you why. "It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year" isn't just a song about being alone at Christmas, it's a song about being divorced at Christmas. Songs about divorce were trendy at the time - think Cher's "You Better Sit Down Kids" (1967), Elvis Presley's "Separate Ways" (1972), and, of course, Tammy Wynette's "D-I-V--O-R-C-E" (1968) - perhaps because divorce rates were skyrocketing during the age of free love and women's liberation.

    Taylor's song is probably best known as sung by Nancy Sinatra on The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas (1969). She also released it as a single but, like Taylor's own version, it flopped. She does a good job with the song, though, selling the pathos of spending the holidays without the one you love - but with the kids he dumped on you. She's trying to make their Christmas a merry one, but the brats keep asking where daddy is. "It's such a lonely time of year," she concludes, adding "holidays and birthdays, summer days and winter days, and any day when you're not here." Hardly the most wonderful time of the year...

    1960's Christmas ClassicsTwo additional famous singers covered "It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year" in 1969, again without much to show for it. Handsome John Davidson released it as a non-LP Columbia single, but wisely chose to not include it on his album, My Christmas Favorites, released the very same year. Then, Wayne Newton recorded it for his MGM album, Everything's In Love Today, also releasing it as a single with negligible results. Significantly, Newton also performed the song in the film 80 Steps To Jonah, which he starred in, though there doesn't appear to have been a soundtrack album. Weirdly, neither of Newton's LP or 45 releases mention the movie, though Nancy Sinatra's single release of the same song does.

    And, that's the end of the story. To my knowledge, "It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year" has never been covered again, and two of the original four versions - Taylor's and Newton's - have never been reissued in the digital age. Davidson's also gathered dust until 2024, when it showed up on Sony's digital compilation, 1960's Christmas Classics (Sony, 2024). Chip Taylor, however, recorded a new version of "It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year" for his 1996 album Hit Man.

    Chip Taylor's career cooled off considerably after the 1960's, but he stayed active in music well into the 21st century. If you'd like to learn more about him, I recommend Wild Thing: The Songs Of Chip Taylor (Ace, 2009), a collection of covers both famous and obscure - not including "It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year." And, by the way, Chip Taylor's real name is James Voight. He's the brother of actor Jon Voight - which means he's the uncle of actress Angelina Jolie.

  • It's So Close To Christmas (And I'm So Far From Home) (Bellamy Brothers, 1981)
  • It's That Time Again (Rich Krueger, 2017)
  • It's That Time Of The Year (Manhattans, 1966)
  • It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
  • It's The Time (Happy Holidays) (Ronnie Spector, 2010)
  • It's Xmas (A Time For Giving)

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