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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 on CD or MP3. 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.

  • S-N-O-W (Jordin Sparks, 2024)
  • Saddest Time Of The Year (Spooner, 1991)
  • Santa (Lightnin' Hopkins, 1962)
  • Santa Ain't Santa (Woofing Cookies, 1986)
  • Santa And The Doodle-Li-Boop (Art Carney, 1954)
  • Santa And The Purple People Eater (Sheb Wooley, 1958)
  • Santa And The Satellite (Parts 1 & 2) (Buchanan & Goodman, 1957) Top 100 Song
  • Santa And The Sidewalk Surfer (Crossfires, 1963) Top 100 Song [close]

    CrossfiresThe Crossfires were an early 60's surf rock band that transformed into the Turtles, the revered band responsible for "Happy Together" and many more sunshine pop classics. While the Crossfires are best remembered for tough surf instrumentals like "Fiberglass Jungle" and "Out Of Control," they featured Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, a famously madcap duo who went on to perform with Frank Zappa as the Phlorescent Leech & Eddie (aka Flo & Eddie). Long before that, Kaylan & Volman's twisted humor came to the fore on the Crossfires' "Santa & The Sidewalk Surfer." The scene: A department store Santa Claus is efficiently dispatching greedy tots until confronted with an avaricious, amateur skateboarder. The would-be sidewalk surfer unfurls a seemingly endless list of requirements for his new hobby, entreating Santa for everything from a "genuine Waimea Bun Buster Skateboard" to a "Fender electric twangy surf guitar" to peroxide, cut-off blue jeans, huarache sandals, and a subscription to Surfer magazine. On and on he goes till Santa finally breaks down in a paroxysm of ho ho ho's, amused by the surfer's last request - a box of band-aids for when he "busts his buns."

    "Santa & The Sidewalk Surfer" was recorded for the b-side of a Christmas single, "Living Doll," that got scuttled for some reason - and both songs are tough to find. "Santa" sat unreleased until 1974, when Sire Records included it on their Turtles compilation, Happy Together Again. It also appeared on Rhino Records' Rockin' Christmas: The 60's (1984), and both songs appear on Sundazed Records' 1995 expanded CD reissue of Out Of Control, Rhino's 1981 collection of mostly unreleased Crossfires masters. [back to list]

  • Santa And The Touchables (Dickie Goodman, 1961)
  • Santa Baby
  • Santa Baby (Gimme Gimme Gimme) (Willa Ford, 2001)
  • Santa Be Good
  • Santa Bring Me A Surfboard Please (Surfisticats, 2023)
  • Santa Bring Me Ringo (Christine Hunter, 1964)
  • Santa Bring My Baby Back Home (Brian Hyland, 2010)
  • Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
  • Santa Bring My Soldier Home (Stunners, 2010)
  • Santa Came Home Drunk (Clyde Lasley & The Cadillac Baby Specials, 1960)
  • Santa Can't Stay (Dwight Yoakam, 1997)
  • Santa, Can't You Hear Me (Kelly Clarkson & Ariana Grande, 2022)
  • Santa Claus (Lee "Scratch" Perry, 2008)
  • Santa Claus
  • Santa Claus (Throwing Muses, 1989)
  • Santa Claus (Sonny Boy Williamson, 1960)
  • Santa Claus Ain't Comin' This Year (Swingin' Neckbreakers, 1999)
  • Santa Claus Ain't Coming to Town (Jim Breuer, 2013)
  • Santa Claus And His Old Lady (Cheech & Chong, 1971)
  • Santa Claus And Popcorn (Merle Haggard, 1973)
  • Santa Claus Baby (The Voices, 1955)
  • Santa Claus Blues
  • Santa Claus Blues (Keb' Mo', 2019)
  • Santa Claus Boogie (Hasil Adkins, 1993)
  • Santa Claus' Daughter (Charlie Rich, 1965)
  • Santa Claus (Do You Ever Come To The Ghetto) (Carlene Davis & Trinity, 1981)
  • Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto (James Brown, 1968) Top 100 Song
  • Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto
  • Santa Claus Got The Blues (Denise LaSalle, 1985)
  • Santa Claus Got Stuck (In My Chimney) (Ella Fitzgerald, 1950)
  • Santa Claus Hop (Jimmy Ashby & The Treble-Tones, circa 1957)
  • Santa Claus Is A Lie (New Duncan Imperials, 1993)
  • Santa Claus Is Back In Town
  • Santa Claus Is Coming (Hank Ballard & The Midnighters, 1963) Top 100 Song
  • Santa Claus Is Coming To My House (Karla DeVito, 1982) Top 100 Song
  • Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
  • Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay (James Brown, 1970)
  • Santa Claus Is From The South (Benny Martin, 1988)
  • Santa Claus Is Getting Down (Jesse Ed Davis, 1988)
  • Santa Claus Is Not a Number (Little Kicks, 2012)
  • Santa Claus Is Ska-ing To Town (Granville Williams Orchestra with Ernest Ranglin, 1964)
  • Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefer (aka Santa's Secret) (Squirrel Nut Zippers, 1996)
  • Santa Claus Is Surfin' To Town (Soupy Sales, 1963)
  • Santa Claus Is Watching You (Ray Stevens, 1962) [close]

    Ray StevensRay Stevens is most famous for the 1974 novelty smash "The Streak," but he was no one-hit wonder. Rather, he was the rare musical comedian who enjoyed a long, full career, and "Santa Claus Is Watching You" (1962) is one of his earliest hits. It's pretty typical Stevens schtick, with Santa Claus portrayed as a menacing figure ("He's everywhere, he's everwhere!"). The song is more notable for its cultural references, including a callback to Steven's earlier 1962 hit, "Ahab The Arab." Rudolph, it seems, has dislocated his hip in a twist contest, and his role will be filled by Ahab's camel, Clyde... Interestingly, the original Mercury 45 ran only about 2:20, but an unedited version that runs about 3:20 popped up later. The longer version includes an additional verse, an extra bridge, and various bonus goofiness throughout - but much less reverb, thankfully. Otherwise, it sounds way too similar to be a different recording. I do not know the back story, but it first appeared on Rhino's Christmas Classics (1988) and then on Holidays In Dementia (1995) and The Best Of Ray Stevens (1997). Stevens did, however, record a new version of "Santa Claus Is Watching You" for his 1984 MCA album I Have Returned, and in 1985 he made a video for it and released it as a single. In 1997, he recorded yet another version for his MCA album Christmas Through A Different Window.

  • Santa Claus Looks Like My Daddy (Danny Kaye, 1951)
  • Santa Claus Never Comes To The Ghetto (Yellowman, 1998)
  • Santa Claus' Party (Les Baxter, 1952) [close]

    Merry Christmas To You!The inimitable Les Baxter carried on dual careers - one as an easy listening bandleader (known for irresistible fluff like "The Poor People Of Paris") and another as a brilliant composer of dark, glamorous exotica (most famously with "The Quiet Village"). "Santa Claus' Party" is most definitely in the former camp, bouncing merrily along like the soundtrack to some unseen Christmas cartoon. In fact, "Santa Claus' Party" is blissfully utopian in its vision, as Baxter's white-bread chorus declares, "You may be sure that rich and poor are welcome at Santa's door!"

    'm sure Lester thought he was composing the next great Christmas standard, but what he gave us instead (however now obscure) was a glimpse into the powerful optimism and willful innocence that transformed America after World War II. A few years later, rock 'n' roll helped shatter that dream (and rendered musicians like Baxter obsolete), setting the stage for the Civil Rights Act, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate - now that's a party!

    Originally released both as a single and as part of the Capitol LP, Merry Christmas To You! (pictured), "Santa Claus' Party" has rarely been reissued. It has been included in medley form on albums like Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails, Part Two (read more), but the unedited original version is fairly scarce. It's shown up on European budget collections like EMI's Christmas Selection (2002) and The Original Christmas Album (2007), and Bear Family included it on their compilation Here Comes Santa Claus: 29 Swinging Chestnuts (2021).

  • Santa Claus Please Listen To Me (Artie Fullilove, 1968)
  • Santa Claus, Santa Claus (James Brown, 1968)
  • Santa Claus, Santa Claus (Louis Jordan, 1968)
  • Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'
  • Santa Claus Was My Lover (Culturcide, 1986)
  • Santa Claws (Sit n' Spin, 1994)
  • Santa Comes 'Round (J. Tex & The Volunteers, 2011)
  • Santa Doesn't Come To Little Jewish Children's Houses (Yid Kids, circa 1988)
  • Santa Doesn't Cop Out On Dope
  • Santa Dog (Residents, 1972)
  • Santa Don't Go (Farrah, 2008)
  • Santa Don't Like Bad Boys (Adam Sandler, 1993)
  • Santa! Don't Pass Me By (Freddy Fender, 1977)
  • Santa Done Got Hip (Marquees, 1959)
  • Santa God (Pearl Jam, 2007)
  • Santa Goes Rockin' (Mick Clarke, 2020)
  • Santa Got Soul (Better Off Dead, 2007)
  • Santa Got Stuck In The Chimney (Jimmy Boyd, 1953)
  • Santa, How Come Your Eyes Are Green When Last Year They Were Blue? (Louis Prima, 1966)
  • Santa, I Got Your Number (Tommy Tutone, 2008)
  • Santa Is An Anagram (Rick Springfield, 2017)
  • Santa Is Comin' Down Again (Psycho Daisies, 1986)
  • Santa Is Coming (Ho, Ho, Ho) (Woggles, 2007)
  • Santa Jaws (Homemade Theater, 1975)
  • Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy (Buck Owens, 1965) Top 100 Song
  • Santa Mouse (Bob Morrison, 1966)
  • Santa, Oh Santa (Brian Hyland, 2002)
  • Santa Please (Lisa Mychols & Super 8, 2022)
  • Santa Please Bring Me A Surfboard (Kung Fu Monkeys, 1999)
  • Santa Santa (Rocky Fellers, 1962)
  • Santa Says (Christmas Pandemic) (Hamell On Trial, 2020)
  • Santa Song (Jud Strunk, 1969)
  • Santa Stole My Baby (Leroy, 1991)
  • Santa Stole My Lady (Fitz & The Tantrums, 2010)
  • Santa Teach Me To Dance (Debbie & The Darnells, 1962)
  • Santa Tell Me
  • Santa Town U.S.A. (Lonnie & The Crisis, 1961)
  • Santa We're Through (Stratocruiser, 2012)
  • Santa Won't Be Blue This Christmas (Jimmy Charles, 1960)
  • Santa's A Fat Bitch (Insane Clown Posse, 1994)
  • Santa's Beard (Beach Boys, 1964)
  • Santa's Beard (They Might Be Giants, 1988)
  • Santa's Big Parade (Louvin Brothers, 1961)
  • Santa's Calling (Sun Kings, 2009)
  • Santa's Coming (Meri Wilson, 2002)
  • Santa's Coming In A Whirly Bird (Gene Autry, 1959)
  • Santa's Coming Over (Low, 2008)
  • Santa's Gift Of Love (Martha And The Muffins, 2010)
  • Santa's Going South
  • Santa's Going To Kokomo (Mike Love, 2006)
  • Santa's Gone Surfin' (Malibooz, 1981)
  • Santa's Gonna Shut 'Em Down (Untamed Youth, 1989)
  • Santa's Got A Bag Of Soul (Soul Saints Orchestra, 1994)
  • Santa's Got A Brand New Bag (Gary Walker, 1965)
  • Santa's Got A GTO (Ramonas, 1990) Top 100 Song
  • Santa's Got A Mullet (Nerf Herder, 2000)
  • Santa's Got His Baby Something Good (T. Graham Brown, 2023)
  • Santa's Got Something For You (Stratocruiser, 2009)
  • Santa's Knee (Lenny Kaye, 2023)
  • Santa's Lament (Father Guido Sarducci, 1991)
  • Santa's Little Helper (Evan Johns & The H-Bombs, 1990)
  • Santa's Little Helpers (Pipsqueeks, 1966)
  • Santa's Messin' With The Kid (Eddie C. Campbell, 1977)
  • Santa's On His Way (Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, 1949)
  • Santa's Rap (aka Xmas Rap) (Treacherous Three featuring Kool Moe Dee, 1984)
  • Santa's Sack (Diaboliks, 1997)
  • Santa's Secret (aka Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefer) (Johnny Guarnieri with Slam Stewart, 1944) [close]

    Mr. Santa's Boogie"Santa's Secret" is a bizarre jive number by New York jazz pianist Johnny Guarnieri. Recorded in 1944, possibly as an inside joke but most definitely as a cheeky tribute to Fats Waller, it sat unreleased until 1985 when it appeared on Mr. Santa's Boogie, an amazing compilation on Savoy Jazz. And no wonder, as it was later recorded by the Squirrel Nut Zippers under its more intuitive title, "Santa Claus Is Smoking Reefer." Guarnieri goes into great detail about Santa's affinity for sticky herb. "Kris Kringle's got a reefer 100 feet long, smokes it from end to end," Johnny reveals. "He's so high in the sky, loaded all the time. He stays up there loaded for a year, comes on down, he's got the stuff for the kiddies - and the kids are hep these days!" So it would seem... Guarnieri is joined by drummer Sammy Weiss and bassist Slam Stewart, who played with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, and many others. Stewart was renowned for his ability to sing along with himself while bowing his bass, and if you listen very carefully, you can hear him doing so on "Santa's Secret."

  • Santa's Supersonic Flying Rocket Sled (Hollyberries, 2012)
  • Santa's Wish (Hawaii Mud Bombers, 2004)
  • Santa, You Owe Me (Antigone Rising, 2013)
  • Santacide (Toadies, 1994)
  • Santafly (Martin Mull with the Sondra Baskin Glee Club, 1973)
  • Save Christmas Day For Me (Red Sky July, 2015)
  • Saving Up Christmas (Captain & Tennille, 2005)
  • Saviour's Day (Cliff Richard, 1990)
  • Say It Ain't So, Santa (Stop Calling Me Frank, 2022)
  • Say Merry Christmas For Me (Donna Hightower, 1972)
  • Season's Freaklings (Bunnygrunt, 1996)
  • Season's Greetings (Cix Bits, 1973)
  • Season's Greetings (Robbers On High Street, 2007)
  • Season's Upon Us (Dropkick Murphys, 2012)
  • Senor Santa Claus (Louis Prima, 1966)
  • Senor Santa Claus (Jim Reeves, 1962)
  • Senseless Lass (Yobs, 1991)
  • Sentimental Christmastime (Birthday Kiss, 2012)
  • 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night (medley)
  • 77 Santas (Gayla Peevey, 1955)
  • Sex Toys for Christmas (Vegas DeMilo, 2001)
  • Sexy Christmas Baby Mine (Morphine, 1995)
  • Sexy Santa (Steel Panther, 2009)
  • Shake Hands With Santa (Louis Prima, 1951)
  • Shake Things Up (Lisa Loeb & Rob Morrow, 2023)
  • Sha La Da La La (Christmas Time) (Sha La Das, 2013)
  • Shadrack, The Black Reindeer (Loretta Lynn, 1974)
  • Shake Me I Rattle (Squeeze Me I Cry) (Marion Worth, 1962)
  • Shake Up Christmas
  • She Came Home For Christmas (Mew, 1997)
  • She Feels Like Christmas Day (Critics, 1991)
  • She Won't Be Home (Erasure, 1988)
  • She's A Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas (Patent Pending, 2007)
  • She's All I Want For Christmas (Lloyd, 2011)
  • She's Coming Home (Wailers, 1965)
  • Shepherds And Wisemen (The Free Design, 1968/2023) [close]
    Free Design, Shepherds And Wisemen
    listen / buy

    The Free Design was a family vocal group from New York similar to the Cowsills, but with a sophisticated approach that owed a lot to the jazz acts like the Swingle Singers and the Hi-Los, as well as pop groups like the Association and the Beach Boys, circa Pet Sounds. Between 1967 and 1972, the Free Design released seven fine albums with psychedelic overtones, and they sometimes bore a striking similarity to the baroque pop that would make the Carpenters rich and famous. But, the Free Design never saw much chart action - "Kites Are Fun" bubbled under in 1967, but that's as close as they got.

    These days, we call the Free Design "sunshine pop," and the term certainly fits. Thanks to reissues by Varèse Sarabande and Light In The Attic, the group experienced something of a renaissance in the late 90's, parallel with the lounge revival that sprang up in reaction to the loud, abrasive, alternative rock then dominating the airwaves. Any number of bands from the time can call them an influence, including Belle & Sebastian, the High Llamas, and Stereolab. The Free Design even got the band back together and, in 2001, recorded a new album, Cosmic Peekaboo.

    For Christmas geeks, the Free Design created two points of interest, both in 1968. First, they recorded a non-LP single, "Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas)," that is almost (but not quite) a unicorn: a full-blown hippie flower-power song about the holidays. I can cite a few more examples - say, Shirley Ellis' 1965 nuclear warning, "You Better Be Good World," the Rotary Connection's trippy 1967 LP Peace, or the Raiders' bizarro 1967 concept album Christmas Present... And Past. But, by the late 60's, most reasonably hip acts were avoiding "square" Christmas music like a plague. Predictably, the single flopped and became impossibly rare. Thankfully, Light In The Attic included both "Close Your Mouth" and its b-side, "Christmas Is The Day" - written by the group's father - as bonus tracks on their CD reissue of the group's 1968 album, You Could Be Born Again.

    Free Design, You Could Be Born AgainThe Free Design's second Christmas project was much stranger, and it has become the white whale of many a record-collecting Ahab. And, it has quite a story behind it. As I mentioned above, the Free Design was a real family: initially eldest child Sandra Dedrick and her brothers Bruce and Chris. By 1968, little sister Ellen was on board, and Stefanie, the baby of the family, would join towards the end. But, Chris Dedrick was the leader. He wrote and arranged most of their material, and he went on to a long career in music, including stints with the Star-Scape Singers (with sisters Sandra and Stefanie) and the Canadian Brass.

    In 1968, however, Chris had just graduated from the Manhattan School of Music, losing his student deferment in the process. To avoid getting drafted and sent to the jungles of Vietnam, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and joined their band, the Airmen Of Note. Eventually, Chris was asked to participate in a recruitment project, and he brought the Free Design along for the ride.

    The resulting LP - now incredibly rare - was distributed to radio stations for broadcast and consisted of two different programs, both accompanied by the Airmen Of Note and the Air Force orchestra, Symphony In Blue. The first side was called "A Christmas Party," and it featured the show biz duo of Tony Sandler and Ralph Young - a popular recording act for Capitol Records - performing holiday standards. The second side was called "The Now Sound Of Christmas," with the Free Design helping the Air Force attract young recruits during an increasingly unpopular war.

    Free Design, The Now Sound Of ChristmasTo their credit, the Free Design stuck to their own, unique style, but there's not a lot of compelling new music. Of the 10 tracks, three were previously released, including both sides of the "Close Your Mouth" single, and another was an ancient hymn, "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." Two were versions of the neat theme song, but it's little more than background music for the Air Force announcer. Then, two brassy instrumental carols by the Airmen Of Note leave us just one song - but that's where things get interesting.

    With "Shepherds And Wisemen," Chris Dedrick managed to sneak an anti-war message onto a military recruiting record. Christmas may have become a time for children and revelry, but let's not forget where it started. Since the dawn of the holiday, we've endured "centuries of hate," but its origin story may hold the key. "Let's become like shepherds again, let's make room for wisemen, let's take time to look for a star that's not forgotten," the group implores. "Peace at Christmas," they conclude, "wouldn’t that be awfully nice?"

    Chris Dedrick died in 2010, but his subversive Christmas song received a whole new life in 2023 when the group produced a new version of "Shepherds And Wisemen" with renowned musician Fernando Perdomo. He took the original 1968 vocals by Sandra, Ellen, Bruce, and Chris Dedrick and laid them over a brand new backing track, playing nearly all the instruments himself - guitar, keyboards, bass, drums, and more - with Probyn Gregory, a longtime member of the Brian Wilson Band, adding horns. The refurbished song was released for download and streaming, sadly relevant in a world still hoping for peace at Christmas.

    Finally, we should make note of Butterflies Are Free: Original Recordings 1967-1972 (2020), a four-CD Él Records boxed set. It collects nearly all of the Free Design's vintage recordings - seven albums plus assorted rarities, including both sides of their 1968 Christmas single. But, it doesn't include the Air Force recordings.

  • Shimmy Winter Wonderland (Swingin' Embers, 1962)
  • Shopping Center Santa (Stuntmen, 1996)
  • Shopping Mall (Holiday Music, 2005)
  • Shopping On Christmas Eve (Keb' Mo', 2011)
  • Shouldn't Have Given Him A Gun For Christmas (Wall Of Voodoo, 1987)
  • Shut-In At Christmas/Shut-In's Prayer (Louvin Brothers, 1952)
  • Sick And Tired Of Christmas (The Midway, 2022)
  • Sickly Sweet Holidays (Dallon Weekes, 2014)
  • Signs Of Christmas (James Brown, 1966)
  • Silent Night
  • Silent Night All Day Long (John Prine, 1993)
  • Silent Night, Lonely Night (Duke Ellington, 1968)
  • Silent Night, Lonely Night (Jody Miller, 1973)
  • Silent Night-Mare (Sister Soleil, 1992)
  • Silent Night Rumble (Jackie & The Cedrics, 1996)
  • Silent Tonight (Elle And The Fury, 2012)
  • Silver And Gold (from "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer")
  • Silver Bells
  • Silver Bells Ring (Ana Egge, 2024)
  • Simple Feeling (Smoke Fairies, 2013)
  • Since It's Christmas (Amanda Stewart, 2023)
  • Six Days Till Xmas (aka Snowflakes) (Betty Lloyd, circa 1968)
  • Six Tons Of Toys (Dave Dudley, 1970)
  • Six Weeks Every Summer (Christmas Every Other Year) (Vicki Carr, 1971)
  • Skank 'Til Christmas (The Selecter, 2011)
  • Skater's Waltz (John Fahey, 1983)
  • Skating (from "A Charlie Brown Christmas") (Vince Guaraldi Trio, 1965)
  • Skating On Thin Ice (Katie Morey, 2022)
  • Ski Party (Wondermints, 1997)
  • Sleigh (Smino, Monte Booker & Mase, 2019)
  • Sleigh Bell Rock (Three Aces & A Joker, 1960) Top 100 Song
  • Sleigh Ride
    • Leroy Anderson (1950) [close]

      Leroy AndersonLeroy Anderson made thoughtful music that we might call "easy listening" today, but you can't deny how vibrant and memorable his melodies and arrangements were. Pleasant? Very. Easy? Nope. Anderson's songs demanded your attention and captured your imagination. His specialty was a kind of musical onomatopoeia. Anderson wrote wordless songs that sounded like their subject matter - "The Syncopated Clock," "The Typewriter," "The Waltzing Cat," and "Plink, Plank, Plunk!" His greatest hit, "Sleigh Ride," immediately brings to mind wintery snowscapes and rollicking good times. Naysayers will complain that it's not a Christmas song - and, technically, it is not - but it quickly became associated with the holiday, and it's been covered on countless Christmas albums since its debut in 1949.

      Anderson wrote "Sleigh Ride" as an instrumental, begun in the summer of 1946 and finished on February 10, 1948. It was first performed by his employer, Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, on May 4, 1948. It was first recorded by Fiedler and the Pops in 1949 and released as an RCA single, reaching #24 on Billboard's pop charts. It proved so popular that in 1950 Anderson commissioned lyrics by Mitchell Parish, the man who wrote the words for pop standards "Stardust," "Deep Purple," and "Stars Fell On Alabama," among others, as well as several other Anderson compositions including "Blue Tango" and "Serenata." Immediately, several vocal versions were recorded including Johnny Desmond's for Capitol, Percy Faith's for Columbia, and Freddy Martin's for RCA.

      Leroy Anderson recorded his own instrumental version on September 11, 1950, and it was first released in early 1951 on his Decca album Leroy Anderson Conducts His Own Compositions. In 1952, Decca reissued the songs as a single, and though it did not chart in Billboard, it appeared on the Cash Box Best Sellers chart in late 1952 and early 1953, peaking at #26. In 1959, Anderson recorded a new version in stereo for his Decca album Leroy Anderson Conducts Leroy Anderson.

      Both the mono and stereo recordings can be found on Anderson's Complete Christmas Collection (Real Gone Music, 2019). A new stereo recording by the Boston Pops (for Polydor in 1970) is included on A Leroy Anderson Christmas (Decca, 2004) alongside Anderson's own mono recording. And, the song lends its title to Sleigh Ride: The Best Of Leroy Anderson (MCA, 1997), a fine sampler of his evocative repertoire. The original mono recording is most commonplace on holiday compilations like The Twelve Hits Of Christmas (United Artists, 1976), Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits (Rhino, 1989), and Croon And Swoon: A Classic Christmas (Relativity, 1998).

      All that said, it's worth noting that the rest of Leroy Anderson's Christmas music - two Decca LP's, Christmas Carols (1955) and Christmas Festival (1959), both collected on Complete Christmas Collection - is much more traditional than "Sleigh Ride." It's fine for what it is - not dissimilar from Percy Faith's beloved holiday albums, for instance - but it merits the "easy listening" label that the rest of his catalog generally does not.

    • Tex Beneke (1965)
    • Combustible Edison (1994)
    • Johnny Desmond with the Ray Conniff Singers (1950)
    • Jack Jones (1964)
    • Arthur Lyman (1963)
    • Johnny Mathis (1958)
    • Ronettes (1963)
    • Soulful Strings (1968)
    • Spice Girls (1996)
    • Ventures (1965)
  • Sleigh Ride (aka Christmas Sleigh Ride) (Lloyd Glenn, 1951)
  • Sleighbell Bop (The Holidays, 1986)
  • Slick Nick You Devil You (Fishbone, 1987)
  • Slipping Into Christmas (Leon Russell, 1972) [close]

    Leon RussellLeon Russell penned both "Slipping Into Christmas" and its b-side, "Christmas In Chicago," releasing them as a single on his Shelter Records in 1972. The holidays find Russell alone and depressed ("Scrooge ain't got nothing on me), and "Slipping Into Christmas" creeps along in an absinthe-induced haze, neatly splitting the difference between uptown jazz and down-home blues. Despite it's snail-like tempo and major-bummer message, the a-side reached #4 on the Billboard Christmas chart, but Russell has never included either side of the single on one of his albums, nor has he licensed them for inclusion elsewhere. DCC Records did, however, release the songs on a promotional CD single to publicize their 1989 reissue of Russell's Shelter catalog, and, many years hence, Capitol Records finally reissued the single as an MP3 download.

  • Snoopy's Christmas (Royal Guardsmen, 1967)
  • Snow (written by Randy Newman)
  • Snow (New Found Glory, 2014)
  • Snow Angel And The Icicle Sword (Ian McGlynn, 2010)
  • Snow Covered Christmas (Jimmy Webb, 2009)
  • Snow Dreams (Connie Russell, 1954)
  • Snow Birds (Honeymoon Stallions, 2015)
  • Snow Miser (from "Year Without A Santa Claus") (Dick Shawn, 1974)
  • Snowball Fight (Village People, 2018)
  • Snowbound (Dell-Vikings, 1957)
  • Snowed In (MxPx, 2010)
  • Snowfall
  • Snowfall Cha Cha (Billy May, 1960) [close]

    Mambo Santa MamboPianist Claude Thornhill's 1941 composition "Snowfall" is a big band classic that eventually became a Christmas standard - helped along when his wife, Ruth, later added lyrics. Billy May's gentle 1960 "cha cha" arrangement is one of the best treatments Thornhill's moneymaker ever received - though it's an instrumental version minus Ruth's words. May was known mainly as a composer of movie and TV themes ("Batman" is the most famous) and as a bandleader who accompanied a who's who of vocalists including Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, and Nancy Wilson. But, May also put out records under his own name, including his 1960 Capitol LP Cha Cha! from which "Snowfall" is taken.

    While that record has never been reissued, "Snowfall" was later included on Rhino's marvelous compilation Mambo Santa Mambo (2000). These days, however, the most commonly heard version of May's recording is in a medley with pianist George Shearing's interpretation of the same song. The medley was created long after the fact for Capitol's Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails 2 (1997). Shearing's recording was made for his 1964 Capitol album, The Shearing Touch, on which Billy May arranged and conducted the string orchestra - so the concept works better than I would've expected....

  • A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like A Kiss) (Glasvegas, 2008)
  • Snowflakes (Jeremy Fisher, 2010)
  • Snowflakes (aka Six Days Till Xmas) (Betty Lloyd, 1969)
  • Snowman (Sofia Talvik, 2022)
  • Snowman Magic (Dwight Twilley, 2005)
  • Snowman Snowman Sweet Potato Nose (Jaynetts, 1963)
  • Snowstorm (Raveonettes, 2020)
  • Snowy (Josh Rouse, 2007)
  • So In Love This Christmas (Stephanie Mills, 2012)
  • So Near To Christmas (Alvin Stardust, 1984)
  • So They Say It's Christmas (Lou Rawls with Brian Setzer, 1996)
  • So This Is Christmas (MxPx, 2003)
  • Soca Santa (Machel, 1985)
  • Sock It To Me Santa
  • Sock It To Me Santa (Bud Logan, 1968)
  • Some Hearts (At Christmas Time) (Low, 2016)
  • Somebody Stole My Christmas (Lefty Dizz, 1979)
  • Somebody Stole My Santa Claus Suit (Christmas Jug Band featuring Dan Hicks, 1987)
  • Someday At Christmas
  • Something 'Bout This Time Of Year
  • Son Of Santa (from Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper, 1986)
  • Song At Midnight (Peggy Lee, 1949)
  • Song Of The Sleigh Bells (June Hutton, 1952)
  • Sonny Boy's Christmas Blues (Sonny Boy Williamson, 1951)
  • Sorry To See You Go (June Christy, 1961)
  • Soul Christmas (Count Sidney & His Dukes, 1967)
  • Soul Christmas (Graham Parker & Nona Hendryx, 1994)
  • Soul Santa
  • Soulful Christmas
  • Sound The Trumpet (Christmas Is Here)
  • Space Christmas (Shonen Knife, 1991) [close]

    Shonen KnifeShonen Knife's "Space Christmas" is a pretty typical song for the Japanese cause célèbre - infectious melodies, propulsive beat, lyrics while teetering between absurd and profound. Issued by indie label Seminal Twang in the UK on both vinyl and CD single, "Space Christmas" was backed with "Bear Up Bison" plus the band's "Christmas Message '91" (CD only). The cover (pictured) was also issued in a red-and-green color scheme. In America, "Space Christmas" was issued by Rockville on red 7-inch vinyl b/w "Christmas Message '91." The single had an attractive picture sleeve and was formally entitled A Shonen Knife Christmas Record For You (click to see). Later, "Space Christmas" was compiled on Shonen Knife's CD, The Birds And The B-Sides (1996). In 1999, the group recorded a new holiday single, All I Want For Christmas, with Sonic Youth's Thurston, and in 2011, Sweet Christmas.

  • Spaceman Came Travelling (Chris de Burgh, 1975)
  • Special Christmas Day (Eddie Floyd, 1976)
  • Special Kind of Christmas (Jay Patten with Crystal Gayle, 1994)
  • Spirit Of Christmas (Kitty Kallen, 1954)
  • Spirit Of Christmas (John Lodge of the Moody Blues, 2014)
  • Spirit Of Christmas (from "The Christmas Chronicles 2") (Kurt Russell and Darlene Love, 2020)
  • Spirits Of Old Christmas (Cleaners From Venus, 2023)
  • Spoiled Rotten Kids (V.D. King, 2021)
  • Spotlight On Christmas (Rufus Wainwright, 2003)
  • Squat (The Christmas Blues) (Shelby Lynne, 2003)
  • Squirrely Christmas (Shirley & Squirrely, 1976)
  • Staffan Var En Stalledräng (Twang-O-Matics, 2018)
  • Star (Cheepskates, 1986)
  • Star Carol (Simon & Garfunkel, 1967)
  • Star Of Hope (The Springfields, 1961)
  • Star Of Wonder (Roches, 1990)
  • Star Still Shines (Sonny James, 1966)
  • Stay Here This Christmas (Push Play, 2009)
  • Step Into Christmas
    • Elton John (1973) Top 100 Song
    • The Wedding Present (1991) [close]

      Wedding PresentIn 1992, English indie rockers the Wedding Present undertook to release a new 7-inch vinyl single on the first Monday of every month. The a-sides were original songs, while the b-sides consisted entirely of eclectic covers. The twelfth and final single was a Christmas record pressed on red vinyl - "No Christmas" backed with a rendition of Elton John's "Step Into Christmas," which had been previously released on A Lump Of Coal (1991). All of the singles made the UK charts, with "No Christmas" reaching #25. Later, all 24 songs from the series were compiled in chronological order on two albums, Hit Parade 1 (1992) and Hit Parade 2 (1993), the latter of which, logically, concluded with both sides of the Christmas single.

      "No Christmas" is a noisy, caterwauling plea for forgiveness - and one that falls on deaf ears. "Don't say we've reached the end," begs singer David Gedge, repeating "I care about you" and "It can't be ending" over and over. We are left to assume that he is left alone and bereft for the holidays since the song is called "No Christmas" - despite the fact that Gedge never utters those words. "Step Into Christmas," meanwhile, is a shambolic, if serviceable cover. It's a hoot, in a dark sort of way, but it can't erase the memory of Elton's John's sparkling 1973 original - which, admittedly, wasn't really the point.

  • Stet-N-Santa (Stetsasonic, 1987)
  • Still Got the Blues for Christmas (Gary Hoey, 2013)
  • Stille Nacht
  • Stone Soul Christmas (Binky Griptite, 2006)
  • Stop The Cavalry (Jona Lewie, 1980)
  • Strawberry Snow (Brenda Lee, 1964)
  • Stretchy Pants (Carrie Underwood, 2021)
  • Stripper Christmas Summer Weekend (Gwar, 2009)
  • Stuck In The Holiday (Jack Skuller, 2016)
  • Stuffin' Her Stockin' (Bloodshot Bill, 2014)
  • Stupid Xmas! (Sensible Gray Cells, 2023)
  • Suddenly It's Christmas
  • Sugar And Booze (Ana Gasteyer, 2019)
  • Sugar Rum Cherry (Duke Ellington, 1960)
  • Sugarplum Gremmie (Malibooz, 2018)
  • Sun Valley Ski Run (Esquivel, 1959)
  • Sunny Day For Xmas (Michael Carpenter, 2010)
  • Sunshine To Snowflakes (Al Jardine, 2014)
  • Super Rock Santa (Fleshtones, 2008)
  • Super Sunny Christmas (Redd Kross, 1991)
  • Surfer's Christmas List (Surfaris, 1963) [close]

    Rockin' Little ChristmasThe Surfaris are known for crazed, high-energy instrumentals like "Point Panic" and their all-time classic, "Wipe Out." But, drummer Ron Wilson would occasionally add a vocal into the mix, including the charting b-side of "Wipe Out," "Surfer Joe." The Surfaris' 1963 Decca single, "A Surfer's Christmas List," is another good example - and a particularly wholesome one.

    So, what does a surfer want for Christmas?" Well, a surfboard, natch, plus "some baggies and a customized woody." That's pretty red-blooded stuff, but to curry favor with Santa, Ron promises that he'll "give up the honeys and the parties, too." That doesn't sound like the surfers I know, but then I'm a hodad.

    "Surfer's Christmas List" isn't a widely acknowledged holiday classic - though it should be. But, it can easily be found on MCA's brief-but-great Rockin' Little Christmas (1986), which is now available to download or stream (read more). It also appears on Rhino's 1986 LP, Cool Yule, and a few odd compilations. But, you'll need to track down the original Decca 45 to get the b-side, "Santa's Speed Shop" - a revved up reinvention of "Jingle Bells."

  • Surfer's Holiday (Annette Funicello, 1963)
  • Surfin' Jingle Bells (Wave Chargers, 2020)
  • Surfin' Santa (Lord Douglas Byron, 1964) [close]

    Rockin' Little Christmas"Surfin' Santa" is a weird little song released as a Dot single in 1964, after which Lord Douglas Byron was never heard from again. In all likelihood, the performer is actually California wunderkind Gary Paxton, who is credited as cowriter and arranger. "Surfin' Santa" doesn't sound remotely like a surf song - there are no hyperkenetic guitars or close Beach Boys harmonies. And, it's sung in a goofy drawl - not unlike "Alley Oop," the 1960 hit by the Hollywood Argyles produced and sung by - wait for it - Gary Paxton.

    But, "Surfin' Santa" crams a lot of buzz words into a two-minute single, transparently hoping to ride the fading surf craze all the way to the bank. Unsurprisingly, the single flopped, but we're left with the enduring image of a Santa who "wears bright red baggies," has two reindeer named "Jan and Dean," and "surfs over snowbanks twenty feet high." He comes bearing gifts, of course, but not toys. Instead, he leaves the kiddies "autographed pictures of those Beach Boys" and "bright colored surfboards and shiny new woodies."

    Since it's original release, "Surfin' Santa" has only appeared on one album, MCA's Rockin' Little Christmas (1986), which is now available to download or stream (read more).

  • Surfin' With The Claus (Mike Watt & The Bobblymen, 2023)
  • Surfing On Christmas Day (Santa Won't You Bring Me Some Waves) (Southern Culture On The Skids, 2020)
  • Suzy Snowflake (Rosemary Clooney, 1951)
  • (Sweet Angie) The Christmas Tree Angel (Andrews Sisters, 1950)
  • Sweet Christmas (Shonen Knife, 2011)
  • Sweet Little Baby Boy (Angela Strehli, 1983)
  • Sweet Little Jesus Boy (Johnny Nash, 1969)
  • Sweet Secret Peace (Neil Finn, 2002)
  • Sweet Winter (Remington Super 60, 2009)
  • Sweetest Season (Nicole Atkins & Teddy Morgan, 2024)
  • Swingin' For Christmas (Gene Ammons, 1948) [close]

    The Joy Of Christmas PastMost record collectors know that history can be fuzzy, if not altogether confusing. Gene Ammons' "Swingin' For Christmas" is case in point, where almost nothing about the song seems certain. It was recorded in October 1948 and originally issued under that title as a 78-rpm single on The Aristocrat Of Records (606), a little Chicago label, backed with "Talk Of The Town." But, it was credited to Tom Archia And His All Stars - not Gene Ammons. Archia was a tenor saxophonist from Texas who played with Roy Eldride, Wynonie Harris, Helen Humes, Illinois Jacquet, and Dinah Washington, among others. These days, however, Archia's renown is dwarfed by that of Gene "Jug" Ammons, also a tenor saxophonist, who went on to a long, prolific career - and was the son of pianist Albert Ammons, by the way.

    Gene Ammons was not a regular member of Archia's All Stars, who released about a dozen sides on Aristocrat. But, he was present for their 1948 Aristocrat session, and the songs it produced - "Swingin' For Christmas," "Talk Of The Town," "Jam For Boppers," and "The Battle" - are frequently included on anthologies of Ammons' work.


    listen

    On "Swingin' For Christmas," Archia is also is credited as songwriter. In reality, the song is a medley including "Jingle Bells," "Joy To The World," "Silent Night," and "White Christmas" - none of which Archia wrote, obviously. Regardless, the song is an exhuberant hard bop jam featuring solos from Ammons ("Silent Night"), Archia ("White Christmas"), and pianist Willie Jones ("Jingle Bells") - though some sources place Christine Chatman at the keyboard.

    Leonard Chess worked at Aristocrat and, in 1949, he bought the label along with his brother Phil. In 1950, they renamed it Chess Records, which would go on to play a massive role in the development of blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll with a roster that included Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Etta James, Bo Diddley, the Dells, and many more.

    The Chess Brothers would, however, continue to dabble, relatively speaking, in jazz. They worked with Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Burrell, and, most notably, Ramsey Lewis, a pianist who scored lots of crossover hits like "The In Crowd" and "Wade In The Water."

    But, neither Gene Ammons or Tom Archia ever recorded for the newly-minted Chess label, though their Aristocrat sides would be recycled by the company ad infinitum. First out of the box was a very confusing 1950 Chess reissue (1445) of "Swingin' For Christmas." Here, the title was changed to "Boppin With Santa" and the artist was billed as a duo of Gene Amons (sic) and Tom Archia. Reportedly, the master was altered to sound like a live recording, including overdubbed applause.

    To add another layer of confusion, on later compilations such as Gene Ammons Early Visions (Cadet, 1975) and Young Jug (Chess, 1994), the song is often referred to as "Swingin' For Xmas" or "Swingin' For X-Mas," and Gene Ammons is given headline billing. Tom Archia is relegated to the role of sideman, if he's mentioned at all.

    If you discount products of the European public domain laws - and I do - "Swingin' For Christmas" has only appeared on a few holiday compilations over the years. Far and away, it is best contextualized on GRP's The Joy Of Christmas Past (1994), a collection of vintage jazz from the Chess, Decca, and other labels owned by MCA (read more). That album was reconfigured a few years later as Traditional Jazz Christmas (1997), with "Swingin' For Christmas" left intact.

  • Swinging Them Jingle Bells (Fats Waller, 1936)
  • Swingle Jingle (Lionel Hampton, 1964)

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