Ronan O'Brien
Matt LuceyIf there’s one word to describe Christmas, it’s tradition. Before the commercialisation and consumerism of the festive period, Christmas was a much simpler time. While this may be putting years on ourselves, we wanted to create a playlist that evokes that old-fashioned feeling of Christmas.
From trimming the tree to burning the yule log, we hope this playlist can restore those warm, familiar feelings associated with the Christmas spirit. And for all you retail workers, we promise there is no Mariah Carey here. Just some good old Christmas classics. Light that cigar and sip that brandy – this is The Hidden Track’s Christmas playlist.
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby (1947)
Penned by Irving Berlin for the 1942 film, Holiday Inn, “White Christmas“ is a revered classic. Reminiscing about the olden days of Christmas, it has become one of the best-selling festive songs of all time. Covered countless times, Bing Crosby’s version is not only the benchmark, but the best. The 1947 version is the most well-known, where Bing’s smooth, intimate vocals are accompanied by elements of flutes and celesta, as well as the beautiful harmonics of the Darby singers.
“The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)” by Nat King Cole (1962)
First written in 1945 by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé, the Nat King Cole trio began performing “The Christmas Song“ as early as 1946. While another popular choice for any singer to cover, nobody has quite reached the beauty of Nat King Cole’s 1962 version of the song. Instrumentals consisting of a jazz ensemble and orchestral arrangement, the music is smooth and warming. On top of this lies Nat King Cole’s velvety vocals, serenading the listener with the same warmth as a burning yule log.
“This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway (1970)
The upbeat, soulful, feel-good track was penned by Hathaway and Nadine McKinnor. The instrumental is as upbeat as Donny Hathaway the day he and McKinnor wrote the song. A funky, soulful ensemble of saxophone, trombone, percussion and guitars create a joyful atmosphere. Donny’s mellow vocals elicit pleasant emotions from the listener, as he narrates the wondrous possibilities and celebratory feelings around the festive season. This gets the holiday spirit pulsing through even the coldest veins.
“Mistletoe And Holly” by Frank Sinatra (1957)
Written by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, alongside Dok Stanford and Hank Sanicola, “Mistletoe And Holly“ is another crooning staple. A plucking harpist, imitating raindrops, is such a distinguishable element of the track. The piano and string instruments are beautiful, but the real star is Sinatra. His crisp baritone vocals serenade his audience, detailing in simplicity the comforting traditions of Christmas time.
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“Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes (1963)
Arguably the most popular and subjectively best cover of the light orchestral hit came courtesy of the Ronette trio. First composed by Leroy Anderson in 1946 during a particularly hot summer, the song is a Christmastime staple. With Phil Spector at the helm, The Ronettes performed and released their version in 1963. A much shorter version than the original, the “Ring-a-ling-a-ling, ding-dong-ding” refrains are renowned. Adding to the imagery of the song are the clip-clop imitations of hooves as well as a horse’s whinny at the beginning and end. The trio’s doo-wop delivery cements it in the sixties, making it a traditionally modern classic.
“Cool Yule” by Louis Armstrong & The Commanders (1953)
The big band jazz style always reminds me of Christmas, and who does it better than Satchmo. The incredibly smooth instrumental packs a serious punch at times. From the horn section to the punchy drums and walking double bass, it’s truly a cool classic. Armstrong’s gravelly voice is such a defining feature and his trumpet solo is truly the cherry on top. An incredibly cool song that has had households swinging for more than 70 years.
“Silver Bells” by Dean Martin (1966)
First appearing in 1951’s The Lemon Drop Kid, the song gained immediate fame for Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. The song became a popular choice for crooners in the fifties and sixties, but my favourite version is most certainly The King of Cool’s. Using the bells rang by Salvation Army Santa Clauses, the song is a golden oldie indeed. Deano’s smooth, baritone vocals evoke a sense of warmth with the backing of a beautifully soft orchestral arrangement. The plucking harps are a personal highlight, as well as the angelic backing vocalists, echoing the refrain.
“Frosty The Snowman” by Ella Fitzgerald (1960)
First performed by Gene Autry in 1950, this playful Christmas ditty is a family favourite. Covered numerous times, The Queen of Jazz has a stupendous version. With a jazz ensemble backing, the mood is swinging from the offset. Ella’s diction throughout the song is fantastic, lifting the mood to even the coldest. While a fun-filled song, she remains laid-back, narrating the adventures of the mischievous snowman. In true jazz style, the drums are cymbal-heavy and the double bass skips along to the beat.
“Let it Snow” by Dean Martin (1959)
We know, we know, it’s hard to stomach an artist repeated on lists like this, but its hard not to give credit to this absolute classic. While it was written and recorded previously, the most well known and loved version of this song was recorded by Dean Martin in 1959. A soft, iconic song, this Christmas love song makes you feel all warm and jolly. Gentle piano and an array of violins accompany Martin on this beautiful track. All that we can ask at this point is that Martin gets his wish and we get a festive snowy Christmas.
“Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck Berry (1958)
This rough and tumble 1958 track by Chuck Berry is a really fun Christmas track. This rowdy, quintessentially Berry track is a different speed to others on this list. Maybe more suited to a Christmas party, this track is energetic and filled with Berry’s signature guitar and vocals. For me, this is the perfect energy if you’re not quite feeling the slow and peaceful Christmas afternoon. Anyways, how many Christmas songs have guitar solos!?
“Moonlight Serenade” by Glenn Miller (1939)
This one is a bit of a shot in the dark. It doesn’t have Christmas in the title. That being said, this absolute classic, released in 1939, is the embodiment of what a Christmas song should be. It’s the kind of song you want to play on Christmas eve, drinking your wine, slow dancing and relaxing next to a crackling fire. With a big band sound, this song is remarkably soft and warm. The band shows so much restraint, between the wind and brass sections talking to each other, you have this beautiful piano accenting the song. The crackling of an old record though the whole thing is the icing on top. Whether it’s a Christmas song or not, this will certainly be playing in my house this festive season.
