[Originally Published: December 21, 2006]

As we approach Christmas, this week’s B List takes a look at the ten great rock and roll Christmas songs. I’m Jewish, but hey, if Bette Midler and Neil Diamond can make Christmas albums, I can at least list my favorite songs.

1. Run Rudolph Run – Chuck Berry: One of the oldest songs on this list (1958), Run Rudolph Run has been performed by everyone from Dave Edmunds to the Grateful Dead to Bryan Adams. I always found it cool (because laziness rules) that Berry just stole the chords from Johnny B. Goode and added new seasonal lyrics, yet 50 years later, Run Rudolph Run is still in regular airplay on the radio.

2. Santa Baby – Madonna: Eartha Kitt, Madonna, Kylie Minogue and the Pussycat Dolls all cover this one — it seems like every 10 years the slutty popstar of the era records a new version of this classic. Madonna is still the sluttiest.

3. Merry Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon: John and Yoko wrote this one in 1971, and while it’s not exactly the most uplifting song, it’s got Christmas in the title. The melody is haunting, and the words still ring true today 35 years later.

Read on for the rest of this week’s edition of The B List…

4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen: Springsteen has one of the most distinctive voices in all of rock and roll. The E Street Band does a great job with the music, and the way Bruce adds accents and screams to the lyrics makes his version unique and entertaining.

5. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid: In 1984, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure decided to do something about famine in Africa, so they put together a supergroup to record a charity record. The result is the timeless Do They Know It’s Christmas?, which stills gets tons of airplay today, and for good reason.

6. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses: The Waitresses, who were best known for their hit I Know What Boys Like, made the most of their 15 minutes of fame and released a Christmas song. Christmas Wrapping mixes the characteristic New Wave sound with quirky lyrics about the magic of the holiday. I wonder what ever happened to these ladies. Anyone got some heady info for me?

7. Step Into Christmas – Elton John: As we’ve seen with other entries on this list, when an artist hits the top of the charts it must be time to release a Christmas single. Elton John was the biggest rock superstar in the world when he released this original song in 1973. While the song is just okay, the video is hilarious.

8. Rock and Roll Christmas – George Thorogood: Yet another great Christmas song from the early ’80s: Why don’t pop stars write Christmas songs anymore? Oh, that’s right, because they’re merely a creation of the recording industry and have no discernible talent.

9. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley: If my list is any indication, depressing Christmas songs seem to be the best. This particular tale of loneliness and misery shows off The King’s crooning style perfectly.

10. It’s Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2: Phil Spector, who also produced Merry Christmas (War Is Over), wrote this tune with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the original version recorded by Darlene Love. Then in 1987, U2 recorded a version at a soundcheck and added background vocals from Love. This track can be found on A Very Special Christmas, my favorite Christmas album, which also includes songs that just missed this list such as Run DMC’s Christmas in Hollis, The Eurythmics’ Winter Wonderland, and Stevie Nicks singing Silent Night.

I know there are plenty more, so tell us, what’s your favorite Christmas song?

Scott Bernstein

Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.

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