Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music 2013

Returning for our 13th season, I'm excited to once again be sharing Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music with you.

This year's theme is LIVE!

Our collection features live Christmas music performances from various artists, sourced from concerts, radio broadcasts, television specials, and other recordings. If the artist performed in front of an audience, we considered it for this lineup. Ranging in dates from 1941 through 2013, I think you'll discover an interesting array of "in the moment" experiences. This is an enjoyable mix of music!

For the first time, I'm offering this collection of 25 Days as a download with ALL THE SONGS right away. Yup, you read that correctly! Why?

1. Equal Exposure – Based on data from previous years, a lot of listeners download music during the first couple weeks of December, but then don't bother with the rest of the month. Those songs in the December 15-25 range don't get as much exposure, which is unfortunate. By providing you with all the music at once, each of my hand-picked songs gets a chance at some listener love!
2. Theme Experience – I attempted to group songs with similar styles and themes together in the playlist, so they have a natural flow like a live concert. Grab 'em all at once and see what I'm talking about!
3. Sanity – It takes a lot of work to come up with a theme, find 25 songs, edit the music, write informational post, upload files, and coordinate all the moving pieces of Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music each year. Last year, I promised myself a more relaxing December. Thus, using this "all at once" strategy, you still get the music you want, but I also get to enjoy one of my favorite times of the year

Visit the TannerWorld Junction discussion forums to download all the songs from this year's collection!

If you still prefer the "1 song per day" style of previous 25 Days events, you'll be happy to know that I've also posted each song individually, with a short description and download link. So if you'd like, just visit the link above every day from December 1-25 and download the corresponding song for the date.

Thanks for your interest in my 25 Days each year… I hope you enjoy this new LIVE! collection!

- Steve

December 25: The Little Drummer Boy

Sequel to: The Little Drummer Boy (TV Special, 1968)

One of the lesser-known Rankin/Bass TV stop-motion animated specials is 1968's The Little Drummer Boy. This special was given a sequel 8 years later as The Little Drummer Boy, Book II. Interestingly, both specials were financed by the American Gas Association, a trade group for the natural gas industry. I've never seen the special, but per Wikipedia, "Aaron and his animal friends team up with Melchior, one of the Three Wise Men, to protect silver bells, made to ring for Christ's arrival, from a band of greedy Roman soldiers."

Today's final 25 Days song, The Little Drummer Boy, features some dialogue from the closing of the special, along with the title track sung by a chorus. I felt it was a fitting ending as we celebrate Christmas Day!

Play The Song

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• Rankin & Bass – The Little Drummer Boy (Released 1976, 1:57, 3.1 MB)
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From the Archives: December 25

• 2002:
  • Hallelujah Chorus by Robert Shaw Chorale
  • We Wish You A Merry Christmas by John Denver and the Muppets
• 2003: The 12 Days of Christmas from A Christmas Together
• 2004: Medley: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Deck the Halls/Good King Wenceslas by United Kingdom Symphony Orchestra
• 2005: Santa Claus Looks Just Like Daddy by Art Mooney and His Orchestra
• 2006: Zoomah, The Santa Claus From Mars by Art Mooney And His Orchestra with Barry Gordon
• 2007: March of the Toys by Billy May and His Big Band
• 2008:
  • Silent Night by Laura Caviani
  • Silent Night by Over The Rhine
• 2009: Jingle Bells & Tracks in the Snow by Tokyo Disneyland
• 2010: A Merry Christmas At Grandmother's by Danny Kaye and the Andrews Sisters
• 2011: For Unto Us A Child Is Born by Rebecca Arons

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!

December 24: Hey Santa Claus

Sequel to: National Lampoon's Vacation (Film, 1983), National Lampoon's European Vacation (Film, 1985)

Here's another example of "Christmas Songs/Shows/Movies that are sequels to Non-Christmas Songs/Shows/Movies." But in this case, this sequel has actually reached iconic "Christmas classic" status. I'm talking about 1989's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which followed up two non-Christmas films in the franchise.

Today's song is Hey Santa Claus, a 1953 tune performed by The Moonglows. Fans of Christmas Vacation will recognize this song as having been used during the Marshall Field's/downtown Chicago shopping sequence of the film. (Long live Field's, Die Macy's!)

Play The Song

Download The Song

• The Moonglows – Hey Santa Claus (Released 1953, 2:27, 3.8 MB)
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From the Archives: December 24

• 2002:
  • Interlude/The Music Of Christmas by Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Who is He in Yonder Stall by MBI Choirs and Symphonic Band
• 2003: Hark, The Herald Angels Sing from A Charlie Brown Christmas
• 2004: Ding Dong Merrily on High by Oliver Schroer
• 2005: The First Noel by George Melachrino and His Orchestra
• 2006: Yingle Bells by Yogi Yorgesson
• 2007: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! by Ira Ironstrings
• 2008:
  • Happy New Year by The McGuire Sisters
  • A Handful Of Happy New Years by Living Strings
• 2009: The Night Before Christmas (In Texas, That Is) by Gene Autry
• 2010: We Wish You A Merry Christmas by Roger Whittaker
• 2011: A Baby Just Like You by John Denver & The Muppets

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!

December 23: Happy Holidays Y'all

Sequel to: Merry Christmas from the Family (Song, 1994)

Today's we're featuring Happy Holidays Y'all, a song sequel to 1994's "Merry Christmas from the Family," originally written and recorded by Robert Earl Keen. We shared the original in our 2002 Edition of Steve's 25 Days via a recording by the Dixie Chicks with Rosie O'Donnell. The song basically depicts a Texas-style Christmas as patronized by, well, some backwards yokel-type characters.

The 1998 sequel aims to pick up where the original song left off. I'm not sure that's actually a good thing.

Play The Song

Download The Song

• Robert Earl Keen – Happy Holidays Y'all (Released 1998, 3:18, 5.0 MB)
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From the Archives: December 23

• 2002:
  • Christmas Vacation Theme by National Lampoons
  • Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Randy Brooks
• 2003: Welcome Christmas from How The Grinch Stole Christmas
• 2004: First Snowfall by Michael W. Smith
• 2005: The Twelve Days of Christmas by The Mike Sammes Singers with Organ & Chimes
• 2006: Xmas In Mt. Idy by Charlie Weaver
• 2007: Up on the Housetop by The Cool Yule All-Stars
• 2008:
  • Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring by Dirk Freymuth
  • Joy by Percy Faith & His Orchestra
• 2009: Christmas in Heaven by Billy Ward & The Dominoes
• 2010: Good King Wenceslas by The Glad Singers
• 2011: Blues For Baby Jesus by Gary Mann

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!

December 22: Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (Overture)

Sequel to: Rudolph's Shiny New Year (TV Special, 1976), Frosty's Winter Wonderland (TV Special, 1976)

Here we have the unique example of a TV Special being a sequel to two different other Christmas TV franchises at the same time. I guess the folks at Rankin & Bass felt they couldn't lose by combining two iconic Christmas characters… in a somewhat non-Christmas special.

Let's follow the chronology:

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) >> Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976) >> Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979)
• Frosty the Snowman (1968) >> Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976) >> Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979)

Here, Frosty makes the jump from traditional cell animation into Rudolph's world of stop-motion animation. We also learn that Frosty and his wife Crystal now have 2 kids, Millie and Chilly. Oh, and they now apparently consider their reindeer friend as "Uncle Rudolph." The villain from Frosty's Winter Wonderland, Jack Frost, makes an appearance, as does the whale Big Ben, who helped Rudolph in Rudolph's Shiny New Year. This is the crossover sequel to top all crossover sequels!

Today's song — Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (Overture) — is the introduction to the special, where you will hear some dialogue between Frosty and Rudolph, as well as a variety of musical themes.

Originally designed to be a theatrical film, it debuted in the United States on ABC instead, on July 1, 1979. Talk about attempting to extend a Christmas franchise into the summer months!

Play The Song

Download The Song

• Rankin & Bass – Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (Overture) (Released 1979, 3:51, 5.8 MB)
  (Right-click and Save)

From the Archives: December 22

• 2002:
  • Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
  • 'Zat You Santa Claus by Louis Armstrong
• 2003: Snow from White Christmas
• 2004: O Come All Ye Faithful by Jeff Victor
• 2005: There's A Hole In My Christmas Stocking by Caroleer Singers and Orchestra
• 2006: What Are You Doing New Year's Eve by Eric Reed
• 2007: Sleigh Bells by Gary Mann
• 2008:
  • White Christmas by The World's Greatest Jazzband of Yank Lawson & Bob Haggart
  • White Christmas by Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops Orchestra
• 2009: Christmas Island by The Andrews Sisters
• 2010: Frosty the Snowman by Ella Fitzgerald
• 2011: Christmas Is For Children by Glen Campbell

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!

December 21: The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing

Sequel to: Holiday Inn (Film, 1942)

One of our favorite Christmas movies is White Christmas, despite the fact that it has a zillion plot holes and much of the music doesn't actually revolve around Christmas. After the success of 1942's Holiday Inn, which first featured the song "White Christmas", White Christmas was a loose follow-up on the concept, adding color, more Christmas theme, and Danny Kaye instead of Fred Astaire. Today's song, The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing, is sung at the beginning of the film during a dancing duet with Kaye and Vera-Ellen.

Curiously, there was never an official soundtrack release for White Christmas that contained all the original songs/performers. Because movie leads Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney were signed to rival record labels, they could not record together on a soundtrack. Thus, two albums were released. Clooney released Irving Berlin's White Christmas (1954), with her performing songs from the film. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye were featured on Selections from Irving Berlin's White Christmas (1954), with Peggy Lee replacing Clooney's voice on the appropriate tracks. Today's song is from this album, which runs at a slower tempo than the version performed in the actual film.

Play The Song

Download The Song

• Danny Kaye – The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing (Released 1954, 2:37, 6.5 MB)
  (Right-click and Save)

From the Archives: December 21

• 2002:
  • Winter Wonderland by Steve Taylor
  • The Stretching Room by Haunted Mansion Holiday
  • R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas by Star Wars Christmas
• 2003: Sleigh Ride from Star Wars Holiday Special
• 2004: Simple Gifts by Daddy Squeeze
• 2005: Vive Le Vent by Herman Apple Ses Carillons Et Ses Percussions
• 2006: Veni Veni by Mannheim Steamroller
• 2007: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer by Pony Poindexter
• 2008:
  • Frosty The Snowman by Red Foley & The Little Foleys
  • Frosty The Snowman by Burt Reynolds
• 2009: Pirate's Christmas by Kevin Mahler
• 2010: Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Hanson
• 2011: This Baby by Steven Curtis Chapman

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!

December 20: Deck the Halls

Sequel to: Beauty and the Beast (Film, 1991)

The 90s were a time that saw a massive amount of direct-to-video sequels from Disney. Most were mediocre at best, but they kept cranking them out as parents bought them to be virtual babysitters for their kids.

Stupid parents.

Which brings us to Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, a 1997 direct-to-video sequel to the original film. Somehow, most of the movie takes place as a flashback, thus why the Beast is still in Beast-form the whole time. (The same situation takes place in the next sequel, 1998's Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Magical World — does anyone know what Prince Adam actually looks like?)

The soundtrack to The Enchanted Christmas contains today's song, a version of Deck the Halls with some of the leading voice talent, including Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mr. Potts.

Play The Song

Download The Song

• Beauty and the Beast – Deck the Halls (Released 1997, 1:20, 3.0 MB)
  (Right-click and Save)

From the Archives: December 20

• 2002:
  • Silent Night by Boyz II Men
  • Sweet Baby Jesus by Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band
• 2003: Very Merry Christmas Parade from Disneyland's Very Merry Christmas Parade
• 2004: Go Tell It On the Mountain by Hornheads
• 2005: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town by The Golddiggers
• 2006: Up On The Hearsetop by Kris Knight
• 2007: Jingle Bells by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
• 2008:
  • Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
  • Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow by Glenn Miller Orchestra
• 2009: Christmas Night In Harlem by Lester Lanin and His Orchestra
• 2010: The Boar's Head Carol by Steeleye Span
• 2011: What Child Is This by The Ventures

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!

December 19: I'm The Real Santa

Sequel to: The Santa Clause (Film, 1994), The Santa Clause 2 (Film, 2002)

Proving that they wanted to be Tim Allen's welfare check, Disney came out with a second sequel to The Santa Clause in 2006, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Why? The world may never know. This film pitted Santa Clause against Jack Frost (or Tim Allen vs. Martin Short). If this sounds like the plot from a 1970s Rankin/Bass Frosty the Snowman script, then you are right!

It's notable that this was originally slated to be a Disney Channel release, but then got promoted to full theatrical status.

Today's song by the Swedish band The Refreshments — I'm The Real Santa — attempts to play off the conflict between Claus and Frost in the film. The movie was pretty bad, but the song is rather catchy!

Play The Song

Download The Song

• The Refreshments – I'm The Real Santa (Released 2003, 3:05, 4.7 MB)
  (Right-click and Save)

From the Archives: December 19

• 2002:
  • I Believe in Santa Claus by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
  • I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by The Jackson 5
• 2003: White Christmas from The Santa Clause
• 2004: The Coventry Carol by Dirk Freymuth
• 2005: I'll Be Home For Christmas by Ruth Welcome
• 2006: The Man With All The Toys by The Beach Boys
• 2007: White Christmas / I'll Be Home For Christmas / Home For The Holidays / Happy Holiday by Lester Lanin and His Orchestra
• 2008:
  • Sleigh Ride by Combustible Edison
  • Sleigh Ride by The New Christy Minstrels
• 2009: Kling, Glockchen by Mannheim Steamroller
• 2010: Christmas is Coming by Harry Belafonte
• 2011: Little Boy Who Couldn't Find Christmas by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!

December 18: The Chanukah Song: Part 3

Sequel to: The Chanukah Song (Song, 1995), The Chanukah Song: Part 2 (Song, 1999)

The third time's a charm, right?

Apparently for Adam Sandler, it is, as today we present The Chanukah Song: Part 3, the third in his trilogy. Heck, this one even has a children's choir!

Two versions of this song were actually released, as it was part of the soundtrack to his animated film flop, Eight Crazy Nights (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 12%). There was a "Movie Version" and a "Radio Version," with the former being a little cleaner than the latter (which is what is featured today). That said, as mentioned in my "Special Listener Note" below, be selective in how you experience this song.

After a run of releases in 1995, 1999, and 2002, the bandwagon of Chanukah Songs seemed to stop. A "Part 4" has never materialized. One has to wonder if the novelty had completely worn off by the time a 2nd sequel came around.

Special Listener Note: As this is an Adam Sandler recording, it blurs the line of family-friendliness I typically hold for the 25 Days. You may want to preview before exposing to impressionable kids, pets, and other humans.

Play The Song

Download The Song

• Adam Sandler – The Chanukah Song: Part 3 (Released 2002, 3:42, 4.7 MB)
  (Right-click and Save)

From the Archives: December 18

• 2002:
  • Sleigh Ride by Arthur Fielder and the Boston Pops
  • Christmas Eve in Sarajevo by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• 2003: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town from Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
• 2004: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Kenny G
• 2005: Medley: O Tannenbaum/Deck The Halls by George Feyer
• 2006: Santa's Gonna Come In A Stagecoach by Buck Owens & Susan Raye
• 2007: Joy To The World by Daniel Newton
• 2008:
  • Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by The Gypsy Hombres
  • Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by The Soulful Strings
• 2009: A Mad Russian's Christmas by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
• 2010: Have A Holly Jolly Christmas by Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs
• 2011: Some Children See Him by Mannheim Streamroller

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!

December 17: Nuttin' for Christmas

Sequel to: Prep & Landing (TV Special, 2009), Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa (TV Special Short, 2010)

Disney attempted to create a new Christmas TV animated special tradition back in 2009 with the release of Prep & Landing. In many aspects, they were successful, as the special got good ratings, sparked merchandise sales, and received quality buzz. The half-hour show promoted a new animated short the following year, and eventually led into a 2nd half-hour show in 2011: Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice.

Today's song — Nuttin' for Christmas — is pulled from the soundtrack of that sequel, performed by Plain White T's — who coincidentally are signed to a Disney-owned record label and have their publicity handled by the Mouse. Go figure.

Play The Song

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• Plain White T's – Nuttin' for Christmas (Released 2011, 2:10, 5.5 MB)
  (Right-click and Save)

From the Archives: December 17

• 2002:
  • Frosty the Snowman by Alvin and the Chipmunks
  • You're a Mean One Mr Grinch by How The Grinch Stole Christmas
• 2003:
  • Hardrock, Coco, and Joe from The Three Little Dwarfs
  • Hardrock, Coco, and Joe from Stormy Weather
• 2004: Skating by Vince Guaraldi Trio
• 2005: Jingle Bell Rock by Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass
• 2006: Rock & Roll-y Poly Santa Claus by Lillian Briggs
• 2007: Frosty All The Way! by Boston Pops Orchestra
• 2008:
  • Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella by Robert Shaw & Chamber Singers
  • Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella by Rob Arthur
• 2009: Christmas In Killarney by Bing Crosby
• 2010: Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer by The Irish Rovers
• 2011: The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy by New Classic Singers

What's This All About?

New to Steve's 25 Days of Christmas Music? Take some time to read the explanation and introduction!