Best Xmas/NY songs versions by 60s acts?

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:51 am

I know for most of you Christmas is behind, but for some it isn't and New Year is still ahead for all of us, right?
So what are the best Christmas/New year songs' versions done in the 60s in your opinion?
Best regards,
SC.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:58 am

For me Sheena that's easy has to be John Lennon's Happy Xmas (War is Over).

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 2:44 pm

For every time I heard Lennon's idealistic utopian carol, I heard McCartney's giftwrapped Bag O' Gas ten times.

Oh, heck, that's Seventies anyway.

For the bestest, to me there are two holiday traditions:

Beach Boys' Christmas Album (esp. the first--original--side)

Phil Spector's Christmas Album (Boy, that guy could, er, murder a song!)

string_along · Post by **string_along** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 4:37 pm

"Sleigh Ride" by The Ventures

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:20 am

Yes Skip I loved that Ventures album and they re-visited the theme in 2003 with a new version. I posted one track from it a few days ago (Clough Timeless Classic thread) their brilliant version of Silent Night but only Howard and Sheena seemed to pick up on it. Take a listen to it Skip if it's still there.

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 7:04 am

Yeah the two great Beach Boys classics are the best!

Also like the bluesy Eagles Christmas ballad.

beatcomber · Post by **beatcomber** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 10:58 am

My top 3 picks (in order):

1.) Booker T & the MGs "In the Christmas Spirit"
2.) "A Christmas Gift to You From Philles Records" (Phil Spector)
3.) "The Ventures' Christmas Album"

All three are the best albums that each group did PERIOD. Unfortunately I can only listen to them for a few weeks each year!

string_along · Post by **string_along** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 4:12 pm

Hey, Roy! That cut is no longer there but I think I can find that tune somewhere in cyber-space. ("Dig that crazy Ventures sound!")

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:11 pm

Jingle Bell Rock, "Bobby Helms" is the definitive rock Christmas tune for me.
And yes Spector's stuff was great,
Rockin' around the Christmas Tree, "Brenda Lee" was also a great one.
Santa Claus is back in Town, "Elvis" is another great classic, also Blue Christmas.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:27 am

That tune by the Kinks, I don't remember what it's called, maybe "Father Christmas". It might not even be the sixties though.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:45 am

John it was called Father Christmas released in November 1977 as a single.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:20 am

Ouch, way off! Still eight years before I was born...

I'll go with the Beach Boys then. Happy Christmas is also a great one, of course.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:36 am

Sheena,
Xmas is not my holiday (pretty obvious, huh) so I am not a good judge of these sort of things.
However, always liked Bruce's live Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

Also, this is not a song but you might be interested anyway.
Way back in the 50s, there was a sort of rap/folk/humorist named Lord Buckley. And he did his own interpretation of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. WNEW-FM in NYC used to play it every year.
I don't know if it is available on any CD but the text of it is here:
http://www.lordbuckley.com/LBC/The_Printheads/ScroogeInPrintheads.html
It was really something to hear.
His Lordship was unique.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:35 pm

Ha, looks like i'm not the youngest here anyway!

Mark, a huuuge thank you for a link!!!

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:10 am

Sheena, Preveat!
You're welcome.
I know I'M certainly not the youngest here.
I just hope I'm not the oldest.