SOCK IT TO ME, SANTA!

Everyone knows that the greatest holiday album of all time is Atlantic Records' Soul Christmas compilation, first released in 1968 and then reissued in 1991 (this is not up for debate). And, everyone also knows that A Christmas Gift You From Phil Spector is the second greatest holiday album of all time (this is also not up for debate - and remains at #2 despite Phil's descent into madness and murder). So, the burning question remains - what is in fact the third best holiday album of all time? Elvis? The Beach Boys? Ella Fitzgerald? All worthy candidates, but the answer is simple - New Orleans native Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns take everything up about 10 notches on their 1962 effort Twas The Night Before Christmas. Bonus points for Huey as this album features a very young Dr. John. So, Huey kicks things off for a rollicking mix which includes a bit of everything quite frankly - rockabilly, country, blues, twist music, surf, Keith Richards, and some absolutely naughty tunes courtesy of Jimmy Butler, Charlie Stewart, Roosevelt Sykes, and the mighty Kay Martin. "All I want for Christmas is a little bit of music..." Truer words never sung...

1. All I Want For Christmas - Huey "Piano" Smith
2. Christmas With The Snow - Marah & The Christmas Players
3. Barefooted Little Cowboy - Little Jimmy Dickens
4. Chimney Top Twist - The Robin Sisters
5. Gotta Get Lucky For Xmas - Johnny Rabb
6. I Don't Want To Spend Christmas Without You - Claudine Longet
7. Cool, Cool Christmas - Bobby and Boobie
8. Santa's Magical Bag - The Peppermint Kandy Kids
9. Rootin' Tootin' Santa Claus - Pee Wee King
10. Holly Jolly Christmas - Old 97's
11. Trim Your Tree - Jimmy Butler
12. Merry Twist-Mas - The Marcels
13. Santa Claus Won't Come This Year - Charlie Stewart
14. Boogaloo Santa Claus - J.D. McDonald
15. Santa - Lightnin' Hopkins
16. Donde Este Santa Claus - Toni Stante
17. To Heck With Ole Santa Claus - Loretta Lynn
18. Santa's Gonne Shut 'Em Down - The Untamed Youth
19. Let Me Hang Your Stockings... - Roosevelt Sykes
20. Mr. Santa Claus - Nathaniel Mayer
21. Freedom Train - James Carr
22. Blue Grey Christmas - King Coleman
23. Santa Claus Is From The South - Benny Martin
24. The Empty Xmas Stocking - Lulu Belle & Scotty
25. Run Rudolph Run - Keith Richards
26. Crazy Santa Claus - The Debonairs
27. She's Underneath The Mistletoe Again - Antsy McClain
28. I Know What You Want For Xmas - Kay Martin And Her Bodyguards
29. Santa's Messin' With The Kid - Eddie C. Campbell

Download these songs as a zip file from this location, or stream the songs in the player below: