THE CHRISTMAS SINGLES COLLECTION

The idea for this mix came about as I was compiling this blog last year. As I wrote up the introduction for the mix entitled This Will Be Our Year, I acknowledged that despite its tag and association with the Summer of Love, lots of the great 60s pop music has a seasonal feel to it. Remembering the importance that the Beatles associated with the Christmas single, I took it a step further and looked back upon how the UK Christmas single shaped how certain bands would prepare something on an annual basis (note: the Stones, at their second most drug-addled state, were getting into the holiday spirit).

Flipping over and reviewing the Billboard charts - a few things became really crystal clear - the holiday season was a time for the heavyweights - with a quick review, I realized that the Supremes and the Beatles pretty much owned the charts. So, for this mix, I backed up a bit, and headed back as far as 1952, when the New Musical Express in UK first started charting the Christmas single. The following mix is a smattering of the hits that made it to the top of the UK or US charts between Thanksgiving and New Years up through 1969. I had a lot of fun researching and putting this mix together. And I left off multiple classics by both the Fabs and the Supremes. This just in - those folks were pretty darn good.

1. I Feel Fine - The Beatles
2. Here In My Heart - Al Martino
3. Come See About Me - The Supremes
4. Just Walkin' In The Rain - Johnnie Ray
5. Christmas Alphabet - Dickie Valentine
6. Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
7. Answer Me - Frankie Laine
8. To Sir With Love - Lulu
9. Are You Lonesome Tonight - Elvis Presley
10. Little Saint Nick (Single Version) - The Beach Boys
11. We Can Work It Out - The Beatles
12. It's Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty
13. I Hear a Symphony - The Supremes
14. The Poor Side Of Town - Johnny Rivers
15. Mary's Boy Child - Harry Belafonte
16. What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For - Emile Ford
17. Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
18. I'm Leaving It Up To You - Dale & Grace
19. Merry Christmas, Baby - The Beach Boys
20. Mr. Lonely - Booby Vinton
21. Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds
22. She's a Rainbow - The Rolling Stones
23. Wedding Bell Blues - The Fifth Dimension
24. Green Green Grass Of Home - Tom Jones
25. Leaving On A Jet Plane - Peter, Paul & Mary
26. Hello Goodbye - The Beatles
27. Someday We'll Be Together - The Supremes
28. A Christmas Message from Dennis Wilson

Download these songs as a zip file here, or stream the songs from the player below: