The Holidays are here and Spazarella is in the mood.  Now, I’m sure there are plenty of Behind The Hype readers who sweat profusely and vomit every time they hear the words Christmas Music spoken together, but for me it’s a necessity.  It was THE holiday in my household growing up and it makes me think of my mom…yeah I happen to like my mom too.

This article is for the rest of the holiday-philes who will admit that they embrace the cheese and goof of this over indulgent excessive holiday.  We don’t need money and presents, just a warm cup of our favorite warm cup beverage, a TV fireplace and the smell of a tree, be it a candle or the real McCoy.  We love it, we own it and screw the rest of you and your bah humbug.  While you’re listening to Morrissey and trying to ignore the merriment, I’ll be over here, workin’ my holiday mix series and getting paper cuts.

Music for the holly-daze is essential, but don’t mistake me for one of those freaks that craves contemporary top 40 Xmas trash….oh no…and The Little Drummer Boy will never make the cut (referred to hereafter as LDB).  I don’t like the religious stuff (being agnostic) and I like to keep things warm and fun.  That brings me to my list.

Multi-layered for a holiday that is anything but simple, I have brought you a “few”of my favorites.  My suggestion…download your own for a mix…Chances are, you won’t find too many whole albums that will do it for you and if you’re doing the holiday right, you don’t have time to be fiddlin’ with a music change with double stick tape all over your fingers.

Non-Traditional Classics
All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth: Nat King Cole
Blue Christmas : Elvis Presley
Christmas In New Orleans: Louis Armstrong
Christmas Island: Bob Atcher & The Dinning Sisters
The Christmas Waltz: Nancy Wilson
Zat You Santa Claus?: Louis Armstrong
(Everybody’s Waitin’ For)The Man With The Bag: Kay Starr

Melancholy and Blues
River: James Taylor, Sarah McLachlan, Madeline Peyroux or of course Joni Mitchell.
LA Christmas Blue: Hadda Brooks
Whatever Happened To Christmas: Aimee Mann
Hallelujah: Chris Botti (It’s on his Xmas album and it’s a religious experience for any music lover)
Santa Claus, Santa Claus: Louis Jordan

Rockin’ and Swingin’
Santa Clause Is Back In Town: Elvis Presley
Jingle All The Way: Lena Horne
Cool Yule: Louis Armstrong
Happy Holidays: Peggy Lee
I Wanna Spend Christmas With You: Fulsom Lowell
Jingle All The Way: Lena Horne
Run Rudolph Run: Keith Richards
Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me: Elvis Presley
Christmas Bells: Patti Page
Sleigh Ride: The Brian Setzer Orchestra or Harry Connick, Jr.

Quirky and/or Sexy
A Five Pound Box Of Money: Pearl Bailey
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: Jimmy McGriff
Merry Christmas Baby: Lou Rawls or Charles Brown
Santa Baby: Eartha Kitt
Santa Clause Got Stuck In My Chimney: Ella Fitzgerald
Warm December:Julie London
Christmas Ball Blues: Leon Redbone

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Top 5 (no particular order)
Aimee Mann
Lou Rawls
Ella Fitzgerald
Diana Krall
James Taylor

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Top 5 (no particular order)
Lena Horne
Les Brown & His Band Of Renown
Joe Williams
Dean Martin
Diana Krall & The Clayton-Hamilton Trio

What Are You Doing New Years Top 5(no particular order)
Nancy Wilson
Harry Connick Jr.
Diana Krall & The Clayton-Hamilton Trio
Lou Rawls
Ella Fitzgerald

Favorite Compilations:
Pottery Barn: A Cool Christmas Vol. 1-3
Yes yes yes I said Pottery Barn!  I can listen to all three non stop and It’s LDB Free to keep you from itching!!

Ultra Lounge: Christmas Cocktails Vols. 1&2 Just Fun and they never take themselves too seriously.

Favorite Single Artist Holiday Album:
Aimee Mann: One More Drifter In The Snow
A surprise given all the classics on my list.  A testament to Aimee’s ability to fill my holiday need, but give me some GOOD current flavor in it.  Truly an LA Christmas feel, adding some melancholy and an almost Island Tropic sensibility to songs involving cold and snow.  Bravo Aimee, I hate that I have to shelve it for 11 months.

This is just what I like and I’m a sucka’ for the classics.  Did I miss anything?  Feel free to drop me a recommendation…as long as it’s not “Throw yourself down a well WITH your bloody stupid music!”…that would just be rude…*wink*