Category Archives: 25 Days Of Christmas Music

25 Days Of Christmas 2025: Day 25

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating. I hope your holiday is a happy one however you are spending it. Enjoy!

Many thanks for being here for this festive music series. And now for our final song.

Today’s version was featured on the soundtrack to the 1996 movie, “The Preacher’s Wife” and was recorded with the Georgia Mass Choir. It was performed by the woman who exploded on the music scene forty years ago when her debut album was released in 1985. From the first note, Whitney Houston was a megastar.

 (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Whitney Houston: “Joy to the World” (1996, written by Isaac Watts).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music: Day 24

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I think today’s song is the perfect choice for the holiest night of the year, especially when it is sung by two of the most phenomenal voices the world ever bestowed upon us.

Merry Christmas Eve.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Silent Night” (1957, written by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr).

Aretha Franklin: “Silent Night” (2008, written by Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2025: Day 23

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I remember being stopped in my tracks the first time I heard this woman’s debut single. It was impossibly beautiful, heartbreaking and refreshing to hear something so real after a decade dripping with “key-tars” & other irredeemably harsh synth infused noises. Her soft but strong voice, her gentle acoustic guitar and the hard life lesson message delivered in her lyrics revealed an incredible talent.

Her take on today’s Christmas song is just as stunning.

Tracy Chapman circa 1995. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Tracy Chapman: “O Holy Night” (1997, written by Adolphe Charles Adam and John Sullivan Dwight).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2025: Day 22

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I have adored today’s song by Kenny Loggins forever and, despite my love for different takes on holiday songs, I never felt the need to find out if his was covered by anyone else. Then I began doing my research for new-to-me Christmas songs for this year’s countdown and stumbled upon one from 10 years ago which is a duet between LeAnn Rimes and Gavin DeGraw. A quick glance at the notes in the video description explained that the song was done in partnership with the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) so that pulled me in as well. I have always enjoyed her voice (I featured another of her holiday covers in 2019) and the power & beauty of it is on full display on this track and blends well with his style quite nicely on this slightly-jazzy-with-a-shuffle-feel cover.

I am not that familiar with DeGraw other than his Top Ten hit, “I Don’t Wanna Be” from his 2003 debut album, Chariot (how was that over 20 years ago already???). It was re-released a year later with a bonus disc of stripped down versions of all the songs along with a cover of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”. I found it to be quite respectable.

Rimes included the Loggins cover on her 2015 album, Today Is Christmas. Most of the 12 tunes are traditional holiday tracks performed with mainly soft vocals and minimal accompaniment, turning them into unbelievably poignant elegant tracks. That is especially true of the three Target exclusive bonus songs which are more contemporary holiday songs like Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper”, Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells” and John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” which is particularly lovely. Safe to say I have found another holiday album to add to my playlist.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Kenny Loggins: “Celebrate Me Home” (1977, written by Bob James and Kenny Loggins).

LeAnn Rimes with Gavin DeGraw: “Celebrate Me Home” (2015, written by Bob James and Kenny Loggins).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas: Day 21

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Al Green turns every song he sings into a soulful experience and that includes all nine holiday tracks he recorded for his 1983 album, White Christmas. It is impossible for me to choose a favorite, but this year it is this song which I have had on repeat the most.

 (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Al Green: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” (1983, written by Kim Gannon, Buck Ram and Walter Kent).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music: Day 20

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The beauty and elegance of acoustic music is something I fell in love with as a child. And today’s two artists are quite skilled at it. Their less is more approach on today’s Christmas carol brings it to life in a simply sublime way.

Ryan O’Neal-who performs under the moniker Sleeping At Last-in an undated photo from his website. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

An undated photo of Karla Bonoff from her Facebook page. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Sleeping At Last: “The First Noel” (2017, traditional).

Karla Bonoff: “The First Noel” (2020, traditional).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music: Day 19

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

In a year where Bruce Springsteen celebrated several career milestones including the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece record, Born To Run, the 45th anniversary of his double album, The River, the end of another successful world tour AND he was the subject of the biopic, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere”, 2025 also marks 50 years since he made his first contribution to the holiday season, recorded December 12, 1975.

Here’s how Bruce’s social media accounts announced the anniversary:

“Bruce kicked off the holiday season in a lasting way, on this day 50 years ago, performing “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” at C.W. Post during the “Born to Run” tour — a bit of concert magic that grew into the holiday tradition we know today.”

I grew up on Long Island, so the fact that this song was recorded on my old stomping grounds makes me feel even closer to my hero. And 20 years ago, in October 2005 when Springsteen was on a solo acoustic tour for Devils & Dust, I saw him perform not far from that college campus-at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. During that show, Bruce made a comment about my hometown that has always stuck with me. He said, “Long Island & New Jersey-the flip side of the same tragic coin”. He always makes even the darkest reality a poetic moment.

When Bruce released his final single from Born In The U.S.A. 40 years ago in November 1985, the B side was his 1975 Christmas recording. This is my very own copy of it. (Image by me.)

(Image by me.)

(Image by me.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” (1981 & 1985, recorded live at C.W. Post College in Brookville, NY on December 12, 1975, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie).

Bruce Springsteen: “Merry Christmas Baby” (1986, written by Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music: Day 18

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

If I did a Top Ten list of the best skits and ongoing features from both “Late Night With David Letterman” and “The Late Show with David Letterman”, this woman’s 28 consecutive yearly appearances would be close to the top. It started in December 1986 and ended nearly three decades later in December 2014 which was six months before Dave retired. It was a fabulous tradition celebrating a great Christmas song, an unbelievably powerful voice and a vicarious connection with the rest of Dave’s audience who looked forward to the performance as much as I did. And over 10 years later, I still miss it. But thanks to Dave’s own YouTube channel, I can relive it over & over again.

Darlene Love on “Late Night With David Letterman” in December 1986. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Love on “The Late Show With David Letterman” in December 2014. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Darlene Love: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (1963, written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector).

Darlene Love: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (Live performance on December 16, 1986 of Darlene Love’s First “Christmas” Appearance on “Late Night With David Letterman”. Written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music: Day 17

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

As a huge Motown fan, I cannot believe it has taken me over two weeks to feature one of their artists. But the one I am starting with is one of the greatest performers in any genre. Stevie Wonder turned 75 in May and his career began at age 11 when he was signed to Tamla Records. Two years later he had his first #1 record, “Fingertips”.

He would hit the top spot nine more times as both a solo artist & in collaboration with other artists, place 28 songs in the Top Ten, have three #1 albums with eight others reaching the Top Ten. He accomplished all that before he turned 40 years old. And thanks to a Christmas album he released in 1967, he is also a permanent part of the holiday season.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Stevie Wonder: “What Christmas Means To Me” (1967, written by Anna Gaye, George Gordy and Allen Story).

Stevie Wonder: “Silver Bells” (1967, written by Ray Evans and Jay Livingston).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2025: Day 16

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Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

If there is one perfect sound of the season, it is today’s song performed by the artist who made it unforgettable.

Nat King Cole sometime in the 1950’s. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Nat King Cole: “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)” (1961, written by Mel Torme and Robert Wells).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!