Season’s Bleatings 100 Unlikely Christmas Records

Gift-wrapped by Spencer Leigh

The rumour started in the middle of summer that Bob Dylan had recorded a Christmas album. Bob, famed for testing his fans’ patience, appeared to be going that extra mile; but, on the other hand, it’s a logical step. Theme Time Radio Hour has demonstrated his love for the Great American Songbook and, irrespective of the lyrical content, some of the world’s greatest melodies are to be found in Christmas fare. Here are 100 alternative versions of Christmas favourites. All the listed artists have tried to do something radically different with familiar Yuletide songs. They weren’t always successful but top marks for trying, while there have, of course, been some disappointments along the way. We expected Billy Idol to be knocking the hell out of Christmas songs on his 2007 album, Happy Holidays, but he’s strangely muted and sounds no better than the average pub singer. Similarly, what does Mariah Carey bring to seasonal favourites on Merry Christmas (1994) but a whole pile of grace notes? Still, what do I know? It’s the best selling Christmas album of all time.

by Spencer Leigh
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