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Merry Christmas!

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Chuck Leavell: “Hey Santa” Play this track

Chuck Leavell’s Christmas album, What’s in That Bag? is loaded with more funky good cheer. —Rock Stamberg

Ryan Culwell: “It’s Christmastime, I Know (Ho Ho Ho)” Play this track

I heard it, I liked it, and here it is. —RS

Ben Kweller: “Try to Love (Joy to the World)” Play this track

A cool song that incorporates a well-known holiday standard. —RS

The Beach Boys: “Christmas Time Is Here Again” Play this track

The backing track is actually the Beach Boys playing Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue,” albeit with their own Christmas lyrics. Listen, you’ll hear it. -RS

Graham Gouldman: “A Christmas Affair (feat. Beth Nielsen Chapman)” Play this track

10cc’s Graham Goldman wrote this Christmas song and put it in the middle of his latest decidedly non-Christmas album, I Have Notes. —RS

Lindsey Buckingham: “Holiday Road” Play this track

An obvious choice, I know. But it’s a great song! —RS

Chris Squire’s Swiss Choir: “Run with the Fox” Play this track

The late, great Yes bassist added a choir to his 1981 Christmas single, beautifully enhancing the track. Voila! —RS

Al Jardine: “Big Sur Christmas” Play this track

A long lost online-only original Christmas song by The Beach Boys’ ageless Alan Jardine. —RS

Andy Partridge: “Cool Yule” Play this track

The XTC mastermind’s original Christmas song that was first performed by … wait for it … The Monkees. —RS

Cheap Trick: “Please Come Home for Christmas” Play this track

Cheap Trick’s hard rocking’ take on the venerable holiday blues classic. —RS

Keith Richards: “Run Rudolph Run” Play this track

Released as a single in 1978, this is also Keith Richards’ first solo record. —RS

The Rolling Stones: “Winter” Play this track

Though it’s not a holiday song, per se, it is a great seasonal track, nonetheless. —RS

Emmylou Harris: “Light of the Stable” Play this track

This has always been a favorite of mine. How come I didn’t use it in prior Christmas episode? —RS

Wings: “Wonderful Christmastime (Live)” Play this track

A live recording of the then new song performed at one of Wings’ final concerts in 1979. Better than the original? You decide. —RS

Yoko Ono & The Flaming Lips: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” Play this track

A very original take on John & Yoko’s holiday classic. And yes, that wonderful chorus is sung beautifully by Ms. Ono. Underrated. Listen! —RS

Robin Gibb: “Noel” Play this track

The late Bee Gees brother recorded a fantastic Christmas album shortly before his death. This is a good representation of what it’s all about. —RS

Rufus Wainwright: “Christmas Is for Kids” Play this track

A nice original song from the amazing Rufus Wainwright. —RS

The Beatles: “1967 Christmas Record” Play this track

Every year I add one of The Beatles’ Fan Club’s holiday offerings in chronological order. We’re up to 1967 now. Only two more Beatles Christmas records left to add to a NHT Christmas podcast. Then what’ll I do? —RS

Eagles: “Funky New Year (Live)” Play this track

A rare live version. —RS

The Beach Boys: “Auld Lang Syne” Play this track

How else to include a New Year’s song -RS

Fleet Foxes: “White Winter Hymnal” Play this track

It’s all about the sound of their voices. A winter choirs. It’s not from the Brian Wilson school, but it is in the classroom next door. —John Stix

Mariah Carey/Queen: “Don’t Stop Christmas Now (Mashup)” Play this track

When a mashup works, it just sounds like another song. This is just another Xmas song. —JS

Liz Phair: “Winter Wonderland” Play this track

The melody is sung straight. It’s the arrangement and instrumentation that makes it fresh. And in this case, that’s “organic and wooden.” —JS

Vince Guaraldi Trio featuring Josh Turner on Guitar: “Charlie Brown Christmas Medley” Play this track

Everyone’s favorite Xmas melodies presented in a jazz chord melody style, no improv, just great compositions. —JS