“Hear the baby Jesus crying ‘Ho Ho Ho!'” – Stephen Colbert
Damien Rice “Happy Christmas (War is Over)”. First off, if you don’t have Lennon’s original version, grab it now. Released in 1971, supposedly as a protest song about the Vietnam War, it’s become a Christmas standard. In a poll by VH1, it was voted the ninth favorite Christmas song, and it’s definitely in my personal top ten. Damien Rice is hands down my favorite singer/songwriter, so when I heard this version I naturally loved it. Everything the Irishman touches is gold to me. It was a free download last year on Downplayer and I’ve yet to see it anywhere else, so click the down arrow on the track to have it for yourself.
Folk Angel “O Come Emmanuel” from Christmas Songs, Vol 2. Yes, I did share a Folk Angel song on my Vol 3 post, but I couldn’t help but share another. They’re all so solid.
Willie Nelson “Please Come Home for Christmas” from A Very Special Acoustic Christmas. It’s Willie Nelson singing a classic…what more needs to be said?
Jeremy Lister “Santa’s Lost His Mojo” from Ten Out of Tenn Christmas (free on NoiseTrade). The entire collection of Christmas songs from Tennessee artists has been a favorite since it was released in 2008, and as I said last Monday, everyone needs some fun Christmas songs in the mix of their favorite classics. Santa losing his “mojo?” I’ll take it!
Justin McRoberts “O Holy Night” from Christmas Songs (free on NoiseTrade). I have more versions of “O Holy Night” than any other Christmas song. It is in my top five favorite hymns, and I’ll never get enough of it. Justin McRoberts has managed to keep the song as powerful as it should be in his acoustic rendition (I’ve found this to be rare). Make sure to get Tracy Chapman’s version if you don’t have it, as that may be my all time favorite.
Get more merry goodness with my 350+ song Christmas playlist on Spotify.