K-Chuck Radio: Ten Christmas songs that don’t get any love on the radio any more

Here’s my problem. I get sick and tired of people griping about which Christmas songs should get crossed off the list. “Oh, I hate ‘Dominick the Donkey,’ I wish it would go away.” “Aw geez, are they playing ‘Wonderful Christmas Time’ again? Give it a rest!” “Oh no, not ‘Last Christmas’ again?”

Yeah. Heard it, ignored the comments, moved on.  You don’t like it, as Mike Tyson says, “then turn your station.”

But then I thought about it some more.  There are some fantastic Christmas songs out there that either were squeezed off the radio due to everyone else playing all the worn out holiday chestnuts – or the spirit of the season that these songs originally inspired has since dried up. So here on K-Chuck Radio today, I have ten Christmas songs that, more likely than not, you’ll ONLY hear on K-Chuck Radio. Which isn’t a bad thing, once you think about it.

THE BEATLES
“Christmas Time is Here Again”

How is it that one of the greatest bands of the rock and roll era can record a Christmas song – and it never gets a single stitch of radio airplay? Beats me…

JAMES BROWN
“Let’s Make This Christmas Mean Something This Year”

That’s right, kids… The Godfather of Soul, along with his band and his backup singers, spreading good cheer and well wishes to all of his fans.

POWERSOURCE feat. SHARON BATTS
“Dear Mr. Jesus”

I remember playing this song as part of the Christmas song rotation when I worked at Schenectady’s Top 40 radio station, 3WD, in 1987. The song was a monster hit in New York City that year, due in part to the song getting played in memory of child abuse victim Lisa Steinberg.

THE POGUES with KIRSTY MacCOLL
“Fairytale of New York”

One of the most powerful Christmas songs to ever come out of the United Kingdom. God rest the soul of Kirsty MacColl.

THE KINKS
“Father Christmas”

This song is proof that Ray Davies is one of the most articulate and creative rock and rollers of the British Invasion.

TOM JACKSON
“Huron Carol (Twas In The Moon Of Wintertime)”

Imagine if the Nativity scene took place among the Canadian First Nations. That’s the story that this song – Canada’s oldest Christmas song – tells.

THE CARPENTERS
“Merry Christmas Darling”

This does get some airplay, but not as much as it used to. In the song’s initial release, it actually made the Top 10 – not a bad feat for a Christmas song. In fact, here’s the original single version, which has a different mix than the one you sometimes hear on the radio.

STAN FREBERG
“Green Chri$tma$”

I still haven’t figured out how Stan Freberg actually got away with not only recording this, but getting Capitol Records to press it and distribute it. In this nearly 7-minute classic, he skewers the commercialization of Christmas. Oh and if you’re wondering what’s on the B-side of this recording, there are four Christmas carols – performed straight, with no satire.

“WEIRD AL” YANKOVIC
“Christmas At Ground Zero”

And this is why “Weird Al” Yankovic is the greatest pop parodist of all. Who else would create an entire Phil Spector Wall of Sound for a Christmas novelty record?

SPINAL TAP
“Christmas With The Devil”

Oh, this would be the perfect Christmas song to play for your grandparents when you visit them. Wouldn’t it be? 😉

So if you’re not a fan of Dominick the Donkey or the Chipmunks or Mariah Carey warbling wiht Justin Bieber … then these songs might be just for you.