Unusual Versions of Classic Christmas Songs
I'm a big fan of cover tunes–but only when a unique spin has been applied. There's really no point in recording another version of a song if it sounds just like the original.
I'm also a big fan of Christmas music. I'm not a religious person but the Christmas songs from the 40s and 50s have been indelibly imprinted in my brain as the definitive music of the holidays.
Combining those two fandoms has resulted in a collection pushing 1000 songs that cover funk, electronic, blues, metal, big band, punk, roots, and just plain weird.
Below is a list of 65 of my favorites. Most of these are available in iTunes so I've added links to the song titles.
| Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Angels We Have Heard On High | The Brian Setzer Orchestra | Dig That Crazy Christmas |
| Away In a Manger (Instrumental) | Decemberadio | Comfort and Joy - EP |
| Carol of the Bells | August Burns Red | X Christmas |
| Carol of the Bells | Barenaked Ladies | Barenaked for the Holidays |
| Carol of the Bells | Bruce Kurnow | Holidays in Harmonicaland |
| Carol of the Bells | Durbin Elf | The Reindeer Room, Vol. 1: A Christmas Chillout |
| Carol of the Bells | Hugo Ferreira | Carol of the Bells - Single |
| Carol of the Bells | Paul Oakenfold & William Ross | A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
| Carol of the Meows | Guster | Carol of the Meows - Single |
| The Chipmunk Song | Dakota Dave Hull | The Goose Is Getting Fat |
| A Christmas Jam | James Steele | A Christmas Jam - Single |
| Christmas Time Is Here | Chomsky | Electric Ornaments - An Idol Records Christmas Collection |
| Christmas Time Is Here | Ivy | Maybe This Christmas Tree |
| Dance of the Sugar Plum Airy | Charles Afton | The Reindeer Room, Vol. 2: A Festive Collection |
| Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy | Pomplamoose | Christmas in Space - EP |
| Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Red Baron Remix) | Berlin Symphony Orchestra | Holiday Lounge - The Christmas Remixes |
| Deck The Halls | Kasio Kristmas | Kasio Kristmas |
| Deck the Halls | Skylab2000 | Christmas Re-Grooved |
| Do You Hear What I Hear | Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra | A Very Ping Pong Christmas: Funky Treats from Santa's Bag |
| The First Noel (Instrumental) | Josh Wilson | Noel |
| Frosty the Snowman | Zee Avi | This Warm December, a Brushfire Holiday, Vol. 2 |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen | Annie Lennox | A Christmas Cornucopia |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen | Bethany Dillon | Christmas Angels |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen | Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra | A Very Ping Pong Christmas: Funky Treats from Santa's Bag |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen | Zigo | The Reindeer Room, Vol. 1: A Christmas Chillout |
| God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings | Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan | Barenaked for the Holidays |
| Jingle Bell Rock | Thousand Foot Krutch | X Christmas |
| Jingle Bells | Vel Mares | Holiday Memories 1 |
| Jingle Bells (Fast) | Big Bad Voodoo Daddy | Everything You Want for Christmas |
| Jolly Old St. Nicholas | The Butties | 12 Greatest Carols |
| Joy to the World | The Butties | 12 Greatest Carols |
| Let It Snow | The Butties | 12 Greatest Carols |
| Let It Snow | Straight No Chaser | Christmas Cheers (Deluxe Version) |
| Little Drummer Boy | Elvin Bishop | The Alligator Records Christmas Collection |
| The Little Drummer Boy | Kool & The Gang | Kool For the Holidays |
| Little Drummer Girl | The Gothard Sisters | Putumayo Celtic Christmas |
| O Come O Come Emmanuel | August Burns Red | Sleddin' Hill - A Holiday Album |
| O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | Punch Brothers | Holidays Rule |
| O Holy Night | Aaron Neville | Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas |
| O Little Town of Bethleham | Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra | A Very Ping Pong Christmas: Funky Treats from Santa's Bag |
| Oh Holy Night | Joseph Jaime | Christmas Re-Grooved |
| Run Run Rudolph | Dwight Yoakam | Come On Christmas |
| Santa Claus Is Coming To Town | Dakota Dave Hull | The Goose Is Getting Fat |
| Santa Claus Is Coming to Town | Harry Connick, Jr. | Harry for the Holidays |
| Silent Night | The Blind Boys of Alabama | Go Tell It On the Mountain |
| Silent Night | Charlie Musselwhite | The Alligator Records Christmas Collection |
| Silent Night | Domingues and Ives | Christmas Re-Grooved |
| Silent Night | The Naysayer | Kitten Time |
| Super Jingle Bros. | Doctor Octoroc | 8-Bit Jesus |
| The Twelve Days of Christmas | Béla Fleck & The Flecktones | Jingle All the Way |
| The Twelve Days of Christmas | Gary Hoey | The Best of Ho! Ho! Hoey! |
| We Three Kings | Big Bad Voodoo Daddy | Everything You Want for Christmas |
| We Three Kings | Kurbis Blumen | The Reindeer Room, Vol. 2: A Festive Collection |
| We Three Kings | Straight No Chaser | Christmas Cheers (Deluxe Version) |
| We Three Kings / O Come All Ye Faithful (feat. Von Smith) | Scott Bradlee & Postmodern Jukebox | A Very Postmodern Christmas |
| We Wish You a Merry Christmas | Weezer | Christmas With Weezer |
| What Child Is This | Béla Fleck & The Flecktones | Jingle All the Way |
| What Child Is This? (Greensleeves) | Sarah McLachlan | Wintersong |
| White Christmas | Aimee Mann | One More Drifter In the Snow |
| White Christmas | Béla Fleck & The Flecktones | Warner Bros. Jazz Christmas Party |
| White Christmas | Sister Hazel | Santa's Playlist |
| Winter Wonderland | Harry Connick, Jr. | When Harry Met Sally |
| You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch | Aimee Mann | One More Drifter In the Snow |
| You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch | Viva Maxitone | Electric Ornaments - An Idol Records Christmas Collection |
| The 12 Days Of Christmas | Kasio Kristmas | Kasio Kristmas |
