12 Eclectic and Unusual Holiday Albums
These 12 albums range from festive soul songs to punk Christmas carols and unlikely holiday film scores.
The holidays evoke different moods for different people, and holiday music has the power to lift or lower your spirits depending on who you ask. For those in the latter camp, the looming threat of Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” around Thanksgiving every year can inspire yuletide fear and a wish to hear something fresh through the holiday season.
In the spirit of giving, Discogs shares these recommendations for those looking for something different to spin during the holidays. From a G-funk Christmas compilation to the jarring soundtrack of a seasonal slasher film, these 12 selections offer alternatives for even the most cynical holiday music humbugs.
John Waters – A John Waters Christmas (2004)
This compilation is as eccentric as the beloved cult director who curated it. Obscure soul songs, off-putting children’s music, novelty singles, and a version of “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” performed by Tiny Tim make this a must-listen for anyone hoping to get a little weird during the holidays.
Various – Christmas On Death Row (1996)
Back in 1996, Death Row Records released a Christmas compilation that features original numbers and holiday classics reimagined as gangsta rap and contemporary R&B songs. For many hip-hop fans, it isn’t the holidays until Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg make an appearance.
Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
It’s impossible to deny the cool jazz sounds of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Composer Vince Guaraldi’s memorable use of a children’s choir evokes a nostalgia for school holiday recitals, the album’s elegant swing can turn anyone into a jazz fan, and original “Christmas Time is Here” has become a modern classic. Even the most hardened haters of holiday music will want to throw this album on.
Jerry Goldsmith – Gremlins (Original Motion Picture Score) (1984)
Whether or not Gremlins is a Christmas film is a matter of perennial debate, but even if it doesn’t completely fit the holiday mold, the film’s score is one of Jerry Goldsmith’s many masterpieces – alongside Planet Of The Apes, The Omen, and Alien – and the soundtrack’s eclectic compositions make for a refreshing departure from the season’s standards.
The Yobs – The Worst Of The Yobs (2001)
UK punk band The Boys started flipping their name around and recording Christmas covers in 1977, releasing various holiday singles and albums over the years. The easiest way to pogo along to these punk holiday tunes is to grab a copy of The Worst Of The Yobs, a compilation featuring re-recorded versions of their most popular cover songs.
The Original Star Wars Cast : R2-D2 – Anthony Daniels As C-3PO – Christmas In The Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album (1980)
Released in 1980 as the popularity of Star Wars was sweeping through every galaxy – and no relation to the 1978 Holiday Special – this Christmas-themed release takes listeners through songs and stories about a droid factory that makes holiday toys year-round. The album is notable for Anthony Daniels reprising his role as C-3PO, for the first professional recording of a young Jon Bon Jovi, and for the novelty hit “What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?).”
Buck Owens And His Buckaroos – A Merry “Hee Haw” Christmas (1970)
This double LP from country legend Buck Owens compiles Christmas songs from both of his holiday albums, Christmas With Buck Owens And His Buckaroos and Christmas Shopping. Featuring original songs and standards showcasing the Bakersfield sound that Owens pioneered, this album is an ideal choice for anyone interested in decking the halls for a holiday honky tonk.
John Williams – Home Alone (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1990)
Along with Macaulay Culkin’s iconic performance, another element that makes Home Alone a stone-cold Christmas classic is the brilliant score from celebrated composer John Williams. From the adventurous “Somewhere in My Memory” to the frantic feel of “Holiday Flight,” the score captures the spirit of the holidays with undeniable sweetness.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve And Other Stories (1996)
Turn the holiday season into a prog rock odyssey by putting some Trans-Siberian Orchestra on the turntable. Known for their holiday-themed releases, the group’s Christmas Eve And Other Stories is a rock opera with symphonic metal guitars and orchestral arrangements that will help you celebrate an epic holiday season.
Michael Kamen – Die Hard (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1988)
Even more divisive than the aforementioned Gremlins, Die Hard is a Christmas movie and the soundtrack provides all the proof you need. Tracks like “Under The Table” with its haunting sleigh bells, and multiple versions of “Let It Snow” make this an invigorating holiday listen.
Trey Parker, Matt Stone, & The Cast Of South Park – Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics (1999)
Before Trey Parker and Matt Stone became Broadway legends with the musical Book Of Mormon, they honed their songwriting craft with films like Cannibal! The Musical and their hit TV show South Park. Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics collects outrageous songs from the South Park holiday special along with a number of additional Christmas-themed cuts.
Perry Botkin – Silent Night, Deadly Night (Original Motion Picture Score) (1984)
For those whose holiday season peaks with Halloween, the score for slasher film Silent Night, Deadly Night offers a more chilling celebration of Christmas. Controversial upon its release due to its depiction of an ax-wielding Santa Claus, the score’s icy synths perfectly encapsulate the movie’s tension and dread while also evoking the holiday season. Some versions of the soundtrack also include original Christmas songs written for the film by Morgan Ames.
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