There’s more to holiday music than A Philly Special Christmas Party, Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata, and Lane Johnson’s stunningly successful benefit album giving a gift to every student and teacher in Philadelphia public and charter schools.
This annotated playlist gathers songs from new holiday albums by Jennifer Hudson, Ben Folds, Jimmy Fallon, and Victoria Monét, plus songs from Lady Gaga, Laufey, Ed Sheeran, Sabrina Carpenter, Kurt Vile, Blind Boys of Alabama, and Illuminati Hotties.
All songs are new, save for a few reissued classics. The songs aren’t ranked. Also, shout-out to Philly’s Tara Hendricks, whose Wonderland LP is on Bandcamp only. And though the playlist isn’t a Philly Specials-free affair, I did include one Kelce Christmas classic for your holly jolly listening.
Lady Gaga, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” Gaga rocks out in an arrangement that veers off from Bruce Springsteen’s. With Chappell Roan and Dua Lipa, she also sings on Apple’s A Carpool Karaoke Christmas.
Jennifer Hudson, “Santa For Someone” A standout on Hudson’s engaging The Gift of Love, which mixes traditional songs like “Carol of the Bells” and “Go Tell It On the Mountain” with lighthearted fare.
Laufey, “Santa Baby” The Icelandic Chinese songwriter released A Very Laufey Holiday in 2022 and has added seasonal songs every year since. This acquisitive ditty, a hit for Eartha Kitt in 1953, has a video with Bill Murray and Isabella Boylston of the American Ballet Theatre.
Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, “Hey Rudy” Jimmy Fallon has a Christmas album? Of course he does. Holiday Seasoning includes the Jonas Brothers, LL Cool J, Megan Thee Stallion, Ariana Grande, and, on this red-nosed reindeer goof, Black Thought of The Roots.
Sabrina Carpenter, “A Nonsense Christmas” The mischievous Bucks County pop heroine’s EP Fruitcake came out in 2023, before the frothy “Espresso.” Now, she has her own Netflix Christmas special. Here she indulges a playful penchant for sexual innuendo with North Pole and Charles Dickens jokes.
GloRilla & Kehlani, “Xmas Time” Memphis rapper GloRilla teams with R&B singer Kehlani about icing up with diamonds before getting warm and cozy with family: “I remember those days when the nights got cold / Leaning on each other made our hearts grow.”
Raye, “O Holy Night” British singer Raye delivers a gorgeous rendition of the hymn based on an 1843 poem by Placide Cappeau.
Megan Moroney, “Christmas Morning” “Take down the tree, unplug the lights / It’s colder in this bed than it is outside.” Megan Moroney has the Christmas blues and also covers Elvis Presley on her EP Blue Christmas …duh.
Kurt Vile, “Must Be Santa” KV’s riff on a polka recorded by Bob Dylan came out in 2022, but has a spiffy new Philly-filmed video featuring his daughters.
Say She She, “Purple Snowflakes” Trippy cover of an obscure Marvin Gaye song by the New York and London-based women of the disco-R&B trio.
Ben Keith & Friends, “Blue Christmas” Neil Young doesn’t have a Christmas album, but he does have a new Yule Log channel on YouTube, playing Christmas At The Ranch, the 1994 set by Young sideman Keith.
Bartees Strange, “Xmas” A bummed out holiday song from indie-rocker Strange. “It’s Christmas, and you don’t even want me at all,” he sings.
Bing Crosby & V, “White Christmas” A collab between Crosby and V of K-pop band BTS, a fan of the late crooner. The animated video features Crosby as Santa flying with V’s dog, Yeontan.
Coco Jones, “My Presence Is A Present” This is the phrase I’m using when showing up at holiday parties without a gift. From the Nashville R&B singer’s EP Coco By The Fireplace.
Madi Diaz, “Kid on Christmas” Lancaster County-raised singer-songwriter Diaz — a two-time nominee at this year’s Grammys — longs for the simple joys of childhood.
Valerie June, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” The Memphis singer-songwriter reads Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem with gusto on Gifts, Presents & Treats from Valerie June, a three-song EP.
Ben Folds, “Christmas Time Rhyme” Ben Folds’ album, Sleigher, is not as witty as one might hope. At times “Sleepwalking Through Christmas” is an apt description. But this sharply observed domestic scene sparkles.
Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom, “Little Toy Trains” A Peace Of Us, the album by indie couple Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips with Spacemen 3′s Sonic Boom, is arty and atmospheric, with takes on David Berman, Willie Nelson, and this nostalgic Roger Miller treat.
Kesha, “Holiday Road” This not-really-a-Christmas song by Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham is suddenly trendy, with Kesha’s synth-pop version and an even better take from Fantastic Cat.
Fantastic Cat, “Feliz Navidad” The kitten mask-wearing indie supergroup has fun with Jose Feliciano’s bilingual classic.
Thalia, “Al Mundo Paz” Mexican superstar Thalia’s swinging Spanish version of “Joy To The World,” from her Navidad Melancólica.
Jacob Collier, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” British multi-instrumentalist virtuoso does a dazzling trick of teaching an audience gathered in Abbey Road Studios to sing like an angelic choir on the World War II classic, originally a Crosby bit.
Martin Phipps, “Christmas Day” Gentle piano music soundtracks the Christmas-set Keira Knightley spy series Black Doves, which is streaming on Netflix. The soundtrack includes holiday music by the Pogues, Johnny Cash, and Shakin’ Stevens.
Devon Gilfillian, “Christmas Is Love” On A Philly Special Christmas Party, the Delco soul man covered Sam Cooke. Here, he digs deep into James Brown, from the Godfather of Soul’s Funky Christmas.
Illuminati Hotties, “December” Winter songs like Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December” are now holiday songs. Welsh band Neck Deep’s “December” is livened up by Illuminati Hotties’ Sarah Tudzin.
Little Big Town, “If We Make It Though December” Little Big Town can’t match the original, but their cover has turned out quite nicely on Glow.
Jason & Kylie Kelce, “Loud Little Town“ At the heart of A Philly Special Christmas Party are Jason Kelce’s surprisingly touching duets, with Stevie Nicks on “Maybe This Christmas” and this tender tete-a-tete.
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Blind Boys of Alabama and Jay Buchanan, “I Heard The Bells Ringing On Christmas Day” Gospel greats team with the leader of the Rival Sons on a joyous tune based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Clay Aiken, “Wonderful Christmastime” The American Idol alum throws himself into Paul McCartney’s treacly holiday tune on this cut from his new Christmas Bells Are Ringing.
Ella Fitzgerald, “Good Morning Blues” The First Lady of Song’s 1960 LP Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas has been reissued on vinyl. This lament cowritten by Count Basie finds Fitzgerald asking Santa to bring her baby back or “I’ll break all the laws.”
Ed Sheeran, “That Christmas” Written for Love Actually director Richard Curtis’ animated short, Sheeran gets sad waiting for a parent.
Mayer Hawthorne, “Merry Christmas Party!” Detroit retro-soul singer and producer throws a saxophone honking soiree in this snappy single.
Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O, “8 Little Candles” Jazz drummer Matt Wilson’s sprightly Hanukkah song from Tree Jazz — The Shape of Christmas To Come, his second holiday album.
The Carpenters, “Merry Christmas Darling” Richard Carpenter has assembled a collection of holiday songs he recorded with his sister Karen before her death in 1983, called Christmas Once More.
Saweetie, “I Want You This Christmas” The “Icy Girl” rapper has a Dear Big Santa mini-EP, with the banging “Big Santa” on one side and this slow jam on the flip.
Victoria Monét, “Merry Christmas Dan” A Jaguar II Christmas: The Orchestral Arrangements removes Monét’s vocals from her Jaguar II album and adds elements of classic holiday songs, arranged by Maurice “Pirahnahead” Herd. Merry Christmas to you too, Victoria.
