Retro Crimbo/ Playlist: Listen, my friends ~ yule love the sound of this!

In the words of Moby Grape… listen, my friends! Yes, it’s the (hopefully) monthly playlist presented by George’s Journal just for you good people.

There may be one or two classics to be found here dotted in among different tunes you’re unfamiliar with or never heard before – or, of course, you may’ve heard them all before. All the same, why not sit back, listen away and enjoy; for in the words of Noddy Holder, ittttttt’s… well, I’m sure you know what comes next…

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CLICK on the song titles to hear them

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Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra ~ Jingle Bells¹

Doris Day ~ Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

The Ventures ~ Sleigh Ride

Burt Bacharach ~ The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle

Kenneth More and Albert Finney ~ I Like Life²

Tom Jones ~ Winter Wonderland³

Julie Andrews ~ In The Bleak Midwinter⁴

Keith Richards ~ Run Rudolph Run

Eela Craig ~ A Spaceman Came Travelling

Jethro Tull ~ Ring Out, Solstice Bells

Paul McCartney ~ Pipes Of Peace

Henry Mancini/ Aled Jones ~ Every Christmas Eve/ Santa’s Theme⁵

Annie Lennox & Al Green ~ Put A Little Love In Your Heart⁶

Whitney Houston ~ Do You Hear What I Hear?

Jerry Nelson ~ It Feels Like Christmas⁷

Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell ~ Baby It’s Cold Outside⁸

The Beatles ~ Pantomime: Everywhere It’s Christmas⁹

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¹ As featured in the 1957 Christmas special of ABC TV’s The Frank Sinatra Show

² From Scrooge (1970), the original musical film adaptation of A Christmas Carol

³ This awesome rendition dates from 1972 and may have originally featured on the BBC’s Top Of The Pops 

⁴ As featured in ABC TV’s Julie’s Christmas Special, broadcast in 1973

⁵ From the film Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

⁶ Originally sung and co-written by Jackie De Shannon – this version features in the film Scrooged (1988)

⁷ From the marvellous The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

⁸ From Elf (2003)… ahhh, Zooey – Santa, I know what I want for Christmas…!

⁹ A collection of short songs and Goon-esque skits that made up The Beatles’ Fourth Christmas Album, sent out as the 1966 seasonal gift to their Fan Club members