Rock Out With Your Xmas Socks Out
We like to think of ourselves as more traditional holiday song listeners. And we're down for some soul Christmas, jazz Christmas, country Christmas...hell, even a little Grateful Dead Christmas gets us in the groove this time of year.
But for some reason, the whole classic rock Christmas thing usually doesn't feel very classic at all. So last year, we put together a damn-near-perfect make-it-funky playlist and now we think we’ve finally cracked the classic rock Christmas code.
For your listening pleasure, we present to you a handpicked selection of yuletide ballads featuring hand plucked guitar solos, bangin’ melodies and everything in between. This playlist will have you rocking out with your retro stripe socks out and jammin’ all Christmas eve long.
(We've listed the tracks and notes below in case you don't use Spotify)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) | John Lennon & Yoko Ono | Equal parts Holiday ballad and protest song, the former "Smart one" released this multidimensional banger (sans jingle bells) alongside Yoko herself and the Harlem Community Choir.
Christmas Must Be Tonight | The Band | If you’re missing church service this Christmas, just play this song on repeat until the scripture-esque jam fills you with the season's spirit. Fun fact - Robbie Robertson re-recorded this beaut for our favorite Bill Murray holiday movie, Scrooged.
Please Come Home For Christmas | The Eagles | Ever since the Big Lebowski, listening to (and enjoying) the Eagles feels a bit like a guilty pleasure. But unlike one of our stoner Heroes, this is one Eagles tune we actually can stand.
Thank God It's Christmas | Queen | It’s certainly been a long hard year. Written by Brian May and Roger Taylor and recorded between London and Munich, Queen's one and only Yuletide ballad reminds us to come together for one night of the year and just be thankful that Christmas is finally here.
Silent Night | Joan Jett & The Blackhearts | The crunch of those guitars on this version is just too damn good to pass up.
Merry Christmas Baby | Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band | After his latest deal, the boss sure is celebrating this Christmas... and we are too, baby
Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You | Billy Squier | While we believe that every day is the time to say "I love you," Billy does a nice little rockabilly version for us this season.
Jingle Bell Rock | Daryl Hall & John Oates | Every time you hear this one it feels like the intro to a rom-com. But with H&O, it's an 80s romcom we want to be in...
Christmas Tears | Eric Clapton | Ol' Slowhand reminds us that even Father Christmas gets the blues.
Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne | Jimi Hendrix | While oft' left off family playlists, Young Jimmy takes his turn at old Christmas favorites with his electric medley that's too good to keep away from the kids table.