JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Best Xmas Songs written since 1970

I have started a list of Xmas songs written since 1970 that have already become or are well on their way to becoming holiday standards. If I have missed any songs, LMK. Also, feel free to fill in gaps in the data.


Wonderful Christmastime
Writers - Paul McCartney
Year - 1979
Most Popular Version - Paul McCartney (1979)

Happy Christmas (War is Over)
Writers - John Lennon
Year - 1971
Most Popular Version - John Lennon (1971)

All I Want For Christmas Is You
Writers - Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey
Year - 1994
Most Popular Version - Mariah Carey (1994)

Grown-Up Christmas List
Writers - David Foster (music) and Linda Thompson-Jenner (lyrics)
Year - 1990
Most Popular Version - Amy Grant (1992)

It's Christmas All Over the World
Writers - Bill House and John Hobbs
Year - 1985
Most Popular Version - Sheena Easton (1985); New Edition (1995)

The Christmas Song
Writers - Dave Matthews
Year - 1997?
Original/most popular version - Dave Matthews Band (1997)

Driving Home for Christmas
Writers - ??
Year - 1988
Most Popular Version - Chris Rea (1988)

Merry Christmas Darling
Writers - Frank Pooler; and Richard Carpenter
Year - 1970
Most Popular Version - The Carpenters (1970/1976)

It Doesn't Have To Be That Way
Writers - Jim Croce
Year - 1973
Most Popular Version - Jim Croce (1976)

When A Child Is Born
Writers - Fred Jay and Ciro Dammico
Year - 1974
Most Popular Version - Johnny Mathis (1976)

Father Christmas
Writers - Ray Davies
Year - 1974
Most Popular Version - The Kinks (1977)

Christmas Time is Here
Writers - ??
Year - 1982
Most Popular Version - Ray Parker jr. (1984)

This Christmas
Writers - Nadine McKinnor and "Donny Pitts (Donny Hathaway)
Year - 1970
Most Popular Version - Everyone has covered this song

Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You
Writers - Billy Squier
Year - 1981
Most Popular Version - Billy Squier (1981)

Step Into Christmas
Writers - Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Year - 1973
Most Popular Version - Elton John (1973)

Last Christmas
Writers - George Michael
Year -1984
Most popular version - Wham (1984)
(NOTE - I absolutely HATE this song, but I can't deny that it has become a modern standard and has been covered by numerous artists over the years)

Another New Years' Eve
Writers - Barry Manilow
Year -1977
Most popular version - Barry Manilow (1977)

I really like one that's rather unknown,
the closing of the year, featured in "toys" soundtrack

and I like also "it feels like xmas" from muppets xmas carol

Merry Christmas From The Family---Robert Earl Keen {circa 2000}
Christmas With The Devil---Spinal Tap {same]
Oh Come All Ye Faithful---Twisted Sister {done to the tune of "We're not Gonna Take it"}

Actually, John Lennon wrote "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" with Yoko Ono, but it's still a great song nonetheless.

Greg

Not any one song, but the entire album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Greg

Facetious (but tempting) to mention that "I'm Giving Mom a Dead Dog for Christmas" was written in 1979.

Joe

I think that one was written a few years before 1970

Well Joe
Ya got here before I did.
I vote for
I'm Giving Mom A Dead Dog For Christmas by Joe Wrabek

When did "Let There Be Peace On Earth" (And Let it Begin With Me) come out?

The Vince Gill version with his daughter singing a verse gets lots of airplay.

Linda

That song was written in 1955. It isn't really known as a Christmas song. BTW, I love that song.

One I really like is "Mary, Did You Know?", lyrics by Mark Lowry and music by Buddy Greene. I met Mark Lowry several years ago during my past life as a tv producer and director. He is one of the funniest people I have ever met.

Thanks for the list of songs. But I think you left off your list the best Christmas song written in the past 40 years. How could you forget "Mary did you know"?

"A Fairytale Of New York"
Writer: Shane MacGowan
Performer: The Pogues (with Kirsty MacColl)
Album: If I Should Fall From Grace With God

An incredibly touching song, in a twisted sort of way.
The story of two irredeemable souls who find solace and redemption in one another at Christmastime.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltiY-BqvOIU

It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
And I turned my face away
And dreamed about you

Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true

They've got cars
Big as bars
They've got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It's no place for the old

When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me

You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on the corner
Then danced through the night

The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing 'Galway Bay'
And the bells were ringing
Out for Christmas day

You're a bum
You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Living there almost dead on a drip
In that bed

You scum bag
You maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God
It's our last

I could have been someone
So could anyone
You took my dreams
From me when I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you

Kevin, I read your post after I posted mine but tell me more about Buddy Greene. All I knew about the writer was than he was a working comedian, and that always struck me as odd because the song itself would never suggest that. Now if you had told me that Buddy Greene wrote "Christmas with the family", (Bob Cushing's pick), that would make more sense- and by the way Bob, I love that weird song and have performed it a few times.
I am especially interested in Christmas songs because I have won the annual Fort Worth Christmas song contest 4 times in the past 6 years. I have yet to do a comedy song. This might be the year. Bob, any topics you can recommend? Like "The Last Christmas with the First Family" or "Iraq around the clock this Christmas". Hey, I'm fishing here!

Not sure what Christmas songs were written after 1970. Most of the Classic songs probably were written before 1950.

THE CHRISTMAS SONG, Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire, was long before 1970 as was O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL.

Around Christmas time you will find a lot of Christmas CD'S in the stores from the past as they still sell.

There has not been many requests over the last ten years for any new Christmas songs for Artists to record.

I have a Christmas song I wrote in 1995, actually a Country Blues song with a Christmas theme that has been seldom pitched because no one is asking for Christmas songs.

I think some new artists have recorded a lot of the Christmas Classics but not many new creations.

"Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer" (Randy Brooks, 1979) is obnoxious (imho), but has become a standard nonetheless.

"Do they Know it's Christmas" (Bob Geldof and Midge Ure) was a big hit in the 80's. It was written for Band-aid.

"The Christmas Shoes" was recorded and released in 2000 by Newsong, but Wikipedia does not list a "writer"...so I am guessing the group wrote it? It was based on an internet e-legend.

Sorry, not exactly sure what criteria you are looking for in order to consider them "new standards" but those are my offerings, as I hear them every year.

PS I TOTALLY LOVE "Mary did you know".

I haven't met Buddy Greene, but Mark Lowry was a guest on a television program I used to direct. Mark and Buddy were both members of the Bill Gaither Vocal Band, a well-known gospel quartet. Mark wrote the lyrics to "Mary, Did You Know?" and put them away. He finally showed them to Buddy five or six years later, and Buddy composed the music.

Mark used to do a lot of comedy while performing with Bill Gaither, but was still primarily a singer.

It's a small world. Early this morning, I mentioned Shane MacGowen in the thread about favorite non-country writers.

Larry Norman's Christmastime (1973) has always been one of my favorites. I beleive it was cowritten with Randy Stonehill:

CHRISTMAS TIME - Larry Norman
Santa Claus is coming and the kids are getting greedy
They know what's in the stores ´cause they seen it on the TV
It´s Christmas time...

You go into the forest and you cut down all the trees
I know you got a power saw, but who plants the seeds
It´s Christmas time...

I gotta buy a present, can´t remember who it´s for
I´ll see you in a hour when I get back from the store
It´s Christmas time...

It used to be the birthday of The Man who saved our necks
Now it stands for Santa Claus, they spell it with an "X"!
It´s Christmas time...

Christmas is not spelled with an X, despite the cynical attempt to market products that way.

A newer one you should check out.

This Christmas Time -The Verve Pipe off their holiday album they released last year. Written by Donny Brown.... Great songwriter in my opinion. Actually Verve Pipe stuff whether Brian Vanderark wrote it or Donny Brown wrote it is really killer stuff.

Hey Jeff, Brian is a friend of my sons. I think they went to college together. He still talks to him. Yes verve pipe was great and he is a great songwriter.

Jan

[quote=rblight][quote=Bob Cushing]


I think that one was written a few years before 1970 [/quote True, but Twisted Sister made it their OWN! {LOL!}

Lots of positive things said about this song. You are right. I should have included it on the list. But, believe it or not, I have never heard this song until today. And I am a HUGE Xmas music fan and have the radio on constantly over the holidays. And I NEVER ONCE HEARD THIS SONG PLAYED. Given all the times it has been cut, that is surprising. It is a really beautiful song, especially the lyrics, so it is unlikely that I would have heard it and not remembered. Isn't that strange?

Hey all


Not sure if this counts since they only seem to play it on Christian stations, but needless to say I like it a lot! 4Him "A strange way to save the world"
Derek

Derek, I've never heard that one, but from the title it sounds like a really neat song.

Joe

Hey Joe

It is a really neat song (if you like christian music) ... I'll post the lyrics so people know what the song is about.

Sure he must have been surprised
At where this road had taken him
'Cause never in a million lives
Would he had dreamed of Bethlehem
And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel come to life
And Joseph said...

(CHORUS)
Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade
Why Him, with all the rulers in the world
Why here inside this stable filled with hay
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl
Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the world

To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth
But Joseph knew the reason
Love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought...

(CHORUS)

Now I'm not one to second guess what angels have to say
But this is such a strange way to save the world
...this is such a strange way to save the world...Saving the World

That is good. Thank you.

joe

Believe it or not, tis late in the season to pitch your original Christmas songs.

I love that song, Breath of Heaven, by Amy Grant. I also love the whole story of Joseph, and what an incredible man and father he had to be. It inspired my latest Christmas song, "I am a Carpenter." If anyone would like to hear it (the lyrics are there too) visit here. http://www.cherandgeneklosner.com/carpenter

It's not officially released yet, so you are some of the first to hear it!

Cher

This is the time Artists go into the studio to record new Christmas music for the upcoming season. There are no requests for Christmas songs that I know of.

With all the great songs from the past it is practically impossible to write anything new.

Don't think you want to forget this one

CHRISTMAS SHOES - BOB CARLISLE

It was almost Christmas time
There I stood in another line
Try to buy that last give or two
I'm really in Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me
Was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing around like little boys do
And in his hands he had
A pair of shoes

And his clothes were worn and old
He was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Sir I wanna buy these shoes for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want it to look beautiful
If Momma meets Jesus tonight

They counted pennies for what seems like years
And cashier says son there's not enough here
He searches is pockets franticly
And he turned and he looked at me
And he said Momma made Christmas good in our house
Most years she just did without
Tell me Sir
What am I gonna do?
Some how I gotta buy her these Christmas shoes

So I lend the money down
I just had to help him out
And I'll never forget
The look on his face
When he said Momma's gonna look so great

Sir I wanna buy these shoes for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want it to look beautiful
If Momma meets Jesus tonight

I know I won't regret some help as he thanked me and ran out
I know that God sent that little boy to remind me
What Christmas is all about

Sir I wanna buy these shoes for my Momma please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes will make her smile
And I want it to look beautiful
If Momma meets Jesus tonight

I want it to look good
If Momma meet's Jesus tonight

I had no idea when I was writing "Chosen One" for my first album that it would be considered a Christmas song, but it was getting airplay and sales last year...Thank you Jesus.

Barry

Very nice song, especially the chorus. What is the status of this today? Who is singing it and/or who is likely to sing it?

There are two currently on TAXI, but they are music libraries.

BTW, we no longer write songs, we re-write them. What you say about Xmas songs applies to all songs. Fresh, new hooks are tough to come up with.

Not impossible Ray, I wrote a full CD of Christmas songs which I had recorded a couple of years ago. It is almost impossible to get any airplay because of all the classics. You can view and hear clip of my Christmas songs at www.cdbaby.com/cd/sceviour
I'm not saying they will ever be classics, especially if they get little airplay.

i'm not a hugh fan of Christmas songs
especially ones written after 1950 or so
i usually just listen to bing crosby of
andy williams
or sometimes sinatra or vince lombardi
although i do love springsteens version
of santa claus is coming to town

but how about
"danny says" by the ramones

Danny says we gotta go
Gotta go to Idaho
But we can't go surfin'
'Cause it's 20 below

Sound check's at 5:02
Record stores and interviews
Oh, but I can't wait
To be with you tomorrow

Baby

Oho-ho-ho, we got nowhere to go
And it may sound funny, but it's true
Hangin' out in 100 B
Watching Get Smart on TV
Thinkin' about
You and me and you and me

Hangin' out in L.A.
And there's nowhere to go
It ain't Christmas if there ain't no snow
Listening to Sheena on the radio
Oh-ho oh-ho

i know it's not really a Christmas song
but i like it and it mentions Christmas

How much airplay are they currently getting? That is an accomplishment in and of itself for indie artists.

It only mentions Xmas to tell us that it is NOT Xmas. This wouldn't qualify as a Xmas song, I'm afraid.

Best Christmas or holiday song I have heard about in recent years is by an artist by the name of Susan Greenbaum, of Richmond, VA, who is still struggling (and her song is NOT widely known). Her song is called "You are my holiday" and is a great song.

Hi,

I have three rough demos on Soundclick if anyone wants to listen or record. One is "Our Savior's Birth", "When Santa Met Jesus" and "Christmas Is Coming". Thanks. The site is:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=635567

Myrtle

vince lombardi? Isn't he a famous football coach?

I'd just like to take this opportunity to say that, being born and raised in Northern-central Florida, and having so many Christian music teachers over the years (it is a popular faith), and being a trombonist in school bands and always having to play the Sleigh Bells at the holiday concerts ... y'all have some great music! I'm speaking of the classics, of course. Like Bing Crosby, the whole "White Christmas" thing. Seriously though, I was always jealous growing up that I wanted to sing the X-mas songs SO BADLY because they are so beautiful. The melodies, all that Major-key and full-cadence wonderfulness just makes me so happy during Holiday season.

I am, of course, thankful for Adam Sandler's "Chanukah Song" series, and for artists like Matisyahu. And there are plenty of Hanukkah songs out there. But sometimes you just wanna hear Handel's "Messiah" you know? Or Beethoven's 9th, "Ode To Joy" is so freakin wonderful. Even better in person, as I was reminded recently when the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performed it with a 200-member choir. WOW is all I can say. Amen to wonderfully-written x-mas tunes. They may be religous in nature, but they are also DAMN GOOD SONGWRITING in my opinion. Again, speaking of the classics here. My local radio station's x-mas medley is not included

Vince Lombardi?????? Love his work with the Bart Starr Trio!

Thanks Samuel(Joe)!

That is my brother (Gene) singing - we also had a huge choir that we put together, backing us up. We are in the middle of recording a Christmas cd, but it won't be finished in time for this year. We're looking into having this on iTunes, as a single for this year.

I haven't pitched it this year for any one else to record - been so busy with the lullaby cd, that I haven't had any time for pitching my other songs. I kept a semi-watchful eye on Taxi listings for Christmas songs, but none were really on target for this song. The people who would record it (in addition to us)... would most likely be a male Christian artist - he'd need to have a good range. Also, any Christian churches that have pageants/programs or at Christmas services where they have a choir. We're working on all the sheet music so we can make it available to churches this year. I can hear Vince Gill on this one...he has that awesome range.

Thanks again!!

Cher (Do you go by Samuel or Joe?)

lmao

sorry

i meant Vince Guaraldi

Is there a link to the songfile or a lyric somewhere?

Not any more!

You don't have to be a Christian to love Christmas music.