25 best classic Christmas songs of all time
There are sooooo many Christmas songs to listen to during the festive season!
It’s usually a mix of old favourites and standards and more modern day holiday tracks. The list grows bigger year after year.
In setting out to create a list of my personal favourite yuletide tunes, I discovered that I am a “classics” kind of guy. I’m talking about the songs that just flat out put you in the holiday spirit when you hear them.
Nothing against Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” or “Last Christmas” from Wham, but even those beloved offerings are still too “modern” for my ear.
Once I decided on the type of holiday music that I enjoy the most, I gave myself a couple of “rules” when it came to compiling the list below.
- A song can only appear once
- A singer or group can only appear once
This way we get variety and we zero in on the Christmas song that each musical act is likely known for the most.
I’ll bet if you give my list a chance and listen to these tunes, you’ll be ready for fruit cake and eggnog.
25. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” – Jackson 5 (1970)
24. “Joy To The World” – Aretha Franklin (1994)
23. “Mary’s Boy Child” – Harry Belafonte (1956)
22. “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” – Perry Como (1954)
21. “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Hippo the Hero)” – Gayla Peevey (1953)
20. “Merry Christmas Everybody” – Stompin’ Tom Conners – (1973)
19. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – Thurl Ravenscroft (1966)
18. “Feliz Navidad” – Jose Feliciano (1970)
17. “Wonderful Christmas Time” – Paul McCartney (1979)
16. “Mele Kalikimaka” – Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters (1950)
15. “Santa Baby” – Eartha Kitt (1953)
14. “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” – Frank Sinatra (1970)
13. “Blue Christmas” – Elvis Presley (1964)
12. “Sleigh Ride” – The Ronettes (1963)
11. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” – Judy Garland (1944)
10. “The Christmas Song” – Nat King Cole (1961)
9. “Here Comes Santa Claus” – Gene Autry (1947)
8. “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” – Johnny Mathis (1986)
7. “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year” – Andy Williams (1963)
6. “Let It Snow” – Dean Martin (1959)
5. “Jingle Bell Rock” – Bobby Helms (1957)
4. “Holly Jolly Christmas” – Burl Ives (1965)
3. “Run, Rudolph, Run” – Chuck Berry (1958)
2. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee (1958)
1. “White Christmas” – The Drifters (1956)
