An Alternative Christmas Dylan Song Book

Yep you heard it right Bob Dylan has released a Christmas album, his first and only Christmas album in a 45+ year career.

‘Christmas in the Heart’ (Columbia) follows ‘Together Through Life’ making it the second Dylan album in the same year, so maybe everyday is Christmas for Dylan’s fans.  Christmas in the Heart is a collection of 15 songs none of which are original Dylan compositions.

The Christmas album comes in at 42 minutes long and includes standards such as Winter Wonderland, The First Noel and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

The album cover depicts a 19^th century two horse and open sleigh theme. Dylan generally divides and this Christmas album will be loved or hated by Dylan fans in equal measure. Only time will tell if it will make it to a more mainstream Christmas album rotations alongside Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and Elvis by a wider audience or will be listened to be those with a more alternative and eclectic tastes.

It’s Christmas and a time of charity so it’s worth noting that all present and future sales of Christmas in the Heart will be shared equally by three charities that seek to feed the hungry.

The full track listing for Christmas in the Heat is:

Here Comes Santa Claus
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Winter Wonderland
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Little Drummer Boy
The Christmas Blues
O’ Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Must Be Santa
Silver Bells
The First Noel
Christmas Island
The Christmas Song
O’ Little Town Of Bethlehem

More reviews of Bob Dylan ‘Christmas in the Heart’ online

Christmas in the Heart Review

Bob Dylan Christmas Album Review

Technorati Tags: alternative, bob, christmas, dylan, heart, songs

Edited: November 5th, 2009

Alternative Christmas Face-off – The King v Cash

We had some much fun researching alternative Christmas songs for Elvis Presley v Jonny Cash we thought we would post the alternative, alternative mashup and hence The King v Cash is here.

Their are a couple of little gems in here. One of Elvis looking slighty worse for wear (maybe he indulged in the Christmas spirits a little to early. What is in his tea cup?) and some unsure muscians in the background are worth noting.

Meanwhile Jonny Cash endorses Coca-Cola, the soft drinks company who put Santa Claus in a big red suit and marketed their sugary soft drink to the world.

So whether you are drinking hard liqour, soda pop or a cup of tea this Christmas, we raise a glass to you -- have yourself a very merry alternative Christmas!

Elvis Presley -- Merry Christmas Baby

Jonny Cash -- Christmas As I knew It

Elvis Presley -- If Every Day Was Like Christmas Time

Jonny Cash -- Daddy Sang Bass

Elvis Presley -- I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day

Jonny Cash -- 12 Days Of Christmas

Elvis Presley -- I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Jonny Cash -- Amazing Grace

Elvis Presley -- It Wont Seem Like Christmas Without You

Jonny Cash & June Carter Cash -- Darlin Companion

Elvis Prsley -- The First Noel

Jonny Cash -- Coca-Cola Christmas Commercial -- Thing Called Love

>> Find your favourite alternative Christmas songs in the store <<

Technorati Tags: Alternative Christmas, Cash, elvis, mashup, songs, The King

Edited: October 25th, 2009

Alternative Xmas Songs – Jonny Cash v Elvis Presley

Collecting the videos and listening to the songs for an alternative Christmas with Jonny Cash v Elvis Presley got me thinking about how the world has changed in just a few short years.

Watching these videos and listening to these songs reminds me of what is important in life, not just Christmas -- family, friends and those less fortunate then ourselves.

I don’t want to preach but, these innocent times depicted in these videos were not that long ago but seem an age away from the rampant consumerism, me me me culture we live in today. No wonder the world is the mess it is.

Enjoy the songs and have a beautiful Christmas.

Elvis Presley -- Merry Christmas Baby / Blue Christmas -- The King looking the best he ever did and havin’ a whole lotta fun doing what he did best TCOB.

Jonny Cash -- Christmas Guest

Elvis Prseley -- It Wont seem Like Christmas Without You

Jonny Cash -- Silent Night / Little Drummer Boy

Elvis Presley -- Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees

Jonny Cash -- Christmas As I Knew It

Elvis  Presley -- Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me

Jonny Cash - I Believe

Elvis Presley and Martina McBride -- Blue Christmas  from the album Blue Christmas 2008

Jonny Cash - 12 Days Of Christmas

Find you favourite alternative Christmas songs to download here .

Technorati Tags: alternative, christmas, elvis, jonny cash, june carter cash, martina mcbride, presley, songs, Videos

Edited: October 23rd, 2009

Alternative Christmas Song Videos

We’ve had a festive trawl around Youtube and put a collection of alternative Christmas videos together to keep your eyeball busy this Xmas.

Here is our Top Ten 10 Alternative Christmas Videos and a few surprise songs are in the too.

Here is the Boss, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform Santa Claus is Coming to Town. What a Christmas party!

Gabba Hey! The Ramones -- Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) Pure punk pop genius.

The Killers recorded A Great Big Sled for the Red Charity. Well it’s a very charitable time of year!

St Etienne featuring Tim Burgess of Charlatans fame perform I was Born on Christmas Day on Channel 4’s The Word.

Sujan Stevens -- That Was the Worst Christmas Ever. Where to start with Stevens? He’s made so many indie rock alternative Christmas albums of late picking one track is bound to cause debate. He could have a whole Top Ten of his own!

The Kinks -- Father Christmas. Londons finest Ray Davies and The Kinks get into the festive spirit on the Old Grey Whistle Test

Malcolm Middleton featuring Kim Noble -- We are All Going to Die. The amiable Scot forgot to mention paying taxes!

U2 -- Baby Please Come Home -- Bono give The Edge a run for his money in the hat stakes in this video.

St. Etienne -- My Christmas Prayer. The second video by St. Etienne to feature in our alternative Christmas videos. Sarah come and sing to us on Christmas day!! The track is from the 1993 Lovers Unite Christmas single

Black Box Recorder

Black Box Recorder and Art Brut - Christmas Number One. A sideways swipe at all those cliched Christmas videos!

More alternative Christmas Lists on the web…

Q the Music

The Guardian Music

Return to Home Page

Technorati Tags: alt xmas, alternative, Black Box Recorder, christmas, Kinks, Malcolm Middleton, Ramones, songs, Springsteen, St. Etienne, sufjan Stevens, The Killers, U2, Videos, Youtube

Edited: October 21st, 2009

10 Indie Alternative Covers of Xmas Songs

Just before you smash your stereo into a thousand pieces at the prospect of hearing another jingly jangly santa-pop radio hit, remember that next week you’ll need it because you’ll be throwing your own holiday party! Now that’s what I call a dilema, but put down that burning hot pan of mould wine and think twice before sending your boombox to a watery grave.

You don’t HAVE to whack on the same old traditional jumbo to mark out the party as truly festive. I concede that any decent Christmas party play does simply have to include the default standards, but does it have to be at the expense of our sanity? The tunes start doing my head in and after hearing the same tracks at every shop, bar, and telly commercial.

So, here is my own non-traditional xmas compilation. Most of the songs have classic lyrics so everyone can sing along plus the melodies cater to even the shapest pair of Indie ears. It’s a win-win. Now, where did my santa outfit go?

1. Thanks for Christmas -- XTC. This song is upbeat and sure to start off any Christmas party on the right foot. The lyrics hit everyone’s favorite Christmas traditions; decorating the tree, snow falling down and spending time with loved ones.

2. Christmas Party, by The Walkmen. The intro to this track sound like an old Christmas radio show monologue. Then straight into a cheeky 50’s lounge style song making you feel the need to do the Mash Potato around the living room.

3. Jingle bell Rock, by The Arcade Fire. Indie style, everyone knows it. undisputable.

4. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), by Death Cab for Cutie. A lovely , low-key song about longing for that certain somebody at the most special time of the year.

5. A Change at Christmas, by the Flaming Lips. This one embraces all the old-school values of Christmas. Peace on earth and all that jazz! (p.S- it’s not jazzy)

6. Last Christmas, by Jimmy Eat World. A perfect Jimmy Eat World song. The lyrics are a little depressing, but no is Christmas (occasionally)

7. Maybe This Christmas, by Ron Sexsmith. What a classic. An inspiring track about the possibilities and emotions that Christmas time may unearth!

8. Blue Christmas, by Bright Eyes. Did somebody say this was an Alternative Christmas song list? well it wouldn’t be complete without a Bright eyes song. Elvis eat your heart out.

9. All I Want For Christmas is You, by My Chemical Romance. A swift romp, sing-along lyrics and flowing booze makes for a lively xmas bash. Get everyone boogying with this version of a timeless xmas classic

10. Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me, by Belle and Sebastian. Another track missing a loved one.  Brilliant band too. Add this to your playlist to balance out all the Eggnog rowdy-ness.

Technorati Tags: alternative, Bright Eyes, change, cover, last, MCR, party, santa, sexsmith, songs, xmas

Edited: October 13th, 2009

Rock & Metal Alternative Xmas Songs

Here’s my Rock and Metal alternative all time christmas songs!

It’s dark and brutal and a bit like Norway but better than Cliff f***** Richard!

1) GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN – Ronnie James Dio

The drama, the majesty, RJD makes this song his own and worthy of my alternative christmas no.1.

2) MISTRESS FOR CHRISTMAS – AC/DC

OKay AC/DC at Christmas doesn’t sound much different to AC/DC any other time of the year but it’s AC/DC for heaven’s sake! In at number 2 for the title alone!!

3) NO PRESENTS FOR CHRISTMAS -- King Diamond It’s the mid 80’s and this is the first satanic heavy metal Christmas song ever recorded. Classic holiday stylings are skewered with Diamond’s operatic vocal styling -- a classic.

4) RUN RUN RUDOLF – Lemmy Kilmister, Billy F. Gibbons & Dave Grohl.

The Motorhead frontman and friends takes this Chuck Berry classic and runs it through the decibel machine. Not quite Overkill but definately no sleep ’til Boxing Day.

5) THE KING IS DEAD – Helstar

Taken from the album’T'was the Night of a Hellish Xmas’, and I’m sure it was, if you were round my place.

6) DECK THE HALLS – Twisted Sister A Twisted Christmas

A Ramones esq pop drunken sing-a-long anthem from A Twisted Christmas! The other video below is for Have Your Self a Merry Little Christmas ‘cos I like the Ramones chants towards the end

7) CHRISTMAS FOR THE LOBOTOMIZER – One Man Army and the Undead Quartet

Hardcore and one for you Nan to listen to on that nice new shiny ipod she bought you for Christmas -- yeah right!

JINGLE BELL METAL – Psychostick

In your face! Worth top ten status for the lyrics alone - ‘jingle bells metal with a double bass pedal‘. Pure genius!

9) DEAD BY XMAS – Hanoi Rocks Admittedly not the best Hanoi Rocks song, or the best Christmas song but I’ve got a soft spot for ‘em…

10) BLACK XMAS – Venom

It’s Venom. Enuff said!

Merry New Year!

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Technorati Tags: ac/dc, alternative, Dio, Lemmy, metal, rock, sister, songs, twisted, Venom, xmas

Edited: October 8th, 2009