In the spirit

No new releases coming next week, so let's change the subject.

Despite my humbugitude about Christmas music -- at least the overplayed, piped-into-malls variety -- there are some songs that get my toes tapping while I wrap gifts, drink egg nog, and get all warm and fuzzy about friends and family and HickoryWind.org readers and stuff.

When I pulled out the Christmas decorations this year, I also pulled from the CD shelves a holiday mix I made a few years back that features such songs. And it's mighty merry, if I do say so myself. The songs are culled from many sources -- the secret of the mix's success, I think -- friends' mix CDs, iTunes browsing, an excellent public radio fundraising thank-you CD, etc.

So, without further ado, my recipe for a tasty Christmas mix, from me to you:

A Winter's Tale -- r.b. morris
Winter Wonderland -- Ella Fitzgerald
Let It Snow -- Sam Bush
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings -- Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas -- Old 97's
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear -- Sixpence None the Richer
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -- Coldplay
Hard Candy Christmas -- Dolly Parton
Please Come Home for Christmas -- Willie Nelson
Christmas Time Blues -- David Holt
Blue Christmas -- Elvis Presley
Skeptical Christmas -- Scott Miller
O Little Town of Bethlehem -- Johnny Cash
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem -- Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
O Come All Ye Faithful -- Patty Loveless
Greensleeves -- Brett Olivia Boyd, Jeremy Philbeck and Johnny Dowdle
Mele Kalikimaka -- Chris Isaak
Last Christmas -- Jimmy Eat World
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) -- U2
I'll Be Home For Christmas -- Tift Merritt
Silent Night -- John Fahey
Up on the Rooftop -- Tyler Ramsey Trio

Of course, sooner or later, everyone makes his or her own "ultimate" Christmas mix CD, right? Out of desperation, perhaps one Christmas party too many where the music sucks so bad that no amount of free booze can drown the pain? So join in the spirit of giving, and share your track lists (or wish lists, if you like) with the rest of the class, in the comments.

And merry Christmas, everyone. We'll be back Tuesday, most likely with a wicked eggnog hangover.