Unless you live in one of those plastic bubbles that protects you from having to interact with the outside world, chances are you are presently being inundated with holiday music. (Yesterday, at the coffee shop I sometimes work out of, a man was playing the Charlie Brown Christmas Song on the store’s piano, all hunched over like Schroeder himself.) Since holiday music is all but unavoidable this time of year, we thought we’d offer up a smattering of alternative holiday jams to make your workday a little jazzier, with some help from our friend Michael at The Flashdance. Michael is the original cool kid LA wedding DJ, and his playlists are top notch (seriously, as soon as you’re done here, head over to his page for about a hundred more playlists to satisfy all of your party needs).
This playlist obviously leans Christmas-heavy, but since there are many more holidays this time of year, including those celebrated by our own staff, we’ll gladly accept any non-Christmas music suggestions in the comments. Meg says the first person to throw down some Hanukkah funk gets a gold star. (Because… there is so much… Hanukkah music?)
Happy almost holidays, you guys. We both know you don’t want to work at all today, so here is to hanging out with Loretta Lynn while you avoid doing anything.
1. “There’s Trouble Brewin'” by Jack Scott
2. “Christmas in Jail” by The Youngsters
3. “Santa Claus Blues” by Champion Jack Dupree
4. “Country Christmas” by Loretta Lynn
5. “Truckin’ Trees For Christmas” by Red Simpson
6. “I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus” by Brenda Lee
7. “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter
8. “We Wanna See Santa Do the Mambo” by Big John Greer
9. “I’d Like to Have an Elephant for Christmas” by Hank Thompson
10. “Put the Loot in the Boot, Santa” by Mae West
11. “Old Toy Trains” by Roger Miller
12. “The Little Drummer Boy” by Ray Charles
13. “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon
14. “Someday at Christmas” by Stevie Wonder
15. “Merry Christmas Baby” by Otis Redding
16. “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto” by James Brown
17. “Fat Daddy” by Paul “Fat Daddy” Johnson
18. “Christmas Time Is Coming (A Street Carol)” by Stormy Weather
19. “Santa! Don’t Pass Me By” by Jimmy Donley
20. “Sleighbells, Reindeer, and Snow” by Rita Faye Wilson
21. “I Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva
22. “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley
23. “Santa Claus Is a Black Man” by Akim & Teddy Van
