A Very Good Stuff Holiday

A festive playlist from our Good Stuff family

This Christmas -- Donny Hathaway

Tchaikovsky's Nutcraker Suite: Overture -- Duke Ellington

Christmas Island -- The Andrews Sisters

"This was my mom's favorite song. She was born in 1923 and sang on the radio for a few years with her sisters. Every Christmas I'd email the link for her to listen to the song and she'd play it numerous times and sing it all day long. Even though she's gone, I listen to it every Christmas for a wonderful memory." -- A Good Stuff reader

Carol of the Bells -- The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

Oh Hanukkah -- Maccabeats

Do You Hear What I Hear? -- Whitney Houston

"Iconic. The earliest form of communication -- word of mouth across cultural standing and miles." -- A Good Stuff reader

Thankful -- Josh Groban

"A good reminder to all of us that we can do more for others." -- Tracy T.

Yule is Come -- Jaiya

(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With the Bag -- Kay Starr

Last Christmas -- Wham!

Shotgun Shells on a Christmas Tree -- Robin & Linda Williams

At This Table -- Idina Menzel

Christmas Canon -- Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The Holly and the Ivy -- The Cambridge Singers

Run Rudolph Run -- Chuck Berry

Rejoice and Sing! -- John Rutter

"John Rutter wrote the soundtrack for all British Christmases for the last half-century. The entire country reveres and lionizes Rutter. One of his most recent compositions is "Rejoice and Sing," which will mind-worm you into next week, I guarantee. But ALL Rutter is wonderful." -- Bob C.

El Cant dels Ocells -- Cor Vivaldi

Betelehemu -- BYU Men's Chorus

When I used to sing in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, everyone always looked forward to the Christmas concert, in no small part because the incredible Morehouse Men's Glee Club sings this song every year. This Yoruba carol was written by famed Nigerian musician Babtunde Olatunji and arranged by gospel legend Wendell Whalum, both Morehouse alumni themselves.

Santa Baby -- Eartha Kitt

The Huron Carole -- Tom Jackson

Both Jan M. and Frances C. recommended this beautiful Canadian First Nations Carol, originally written in the language of the Wendat people. The artist here, Tom Jackson, is an indigenous Canadian actor, singer and activist who spent many years organizing and performing "Huron Carole" Christmas concerts to benefit Canadian charities.

Snow Day -- Tom Jackson

Six White Boomers -- The Wayfarers

Thank you to Joyce J., who recommended this adorable Australian song about boomers, aka kangaroos!

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day -- Johnny Cash

Driving Home for Christmas -- Chris Rea

El Niño Del Tambor -- Raphael

What Christmas Means to Me -- Stevie Wonder

"I am drifting more and more away from organized religion these days, and well, so is my song choice. I love songs that make me want to dance, and so at the top of my list is “What Christmas Means to Me” by the great Stevie Wonder." -- Rebecca S.

Dominick the Donkey -- Lou Monte

My friend Julia suggested this song. She introduced me to it few years ago, and I haven't known peace since.

Il est né le Divin Enfant -- Chorale de Noël

River -- Joni Mitchell

Sleigh Ride (Divertimento in F Major) -- Leopold Mozart

Feliz Navidad -- José Feliciano

This iconic song makes Feliciano a true king of Christmas music, and according to a New Yorker article, he wrote it in 10 minutes and recorded it in one single take. Like royalty!

Sevivon, Sov Sov Sov -- Yaffa Yarkoni

This dreidel song ("sov, sov, sov" means "spin, spin, spin") is an instant earworm.

I Saw Three Ships -- Sufjan Stevens

Peace on Earth/The Little Dummer Boy -- Bing Crosby & David Bowie

An ultimate holiday crossover, Crosby and Bowie brought this duet to life in 1977 on Crosby's Christmas special. It's quite a watch.

The Rebel Jesus -- Jackson Browne

O Night Divine -- Melissa Etheridge

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen -- Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan

Joy -- George Winston

Cool Yule -- Louis Armstrong & The Commanders

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree -- Brenda Lee

Christmas Time Is Here (from "A Charlie Brown Christmas") -- Vince Guaraldi Trio

Christmas Dream -- Perry Como

Shepards -- Bruce Cockburn

"There’s something about the simple lyrics and uncomplicated tune that so perfectly captures the wonder of Christmas to me … I still get goosebumps when I hear it." -- Amy K.

Beautiful, Altogether -- Jamie Cullum

Kenyan Christmas Carol -- Helicon

Mary Had a Baby -- Kathleen Battle

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm -- Billie Holiday

Same Old Lang Syne -- Dan Fogelberg

O Holy Night -- Nat King Cole

This was one of the most-suggested songs from readers. Thank you to Bob L., who suggested the lovely French version below.

Minuit Chrétiens -- Sebastian Demrey & Jimmy Lahaie

Christmas Wrapping -- The Waitresses

Frosty the Bluesman -- Heywood Banks

Merry Christmas Baby -- India.Arie, Joe Sample & Michael McDonald

Ring Out Solstice Bells -- Jethro Tull

As we know, the season isn't just for Christmas, and Good Stuff readers recommended some very cool solstice songs to add to your festive repertoire!

Ave Maria -- Luciano Pavarotti

Twelve Days of Christmas -- Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

One Good Stuff reader suggested assigning everyone in your Christmas group a different part to sing and seeing how long you can keep it together. Extra points if you make it anywhere close to "nine ladies dancing!"

The Hallelujah Chorus -- The Oak Ridge Boys

All I Want for Christmas Is You -- Mariah Carey

Silent Night -- 2CELLOS

Of course, we end on a classic. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed putting it together!