Ok ok, so you’ve heard Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas” a few too many times and if you’re like me, and you once worked in retail, music during this time of year can actually cause you to break out into hives.  Not to mention the stress of it all…awkward work parties, travel woes, family drama, and oi vey getting things crossed off of your damn to do list.  Flip side though, I freaking love the holiday season.  I love the crisp air, the smell of cocoa, baking, the coziness, and the magic of chilly winter nights full of shimmery things that twinkle. So how do you deal with all the highs and lows? I’ve got a bunch of musical feelings so in my case, I make playlists…a lot of them, with some of my favorite songs (over and over b/c well they’re that good).  So here’s one for every occasion (and yes, Mariah makes an appearance) to help get you and your family through the ups and downs of this merry little time in one piece. And now we weekend! –>  

A Very Retro Christmas

1. White Christmas – The Drifters
2. Winter Wonderland – Darlene Love
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Crystals
4. Sleigh Ride – The Ronettes
5. Run Rudolph Run – Chuck Berry
6. Santa Claus is Coming to Town – The Crystals
7. Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding
8. White Christmas – Darlene Love
9. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Lou Rawls
11. What Christmas Means to Me – Stevie Wonder
12. Santa Claus is Coming to Town – The Jackson 5
13. This Christmas – Donny Hathaway
14. White Christmas – Otis Redding
15. Someday at Christmas – Stevie Wonder
16. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Jackson 5

Holiday Cocktails

1. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Kay Starr
2. Sleigh Ride – Ella Fitzgerald
3. Winter Wonderland – Peggy Lee
4. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! – Frank Sinatra
5. Christmas Night in Harlem – Louis Armstrong
6. (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With the Bag – Kay Starr
7. Shake Hands With Santa Claus – Louis Prima
8. White Christmas – Ella Fitzgerald
9. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Rosemary Clooney
10. Zat You Santa Claus – Louis Armstrong
11. Winter Weather – Peggy Lee
12. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Ella Fitzgerald
13. The Christmas Song – Nat King Cole
14. Christmas in New Orleans – Louis Armstrong
15. The Christmas Waltz – Frank Sinatra
16. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Ella Fitzgerald
17. Cool Yule – Louis Armstrong
18. Snow – Rosemary Clooney
19. Winter Wonderland – Ella Fitzgerald
20. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Frank Sinatra
21. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! – Lena Horne
22. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm – Billie Holiday
23. The Christmas Song – Ella Fitzgerald

A Jazzy Bluesy Holiday

1. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Harry Connick, Jr.
2. All I Want for Christmas is You – Michael Bublé
3. Merry Christmas Baby – Lou Rawls
4. All I Ask for Christmas – Mighty Blue Kings
5. Let is Snow – Jamie Cullum
6. Sleigh Ride – Harry Connick, Jr. 
7. Christmas Celebration – B.B. King
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Mel Tormé
9. The Christmas Song – Vince Guaraldi Trio
10. Do You Hear What I Hear – Pink Martini
11. What Child is This – Lauren Daigle
12. Winter Wonderland – Harry Connick, Jr.
13. O Tannenbaum – Vince Guaraldi Trio
14. White Christmas, Part 1 – Pink Martini
15. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Michael Bublé
16. Christmas Medley – Mel Tormé
17. Winter Wonderland – Tony Bennett
18. Christmas Is – Lou Rawls
19. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Harry Connick, Jr.
20. Show Me the Magic – Jamie Cullum
21. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Michael Bublé
22. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! – Harry Connick, Jr.
23. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Lou Rawls
24. Santa’s Blues – Charles Brown
25. Here Comes Santa Claus – Ramsey Lewis Trio
26. (It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus – Harry Connick, Jr.
27. Auld Lang Syne – Pink Martini

Merry Merry

1. The Christmas Song – Aloe Blacc
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – She & Him
3. Mele Kalikimaka – Kacey Musgraves
4. Frosty the Snowman – Fiona Apple
5. All Alone on Christmas – Darlene Love
6. Winter Wonderland – Leona Lewis
7. (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With the Bag (Thunderball Mix) – Kay Starr
8. ‘Zat You, Santa Claus (The Heavy Remix) – Louis Armstrong
9. Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) – The Pied Pipers
10. All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey
11. Last Christmas – Wham!
12. Christmas Don’t Be Late – Kacey Musgraves
13. The Christmas Waltz – She & Him
14. Mistletoe – Colbie Caillat
15. Step Into Christmas – Elton John
16. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Stuhr Remix) – Kay Starr
17. Feliz Navidad – Kacey Musgraves
18. Last Christmas – Bossa Nova Orchestra
19. Mele Kalikimaka – She & Him
20. Present Without a Bow – Kacey Musgraves