Classic Compilation – Amp Up The Holidays (2001)

Earlier this year as I was perusing the CDs at Pequot Library’s annual sale I happened to find myself situated in front of a box of holiday albums. Not normally one for holiday tunes, I still gave a quick look to see if there was anything out of the ordinary that I might enjoy, and would be willing to spend the whopping price of $1 on.

That’s when I saw it.

Restoration Hardware’s 2001 Christmas compilation Amp Up The Holidays.

What better way to get into the season than with a compilation put together by a luxury furniture store that has a name that suggests it’s a hardware store?

After flipping it over to see the tracklisting, I was all in.

Here are five of my favorites from this Classic Compilation.

The Kinks – Father Christmas

 

Since we’re talking about The Kinks here, you know there’s no way “Father Christmas” is going to be traditional Christmas fare.

The song revolves around threatening a department store Santa Claus, demanding money, and equal treatment for the less well off. There are also some less socially conscious requests throw in, including asking for a machine gun to scare all the other kids in the street, but the scariest thing about the song is how addictive the chorus is. It’s going to get stuck in your head, and you really don’t want to be singing it if you happen to be in a place with a department store Santa!

The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick

 

Nobody, and I mean nobody did harmonies like The Beach Boys, and if you’re wondering if their California surfer sound could translate to a holiday that’s highlighted by snow, and a log in the fireplace, the answer is a resounding yes. 

“Little Saint Nick” will warm you the same way that yule log will … and it will do an even better job if the yule log in question happens to be on your television.

Lowell Fulson – I Wanna Spend Christmas With You

 

Lowell Fulson (his name is misspelled on the album) has some blues for us for the holidays, but I’m not talking about seasonal depression, I’m talking about a good ol’ fashioned blues tune.

The title of “I Wanna Spend Christmas With You” pretty much explains the entire song – Lowell has a lady, and he wants to be with her on Christmas. Unlike many Christmas songs, however, between his guitar, and his vocals, there’s real emotion in “I Wanna Spend Christmas With You”, and it sounds great.

Ringo Starr – White Christmas

 

Ringo Starr’s version of “White Christmas” is equal parts bizarre, and amazing. He decided to give the song an island, reggae vibe, complete with steel drums. Perhaps the reason he was dreaming of a white Christmas was because he was in a place where it never snows?

Regardless of the reason, I really enjoy this oddball version of the song, and wish more artists were willing to do something unexpected with traditional tunes.

Chuck Berry – Run Rudolph Run

 

You can’t go wrong with one of the godfathers of rock n roll deciding he wants to write a Christmas song.

Unfortunately, while “Run Rudolph Run” has become a holiday classic, what’s kind of a bummer is that even though Berry wrote the song, all covers of it are credited to Johnny Marks and M. Brodie because Marks has the trademark on the character of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Only Berry’s original version of the song is credited to C. Berry Music – M. Brodie.

Having now spun Amp Up The Holidays a number of times, I can tell you this is a Christmas compilation for people who don’t necessarily like, or are simply tired of being inundated with, traditional Christmas music (like me!). There’s rock, there’s blues, and a few oddball gems in-between. What more could anyone possibly ask for? (and don’t you dare say Mariah Carey!)