Time For Some Christmas Music Magic!
There is nothing better than holiday music – everyone from Paul McCartney to his long-time writing partner John Lennon has written hit holiday singles:
McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” Money Maker!
Paul McCartney’s ode to the holiday season is also his biggest money-making hit! I guess 30 years of play adds up! You can see the video here:
I was happy that The Eagles joined in the holiday spirit – with a gorgeous Christmas song and a raucous New Years one as well!
The Eagles Come Home For Christmas!
“Please Come Home for Christmas” was the band’s cover version of a 1960 holiday song – a plaintiff wail for a lost lover to return for the holidays…
The immediately recognizable voice of Don Henley kicks it off in classic Eagles style…
“Bells will be ringing this sad sad news
Oh what a Christmas to have the blues
My baby’s gone I have no friends
To wish me greetings once again
Choirs will be singing “Silent Night”
Christmas carols by candlelight
Please come home for Christmas
Please come home for Christmas
If not for Christmas by New Years night…”
Here is an incredible live performance by Don Henley from Howard Stern’s show in 2015 – wow!
The Eagles Go Top 20!
The Eagles released the song as a holiday single in 1978. Their version peaked at #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the first Christmas song to reach the Top 20 on that chart since Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Paper” in 1963!
The Eagles Offer Up A “Funky New Year” Too!
“Please Come Home For Christmas” is a truly beautiful ballad – but for the end of that year, the band also offered up another holiday song – but now, it was time to party!
“Funky New Year!”
This song was the b-side to their Christmas single, and was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Glenn Lewis. It is a great way to celebrate the new year!
“Went to a party just last night
Wanted to bring the year in right
Woke up this morning I don’t know how
Last night I was a happy man, but the way I feel right now
It’s gonna be a FUNKY NEW YEAR
FUNKY NEW YEAR
Ooo, Ahh, got to be a FUNKY NEW YEAR
FUNKY NEW YEAR
Can’t remember when I ever felt worse
Nothing matters and everything hurts
They were passin’ round the bottle, made me feel brand new
Trouble with the new man he wants a hit too, hit me
FUNKY NEW YEAR”
Here is the audio-only live version from their 1999 Millennium concert version – what a great song!
Everyone from Elton John to Bruce Springsteen has released holiday music, but here is one of my favorites:
Daryl Hall and John Oates have put out a terrific holiday album, check out the video for their “Jingle Bell Rock” here:
And lets not forget the most unique holiday collaboration of all:
Who could have imagined that David Bowie, at the time one of the hottest Artists on the planet, would do a holiday song with legendary Hollywood crooner Bing Crosby!
Click here to see the story behind the collaboration on “The Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth” – and how that latter song came to be!
And let’s not forget the classic “Christmas I All Around” from the fictional Rock Star Billy Mack!
Billy Nighy’s great performance from “Love Actually” is a holiday favorite – see the clip here:
Let me know your favorite holiday songs!
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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
I love that Eagles’ song – haven’t heard that one before.
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I love that song and his voice is still flawless! Thanks for the comment!
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Love the Eagles and everything they do. I especially like their version of Please Come Home for Christmas! Thanks.
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Love this!!
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I love when musicians take a break from their usual music and create Christmas music. love the eagles by the pool album cover. my sister and I used to like to an early Jackson 5 Christmas album over and over.
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I can’t get enough of Don Henley’s sultry voice, as well as the harmonies of The Eagles. They block most of their music on YouTube, so good for you to find this one. I suppose because it comes from The Howard Stern Show.
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As you know, I’m posting a lot of Christmas songs this month. It’s interesting how tastes vary, isn’t it, as none of these feature in my lists! I’m a huge Eagles fan but I really didn’t like either of their seasonal offerings!
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As I have said before, I have never bought a Christmas album. I don’t even own one!
But if people enjoy Christmas songs, that’s fine with me.
(33 years on shift work makes it easy to change your mind about Christmas. )
Best wishes, Pete.
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Understood Pete…the great thing now for us is to just ask “Alexa” to play holiday music and she had a whole day’s worth!
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