Greg Lake and Tom Petty both introduced original Christmas songs.
It should come as no surprise that, unlike in the pre-rock ’n’ roll era, Christmas songs written in the more recent past are more reality-based, running the gamut from the traditional themes of joy and peace and love to incorporating topics like war, lust, loss and regret. Here are some memorable examples:
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers—“Christmas All Over Again”—Written by Tom Petty in 1992 for producer Jimmy Iovine’s A Very Special Christmas 2, the second in a series of fundraising compilations in support of the Special Olympics, and recorded with the Heartbreakers, here augmented by a large cast of studio musicians in emulation of Phil Spector’s seminal A Christmas Gift for You.
Elton John—“Step Into Christmas”—In which Captain Fantastic invites us to get in the spirit of the season. Recorded and released as a single in 1973 in the midst of his run of chart-topping hits in that decade, it was written by John with his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin and produced by Gus Dudgeon, once again with a nod to A Christmas Gift for You.
Related: Our Album Rewind of the Phil Spector-produced A Christmas Gift for You
Joni Mitchell—“River”—A post break-up song set in the holiday season from her 1971 masterpiece Blue. Though never released as a single, the song has been covered by many artists and become a Christmas standard in spite of itself, not really being about Christmas at all. Written and produced by Mitchell herself.
Nick Lowe—“Christmas at the Airport”—New wave progenitor Lowe experiences an increasingly common experience, being stranded in an airline terminal due to flight delays. Written and produced (in collaboration with his great friends Robert Treherne and Neil Brockbank) by the artist for his 2013 album Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection for the Whole Family.
Paul Simon—“Getting Ready for Christmas Day”—A seemingly upbeat song, written and recorded (with co-producer Phil Ramone) during the Iraq War which, as it turns out, is on the songwriter’s mind in this, the lead track from Simon’s 2011 release So Beautiful or So What. Named after a 1941 sermon by the popular recording preacher J.M. Gates, sampled excerpts of which are heard throughout the piece.
Dan Fogelberg—“Same Old Lang Syne”—After meeting by chance in a grocery store, the songwriter recounts his encounter with an old girlfriend on Christmas Eve. A sentimental story song, produced by Fogelberg with Marty Lewis, from his 1981 album The Innocent Age; released as a single, it peaked at #9 on the U.S. charts.
The Waitresses—“Christmas Wrapping.”—Back to the grocery store (see above), this time with a happy ending. Initially released on the Ze Records compilation A Christmas Record in 1981 and subsequently the following year on the band’s EP I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts. Written and produced by guitarist Chris Butler and sung by Patty Donahue, the title is a play on the term rapping, a style which her delivery only approximates.
The Ramones—“Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”—First released as the B-side of the Ramones‘ single “I Wanna Live” in 1987 and two years later on the punk pioneers’ album Brain Drain, written and sung by the inimitable Joey Ramone and produced by Jean Beauvoir.
The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl—“A Fairytale of New York”—Reflections on Christmases past from the seamy side of life, this perennial U.K. holiday hit was written by the band’s Shane MacGowan and Jim Finer, produced by Steve Lillywhite, and taken from their 1988 release If I Should Fall From Grace with God.
Foghat—“All I Want for Christmas Is You”—Not to be confused with Mariah Carey’s ubiquitous song of the same name, this raucous rocker was released as a promotional single in 1981 but not commercially until many years later, on several collections of the band’s best. Written and sung by guitarist “Lonesome” Dave Peverett and produced by Nick Jameson, their one-time bassist.
Greg Lake—“I Believe In Father Christmas”—Written by the Lake in Emerson, Lake and Palmer, for his first solo outing in 1975, with lyrics by Pete Sinfield, once a founding member of King Crimson and later a successful songwriter, the song is about loss of innocence and disillusionment with the over-commercialization of Christmas. It reached #2 on the British charts, topped at the time only by “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.
Queen—“Thank God It’s Christmas”—Released as a single in 1984 and only years later on album, first on Queen‘s Greatest Hits III and subsequently various compilations. Written by Brian May and Roger Taylor, the group’s guitarist and drummer, respectively, and sung by Freddie Mercury (of course), it offers a day’s respite from the cares of the other 364 days of the year.
The Band—“Christmas Must Be Tonight”—Many of the songs written by Robbie Robertson feature biblical allusions but with this one he made the reference specific, a straightforward recounting of the birth of the baby Jesus from the perspective of a simple shepherd, as sung by bassist Rick Danko on the band’s final studio album with Robertson, Islands, released in 1977.
Graham Parker and Nona Hendryx—“Soul Christmas”—Christmas is occasion for celebration and this duo chooses to celebrate the heroes of 1960s soul music on this track from his 1994 EP, Christmas Cracker. Shoutouts to James Brown, Sam and Dave, Booker T., Otis, Carla, Aretha, Sam Cooke and Jr. Walker, among many others, along the way.
Dwight Twilley—“Christmas Night”—The excitement of the day has passed, the guests are all gone—it’s time to make time with that special someone in your life. The prince of power pop recorded two Christmas songs in 1992, one of which (this one) went unreleased until its inclusion on his Have a Twilley Christmas EP in 2004.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band—“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” (Bonus Track)—If it seems like every classic rocker has cut a Christmas favorite or two, or maybe even a whole album, that’s because it’s very nearly true. (Lennon. McCartney. Dylan! I rest my case.) The focus of this listicle has been on original songs composed for the occasion relatively recently but it just wouldn’t feel like Christmas without this one, written by Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots in the early 1930s and recorded live by The Boss at C.W. Post College on Long Island in 1975.
Related: Gift guide of classic rock Christmas albums
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