spiked candy canes: christmas favourites

Spiked Candy Canes: Christmas Favourites – Spotify playlist

This years mark 20 years since I started my music blog! Way back in that first year of blogging, I made some Christmas playlists called Spiked Candy Canes, featuring rare, fun, and unusual Christmas tunes. In the years since, I've amassed a pretty sizeable collection of interesting Yuletide tunes, both modern and vintage. (I guess some of the 'modern' ones when I started my blog are now vintage? Eep!)

Many of these have made it onto various themed Christmas playlists and mixes I've made over the years, which you'll find sprinkled throughout the blog – have a look at the Christmas tag to find them. (Some, unfortunately, are not around anymore, since 8tracks, my former favoured playlist platform, unceremoniously went down. But I'm hoping to get these back online elsewhere some time.)

To celebrate 20 years of Spiked Candy and of Christmas music mania, I've collected some favourite festive songs on a mega Spiked Candy Canes playlist, featuring over 200 songs! Scroll to the bottom for the tracklist.

That figure seems a little nuts for a selection of favourites, but... what can I say, that's how it panned out! Trust me, the shortlist was much longer! And I just know I've left something out... hmm. It was no small feat wrangling all the tracks I could find from my various playlists over the years, plus a Santa's sack full of new discoveries. But I'm really happy with the resulting list, and I truly hope you enjoy it, too.

I'm not sure how to explain why I enjoy Christmas music so much. For one, it just tickles my brain in a particular way to collect themed music. It's also fascinating to me that there's such an endless trove of festive-themed music from around the globe, and across the decades. It's particularly interesting to see how many 1960s artists recorded original takes on the Christmas theme.

Also, there's a pretty, twinkly, shimmery quality to a lot of Christmas music that really appeals to my taste. Many capture a sense of childlike wonder. But I also love the cynical songs, especially the ones that criticise consumerism. Yet others home in on the endemic loneliness well-known to hit at this time of year, and it's a rich vein for crafting perfectly heartbreaking songs.

The playlist spans the 1920s – starting there thanks to the 1925 Bessie Smith song, 'At the Christmas Ball' – all the way up to this very year, 2025. Oh! I just realised as I wrote this that the songs span exactly 100 years. That's so cool!

The tunes here are drawn from a large variety of genres: classic Christmas, psychedelia, indie, blues, country, pop, soul, electronica, and more. I've tried to order the playlist to give it a pleasing flow, rather than being an eclectic mess. I really enjoy sequencing mixes of genres that seem like they shouldn't go together, and finding these unusual but complementary pairings and arcs.

I recommend listening to it in order, at least the first time. I know it's long at over 10 hours! I'm probably biased, but I find it a really enjoyable 10 hours of music. If that's daunting, at least try the first hour or two. Let me know in the comments if you play the whole thing!

I should warn you, it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster! It's by turns: touching, weird, traditional, subversive, despairing, joyful, gruff, tender. True believers sit alongside committed bah-humbuggers. Just when you think you can settle into some Christmas joy, a grim country number will rip your heart out. But never fear, a cheerful 60s pop tune is always just around the corner.

To keep things simple, I've used Spotify as the home for this playlist, and I'm glad that I can – even just a few years ago, I would not have been able to find many of these tracks on there. Labels have dumped a lot of deep catalogue stuff on there in recent years.

That said, Spotify is missing a few of my all-time Christmas faves: The Orchids - Mr. Scrooge (this is the UK girl group, not the US one on the playlist), Gamine - Oh! What A Kiss, Juniore's Christmas single, and lots of rare stuff you'll find on my mixes. And I was kind of hoping 'You Get The Rod' – Krampus' funky number from American Dad, sung by the late, great soul singer Charles Bradley – would be on there!

But on the plus side, I discovered a handful of new favourites when digging around on Spotify.

What are your Christmas favourites, either on this list, or ones not included here? I'm always up for learning about more Christmas songs!

Tracklist

1. The Flirtations - Christmas Time Is Here Again (1969)
2. Margo Guryan - I Don't Intend to Spend Christmas Without You (1967)
3. The Free Design - Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas) (1968)
4. Nana Mouskouri - Old Toy Trains (1972)
5. Carla Thomas - Gee Whiz, It's Christmas (1963)
6. The Sonics - Don't Believe in Christmas (1965)
7. The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song (2003)
8. The Supremes - Little Bright Star (1965)
9. Lucky Soul - Lonely This Christmas (2006)
10. Tristen - Crying on Christmas Day (2017)
11. A Girl Called Eddy - The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot (2004)
12. Maude Audet - C'est Noël quand tu es là (2024)
13. Dolly Parton - Hard Candy Christmas (1982)
14. Twice As Much & Vashti Bunyan - Coldest Night Of The Year (1958)
15. Valerie Masters - Christmas Calling (1964)
16. The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride (1963)
17. Alice Dona - Le Noël des copains (1964)
18. Jacques Dutronc - La fille du Père Noël (1966)
19. The Beach Boys - Merry Christmas, Baby (1964)
20. Brenda Lee - Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day (1964)
21. Loretta Lynn - Gift Of The Blues (1966)
22. Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes (1965)
23. The Raveonettes - Christmas Ghosts (2008)
24. April March and Los Cincos - Last Train To Christmas (1998)
25. Saturday's Children - Christmas Sounds (1966)
26. Lowell George & The Factory - Candy Cane Madness (1967)
27. Bhopal's Flowers - Incense Myrrh & Gold (2025)
28. Bobby Goldsboro - Look Around You (It's Christmas Time) (1968)
29. Les Paul & Mary Ford - White Christmas (1955)
30. Lia Pamina & Os Peregrinos - It's Gonna Be A Cold Cold Christmas (Unas Navidades Tan Frías) (2019)
31. Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas (2006)
32. Jem and the Holograms (Britta Phillips) - Last Christmas (2025)
33. Heather Noel - Santa Came On A Nuclear Missile
34. Molly Burch - Cozy Christmas (2022)
35. Sabrina Carpenter - is it new years yet? (2023)
36. The Whispers - Funky Christmas (1979)
37. James Brown - Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto (1968)
38. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 8 Days (Of Hannukah) (2015)
39. Little Jackie - Mrs. Claus (2010)
40. The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping (Long version) (1982)
41. Cristina - Things Fall Apart (1981)
42. The Long Blondes - Christmas Is Cancelled (2004)
43. Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight) (1987)
44. Holly Golightly - Christmas Tree On Fire (2006)
45. Rufus Wainwright - Spotlight on Christmas (2003)
46. John Prine - Christmas in Prison (1973)
47. Caetano Veloso - In The Hot Sun Of A Christmas Day (1971)
48. Stina Nordenstam - Soon After Christmas (1991)
49. La Nouvelle Musique - Walking In the Air (2025)
50. Bat For Lashes - Christmas Day (2024)
51. The Magic Theatre - Christmas Lights (2012)
52. The Divine Comedy - All the Pretty Lights (2025)
53. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Time of the Season (2010)
54. Sean O'Hagan - Kabon's Christmas (2010)
55. Paul Revere & The Raiders - Macy's Window (1967)
56. Darlene Love - A Marshmallow World (1963)
57. The Pepper Pots - Waiting For the Christmas Light (2009)
58. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (1953)
59. Patsy Raye & The Beatniks - Beatnik's Wish (1959)
60. Mae West - With Love From Me To You (1966)
61. Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run (1958)
62. Les Jaguars - Casse-Noisette Op.71 (196?)
63. Marlene Paul - I Wanna Spend Christmas with Elvis (1956)
64. Elvis Presley - Santa Claus Is Back In Town (1957)
65. The Ventures - White Christmas (1966)
66. Galaxies - Christmas Eve (1965)
67. Gillian Hills - La Tête à l'envers (1961)
68. Christie Laume - L'Adorable femme des neiges (1967)
69. The Peanuts - Santa Claus ga yattekuru (1960)
70. Angélica Maria - Paseo En Trineo (1967)
71. Rita Pavone - Bianco natale (1963)
72. Cathie Arel - En rêvant à Noël (1962)
73. Elisa Gabbai - Winter in Canada (1965)
74. Nina & Frederik - Schlafe, Mein Prinzchen (1966)
75. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here - Vocal (1965)
76. Laura Nyro - Christmas In My Soul (1970)
77. Carpenters - Merry Christmas Darling (1970)
78. Peggy Lee - The Christmas Waltz (1960)
79. The Free Design - Christmas Is The Day (1968)
80. Freedom Fry - My Evergreen (2024)
81. The Paradise Motel - Familiar Stranger (2010)
82. The Raveonettes - Come On Santa (2008)
83. Khruangbin - Christmas Time Is Here (2018)
84. The Shacks - Got To Be Christmas (2021)
85. Sally Shapiro - Christmas Escape (2021)
86. Danielle et Michèle - L'hiver (1965)
87. The Supremes - Just A Lonely Christmas (1965)
88. The Ronettes - Frosty the Snowman (1963)
89. Connie Francis - I'm Gonna Be Warm This Winter (1959)
90. Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (1963)
91. Tina Roberts - Snow (Like the Snow) (1966)
92. The Orchids - Christmas Is The Time To Be With Your Baby (1964)
93. Dany Aubé - Dans le vent d'hiver (1968)
94. Eydie Gormé and the Trio Los Panchos - Melchor Gaspar y Baltazar (1966)
95. Maria Dolores Pradera - Cholito toca y retoca (1966)
96. Dusty Springfield - O Holy Child (1964)
97. Nana Mouskouri - Christos Genate (1969)
98. Sylvie Vartan - Noël sans toi (1966)
99. Johnny Hallyday - Noël interdit (1973)
100. Mud - Lonely This Christmas (1974)
101. Johnny Cash - Christmas as I Knew It (1963)
102. Merle Haggard - If We Make It Through December (1973)
103. John D. Loudermilk - No Playing In The Snow Today (1966)
104. Tammy Wynette - One Happy Christmas (1970)
105. Ella Fitzgerald - Good Morning Blues (1960)
106. Lowell Fulson - Lonesome Christmas Pt. 1 (1949)
107. Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! (2006)
108. Barbara - Joyeux Noël (1968)
109. Low - Long Way Around the Sea (2006)
110. Annie Jay - Christmas Morning (2022)
111. Roy Orbison - Pretty Paper (1963)
112. Peggy Lee - The Star Carol (1960)
113. Jackie Deshannon - Christmas (1969)
114. The Partridge Family - My Christmas Card to You (1971)
115. Glen Campbell - Christmas Day (1968)
116. John Williams - Christmas Star (1992)
117. Tristen - In Winter Blues (2016)
118. Doris Day - Christmas Present (1964)
119. The Supremes - Twinkle Twinkle Little Me (1965)
120. Brenda Lee - A Marshmallow World (1964)
121. Michèle Richard - C'est Noël rock (1966)
122. The Crystals - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1963)
123. The Beach Boys - The Man With All The Toys (1964)
124. Johnny Preston - (I Want A) Rock And Roll Guitar (1960)
125. Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (1960)
126. Toni Stante - Donde Esta Santa Claus? (Where Is Santa Claus?) (1965)
127. Les Loups - Ah ! Les fêtes (1965)
128. The Sonics - Santa Claus (1965)
129. Nicole Atkins - Every Single Christmas (2020)
130. Julie Aubé - Ça c'est Noël (2020)
131. The Kinks - Father Christmas (1977)
132. The Magnetic Fields - Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree (2010)
133. Dressy Bessy - All The Right Reasons (1999)
134. Shonen Knife - all I want for Christmas........ (1999)
135. The School - It Won't Be Christmas Without You (2019)
136. Candypants - The Happiest Time of the Year (2003)
137. The Smoking Trees - The Psychedelic Lights of Christmas (2012)
138. The Zephyr Bones - Carol of the Bells (2016)
139. Rotary Connection - Christmas Child (1968)
140. Dengue Fever - Little Drummer Boy (2013)
141. The BellRays - All I Wanna Do is Shag For Xmas (2008)
142. James Brown - Go Power At Christmas Time (1970)
143. Otis Redding - Merry Christmas Baby (1967)
144. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - World of Love (2015)
145. The Pepper Pots - Christmas Time Is Here Again (2009)
146. The Yearning - I Just Wanna Hold Your Hand (On Christmas Day) (2012)
147. Modular - El Viaje Mágico De Santa Claus (2012)
148. The Moog Machine - Joy to the World (1969)
149. Cocteau Twins - Frosty the Snowman (1993)
150. Antena - Noëlle à Hawaï (1982)
151. I Am The World Trade Center - Rockefeller Tree (1999)
152. Molly Burch - Holiday Dreaming (2019)
153. Sabrina Carpenter - Cindy Lou Who (2023)
154. Kylie Minogue - Office Party (2025)
155. Tiger Baby - This Christmas (2004)
156. Saint Etienne - I Was Born on Christmas Day (1993)
157. Remington Super 60 - A Winter Song (2018)
158. Tiger La Flor - Blue Christmas (2025)
159. She & Him - Christmas Day (2011)
160. Julie London - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (1964)
161. Peggy Lee - The Christmas Spell (1949)
162. Sister Rosetta Tharpe - White Christmas (1949)
163. Rev. Edward W. Clayborn - The Wrong Way To Celebrate Christmas (1928)
164. Loretta Lynn - To Heck With Ole Santa Claus (1966)
165. Nora Aunor - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (1973)
166. The Aislers Set - Christmas Song (2000)
167. Saw Black & The Toys - Christmas in San Francisco (2019)
168. Spearmint - howling christmas (2000)
169. Tidy Towns & Prudence Rees-Lee - Once a Year (2015)
170. Sy Mann - Christmas Bells (1969)
171. Bertrand Burgalat - Noël sur ordonnance (2005)
172. Sarah Nixey - Christmas Without You (2012)
173. Julie London - I'd Like You For Christmas (1957)
174. Maude Audet - Noël mille feux (2023)
175. Claudine Longet - I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You (1967)
176. Toni Wine - My Boyfriend's Coming Home for Christmas (1963)
177. Claire Lepage - Les anges dans nos campagnes (1968)
178. Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - O Come All Ye Faithful (2007)
179. Mabel Scott - Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (1948)
180. Kim Weston - Wish You A Merry Christmas (1962)
181. Bessie Smith - At the Christmas Ball (1925)
182. Eydie Gormé and the Trio Los Panchos - Navidad y Año Nuevo (1966)
183. Los 3 Sudamericanos - Santa Claus viene a la ciudad (1967)
184. The Brady Bunch - Frosty The Snowman (1970)
185. 江玲 (Kong Ling) - The Chipmunk Song (1963)
186. Nora Aunor - Mister Santa (1973)
187. Nancy Sinatra - It's Such A Lonely Time Of Year (1968)
188. Doris Day - The Christmas Song (1964)
189. The Coctails - First Snowfall (1993)
190. Danielle et Michèle - Le bonhomme de neige (1965)
191. Tracyanne & Danny - Santa, Don't Say No (2019)
192. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Skating (1965)
193. Rocki Lane and The Gross Group - Santa Soul (1969)
194. The Marquees - Santa Done Got Hip (1959)
195. The Sisterhood Band - The Rocking Disco Santa Claus
196. Boney M. - Mary's Boy Child (1978)
197. Nancy Dupree with Group of Rochester, NY Youngsters - Virgin Mary (1970)
198. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Is Coming (1965)
199. Les Roche Martin - Il est temps de penser à la neige (1967)
200. Renée Martel - As-tu vu le Père Noël ? (1968)
201. The Wailers - Christmas Spirit?? (1965)
202. Rose Melberg & Gregory Webster - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) (2013)
203. Simon & Garfunkel - Star Carol (1967)
204. Claudine Longet - Snow (1967)
205. Joan Baez - Down In Yon Forrest (1966)
206. Nina & Frederik - The Christmas Evening Star (1966)
207. Claire Aumont - La valse de Noël (1963)
208. Byron Lee & The Dragonaires - Silver Bells (1969)
209. Eddie Kamae - I Love Christmas (Aloha Kalikimaka) (1978)
210. Lily Frost - I Don't Need Presents (2006)
211. Pink Martini - Silent Night (2010)

Have a peaceful Christmas, everyone!