A Max Wastler Christmas (2005)

Every year my Christmas CD is about the same. Kenny Loggins, any number of versions of "Please Come Home for Christmas," and several other favorites make their way to the mix, but this year, I tried to include some new finds, like the selections from Ron Spector's Christmas productions, "Sleigh Ride" and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home);" the latter was nicely covered years later by U2. No Charles Brown, Dolly Parton, Amy Grant, or Ave Marias this year. No Grinch, either. I hope this list finds you and yours enjoying the last drops of holiday cheer, and perhaps I opened your eyes to the wonderful world of Redbone, Leon Redbone.

1) Kenny Loggins - Celebrate Me Home
2) The Eagles - Please Come Home for Christmas
3) Ray Charles and Betty Carter - Baby, It's Cold Outside
4) Ray Charles - Winter Wonderland
5) Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run
6) Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
7) Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas
8) Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock
9) Burl Ives - Holly Jolly Christmas
10) The Drifters - I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
11) The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
12) Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
13) Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means to Me
14) Leon Redbone and Dr. John - Frosty the Snowman
15) John Mellencamp - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
16) Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You
17) Jack Johnson - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
18) Bing Crosby - Mele Kalikimaka
19) Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
20) John Lennon - Happy Christmas (War is Over)
21) Paul McCartney and Wings - Wonderful Christmas Time
22) Elton John - Step Into Christmas
23) Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Coming To Town
24) Bob and Doug MacKenzie - The 12 Days of Christmas
25 Mozart - Greensleeves (any classical guitar version)

After seeing Breakfast on Pluto, I went back and re-re-re-rediscovered Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. Mr. Morrison and I have enjoyed a long standing relationship from my slick-footed poolside twist days from years ago via "Brown-Eyed Girl," to my all-but obsessive phase around the age of 21. I found these two longer songs to best express a mood I was searching for a few stressful weeks ago. Also, the version of "4th Time Around," as found in the only scene worth its salt in Crowe's Vanilla Sky, hit me one morning as I watched it - half naked and alone. It's a beautiful version. The other songs are some old favorites, some new discoveries, and for the most part reflect that which I was feeling on the day I made this CD.

1) Bob Dylan - Fourth Time Around (from the Bootleg Series)
2) Van Morrison - Cyprus Avenue
3) David Gray - Lullaby
4) Joni Mitchell - Rainy Night House
5) The Mountain Goats - You or Your Memory
6) Nicolai Dunger - Prelude
7) Pixies - Where is My Mind?
8) Wilco - Wishful Thinking
9) The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
10) Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me to Stay
11) Al Green - I'm Glad You're Mine
12) The Allman Brothers - Melissa
13) Antony & The Johnsons - Frankenstein
14) Jeff Buckley - Satisfied Mind
15) Van Morrison - Madame George
16) The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

In iTunes, this mix is entitled "Good Weekend." I made it the weekend I came home for Christmas, and for the most part, this CD reflects that sort of happy, dancey, funky mood only a weekend can bring. Most of the songs come from Pitchfork's tracks of the year, or were inspired by their list. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

1) Art Brut - Good Weekend
2) T Rex - Children of the Revolution
3) Lady Sovereign - Random
4) The Streets - Fit But You Know It
5) Kanye West - Golddigger
6) M.I.A. - Bucky Done Gun
7) Cody Chestnutt - Look Good in Leather
8) Jamie Lidell - Multiply
9) Kanye West - Heard 'Em Say
10) Damien Marley - Welcome to Jamrock
11) Madonna - Hung Up
12) Robyn - Show Me Love
13) Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone
14) The Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
15) 50 Cent - Just a Touch
16) Amerie - 1 Thing
17) Kanye West - Touch the Sky
18) Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up
19) Jackson Browne - Sky Blue and Black
20) Shawn Smith - Leaving California

This mix was made in celebration of vacation. I put it together over the course of my first week back home for the holidays. Jeff Daniels' Celebrity Playlist inspired some of the cuts, as did walking around the CD shop at Newark's airport. Hope you enjoy this rather laid back mixture of whipped marshmallow flavor.

1) Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Follow You Into the Dark
2) Nickel Creek - Jealous of the Moon
3) Clifton Chenier - I'm a Hog For You
4) Canned Heat - On the Road Again
5) Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home
6) Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers to Cross
7) Lyle Lovett - If I Needed You
8) Jeff Tweedy - Be Not So Fearful
9) Wilco - Hell Is Chrome
10) Bright Eyes & Britt Daniel - Let the Distance Bring Us Together Again
11) Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
12) Doris Troy - Just One Look
13) Chaka Khan - Love Me Still
14) Edith Piaff - C'Etait Une Histoire D'Amour
15) M Ward - You Still Believe in Me
16) Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek
17) Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band - Express Yourself
18) John Prine - Jesus, The Missing Years
19) Leonard Cohen - The Guests