The B List: Christmas Rock

4. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – Bruce Springsteen: Springsteen has one of the most distinctive voices in all of rock and roll. The E Street Band does a great job with the music, and the way Bruce adds accents and screams to the lyrics makes his version unique and entertaining.

5. Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid: In 1984, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure decided to do something about famine in Africa, so they put together a supergroup to record a charity record. The result is the timeless Do They Know It’s Christmas?, which stills gets tons of airplay today, and for good reason.

6. Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses: The Waitresses, who were best known for their hit I Know What Boys Like, made the most of their 15 minutes of fame and released a Christmas song. Christmas Wrapping mixes the characteristic New Wave sound with quirky lyrics about the magic of the holiday. I wonder what ever happened to these ladies. Anyone got some heady info for me?

7. Step Into Christmas – Elton John: As we’ve seen with other entries on this list, when an artist hits the top of the charts it must be time to release a Christmas single. Elton John was the biggest rock superstar in the world when he released this original song in 1973. While the song is just okay, the video is hilarious.

8. Rock and Roll Christmas – George Thorogood: Yet another great Christmas song from the early ’80s: Why don’t pop stars write Christmas songs anymore? Oh, that’s right, because they’re merely a creation of the recording industry and have no discernible talent.

9. Blue Christmas – Elvis Presley: If my list is any indication, depressing Christmas songs seem to be the best. This particular tale of loneliness and misery shows off The King’s crooning style perfectly.

10. It’s Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2: Phil Spector, who also produced Merry Christmas (War Is Over), wrote this tune with Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the original version recorded by Darlene Love. Then in 1987, U2 recorded a version at a soundcheck and added background vocals from Love. This track can be found on A Very Special Christmas, my favorite Christmas album, which also includes songs that just missed this list such as Run DMC’s Christmas in Hollis, The Eurythmics’ Winter Wonderland, and Stevie Nicks singing Silent Night.

I know there are plenty more, so tell us, what’s your favorite Christmas song?