THE 20th Anniversary Collection: The Best of the Best of 20 Years of Playlists

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Happy 20 years! In addition to this being the one year anniversary of MarkOnTheArts.com (and thank you for following and sharing my articles, lists, and musings), this year’s Christmas Playlist also is a landmark 20 years in the business of tracking down and evaluating the best of Christmas music year by year. What started a sampling the holiday bins at San Goody’s and Barnes & Noble, to Amazon, to doing it all on the road with Spotify, it’s been a labor of love for 2 solid decades. So, after 20 years of Playlists, I thought we should celebrate the event with a grand Best of the Best Playlist. The best version of the best songs, and every song that has ever appeared on a playlist is eligible. Here is the resulting double playlist (just to break the list up into two smaller more interesting playilsts, and in tribute to the original days when we were limited by the physical constraints of CDs).  Enjoy and thank you for your interest and loyalty to my reviews and lists! Happy Holidays!

 

20 Years of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree: the Ultimate Edition

DISC 1

  1. ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE, Hanson

Since it would be a double CD in the original days, I’m organizing it as 2 playlists and both get an entry of the title song. Hanson’s cut from their excellent 1997 Snowed In is the best rock and roll arrangement to kick off the first disc.

 

  1. SANTA TELL ME, Ariana Grande

Pop Princess Grande’s 2014 track is one of the freshest and most fun new entries in the pop Christmas game in the past few years

 

  1. ALL ALONE ON CHRISTMAS, Darlene Love

The real Queen of Christmas, Miss Love scores here with her 1992 sequel to her signature hit “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” from seasonal favorite Home Alone 2.

 

  1. CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME). Leona Lewis

And no one has performed her definitive hit like Leona Lewis on her incredible 2013 salute to Miss Love CD Christmas With Love.

 

  1. CHRISTMAS VACATION, Jarrod Spector, Jessica Keenan Wynn, and the cast of Beautiful

Another theme song from another 90s iconic holiday favorite movie, written by 60s Brill Building powerhouse couple Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, and performed by Spector and Wynn, who portrayed them in the Carole King biomusical, Beautiful.

 

  1. SANTA BABY, Vanessa Williams, Eartha Kitt, & Patti Labelle

This little known, hard to find gem is the theme song from a forgotten Rankin & Bass animated TV special from the ealy 2000s. Any one of these legends would be enough for a great version of the song. All 3 in one arrangement is just an embarrassment of Christmas gifts. This one is not available on Spotify but track it down on Amazon. SO worth the effort

 

  1. I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS, John Cougar Mellenkamp

Mellenkamp’s classic rockabilly version from the original Very Special Christmas has remained the best since

 

  1. FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

There’s something kind of cool about a red hot, Comus influenced version of the song about a snowman who went to town and melted.

 

  1. DECK THE ROOFTOP, the cast of Glee

It’s easy to be the best of this mash-up of “Deck the Halls” and “Up on the Rooftop”  because virtually no one ever records either.

 

  1. HAPPY HOLIDAYS/IT’S THE HOLIDAY SEASON, Darren Criss

Same goes with these two mash-ups, but even if they were more common, they wouldn’t sound like Criss’ smooth, soothing baritone.

 

  1. I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY, Leona Lewis

Like with Darlene Love, Lewis scores highly with the best arrangement of the Wizzards’ classic 70s hit since

 

  1. IT’S NOT CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU, Victoria Justice, Elizabeth Gillies, Ariana Grande & the cast of Victorious

A fun original track where the teen stars of Nickleodeon for once and for all demolish the teen stars of the Disney Channel

 

  1. GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN/WE THREE KINGS, Bare Naked Ladies & Sarah MacLachlan

When you drop an alternative arrangement like this 20 years ago and everyone who doesn’t do either song traditionally follows your lead yet today, you know you did something right

 

  1. SILVER BELLS. Rockapella

Their tight harmonies just float and glide throughout this superior arrangement

 

  1. THE FIRST NÖEL, Josh Groban & Faith Hill

No one gives hymns the respect the deserve like Groban, paired here with the strong-voiced country artist at her peak.

 

  1. O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL, David Archuleta

The closest to Groban for revend hymns is the season 8 American Idol runner up, in equally fine form here

 

  1. LIKE CHRISTMAS, the Jonas Brothers

The boys turn out a catchy 2019 Christmas bop.

 

  1. BLUE CHRISTMAS, Heart

Annie Wilson gives this all the vocal dynamics it deserves like a female Elvis. Again from the original Very Special Christmas and yet to be topped.

 

  1. ROCKIN’ AROUND THE POLE, the Hot Elves

Better know as Taylor Louderman, Erika Henningsen, Kate Rockwell, & Ashley Park from the original cast of Broadway’s Mean Girls, this song is the original parody they sing as the “Jingle Bell Rock” stand-in from the movie. Witty lyrics and a catchy tune make this a must listen.

 

  1. CALLING IT CHRISTMAS, Elton John & Joss Stone

His only other entry in the game since 1973 debut “Step Into Christmas”, adding Joss Stone to the mix only ups his game.

 

  1. SILENT NIGHT, Kelly Clarkson, Reba McIntyre, & Trisha Yearwood

Some choices were easy. Hands down the most beautiful arrangement of the piece from this trio of powerhouses, especially when they break into an á capellla 3 part trio for the final verse.

 

  1. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, Linda Ronstadt & the Nelson Riddle Orchestra

The voice of our lifetime and the lush sounds of the infamous big band she brought back from obscurity results in no song that she can’t just make better. Even the original.

 

DISC 2

  1. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, the Pointer Sisters

The original lead off song from the very first playlist, the Sisters’ seem to actually have a party in the recording studio of they redefine the  Jackson 5 classic, which earns it a lead off spot on the second anniversary disc

 

  1. ONE MORE SLEEP, Leona Lewis

What should have been 2013’s breakout addition to the pop Christmas canon lost out to Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree” as the new song added to holiday radio playlists. Lewis’ entry is equally as strong and was my vote for the winner between the two.

 

  1. JINGLE BELLS, Gwen Stefani

The best, most rousing version of the new millennium, Stephani gets bonus points for sampling the immortal Darlene Love’s “Wait Till My Bobby Gets Home” lyrics.

 

  1. ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE, Kelly Clarkson

From this season’s winning album, Clarkson gives us the best contemporary traditional arrangement of the title song.

 

  1. WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME, Hanson

The brothers deliver another strong rocker version of the Stevie Wonder hit from their Snowed In collection.

 

  1. YOU’RE A MEAN ONE MR. GRINCH, Levi Kreis

The Tony Award winning actor/singer/musician knocks the holiday TV classic out of the park with a slam the piano against the wall bump and grind arrangement. Triple points for doing his own mad piano skills.

 

  1. GLOW WORM/ IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS/PINE COMES & HOLLY BERRIES, Rockapella

The OG á capella kings who will make you ask “Penta-who?” win hands down not only for their tight smooth sounds but for beint the only recording I can find on modern record to incorporate Meredith Willlson’s original counter melody he composed to sing against it, “Pine Cones & Holly Berries”. Even if they did mix all that up with a Rudolph-rethemed version of “Glow Worm” The end result is a win/win/win.

 

 

  1. CHRISTMAS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR, the cast of Catch Me if You Can

This catchy Phil Spector/Wall of Sound inspired song was used basically for scene change in the musical, but is resurrected to a full radio version on the 2015 Carols for a Cure, produced by the Broadway community annually for the Equity Fights Aids benefit holiday album. Usually a wasteland for Broadway geeks, this is the third selection pulled form the series, along with the superlative “Christmas Vacation” and the Mean Girls’ “Rockin’ Around the Pole” that all made this “best of” Collection

 

 

  1. UNDERNEATH THE TREE, Kelly Clarkson

From her original 2013 album, the song the airwaves selected to join the modern classic canon.

 

 

  1. MR. HEATMISER / MR. COLDMISER, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

The New Orleans band give the perfect sound to this contrasting pair of classic songs from the Rankin & Bass holiday TV classic A Year Without a Santa Claus.

 

  1. WINTER WONDERLAND, Leona Lewis

Lewis solidifies herself as the only artist to pull 4 wins in this “best of” collection of hits.

 

  1. WHITE CHRISTMAS, Darlene Love

A remake of her original 60s version is even more soulful and better.

 

  1. FULL OF CHEER, Home Free

The country cousins of Pentatonix and season 4 successors to their crown score here with pure novelty Christmas and the title track for the 2017 debut entry.\

 

  1. HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING, Darius Rucker

The artist formerly know as Hootie still scores with a track that is equal parts reverend, Gospel, mild country, and Blowfish worthy.

 

  1. ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH, David Archuleta

Again, for devout hymns, the kid gets it right.

 

  1. IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, Sixpence None the Richer

Taking a cue from the Bare Naked Ladies, this contemporary guitar version of the classic  hymn works as the other carol to get early 2000s airplay. And oddly, for as much radio play it had in the day, this cut is also not available on Spotify, so yes, check out Amazon or your local Christmas radio over the weekend

 

  1. DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?, Vanessa Williams

Sorry, but Williams Hans Zimmer inspired Afrikani arrangement beats out radio classic Whitney Houston by a hair.

 

  1. JOY TO THE WORLD, Mariah Carey

Yes, she made the list here, solely on bonus points for incorporating the Three Dog Night “Jeremiah was a bullfrog” chorus into the song. Probably more producer/husband Tommy Matolla’s triumph, but it landed it here here either way.

 

  1. O HOLY NIGHT, Josh Goban

I’m gonna take some heat for this from the Celine Dion and Sandy Patti fans (as I did every year a gave the song to anyone else on the playlist), but while their versions certainly merited consideration, it’s in the end Groban’s strong, controlled, classically trained baritone that delivers the most on the old devout hymns, and this is the most reverend of all. And Groban soars within his range like the ladies, he just makes it look easier.

 

  1. GOD BLESS US EVERYONE, Celine Dion

And Celine gets her own track anyway. One of the best original entries of the early 2000s

 

  1. HAPPY NEW YEAR, ABBA

The legendary quartet’s 1980 forray into the game is a nice and thought provoking way to wind the playlist down.

 

  1. I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, Linda Ronstadt & the Nelson Riddle Orchestra

And there is no better voice to close the entire list than the best of the best legend herself.

All selections available on Amazon, iTunes, or by following me on Spotify except Santa Baby (available only on Amazon, link below) and It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, which for a popular a it was in the radio play, didn’t seem to be any longer available anywhere.

 

Dont miss Santa Baby (Trio Version) by Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams & Eartha Kitt on Amazon Music
here.