Another quick one today as I go through a holiday song a day until December 25. “Frosty the Snowman” never actually mentions Christmas – unless you go with the modified lyrics from the 1969 Rankin/Bass animated version. In that case, “I’ll be back again someday” becomes “I’ll be back on Christmas Day.” Take it away, Jimmy Durante and Jackie Vernon …

My favorite version of “Frosty the Snowman” is from Leon Redbone’s 1987 album, “Christmas Island.” It’s a duet with Dr. John and certainly the reason why Redbone played a stop-motion snowman himself in 2003’s “Elf” – although Leon the Snowman’s look is borrowed Burl Ives’ character, Sam, in Rankin/Bass’ “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

For a complete switch-up, yet still great, here’s Cocteau Twins in 1993 with their dreamy Scottish take on “Frosty.”

Does a song have to mention Christmas at all to be a Christmas song? I bet this cover tune puts you in the holiday frame of mind even though the original was a hit in the summer of 1969.

Annie Lennox and Al Green teamed up to cover Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” for the “Scrooged” soundtrack in 1988. The cast sang the song at movie’s end and transitioned to Lennox and Green as the credits rolled.

Green had left pop music in 1980 after falling off a stage and taking it as a sign from God that he should turn exclusively to gospel music. Producer Jimmy Iovine was the musical supervisor for “Scrooged.” He asked Green to record the song, Green asked if Annie Lennox would sing with him, and it became Green’s first Top 10 pop hit since 1974. It’s also Lennox’s highest charting song outside of Eurythmics, although her bandmate, David Stewart, did produce the track.

Here’s the original from Jackie DeShannon. Odd bit of trivia – Jackie wrote “Bette Davis Eyes,” the 1981 hit for Kim Carnes.

And let’s wrap up with an all-star version I found in doing my research. From a 1979 UNICEF charity concert in Assembly Hall at the United Nations – here’s John Denver, Donna Summer, Barry Gibb, Olivia Newton-John, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Andy Gibb, Rod Stewart, and ABBA. I also see Henry Fonda, Henry Winkler, Gilda Radner, David Frost, Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson, and I’m sure I missed a few…

My favorite labored rhyme in a Christmas song? “Chimney” and “Bimini.” I’m posting a holiday song every day from now until December 25, and today, it’s that most loved Christmas crooner … Billy Squier … and 1981’s “Christmas Is the Time to Say ‘I Love You.’”

The video for the song was an on-air Christmas card from MTV. The veejays and crew and office staff got together on bleachers and Billy lip-synched in a magnificent sweater of the era. Here’s the clip, introduced by the 1990 Martha Quinn, reminiscing about nine years earlier. Jump to 1:28 if you don’t wanna hear Miss Quinn.

Lyrically, “Christmas Is the Time to Say ‘I Love You’” is pretty standard and kinda lovely – sharing the holiday spirit around the globe and hoping it just keeps going – which is why I’m surprised it hasn’t been covered by more contemporary singers. Katharine McPhee had done it, and Darlene Love, whom I’ll write about more as we close in on December 25. The cover that best captures Billy Squier’s enthusiasm is pop punkers SR-71 on the 2001 Special Olympics benefit album, “A Very Special Christmas 5.”

I’m going to post something about a song from my personal holiday collection every day until December 25. Today’s song came out just last year, but the lyrics will resonate with so many people not seeing family in 2020. “Christmas and You” is from Los Lobos’ first Christmas album, “Llegó Navidad,” or “Christmas is Here.”

Los Lobos members David Hidalgo and Louie Pérez wrote “Christmas and You,” the only original song on “Llegó Navidad.” Thematically, it’s very similar to “Blue Christmas” – being away from someone you love and longing for you to be together. It’s a sad song, but just maybe comforting to know you’re not the only one who feels that way.

Just to prove there are plenty of fun songs on “Llegó Navidad” too, here’s one tune you knew had to be on the record – “Feliz Navidad” – and if you want to hear how I kinda directed a Los Lobos music video in the middle of Walt Disney World, click here for the blog post.

Welcome back to day three of me going through some of the favorite Christmas songs in my collection – and I’ll keep going until December 25. I first bought “An Austin Rhythm and Blues Christmas” on cassette in the mid-80s. As near as I can tell, it’s now out of print, but available for streaming and download, so that’s all you really need.

There’s not a clunker on “An Austin Rhythm and Blues Christmas,” but today, let’s go with The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Remember them? Stevie Ray Vaughn’s older brother, Jimmie, on lead guitar?  “Tuff Enuff” was their big hit in 1986.

The T-Birds have two songs on “An Austin Rhythm and Blues Christmas.” The first is “Merry Christmas Darling” – not The Carpenters tune, but a blues cover written by Hop Wilson and Ivory Lee Semiens. My pick though is the second Fabulous Thunderbirds song, the standard “Winter Wonderland.”

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