Christmas Songs From The Eighties

I've seen a couple of New Wave compilations recently that feature eighties artists heavily (Rhino has a New Wave eighties, The New Wave Connection has a couple of CD's) and I thought this might be a neat list to start since it is the Christmas season. I've started it off with a few classics, but I can't remember as many as I would like to, so feel free to send me all the ones I forget. Also, I'd like to list the names of various eighties christmas compilations in case people want one, so I've started a seperate Eighties Christmas Compilation ranking page.

This page currently edited by: . Past editor: Speed Racer

"12 Days Of Christmas ," by Bob and Doug Mackenzie
"12 Daze of Christmas," by Steve Ivings
Circa 1980:Recorded by a disc jockey who could imitate celebrities.
"2000 Miles," by The Pretenders
"2000 years of love," by 54-40
The same group that did the original version of "I Go Blind" later made popular by Hootie and the Blowfish.
"All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," by Dread Zeppelin
Nothing says Christmas like an Elvis impersonator singing in the style of Led Zeppelin.
"All I Want For Christmas," by Timbuk 3
"Another Lonely Christmas," by Prince and the Revolution
The 1984 B-side of "I would die 4 u". About a lover who dies on Christmas day.
"Another Rock & Roll Christmas," by Gary Glitter (1984)
Album: 'Boys Will Be Boys'
"Baby (Please come home)," by U2
They're singin' "Deck the halls" but it's not like Christmans at all...
"Baby It's Christmas," by Bananarama
Brilliant, discotastic, HiNRG vamp on the dancefloor...from LEGENDARY Disco Divas Bananarama!!
"Baby Please Come Home For Christmas," by Bon Jovi/The Eagles
"Baby Please Come Home For Christmas," by John Bon Jovi
Nothing says "Merry Christmas" quite like cheesy video with a model in it and if that model happens to be Cindy Crawford well.
"Backdoor Santa," by Bon Jovi
"Beer For Breakfast," by The Replacements
"All I wanna do is drink beer for breakfast" is the first line, but towards the end, lead singer Paul Westerberg hollers "Have yourself a merry, merry little Christmas" so its still a Christmas song.
"Birthday Boy," by Pet Shop Boys
"Black Christmas," by Red Flag
"Blue Christmas," by Dead or Alive
Hauntingly beautiful song, also available in an upbeat dance remix.
"Blue Christmas," by Seymour Swine and the Squeelers (1980)
"Blue Christmas," by Shakin' Stevens (1982)
"Careless Santa," by Mono Puff
"Chistmas Day," by Squeeze
"Chistmas Time," by Chris Stamey Group
"Christmas Dance (Wann Gibt's Denn Hier Geschenke E," by Santa & Cluas
1988
"Christmas in Hollis," by Run-D.M.C.
"Christmas in the Caribbean," by Jimmy Buffett (1985)
Album: 'Tennessee Christmas'
"Christmas Is a Time to Say I Love You," by Billy Squier
I believe part, if not all, of the video for this song took place in the Mtv studios with the VJs
"Christmas Is Coming," by The Payolas
"Christmas Island," by Depeche Mode
A great XMAS song with the classic Depeche's gothic style
"Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You," by Billy Squier
"Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You," by Sammy Hager
"Christmas Lullaby," by Belinda Carlisle
"Christmas Rappin'," by Kurtis Blow
"A Christmas Rhyme," by Audio Two
From the 1987 album Christmas rap.
"Christmas Song," by Elton John
Elton sings a Xmas song and makes women drool.
"Christmas Time Is Here," by Ray Parker Jr.
"Christmas Time Without You," by Michael Damian
1987 Single
"Christmastime," by Aimee Mann & Michael Penn
"A Christmas To Remember," by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
Title track from their CBS TV special in 1984.
"Christmas Was a Friend of Mine," by Fay Lovsky (1981)
From the Album Confetti of 1981. Became a minor top 40 hit in the Netherlands topping at 37 on 9 January 1982. Fay Lovsky is a female singer/keyboard player. The song became a major Christmas classic from the end of the eighties appearing on several Christmas compilation CD's.
"Christmas with the Devil," by Spinal Tap
Stupid but funny.
"Christmas Wrapping," by The Waitresses
You can't have a page about Christmas music in the 80's without this one.
"Christmas," by Buzz of Delight (Featuring Matthew Sweet)
"Countdown to Christmas Partytime," by Three Wise Men (a.k.a. XTC)
"Countdown To Christmas Party Time," by XTC
Another good Christmas song found on the same B-Side collection as "Thanks For Christmas"
"Dead By X-mas," by Hanoi Rocks
"December Will Be Magic Again," by Kate Bush
"Dingo Bells," by Telex
Looney Tunes album
"Do They Know It's Christmas," by Band Aid
British benefit 45 from 1984 to raise money for African famine.
"Driving Home For Christmas," by Chris Rea
Do not forget this one - it's one of the best and the moodiest seasonals of the 80s, and a leading track from Rea's The Christmas EP released in 1988 (and charted only at #53 in UK). Other songs are Joys Of Christmas (also released as a single in 1987), which sounds bluesy and recluse more than Christmas; Winter Song is quite nice, the fourth track is Footsteps In The Snow.
"Fairytale Of New York," by The Pogues
"Father Christmas," by The Kinks
Nothing to add, just thought this song belonged. Thanks for the list! Having a 'friends' Christmas party and we are all teens from the 80's and this list brought some I had forgotten!
"Father Christmas," by The Kinks
Nothing to add, just thought this song belonged. Thanks for the list! Having a 'friends' Christmas party and we are all teens from the 80s and this list brought some I had forgotten!
"Feast of Lights," by They Might Be Giants
"Frosty the Snowman," by Cocteau Twins
From the "Snow" EP. Included the both Frosty the Snowman and Winter Wonderland.
"Gift of Love," by The Boones
Accapella song that continues to be one of the most requested songs at Christmas.
"Give Love At Christmas Day," by New Edition
B-side of "Cool It Now" 1985
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," by Belinda Carlisle
A version done in trademark Belinda vocal...
"Happy Xmas (War is over)," by The Alarm
Found on the Big 80's Christmas CD
"Hard Candy Christmas," by Dolly Parton
Sad but beautiful song.
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," by Pretenders
This one is on the "A Very Special Christmas" CD, it took alot of guts for Chrissy to sing this, the lyrics "through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow" must have been hard on her, with losing two members of her band in years prior to this recording.
"Hey Santa," by Wilson Phillips
"I Believe in Father Christmas," by Greg Lake
Of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
"I'd Like to Spend Christmas With Santa," by Dolly Parton (1986)
A wonderful children's Xmas song from 'Smoky Mountain Christmas'.

No known recordings. Not available on CD. ~Editor

"Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant," by Siouxsie & the Banshees
"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," by John Cougar Mellencamp
"Israel," by Siouxsie and the Banshees (1981)
'Israel' - a true Xmas song!

Album: 'Once Upon a Time: The Singles'

"Is that you Santa Claus?," by Buster Poindexter
"It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas," by Pet Shop Boys
"It's Christmas All Over The World," by Sheena Easton
From the 1985 movie Santa Claus.
"It's Christmas In Heaven," by Monty Python
Song from the 1983 film soundtrack "Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life" it is a true comedy classic holiday song
"It's Christmas," by Modern Talking
From In the garden of Venus The 6th album 1987
"I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas," by Bon Jovi
Recorded for the 1989 album, "A Very Special Christmas" to benefit the Special Olympics.
"Jingle Bell Rock," by Hall and Oates
"Last Christmas," by Wham (1986)
Nice, warm, cozy and lovely Xmas song. Perfect for you and that special someone. You'll LOVE it!

Album: 'Music from the Edge of Heaven'

"Last Night I Saw Santa Claus Sneakin' Out," by New Kids on the Block
Ohmigod, totally 80's...supposed to be like, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," but updated for the 80's. Found on the "Merry, Merry Christmas" album.
"Little Drummer Boy," by Bob Seger
"Little Drummer Boy," by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Bonus track on their 1982 "I Love Rock and Roll" album, it was also released as single first in 1981. The song was featured in the 1983 film "Class" starring Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy.
"Little Drummer Boy," by Miracle Legion
"Mary Xmess," by Sun 60
"Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight)," by The Ramones
"Merry Christmas, Baby," by Bruce Springsteen
"Merry Christmas Everyone," by Shakin' Stevens
1985
"A Merry Jingle," by The Gredies
"Merry Xmas Everybody," by Slade
This song really make me look forward to Xmas :)
"The Night Santa Went Crazy," by Weird Al Yankovic
A funny song about the night Santa went crazy
"O Holy Night," by Jon Anderson
The former lead signer of Yes did a very good Christmas album and does a great job covering this classic!
"One More Christmas Catalog," by Captain Sensible
"Pilgrim in the Temple of Love," by Bruce Springsteen
Blue collar worker gets off work on Christmas Eve and spend the night getting drunk in a strip club. Hard to find but absolutely excellent Xmas song. Subtitled as "Santa Gets a B---job". (Don't think the song was ever released on an album.)
"Pipes of Peace," by Paul McCartney (1983)
The song is about the Christmas Truces of the Great War.

Album: 'Pipes of Peace'

"Please Come Home For Christmas," by Pat Benatar
"Power of Love," by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Very popular Xmas song with a video to match.
"Put A Little Love In Your Heart," by Al Green & Annie Lennox
Theme song to Scrooged soundtrack circa 1988.
"Red Over White," by Siouxsie and the Banshees (1984)
'Red Over White' - a haunted Xmas song. There are two versions. One is the flip side of 'Israel' - the other is from the EP entitled 'The Thorn'.
"Reggae Christmas," by Bryan Adams
Good Song
"Rock & Roll Christmas," by George Thorogood
"Rocking Around the Christmas Tree," by Kim Wilde and Mel Smith (Mel & Kim)
Released 1987.
"Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer," by The Smithereens
"Rudolph the Manic Reindeer," by Los Lobos
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," by Corey Hart
"Run Run Rudolph," by Bryan Adams
"Run Run Rudolph," by Dave Edmunds
"Same Old Lang Syne," by Dan Fogelberg
The songs about the artist running into an old Girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
"Santa Baby," by Madonna
Has Madonna been naughty or nice? OOOH very naughty, in fact it looks like she wants to get naughty with St. Nick
"Santa Clause Is Coming To Town," by Shark Island
1983 single with i'm electric on bside
"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," by Bruce Springsteen
"Santa Claus ," by They Might Be Giants
"Santa Claus," by Throwing Muses
"Santa Got a D.W.I.," by Sherwin Linton (1989)
As pre teens we found the mere thought of Santa driving drunk quite amusing.

Album: 'Bummed Out Christmas!'

"Santa's Beard," by They Might Be Giants
"She's Right On Time," by Billy Joel
Lyrics mention turning on Christmas lights and setting up a Christmas tree.
"She Won't Be Home," by Erasure
One of my favorite 80's Christmas tunes, found on the EP Crackers International
"Silent Night ," by Erasure
"Silent Night," by Huey Lewis and the News
"Silent Night ," by Peter Cetera (1988)
Peter Cetera sings this song. It's on Warner Brothers 'Winter Wonderland' promo tape.
"Sleigh Ride," by Alexander O'Neal
This song came around in '87. It's very upbeat and you can dance to it.
"Slick Nick (You Devil You)," by Fishbone
Christmas for the rest of us!
"Something About Christmas Time," by Bryan Adams
"Stop the Cavalry," by Jona Lewie
Very British Christmas hit from 1980. Wasn't originally going to be an Xmas song, but became one as it happened to be December.
"Tannenbaum," by They Might Be Giants
"Thank God It' s Christmas," by Queen
"Thanks For Christmas," by XTC
"This Christmas," by The Kings
the above song is played on the radio about once an hour during christmas time. its not on your list.
"Walk Out to Winter," by Aztec Camera
I firmly believe it's a Christmas Song.
"A Winters Tale," by David Essex
Isn't really a christmas song but does fit into the Christmas season.
"Winter Wonderland," by Eurythmics
"Winter Wonderland," by Harry Connick, Jr
Connick demonstrates his awesome skill in this New Orleans jazz-piano instrumental which appeared on the 1989 soundtrack for the movie "When Harry Met Sally"
"Winter Wonderland," by Huey Lewis and the News
VERY RARE, played on the radio in 83' and 84' only.
"Winter Wonderland," by Stryper
"Winter Wonderland," by The Cocteau Twins
"A winterâ€TMs tale," by David Essex
Is it a Christmas song? Is it not a Christmas song? :)
"Wonderful Christmas Time," by Paul McCartney
"XMAS at K-Mart," by Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band with the Rootettes
Do You Have a Song to Share?

Please check out the Christmas Music submission page.