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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
"All I Want For Christmas," by Timbuk 3
"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 Please Come Home For Christmas," by Bon Jovi/The Eagles
"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 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 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
"Christmas Song," by Elton John
Elton sings a Xmas song and makes women drool.
"Christmas Time Is Here," by Ray Parker Jr.
"Christmastime," by Aimee Mann & Michael Penn
"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
"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
"Feast of Lights," by They Might Be Giants
"Gift of Love," by The Boones
Accapella song that continues to be one of the most requested songs at Christmas.
"God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," by Belinda Carlisle
A version done in trademark Belinda vocal...
"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'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 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 :)
"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'.
"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 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.
"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.
"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
"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.