There’s a suburb next door to the neighborhood I where I grew up called Niles. One of the notable features of Niles was an outdoor shopping center near my home called Lawrencewood. It was a low-rent place, and when the anchor store (a Goldblatts) went out of business Lawrencewood began a long slow spiral into vacancy and decay.

Eventually the entire shopping center was empty except for a biker bar with a 4 a.m. liquor license.

But still, every December they would pipe Christmas music through the place 24/7. I used to like walking through the deserted rotting hulk at night, especially when it was snowing, listening to Andy Williams croon about warm holiday memories.

So, my relationship with Christmas music is a little odd. But there are still some seasonal songs I like.

Paul Di’Anno “White Christmas”
Mister Squid gave me the Metal Christmas CD a couple of years ago. It’s great because all the performers are has-beens or almost-weres. Like Paul Di’Anno, the guy who used to sing for Iron Maiden. The CD also features The Chick From Girlschool, The Dude From Uriah Heep, and Carlos Creator, “Spain’s Number One Rock Guitarist.”

Los Straightjackets “Here Comes Santa Claus”
Four guys in Mexican wrestling masks playing surf versions of Christmas carols. What’s not to like?

The Roches “The Hallelujiah Chorus”
Yeah, it’s still more a capella stuff. But it’s beautiful.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby “Little Drummer Boy”
A seasonal favorite. This is why I love TV variety shows and specials from the 1960s and 70s. Check out the video here. Less obscure than most of the stuff I post but every bit as odd and enjoyable.

Poi Dog Pondering “Mele Kalikimaka”
Considering that Frank Orral hails from Hawaii you’d expect this tune to be a bit more, oh, breezy. But no, it’s a New Orleans jazz version of the island classic first popularized by none other than Bing Crosby.