4. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – U2 (1987)
There are tons of great covers on that ’87 fundraiser for the Special Olympics, but this one really holds up. Phil Spector meets U2 – what’s not to like?
3. “The Little Drummer Boy” – David Bowie and Bing Crosby (1977)
The banter is crazy 1970’s TV special writing, but the beauty of version rescues an otherwise insipid song.
2. “The Christmas Song” – Nat King Cole (1961)
Nat King Cole simply owns this song. Not a cover version. (h/t Puck)
1. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” – Bruce Springsteen (1979)
I first heard this at a friend’s house in 1981. She picked up a bootlegged of the 45 in NYC. As she laid the needle on the shiny edge of the black disc, she said, “”You will not believe this.” 31 years later – I STILL DON’T BELIEVE IT. From the banter, to the dirty Clarence Clemmons sax break, the E Street Band in full stride captures everything good, wholesome, and raucous about Christmas in New Jersey.