Christmas songs that rock: from Bob Dylan to James Brown to Lady Gaga

The holiday season has resulted in vats of songs that reek like rotten eggnog.

On occasion, though, someone like Bob Dylan, James Brown or Lady Gaga gets it right.

Here's a look at 16 Christmas songs that rock.

"Run Rudolph Run," Chuck Berry: Contemporaries like Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Beach Boys all recorded great Christmas songs. But only Chuck Berry's holiday hit about the most famous reindeer of all really rocks.

"Jingle Bells," X: Published in the mid-19th century by James Lord Pierpont, this song didn't truly come alive until seminal Los Angeles punk band X got hold of the song a few years back for its two-track EP "Merry Xmas From X."

"Christmas in Hollis," Run D.M.C.: Rhyming over the riff from soul singer Clarence Carter's naughty holiday hit "Back Door Santa," the members of hip-hop kings Run D.M.C. brilliantly recall Christmas in their Queens neighborhood on this song that first introduced suburban moms to rap in 1987.


Read more.

Thanksgiving Day playlist: Songs for cooking, eating, drinking and dealing with weird relatives

Here are 20 songs to help you with the cooking, coping and all the other fun that goes with the fourth Thursday of November.

It's a time to give thanks, stuff your face and make sure there's enough wine around to deal with hearing your aunt complain about her ailments.

And block out the cacophony being created by your brother's bratty kids.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Thanksgiving Theme," Vince Guaraldi Trio 
"Turkey In The Straw," The Skillet-Lickers 
"Home Cookin," The Band
"Mashed Potatoe Time," James Brown 
"Nicotine & Gravy," Beck
"Cornbread and Butter Beans," Carolina Chocolate Drops
"Beans And Cornbread," Louis Jordan & His Tympani Five
"Country Pie," Bob Dylan
"Apple Pie À La Mode," Destiny's Child – A
"Pudding Time," Primus 
"Sangria Wine," Jerry Jeff Walker
"The Thanksgiving Filter," Drive-By Truckers
"Leftovers," No Doubt 
"The Kids Are Alright," The Who
"My Cousin in Milwaukee," Ella Fitzgerald
"Uncle Salty," Aerosmith
"Aunt Hagar's Blues," Louis Armstrong
"When I Was Young and Grandma Wasn't Old," Willie Nelson
"Twistin' In The Kitchen With Dinah," Sam Cooke 
"Alice's Restaurant Massacre," Arlo Guthrie  

Top 25 reasons to watch 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' on its 25th anniversary
John Hughes comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy is greatest Thanksgiving Day movie of all time.

—Photo: This open-face sandwich is comprised of turkey leftovers, mashed potatoes and gravy. McCLATCHY TRIBUNE

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2012/11/21/4287107/stuff-your-face-with-leftover.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy