LISTEN: Advent Calendar (MIXTAPE)

A festive treat for RW/FF readers, an immaculate compilation featuring the 24 finest Christmas tracks. Some are well known and well-loved, others are lesser known gems. This playlist is perfect for listening to on Christmas Eve while wrapping the presents, or even while cooking the festive dinner. Just press play on this YouTube playlist. Merry Christmas.

1. THE BEACH BOYS - LITTLE SAINT NICK2. CHARLES BROWN - PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS3. LOUIS ARMSTRONG - ZAT YOU SANTA CLAUS4. ELVIS PRESLEY - WINTER WONDERLAND5. THE O JAYS - CHRISTMAS JUST AIN'T CHRISTMAS6. GREG LAKE - I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS7. EELS - EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE COOL THIS CHRISTMAS8. PAUL MCCARTNEY - WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME9. COLDPLAY - CHRISTMAS LIGHTS10. WILLIAM BELL - EVERY DAY WILL BE LIKE A HOLIDAY11. DARLENE LOVE - (CHRISTMAS) BABY PLEASE COME HOME12. SOLOMON BURKE - PRESENTS FOR CHRISTMAS13. MARVIN GAYE - I JUST WANT TO COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS14. JOHNNY CASH - I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY15. BELLE AND SEBASTIAN - O COME O COME EMMANUEL16. QUEEN - THANK GOD IT'S CHRISTMAS17. TEENAGE FANCLUB - CHRISTMAS EVE18. ROY ORBISON - PRETTY PAPER19. OASIS - MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY20. DAVID BOWIE AND BING CROSBY - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/PEACE ON EARTH21. NAT KING COLE - O HOLY NIGHT22. JOHN LENNON AND THE PLASTIC ONO BAND - HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER)23. JAMES BROWN - LET'S MAKE CHRISTMAS MEAN SOMETHING THIS YEAR24. STEVIE WONDER - SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS

Advent Calendar #1: My Christmas begins when I've heard this.Advent Calendar #2: the greatest christmas song of all time? Def in my top 5. Advent Calendar #3: Infectious.Advent Calendar #4: Officially the coolest version of this song ever.Advent Calendar #5: another one of the greatest festive soul classics..Advent Calendar day #6: another legend who we lost in 2016, and gow sad that he should pass away so close to Christmas. RIP Greg Lake.Advent Calendar day 7: No explanation necessary, the Eels are amazing.Advent Calendar day 8: some love it, some hate it. What about you? Advent Calendar day 9: sod the critics, i love Coldplay and always have Advent Calendar day 10: sweet, sweet soul music. This is sublime Advent Calendar day 11: from gun toting nutter Phil Spector's legendary Christmas Album. Beautiful. Advent Calendar day 12: a joyous festive soul treasure https://youtu.be/ZYPIgR-r8cIAdvent Calendar day 13: It's really odd that more people don't know this song, from one of the most loved singers of all time and one of the most stunning festive tracks you'll ever hear Advent Calendar day 14: "peace on earth, goodwill to men..."Advent Calendar day 15: 12th century christmas carol arranged beautifully by B and S Advent Calendar day 16: this yuletide offering is well overdue a critical reappraisal.Advent Calendar day 17: i love the sweet, short subtlety of this cosy treasure...Advent Calendar day 18: when i was young, we'd always gather at my Nan and Grandad's in the evening for presents, food and games on Christmas day. Roy Orbison was always one of my Nan's favourites, so this one's for her...Advent Calendar day 19: happy yet sad take on the Slade classic. Nostalgic and endearing.Advent Calendar day 20: one of my favorite things about Christmas and another reason why I always look forward to this time of year. One of the most bizarre Bowie moments ever, recorded in 1977. While punk rock was in full swing and during the icon's hugely creative Berlin period, he decided to duet with aging crooner Bing Crosby. Another unexpected move. I still find it hard to believe that this is our first Christmas without Bowie, but moments like this will live forever. Long live the king. Advent Calendar day 21: Christmas is the only time of year i can listen to singers like Nat King Cole. This rendition of the traditional carol is not only brilliant because of this truly golden voice, but the arrangement and backing vocals are stunning. Powerful and glorious. Advent Calendar day 22: "war is over if you want it..." I often think about what Lennon would think of the world we live in today. Many years since this song was released, and its message rings truer than ever. Advent Calendar day 23:I love the spirit and sentiment of this track, made even more poignant when James Brown died on Christmas day 10 years ago.Advent Calendar day 24: unbelievable that more people haven't heard this, a stunning message of festive hope from one of the all-time greats. "Someday at Christmas man will not fail, Hate will be gone love will prevail, Someday a new world that we can start, With hope in every heart..."