THE NUTCRACKER SUITE: The 1960 album by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn takes Tchaikovsky's original score and turns it on its head: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy became Sugar Rum Cherry and Dance of the Reed Pipes was transformed into Toot Toot Tootie Toot and so on. It's a genius piece of work and deserves more yuletide love.

PEACE ON EARTH/LITTLE DRUMMER BOY: David Bowe loved his mom so much that he agreed to perform with Bing Crosby (one of her favorite singers) on the 1977 TV special Merrie Olde Christmas. But he refused to sing Little Drummer Boy-- a song he couldn't stand. Instead he paired Peace on Earth with Bing's drummer boy. It's beautiful a duet.

PETIT PAPA NOEL: Mary J. Blige singing in French-- yes, yes please. She nails it on her 2013 album A Mary Christmas.

HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS: I don't know if Dolly Parton intended this to be an actual Christmas song-- it's more of a pep talk to herself. But who doesn't need a little pick-me-up during the holidays?

FATHER CHRISTMAS: English rock band The Kink's commentary on the materialism of Christmas is not subtle in this 1978 track: a Santa is accosted by a group of boys looking for cash instead of toys. It's a catchy song though definitely not cheerful. Here's the last verse: Have yourself a merry merry Christmas / Have yourself a good time / But remember the kids who got nothing / While you're drinking down your wine.

JINGLE BELLS: OK, I know I promised music beyond Jingle Bells but Barbara Streisand's version is so alt that it should be included. A song on A Christmas Album she speeds and slows the lyrics in a way so unique that she turns the classic holiday tune into something completely different.

SOUVENIRS: Singer and instrumentalist Andrew Bird has gifted the world a Christmas album-- HARK! -- this year and it's great. There are original songs and some covers like recently deceased John Prine's Souvenirs.