Prog & X-mas Challenge

Seeing that christmas is just around the corner, we will soon be drenched in cheesy xmas songs. Some of these are very nice, but the majority can be a bit hard to swallow sometime. So, I have a tough challenge for you all: See if you can either find xmas-ish prog songs and/or good old xmas carols performed by prog bands.

This way one could listen to one's musical heros over pleasant xmas family dinners, whilst enduring the "I'm glad I only have these once a year" coversations.

I'll kick it off with:

The Nice - Lt Kije (The Troika)/Rondo: Live at Fairfields Hall, 1969

Tull again - Ring Out Solstice Bells. Obviously.

Nerevar wrote: xmas-ish prog songs and/or good old xmas carols performed by prog bands.

Kate Bush : december will be magic again

Steve Morse : Joy to the world

Steve Vai : Christmas time is here

Eric Johnson : the first Noel

and if you want christmas carols performed by "strictly" prog artists/bands here is a link that can be helpful :

http://www.artist-shop.com/1/xmas.htm

Reed Lover wrote: Alex Lifeson-Little Drummer Boy

Reed.....

?? Are you serious?? Where can I get hold of that??

Marillion does a beautiful and haunting version of
"Gabriel's Message". Unfotunately it has only
appeared on two of their Christmas CDs, though the
live performance of it is on their "Christmas Live At
The Chapel" DVD from 2002.
As stated, It's very haunting and timeless. Also, it's
nice to hear a piece of music that reminds us of
Christmas' religious origins , rather than an
opportunity for commercialism. To be fair though,
the studio version has a slightly disturbing vibe to it,
which is largely absent from the more reverent live
version.

Oh yeah...as everyone else has mentioned, Tull has
produced a number of interesting holiday-related
pieces. And of course, "I Believe In Father
Christmas" by Greg Lake is a bonafide holiday
classic, though it's message is highly cynical. But
the orchestral version is high on this Christian's list
of favorite holiday songs because of it's evocative
feel for my own boyhood memories.

Pierre

radiohead - walking in a winter wonderland
smashing pumpkins did a xmas cover as well once

it may not be a xmas song but dream theater have released 2 christmas fan club freebies. thats related i guess

^

Merry Axemass or something the album is called. No doubt Cert has a first press!

Edited by Reed Lover

Cocteau Twins released versions of "Winter Wonderland" and "Frosty the Snowman". The first is marvelous, the second is at least better than the original.

Jethro Tull's Christmas album wins the prize for me; something about Tull's music makes it perfect for the holidays. Or it would, if only I wasn't living in the Land that Winter Forgot. South Park's "Christmas Time in Hell" suits the climate a little better.

IQ - For Christ's Sake (from Seven Stories Into Ninety Eight).A medley of famous Christmas tunes given the full on prog treatment!

Greg Lake's Christmas record is wonderfull ,can't help but sing it whenever I hear it come on a juke box in a pub!

Also Steelye Span - Gaudette -LOVELY!