I bought a Holiday CD last year at Target. It was a post-Christmas bargain, and I bought it solely because it had the Eartha Kitt version of Santa Baby on it. It’s one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs, dating back to when I first played it on my hometown radio station when it switched in December to 24 hours of Christmas music. So I’ve heard them ALL and Eartha’s my favorite.

So this weekend, as I ran a few errands, I decided to pop in my new Christmas CD (I buy a new one almost every year) and get in the mood while I drove around. I’m decluttering my house for the holidays so I wanted that Christmas glow, you know? I was expecting my tried and true Eartha Kitt version of Santa Baby, but something wasn’t right.

The version I got was a lot like this one:

It’s good stuff, right? Eartha Kitt, pouty in most of the right places. But it’s more rushed than the version I first played as a DJ in the 80’s. My new CD sounds like a version that Eartha Kitt sang on a variety show in the 50’s or 60’s, and it’s good, just not what I was primed to hear. The CD I had was one of the Pottery Barn compilation CDs featuring many members of the Rat Pack. It might have been called Cool Yule or something like that. I can’t find it and it’s driving me crazy.

This is the version I’m looking for … I guess it’s the studio version.

I’ll be looking for it via download this holiday for my iPod instead.

I’m a sucker for almost any kind of Christmas music, even the corny stuff.

Here are my top five Holiday novelty songs, AFTER Santa Baby:
5. Frosty the Snowman by Jan and Dean
4. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (Sung by Gayla Peevy — the old version. Just found out the Jonas Brothers have a remake?!!)
3. The Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler
2. Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms
1. All I Want for Christmas (Love Actually version)

These are just my novelty favorites. Those who know me may be surprised that my Jimmy Buffett Christmas CD didn’t make the list. But that’s a whole ‘nother category. I also love classic Christmas songs and traditional carols.

What are your favorite holiday songs? I’d love to hear your novelty favorites.
P.S. I really hope it’s not the Madonna version of Santa Baby, but if it is, I guess we can still be friends. Maybe.