Rockblog

Ever have one of those days where you get a song stuck in your head first thing in the morning and it won’t go?

I’m having one today and it’s all down to reading another blogger’s post first thing this morning about a really bad (Is there any other kind?) reality show called “Momma’s Boys”. Jen over at the Dark Passenger blog watched the show and quite rightly questioned the sanity of all involved with the program.

Me? I read her post and got the Ramones song “Mama’s Boy” stuck in my head all morning.

“Mama’s Boy” is the first song on the Ramones Too Tough To Die album from 1984. If you’re one of those people who think the first four albums are the only thing the Ramones did worth listening to, first I would say you were wrong, then I’d tell you to check out Too Tough To Die.

I’ll leave you with the Ramones performing “Mama’s Boy” and give thanks to Jen at Dark Passenger for not watching a show called “Like a Virgin” or “Achy Breaky Heart”.

It’s time for the Rockblog countdown of the top 10 Christmas rock songs.

To be eligible for the Top 10 Christmas rock songs countdown the song has to rock, be about Christmas, and be an original version - so while we love Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, Joan Jett’s “Little Drummer Boy”, and most of this year’s holiday favorite We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year, none of those songs are eligible.

10. Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody  - If you live in the UK this song needs no introduction. If you’re not listening to it now, you will be within the next fifteen minutes. Good song that loses places for being completely overplayed.

9. Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Again, no introduction needed if you live in the UK. The song you’re probably listening to if you’re not listening to Slade.

8. The Damned - There Ain’t No Sanity Clause - A fun punk rock Christmas song that takes its title from a Marx Brothers’ movie. 

7. Widespread Panic - Christmas Katie - A cool song from the jam band’s ‘Til The Medicine Takes album.

6. George Thorogood - Rock n Roll Christmas - Being an above average Christmas song means it makes the list. Being a below average Thorogood song means it misses out on the Top 5.

5. Fleshtones - Christmas with Bazooka Joe - From their new Christmas album on Yep Rock, Stocking Stuffer. Could easily have picked any of the originals on this release. Some of the songs - icluding “Christmas With Bazooka Joe” - can be heard now on the band’s MySpace page.

4. Billy Squier - Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You - Christmas goodness from one of the favorites from M-tv’s very early years. 

3. Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) - It’s the Ramones and it’s a Christmas song. No other reasons needed.

2. Chuck Berry - Run Rudolph Run - This song has been covered by virtually everybody that ever wanted to do a rock Christmas song, but couldn’t be bothered to write their own or come up with a rock arrangement of something else. Plus, all rock and roll lists should include at least one Chuck Berry song that’s not “My Ding-a-ling”. 

1. The Kinks - Father Christmas - Not just a great Christmas song, this is a great rock and roll song. The attached video isn’t the best quality and the audio doesn’t quite match up, but don’t worry about that and listen to the song. Unfortunately, the story to this song is just as relevant today as it was when released in 1977.