Rick Stark
@rickstarkradio.bsky.social
100% certified music nerd on a quest to listen to every album ever made! You can find me spinning records on the Rick Stark Radio Spectacular: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weirdsville-records-radio-s-show--3079702
The #7 song on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Bing Crosby’s “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”! Written in 1951 by Meredith Willson, two versions of the song recorded at the end of the year - One by Bing and one by Perry Como with the Fontaine Sisters…
December 20, 2025 at 5:25 AM
The #7 song on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Bing Crosby’s “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”! Written in 1951 by Meredith Willson, two versions of the song recorded at the end of the year - One by Bing and one by Perry Como with the Fontaine Sisters…
#8 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is U2’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”! Originally written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Barry and performed by Darlene Love for the 1963 album “A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector”…
December 19, 2025 at 5:01 AM
#8 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is U2’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”! Originally written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Barry and performed by Darlene Love for the 1963 album “A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector”…
Coming in at #9 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Andy Williams’ “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"! It was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle, recorded later that year by Williams for his first Christmas LP, “The Andy Williams Christmas Album”…
December 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Coming in at #9 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Andy Williams’ “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"! It was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle, recorded later that year by Williams for his first Christmas LP, “The Andy Williams Christmas Album”…
And we’re into the top ten! Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” comes in at #10 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time! The song was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the 1944 musical “Meet Me In St. Louis”, performed in the film by Garland…
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | Judy Garland ♡
YouTube video by loveforjudy
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 4:31 AM
And we’re into the top ten! Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” comes in at #10 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time! The song was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the 1944 musical “Meet Me In St. Louis”, performed in the film by Garland…
#11 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Whitney Houston’s version of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” The song dates back to the early 60s, written by married couple Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis…
Do You Hear What I Hear
YouTube video by Whitney Houston - Topic
youtu.be
December 16, 2025 at 3:29 AM
#11 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Whitney Houston’s version of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” The song dates back to the early 60s, written by married couple Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis…
#12 on our countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means to Me.” Written by Allen Story, Anna Gordy Gaye, and George Gordy, the song was recorded for Stevie’s 1967 holiday album Someday at Christmas…
Stevie Wonder - What Christmas Means To Me (Tamla Records 1967)
YouTube video by ChristmasTimeTV
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 4:48 AM
#12 on our countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means to Me.” Written by Allen Story, Anna Gordy Gaye, and George Gordy, the song was recorded for Stevie’s 1967 holiday album Someday at Christmas…
#13 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time belong to Nat King Cole’s “Caroling, Caroling”! It was recorded by Cole for his 1960 “Christmas Album”, written in 1954 by composer Albert Burt. #25greatestchristmasrecords #songoftheSaturday youtu.be/QFM9XwBXtdU?...
Nat King Cole - Caroling, Caroling (Lyric Video)
YouTube video by NatKingColeVEVO
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 2:24 AM
#13 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time belong to Nat King Cole’s “Caroling, Caroling”! It was recorded by Cole for his 1960 “Christmas Album”, written in 1954 by composer Albert Burt. #25greatestchristmasrecords #songoftheSaturday youtu.be/QFM9XwBXtdU?...
#14 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Record of All-Time is a unique one: “O Holy Night” by Trombone Shorty! Troy Andrews (aka Trombone Shorty) is a New Orleans musician, a gifted trombone and trumpet player who dabbles in jazz, rock, funk and hip hop…
December 13, 2025 at 4:09 AM
#14 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Record of All-Time is a unique one: “O Holy Night” by Trombone Shorty! Troy Andrews (aka Trombone Shorty) is a New Orleans musician, a gifted trombone and trumpet player who dabbles in jazz, rock, funk and hip hop…
Well, not every Christmas song can be about snowmen and presents! #15 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” from Band Aid! The song was an effort of Bob Geldolf, who called upon 1984’s biggest UK pop stars for a Christmas record to…
December 12, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Well, not every Christmas song can be about snowmen and presents! #15 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” from Band Aid! The song was an effort of Bob Geldolf, who called upon 1984’s biggest UK pop stars for a Christmas record to…
#16 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”! The incredible soul singer was only a year into his solo career when he recorded “This Christmas” in 1970. The single received little fanfare, going virtually unnoticed until the early 90s…
December 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM
#16 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”! The incredible soul singer was only a year into his solo career when he recorded “This Christmas” in 1970. The single received little fanfare, going virtually unnoticed until the early 90s…
Man, this album is such a good time! #nowspinning
December 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Man, this album is such a good time! #nowspinning
Happy ho ho ho to you! #17 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Harry Connick Jr’s “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus”! The song was one of four originals written by Connick for his first holiday album, “When My Heart Finds Christmas”, released in late 1993…
December 10, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Happy ho ho ho to you! #17 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Harry Connick Jr’s “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus”! The song was one of four originals written by Connick for his first holiday album, “When My Heart Finds Christmas”, released in late 1993…
Whizzing like a Sabre jet into #18 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run”! It was written completely by Berry, but due to “Rudolph” being copyrighted after the original song, he had to give writing credits to Johnny Marks and M. Brodie…
December 9, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Whizzing like a Sabre jet into #18 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run”! It was written completely by Berry, but due to “Rudolph” being copyrighted after the original song, he had to give writing credits to Johnny Marks and M. Brodie…
#19 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”! Written as a Vietnam War protest song, it was recorded in late 1971 and featured the Harlem Community Choir…
December 8, 2025 at 3:39 AM
#19 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”! Written as a Vietnam War protest song, it was recorded in late 1971 and featured the Harlem Community Choir…
A modern Christmas classic! #nowspinning
December 7, 2025 at 10:36 PM
A modern Christmas classic! #nowspinning
Heading to the sunny shores of Cali for #20 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time! In late 1963, the Beach Boys were fresh off their first three top ten singles and decided to cash in on the holiday market. “Little Saint Nick” was written by Brian Wilson…
The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
YouTube video by TheBeachBoysVEVO
youtu.be
December 7, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Heading to the sunny shores of Cali for #20 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time! In late 1963, the Beach Boys were fresh off their first three top ten singles and decided to cash in on the holiday market. “Little Saint Nick” was written by Brian Wilson…
Christmas is a rocking time! The #21 tune on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ “Christmas All Over Again”! When approached to do a song for the “Very Special Christmas 2” LP in the early 90s, Tom agreed, but didn’t want to do a cover…
December 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Christmas is a rocking time! The #21 tune on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ “Christmas All Over Again”! When approached to do a song for the “Very Special Christmas 2” LP in the early 90s, Tom agreed, but didn’t want to do a cover…
#22 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Christmas Is Coming”! Written and recorded by Guaraldi for the 1965 special “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, it’s the brightest spot on a truly one-of-a-kind holiday staple!#songoftheday
Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Is Coming
YouTube video by VinceGuaraldiVEVO
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 3:26 AM
#22 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time is the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “Christmas Is Coming”! Written and recorded by Guaraldi for the 1965 special “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, it’s the brightest spot on a truly one-of-a-kind holiday staple!#songoftheday
#23 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time comes from Bing Crosby and David Bowie! “Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth” was recorded for the ‘77 TV special “Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas”! Sadly, Bing died of a heart attack a month after this was filmed. #songoftheday
Bing Crosby, David Bowie - Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy
YouTube video by BingCrosbyVEVO
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 4:23 AM
#23 on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time comes from Bing Crosby and David Bowie! “Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth” was recorded for the ‘77 TV special “Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas”! Sadly, Bing died of a heart attack a month after this was filmed. #songoftheday
Easily the best album I’ve heard this year! What an undiscovered rock and roll gem!
My Top Album of 2025
Spotify
www.spotify.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Easily the best album I’ve heard this year! What an undiscovered rock and roll gem!
After Mariah Carey’s Christmas album in ‘94, we went about two decades without the release of a new holiday classic. That all changed in 2013, when Kelly Clarkson put out “Underneath The Tree”, the #24 song on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time…
December 3, 2025 at 3:31 AM
After Mariah Carey’s Christmas album in ‘94, we went about two decades without the release of a new holiday classic. That all changed in 2013, when Kelly Clarkson put out “Underneath The Tree”, the #24 song on the countdown of the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time…
Ok, let’s spend the next few weeks counting down the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time. Not song per se (example, “I Saw Three Kings” written 17th century), but record - the actual recording by the actual artist/group. Coming in at #25 is “Here Comes Santa Claus” from The Ramsey Lewis Trio…
December 2, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Ok, let’s spend the next few weeks counting down the 25 Greatest Christmas Records of All-Time. Not song per se (example, “I Saw Three Kings” written 17th century), but record - the actual recording by the actual artist/group. Coming in at #25 is “Here Comes Santa Claus” from The Ramsey Lewis Trio…
I tackled 15 more new-to-my-ears albums during the month of November, including three incredible records that I rated a 9 or better! Here are my discoveries…
December 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I tackled 15 more new-to-my-ears albums during the month of November, including three incredible records that I rated a 9 or better! Here are my discoveries…