Documentary filmmaker Mitchell Kezin released the movie Jingle Bell Rocks! in 2013. In it, he focused on the human side of Christmas music, whether with the musicians who make the music--much the same way we do on 12 Songs--or by talking to collectors about the music they're passionate about. Last year, I talked to Kezin about the movie and his Christmas music collection, and ran part of the conversation during the holiday season.
This week, I'm running a longer, more complete version of that conversation, where we talk about collecting, the song that got him started on Christmas music, and the lengths he went to get one of the interviews for Jingle Bell Rocks.
Right now, Kezin is at work on his 2023 "Merry Mix," the name he gave to his series of Christmas music compilations. You can get a hold of Kezin and see the songs he has used on previous compilations dating back to 1998. It's a dizzying compendium of songs you don't know by artists you haven't heard of, but they're consistently entertaining.
New Orleans Hip-Hop for Christmas with Raj Smoove and 504icygrl
Mother Mother ”Cry Christmas”
Christmas Down Under with Imogen Clark
”Holly Happy Days” with The Indigo Girls
”A Dave Brubeck Christmas” with Matt Lemmler
Merry Christmas from Japan with ”Holly Jolly Xmasu”
Christmas with the Blue Man Group
A Soul Christmas with Eli ”Paperboy” Reed
A D.C.Go-Go Christmas with Chuck Brown
A New Orleans R&B Christmas with Huey ”Piano” Smith
”Christmas Cocktails” with Brad Ross-MacLeod
Sara Noelle
The Christmas Music Manfesto
”Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
”Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Pt. 2
”Santa Claus is Coming to Town” Pt. 1
OutKast’s ”Player’s Ball”
The ”Santa Baby” Story
Terre Roche of The Roches
Indie Christmas Music with Amerigo Gazaway, Charlie Darling, and ”Have Yourself a Merry Indie Christmas”
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