Music For Happy Holly Days – A Chaotic Holiday Mashup That Somehow Works
Alright, let’s get this straight: Music For Happy Holly Days isn’t your grandma’s pristine Christmas album. Released in 1969 by Creative Products (whoever they were), this wild grab bag of genres—Pop, Jazz, Folk, World, Country—is like someone threw a bunch of holiday recipes into a blender and hit "puree." And yet… it slaps. Don’t @ me.
First off, the tracklist reads like a fever dream of yuletide clichés. You’ve got classics like “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “White Christmas,” but then there’s medleys so overstuffed you need a nap after listening to them. Take “Medley: Deck The Hall/The First Noel/Joy To The World.” It's basically three songs duking it out for attention, and somehow, it works? Like, I can’t unhear the jazzy swing they slap on “Joy To The World,” which is equal parts sacrilegious and genius. It’s messy as hell, but that’s what makes it stick in my brain like tinsel on a tree.
Then there’s “Caroling, Caroling.” Oh man, this one hits different. It’s all soft vocals and easy-listening vibes, like someone wrapped you in a blanket made of chestnuts roasting over an open fire. But don’t let its cozy exterior fool you—it sneaks up on you when you least expect it. One minute you’re vibing, the next you're ugly-crying because damn, this song knows how to tug at those heartstrings. Props to whoever arranged it; they turned what could’ve been boring into something genuinely moving.
Now, let’s talk about the chaos factor here. This album jumps from style to style faster than Santa hopping rooftops. One moment you’re swaying to smooth jazz, the next you’re knee-deep in twangy country. Honestly, it shouldn’t work, but it does. Maybe it’s the sheer audacity of it all. Or maybe it’s just nostalgia goggles kicking in. Either way, it’s hard not to respect the ambition.
But here’s the kicker—the whole thing feels like a low-budget labor of love. The production quality screams “we recorded this in someone’s garage during a snowstorm,” but honestly? That rawness gives it charm. It’s not polished or perfect, and maybe that’s why it lingers long after the eggnog runs out.
So yeah, if you’re looking for some weird-ass holiday cheer that doesn’t take itself too seriously, give Music For Happy Holly Days a spin. Just don’t blame me if “Jingle Bells/Up On The Housetop Jolly Old St. Nicholas” gets stuck in your head for weeks. Last thought: Who even came up with these medleys? Genius or lunatic? Probably both.
