“Praise Jah, It’s Christmas.”

December 24, 2017 2:31 PM

If you want a change from that great Christmas jazz from the 60s, or if you need a soundtrack for your Caribbean Christmas black cake party, Dev Sherlock has put together a 28-song “Vintage Jamaican Yuletide Mixtape” over at Aquarium Drunkard. It Includes island versions of traditional numbers like White Christmas (The Wailers) and Winter Wonderland (Joe Gibbs Family), plus songs adapted to local circumstances, like Santa Ketch Up Eena Mango Tree. “Why Santa always coming down a chimney? We don’t have chimneys in Jamaica!” composer/singer Faith D’Aguilar explains. “So we decided it should be a mango tree instead.”
posted by LeLiLo (14 comments total)

It's like you're reading my mind. I was just sitting here thinking I didn't have enough good Christmas music in my iTunes and my CD's are packed away.
posted by bongo_x at 4:10 PM on December 24, 2017

I’m enjoying these.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:58 PM on December 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

Fantastic! Exactly what I need right now.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 5:15 PM on December 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

Yes! Yes! Yes!
posted by irisclara at 5:36 PM on December 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

And a very merry Christmas to you, as well!
posted by Pressed Rat at 5:36 PM on December 24, 2017

I've been jamming in Desmond Dekker the last few days, but in more of an anti-Christmas music way...
posted by kaibutsu at 5:44 PM on December 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

These are fantasic
posted by PinkMoose at 9:29 PM on December 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

Just what I was looking for!
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:43 PM on December 24, 2017

This is a really delightful find... thank you!
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 4:30 AM on December 25, 2017

Thank you for this! Excellent grooves, and a perfect counterpoint to the single digits we've got outside!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 5:56 AM on December 25, 2017

Thank you so much for posting this. I've been feeling pretty bummed out about Christmas and this playlist is helping lift my spirits. Praise Jah for MetaFilter!
posted by little mouth at 6:55 AM on December 25, 2017 [1 favorite]

If you want some sauciness mixed in with your beloved Christmas songs:
Wreck a Pum Pum
Wreck a Buddy
(Sauciness is an understatement. NSF family gatherings.)
posted by hydrophonic at 7:31 AM on December 25, 2017

Turns out this is just as good on Christmas Day as it was on Christmas Eve. Have a rub a dub Christmas Metafilter and a happy New Year!
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:09 AM on December 25, 2017 [1 favorite]

They talked about Jacob Miller in the article and why they didn't include anything by him, but I since “We Wish You A Irie Christmas” was my favorite off the Natty and Nice: A Reggae Christmas album, I don't see how you can have a reggae Christmas mixtape without him.
posted by ob1quixote at 7:16 PM on December 31, 2017 [1 favorite]