Maybe it's because I don't get out and about much, but I haven't heard any Christmas music yet. When I lived in Tokyo, the department stores would blast carols all through December, right up till Boxing Day at least, and I got really sick of "Jingle Bells" during my time in Tokyo. I only play Christmas music on the 24th and 25th, maybe I can stretch it till the 26th, but that's it!

My evergreens:

Phil Spector
Tiny Tim
Vince Guaraldi
The Beach Boys
Darlene Love

Goog:
They've been paying it in Philly every hour, every day since mid-November.

How about Philly radio stations?

It's pretty much impossible to avoid Christmas Music in the USA. Most stores, restaurants and even offices play Christmas music at this time of year, and most metropolitan areas have at least one radio station with an all-Christmas music format after Thanksgiving. All of this used to bug me because I worked in retailing for several years and got sick of Christmas music. I've mellowed out a lot since then, and I can usually enjoy it. Now it only bothers me when they're still playing it in the days following Christmas. As far as I'm concerned, after the 25th it's time to put that holiday music away for another year!

I enjoy it for two or three days of festivities, and that's it. My parents also have Bing's White Christmas album, I need to get that on CD. And the two Carpenters.

Did I forget Slade? Merry Xmas Everybody was great, and UK radio stations always play that in December. In Denmark Wham's "Last Christmas" is more popular than Slade now, I reckon. Slade is too far back, although they were huge in Denmark in the early '70s.

Well, it's the 16th today and finally I hear some Christmas music, my pet hate, "Jingle Bells", on Swedish TV.

And I think of this guy:

Christmas is a state of mind but you can get into the sprit with some of you own selections that help to "make the season bright"

Mine :
Phil Spector's A Christmas: Gift For You
A Charlie Brown Christmas : Vince Guaraldi
Beach Boys : Ultimate Christmas
Living Strings : The Spirit Of Christmas Collection.
New Christy Minstrels : Complete Collector's Choice two-fer
Ray Conniff ;We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Christmas with Conniff
Dean Martin : Making Spirits Bright
Bing Crosby : White Christmas
Frank Sinatra : A Jolly Christmas From F.S.
Croon and Swoon Comps I and 2
Cool Yule :The Swinging Sound Of Christmas ( a bit far-out with some tracks,head space music with a seasonal twist )

Plus the most generic sounding of them all...ha..ha.. "The Very Best Christmas In The World Ever"1996 first edition.All the original well known pop classics on the first disc... but a jazz instrumental cover of "Last Christmas" on the second...I can live with that quite easily.

Two of the more well known pop tracks that get me in the spirit..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqOfXumI18A[/youtube]

I really like this but don't have it on any of the cds

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfD7FzcjVyQ[/youtube]

I doubt whether I'll play all the cds though..

I, on the other hand, have had QUITE ENOUGH OF IT ALREADY! Maybe I get out TOO much?!