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Taking time to live well
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The art of the Christmas CD

Lottie Storey December 26, 2020

The Guardian's Music Editor has found a tuneful way to send seasonal greetings

'Weekends in November become a hell in our house. Our family, you see, does not send out Christmas cards. We distribute CDs of Christmas music, researched, compiled, burned and then packaged by me, over the course of two or three weekends. So I spend November poring over MP3 blogs and sorting through my CDs to find the perfect 30 or so songs. Our tradition began at the end of my first year editing the Guardian’s music coverage, in 2006. Deluged in festive albums, I thought I’d turn them into something more fun than a Christmas card. The recipients seem to think so, too – as years have passed, I’ve started getting requests, and now I have to make around 200 of them. That’s where November goes. There’s a policy: the music must be either good or interesting. And preferably little known. No Slade, no Wham!, no Top of the Pops staples – soul, funk and folk provide rich pickings. The harder you look, the better the snippets – I’m proud of the year I topped and tailed the CD with Christmas messages from Mae West and the long-forgotten metal band Quiet Riot. As I write, I’m just starting to think about this year’s compilation. And wondering where I might find the perfect song no one has ever heard before.'

Michael Hann tweets at @MichaelAHann
 

This was originally published in our December 2015 issue but we think it’s always worth listening to Michael Hann’s festive suggestions so we’re sharing it again. We hope you enjoy it.

Listen to Michael's Christmas playlist now.

A few of our Christmas playlists…

Featured
Screenshot 2024-11-11 at 15.34.57.png
Nov 13, 2024
Playlist | Winter wonders
Nov 13, 2024
Nov 13, 2024
Dec playlist.png
Nov 15, 2023
Playlist | Christmas favourites
Nov 15, 2023
Nov 15, 2023
Playlist.JPG
Nov 16, 2022
Playlist | A Christmas mood
Nov 16, 2022
Nov 16, 2022
InChristmas Tagschristmas, christmas music, playlist, spotify
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Feb 27, 2025
Feb 27, 2025

Buy, download or subscribe

See the sample of our latest issue here

Buy a copy of our latest anthology: A Year of Celebrations

Buy a copy of Flourish 2, our wellbeing bookazine

Listen to our podcast - Small Ways to Live Well

Feb 27, 2025
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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