Welcome to yet another Christmas playlist post! Each year I pull a small sampling from my large Christmas music collection to share with you and this year I’ve pulled some of the weirdest numbers, a mix of kooky, sad, and downright bizarre.

“Island of Misfit Toys” The Misfits

The Misfits have been a staple of Halloween playlists for years, but did you know they did a Christmas album? This song pays homage to the Rudolph television special under the same name.

“Monsters’ Holiday” Bobby “Boris” Picket

You know “Boris” from his Halloween classic “The Monster Mash” but this is a parody of A Visit from St. Nicholas (more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas), and sounds like may have inspired, at least in part, the film The Nightmare before Christmas.

“Santa Claus Meets the Purple People Eater” Sheb Wooley

Much like Boris, Sheb Wooley was known for an iconic novelty hit, “The Purple People Eater,” and for Christmas he decided to extend the Purple People Eater lore with this Christmas number. Here Santa almost collides with Sputnik and is rescued by the Purple People Eater.

“A Snoopy Christmas” The Royal Guardsmen

Santa and the Sputnik aren’t the only things flying through the night, so is Snoopy aboard his Sopwith Camel and the Red Barron. This was yet another follow up song, and came out the year after the original “Snoopy vs. the Red Barron” number of 1966. Here Snoopy and the Red Barron are able to put aside their differences for the holiday.

“Santa Claus and His Old Lady” Cheech & Chong

Here Cheech Marin tries to write a song about Santa Claus, but is struggling, and has to explain to his fellow stoner friend Tommy Chong who Santa Claus is.

“Santa’s Secret” Johnny & Slam

In case you need more stoner Christmas tunes, then look no further than “Santa’s Secret.” Squirrel Nut Zippers did a cover of this version as well.

“Scrooge” The Ventures

If it wasn’t for the “Humbug” at the beginning of this number, you might think it is more fitting for Halloween, but we must remember that Christmas is also a time for ghost stories, just think about the classic tale of A Christmas Carol, and the lyric from “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” that says “There will be scary ghost stories.” For more info on the tradition of Christmas ghost stories, check out this article from Smithsonian Magazine. I love the kooky vibes of this instrumental that really break up the more traditional songs of the season. The Ventures’ entire Christmas album is really full of hits, and one I recommend buying.

“Don’t Shoot Me Santa” The Killers

The Killers released my favorite Christmas tune “Cowboy Christmas Ball” but they also released some other rather strange numbers for their Christmas album Don’t Waste Your Wishes, including this one about the struggle to be on the Nice List.

“Christmas in Jail” Leroy Carr

Not every Christmas is swell, and sometimes you just need to have a sad Christmas tune that isn’t “Blue Christmas.”

“Santa and the Satellite” Buchanan & Goodman

Not your traditional Christmas song in a variety of ways, as it is presented as a news bulletin, and is made up of various sound bites, and regales a tale of Santa being kidnapped.

Want more Christmas music? Check out other annual Christmas playlist posts!