As promised, here�s the playlist of my �Unconventional Christmas Redeux� mix CD. With comments! Yes, I know, �It�s �redux�, stupid!� Well, I made one before, and I�m re-doing it, so it�s number two. Geddit? I�m a sucker for the pun.

1. �I Know This Bar�, Ani DiFranco
For �Christmas lights blinking around a clouded mirror� and the fact that the imagery reminds me of the Christmas breaks when I would get back home with my friends and we would go to the bowling alleys and local bars in Erie, �where all the white kids still have feathered hair.�

2. �Fairytale of New York�, The Pogues
Sometimes known as �Christmas in the Drunk Tank�. �Happy Christmas your arse, I pray God it�s our last� A classic.

3. �I Won't Be Home For Christmas�, Blink 182
A relatively new rocker. Upbeat ranting, with a sense of humor. The start of the �home for Christmas� part of the CD.

4. �Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)�, U2
It fits right, in theme and tempo.

5. �Driving Home for Christmas�, Chris Rea
By now, a much needed happy-themed song. I�ve been looking for a way to use this song. Chris Rea deserves more exposure.

6. �Please Come Home For Christmas�, Southside Johnny and the Jukes
There are so many versions of this song, all good. I was going to use Charles Brown�s but he�ll get his chance next. So, from Jersey, East Coast representin�! Thus ends the �home for Christmas� suite.

7. �Merry Christmas Baby�, Charles Brown and Bonnie Raitt
And now the Blues! �I haven�t had a drink this morning, I�m all lit up like a Christmas tree.� Damn, this is good.

8. �Blues for Christmas�, John Lee Hooker
If there�s a better Blues voice, I never heard it. �I�m sitting here drinkin�, trying to drink my baby back. Sad Christmas. I�m wasted!� That never works John, but we keep tryin�, don�t we?

9. �Blue Christmas�, Sheryl Crow
I love me some Sheryl Crow. Save your comments, I don�t care. And here endeth the Blues.

10. Intro to the next song�

11. �Cry of a Tiny Babe�, Bruce Cockburn with Lou Reed, Rosanne Cash, & Rob Wasserman
A fantastic song that was a favorite on the first version of this CD. From the album Columbia House Radio Hour, Volume 1, which is also great. This song used to make me cry. �Because it�s not to the palace that the Christ child comes, but to shepherds and street people, hookers and bums�. I also love me some Rosanne Cash.

12. �God rest Ye Merry Gentlemen�, Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan
A traditional carol, but in the Barenaked Ladies� bouncy style. And, say it with me, I love me some Sarah McLachlan.

13. �Song for a Winter�s Night�, Jewel and Sarah McLachlan
Doubling up the Sarah. The original concept of �Unconventional Christmas� was to be songs that were in the Christmas spirit, or about that time of year, but not actually carols. This fits that theme perfectly.

14. �Have a Merry Little Christmas�, Tori Amos
I�m not the Tori Amos fan I once was, and this is a traditional carol, but beautifully done. And we are in a stretch of the CD that is really about sustaining a mood. It�s not a joyous one. Surprise.

15. �Peace�, Norah Jones
I�m very happy to have found this song and to include it. Continues Tori�s piano, and Norah Jones is very big with my crew right now. Actually contains some Spring imagery, but the sentiment is very Christmas. �Peace when the day is done�, �Peace is for everyone.�

16. �River�, The Indigo Girls
Another in the true �Unconventional Christmas� spirit. The Indigo Girls sing Joni Mitchell is mandatory. Hmmm. No wonder my last girlfriend (in a drunk moment) accused me of being gay.

17. �25th of December�, Everything But the Girl
Not helping the gay image, I own every Everything But The Girl CD through Tempermental. Oh well. Why can�t I get a Grace Adler?

18. �A Long December�, Counting Crows
At this time of year, don�t we all want to �believe that maybe this year will be better than the last�? It really has been so long since I�ve seen the ocean�

19. �Christmas Wrapping�, the Waitresses
�Christmas magic brought this tale to a very happy ending�, and Sweet Baby Jesus, we needed one by now. This was actually a request, but I�ve always liked it. Gotta love the 80�s music.

There you have it. It pained me to remove �Baby, It�s Cold Outside� by Ray Charles, but nobody I know needs yet another copy of that song. I could have used some Frank, but he�s too traditional for this CD. Also, good-bye to Tom Petty and Bon Jovi. They never really fit. I looked for a version of Dylan�s �I Believe In You�. The last CD had Sinead O�Connor doing it, but sacrifices had to be made.

It all fits on one CD. Go out and make yourself one. Through strictly legal means, of course.