Pearl Jam Christmas Singles Collection (It's not the world that's heavy, it's just the things that you save)
There's over a decade of collecting behind this post.The plan was to hold off for a few more weeks to make this more of a Christmas present but, well, I failed to contain my joy. Today as we decorated our full and lovely Christmas tree that makes the whole house smell fabulous, I pulled out my entire complete collection of vinyl Pearl Jam Christmas singles from the inaugural year (1991) until the 2005 edition to listen to on the old record player. I am expecting the 15th vinyl single for 2006 to grace my mailbox -- well, sometime between now and Valentine's Day. Maybe Easter. Punctuality has never been on the list of reasons to appreciate this divine collection.
But turning these fine specimens over in my hands and reading the labels, looking at the album art, slowly lowering the needle and spinning the black circle gives me a deep happiness every time. The fact that Pearl Jam sends one of these (almost) every year to their fanclub is just awesome. From the earliest one, which started with Beatles-like Christmas greetings and some ramblings, through various live gems and little studio recordings just for the fan club, there is always a fantastic variety from year to year, a small and welcome surprise in the mailbox.
Every once in a while they'll toss in an actual Christmas song (1991, 2002, 2004), and there are some wonderful covers (1992, 1998, and 2000 are favorites). If I had to pick just one song from this bunch for the rest of my life, it would probably be "Angel," which is stunning in its wavering purity, and inspired by a poem called The Eloping Angels: A Caprice. I love it fiercely and thoroughly.
I was going to try and walk you through the rest of my favorites, but as I looked over each record, I realized there is no way I could. I've written this paragraph 4 times and keep deleting it because it's getting too long. So just listen to them all -- I know not of a better way to spread Christmas cheer (than singing these loud, for all to hear).
PEARL JAM CHRISTMAS SINGLES
1991Let Me Sleep
Ramblings I
1992
Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover)
Ramblings II
1993Angel
Ramblings III (live in Indio, CA 11/5/93)
1995History Never Repeats (Split Enz cover, live in Auckland with Neil & Tim Finn)
Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover, live in New Orleans with Joey Ramone)
Swallow My Pride (Green River cover, live in Las Vegas)
My Way (Elvis cover with Elvis' cousin Terry, live @ The Aladdin in Vegas)
1996Olympic Platinum (Nick Didia)
Smile (live in Barcelona, 11/21/96)
1997 (joint effort with R.E.M.)Happy When I'm Crying (written by Jack Irons)
Live For Today - R.E.M.
1998Soldier of Love (originally recorded by Arthur Alexander, 1962)
Last Kiss (originally recorded by J. Frank Wilson, Ed found a 45 copy at the Fremont Antique Mall)
1999Strangest Tribe (written by Stone Gossard)
Driftin
2000
Crown of Thorns (Mother Love Bone cover, live 8/22/00 in Vegas)
Can't Help Falling In Love (written by Elvis Presley, live 8/22/00 in Vegas)
2001
Last Soldier (live @ Bridge School 10/21/2001)
Indifference (with Ben Harper, live @ Bridge School 10/21/2001)
Gimme Some Truth (Lennon cover, live @ Groundwork Benefit, Seattle 10/22/2001)
I Just Want To Have Something To Do (Ramones cover)
2002
Don't Believe In Christmas (Sonics cover, soundcheck Seattle Showbox 12/6/02)
Sleepless Nights (Everly Brothers cover, live @ Wiltern Theatre 2/26/02 with Beck)
2003Reach Down (with Chris Cornell, 10/28/2003 in Santa Barbara)
I Believe In Miracles (Ramones cover, 10/28/2003 in Santa Barbara)
2004Someday At Christmas (Jackson 5ive cover)
Betterman (with the Walmer High School choir from South Africa)
2005Little Sister (with Robert Plant, 10/5/05 House of Blues Chicago)
Gone (demo, recorded 9/30/05, Room #1152, Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City)
PEARL JAM CHRISTMAS SINGLES 1991-2005 ZIP
UPDATE: 2006 and 2007
And yes, I actually do own a Pearl Jam stickman Christmas ornament, an internet purchase circa 1995. Rock on.
posted by heather @ 7:11 PM
119 comments
119 Comments:
Heather
That is quite a gift you are giving your readers. Thank you!
What happened to 1994?
That Betterman is spectacular.
what an awesome post!
Is that the view out of your window? It looks Christmasy. Of course there's nothing like celebrating the holidays in shorts while the air conditioning roars in the background....
Continue and continue to rock . . . .
BEST FUCKING POST EVER! HANDS DOWN!
Got to love stickman tree ornament!
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. Nice tree by the way. I expect it will rain here on xmas day.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)
A side note, right as I was reading the line about "spinning the black circle" in your post, "Spin the Black Circle" came on randomly in itunes. PJ rocks! Thanks so much for these songs.
thank you so much! I am new to your blog, but can I just say how impressed with and appreciative of you I am. Your love for PJ and others is so pure and so whole-hearted - you seem like sure a pure and whole-hearted human being. A benevolent force. Thanks for sharing this. Merry Christmas!
Ken, there was no Christmas single in 1994, but a double one in 1995.
Awesome post. No large band treats their fans better than PJ.
Heather, thanks for clarifying.
I really appreciate this. What a Christmas gift! Thanks, and what a wicked post!
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
Pat
Um, WOW! Thanks a lot!
What a wonderful gift just before Christmas, and no batteries required! And the artwork included... you are one classy PJ chick! Thank you so much.
Chucker
Heather,
You are the Christmas Angel of Rock and Roll.
Great post, thanks a lot !
heather,
no coal for you this year. with this post, you've moved right to the top of my "nice" list!
Santa
zthanks so much!!
heather-
this totally made my day & helps ease the pain of yet another broncos loss... :)
i can feel the sun finally coming up here in CO...
p.s. you rock!
This may just be the best gift I get this Christmas! Thanks for posting these.
mmmmm...
i'd lost a few of these. I Don't Believe In Christmas is awesome.
PS: That Stickman ornament is the coolest thing in the world. Ever.
I just really really want to HUG you...thanks for those gems, what a gift!!!
HUGS.
Ksh
Oh Wow! I really never download music from the net -- but 1 of the 3 songs I HAVE downloaded, yep, is right here! Always wondered where that Sonic Reducer came from! (And yap, other two: Crazy Mary and Yellow Ledbetter, I was anxious prior to Lost Dogs!)
Would be interested in your process for tossing vinyl into MP3s....
And THANK YOU!
thank you heather. this has to be the best christmas present i'm receiving in years. graciasss one more time.
attn.
jair
Holy friggin crap thank you.
Heather,
Nice stuff, as always.
One small correction, and a tip to go with it, "Last Kiss" was not done first by J. Frank Wilson, though he did have the first hit with it. The song was originally written and recorded by white soul cult legend Wayne Cochran.
Cochran has had a long and bizarre career. He was the artist who first wore the over the top bewjeweled jumpsuits from Nudie's Of Hollywood which Elvis Presley later adapted for his 70's stage persona. In fact, Cochran is name-checked in the sauna scene of the Blues Brothers movie because of that, and later the Blues Brothers covered his great 1967 near-hit Goin' Back To Miami on their Made In America album.
Wayne also played bass on Otis Redding's first (pre-Stax/Volt) sides, as they were friends from Georgia when both were starting out on the chitlin' circuit together. Wayne never scored a hit of his own, but was revered by other artists for his incredible stage shows, songwriting and those great records that few people outside the industry ever discovered.
There's a great CD collection of Cochran's available on Raven Records called "Get Down With It!" that has all of his best stuff, including the original "Last Kiss". The song "No Rest For The Wicked" alone, with its vocal-cord shredding screams (his trademark), is worth the price alone, and they mention Pearl Jam in the liner notes for snatching "Last Kiss" as well.
Just thought you might be interested.
merry merry X-mas Heather
I own the singles and have them on my computer as mp3, but nevertheless it's a nice warm x-mas feeling sharing and reading the jam
best wishes from Belgium
spread_the_jam
gracias!!!! es uno de los mejores regalos que recibi en cualkiera de las navidades q pase...
Feliz navidad!!!!!!!!
gracias!!
room de
argentina
de nada!
GRACIAS !!!! JEJE THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!
I JUST BECAME A MEMBER OF THE PJ CLUB THIS YEAR, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY FIRST PJ SINGLE ! ALTHOUGH I THINK I'LL RECEIVE IT SOMETIME AROUND 2010 CHRISTMAS :D CAUSE I LIVE IN MEXICO .
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ! PEARL JAM RULES !!!
FELIZ NAVIDAD !!, MERMELADA DE PERLAS FOREVER !!! :D
JORGE PEÑA DE GUADALAJARA
thank you heather, as i've just stumbled upon your blog from here in Manila, Philippines. What a wonderful gift for all PJ followers worldwide. Eddie Vedder and the gang passed by here eleven years ago with Mudhoney for their opening act, and we were all on this obvious natural high for aabout a week after that unforgettable concert. Eddie blurted out near the end of the show that Manila had been the best crowd they had played to during that tour, but then again, we really showed our appreciation for their coming all the way out here to play.
thanks again for this, and with christmas cheers too.
ben
...........................
YOU MAKE ME HAPPY !!
=)
Yhank you so much for this. It's a gift out of heaven. Merry merry X-mas to you!!!
Grtz Ruben from Amsterdam
Thanks Heather!
What a special gift to stumble upon.
Merry Christmas from another Heather
I also wanted to say thank you, I have all of these tunes already but I downloaded the .zip anyway to make a nice little pearl jam holiday cd. I am currently recovering from heart surgery and it was a great christmas present to see all of the fan club singles in one place. again thanks so much
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEARS
I also wanted to say thank you, I have all of these tunes already but I downloaded the .zip anyway to make a nice little pearl jam holiday cd. I am currently recovering from heart surgery and it was a great christmas present to see all of the fan club singles in one place. again thanks so much
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEARS
Thank you so much Heather. I've been searching for copies of these for years. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!! You have made my year that much more merrier!!
-Russ
As reward for your awesomeness, I will post the most glorious prose I've read all year, here, for your viewing pleasure. Merry Christmas.
Tara Conner is on the verge of losing her crown after testing positive for cocaine, lustily kissing Miss Teen USA in public and sneaking men into their Trump Place apartment … "Tara was a party animal," said a source who knows Conner, 20, and Miss Teen USA Katie Blair, 18, from some of the city's top nightspots. "I've seen them kiss before. They always dance all sexy on the tables. ... They definitely get close" … One clubgoer described seeing Conner snort cocaine in one of the nightclubs where she drank regularly despite being underage, and she recently failed a drug test.
Hey guys, I'm D2D at the Pit! Have you guys ever been to Prague? I went to Prague and as I walked down the melancholy streets, I couldn’t help but think about all the times I wanted to go to Prague. Everywhere I looked reminded me of Prague, which was so surreal because I was actually IN Prague! When I saw Pearl Jam in Prague, I almost shit myself because I was watching Pearl Jam in Prague! If you ever have the chance to go to Prague, do yourself a favor and go! Prague!
Thanks for posting those songs, I am a huge PJ fan but do not own all of the Christmas vinyl's. Merry Christmas!
-B
are any of you the suckers that bought my singles off ebay for $40?
donwloaded all the xmas singles off the zip. i have about 200 friends that are going to kiss me. your a crown in my thorns
Falta casi 1 hora aca en Lima - Peru para q sea navidad y me encuentro con este gran regalo! -
Gracias
Pearl Jam - Keep Rocking!!
thank you very much. i've been searching for the "angel" single since i heard it the first time at a friend's house back in 93 or 94. my search is complete. you have definitely made my day. thank you again.
scott in gettysburg, pa
GRACIAS!!
Que chingon!!!
Thank you so much, saves me a lot of time copying my vinyls to mp3
All in all, this is a great gift and we're all very appreciative. However, you used the wrong versions of the tracks "Can't Help Falling In Love" (you have the fast version from Memphis) and "Don't Believe In Christmas" (the version on the actual Christmas single is taken from a soundcheck... yours is from the actual Showbox show).
A fabulous collection you have there; not to mention physically having the vinyls. I have only the '91 & '93 singles which I got when living in Seattle at the time. These truly are gems. Thank you for sharing these.
Simply amazing! Thank you so much for making these available!!!
Hi, I found this blog doing a google search.
Its really cool..
Love the Chrissy tree even though its now Feb.
Would you know the reason 4 out the 15 singles came with a smaller hole?....
Keep on RITFW.....:)
I barely came across your mp3's of the pearl jam christmas singles. Thank you very much. I have been a fan club member since 95 and have all the records since then. It's tough sometimes breaking out my record player to listen to them. Thank you again. Any chance of you having the 2007 single up anytime soon. Love Reign O'er me is an amazing song. Leave it to our boys to keep churning out excellent covers and music. Once again, thank you.
Thank You for doing all this work. I am a long time fan, but haven't been able to hear a lot of these due to not owning a record player.
Is there any chance you have 1994 and the 2006. I can't wait to hear. "Reign on Me"
Thank You!!!!
There was no Christmas single in 1994, but a double one in 1995.
great job but whats up with the edit in Ramblings Part III? I know Pearl Jam didn't edit it. Did you bleep out that word yourself? It's kind of funny that out of all the vulgarity you chose to edit out only that word.
I didn't edit/don't know how to edit/wouldn't edit. That's just the mp3 I found.
Oh, you found these? I was under the impression that you converted these to your computer yourself. BTW where did you find these?
I scavenged them in different places, many of them came from a torrent that was referenced on one of the official Pearl Jam sites, if I remember correctly, but others I picked up in various places. Sorry I can't remember the specifics, and there are 2 I think that I have the wrong mp3s of and I am still trying to find time to fix those. Even though I have all the records since the beginning, I don't have the audio ripper equipment yet.
Holy Crap, I've just hit the mother load. Thank you so much!!!!
Thank you for these... I'd gotten them through the years, and have a few of the vinyls... but the descriptions were never correct and people had mixed up the Ramblings of the 1st three... thanks. I have listened to Gone a few times on my vinyl.. now i'm glad i dont need to spin it anymore :) It sends chills :)
This is amazing. A Merry Easter and a Wonderful Passover. Thank you
has anyone got the 2006 xmas single yet? i'm still waiting for mine
just found this site while trying to convince my girlfriend that pearl jam actually covered My Way.....what can i say.....OUTSTANDING. thank you very much for taking the time to make these available as we dont always get all the pearl jam stuff over here in th UK.
Thanks Again
Jay
anybody ripped the new christmas single.
I only own the 1993 and 1995. But I don't have vinyl player. So, it became a decorated collections. Lol...
I am so excited I just found this! Thank you! Angel is one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs too..I used to be in the fan club and receive the holiday specials too, but now with moving to college and whatnot I haven't kept up with it all and I miss them. I've been trying to find these songs...Thank you!!
I just put two of these lovely jems on ebay. im parting with 1992 and 1993. condition is eh, but not bad for lying around for 15 or so years. time flies doesnt it? anyway, reading this made me want to hang on to them just a bit longer. peace.
Thank you! Gracias!!
A friend just sent me this page and I want to thank you. I belong to the fanclub on and off over the years but missed some of the X-mas singles due to a wayward life. So this is great.
Thanks.
And I love "Angel" it's one of my favorites of all their material.
I can't believe how many Jamheads there still are out there and...how old we're getting! My first show was Lowell in '92.
What a great collection! Thanks so much. I have been wanting to hear a couple of these songs for so so long! Thanks again.
thx HB. Don't it make u :) JD Ireland.
Muchas muchas muchas muchas gracias. Como Eddie dijo en el concierto al que asistí en Madrid.
muchas gracias desde Madrid.
Thanks so much from Madrid.
Love you !!!!
I've been scouring the internet for days looking for "Angel", googling it & skimming page after page of possibilities. Then I find this treasure! I can't thank you enough for these spectacular downloads. Mwuah!!!
so i was just wondering. r.e.m. puts out christmas singles every year too. any chance you know anybody with a zipped up collection of those?
brandon (runner up, ryan adams fav lyric contest)
thanks for a great blog!
wow, Thanks!
Wow, just stumbled upon this by accident. Thanks a lot!
Hey I found this page as I was doing a search for can't help falling in love by Pearl Jam. So I downloaded the zip file you have on hear (thanks for that by the way) but that song is different than what you have on you page, it doesn't sound the same or is as clear. Can you put up a file that we can download of the clearer song as I am wanting to get hold of it for my wedding. Thanks
Wow...That's the first time I have heard the Mother Love Bone cover by PJ before. Really struck a chord (per se), given the histories of these two bands. Thanks so much.
Muchisimas Gracias!
Espectacular colecciòn!
Ahora si serà una feliz navidad!!!!
Now I realize which ones I have missing..Anyone have any spare records for the following years..
91
92
93
96
97
Can't wait to get the new record in the mail! This is the BEST time of year!
thanks a lot!
really, this is sort of hard to find.
really cool stickman ornament btw.
Heather,
I hope your Christmas is as good as mine just got... thanks!
Thank you so much for offering these to us fans! I look forward to playing these on Christmas and beyond!
Wow! thank you!
Merry Christmas!
the 2007 christmas single :
http://droptheleash.com/xmas/Santa%20God.mp3
http://droptheleash.com/xmas/Jingle%20Bells.mp3
enjoy! and spread the jam
wd from ghent, belgium
Un Tres Grand Merci De France!!!!
Excellent Cadeau pour mon Noël!!!!
Que du Bon!!!
Thanxxxxxxxxxxxx again!!!!!!!
Hello fellows and fellettes, I have collected all the Xmas singles from 1995 to 2004 and am now ready to let them go to a collector of Pearl Jam memorabilia. (I don't have a record player anymore either!) They're in wonderful shape and some have never been played at all. I also have Place/Date (photo book), 2 souvenir laminates from the May 2000 private CFOX show in Vancouver, the red box from Vitalogy Health Club, SVT vid, Touring Band 2000 vid, Live at the Gardens DVD, Russian PJ hat with Evil Little Goat on it, some ticket stubs, eg. Benaroya, Bridge School. If you know anyone who would like info on this stuff please email me at ghrobertson99@gmail.com. Thanks & Peace.
tanks!
Thank-you, I'm glad I finally had the chance to hear them all. I have the '91' Let Me Sleep 45, if you happen to know if anyone is into buying it.
Heather, thank you so much for posting these. My only copy of "Angel" was on a 15-year-old cassette tape. Haven't heard it in years, and it's still beautiful.
Heather - from two BIG PJ fans over in NZ, thanks so much for posting these. Looking forward to adding them to the collection. Now, if only we could get them to come back to NZ for a gig...
Cheers
Sam
Hey
anyone know if the early christmas singles were sealed in plastic? I only have the later ones that came unsealed in cardboard. A friend came across a copy of Angel that's "sealed" and he's trying to determine if it really is new.
Thanks!
Hello Heather,
Thanks for your posting, beause of you my pj collection are complete now.
It's hard to find record, I can't find it on my local cassete/cd shop in my country (indonesia), just only the album that distributed here.
I wonder if is ok if I share / re-post some of your collection on my Multiply Page's ?
Thank you
Good stuff! I was able to grab the few that I missed before I was a member of the Ten Club. You Rock!
I am greatful for this! Thanks for posting it! I have been looking everywhere for Sonic Reducer covered by Pearl Jam without having to buy my Ten Club friends. Thank you!
Heather,
you're the ambassador of cool. I have almost all of those xmas singles but have never heard a lot of them as I dont possess a turntable. They sound great and warm up these wintry Australian nights. Its like Christmas in the northern hemisphere, listening to the world's greatest band's gift to their fans.
Thank you for this gift Heather.
Heather,
Thank you! You are amazing...and not just cuz you put up all the PJ Christmas singles. You have a freakin stickman ornament! Totally badass!
<3 from NY
GRACIAS EN VERDAD MUCHAS GRACIAS ME LO ACABO DE BAJAR Y TA MUY BUENO ..ATTE YARUL ...
...OJALA Q LO BAJES TB MI ALE
THANK YOU HEATHER!!!!
This website is one of the coolest things anywhere. I really appreciate the downloads. Thanks so much.
you are the best.
thanks for posting the singles. i have most of them but haven't bought a turntable-mp3 player yet. this is the coolest thing ever.
thanks!
From one Pearl Jam lover to another, all I can say is thanks.
Thank you so much. "You used the wrong version of the track Can't Help Falling In Love (you have the fast version from Memphis)." Can you post the original Christmas version? *
Heather, I am speachless. I know this post is years old, but I just came accross your blog, and I am amazed at how fiercely you love music. Thank you for putting your passion into words. If there is a perfect gift, you have given it...
Thank you so much, this is incredibly cool. I just joined the 10C and been listening to PJ for 6 years, but definetely missed the chance to get all the christmas singles yet. I hope I can still collect them via eBay or so... does anybody know if they can still be bought somewhere by 10C members?
dennis, check with the Ten Club. any they have left in stock they'll sell ya, cheap. so i hear.
For a person lover of Pearl Jam seemingly far, lost in the distance, this is one it incredible reach, something that jamas it imagined habria, because of it and from the bottom of my heart I still have to him very grateful, happy holidays...
Regards from La Paz BOLIVIA
Pepe
I just found this site as I was looking for holiday music. I'm a PJ fan, but this was a very special find. I'm listening to the Someday at Christmas cover as I write this. Thank you so very much for this posting. Merry Christmas to you.
Heather, Many thanks for keeping this post active...I have sent many friends to your site because of it!
Merry Christmas, 2008.
Trey
merry christmas everyone! i love that so many folks have loved this collection like i do! :)
Heather, I don't know you.. but I love you! :)
Birds of a feather you know.
Hey, thank you sooo much for this. I have 2 or 3 of the the PJ records. But I'd only ever heard Let Me Sleep. The other two are sitting there, waiting for me to find a record player, and unwrap the music hidden on the vinyl.
I had lost my mp3 copy of let me sleep, and was looking for it everywhere. I finally found your wonderful gift online.
Thank You! and Thank Pearl Jam!
If you are ever in So. Florida... look up my family! We're great hosts!
Ozzy
ozzy.reyes@gmail.com
THanks for the gift! I love it!
WHere did you get the Stickman tree ornament ?
You have a jewel of a site! A friend sent me the link. Planning on listening to all of them. Thank you so much!
I second what others have said, thank you so much for posting this! If you could post the rest of the Christmas singles that have come recently, that would sweet as well ;)
Peace & Love
Hey Joseph - you gotta come over to the new site to find those: fuelfriendsblog.com
very nice!!!....i have all of those except two, do you know of anyone that has the first two (1991-1992) they'd sell...My 4 week old daughter, as trivial as this may sound, might not have been here if it weren't for them, so not only was she born an active 10club member, but I'm collecting all the xmas singles to give her one day!!!....nice collection...cheers, riCo (tallintokyo@yahoo.com)
If you give what can be taken, you are not really giving. Take what you are given, not what you want to be given. Give what cannot be taken. nice post and thanks for sharing...
Nice, nice, nice, nice...
Yeah, nice.
Post a Comment
<< Home