All About That Baste: Recipe for a Thanksgiving Soundtrack
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are finalizing our dinner plans—whether that means meticulously preparing a feast at home or opting for the convenience of a restaurant reservation. However, an often-overlooked element of the holiday is the music that will set the mood for our celebrations. Billboard has curated a delightful playlist filled with Thanksgiving-themed songs that will enhance your festivities and bring a joyful atmosphere to your gathering.
The playlist features a variety of tracks that celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving through food, gratitude, and fun. For example, classic hits like Dee Dee Sharp’s “Mashed Potato Time” and “Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)” from 1962 not only add a nostalgic touch but also perfectly align with the culinary delights of the holiday. Other notable mentions include the whimsical “Let’s Turkey Trot” by Little Eva and the iconic “Surfin’ Bird” by the Trashmen, both of which are sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit. The selection even includes modern favorites like Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next,” ensuring that there’s something for every generation to enjoy.
Beyond just food-themed songs, the playlist also encompasses tracks that express gratitude and thanks, such as “Thank You” by Dido and Sly & the Family Stone’s “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin.” These songs not only resonate with the essence of Thanksgiving but also provide an opportunity for reflection and appreciation among family and friends. As you gather around the table, let Billboard’s carefully curated musical accompaniment enrich your Thanksgiving experience, making it a memorable celebration filled with love, laughter, and, of course, great food. So, whether you’re cooking up a storm or enjoying a meal out, don’t forget to set the perfect soundtrack for your Thanksgiving festivities!
We trust that, at this point, you’ve planned the details of cooking your Thanksgiving dinner. (Or, perhaps smarter, that you’ve secured reservations at a nearby restaurant.)
But, what about the music to accompany your Thanksgiving Day festivities?
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As you celebrate the holiday with loved ones, let
Billboard
serve your musical soundtrack. Please feel free to fill up a playlist, as you fill up at the table, from a vast menu of Thanksgiving-appropriate charted songs and acts.
From everyone at
Billboard
, have a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving!
First, the Sides
“Mashed Potato Time”
Dee Dee Sharp
A No. 2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962
“Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)”
Dee Dee Sharp
No. 9 Hot 100, 1962
“Mr. Potato Peeler”
Bobby Gregg and His Friends
No. 89 Hot 100, 1962
“Mashed Potatoes U.S.A.”
James Brown and the Famous Flames
No. 82 Hot 100, 1962
“Gravy Waltz”
Steve Allen
No. 64 Hot 100, 1963
“My Sweet Potato”
Booker T. & the MG’s
No. 85 Hot 100, 1966
“Hot Potato”
LaToya Jackson
No. 38 Dance Club Songs, 1984
And, anything by … the
Cranberries
(Honorable, and mostly mouth-watering, mention, to a song that charted only as a cut on Bobby Bare’s album
Bare
, which reached No. 44 on Top Country Albums in 1978:
“Greasy Grit Gravy and Gizzard Greens”
(which, per the lyrics, “make you wanna split your jeans”)
Ah … the Main Course
“Let’s Turkey Trot”
Little Eva
No. 20 Hot 100, 1963
“Birdland”
Chubby Checker
No. 12 Hot 100, 1963 63
“Surfin’ Bird”
the Trashmen (although you may be more familiar with
this version
)
No. 4 Hot 100, 1964
“This Little Bird”
Marianne Faithfull
No. 32 Hot 100, 1965
“May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose”
“Little” Jimmy Dickens
No. 15 Hot 100, 1965
“Cold Turkey”
Plastic Ono Band
No. 30 Hot 100, 1970
“Jive Turkey (Part 1)”
Ohio Players
No. 47 Hot 100, 1974
“Free Bird”
Lynyrd Skynryd
No. 19 Hot 100, 1975
“Three Little Birds”
Bob Marley and the Wailers
No. 1 Reggae Digital Song Sales; released in 1977
“The Bird”
the Time
No. 36 Hot 100, 1985
“I’m Like a Bird”
Nelly Furtado
No. 9 Hot 100, 2001
“Gobble Gobble”
Matthew West
No. 32 Christian Airplay, 2020
“Birds of a Feather”
Billie Eilish
No. 2 Hot 100, 2024
And, anything by … the
Byrds
Please Be Specific
“Skinny Legs and All”
Joe Tex
No. 10 Hot 100, 1967
“Hot Legs”
Rod Stewart
No. 28 Hot 100, 1978
“Legs”
ZZ Top
No. 8 Hot 100, 1984
“Broken Wings”
Mr. Mister
No. 1 Hot 100, 1985
“Pretty Wings”
Maxwell
No. 33 Hot 100, 2009
Or, anything by …
Wings
And, for Dessert
“Sweet Potato Pie”
James Taylor
No. 37 Adult Contemporary, 1989
“Sweet Potato Pie”
Domino
No. 13 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, 1994
And, anything by …
Smashing Pumpkins
Musical Trimmings
“I Wanna Thank You”
Bobby Rydell
No. 21 Hot 100, 1961
“Thank You Girl”
the Beatles
No. 35 Hot 100, 1964
“I Thank You”
Sam & Dave
No. 9 Hot 100, 1968
“Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin”
Sly & the Family Stone
No. 1 Hot 100, 1970
“Be Thankful for What You Got”
William DeVaughn
No. 4 Hot 100, 1974
“Thank God I’m a Country Boy”
John Denver
No. 1 Hot 100, 1975
“Thank You for Being a Friend”
Andrew Gold
No. 25 Hot 100, 1978
Of course …
“The Thanksgiving Song”
Adam Sandler
An annual No. 1 on Comedy Digital Songs (which Sandler premiered on NBC’s
Saturday Night Live
on Nov. 21, 1992)
“Thank U”
Alanis Morissette
No. 1 Adult Pop Airplay, 1998
“Thank You”
Dido
No. 1 Adult Contemporary, Adult Pop Songs, Dance Club Songs, 2001
“I Wanna Thank Ya”
Angie Stone
No. 1 Dance Club Songs, 2004
“Thnks fr th Mmrs”
Fall Out Boy
No. 11 Hot 100, 2007
“I Want to Say Thank You”
Lisa Page Brooks featuring Royal Priesthood
No. 1 Hot Gospel Songs, 2010
“Thank U, Next”
Ariana Grande
No. 1 Hot Hot 100, 2018
“thanK you aIMee” Taylor Swift
No. 23 Hot 100, 2024
And, a still piping-hot entry (entree?):
“All About That Baste,”
courtesy of the
Holderness Family
, which knows how to cook up, in addition to a tasty turkey, a catchy parody. (#noskinnybritches)
