COVER TIME: Snow is Falling In Manhattan

Rule of thumb: if a song suddenly pops up on more than one Christmas themed album, it can be considered as a Christmas(-y) song. Case in point: Snow is Falling in Manhattan, a song by Purple Mountains (= David Berman, of Silver Jews fame) from 2018. The fact that Berman died within a month of release of the album that included the song, adds to the weight, the impact. There's an understated beauty to this song. And that 'snow'-chorus is great. Read more on Berman and Purple Mountains here.

There is no mention of Christmas in the lyrics, but there is a December feel ('So much joy in merely looking') and a slight Christmas spirit at the end: 'And on the couch, beneath an afghan/Lies an old friend he just took in/Seeking shelter from the cold wind.'

Here is a selection of the versions that I found

In 2020, two bands put cover versions on Christmas albums, this one by Brooklyn based Holly Grove Choir (that's not a choir, by the way), that put a slightly more AOR-vibe to it:

Baggio, from London, made a minimal version, that still sounds very wintery, with male/female lead vocals and a gorgeous, understated organ arrangement. Very good:

Earlier, in 2019, this subdued version by Karl Blau was released, as part of a David Berman-tribute album:

From 2021, this very beautiful cover by Jeff Tweedy and his sons:

From 2023, from their tribute to fallen heroes Christmas album, this Americana-version by Cricket & Friends:

From 2024, from their Christmas album, with added cold wind sounds, a very sweet version by Dean, Britta & Sonic Boom:
Dean Wareham recorded a damn good solo-version a few years before, right after David Bermans passing:

SECTION26 · Dean Wareham - Snow Is Falling In Manhattan

2024. Sung by Jarvis Cocker and Leslie Feist, this hushed, loving version from Chilly Gonzales' Christmas album:

2024. Probably a demo, with added fx, voices and reverb, this is still a very interesting version:

You're So Pretty · snow is falling in manhattan voxd2