Though A Charlie Brown Christmas is rightfully considered a holiday classic, I caught its annual airing on ABC this past Sunday and was surprised at just how slow the pacing is. The number of scenes sans dialogue and devoid of much action really stood out, illustrating just how much television has changed in the intervening years since I first saw it as a kid on CBS.

The special’s message, however, still resonates, as does the soundtrack by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Chances are you have this cool mix of gentle jazz in your collection, but if you need a reminder of why it’s also a classic, Amazon MP3 is offering a free download of “Greensleeves.” (If, like me, you’ve got the Starbucks retail version that weirdly omitted the track, you’ll now have the complete set.)

Add a free download of “Greensleeves” to your O Christmas Free playlist, courtesy of Amazon MP3. It’s the latest addition to their “25 Days of Free,” which I haven’t mentioned recently because the selections have mostly been middle-of-the-road stuff. (I’m not spotlighting iTunes’ free holiday songs from Faith Hill and Brian McKnight for similar reasons.) See Amazon MP3’s complete “25 Days of Free” calendar and judge for yourself.

Veering far from that road toward some unmarked, deep-in-the-woods route is Mary Chapin Carpenter. As tipped in an earlier O Christmas Free post, today Amazon MP3 posted an exclusive bonus track from Carpenter’s Christmas LP, Come Darkness, Come Light. Better still, her “Little Drummer Boy” is being offered as a free download.

Now “Little Drummer Boy” has never been one of my yuletide favorites (far from it), but Carpenter’s intimate take is spot-on for the song’s first-person story. The complementary instrumentation allows room for the whole thing to breathe, while adding some welcome texture. (And yes, I’m aware of the TV vs. music contradiction I’ve presented. Be kind.)

Pick up the free download of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “Little Drummer Boy” from Amazon MP3 for a limited time.