Last year, the recession inspired me to point readers to a veritable sleighful of Christmas tunes being offered for free download. Well, another 365 days is under our belt, and for many it’s only gotten tighter. So once again, my goal is to make what could be Bah Humbug 2: Economic Boogaloo a tiny bit better by unwrapping some free holiday MP3s on the Interweb.

I know that free tunes alone can’t turn our collective fiscal frown upside down, but listening to these little gifts of music can markedly improve a mood. And who wouldn’t welcome a little extra cheer into their world this time of year?

The first free MP3 under our virtual tree comes from Lady Gaga. Though she’s been entertaining us like no other current pop artist around for the past year, Gaga won’t be enjoying the gift of a Grammy nomination this Wednesday for Best New Artist, having been deemed ineligible.

A collaboration with DJ Space Cowboy, her “Christmas Tree” made its debut last December as a paid download, but this time around the song’s on Lady Gaga. Quite literally, perhaps, because while her Christmas tree may be delicious, with lyrics like “Ho, ho, ho/Under the mistletoe/Yes, everybody knows/We will take off our clothes,” if you’re making a mixtape for Great Aunt Agnes, it’s probably wise to leave Lady Gaga off your playlist.

Grab a free download of Lady Gaga featuring Space Cowboy – “Christmas Tree” via Amazon MP3.

Turning to something a bit more, um, mainstream, today’s “Holiday Duets” episode of Oprah wrapped with news of a bonus two-fer, an offer designed to please her easy-listening audience. Though these two free MP3s represent just a quarter of the musical bounty Ms. Winfrey presented in 2008, it just doesn’t seem quite right to quibble when no price tag is attached.

Explore the sacred side of Christmas with this double-shot of holiday tunes, approved for all ages. Andrea Bocelli meets up with Mary J. Blige to breathe new life into “What Child Is This” (taken from his new release My Christmas, which also sports duets with Reba McEntire, Natalie Cole, and the Muppets). And country superstars Sugarland turn in a bilingual “Silent Night,” with Jennifer Nettles putting her Spanish degree to good use (though having caught the duo’s Oprah performance with Jennifer Hudson, I wish that version of the song was offered for download instead.)

Download both tracks via Oprah.com now through December 1 at 11:00 pm Central.