Now that Thanksgiving has passed and December is here it’s time to break out the holiday playlists! I love Christmas music and have many favorites but I’m always looking to add new songs and albums to my collection. This week’s Ten on Tuesday topic, 10 Favorite Holiday Albums, is designed to do just that. Here we go!
- Barenaked for the Holidays, Barenaked Ladies. I love them all but especially the ones that sound like you’re in a roller rink!
- Christmas Cheers, Straight No Chaser. I just bought this album last week and I’m really enjoying it. Christmas Can Can is fun and they do a great rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas, too.
- Merry Christmas To You, Reba McEntire. Her carols are beautiful but the original songs on here are the ones I really love, especially On This Day and Happy Birthday, Jesus.
- Christmas At Trinity, Choir of Trinity Church. This is a recording from the Candlelight Carols program that we love to attend. When I listen to this I am transported to Trinity Church, a very fine place to be.
- One Holy Night, Red Nativity. Christmas music with Native American drums and chants. I love this one so much.
- A Christmas Album, Amy Grant. This is a classic. Does anyone not have it?
- Mahalia Sings Songs of Christmas!, Mahalia Jackson. A favorite of my mom’s, this one brings back my childhood. I loved Go Tell It On the Mountain when I was a kid.
- Come Darkness, Come Light, Mary Chapin Carpenter. Another new one for this year. I’m just getting familiar with it but I’m really enjoying it.
- The Gift, Colin Raye. It’s mostly covers of traditional Christmas songs but It Could Happen is an original and one that gets me every time. Plus, the intro is by Johnny Cash.
- Let It Be Christmas, Alan Jackson. I love me some Alan Jackson and this whole album is beautiful but again, it’s the original that’s my favorite and Let It Be Christmas says everything I feel about this time of year.
Can’t wait to read all of your posts – I think my iTunes account is going to be working overtime today!
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I think my iPod will be getting a few new Christmas songs…
God Jul to you too!
Straight No Chaser does THE BEST rendition of Twelve Days of Christmas ever! Love them. And now. . . I’m off to check out the new Mary Chapin Carpenter. (Another dangerous topic, Carole!)
What no Jimmy Buffet??? Love his Christmas cd. Great list by the way.
That’s a very nice list and I don’t even listen to Christmas music.
I do not have a single one of those albums. It’s going to be a busy day on iTunes for mw I think!
Now for a funny “It’s a small world” moment…. I live on the property that was once owned by the Trinity Church as their summer camp. In fact, I live on the “chapel lot”. Several of the old camp buildings have been saved and renovated into new homes, like the rec hall, chapel, director’s cottage and boat house!
My Christmas isn’t complete without the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album. Miss Piggy rocks it out on the 5th day of Christmas! Another household staple is the Peter, Paul, and Mary Holiday concert. I adore their version of I Wonder as I Wander. Thanks for the awesome selections!
The Statler Brothers Christmas album, not sure what the title is, but it played when I was young and stil plays every year when I go to my parent’s house to celebrate. Some of the songs make me teary every year.
Another slice of my childhood is Christmas in the Stars, a Star Wars Christmas album. What DO you get a Wookie for Christmas if he already owns a comb???
I have to add Manheim Steamroller’s “Christmas” … love their version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlmen! And my Christmas wouldn’t be complete without Trans Siberian Orchestra’s “Carol of the Bells!” I do see that my Christmas music list is nowhere near complete, on to downloading …
I purchased James Taylor: A Christmas Album from Hallmark a few years ago. I grew up listening to James because my oldest sister loved him and Carly Simon. While he’s a favorite of mine I didn’t expect my husband to declare it his favorite Christmas album. Give it a listen if and see if you agree.
OMG! I own lots of Christmas albums, and now have to go out and get 10 more.
I’m afraid I don’t own much Christmas music.
The only music that makes Christmas complete for me is the Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album, Nat King Cole singing the Christmas Song, and Bing Crosby singing White Christmas.
The only albums I have are Alvin & the Chipmunks, and a 5-disk set called “The Best of Christmas”, which pretty much covers all the classics.
Rod Stewart’s holiday album is great. Sounds ridiculous…but it’s true. His version of Auld Lang Syne is amazing.
Raffi, Joan Baez, Bing Crosby, Boston Pops, Pavarotti, Time-Life Treasury, Trapp Family – I’m very old-fashioned. But I also love the Trans-Siberian guys. And I extremely love Straight No Chaser’s 12 Days of Christmas. I didn’t realize they had a whole album; gotta go find it.
Some new ones to me! The last few years I just use Pandora for Christmas music, but there are a few classic albums I must hear all the way through!
So many beautiful choices! I’m so unfamiliar with Christmas music. I play the same or one or two over and over. Are you headed into the Church this season?
Looking forward to checking these out! Thanks Carole.
Carole, here’s one for you by my favorite jazz pianist ever, Dave McKenna. It’s called Christmas Party: Holiday Piano Spiked with Swing. Dave lived for many years on Cape Cod and was a regular pianist at the Copley Plaza for many years. I miss him.
That Mahalia Jackson could really belt out a song…
wow, I have two DAYS of christmas music in my iTunes…and I don’t have any of these albums. I think I’ll start by checking out Reba
I love Straight No Chaser! I’ve seen them numerous times in concert and they’re so much fun! Real nice guys too!