Favorite Holiday Music?

[KValley]

This is the time of year that my record club starts sending catalogs with holiday music. I'm nuts about holiday music- it gets heavy rotation from about a week before THanksgiving through Epiphany. I like to add a couple of new CDs every year and would love to know of some of your favorites. Here are a few of mine:

The Celtic Christmas Collections from Windham Hill- we have three or four, but I think there must be at least 6 out now. We listen to these as soon as the weather starts turning cold. There are some familiar carols, but mostly it is just beautiful, peaceful, joyous Celtic music. Great mood stuff. Ditto for A Thistle and Shamrock Christmas Ceilidh Public radio fans might know adorable Fiona Ritchie- this is her compilation.

A Tenors Christmas - Domingo, Pavarotti, Carreras, of course. All familiar carols, sung to bring down the rafters!

I also love to listen to Handel's Messiah Not technically holiday music, but the Alleluia Chorus just gives me the chills and really puts me in the right spirit- celebrating the season with joy and love. And there is a modern classical album by Finnish composer, Arvo Part Kanon Pokajanen It was recorded inside of a church in Estonia and the chanting voices sounds like they are reverberating off cold stone. It is one of the most haunting, spare, beautiful pieces of orchestration I have ever heard. It sounds like winter feels- clean, lonely, bleak, wistful, silence so full it fills the room. Not holiday per se, but definitely made for the season.

On a completely different note, we love John Denver: Rocky Mountain Christmas except for Please Daddy, don't get drunk this Christmas Horrible song- we have to skip over it- what a mood killer!

With a jazz theme: Ella Fitzgerald: Wishing you a Swinging Christmas;
Harry Connick, Jr: When My Heart Finds Christmas;
Tony Bennett: Snowfall and GRP puts out several Christmas CDs with jazz arrangements of familiar holiday tunes.

It just wouldn't be Christmas without CHarlie Brown!! I never get tired of Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas

So, what are your favorites? :D

[beejayw1]

Try Enchanted Christmas by Ana Maria Mendieta (available through record stores or Amazon.com. She's a harpist and has a back-up of a chamber orchestra. The music is just absolutely lovely - starts with Angels We Have Heard On High. Actually, if you have RealPlayer on your system, you can hear snatches of the music through Amazon's site. It's wonderful.

I also like music by Maggie Sansone and by Joemy Wilson, both of whom do instrumental music on the hammered dulcimer. Sansone did Sounds of the season (1 and II) also A Scottish Christmas.

Joemy Wilson did Gifts (three volumes - traditional Christmas Carols).

Remember the old Firestone Christmas albums? I like listening to those, too!

[emilycat]

I'm nuts about holiday music- it gets heavy rotation from about a week before Thanksgiving through Epiphany.

Julie, I could have written that sentence!

I love Christmas music; for now, I confiscate my parents' music every season :D , but I'm working on my own.

I'm definitely going to check out the Celtic Christmas collection you mentioned -- it sounds like something I'd love.

I'm a huge Mannheim Steamroller fan. I could listen to those albums all day long -- they just put me in the best mood in the world! I just need to buy my own. ;)

The Nutcracker suite I love, as well, and The Christmas Album -- just a collection of great classics by the best of them. There's a picture of Santa Claus and Shirley Temple on the front.

Oh, look what you made me do; now I want to go to the music store!

[JHolcomb]

James Brown's Christmas! It's rockin'. I also love the Charlie Brown Christmas album, and Emmylou Harris's album.

I am looking for a traditional album this year-orchestral stuff, no vocalists. Anyone have any recommendations?

[LGBurns]

In addition to some of the music already mentioned (Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas Special music in particular), I love The Many Moods of Christmas by the Robert Shaw Chorale. This album is a mix of sacred and secular Christmas choral music and is some of the best choral music I've ever heard. I had it on tape and it's getting so worn I plan to go out and buy the CD this year.

I'm like you, Julie, I play Christmas music from Thanksgiving to New Years (much to my rock musician husband's chagrine).

Later: I went to Amazon.com's site and found The Many Moods of Christmas. Here is a link to the page which also allows you to listen to the first minute of each track. It will give you a good taste of this albums beautiful mix of orchestra and chorus. Again, this is a childhood favorite:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003G9R/qid=1005346344/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_6_1/102-3401348-8070551

[SandyM]

A GRP Christmas Christmas Collection, Volumes I and II -
A sampler of former and present GRP artists like Lee Ritenour, David Benoit, John Patitucci, Special Efx, Chick Corea, Spyro Gyra, Acoustic Alchemy, Russ Freeman, Arturo Sandoval

Russ Freeman - Holiday - Russ is from The Rippingtons; his version of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is breathtaking. The whole album is fabulous.

Boney James - Boney's Funky Christmas - Boney James is an awesome guitarist.

David Benoit - Remembering Christmas - jazzy/classical pianist

Warner Bros. - Jazz Christmas Party - I bought this CD for one song - Michael Franks' I Bought You A Plastic Star For Your Aluminum Tree. I think it's fun. The whole CD is eally good though - I lucked out.

A Contemporary Jazz Christmas - Again, I bought this CD for one song - Dave Grusin's Some Children See Him. Again, I lucked out - the entire CD is really good.

Christmas With The Lettermen - I'm a sucker for great harmonies!

The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas - a great variety of tunes.

Dean Martin - Making Spirits Bright - I had a heeeeyuge crush on Dean Martin when I was just a kid. It carried over into adulthood. Man, that guy could sing! My favorite song of his is A Marshmallow World. I also own three of his non-holiday CD's.

Jimmy Buffet - Christmas Island - Bing Crosby is the father of Mele Kalikimaka, but old JB does a pretty good version of it. This is just a fun CD.

Soul Christmas - Otis Redding, Booker T & The MG's, The Drifters, etc. It isn't Christmas if I don't hear Donny Hathaway's This Christmas.

A Celtic Christmas - The O'Reilly Consort by Intersound Records. This one always puts me in the mood.

SheDaisy - Brand New Year - Their version of Deck the Halls is INCREDIBLE. Again, I'm a big, big sucker for great harmonies. These girls don't fail.

The Coolest Christmas - This is one CD that I purchased for one song, and that's the only song I can listen to on the whole CD. Remember the old Bing Crosby special, with David Bowie, the two of them standing by the piano, singing Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy? What an odd pairing, but boy does it work. I can do without the rest of the CD - George Thorogood doing Rock & Roll Christmas, Eartha Kitt doing Santa Baby (YUKK!!!!!!), Elmo 'n Patsy doing Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (DOUBLE YUKK!!!!).

Sorry for the long windedness. There's more, but these are the primaries. I love holiday music, and it starts as soon as Thanksgiving dinner is cleaned up and put away, and stops on New Years Day. Every year I pick up 2-3-4 new holiday CD's.

[Susan]

George Winston's December is my absolute favorite! I never tire of it or any of his music for that matter.

~Susan~

[SueK]

Originally posted by KValley
With a jazz theme: [B]Ella Fitzgerald: Wishing you a Swinging Christmas;
Harry Connick, Jr: When My Heart Finds Christmas;


Great taste! :) These are two of my favorite Christmas CDs! I also like the Luther Vandross Christmas CD, and the Beach Boys Christmas as well.

[KValley]

What I really need is a CD burner!! Emily, my dad and his SO also have the best collection of holiday music- I must raid their library. Dad's got the classical and jazz, Mary's got the Celtic and new age/Windham Hill stuff.

Diana I just listened to a sampling Enchanted Christmas - gorgeous, ethereal. I also love hammered dulcimer, so I'm intrigued by the others you mentioned.

Emily The Nutcracker, of course!! That's a must. One of the events we most anticipated when travelling home for the holidays the Nutcracker performance by the Pacific Northwest Ballet with the amazing Maurice Sendak sets; nothing says Christmas quite like The Nutcracker! We haven't gone in a couple of years...And Mannheim Steamroller That's a Dad classic for me- I always think of him when I hear the very first album.

If you look at the Celtic Christmas albums, try the first one, released in 1995. It's our favorite. There's a song, "Ciara", by an Irish folk singer, Luka Bloom. We were both enchanted by the song and his voice and we now own every Luka Bloom album- probably never would have discovered him otherwise and now he's one of our absolute favorite artists. Modern folk- kind of a 90s Van Morrison. Here's the Celtic Christmas Vol I album on Amazon- there are samples you can listen to: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000NL7/qid=1005412462/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_11_10/002-7461793-2540854

JHolcomb If you like James Brown, you should try BB King's Christmas album- a little blues to go along with that egg nog :)

Linda The Robert Shaw Chorale is all about my childhood, too! I listened to samples from the link to Amazon- thanks for that. I started to cry, so didn't get far, but this one is definitely going on the list. Nothing like a good, nostalgic weeping jag during the holidays :) Seriously, I love RSC. Have you heard Absolute Heaven and/or The Power and the Majesty? They are "essential choral classics" with the RSC and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (not holiday). Really powerful stuff.

Oh Sandy I don't even know where to begin with you! I've got the first GRP and Dad's got all of them- I think I'll do some borrowing! And after your first Russ Freeman recommendation, which I still haven't taken out of the CD player after 10 days of listening, I am going to look for this holiday CD. I'm just printing out your list for future reference and future trips to Borders!

OMG- I adore the Bing Crosby-David Bowie's Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy One of the most poignant, lovely modern holiday songs I know; that and Paul McCartney's A wonderful Christmas time
The mood is right
The spirit's up
We're here tonight
And that's enough
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time

As a teenager of the 80's I have a very soft spot for Do They Know It's Christmas? My fave Brit pop stars united against starvation in Ethiopia.

Anyone know of an album on which these all appear together!? :)

Susan George Winston is another favorite around this house- any time of year. DH and I saw him perform last year for our anniversary. Do you have his Plains album- I like that for winter, too.

Sue I've always connected the Beach Boys with summer! I'll have to give this a listen :)

Thanks for the great recommendations, everyone! And merry, beautiful, inspirational listening to all and to all a good night! HO HO HO

(okay, so it's Saturday morning, just play along, all right?) :D

[gabbyh]

"If Everyday Was Like Christmas"
...it's my all-time favorite...there's nothing like listening to Elvis singing "they'll be a b-b-b-b-blue Christmas without you..." ;-}
I think the CD has 24 or 25 songs in all...lots of oldies...

[lisas3575]

Christmas with a Kick from Restoration Hardware!!! Absolutely fabulous. Love it love it love it. They've come out with a second one this year that I must own. You can get the first volume for $2.99!!!!! Can't even put into words how fun this CD is.

http://restorationhardware.com/index.htma/item.html?item=450

[BlueMoose]

My favorite Christmas song as a kid was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry :p

[boisewinesnob]

SandyM....I will have to get some of those jazz ones you mentioned. Those artists are all my favorites. Does Jim Brickman have a Christmas CD?
Julie, we play that Harry Conick Jr CD constantly at Christmas, although I think it's a close second to "A Charlie Brown Christmas".
I got a Christmas CD at Starbucks one time called "A Merry Affair". It's got stuff by Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Holly Cole, Diana Krall, Frank Sinatra, etc and I love that one, too.
Another one we like is Johnny Mathis' "Merry Christmas".
Actually, we play Christmas music quite a bit during the rest of the year at our house.

Suzy

[Janet K]

Suzy,

Jim Brickman has a Holiday album from 1997 called The Gift. We also have another one of his from 1996 that only has 5 Christmas songs on it called Christmas Memories by the piano. Both are just beautiful....

Janet

[boisewinesnob]

Janet,
thanks for the info on Jim Brickman. I will definitely try to get both of those you mentioned!
Suzy

[Susan]

Originally posted by KValley
Susan George Winston is another favorite around this house- any time of year. DH and I saw him perform last year for our anniversary. Do you have his Plains album- I like that for winter, too.



Julie~
Yep, I have Plains too, and it's a frequent winter play now. I saw him perform two years ago - love those purple socks he wore! We were very close to the stage and I was just mesmerized! I would love to see him again!

~Susan~


Here's his web site in case anyone out there is interested: www.dancingcat.com (http://www.dancingcat.com) It has his performance schedule listed too.

[JHolcomb]

I forgot about December. I stole that one from my dad when I went to college, and he made me give it back, so I had to buy my own copy. I listen to it every day during the Christmas season.

[KValley]

Just bumping this up for other great suggestions!

[beejayw1]

I believe she has come out with a Christmas album that is well-received.

Also, though they're out of 'print', the Victoria's Secret Christmas CDs are excellent. (The London Symphony Orchestra is on them)

Hilary Stagg has done some wonderful winter-themed CDs, as well...

[Jen]

I've picked up some great CD ideas from this thread!!:)

We love the Amy Grant Christmas CD's - the first one (I think from about 1992) is really good, and although I like the one from last year as well, it's much darker. I think she was probably going through her divorce while recording/putting together the album, and it shows. My all-time favourite Christmas CD is one from Stephen Curtis Chapman that we bought a few years ago. IMO, the "Christian" singers really know how to put together Christmas albums that remind me of the true reason for the celebrations.

And just a little plug :)...if anyone out there likes choral music, my husband sings in a great choir here in Vancouver that did a fabulous Christmas album a few years ago. It was extremely well-received by critics and has been written up several times in the newspapers here. There are a couple of incredible original songs on it...if you are a dog-lover, you can't miss the song called "Carol of the Stable Dog" by Corlynn Hanney (also a member of the choir). The first time I heard the song, it was our first Christmas without our beloved cocker spaniel, who had died that May. I bawled my eyes out, then brought my mom to the next night's concert so we could both sit and cry together!! (My dad was pretty embarrassed). Anyway, the album is called The Huron Carol, and the choir is Phoenix Chamber Choir. In doing a search, I just realized it's available on Amazon! (Rare for a Canadian choir)...see the link at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00003JAHK/qid%3D1005615882/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F0%5F1/102-7894626-8694533. Also, if you'd like to hear bits of a few songs, you can do so at the choir's web page at http://www.phoenixchamberchoir.bc.ca.

Advertisement over!! :)

Oh...I forgot to mention that one of the songs on that album is probably my all-time favourite Christmas song. It's O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen - it absolutely makes Christmas for me. I'm known to drive home from work with the CD on, tears running down my face!! (Boy, this reply makes me sound like I cry a lot!!).

[gobluem82]

If you like George Winston, you would like any of Windham Hill's Winter Solstice collections.

My other favorite Christmas albums are "Christmas" by Bruce Cockburn and "We Three Kings" by the Roches. Both are a little off the beaten track, but that's what makes them so interesting.

And in our family, it's a tradition to trim the tree while listening to Andy Williams' and Nat King Cole's Christmas albums!

[gertdog]

Originally posted by gobluem82


And in our family, it's a tradition to trim the tree while listening to Andy Williams' and Nat King Cole's Christmas albums!

Nat King Cole's album is the one I was going to mention. I absolutely love it.

I also have a great double-CD Christmas collection from Rhino records.

And I love the Ella Fitzgerald Swingin' Christmas CD, too!

[KValley]

I just picked up a great little CD in Starbucks over the weekend: Ornamental Holiday It's chock full of classics (13 songs), such as Ray Charles, Little Drummer Boy; Aimee Mann, THe Christmas Song; Diana Krall, Christmas Time is Here;Frank Sinatra, Mistletoe and Holly; Billie Holiday, I've Got my Love to Keep Me Warm and the aforementioned gorgeous duet of David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy, plus Ella, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Eartha Kitt, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, another Bing Crosby.

It looks to be a compilation made 'specially for Starbucks, so if you get a hankering for a pumpkin latte (blecchh!), pick up this CD- it's wonderful!!

:)

[Meg O'C]

I, too, start playing the holiday music with the first frost - usually only in my car because everyone else I know thinks I am crazy to start listening to it in October. Here are some of my favorites:

The Nutcracker - I have great memories of my sister and I dancing to this when we were young - never in an actual performance - just in our basement, but we were great!

John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together is one of my all time favorites. I think this came out in the late 70's - '80. We had the LP back then. I was so excited to rediscover this album on tape while in college and then finally went and bought it on CD a few years ago (afraid the tape was wearing out)! It's definitely more for kids but there are beautiful messages in many of the songs. This, too, reminds me of my childhood Christmases.

A Very Special Christmas - I only have the first volume (late 80's pop artists) but I've always loved this one.

I also have a mix tape of stuff I taped off the radio over the years - mostly pop - love Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid but there are lots of good ones on that - again, I am fearful of the year this falls apart from too much use!

More recently I have enjoyed: Jingle Bell Jazz from Williams-Sonoma, Big Band Christmas from Brookstone, The Irish Tenors (this is new from my dad this year), Harry Connick's When My Heart Finds Christmas . . . and I must admit to loving Kenny G's album from two years ago with Auld Lang Syne with snippets of audio from major events in the 20th century, as well as Mariah Carey's album from a few years ago (don't like any of her regular stuff but I can't believe I haven't gotten in to an accident clapping my hands to Joy to the World while driving)!

I know I'm missing some but those are the ones that get the most play from me this time of year!

Thanks for all the great suggestions!

[Sarah]

I love instrumental music for the holidays. Here's a couple of my favourites:
A Crescent City Christmas by the Wynton Marsalis ensemble (septet :confused: ). Very cool jazz versions of traditional carols, and a reading of the Night Before Christmas that I use every year at school
Any Christmas album by the Canadian Brass. I have a couple and am totally drawing a blank on what they're called.

Sarah :)

[SandyM]

Originally posted by KValley
It looks to be a compilation made 'specially for Starbucks, so if you get a hankering for a pumpkin latte (blecchh!), pick up this CD- it's wonderful!!

:)

JULIE!!!!!!

I'm not a coffee drinker - Jewel tried, she really, really tried!! - but I'm heading to Starbucks tomorrow to pick this one up - thank you!!!

[KValley]

Meg Does your 80s compilation have Wham's "Last Christmas"?. I'll admit to loving that song- what a goof I am.

Sarah Thanks for the head's up about the Crescent City Christmas album- sounds right up my alley!

SANDY Now, was Jewel trying to sell you on Starbucks coffee or coffee in general? See, (hypocritically-speaking as I was obviously just in and spending money at a Starbucks) I have a thing against Starbucks- world domination issues and I don't think the coffee is that great. Much to my dismay there were two Starbucks within 2 blocks of each other near my hotel in London (a GAP was situated equidistant between the two) AND my little family-run hotel served Starbucks in the breakfast room. I felt the need to apologize to the British population in general for yet another McFranchise.

Sorry for the rant! It just scared me. The CD is worth it, but try a decaf latte from your local roaster instead. Or not :) Stand proud in your coffee aversion! :D

[SandyM]

Originally posted by KValley
Meg, Does your 80s compilation have Wham's "Last Christmas"?. I'll admit to loving that song- what a goof I am.

Guess that makes 2 goofs on this board - I love that song!!

Originally posted by KValley
SANDY, Now, was Jewel trying to sell you on Starbucks coffee or coffee in general?

Just coffee in general. We stopped into a coffee joint in MSP one afternoon and she fixed me up. It tasted good - good enough for me to even get another one at the airport on the way home. Just not something I go out of my way for. I can't explain it - I love the smell of freshly-brewed coffee, but can't deal with the taste (long term). I'll revel in my aversion!

[dcornelius]

There is nothing that puts me into the holiday spirit like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra,Ella Fitzgerald, Berl Ives! I grew up listening to that stuff every year a Christmas time and when I had kids of my own my Daddy taped the albums for me so my kids could grow up with it. We have to put limlits on it though other wise my DD would listen to it all year round she loves it so much! No Christmas music until after dinner on ThanksGiving. Manheim Steamroller is great as is TransSibearan Orchastra. Oh I love Christmas music! :D

[KValley]

On this cloudy, somber day I've been listening to George Winston's December and several of the Windham Hill Winter's Solstice collections (along with Copland's Appalachian Spring- a little incongruous, I know, but it's what I was in the mood for!). This music, combined with baking a cake and making soup, have put me in a cozy-wintry-almost-holiday mood. I recalled this thread and wanted to bump it up for other suggestions for holiday tunes! It was fun to reread through your favorites and to remind myself of what I'd like to find.

I still need to get that Crescent City Christmas...

Any others?

[boisewinesnob]

thanks for bumping this up! I forgot all about the Jim Brickman holiday CD I was going to look for suggested on this thread :)


hmmm, as long as we're digging up old threads, maybe I'll go find the Christmas movie one ;)

[Jennifer D]

Gotta de-lurk for such a fantastic subject!! :D

I am a holiday music afficionado, and try to add at least one new CD per year. Admittedly, though, I can be a bit picky, so it doesn't always happen. :rolleyes:

My taste runs towards the crooners (give me Frank or Tony Bennett or Bing singing a carol, and I'm a happy elf) and jazz. I saw Wynton Marsalis' Crescent City Christmas mentioned, but I'll toss out a couple more for all you holiday jazz lovers.

Marcus Roberts: "Prayer for Peace" [fantastically talented jazz pianist]

"God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen" - compilation with some exceptional tracks (Dexter Gordon, etc). Alas - I can't provide any more info. I'm currently living in Australia, and I only brought Charlie Brown from the Christmas CD collection. The rest are sitting in storage...

I've managed to collect a few other excellent jazz compilations through the years (featuring some unbelievable old recordings). For those who like that sort of thing, I definitely encourage you to prowl through Christmas jazz sections at the music store - you can stumble upon some fantastic finds!!

This is such a fun thread! It's spring/summer down in the Southern Hemisphere, and while I'm bombarded with Christmas decor everywhere I look, I simply can't get that holly-jolly vibe when the weather is so warm and sunny. Maybe it's time I bust out Charlie Brown...

[kwormann]

Amongst the ones listed here that I have (Harry, Tony, Charlie (Brown that is) etc ) I HAVE to listen to Bing Crosby's White Christmas . I have a BUNCH of other ones that I will lsit later...

[munchies]

Some of our favorites here are:

Ultimate Christmas This has a nice collection of classic songs - a little Bing and Elvis. My favorite here has to be Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby ;)

Martina McBride - White Christmas The traditional fare, but I love this woman's voice. She's incredible!

Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas Let me say that I really DO NOT like Mariah in general, but this is a pretty good album. It's a little too R & B for me, but DH likes it.

Mannheim Steamroller - A Fresh Aire Christmas -- Great!

Celine Dion - These are Special Times - This is not one of my most favorite, but it does get put in the cd player to shuffle around with the others.

Point of Grace - A Christmas Story - I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!
Point of Grace is a Christian band. This album has renditions of some classic songs as well as originals (at least, I'd never heard them before). If I could have only one album, this may be the one!

Michael W. Smith - Christmas - Again, a Christian album. Good musical background here. Maybe even a couple of instrumentals... I don't remember. It's been too long since last Christmas :rolleyes":

Jim Brickman - The Gift - I forgot about this one. This has a few vocals, but is primarily instrumental piano. This is such a nice, soothing CD.

Heather

[KValley]

My record club has a "Buy One, Get 3 Free" offer- I just ordered:

Robert Shaw, Christmas With The Robert Shaw Chorale
Windham Hill A Celtic Christmas V- Peace On Earth
Windham Hill A Winter's Solstice III (I think these complete our Winter's Solstice and Celtic Christmas collections... :) )

(and one non-holiday: Louis Armstrong, "Sugar"/The Best Of The RCA Victor Recordings )

Originally posted by Jennifer D

"God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen" - compilation with some exceptional tracks (Dexter Gordon, etc).

Dexter Gordon is all I need to know- this is on the list! Thanks for the great recommendations, Jennifer- that Marcus Roberts sounds right up my alley, too. Enjoy your warm holidays Down Under!

[d_ferrero]

Originally posted by BlueMoose
My favorite Christmas song as a kid was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry :p

Like many of you, I absolutely adore Christmas mustic and find myself adding three or four new favorites to my collection each year. My current "new classic" favorites are Amy Grant's two holiday albums, Charlotte Church's "Dream a Dream", Kenny G's "Faith" and John Berry's "O Holy Night".

But if I had to decide what to rescue from a burning building, it would absolutely be my grandfather's "78's" of Gene Autry's Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Nat King Cole's Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. Childhood memories of popcorn popping, hot chocolate, and twinkling Christmas tree lights just ROCK! :)

/dolores

[KristinK]

I like Christmas with the Chipmunks :o

Seriously though, it reminds me of driving home from my grandmother's on Christmas Eve and trying to get there before Santa!
Last Christmas I made a couple mixes of random Christmas songs. I like hearing my favorite songs song by different people all on one CD. And for decorating the tree, it's a family tradition to have Nat King Cole in the background.

[kwormann]

OOOhhhh, I LOVE the Chipmunks. I have 2 of the CD's!

I also have: The Boston Pops A Christmas Festival, Natalie Cole Holly and Ivy and Yuletide Strings .

My fav song is Oh Holy Night. I heard it several years ago done by a single horn. I have not been able to locate it to buy. Anyone?????? I would LOVE to find this!

[Jennifer D]

KValley -

I felt a bit guilty offering just the CD title for God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen (it can be seemingly impossible to track down one compilation in the vast sea of holiday CDs)

So I'm happy to say the CD is listed at Amazon.com - just in case you want any more info.

:)

[mrswaz]

Our favorites are Manneheim Steamroller, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and (a real oldie here) Sandler & Young's Christmas. I mostly prefer instrumental music at Christmas time, but every once in a while, a holiday CD from a variety of country musicians sneaks into my player.

[401krep]

The Nutcracker and absolutely anything from Nat King Cole

Vanessa

[Chiffonade]

My brother has a CD of music by the (gasp) Salsoul Orchestra where they do Christmas carols. I love the compilation CD's where rock stars do carols. Stevie Nicks doing Ave Maria is a particular riot. I love the novelty songs too - Alvin and the Chipmunks, et al. Barbara Streisand's Jingle Bells is wonderful in staccato style. I could listen to Nat King Cole croon any of the favorites.

I was very very very disappointed in the Christmas CD by Christina Aguilera. Now before you write me off as someone who knows nothing about music because I even gave Christina Aguilera consideration, her ability is without question - it's the material she sings that sucks. The way she used Christmas standards to show off her vibrato and range was downright abusive. The kid has talent - now if someone will dress her and give her something decent to sing - she could easily pick up where Whitney Houston left off.