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Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 18th, 2009, 6:02 pm
by Nathan Bransford
I'm one of those people who actually likes Christmas music. I know that this kind of crazy, what with being besieged with holiday spirit everywhere you go, but I can't get enough of it.

As a result I've become something of a connoisseur (which is a nice word for snob). Don't get me started on Little Drummer Boy!!

Here, in my opinion, are the top 5 Christmas Albums of all time:

1. Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album - I mean, obviously. There are so many classic songs here and not many duds in the bunch, but the two that really stand out are "Blue Christmas" and "Santa Bring My Baby (Back to Me)." Elvis dominates the field. It's not even close.

2. Dean Martin - Making Spirits Bright - Very memorable not only for the best version of "Marshmallow World," but Martin really makes this album because of his truly bizarre personality, whether it's giving Santa a German accent in "Rudolph" or sounding tremendously creepy in "Baby It's Cold Outside."

3. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song - This one is a little long and there are some duds, but no one sings "O Holy Night" and "The Christmas Song" better than Nat King Cole. Bonus weirdness: Nat singing O Tannenbaum. In German.

4. Frank Sinatra - The Christmas Collection - This one is kind of all over the place, but it has some classic duets with Bing Crosby and a truly strange version of "12 Days of Christmas." Frank always brings it, and his version of "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" is a classic.

5. Aaron Neville - Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas - Okay, mainly because I have a soft spot for Aaron Neville. Still, gotta love his version of "Please Come Home For Christmas" and my personal favorite version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem." It's not Christmas without Aaron Neville.

What are your favorites?

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 18th, 2009, 6:30 pm
by SarahW
Making Spirits Bright is one of my favorite Christmas albums (Dino makes any list on which I can logically put him). I will agree with the odd vibe in "Baby it's Cold Outside"--I always wonder if she'll be found in the spring when the snowman melts . . .

My parents surprised me last year with a CD copy of their original, vinyl Howard Keel Christmas album, which I'm surprised isn't completely worn out by now. Unfortunately, I don't have a title for it, as Dad just wrote "Keel--Christmas" on the disc. It's the one with "Go Tell it on the Moutain." That man all but ruined me for tenors . . .

A Jim Neighbor's Christmas is also on my list. Forget Gomer Pyle--the man could sing. Surprise, surprise . . . yeah, never mind, too easy.

To seriously switch generations, Trout Fishing in America's Merry Fishes to All seriously rocks for those of us who still kinda believe Santa might make an age exception or two if we're really, really good. "Cheese log" is fantastic, as is the Twelve Cats of Christmas, which is actually easier to memorize under the influence of eggnog.

And I have to include Mannheim Steamroller Fresh Aire Christmas for even more subjective reasons. The music is wonderful, but the memories of a certain concert (and my escort) are even better.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 18th, 2009, 7:02 pm
by Cate Hart
Top of my list is Harry Connick Jr's When My Heart Finds Christmas
Then Amy Grant's Tennessee Christmas (have to love the hometown girl)
And finally, I love Enya's Christmas album that was just released.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 18th, 2009, 7:38 pm
by Terry Towery
"A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Specter." Anything with Ronnie Specter's voice on it is worth owning.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 18th, 2009, 9:23 pm
by trini
I only have one. Go Tell It On The Mountain by The Blind Boys of Alabama...sublime. Clicky

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 19th, 2009, 5:18 pm
by Demosthenes
Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 19th, 2009, 7:41 pm
by Donna Hole
When I was little my mom listed to The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I'm not mormon, or religeous at all for that matter, those were always my favorites. Still are. But I like Christmas songs, and I'm not at all embarrassed by it.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 20th, 2009, 5:39 pm
by Emily White
I'm about to be made fun of, but my favorite Christmas albums are:

The Disney Christmas--the one with Mickey and the chipmunks, et al. Love it!

and

The Hanson album, Snowed In. I am by no means a fan of Hanson, but their O Holy Night/O Come All Ye Faithful/Silent Night medley is amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVQDYnsDdCo

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 20th, 2009, 6:54 pm
by Mira
I love Christmas music! :)

With the one exception of the 12 nights of Christmas, which has to be the most boring song in existence. Drives me crazy.

I don't have any of these albums yet, I tend to just listen to the radio. But here is who I like:

a. The Carpenters. Karen Carpenter's voice is rich and gorgeous, and it's perfect for Christmas.
b. Celtic Women. They just did a holiday special. Stunning voices.
c. For men's voice, you can't go wrong with Bing Crosby, if you can get past the old time arrangments. And Nat King Cole, but he's been mentioned.

Nathan, you may know this, but did you know that KOIT plays 24/7 Christmas music from Thanksgiving to Christmas? 96.5 FM.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 22nd, 2009, 10:59 am
by Marla Warren
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve and Other Stories

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Christmas Attic

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve

Celtic Woman - A Christmas Celebration

The Three Tenors at Christmas

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 24th, 2009, 6:39 pm
by Bryan Russell/Ink
Okay, I admit it, I like the Little Drummer Boy. Pa rum pa pum pum.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 29th, 2009, 9:18 pm
by marilyn peake
I love Christmas music! Some of my favorite Christmas albums are by Loreena McKennitt, Josh Groban, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller ... and Perry Como because my grandfather used to play his music every Christmas when I was little.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 30th, 2009, 4:19 am
by knight_tour
I have tried many Christmas albums and been disappointed with most. I like some of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The two albums I love the most are:

1. The first Carpenters Christmas album (definately not the second)
2. The John Denver with the muppets Christmas album

There are a few individual songs I really love, such as the version of Jingle Bell Rock that was in the Lethal Weapon movie, and the O Holy Night version in Home Alone.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: December 30th, 2009, 9:15 am
by taylormillgirl
Bing Crosby all the way!

When I was a little girl, my mother would play her Bing Crosby Christmas record after dinner each Thanksgiving. It marked the beginning of the Christmas season in our home, and I was always so excited to kick it off. To this day, Bing is my favorite Christmas carol singer- not just because his voice is so smooth and clear, but because he brings back so many happy memories.

Re: Top 5 Favorite Christmas Albums?

Posted: January 1st, 2010, 9:03 am
by ted2112
I am a huge Dylan fan and bought his Christmas from the heart album. It's worth a listen if your a fan. Even if your not it's kind of funny to hear Bob's tradmark hoarse voice draging his way through I'll be home for Christmas, even if it does sound like a threat rather than a promice!