Along with all the3 schmaltzy standards I've stumbled across what I feel are two new/old gems.

1) Louis Armstrong & Friends - What a Wonderful Christmas
0n Hip-O, # 40065
Favorite Cut - Cool Yule with Satchmo & The Commodores
Friends include Eartha Kitt (Catwoman) doing "Santa Baby",
Mel Tourme doing "The Christmas Song" (hey, he wrote it!),
Duke Ellington, Lena Horn, Louis Jordan & more.

2) Ella (Fitzgerald) Wishes You a Swinging Christmas
Verve, # 827 150-2
W/ Frank De Vol Orchestra, Produced by Norman Granz
Yer basic lush, lovely Ella and sedately swinging backup...

Markw, wishing you the best from scenic New Jersey...

Well, my all-time favorite is probably "The Life Christmas Record" from the early 1960's (companion to a series of books from Life magazine... imagine that). It's a wonderful blend of ancient chants and more modern music from all over Europe as well as Canada's first Christmas carol (The "Huron Indian Carol") all sung in English by a small chorus with sparse accompaniment. Very nice.

My "modern" favorite is Bruce Cockburn's "Christmas" (Columbia, 1993). This is a really, really refreshing and beautiful collection of Christmas songs played, sung, and arranged in Cockburn's inimitable style. Sounds great, too. I cannot say enough good things about this one.

The four I played the most this year:

Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Gator Records Christmas Collection (blues at its best)

Leon Redbone - Christmas Island

Jimmy Buffet - Christmas Island

I also have a few Christmas compilations I've made, and they got a lot of spins too.

JDaniel

I picked up few holiday music CDs this year, including "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (brings back tons of childhood memories), but the comps JDaniel made were the most played around here. Had several folks ask where they could buy a copy! :D

-Dave

Father Christmas by the Kinks: Cynical with a message, Ray Davies can write a good tune.

The Lennon number still moves me as well.