WHAT ARE THE BEST CHRISTMAS ALBUMS?
MY FAVORITE
CHARLES BROWN - COOL CHRISTMAS BLUES
:thmbsp:

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a favorite of mine, as is A Very Special Acoustic Christmas (Sam Bush, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Tift Merritt are just a few of the artists appearing on this disk).

Some of the best Christmas disks I have are comps that I'm lucky enough to recieve from a great friend. :yes:

-Dave

My three favs are (1)Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas, (2)The Alligator Records Christmas Collection (lots of blues greats - KoKo Taylor, Tinsley Ellis, Charlie Musselwhite etc.), and (3) Charlie Daniels - Christmas Time Down South.

I'm not familiar with the Acoustic Christmas disc Dave, but you know I like everyone in that lineup. I may have to check it out this year. As if I don't have enough cds and lps in the house, I counted yesterday, and have 21 Christmas cds and three lps. Yikes.

JD

Bruce Cockburn "Christmas"
Stevan Pasero "Christmas Classics for Guitar"
"The Life Christmas Record"

honorable mention:
Giselle MacKenzie "Christmas with Giselle" :-)

A John Prine Christmas :thmbsp:

Mantovanis' Christmas
Statler Brothers' Christmas
Christmas at Kings'

Pete

A John Prine Christmas :thmbsp:

I've never heard this, but it sounds good. I like John Prine.

If you like jazz, it doesn't get any better than Wynton Marsalis. His Christmas recording is called "Cresent City Christmas" and is played in a ragtime style that makes for good listening, and fits the holiday mood.

Lots of great stuff getting listed here. I may have to do a little shopping this weekend :yes:

-Dave

Booker T & The MG's "In The Christmas Spirit" - great R&B instrumentals

Jimmy Smith "Christmas Cookin'" - the godfather of jazz organ gets his holiday groove on

Ron Eschete "Christmas Impressions" - VERY tasty jazz guitar

The first Mannheim Steamroller "Christmas" album - lovely music and a sonic treat

Various Artists "Soul Christmas" - both Otis Redding Christmas sides are on this CD, and it's worth the price of admission for those alone (Merry Christmas Baby and White Christmas.) Otis's painful "White Christmas" makes the hair on my neck stand up.

George Winston "December" - have this on vinyl, great to relax to

Al Di Meola "Winter Nights" - really interesting CD

Various Artists "Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas" (Verve) - nice compilation, some hokey turkeys, some jaw-droppers including Oscar Peterson's pensive and gorgeous "A Child Is Born", a solo piano piece that opens the CD. Also has a free-jazz take on We Three Kings "We Free Kings" by the amazing Rhasaan Roland Kirk. Has the obligatory Mel Torme recording of Christmas Song (he wrote it, and IMHO his version is superior to Nat King Cole's reading of it) and "The Secret Of Christmas" by Ella Fitzgerald. Classic.

Ho ho ho,

TP

Never heard that jimmy smith. gonna have to look for it.

Its a D&D thing.

Come on Russ we know your a close D&D geek. Lets see a pic of you in your gandolf hat :yikes: :D

Come on... No one has listed Alvin and the chipmonks Xmas album? :banana:

:D

How about the 4 season's and Frankie Valie singing "I saw Momma kissing Santa claus" :yikes:

"Twisted Christmas" by the Bob Rivers Comedy Corps. Came out about 20 years ago-God, has it been that long ?!? Anyway, has that "Wreck the Malls" song a lot of naughty DJs play around this time of year."Wreck the malls w/my friend Charlie/Ride thru K-Mart on his Harley/Acting in an uncouth manner/Drop yr pants & moon that Santa........"-Sandy G.

I bought this CD at Big Lots years back and it remains a favorite, featuring a good number of original songs to go with some "classics":

A Different Kind of Christmas (1994) Sony Music Special Products
1) Syd Straw > Christmas Twist
2) Shonen Knife > Space Christmas
3) NRBQ > A Christmas Wish
4) Bruce Cockburn > Mary Had a Baby
5) Home for the Holidays > The dBs
6) Ice > Shelleyan Orphan
7) It's a Wonderful Life (Gonna Have a Good Time) > Fishbone
8) Mele Kalikimaka > Poi Dog Pondering with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
9) God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen > T-Bone Burnett
10) All I Want for Christmas > Timbuk 3
11) Run, Rudolph, Run > Dave Edmunds
12) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas > Shawn Colvin

I also have a CD single of The Smithereens covering "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" based on the Cadillacs version, which is great fun -- Foe

the best christmas albums?

there are none. it is not possible. the only thing that can be done with christmas music is avoid it as much as possible.

shrinkboy

believe it or not there are a few tolerable christmas albums. you may be forced to listed to some christmas music and if you have the "good" stuff with you, then you may be spared and actually listen to good musicians... try
1. Charles Brown's - Cool Chrismas Blues (this is not Charlie Brown comic, this is real blues)
2. A John Prine Christmas

if these dont work for you, then change your username to ebeneezer
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

Almost forgot: Nat "King" Cole ~ The Christmas Song, the original collection from the late 50s. A classic that's hard to top.

Also need to mention "Green Christma$" by my hero, Stan Freberg. A classic condemnation of the commercialization of Christmas, from back when it wasn't nearly as bad as now -- Foe

there are none. it is not possible. the only thing that can be done with christmas music is avoid it as much as possible.

Try Bruce Cockburn's "Christmas" and see if you still feel that way. Granted, you might, but then again...

I went out and bought the Charlie Brown Christmas CD after reading this thread. It brings back memories of Xmas' past. It was worth every nickel I spent too. As for shrinkboy, I hope Santa leaves a big lump of reindeer turds in your stocking. :yes:


Mike

There is only 1 Christmas song worth listening to: Bing Crosby & David Bowie's version of "Little Drummer Boy."

"Memorabilia Navidena", Watermelon Records, PO Box 402088, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 448-1591, 1971. (no, I don't work for Tish or Watermelon, just love the album)

Wonderful Spanish/English Christmas music! Not the traditional stuff that starts to sound sappy.

'Christmas Portrait, San Antonio, 1957-64. Cuquita's kitchen, steamy, the tamale assembly line: any house member or recruited visitor with hands big enough to hold a corn shuck for spreading masa on. Some for sale, some for consumption. Andy Williams on the hi-fi, Tia Nieves' freshly starched hand crocheted doilies swaying to the holiday season. "Arbolito," (the little Christmas tree), his head bent with cock-eyed star atop, embracing the scene, straining to hear the whisper of a child's wonder, chuckling at his attire.'

Just about every Sal Army has this Lp. I finally gave in and got one. Not your typical Mitch Miller stuff. It was very traditional. Just a chorus singing Christmas carols. It took me three tries to find a decent copy. I make a Christmas CD in place of Christmas cards. This year I used a lot of this music on my 2004 edition. A blank Cd is cheaper than a card and is not as likely to get tossed out.

Vintage, my master tape for above is done. Now I have to make copies for my friends. Will try to get yours out next week....Eric :thmbsp:

There is only 1 Christmas song worth listening to: Bing Crosby & David Bowie's version of "Little Drummer Boy."

That is a good one, especially the counterpoint between "LDB" and "Peace on Earth". One of Der Bingle's last (if not the last) TV specials. Wonder if he had any clue as to who Bowie was? BTW, Bing was the father of modern (i.e., magnetic tape) studio recording in the US. See http://www.kcmetro.edu/~crosby/mullin.htm
http://history.acusd.edu/gen/recording/derbingle.html

I have that recording on a funky CD sampler called "The Edge of Christmas"... which I got because it also contained my very, VERY favorite "rock" (for lack of a better word) Christmas song: "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses. I LUV that song!

1) Phil Spector's Christmas Album original pressing '63, reissue in '81: The Crystals, The Ronettes, Darlene Love

2) The Beach Boys' Christmas Album: Little Saint Nick!

I LOVE that "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses. I also like their other "hit"-"I Know What Boys Like"-remember that one? -Sandy G.

I LOVE that "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses. I also like their other "hit"-"I Know What Boys Like"-remember that one? -Sandy G.

I know what boys like
I know what guys want
I know what boys like
Boys like me

THey don't write 'em like that no more!

I remember "I Know What Boys Like" being in a movie around that time-was it "Up the Academy" or something like that? I remember a VERY fat chick w/her top off, looking extremely uncomfortable. They also played Nilson's "You're Breakin my Heart" in this movie. I remember seeing it come on when I was at a party once, w/a bunch of high-skule kids, & they were astounded that this totally uncool, 25 yr old knew the words to that song. Will wonder never cease....-Sandy G.

Nothing beats the Carpenters for Christmas Carols.

I see a newer double CD set at Amazon.

These are my favorite vinyls.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000002GHQ.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

and

Johnny Mathis - give me your love for christmas, 1958

I like the Mel Torme Christmas CD (I think it's called "Christmas Songs") that came out about 15 years ago on Telarc. I think it may be Mel's only Christmas album, and possibly even his only recorded version of his "Christmas Song?" Somebody correct me if I'm wrong there. :dunno: Anyway, that record positively SWINGS, baby.

I'm not a huge fan of most Christmas music; most of it seems to be shoveled out by artists just trying to cash in on the season. But there are a few albums that push my nostalgia button big time. When I was a kid, my parents had a collection of old records that was 90% Christmas albums. Pop standards like Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Andy Williams, Perry Como, Jo Stafford, etc. I still like to listen to that stuff.

Another one that gives me a lot of warm fuzzy feelings from my childhood is "Rocky Mountain Christmas" by John Denver. I was about 4 years old when that came out, and not a Christmas has gone by since then that I haven't played it to death. I just love most of the musical arrangements on this album. Anybody remember the TV special that went along with that album? The one with the giant plastic bubble on the side of the snowy mountain? Geez, I'm ashamed to admit it, but I spent decent money for a bootleg VHS copy of this thing several years ago. It has Steve Martin, Olivia Newton John, and Valerie Harper on it. And my kids absolutely love "John Denver & The Muppets - A Christmas Together."

I know it's been mentioned several times, but it's hard to beat the Vince Guaraldi soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas. That show is, without a doubt, my favorite 1/2 hour of TV of all time. I have to see it at least 3 times every Christmas to get enough. And it's so much better now that I can share it with my kids.

Bruce Cockburn.....great sound quality too.

I also enjoy the little Drummer boy by Bing and bowie.

Wonder how they got Bowie to behave long enuff to do that show? -Sandy G.

"Mary had a baby, ahh Lord
Mary had a baby, oh, my Lord
Mary had a baby, my Lord
People keep coming but the train has gone!"

Bruce's droll liner notes are a treat, too... and yes, it sounds fabulous. Classic SE triode amp 'n' horns stuff. Plus, he's a great guitarist, and opens and closes the album with beautiful little carols on solo acoustic guitar.

Boney M , Excellent,Theey do a cover of Mary's Boy Child

I have a question though in most songs and as the stories go Christ had no crib for a bed.I may be wrong,but wasn't Joseph a carpenter?Maybe he was unionized??

Alan

Although I do enjoy Chip's stuff, there really is only ONE and no, not even Shrinkboy can resist it, I cant believe its prolly been over 35 years now, If You dont have this, run, dont walk to the store and get it immediately, there is no comparison, and it is the all time best Christmas album that could EVER be produced. OK, so I guess You know how I feel. I cant believe no one has mentioned it.
Timeless,
Ageless,
Untouchable.

The Ventures Christmas.

Now lets all hit the surf after a good dose of rum and egg-nog!!!!

1. The Jethro Tull Christmas Album..(love this one)
2. John Fahey's "A New Possibility" solo guitar

Holly Cole's Christmas Album is very nice. Happy songs and some sad ones as well.

Chet Atkins - Christmas with Chet Atkins. Hard to find, but WORTH IT. Best on vinyl...someone came out with a CD reissue (Rhino?) but you can hear the wow of the tape starting up on certain tracks. Even so, even with the wow, BUY IT. If you're a guitar player, you'll absolutely love it. If youre not a guitar player, you'll still love it.

I also like the following:

Brian Setzer's xmas album
Charlie Brown Xmas, Vince Guaraldi Trio
A Music Box Christmas, I think it's Columbia Special Products...from a person named "Ford"s collection of music boxes.
To Wish You A Merry Christmas - Harry Belafonte


And, if you buy all the available "A Very Special Xmas" cd's and edit out the CRAP and make your own one or two CD's out of all of them, it's very good.

Boney M , Excellent,Theey do a cover of Mary's Boy Child

I have a question though in most songs and as the stories go Christ had no crib for a bed.I may be wrong,but wasn't Joseph a carpenter?Maybe he was unionized??

Alan

Unionized? lol Better be careful they'll send someone to break your legs! Particularly the carpenters - that Brotherhood is the wildest. :D

Jesus had no crib 'cause they weren't at home, he was born on the road, so to speak.

BTW, I haven't seen mention of Handels' Messiah, does anyone have any rec'd versions? I've got about 3-4 versions but am not happy, there has GOT to be better.

Pete

The Moody Blues- December (2003 CD). Highly recommended...

I myself like this little Recording - Nowell on Sampler Records from Rochester, NY. It is traditional folk music using a dulcimer, harp, and flute. Great stuff!!!

Dave

BTW, I haven't seen mention of Handels' Messiah, does anyone have any rec'd versions? I've got about 3-4 versions but am not happy, there has GOT to be better.


I have a bunch, but wouldn't especially recommend any. Best to hear this one live, IMO. Even better to sing it!

There WAS a thread on good Messiahs at AA not too long ago that's probably worth your attention.

Thanks, m!

I'll check out that AA thread.

The last time I *tried* to sing it the neighbors moved. They just don't appreciate good music!

Pete

how about the old classic: "Grandma got run over by a raindeer!" or AC/DC : "I want a mistress for christmas" LOL there are some classics out there. how about good christmas music for the high rez formats. aix all stars surrounded by christmas is awesome music if you like jazz. if you dont like jazz its just plain awesome sound. i will pass on anything with Barry manilow though arrggg too cheesy. does anyone have the manheim steamroller on dvda?

most importantly the transiberian orchestra as im going to see them this evening at the seagate center in toledo.

Sanyofreak has a point.

The Ventures Christmas Album is outstanding.

My favorite used to be "Sleigh Ride," an energetic rendition to say the least.

But my top track now is the beautiful rendition of "Silver Bells." Those guitars never rang out truer. Beautiful.

Will post more later.

I haven't bought it yet, but apparently this is NOT your mothers Xmas music. Trans-Siberian Orchestra has just released the third opera in their trilogy entitled " THe Lost Christmas Eve". If anyone has this I'd love to hear their opinion.

Mike

I was wondering when someone would get around to mentioning the Trans-Siberian Orchestra ones...

Amy Grant's first couple of Christmas albums ("A Christmas Wish", I think?)

Vince Giraldi Trio

As much as I hate to admit it, The Carpenters Christmas Album :sigh:

Another, wish it weren't so one, the Time Life Treasury of Christmas songs.

Kathy Mattea's Christmas album

Nat King Cole's The Christmas Story

Most of the Manheim Steamroller Christmas albums.

A Cartoon Christmas (a Nickelodeon collection CD) - great stuff!