Listening to the Vandals’ Christmas album Oi! To the World today got me thinking - what artists/bands have released Christmas albums?
I can’ think of any off the top of my head (apart from the Vandals).
Barenaked Ladies released Barenaked Christmas last year. Elf’s Lament with Michael Bublé is a pretty good song, but the rest was generally meh.
Chicago’s album, 25, is a Christmas album.
Weezer released a two song Christmas single to their fanclub in 2000.
Chris Isaak released one last year and it’s actually pretty fun. Pretty hipster sounding stuff, a lot of classics (Rudolph, Blue Christmas) and some new Christmas originals (Washington Square, Christmas on TV). I recommend it if you like Chris Isaak, particularly his “Forever Blue” album.
Rotary Connection did one. It was notable for two versions of Silent Night; one version was complete silence.
I don’t know how wide a scope you wanted with “groups/artists.” I have over 40, and I just scratch the surface. Give me some boundaries, here.
The Moody Blues released December in 2003.
The Brian Setzer Orchestra has a couple, as does The Ventures and Harry Connick, Jr.
I really like the rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” on Jewel’s Joy: A Holiday Collection.
Damn near every artist has released a holiday album, probably for the extra $$$. Everyone from the classic crooners to the New Kids on the Block.
Country singers really love their Xmas albums!
Jon Anderson (the Yes singer): Three Ships
Beach Boys: Christmas with the Beach Boys
Keith Emerson: The Christmas Album
John Fahey: The New Possibility
Horslips: Drive the Cold Winter Away
Jethro Tull: Jethro Tull Christmas Album
The Roches: We Three Kings
The Beatles did special Christmas records for their fan club members.
The Squirrel Nut Zippers have one.
I don’t know that you would really call them a band…but Trans Siberian Orchestra has done several.
[Maxwell Smart]
Missed it by that much!
[/Maxwell Smart]
The Albion Band (At least two)
**Steeleye Span ** http://www.informatik.unihamburg.de/~zierke/steeleye.span/records/winter.html
Jethro Tull http://www.jethrotull.com/news/christmasalbum.cfm
Just a few random ones…
Low
Kiki & Herb
John Waters (though it’s a compilation of weird one-of songs)
Neil Diamond
The Muppets
The most valuable 45 in the world is an Elvis Christmas single. A limited-pressing of Blue Christmas, IIRC. $15,000 each–if you can find one.
The Reverend Horton Heat just came out with one
Los Straightjackets have an awesome surf guitar instrumental one
Way, way, wwwwaaayyyyy too many…