# Best Christmas Songs/Singers
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [November 30, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997 "2003-11-30T00:50:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/1 "2003-11-30T00:50:21Z")
Hey y’all
With Christmas approaching its become my yearly tradition to compile mp3s for my mom and dad’s holiday enjoyment but I’ve always had trouble tracking down the good/unique songs from the humdrum or downright BAD stuff. What I’m asking for here are suggestions for tunes that are beautifully done, somewhat eccentric, just plain nice, or all of the above. If you’re going to recommend one just remember to attach the artist doing it. Reasons are optional and allowed to be vague 🙂
Thanks for your help!
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### Author:  [@Skwerl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skwerl)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/2 "2003-11-30T02:36:01Z")
I guess I should be embarassed to say this, but I think Amy Grant’s done some good Christmas work, especially her first Christmas album. (Which, creatively enough, is called “A Christmas Album” I believe.)
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### Author:  [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/3 "2003-11-30T02:40:24Z")
I’m partial to the cover of “Blue Christmas” done lasy year by Bright Eyes (Conor Oberst). His mopiness is put to good use and it doesn’t have the annoying backup singers of Elvis’s original.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/4 "2003-11-30T02:42:42Z")
[Merry Christmas - Johnny Mathis](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000C8AWT/qid=1070160096/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-1966401-1283058)
Still sounds great after 45 years!
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/5 "2003-11-30T02:45:13Z")
“Christmas Time is Here” by David Benoit
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/6 "2003-11-30T03:50:36Z")
**Priam** , you might want to take a look in the [Christmas Music](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=222448&highlight=christmas+washington) thread.
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### Author:  [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/7 "2003-11-30T06:16:44Z")
The absolute best recording of a Christmas song ever is:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas as performed by Rowlf the Dog and John Denver.
No, seriously.
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### Author:  [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/8 "2003-11-30T14:51:56Z")
I like Harry Connick Jr.'s Christmas CDs.
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### Author:  [@shannablu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shannablu)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/9 "2003-11-30T16:31:41Z")
I always liked: John Lennon - So This is Christmas, Michael W. Smith - Mary Did You Know, Jars of Clay - Little Drummer Boy, and a version of Holly Jolly Christmas by the Violent Femmes which no one will ever hear because they only did it once, live during a concert in San Francisco.
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### Author:  [@Fox\_in\_the\_Snow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fox_in_the_Snow)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/10 "2003-11-30T21:07:07Z")
Christmas Wrapping by the Waitress is one of the few Christmas songs I can stand. It’s rather sassy which I like.
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### Author:  [@ECJones29](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ECJones29)
#### Post date: [November 30, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/11 "2003-11-30T23:00:50Z")
Showing my age, but I still love all of Andy Williams’ Christmas music. He recorded a lot more than “It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” needless to say. He just says Christmas to me, and I have been very happy to see him as a surprise guest on Letterman in recent years.
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### Author:  [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/12 "2003-12-01T01:43:13Z")
Waaaaaay back when, gasoline stations and tire manufacturers had annual Christmas albums (black vinyl analog discs) available for free if you bought a full tank of gas or whatever; I have several of these “Firestone presents your Christmas Favorites, volume 3” etc, they are actually pretty good. These, and the classic carols and songs - Andy Williams, Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, etc - those seem to be the favorites for those of a certain age group at least.
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### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/13 "2003-12-01T06:37:40Z")
[Christmas Eve and other stories](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002JX6/qid=1070259971/sr=8-1/ref=__1/103-4618187-9944661?v=glance&s=music) by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
You may have heard one cut from this album on the radio called Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)
Besides some wonderful music the entire album weaves a story.
There are two versions of this CD out there, one with liner notes and one where the liner notes are spoken on the CD. If you buy the one with just the liner notes, make sure you read them so that you will understand the story.
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### Author:  [@cedric45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cedric45)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/14 "2003-12-01T15:40:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Priam \*
> **_snip_ but I’ve always had trouble tracking down the good/unique songs from the humdrum or downright BAD stuff. What I’m asking for here are suggestions for tunes that are beautifully done, somewhat eccentric, just plain nice, or all of the above. _snip_**
Try this. I’m repeating my post from another thread, ok?
You’d like “Ribbons and Pine” by brother and sister team Gene & Cher Klosner. [www.ocp.org/en/products/music/11189.php](http://www.ocp.org/en/products/music/11189.php)
Seldom heard Christmas songs, a few traditional regulars and original beauties.
The thoughtful lyrics of Gene’s “First Snow” really make me think about what Christmas is all about.
The story in Cher’s “All I’ll Ask This Christmas” touch me without being too sappy and really make me think about what Christrmas is all about too!
Cher’s “The Second Sunday of December”… homesickness distilled to its essence.
The next to last track, Braham’s Lullaby/Silent Night with a scripture narritive from Luke over the first half… well, if this doesn’t move someone’s heart they are dead, dead, dead!
(uh… you can skip “Wind Through the Olive Trees” it’s actually painful!)
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### Author:  [@gooti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gooti)
#### Post date: [December 1, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-songs-singers/215997/15 "2003-12-01T17:59:56Z")
One of my favorites has always been _The Little Drummer Boy_ duet by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. I’ve always thought this was a wonderful arrangement, especially with Bowie’s solo in the middle. It may be a bit hard to find, tho.