My current favorites are the Reindeer Room series of CDs. Downtempo versions of the classics.
And then, there’s this one, incorporating those cute chipmunks.
Trust me!
Wait for it!
Q
If, like me, you think that traditional carols sound awesome when coming from a brass ensemble, you’ll like A Festival of Carols in Brass, by the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble.
(The only flaw in this album was including 12 Days of Christmas. The only thing more boring and repetitive than a vocal arrangement of 12 Days, is an instrumental arrangement of 12 Days.)
Another vote for Spector’s Christmas gift! Between Hal Blain’s drumming on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and Leon Russell’s piano on “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” (listen to Russell’s crescendo toward the end of the song. Spector ran from the control room and gave Leon a $100 bonus on the spot!), I NEVER get tired of this album. Sure, he turned creepy (or creepier) later, but at the time this record was made, Spector was at the top of his game, and the “Wall of Sound” was never better!
I like how Spector’s arrangement of Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town has become the de facto rock arrangment (eg, Bruce Springsteen).
ba-da-boom ba-da-boom… SAN-ta claus is comin’ to town…ba-da-boom ba-da-boom