So yesterday I found out that, unlike previous years, the very busy bookshop where I work will be playing Christmas music from now till 6pm, Christmas Eve. This is a Direct Order from our head office, and no matter how loudly I protest, cannot be changed (and believe you me, there were very loud protests)
I’ve thrown out the three Christmas CDs that the shop had (Destiny’s Child Christmas, the Christmas Reggae Remix and one ho-hum other) and I need to replace them, with something that won’t drive me crazy over this long hot month.
Specifically, I am looking for anything classic - simple arrangements, maybe a gospel choir (actually, a gospel choir would be lovely), and also something like ‘Tom Waits & Joni Mitchell Sing The Loneliest Christmas Ever’. Anything maudlin is good.
John Lennon’s Happy Christmas is banned, as is that Rudolph song with the kids. You know the one, starts off ‘Rudolph! Rudolph!’ in their happy little voices. Shudder.
I liked Charlotte Church’s Cristmas CD from a couple of years ago. (All except for her rendition of “Carol of the Bells” which she updated into a quick-paced and cheerful-sounding song.) Her voice really is incredible.
Some old Latin choral music might pass the test as “Christmassy” enough. It’s also classy and subtle-- good for a bookstore.
May I ask why you protested so loudly? Some Christmas music is among the most beautiful ever created. There is so much out there, and performed by so many different people, that you could play it 24/7 until the big day without repeating yourself, and without having to hear dogs bark “Jingle Bells”.
Although I don’t own any, check out Mannheim Steamroller.
Let me scratch my head for a day or two - I know some Can’t Miss discs.
I like Christmas music fine, I just hate pop remixs and that one that goes ‘it’s the MOST wonderful tiiiiime of the YEAR!’ Because after a twelve-hour shift, it just becomes cruely mocking. The cheap christmas compilations all feature twelve of a possible twenty songs - I know them all backwards and it’s a little bit more stress in an already busy time.
On amazon, you can search for “Christmas” and then “Narrow by Category” using the list on the left. It helped me weed out from among the huge selection in there!
I nominate December by the Moody Blues. They’ve taken some classics and redone them, and also some new ones. Many of the songs are more “Christmas themed” than “Christmas songs”. (I.e., they don’t beat you over the head with jingle bells, frosty, and santa.)
They do a remake of Lennon’s Happy Christmas, though…
Though it does include “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”, The Moody Blues December CD would be perfect. I think Jewel’s Joy: A Holiday Collection also fits the bill.
Here’s MY favorite Messiah. Less florid & overwrought than some versions. And considerably cheaper! www.amazon.ca/Messiah-Comp-George-Frideric-Handel/dp/B00000427H/sr=1-1/qid=1164994735/ref=pd_bowtega_1/702-6078470-1916010?ie=UTF8&s=music
“Light In the Stable” by Emmylou Harris is lovely. www.amazon.ca/Light-Stable-Expanded-Emmylou-Harris/dp/B000641Z3Q/sr=1-1/qid=1164995154/ref=sr_1_1/702-6078470-1916010?ie=UTF8&s=music
“Noel” by Joan Baez is another classic. www.amazon.ca/Noel-Joan-Baez/dp/B00005NF1E/sr=1-1/qid=1164995225/ref=sr_1_1/702-6078470-1916010?ie=UTF8&s=music
John Fahey’s spare acoustic guitar versions of Christmas tunes are incredibly wonderful. www.amazon.ca/New-Possibility-Faheys-Guitar-Christmas/dp/B00004W579/sr=1-1/qid=1164995417/ref=sr_1_1/702-6078470-1916010?ie=UTF8&s=music
“It’s Christmas Man” by Texas’s own nuclear polka band, Brave Combo, is less subtle–but quite amazing. (Most of their stuff is amazing.) www.amazon.ca/Its-Christmas-Man-Brave-Combo/dp/B0000003KD/sr=1-1/qid=1164995333/ref=sr_1_1/702-6078470-1916010?ie=UTF8&s=music
(I went with Amazon.ca, but Amazon.com also has samples in Windows Media, if you aren’t RealPlayer equipped.
