# The Perfect Christmas Album **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728 "2004-11-08T22:02:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/21 "2004-11-09T04:43:22Z")
‘Father Christmas’ - The Kinks. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/22 "2004-11-09T04:53:15Z")
I like _Carol of the Bells_ done by a boys’ choir and Sinatra’s version of _Christmas Waltz_. Barbara Streisand did a version of _I Wondered as I Wandered_ that is fantastic. If you like jazz at all, Chet Baker has an instrumental of _Silent Night_ that is really special. Top it off with Ray Charles and _Winter Wonderland_. I concur that Judy Garland’s _Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas_ is the only way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/23 "2004-11-09T08:16:07Z")
Fairytale Of New York, by The Pogues. Best Christmas song ever written, especially after a few drinks. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/24 "2004-11-09T08:26:13Z")
As far as _Have Yourself a Merry little Christmas_ goes, the tops IMO is the recording done by **John Denver** and **Rowlf the Dog**. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/25 "2004-11-09T08:33:04Z")
“Christmas In Hollis” – Run-DMC ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/26 "2004-11-09T13:10:30Z")
For a twist on the traditional, try Mel Torme’s version of _Good King Wenceslas_. Nice jazzy beat and…scatting! Although I think that Judy Garland’s version of _Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas_ is the definitive one, I also like Ella Fitzgerald’s rendition. And you can never go wrong with _Christmas Blues_ by Dean Martin. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/27 "2004-11-09T13:22:19Z")
Baby, It’s Cold Outside–Nothing beats Liza & Alan Cummings on the “Home for the Holidays” CD. Santa Baby–Jane Krakowski on the same CD. Rudolph–How can that NOT be Burl Ives’s version? The 12 Days of Christmas–John Denver and the Muppets (badump dump). There’s a marvelous CD called “A Broadway Christmas” that has some great classicals and some less known Christmas songs (I Don’t Remember Christmas is my personal favorite). ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/28 "2004-11-09T14:33:50Z")
Two words: Rosemary Clooney. It doesn’t matter which songs (though I’m preferential to _Let It Snow_ and _White Christmas_) just get yourself some Clooney. Seriously. It isn’t Christmas without Clooney. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/29 "2004-11-09T14:55:23Z")
The Vandals version of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies is _awesome_. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/30 "2004-11-09T15:06:49Z")
So is the Vandals song “Christmas time for my Penis” ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/31 "2004-11-09T16:14:31Z")
For a little something different, I love “_ **Old Toy Trains** _” by Roger Miller (the \*King of the Road \* guy). Great song. Also _**Santa’s Gone (Milk 'n Cookies)**_ by Clint Black, and \*\*\*Christmas \*\* \* by Blues Traveler But really, you \*have \* to have \*\*\*Please Celebrate Me Home \*\* \* (Kenny Loggins or Al Jarreau). ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/32 "2004-11-09T16:37:36Z")
Like the OP, I’m a traditionalist where Christmas music is concerned; I don’t like anything too snarky or hip-clever. That said, I still think the single best compilation CD you can buy is probaby [Croon and Swoon: A Classic Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000ADAW/qid=1100018374/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-4192830-2883215?v=glance&s=music). Has a lot of the classics: Lena Horne’s “Let It Snow,” Johnny Mathis’ “Winter Wonderland,” Perry Como’s “No Place Like Home for the Holidays,” Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (don’t listen to that one if you have a lot of pills or a loaded gun in the house). I would supplement this album with: “Merry Christmas,” Johnny Mathis (still his best XMas album) “If Every Day Were Like Christmas,” Elvis “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Vince Guaraldi “A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra,” the Chairman himself That covers most of your classics right there. I’ll leave the oddball stuff to others. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/33 "2004-11-09T16:46:02Z")
Ok. Great suggestions. My album so far **Blue Christmas- Elvis Presley Feliz Navidad- Jose Feliciano Frosty the Snowman- Burl Ives Hannukah Song- Adam Sandler (diversity and all) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas- Judy Garland It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year- Andy Williams Jingle Bell Rock- Bobby Helms Joy to the World- Frank Sinatra and Friends Let It Snow, Let It Snow- Frank Sinatra Mele Kalikimaka- Bing Crosby O Come All Ye Faithful- Jim Nabors O Holy Night- Jim Nabors Rocking Around the Christmas Tree- Brenda Lee Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer- Gene Autry Silent Knight- Bing Crosby The Christmas Song- Nat King Cole The Little Drummer Boy- Harry Simeone Chorale Please Come Home For Christmas- The Eagles** Trying to Track Down \*\*Happy XMas (War is Over) \*\*- John Lennon Undecided \*\*Winter Wonderland[b/]- Will look at Mathis **Do You Hear What I Hear?** - Looking a Nabors, but I getting “Gomer” heavy. **It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas** - Como? **Jingle Bells** - I will look into the Count Basie Orchestra **Silver Bells** - Bing? A neccessary song, but Bing croons a bit too much. **I’ll Be Home For Christmas** - Lou Rawls? I also think I need to listen to some more Nat King Cole samples. His versions go down easy. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/34 "2004-11-09T16:46:15Z")
You also might want to look at [The Carpenters’ Christmas Collection](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000007XUQ/102-6408473-3964932?v=glance). \*\*\*Merry Christmas, Darling \*\* \* has always been one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/35 "2004-11-09T16:48:35Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald I like the mambo version by someone, Billy May? So many things to reply to. This is, of course, a sign that I think waaaaay too much about Christmas music. **DeVena** , I didn’t know Roger Miller did a version of “Old Toy Trains.” It’s a really nice song, and I’m a fan of Roger Miller, so I’ll have to find it. **Southpaw** , I love that Torme version of Wenceslas, though his Christmas version of “Glow Worm” is the one that always sticks in my head like taffy. I used to have a brass choir version of Wenceslas that I loved, too, but I can’t find it and don’t know who it was. _sob_ **Zoe** , I, too, like Streisand’s version of “I Wondered as I Wandered,” though I’m a bigger fan of Mahalia Jackson’s. Have you heard it? **coven** , I’m convinced. I’ll check it out. My husband will not thank you for feeding my Christmas music addiction. 😃 **kaylasdad99** , you say Der Bingle, I say the Bingster. Instead of calling the whole thing off, we’ll swap Christmas music. I love Rockapella so I bet I’d love their “Silver Bells.” ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/36 "2004-11-09T17:00:54Z")
> [@watsonwil](#): > > **Jingle Bells** - I will look into the Count Basie Orchestra Check out Frank’s version. I’ve never liked this song 'til I heard his recording. “I love those J-I-N-G-L-E Bells!” > [@](#): > > **Silver Bells** - Bing? A neccessary song, but Bing croons a bit too much. Check out Ray Conniff’s version; it’s available on the album I mentioned in my first post. ---
**Author:** ![arjee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@arjee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arjee)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/37 "2004-11-09T18:08:05Z")
**Please** check out \*God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen \* by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan! You won’t be sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728/38 "2004-11-09T19:21:49Z")
From _A Christmas Gift for You_ from Phil Spector: White Christmas - Darlene Love Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Crystals Frosty the Snowman - The Ronettes Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Ronettes This album has some of the best version of these songs. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders Kidnap the Sandy Claus, What’s This?, and Making Christmas - Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack It’s Christmas Charlie Brown (the whole CD) - The Vince Guaraldi Trio [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-christmas-album/273728.md?page=1)