# The Unofficial Christmas Music Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094 "2005-11-21T16:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/1 "2005-11-21T16:38:46Z")
I am on a quest for some Really Good Holiday Music. What is your favorite CD or holiday song? Points awarded for links. ---
**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 21, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/2 "2005-11-21T16:43:01Z")
It does not get any better than [Broadway Cares: Carols for a Cure](http://store.yahoo.com/broadwaycares/holiday-holidaycd.html) ---
**Author:** ![Nimue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Nimue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nimue)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/3 "2005-11-21T17:15:19Z")
I’ve always enjoyed [The Little Drummer Boy](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001F93/ref=ord_cart_shr/103-9136042-9267034?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance) by the Harry Simeone Chorale. The vinyl is skipping so badly these days that this year I’m finally going to buy it on cd! ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/4 "2005-11-21T18:44:20Z")
The four Christmas albums I would recommend (that are still in print): 1. Time-Life Records, [The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005NOZH/103-5018250-2255038?v=glance). 2. Arista, [Ultimate Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000DFSZ/ref=pd_sim_music_5/103-5018250-2255038?v=glance&s=music). 3. Verve, [Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000479R/qid=1132598351/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-5018250-2255038?v=glance&s=music). 4. Fantasy, [A Charlie Brown Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000XDJ/qid=1132598464/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-5018250-2255038?v=glance&s=music). Avoid: Any Christmas albums by American Idol contestants. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/5 "2005-11-21T18:52:01Z")
I can never select just one favorite. [A Holiday Collection](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1617808) - Jewel. [Boogie Woogie Christmas](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3086324); [Dig That Crazy Christmas](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3319774) - The Brian Setzer Orchestra [When My Heart Finds Christmas](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1002464) - Harry Connick, Jr. [Christmas Eve and Other Stories](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1204044) - The Trans Siberian Orchestra [December](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=2906229) - The Moody Blues Favorite tracks: (Everybody’s Waitin’ for) The Man with the Bag - The Brian Setzer Orchestra Gettin’ in the Mood (for Christmas) The Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) - The Trans Siberian Orchestra Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer - Jewel Winter Wonderland - Harry Connick, Jr. (on the [When Harry Met Sally](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1059139) soundtrack) Mr. Heat Miser - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (on [Everything You Want for Christmas](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3089848)) 'Til Santa’s Gone (Milk and Cookies) - Clint Black (on [Looking for Christmas](http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=2958133)) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/6 "2005-11-21T18:54:46Z")
I’m really liking some of Lorenna McKennit’s stuff, which is more Yuletide- and Winter-solstice oriented than Christmas. Not being religious, I rather approve, and already plan to play this stuff this year instead of the traditional Christmas music when decorating. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/7 "2005-11-21T19:02:31Z")
Is there going to be an official Xmas music thread later? Some of my favorite christmas tracks: 1.[Snoopy’s christmas](http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/snoopys.htm), The Royal Guardsmen (Snoopy fights his archnemesis, The Red Baron, on Christmas day, but shows mercy on his enemy becasue of the sounds of the church bells from nearby towns) 2.Christmas in the Drunk Tank, The Pouges (Can’t belive I’m the first one to mention this). 3.[Christmas in the Trenches](http://www.catholic.net/RCC/music/midi/christmas/trench.html), John McCutcheon (Another WWI themed christmas song) 4.Christmas Story, Dave Matthews (Back when DM was good) ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/8 "2005-11-21T19:16:11Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > 1.[Snoopy’s christmas](http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/snoopys.htm), The Royal Guardsmen (Snoopy fights his archnemesis, The Red Baron, on Christmas day, but shows mercy on his enemy becasue of the sounds of the church bells from nearby towns) That’s my favorite of all time. 😃 Shirley, I also love both Amy Grant Christmas CDs. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/9 "2005-11-21T20:23:55Z")
My favorite Christmas CD is [Songs of Angels](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003D0G/qid=1132604285/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-0827109-6992712?v=glance&s=classical), Christmas Hymns and Carols with Robert Shaw and the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/10 "2005-11-21T20:53:17Z")
_The Christmas Song_, by Nat King Cole. There are no others. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/11 "2005-11-21T20:59:13Z")
There really is only one. [Johnny “Bowtie” Barstow -A Bowtie Christmas And More](http://cdbaby.com/cd/bowtiebarstow) All others pale in comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/12 "2005-11-21T21:09:04Z")
I highly recommend every Christmas album ever recorded by **Mannheim Steamroller** , plus _[A Candian Brass Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000060OHB/qid=1132606528/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7333602-7069520?v=glance&s=music&n=507846)_ (by **Canadian Brass** :D). I’m also still a big fan of the first _[A Very Special Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002GFJ/qid=1132606663/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-7333602-7069520?v=glance&s=music)_ album, and _[A Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000047L4/qid=1132606720/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-7333602-7069520?v=glance&s=music)_. And while I can’t find this on Amazon anymore, I like _[Candlelight Carols](http://www.trinityboston.org/pub_cdrecs.asp)_ by the **Trinity Church Choir** of Boston. I love Christmas music. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/13 "2005-11-21T21:09:13Z")
And on a more serious note: I like the [Sylvia Woods harp CDs](http://harpcenter.com/page/SWHC/PROD/RARTSWOO/1220R). [John Fahey’s Christmas CDs.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004W579/qid=1132606994/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-8809806-7046409?v=glance&s=music) [George Winston’s December CD](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005NNDO/qid=1132607077/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-8809806-7046409?v=glance&s=music). Yeah, New Age and all, but it is still very nice. Loreena McKennit, as referenced above by **Anaamika**. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/14 "2005-11-21T21:25:57Z")
I too adore Loreena McKennitt’s winter CD’s. Especially her version of _Lully lullay_. One of my favorites is [Timeless Christmas](http://www.covenant-lds.com/osb2/itemdetails.cfm?ID=996) by Mark Gelison and Geoff Groberg. It has a nice mix of carols, some lovely voices, and a few Danish carols as well as the more usual international ones, which makes me happy. Two I’m looking forward to playing a lot this year are [Wolcum Yule](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000AZKK4/qid=1132607985/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-6137655-9354267?v=glance&s=classical) by the Anonymous 4, all old British and Welsh carols, and [A feast of songs](http://www.ninestones.com/consort/index.html) by Barry and Beth Hall, medieval carols played on traditional instruments. I don’t know them well yet. I have just ordered [Bright day star](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001QAB/103-6137655-9354267?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) and am excited about hearing it. Only it won’t come until January, feh. Fooey. Now I want to listen to carols! And it’s still Thanksgiving! Maybe I’ll just sneak a few… ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/15 "2005-11-21T21:36:30Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > \I have just ordered [Bright day star](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001QAB/103-6137655-9354267?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) and am excited about hearing it. Only it won’t come until January, feh. **dangermom** , Larry Lipkis is one of my professors (and I’m a composition major, so I see him a lot). I saw the Baltimore Consort for the first time last weekend (so good!) and was thoroughly amused by the revelation that he has fangirls. That CD is on my Christmas list along with a few others of theirs. Whee. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/16 "2005-11-21T21:51:52Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > I2.Christmas in the Drunk Tank, The Pouges (Can’t belive I’m the first one to mention this). Hey **Stinky** , I think you mean [Faiytale of New York](http://www.pogues.com/Releases/Lyrics/LPs/IfIShould/Fairytale.html) by **The Pogues**. Terrific Christmas boozer. For a more traditional tune I’d give **Jussi Bjorling** ’s recording of _O Holy Night_ a listen. Normally I’m not a fan of opera, but his rendition of that song sends chills down my spine. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without it. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/17 "2005-11-21T21:53:05Z")
I’ve always been very fond of this [Music Box Christmas](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000024R5) album (which I still have only on LP). It’s not as twee as you might think–some of these music boxes have some real “bong” to them. ---
**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 21, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/18 "2005-11-21T22:01:18Z")
I’m trying to resist. I need to resist the threads about Christmas music. Aiieee! There is a lot of good Christmas music out there, and a lot of dreck. I like both. 😃 I will return with much music. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/19 "2005-11-21T22:01:34Z")
What - no “Boney M Christmas Album” yet? “Mary’s boy child…Jesus Christ…was born…on ChrIIIstmas day…” (I’m only partially kidding - I will probably buy this cd some day, and I hate Christmas music.) ---
**Author:** ![moonstarssun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@moonstarssun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moonstarssun)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094/20 "2005-11-21T22:41:22Z")
I have an entire favorite CD: 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of Louis Armstrong. It has, among others, “Santa Baby,” “Christmas Night in Harlem,” and “'Zat You, Santa Claus?” The last one always makes me think of Oogie-Boogie from _The Nightmare Before Christmas_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-unofficial-christmas-music-thread/332094.md?page=2)