# What is your favorite Christmas CD? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2004, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129 "2004-11-29T12:02:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/41 "2004-11-30T17:24:17Z")
> [@Caprese](#): > > Also like the Chieftains “The Bells of Dublin.” > They often have cool guest performers, and on this one they have the Elvis Costello performing classic, unforgettable "St Stephen’s Day Murders’ as well as Jackson Browne (The Rebel Jesus) and Marianne Faithful (I Saw Three Ships.) > Good stuff. I have to just second this recommendation–that CD is really the only Christmas music I’d be happy to hear several times over during the season. ---
**Author:** ![todd33rpm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@todd33rpm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/todd33rpm)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/42 "2004-11-30T17:24:52Z")
> [@mouthbreather](#): > > Based on searching on this board and other boards for holiday music reccomendations, I just created a new Xmas comp CD this week. > > 1. Santa Claus is coming to Town – Joseph Spence > > 2. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues > > 3. Xmas with the Devil – Spinal Tap These thrill me no end! I especially love the Joseph Spence Christmas song, as it has to be the most twisted version of the song I’ve ever heard, especially when he forgets the lyrics on the chorus and just does that “hnyyyyyeeeeeeaaaaaah” sound. (It’s included on my first recommendation, _The Rounder Christmas Album: Must Be Santa!_, for anyone else trying to find it…quite simply, it has to be heard to be believed. Words fail me.) **bodypoet** ’s 14-year-old didn’t believe me when I told him that Spinal Tap did a song called “Xmas With The Devil” (unfortunately, the reissued movie didn’t include it). ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/43 "2004-11-30T17:44:25Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > [Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4791FDB47A57020CE873B5DDEB17AF501CA4EFB803E2D595B92B63E45911E7AE84AF095CCB0E577BD66ADFF2EA01607D9CAED5CFFD5764C40&sql=10:4kjp7i4jg75r) is absolute tippy-top of the list. Patty Austin’s version of _But Who May Abide…_ blows my hair back, and you are guaranteed to get into some very serious booty-shaking on the _Hallelujah_. That would be the one!! Every time I listen (I try to restrict it to Christmas and Easter to not wear it out) I hear something new and beautiful in one or another of the songs. It’s a must-hear even if I never get around to any of the other X-mas albums I have. It’s groovy, soul-stirring, fun, pure wonderfulness. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/44 "2004-11-30T18:34:55Z")
My personal favorite is the [Asylum Street Spankers](http://www.asylumstreetspankers.com/) Christmas album, _A Christmas Spanking_. My favorite tracks are “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “'Zat You, Santa Clause?” and “Silent Night” played on a saw. ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/45 "2004-11-30T18:55:39Z")
The best Christmas CD I can’t find: _A Muppet Christmas Carol_ Best single Christmas song not mentioned so far (or at least I haven’t seen it): _Gaudete_ - Mediaeval Baebes ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/46 "2004-11-30T19:14:13Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > [Manheim Steamroller.](http://www.shop-amgram.com/index2.html) > > 'nuff said. Man, I despise these. Mostly because I worked at a record and bookstore for _years_ and they wer ein constant rotation since they’re good background music. I also hate the “Very Special Christmas” ones since they used to be the only contemporary pop artist albums so we played them incessantly. Nowdays, there’s amuch bigger selection so you don’t have to get so bored. My favorites? I looove the Jackson Five album. I also have an inordinate fondness for “Meowy Christmas” (yes, it’sthe one of _cat_ meowing Christmas carols) because it came out during one of my most stressful retail seasons (I was managing a record store and tired of it) and made me giggle uncontrolably… ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/47 "2004-11-30T20:04:53Z")
I cannot stress just how swingin’ the collection on [Christmas Cocktails](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002UFL/103-7840105-6243820?v=glance) part one and [Part two](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002TLS/ref=pd_bxgy_text_1/103-7840105-6243820?v=glance&s=music&st=*) is. Lots of 1950’s and 1960’s groovin’. Love them both. Cha Cha Cha. ---
**Author:** ![Magickly\_Delicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magickly\_Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magickly_Delicious)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/48 "2004-11-30T20:58:52Z")
I like the album “Have Yourself a Tractors Christmas.” I present you with [Santa Claus is Comin’ in a Boogie-Woogie Choo-Choo Train](http://www.thetractors.com/albums/christmas7.php), complete with a sample mp3 link. Gotta have a little boogie-woogie in your Christmas, right? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/49 "2004-11-30T21:27:14Z")
Not a huge fan of Mannheim Steamroller but their version of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (as a Gregorian chant) gives me chills every time I hear it. ::Lisa, rushing to find my Mannheim Steamroller c.d.:: ---
**Author:** ![Sinusoidal\_Saurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71e660/32.png) [@Sinusoidal\_Saurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinusoidal_Saurus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/50 "2004-11-30T21:31:33Z")
I’ve already replied to this thread with my favorite album, but I just realized I forgot to mention my favorite Christmas song. It’s not Christmas until I hear “Back Door Santa” by Clarence Carter - who knew Santa had so much fun when the kids are outside playing?! Ho Ho Ho! Maisy ---
**Author:** ![parsnip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parsnip/32/4564_2.png) [@parsnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parsnip)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/51 "2004-11-30T21:44:06Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] [Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4791FDB47A57020CE873B5DDEB17AF501CA4EFB803E2D595B92B63E45911E7AE84AF095CCB0E577BD66ADFF2EA01607D9CAED5CFFD5764C40&sql=10:4kjp7i4jg75r) is absolute tippy-top of the list. Patty Austin’s version of _But Who May Abide…_ blows my hair back, and you are guaranteed to get into some very serious booty-shaking on the _Hallelujah_. A me-too post!!! The Boys Choir of Harlem does it for me. ---
**Author:** ![HoldenCaulfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@HoldenCaulfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldenCaulfield)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/52 "2004-11-30T22:09:00Z")
Atlantic Records’ _Soul Christmas_ if just for Otis Redding’s version of “White Christmas”. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/53 "2004-11-30T22:23:32Z")
I’ve only got one, but I love it. Shawn Colvin’s [Holiday Songs and Lullabies](http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/catalog/MerchandiseDetails.jsp?selectionId=069550&sms=t203911-s069550-ast). Especially _Little Road to Bethlehem_. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/54 "2004-11-30T22:30:24Z")
My favorite is CD 2 of “Christmas with the Robert Shaw Chorale” from the Musical Heritage Society. It has “Christmas Carols and Hymns, Vol. II”, a re-issue of their old LP which contains renditions of less familiar carols. Certain moments are so beautiful they give me chills. Shaw’s performances of these carols from a few years ago are very good, but not quite up to the LP version. Two other albums I like have been re-issued on CD. One is Joan Sutherland’s “Joy to the World”. Her performance is, of course, wonderful. The orchestral arrangements are excellent. There’s a Handelian accompaniment to “Good King Wenceslas”, a fun arrangement of “12 Days of Christmas”, and a gorgeous version of “What Child Is This”. The other is “A Leroy Anderson Christmas” containing a medley of carols for full orchestra and suites for the three sections of the orchestra. The suite for woodwinds is good and has been on a number of CDs. The suites for strings and brass have not been available until now AFAIK. The brass suite is especially good. ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/55 "2004-11-30T23:49:04Z")
My 2 favorite albums for the season are the two Trans-Siberian Orchestra albums, Christmas Eve and Other Stories and The Christmas Attic. They’re heartfelt and sentimental without getting into the irritating cliches that most Christmas albums seem to, and I’ll be listening to them plenty in the next 25 days. (Note: In double-checking, apparently there’s a 3rd one now!!! Will go in big rotation in my Rhapsody playlist to see just how good it is) ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/56 "2004-12-01T19:13:23Z")
[_Christmas with the Rat Pack_](http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006IJWZ/qid=1101928429/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-7508204-4774253) ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/57 "2004-12-02T16:31:35Z")
**RUN RUN RUN RUN REINDEER!** If there’s a Christmas album out there that beats John Denver and the Muppets, I haven’t yet heard it. One of these days I’ll get through “A Baby Just Like You” without sniffling, honest. (Denver had such a great voice. Why did he have to pick such annoying music to sing 90% of the time?) And just to make you feel better, **Shirley** , I have it on _cassette_. I think my parents got it the same year as the TV special originally aired, and they eventually gave it to me. Sooner or later I’ll have to buy it on CD. Tapes don’t last forever… ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/58 "2004-12-02T16:39:45Z")
corporal blossom presents **A Mutated Christmas**. Amazing collection of the beautiful and strange. Can’t recommend highly enough. ---
**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:** [December 6, 2004, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/59 "2004-12-06T13:54:05Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Ditto! I found Jodi Benson’s performance to be quite memorable, among others. Joi Benson’s song is actually on “A Hollywood Christmas” which was a follow up to “Broadway Christmas.” Hollywood is good; Broadway is excellent. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129/60 "2004-12-06T14:36:37Z")
Oops - when I posted earlier I forgot to mention guitarist John Fahey’s wonderful Christmas album. His arrangements are outstanding. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-christmas-cd/277129.md?page=4)