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.
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).
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.
My personal favorite is the Asylum Street Spankers 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.
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
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…
I cannot stress just how swingin’ the collection on Christmas Cocktails part one and Part two is. Lots of 1950’s and 1960’s groovin’.
Love them both. Cha Cha Cha.
I like the album “Have Yourself a Tractors Christmas.” I present you with Santa Claus is Comin’ in a Boogie-Woogie Choo-Choo Train, complete with a sample mp3 link. Gotta have a little boogie-woogie in your Christmas, right?
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.::
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
[QUOTE=twickster]
Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration 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.
Atlantic Records’ Soul Christmas if just for Otis Redding’s version of “White Christmas”.
I’ve only got one, but I love it. Shawn Colvin’s Holiday Songs and Lullabies. Especially Little Road to Bethlehem.
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.
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)
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…
corporal blossom presents A Mutated Christmas.
Amazing collection of the beautiful and strange. Can’t recommend highly enough.
Joi Benson’s song is actually on “A Hollywood Christmas” which was a follow up to “Broadway Christmas.” Hollywood is good; Broadway is excellent.
Oops - when I posted earlier I forgot to mention guitarist John Fahey’s wonderful Christmas album. His arrangements are outstanding.