Anyone listen to any Christmas albums? Any good ones? (classical included) Mariah Carey's "Merry Christmas" still the best of all time.... Frank Sinatra is good too...
I can't remember the guy's name, i have the cd at home. He plays classical (acoustic) guitar. Love it. I believe he was Spaniard.
Sunny Ninety Nine point mother freakin' one eff'em. But, eh, NO... I don't listen to a Christmas album at all. José Feliciano's Feliz Navidad song is all I need.
My wife purchased a couple of Harry Connick Jr. ones. They're pretty good. I second the Charlie Brown Christmas album as well. I grew up with Johnny Mathis albums, so they hold a place in my heart.
Depending on your taste, the "A very special Christmas" series is a good one, and I think they make donations for albums sold. They contain lots of different popular artists singing different songs, some traditional some not so much. Volumes 1 and 3 have some great stuff on them as I see things. There's also an acoustic one with some good stuff (the willie nelson tune is great). A Charlie Brown Christmas is a family favorite at my place too. Also very good, "Leading Men of Christmas" for stuff like Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Smokey Robinson etc. I have a B.B. King Christmas album that's not bad "A Christmas Celebration of Hope" if a bit repetitious (It's the Blues, man). If you like traditional with some soul, Etta James "Twelve Songs of Christmas" is pretty good, if a bit too traditional. James Brown's "A Funky Christmas has a few REALLY great songs on it like "Soulful Christmas". One of my favorites, Squirrel Nut Zippers' "Christmas Caravan" is a yearly favorite. Non Traditional originals, very cool. If you like classical guitar renditions, Charlie Byrd's Christmas Album is great. Can't go wrong with Elvis Presley's "If Every Day was like Christmas". He probably has others that are equally good, but this one does have like 20 tracks. There's a local guy, Donal Hinely that makes a Christmas album called "MidWinter Carols" using "Glass Harmonica" or as you and I know it... glasses with water in them. It's a nice change of pace in a list with one too many versions of Jingle Bells on it. He plays the festivals and sells them (Dickens, Renaissance) and is also on itunes. Maybe in stores, dunno. Again, depends on your taste. I'd rather hit myself in the nuts with a hammer than listen to Mariah Carey, but maybe that's just me. If you have iTunes, they have an entire section of the stuff, and you can listen to previews to see what you like. Maybe you do or don't wanna buy there, but you can at least hear a piece of what's on most albums.
Joyeux Noel! Two good collections that will lift the spirits of even the most surly of people... Listen to snippets via Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Alligator-Records-Christmas-Collection/dp/B000000A29/ref=pd_sim_m_7
That's one of my favs too! I also like Cyrus Chestnut's take on Guaraldi's version. very good CD The Verve Christmas CDs are great too And if you're looking for something jazzy and fun, the "Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails" series is excellent!
A Motown Christmas - Volume I 1. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - The Jackson 5 2. What Christmas Means to Me - Stevie Wonder 3. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Temptations 4. My Favorite Things - Diana Ross & The Supremes 5. Deck The Halls / Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 6. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - The Jackson 5 7. Ave Maria - Stevie Wonder 8. Silent Night - The Temptations 9. Little Christmas Tree - Micheal Jackson 10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 11. Christmas Song, The (Merry Christmas to You) - The Jackson 5 12. Joy to the World - Diana Ross & The Supremes 13. Little Drummer Boy, The - The Temptations 14. Silver Bells - Diana Ross & The Supremes 15. Someday at Christmas - Stevie Wonder 16. Frosty the Snowman - The Jackson 5 17. Jingle Bells - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 18. My Christmas Tree - The Temptations 19. White Christmas - Diana Ross & The Supremes 20. One Little Christmas Tree - Stevie Wonder 21. Give Love on Christmas Day - The Jackson 5 22. It's Christmas Time - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 23. Children's Christmas Song - Diana Ross & The Supremes 24. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - The Jackson 5 25. I Want to Come Home For Christmas - Marvin Gaye (bonus track)
Harry Connick Jr’s first Christmas CD, When My Heart Finds Christmas, is very good! His second one sucks and I just got his third so I don’t have an opinion on it yet. But as I said avoid the second one.
Because I have a soft spot for whiny emo bands..."A Christmas Album" by Bright Eyes is playing every Christmas. I like their renditions of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."
Speaking of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, I happened upon this and thought it sounded real nice. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qWBr8NijHo0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qWBr8NijHo0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
