Your Favorite Christmas Albums & Renditions

[AwallaceUNC]

The season is officially here! I've had my Christmas music out for a few weeks now, but some of you are probably only beginning. I'm curious- which Christmas albums do you own, or what are your favorites? Also, who has your favorite rendition of each classic?

My favorite albums (off the top of my head, and in only approximate order):

Amy Grant - <i>Home For Christmas</i>
Mariah Carey - <i>Merry Christmas</i>
Amy Grant - <i>A Christmas Album</i>
Elvis - <i>Elvis' Christmas Album</i> (that's the copy I have, there are so many compilations, though- they're all good).
Reba McEntire - <i>Merry Christmas To You</i>
Amy Grant - <i>A Christmas To Remember</i>
Dolly Parton - <i>Home For Christmas</i>
The Chipmunks - <i>Christmas With The Chipmunks</i>
Amy Grant - <i>The Spirit Of Christmas</i>
Nsync - <i>Home For Christmas</i>
Kenny G - <i>Miracles</i>
Whitney Houston - <i>The Preacher's Wife</i>
Christina Aguilera - <i>My Kind of Christmas</i>
Reba McEntire - <i>Secret of Giving</i>
Bob Rivers & The Twisted Comedy Corp - <i>Chipmunks Roasting On An Open Fire</i>
Hanson - <i>Snowed In</i>
98 Degrees - <i>This Christmas</i>
Various Artists - <i>Superstar Christmas</i>
Choral - <i>A Normal Rockwell Christmas</i>

...These are just a few off the top of my head. I have a LOT of Christmas albums and am adding more all the time (I got Helen Reddy's Christmas album not too long ago and am very pleased with it). There are a lot of singles and songs from soundtracks that I love, too.

Here are a few of my favorite renditions:

Holly Jolly Christmas - Alan Jackson
Angels We Have Heard On High - Christina Aguilera
Auld Lang Syne - Kenny G (Millenium Mix)
Carol of the Bells - Tie: John Williams (from Home Alone), Metallica/Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Children Go Where I Send Thee - Natalie Merchant
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Mariah Carey
Deck The Halls - The Chipmunks
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - 98 Degrees
Hark The Herald Angels Sing - Amy Grant
Have Yourself A Merry Little Chrismtas - Tie: David Seville & The Chipmunks, Kenny G
Blue Christmas - Elvis
I'll Be Home For Christmas - Amy Grant
I Saw Mamma Kissing Santa Claus - Reba McEntire
It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Amy Grant
Joy To The World - Tie: Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Frank Sinatra
Mary, Did You Know - Reba McEntire
Merry Christmas Baby - Bruce Springsteen
Merry Christmas Darling - Amy Grant
My Favorite Things - Julie Andrews (Rodney Jones' is also very good)
O Come All Ye Faithful - Amy Grant
O Come O Come Emmanuel - Amy Grant
O Holy Night - Mariah Carey
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem - Elvis
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Amy Grant
Silent Night - Mariah Carey
The First Noel - Nsync
Sleigh Ride: Tie: Mannheim Steamroller, Amy Grant
Last Christmas - Savage Garden
Go Tell It On The Mountain - Dolly Parton
The Little Drummer Boy - Tie: Jars of Clay, Dolly Parton
The Night Before Christmas - Rush Limbaugh
The Twelve Days of Christmas - The Chipmunks
We Three Kings - Dolly Parton
White Christmas - The Drifters
Winter Wonderland - Tie: Amy Grant, Kenny G
Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring - Amy Grant

And here are some originals that are among my favorites:

Grown-Up Christmas List - Amy Grant
Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song) - Amy Grant
Where Are You Christmas - Faith Hill
Christmas Lullaby (I Will Lead You Home) - Amy Grant
Little Town - Amy Grant (I say this is an original bc it's such a different take on the song than the original- very catchy)
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - Nsync
Kiss Me At Midnight - Nsync
A Christmas To Remember - Amy Grant
Tennessee Christmas - Amy Grant
The Night Santa Went Crazy - "Weird Al"
Christmas At Ground Zero - "Weird Al"
Santa Claus Is Foolin' Around - Bob Rivers
The Twisted Chipmunk Song - Bob Rivers
Who Would Imagine A King - Whitney Houston
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer - Elmo & Patsy
Santa Bring My Baby (Back To Me) - Elvis
Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Elvis
The Christmas Waltz - Frank Sinatra
One More Sleep 'Till Christmas - Kermit the Frog
What's This - Danny Elfman
All I Want For Christmas (Is You) - Mariah Carey
Sleigh Ride - TLC (same reason as "Little Town")

...Wow, ok, that list was a lot longer than I anticipated. What can I say? I LOVE Christmas and all the music that goes along with it.

-Aaron


-Aaron

[Oldyeller]

Gosh! awallaceunc - That is one great Christmas Collection . I have just a few CD's That I play every Christmas. Please don't laugh at the first one - but it is my all time favorite.

1. The Partridge Family Christmas Card - The Partridge Family
2. Christmas is for the Family - Dennis Day
3. Forever Christmas - Dana
4. The Birth of Jesus - John Michael Talbot
5. The Andy Williams Christmas Album
6. Snowed In - Hanson
7. Season's Greetings - Dean Martin
8. Messiah King - Mother Angelica and The Poor Clare Nuns

That's About It.

[Uncle Remus]

My favorite Christmas albums are the ones done by Manheim Steamroller.

My favorite Christmas songs are:
The Twisted Chipmunk Song - Bob Rivers
Chipmunks Roasting On An Open Fire - Bob Rivers
The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen -Bob Rivers
The 12 Pains of Christmas - Bob Rivers
The Buttcracker Suite - Bob Rivers
Do They Know Its Christmas? - Band-Aid

[Luke]

My 3 favorite holiday CDs:

<img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000 ... ZZZZZZ.jpg">
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... provemz">A Charlie Brown Christmas</b></a>
The Vince Guaraldi Trio essentially does a jazzy take on many familiar Christmas songs, but it's just unlike anything else. The instrumentals are fun, and nothing can compare with the Peanuts gang singing.

<img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000 ... ZZZZZZ.jpg">
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... vemz">John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together</b></a>
There's a couple of different versions and some are incomplete, but in any event, the album conveys that feeling of Christmas for me. I particularly like the rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on this one.

<img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000 ... ZZZZZZ.jpg">
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... vemz">Home Alone Soundtrack</b></a>
You know the cool thing to do would be to say "Home Alone" sucks. After all, it was extremely successful at the box office and everyone saw it. But if you only have vague memories of the movie, give it another viewing. It's surprisingly poignant, not sappy. It's genuinely funny, and the elaborate battle plan finale isn't quite overdone the way it is in the sequel. John Williams' score is pretty sweet, too. "Carol of the Bells", "Star of Bethlehem", the Oscar-nominated "Somewhere in My Memory"...they're really quite good. And of course it has the Drifters' "White Christmas" on it. A great soundtrack to a great John Hughes/Chris Columbus holiday comedy.

[AwallaceUNC]

Oh yeah, Luke, I forgot about my Home Alone CD. I have the "A Home Alone Christmas" compilation, which compiles some of the best songs from the first two films' soundtracks. It's one of my all-time faves as well!

I like the Muppets/John Denver CD, but the John Denver parts are a bit of a drag at times. I much prefer the songs on Muppets Christmas Carol. They should come out with a new Christmas CD!

-Aaron

[Escapay]

There are three specific Christmas CDs I play often, usually as early as June at times:

The Carpenters: Christmas Portrait (favorite is definitely "Merry Christmas Darling")
The Carpenters: An Old-Fashioned Christmas (Favorite is "Little Altar Boy")
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas (favorite would have to be "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella" and "Wassail, Wassail")

I hope to get the Charlie Brown Christmas CD one of these days. All other Christmas music I usually listen to on the computer or on radio.

[Loomis]

Just looking at awallaceunc's list...

I've never seen a more mind-numbingly banal list in my life! I mean, there is average, middle of the road and then there is AVERAGE.

Don't really have a favourite album, but I do like The Dandy Warhol's Little Drummer Boy.. mind you, they sold out too.

[Paka]

Just looking at awallaceunc's list...

I've never seen a more mind-numbingly banal list in my life! I mean, there is average, middle of the road and then there is AVERAGE.

Don't really have a favourite album, but I do like The Dandy Warhol's Little Drummer Boy.. mind you, they sold out too.

That may have been harsh, but it sure was funny! ^_^ I actually must admit I agree with Richard on this one - but maybe I've just been jaded by all the non-stop Christmas Muzak™ that's been playing at work for the last three weeks. >_<

It's also a bit of a pet peeve of mine when I hear a cover of a cover of a cover of a classic Christmas song; dunno about anyone else, but I really couldn't care less to hear some flavor-of-the-month pop star's take on "Jingle Bell Rock". Anyhoo - my Christmas faves are products of nostalgia; I like Bing Crosby's White Christmas more than I care to admit. That, and Raffi. Raffi's Christmas Album rox my sox. Other than that, it's just some basic instrumental stuff - Lorie Line, George Winston, and those "white noise" nature sound effect albums - Solitudes, I think they're called. I like Christmas in the Country from that line, especially.

[I am the Doctor]

Well-I don't own very many Christmas albums but I do have a few favorite songs that I do like to listen to

Band Aid-Do They Know It's Christmas?

Haven't yet heard the new rendition done this year but the original is quite wonderful and I liked the fact that the money went to a good cause.

Wham-Last Christmas

One of my all time faves.

John Lennon-Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Not really a big Lennon fan-but this song is quite excellent.

Elmo and Patsy-Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

There are a lot of people who find this song offensive-as you can guess I'm not one of them. Worth noting-the three radio stations here in the Atlanta, GA area that are playing non-stop Christmas music have decided they will not play this song. All I can say to them is BAH HUMBUG!

[Escapay]

Hey guys, I've been listening to the nonstop-Christmas-music radio station, and I've heard this one song several times, and I can't for the life of me figure out the title or who sings it. It goes something like "I love you and it's Christmas and I don't know what to do...".

Also, here are some other favorite Christmas songs:

O Holy Night - Josh Groban
My Grown-Up Christmas List - Natalie Cole
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Carpenters
Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
The Twelve Days of Christmas - John Denver and the Muppets
From All of Us to All of You - Jiminy Cricket
Winter Wonderland - as heard on the original Disney's Sing-Along-Songs "Very Merry Christmas Songs" VHS.
Heck, all the renditions from that VHS.

Escapay

[AwallaceUNC]

My Grown-Up Christmas List - Natalie Cole

Tsk, tsk. The song was written for Natalie Cole, to little exposure. The songwriters also pitched it to Amy Grant, and she re-wrote part and added new lyrics in the second half and recorded it for her quintuple-platinum Home For Christmas CD and launched it as a major radio single, which is where the song (her version) became famous. It is, in fact, her only Christmas music video. I believe, though I'm not positive, that Natalie Cole rerecorded it some years later.

I'm not sure how one set of Christmas renditions can be particularly more bland than another. For the most part, these are the same songs recorded again and again, for which you'll get no complaints from me. It is therefore vocals and arrangements that really set them apart, and despite any resistance of pop culture some try to put up, I am not one to deny the impressive vocal talents and production values of today's otherwise-tawdry pop stars and the people behind them.

Of course I should note that I also really enjoy Frank Sinatra's Christmas stuff, I just don't have one of his CDs, they all come from compilations and digital purchases.

-Aaron

[Escapay]

My Grown-Up Christmas List - Natalie Cole

Tsk, tsk. The song was written for Natalie Cole, to little exposure. The songwriters also pitched it to Amy Grant, and she re-wrote part and added new lyrics in the second half and recorded it for her quintuple-platinum Home For Christmas CD and launched it as a major radio single, which is where the song (her version) became famous. It is, in fact, her only Christmas music video. I believe, though I'm not positive, that Natalie Cole rerecorded it some years later.

I didn't even know Amy Grant sang it first! I knew the song had several renditions (others I've heard was Barbra Streisand, Kelly Clarkson, and I think one with several artists all singing together), and the Natalie Cole one was my favorite. I'm gonna have to find the Amy Grant one now so I can hear another version, lol!

Escapay

[Brer Brandon]

I love Christmas CDs. I just got back from the store buying the finally rereleased Relinet K Christmas album. I have tons of Christmas CDs, but most are either mixes I made on my own or compilation albums (my favorite of which are the two "Happy Christmas" collections). However, my two favorite albums would be Hanson's "Snowed In" and Andy Griffith's "The Christmas Guest" (everyone should here his rendition of O Come, O Come Emmanuel).

[AwallaceUNC]

Well I've gotten Jessica Simpson's new Christmas CD from Rhapsody and I have to say it's a lot better than I expected (including the AG cover, though it still doesn't live up to the original). I'll be checking out Clay Aiken's new CD soon.

-Aaron

[JiminyCrick91]

the only christmas cds i have
are the Soundtracks to both versions
of "The Grinch" even thou i want
WAY more of them

[catNC]

<img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000 ... ZZZZZZ.jpg">
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... vemz">John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together</b></a>
There's a couple of different versions and some are incomplete, but in any event, the album conveys that feeling of Christmas for me. I particularly like the rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on this one.

This is my all time FAVORITE Christmas album. We still have the record (remember records??) we bought when this originally came out. I actually just got done to listening to this one just a few minutes ago. Aiden loves to dance around to Little St. Nick!!

[pinkrenata]

These two CD's pretty much summed up the holidays during my childhood. In my household it wasn't Christmas until Barry Manilow crooned "I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus" and Karen "Sooooo Skinny" Carpenter belted out "Merry Christmas, Darling."

[danamichelle]

I like "Once Upon a Christmas" with Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton.

[Disney Guru]

Uh I Don't Have As Many Favorite Christmas CD's as Most Of You Do But Here Goes

And I Own All Of My Favorite CHristmas CD's so that should tell you their arn't to many

1 )Santa Claus Lane [EXTRA TRACKS]
Hilary Duff

2 ) Merry Christmas From Barbara Streisand

3 )WWII Bing Crosby Christmas Presentation

4 ) Bing Crosby White Christmas

5 ) Noel ~ Mormon Tabernacle Choir

6 ) Christmas With Mormon Tabernacle Choir

7 ) Christmas With Andy Williams

8 ) Christmas With Johnny Mathis

And I have a few others but they arn't Christmas CD's. They are mixed in with non Christmas music on some Doris Day CD Sets I have

[Loomis]

Just looking at awallaceunc's list...

I've never seen a more mind-numbingly banal list in my life! I mean, there is average, middle of the road and then there is AVERAGE.

Don't really have a favourite album, but I do like The Dandy Warhol's Little Drummer Boy.. mind you, they sold out too.

That may have been harsh, but it sure was funny! ^_^ I actually must admit I agree with Richard on this one - but maybe I've just been jaded by all the non-stop Christmas Muzak™ that's been playing at work for the last three weeks. >_<

Hope I didn't sound TOO harsh, but while I have fairly ecclectic tastes, I'm pretty negative towards any bland, middle of the road, radio-friendly tunes. That is not to say I don't have my guilty pleasures, but there is life outside the Top 40...

Anyhoo, I'm sure what I listen to is deemed crap by many (but not the cool people ).