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Recommend me a Christmas Album that doesn't suck

post #1 of 64
12/7/10 at 5:32pm
Thread Starter 
So - I've got a few Christmas albums from stalwarts such as George Strait and Canadian Brass. In a bid to induce Holiday Cheer (!) I scooped up a few Christmas albumz off teh interwebz, including Gene Autry, Elvis, and the Beach Boys.

Nothing is doing it for me. feh!

So I put it to you: anything good, new, and different in terms of the ol' Yuletide tunes? And, don't mention Jethro Tull, PLZ.
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post #2 of 64
12/7/10 at 5:35pm
I like the James Taylor Christmas album he came out with a few years ago.

Also, Mannheim Steamroller is kinda required if you're playing it as background music for a Christmas party at the house.
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post #3 of 64
12/7/10 at 5:45pm
Oak Ridge Boys
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post #4 of 64
12/7/10 at 5:45pm
I am partial to Chanticleer's Sing We Christmas http://www.amazon.com/Sing-We-Christ...1754760&sr=8-1
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post #5 of 64
12/7/10 at 5:47pm
They just released a digitally remastered version of Ray Charles' Christmas CD last year. It's really good.
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post #6 of 64
12/7/10 at 5:57pm
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post #7 of 64
12/7/10 at 6:04pm
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post #8 of 64
12/7/10 at 6:10pm
Old Christmas Return'd (The York Waits)

Twisted Christmas (Twisted Sister)

ADDENDUM: robin beat me to it!

Quote:
Originally Posted by chorse123 View Post


Seconded!
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post #9 of 64
12/7/10 at 6:20pm
I'd go with any of the Elvis Christmas compiliations.

Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me and Blue Christmas have been holiday soundtrack staples in my house for 25 years.
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post #10 of 64
12/7/10 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 
Hmmmm, we have the Guaraldi disc, now that you mention it.

The JT and Ray Charles discs sound like winners. Hmmm. The rest I'll have to sample.

Surprised no one mentioned the Billy Idol Christmas album. Actually, I just saw it on Amazon and it's out of print (!) For shame. Now I want one.

Also, semi-seriously wondering whether Jars of Clay did up a yuletide disc. HMMM.
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post #11 of 64
12/7/10 at 6:33pm
[soapbox] I have one very personal requirement in Christmas albums: If it includes "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" it has to have the original Judy Garland lyrics or it isn't coming into my house (I'm a freak about this). If they hang a shining star upon the highest bough they can do it elsewhere. No selling out by turning a sad song into a happy one just for the sake of commercialism. James Taylor and Frank Sinatra both sing the song more-or-less like it should be sung. Ella Fitzgerald sings the right lyrics, but jazzes it up to the point where the poignancy is lost.
[/soapbox]











I may very well need therapy.
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post #12 of 64
12/7/10 at 6:34pm
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post #13 of 64
12/7/10 at 6:37pm
Of course Sinatra's Christmas CD is the one that gets the most play at our house.
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post #14 of 64
12/7/10 at 6:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark from Plano View Post
[soapbox] I have one very personal requirement in Christmas albums: If it includes "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" it has to have the original Judy Garland lyrics or it isn't coming into my house (I'm a freak about this). If they hang a shining star upon the highest bough they can do it elsewhere. No selling out by turning a sad song into a happy one just for the sake of commercialism. James Taylor and Frank Sinatra both sing the song more-or-less like it should be sung. Ella Fitzgerald sings the right lyrics, but jazzes it up to the point where the poignancy is lost.
[/soapbox]











I may very well need therapy.

My mom's always had a version which contains both, as if they were two different stanzas. I have no idea who sings it, but it's very melodic. I've also heard it so many times since my childhood that I'd like to smash that fucking record.

Speaking of this song, the originally-penned lyrics were even more depressing. Look them up.
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post #15 of 64
12/7/10 at 7:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher View Post
My mom's always had a version which contains both, as if they were two different stanzas. I have no idea who sings it, but it's very melodic. I've also heard it so many times since my childhood that I'd like to smash that fucking record.

Speaking of this song, the originally-penned lyrics were even more depressing. Look them up.

Yeah, they were pretty dismal. Also pretty specific to the plot of the musical.

Turns out I was wrong about Sinatra though. Apparently he was the one that had the author write the more upbeat lyrics in the first place. Ugh.
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