Recommend me a Christmas Album that doesn't suck

Thomas · Dec 7, 2010

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.

Mark from Plano · Dec 7, 2010

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.

denning · Dec 7, 2010

Oak Ridge Boys

Dakota rube · Dec 7, 2010

I am partial to Chanticleer's Sing We Christmas http://www.amazon.com/Sing-We-Christ...1754760&sr=8-1

ArliHawk` · Dec 7, 2010

They just released a digitally remastered version of Ray Charles' Christmas CD last year. It's really good.

chorse123 · Dec 7, 2010

robin · Dec 7, 2010

Teacher · Dec 7, 2010

Old Christmas Return'd (The York Waits)

Twisted Christmas (Twisted Sister)

ADDENDUM: robin beat me to it!

Originally Posted by chorse123

Seconded!

Biggskip · Dec 7, 2010

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.

Thomas · Dec 7, 2010

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.

Mark from Plano · Dec 7, 2010

[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.

Dr. Mabuse · Dec 7, 2010

ArliHawk` · Dec 7, 2010

Of course Sinatra's Christmas CD is the one that gets the most play at our house.

Teacher · Dec 7, 2010

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

[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 ******* record.

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

Mark from Plano · Dec 7, 2010

Originally Posted by Teacher

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 ******* 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.

Recommend me a Christmas Album that doesn't suck

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