When Ronda Carman of the blog All the Best recently asked what my favorite holiday song was, it got me thinking about all the great Christmas albums out there. Here are five of my all-time favorites—classics that are perfect for giving parties, opening presents, or simply getting into the holiday spirit. The first is Songs for Christmas from The Andrews Sisters. This album combines Christmas standards we all know and love, like "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," with some lesser-known tracks like "Christmas Tree Angel" and my all-time favorite, "Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling."
Another favorite of mine is Christmas Classics from the legendary Bing Crosby (who collaborated frequently with The Andrews Sisters). There are sixteen sensational tracks on this album, including Bing’s “Peace On Earth / The Little Drummer Boy” duet with David Bowie.
The late, great Frank Sinatra delivers, as always, on A Jolly Christmas, an incredible compilation of Christmas classics. Jaithan's and my favorite is the album's first track—a wonderfully jazzy rendition of "Jingle Bells."
I absolutely adore Ella Fitzgerald, but I much prefer the jazzier, upbeat tracks of Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas to the more traditional songs of Ella Fitzgerald’s Christmas. The name of this album says it all—it’s a swinging Christmas with a fun, festive compilation of old favorites
Finally, with a full 26 tracks, The Complete Columbia Christmas Recordings is the most complete collection of Gene Autry Christmas songs available—and I love it! From the man who introduced us to songs that have become our beloved standards—“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Here Comes Santa Claus,” and “Frosty the Snowman”—comes this beautifully simple album of Christmas classics.
But enough about me and my favorites. What are some of yours?
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. Such a 60s classic and that Darlene Love can sing!
“Winter Wonderland”, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”… pretty much all of them!
For classics, I really don’t think you can beat Johnny Mathis. I also love Dean Martin’s A Winter Romance. My modern favorite however is Aimee Mann’s Another Drifter in the Snow. It’s a great mix of standards and really beautiful original songs.
The Phil Spector album with the Crystals, Chiffons and Ronettes is great. And the Sonics and the Wailers Christmas LP is a garage rock classic…
I agree with all your picks. I would add an artist that, for me, ranks up there with them in terms of recreating classic arrangements and coming up with new Christmas classics – Harry Connick, Jr. All 4 of his Christmas albums are outstanding.
P.S. I loved you on Top Design and found your blog through Jordan over at Oh Happy Day. Thrilled to have your blog on my Google Reader! 🙂
I’m with Sprizee: It’s gotta be Phil Spector’s A Christmas Gift for You. And Darlene Love’s wailin’ rendition of “Christmas: Baby Please Come Home” always gets me. Watch for her on David Letterman’s last show before Christmas Eve. He always has her on, with full orchestra, to sing it.
I just spent a better part of the weekend creating 5 Christmas Albums to play this week. Each with a different feel. I’m a huge fan of Mariah Carey’s Christmas Album – her version of ‘”O Holy Night” gives me goose bumps. It’s my fave – tons of great tracks on there.
I adore all of the Christmas songs. My favorite song is “Baby, it’s cold outside”. I love the “flirting banter” of the song.
So many faves, it is hard to list. But the ones that are always included in the rotation, each year are Nat King Cole, The Carpenter’s, Jim Brickman , Jewel, and Bing Crosby.
Elvis “Blue Christmas” album.
Classic.
Hi Eddie-
I love the Andrew Sisters, Bing, Frankie boy and my husband’s guitar Christmas music!!
Thanks for sharing my friend! xoxo
Oh my gosh…. “sweet angie, the christmas tree angel” is always song to me on Christmas morning by 3 overly elfish sisters.
But hearing Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Doris Day and Nat King Cole always brings up happy memories at Christmas with my Grandmother and Grandfather.
Happy Holidays!
I will be home for Christmas! Jingle Bells
Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby” always makes me smile, but the song that always still gets me is Mariah Carey’s version of “O Holy Night”.
Geepers, Eddie! How old are you?? LOL I will soon be sixty and while I like most of the songs you– and my late parents– did, I like some slightly more modern singers as well–from the last half of the last century. But I agree that most of the all-time great Christmas songs are the old ones.
My all time favorite secular Christmas song is “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”
Thanks to Mary Kay for the post about Darlene Love being the original singer of “Christmas (baby please come home)”. I KNEW it was before Mariah’s version but could not place it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ7iyRJrFg8&feature=related The Letterman version is far better than the original.
Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” always makes me tear up. In a good way:)
Sharon
Eddie – Love your blog – I have saved several posts for reference. Regarding Christmas music, there is a group called Straight, No Chaser – The are an acapella group of guys who sang together in college and just produced a Christmas CD all done acapella. You can catch a video at YouTube. We bought the CD and love it.
Merry Christmas!
Trish
I love them all! But I guess if I had to pick ONE, it would beeeeeeeeee…..O Holy Night. Merry Christmas!
Celebrate me Home by Kenny Loggins, So This is Christmas by John Lennon and the Christmas Canon – the version with the children singing. I just recently uploaded christmas music to my Ipod and your post made me realize I forgot our Frank Sinatra Christmas album, so now I’ve got to go look for that. You forgot Nat King Cole, Eddie. The Christmas Song fits right in your classics list.
The Roches, James Taylor and Leon Redbone have amazing holiday albums with a bit of humor sprinled in!
Eddie, When it comes to music in general I have it on all day,usually something soothing in the background.For Christmas I love James Taylors Christmas,Amy Grant and the Carpenters.Just Eaaaasy Listening for me.I throw in a little piano by John Tesh and some harp music and the season is good to go for me.Merry Christmas to You and Jaithan,xoxoKathysue
Here’s just a few of my favorite seasonal CDs: Blackmore’s Night “Winter Carols”; James Taylor “at Christmas”; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy “Everything You Want at Christmas”; The Brian Setzer Orchestra “Boogie Woogie Christmas”; “Rock My Holiday” various by Restoration Hardware; The Nylons “Harmony”; Pottery Barn “Hip Holidays” and “A Cool Christmas (various and wonderful collections for a party!); Loreena McKennitt “A Midwinter Night’s Dream” and “To Drive the Cold Winter Away”
Just to name a few! (LOL!)
Brightest Blessings on your dear home and hearth, kith and kin! Happy Yule!
Jan at Rosemary Cottage
This is a great album. Easy to listen to, mellow.
Various Artists: Jingle Bell Jam: Jazz Christmas Classics
Here is a link:
http://www.hbdirect.com/album_detail.php?pid=193011
I got my copy on ebay. It’s a Rhino compilation of instrumentals and lyrics.
It’s cool, man!
Eddie,
It is so hard to pick a favorite, but here goes: Santa Baby, (Eartha Kitt version only), The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole), I’ll Be Home For Christmas (Perry Como), Oh Holy Night (Always makes me cry)and Silent Night. I am not much of a singer, but there must be some divine intervention going on as the only songs I sing well are Christmas Carols.
You would have loved our office Christmas party because we had a group of employees that put on an hour long show of carols that were excellent. They really moved the audience, especially when they dedicated “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” to the warfighters. (I work for a Defense Agency)
Try Merry Mixmus. It is kooky fun. It’s oldies with a remix style.
The day after Thanksgiving my dad would pull out the Bing Crosy album and declare: “It’s not Christmas, until Bing sings that it’s Christmas.”
My dad passed away in August so this year “White Christmas” is my favorite.
My daughter wants to put in a vote for Elton John’s “Step into Christmas” and my son’s selection is “I want a Hippopotamus For Christmas”. 🙂
I love Celine Dion’s version of “Oh Holy Night,” which is my all-time favorite Christmas tune. I also love Vince Vance & the Valiants, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
My husband cries like a baby whenever he hears Kermit the Frog singing to John Denver in A Christmas Together. Check it out on You Tube and I’ll bet you puddle up too!
Oh Eddie you have an old soul. You don’t look old enough to remember those songs, someone must have played them for you like your mom or your grandmother. As did mine. I love all the songs listed. People have Christmas songs on their blogs and Avery (my 8 year old daughter) and I have that song, Santa Baby stuck in our heads.
the new Verve remix Christmas classic album is a welcome relief from a lot of those classics that are seeming a little tired (to some of us)…It gives a new techno spin to Ela Fitzgerald and others
Mitch Miller; remember that little bouncing ball keeping you on track??
Janet @ Housepeepers
I love Christmas music, and it’s so hard to choose a favorite. I think I’d have to go with Barbra Streisand’s A Christmas Album (the first one) – how could anyone resist her Jingle Bells? Also, the Carpenters – but now you’ve made want to go back and listen to some Bing Crosby, which my grandparents used to play at Christmas (along with Mitch Miller).
Ok, love Bing & Frank but I am slightly obessed with the Carpenter’s Christmas. It’s my all-time favorite Christmas album. You’ve gotta check it out! *mr*
I love reading all your tips on flower arranging, tying bows, cocktails and
appetizers, table settings and antique shopping. You are so gifted and clever.
I think you and Carolyn Rohme must own all the white Paris porcelains. I wish I could locate some in Virginia.
I look forward weekly to your design tips.
Janet
I love White Christmas, Mannheim Steamroller and Transiberian Orchestra Christmas songs. I think my ultimate favorite though is O Holy Night when sung by Aaron Neville…that giant of a man with the angelic voice…I don’t think anyone should ever be allowed to record that song again. It’s the ultimate.
I grew up on the Dr. Demento and Muppets with John Denver albums (oh and Carpenters, too). I’d still rather sing about getting a Japanese transistor radio than a partridge in a pear tree. Today, however, the standard, even for my parents, is Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics (from South Park). It’s got to be out of the stereo when grandma comes over, but it’s hilarious for a certain audience. And, I can’t listen to O Holy Night without hearing Cartman’s voice in my head.
“This Christmas I Spend with You” by Robert Goulet. He was at his peak and boy could he deliver a tune. My all-time favorite and sadly out of print.