Do you have any favorite Christmas music?

[hedgehog]

I have an album, The Spirit of Christmas Past (Nimbus Records) that is a collection of Christmas carols sung by John McCormack, Caruso, Alma Gluck, Ernestine Schumann-Heink and the like. The latest recording is from 1942. The singing is fantastic, and there is something about the sound of the old recording equipment that seems just right for Christmas.

My other favorite is a jazz album, Breath of Heaven by Grover Washington.

[BOSSHOG]

1. Candle in the Window by Alabama

My Stepmom put a Christmas candle in my bedroom window when I went to bootcamp in October 1972 so I'd always be able to see my way home. The candle stayed in that room until my Stepmom died, then Dad put it in his new house and when he died I took it and it is in our house. Its a very nice somewhat melancholy Christmas song but I can't listen to it without crying like a baby.

[jobycom]

63. I love "Christmas in Dixie," but I don't have such a powerful story to go with it.

I just love Randy Owens's voice, and the image of Christmas and pine trees.

[azmouse]

2. Anything sung by Nat King Cole

Anything by the Brian Setzer Orchestra - one of his CDs has a song called 'Cactus Christmas', it's a perfect Christmas song for the Phoenix area!

[yurbud]

64. Nat King Cole is Christmas to me

[mvd]

3. Anything by Bing Crosby

Especially the CD White Christmas. :hi:

[rurallib]

42. Crosby and Bowie "Drummer Boy"/"Peace on Earth"

[Mad_Dem_X]

69. Yes.

Gives me chills whenever I hear it.

Also, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."

[HopeHoops]

4. The "Making Christmas" song from "Nightmare Before Christmas".

[mitchum]

5. Funhouse by the Stooges

[enigmatic]

38. I like playing "L.A.Blues" as I'm roasting chestnuts over an open fire

:D

[mitchum]

57. "On Donner and Blitzen and Scotty and Ron..."

[jmowreader]

6. Very, very little of it...

The Kinks' Father Christmas is good, the Bob Rivers parodies are good. The rest of it? You cannot work retail for six Christmas seasons and like Christmas music anymore.

The last year I did that they decided to have a children's Christmas party. When they asked for volunteers, I signed up quick for the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. (I didn't get it.)

[hedgehog]

11. I think that's why I enjoy the old recordings - you never hear them at

the mall.

[Sky Masterson]

7. Two pretenders songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0InMwNDFDVw
2000 miles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcQU3LYNZQc
Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

I just love Chrissie though :)

[Blue_In_AK]

45. 2000 Miles is one of the two Christmas songs I can tolerate.

The other is John Lennon, "So This is Christmas."

[av8rdave]

8. Don't ask me why (it makes no sense at all), but...

I love Leon Redbone's Christmas album. I don't think I've ever cared for anything else he's done, but I think that record is great for some reason.

[av8rdave]

9. Oh, and John Lennon's Happy Christmas (War is Over)

[bigwillq]

10. "Last Christmas" by Wham,

but not really an X-mas music fan.

[jmowreader]

14. That song's become a classic

You know a Christmas song is a classic when there are lots of versions of it. According to Wikipedia's "Last Christmas" page, it's been covered by at least 50 bands.

[bigwillq]

15. Interesting.

I think I've only heard the Wham version.

[Sebastian Doyle]

46. Ever wonder what it would sound like if the Beatles did it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmwVVGFRrBc

[pokerfan]

12. Vince Guaraldi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gmiSPMHrWQ

[begin_within]

17. also his "Greensleeves"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM78qayC338

and many other things he did are oustanding, "Rain Rain Go Away," "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," "Linus and Lucy," "Peppermint Patty," "Skating," and I love "Christmas Time is Here" too.

[pokerfan]

19. Yep

The album (now the CD) is part of Christmas for me.

1. O Tannenbaum
2. What Child Is This?
3. My Little Drum
4. Linus and Lucy
5. Christmas Time Is Here
6. Christmas Time Is Here
7. Skating
8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
9. Christmas Is Coming
10. Für Elise
11. Christmas Song
12. Greensleeves

Looks like I need to pick up the 2006 release with bonus tracks:

13. "Christmas Is Coming" (Alternate Take 1)
14. "The Christmas Song" (Alternate Take 3)
15. "Greensleeves" (Alternate Take 6)
16. "Christmas Time Is Here" (Alternate Vocal Take)

[tigereye]

13. any medieval and Renaissance music

Ancient Noels - Maggie Sansone and Ensemble Galilei

Wolcom Yule- Anonymous 4

Sing We Noel - Boston Camerata

The Holly and the Ivy - Boston Camerata

Winterborne


Marian McPartland and Friends- Piano Jazz Christmas (I think that's the title)

The Roches Christmas CD. Lovely and fun.

Bummed Out Christmas - Rhino

[WCGreen]

16. I love the medieval and Renaissance music....

As well a ELP's song I Believe in Father Christmans

[GreenPartyVoter]

29. We usd to have a lovely tape of Gregorian chants. I wish I knew what happened to it.

[tigereye]

56. the CDs are pretty cheap used, too...

I just ordered a bunch from Amazon...


I love chant. So mystical and other-worldly

[begin_within]

18. O Holy Night

which I think is the best traditional Christmas carol. And although I'm not enough of a Celine Dion fan to go to one of her concerts, I think she has the best recording of it, at least that I've heard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM78qayC338

[WCGreen]

20. I also really like Do They Know it's Christmas....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jEnTSQStGE

[Taverner]

21. So this is Christmas by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

[begin_within]

22. The Waitresses - "Christmas Wrapping"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jy4X87fDk4

[MorningGlow]

23. "Christmas Wrapping"

The Waitresses (accept no substitutes).

And "The Christians and the Pagans" by Dar Williams. :evilgrin:

[deucemagnet]

24. "Merry Christmas from the Family" by Robert Earl Keene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg

[enigmatic]

39. great song

:thumbsup:

[enigmatic]

40. "O Holy Night"- Homer Slockenheimer

For real:

http://recluseshow.blogspot.com/2007/11/o-holy-night-homer-slockheimer.html

[tXr]

55. I can relate to that one.

[jobycom]

62. Ya, that's the greatest ever Christmas song. nt

[hobbit709]

70. My fave too

Since it is so true to real life.

[hippywife]

25. This is my absolute all-time favorite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWPMkDDAb7w&feature=rela

Otherwise, I don't like any of it. :hi:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

26. As a choir geek, I like a lot of the medieval, Renaissance, and early English

and French carols, as well as some modern choral arrangements.

Over the Christmas season, my choir will be singing:

A Spotless Rose by Herbert Howells
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree by Elizabeth Poston
Angelus ad Virginem (medieval)
Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre
Ding Dong Merrily on High (traditional English)
Nowel by Richard Rodney Bennett
Sir Christemas by William Mathias
A Hymn to the Virgin by Benjamin Britten
I Saw Three Ships arranged by Philip Ledger
All This Time by William Walton
and a host of others

[abq e streeter]

27. A heartwarming Springsteen song ( warning--just kidding; actually pretty crude)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvmqkbeeYz0


but pretty damn funny too

[abq e streeter]

28. but actually: The Band-Christmas Must Be Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX806HAIlLk

[abq e streeter]

30. And the great Darlene Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ7iyRJrFg8&feature=related

[rug]

31. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prW4QhEkiU8

[pokerfan]

32. I have a DVD of Emmanuelle

Pretty much the same thing.

[rug]

33. Did you . . . oh, never mind.

[IcyPeas]

34. cocteau twins - winter wonderland -- and these others too: ......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vm9_mXmtKo

also:

Cocteau Twins - Frosty the Snowman

Kate Bush - December will be Magic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfD7FzcjVyQ


Ramones - Merry Christmas (I don't want to fight tonight)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of2tzbVHYCY


Greg Lake - I Believe in Father Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqOfXumI18A

Payolas - Christmas is Coming
Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
Joni Mitchell - River
Loreena McKennitt - Snow

[femmocrat]

35. Anthing by Perry Como.

Especially his rendition of "Ave Maria". I miss Perry. :cry:

[kwassa]

36. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

The older, the better with most Christmas music.

I hate Christmas pop.

[enigmatic]

37. "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)"- The Ramones

http://recluseshow.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-dont-want-to-fight.html

[Inchworm]

41. What Child is This?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLl2Jg936g4

I hear. and imagine it more like this though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ItNxpwChE

Happy Holidays!

:*

[lildreamer316]

43. Yes, . Firestone Christmas #4 - Julie Andrews

Her last song "The Bells of Christmas" is just...amazing. Beautiful. Heavenly.
I also like the Dorthy Kristen & Young Americans "I Wonder As I Wander"; and
the versions of "Coventry Carol"; "Rocking"; and "Masters In This Hall". I've never found versions that lived up to these anywhere else.

I'm thrilled someone finally made them available as CDs and MP3s; but husband could have recorded them from the LPs for me..he's just been busy and the sound may not have been up to par.

http://www.christmaslpstocd.com/shop/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=firestone4&sid=o93h4c6g83824q6i07977xuv3164m7a5

[Blue_In_AK]

44. I'm so done with Christmas music

I'm old, I've heard it all.

[Sebastian Doyle]

47. Can't leave out this classic from FEAR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Zgol2NQhlM

[LostInAnomie]

48. Oak Ridge Boys' Christmas Album

It's corny as hell but my mother always used to play it when I was little and she would drive me around during the Holidays. It's a sentimental favorite.

[Sebastian Doyle]

49. Joy To The World - Bad Religion style

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyXz2NlcpvE

[donheld]

50. Sure

http://www.superlaugh.com/cmas/chimney.htm

[Kat45]

51. I tend to like rock'n'roll Christmas songs. For example:

The Waitresses "Christmas Wrappings"
Hendrix "Little Drummer Boy:"
Springsteen "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (which I was lucky to see him do live)
Kinks "Father Christmas"
John Lennon "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"
Elvis "Blue Christmas"

I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot more. When I was younger, I made a tape of rock Christmas songs by taping them off the radio but of course that's long gone. I also like blues Christmas songs.

[Kat45]

52. And for a little raunchy fun....

there's Blowfly's Christmas disc and the Yobs Christmas album. :rofl:

[EndersDame]

53. Feliz Navidad- Los Straitjackets w/ The World Famous Potani sisters

Way Cool Surf band donning Lucha Masks -Check
Gogo Dancing from Burlesque Troop - Check Check

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5Yn41J1AqM

[kentauros]

54. Not any one song, but I like somafm's choices:

somafm

Christmas Lounge
Xmas in Frisko

:D

[GoCubsGo]

58. Doug and Bob's "12 Days of Christmas"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEbUtpPQihM&feature=related

[MoralSyncretism]

59. The old Brenda Lee classics

"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and another one I can't think of. Also the barking Jingle Bells one. LOL - sorry about that. :)

[applegrove]

60. Got my parents the Vera Lynn album and we all love it. Not very Christmassy but

touching music nevertheless.

I'm still waiting to hear the Bruce Springsteins "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".

[stewartcolbert08]

61. Carol of the Bells

thats about it! LOL

[Waiting For Everyman]

65. An instrumental by Santana called "Posada (Pilgrimage to Bethlehem)"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4YN7qXWiUQ

[Angleae]

66. Anything by the Bob Rivers Show or Weird Al

Such as:

White Trash Christmas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2OwM_JfGe4

The Twelve Pains of Christmas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKiD--Mz5K4

The Night Santa Went Crazy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTGlUMvbhSw&feature=related

[Brewman_Jax]

67. One of my favorites

is A Very Bass Christmas, with Techno House and Drum&Bass versions of Christmas favorites.

[begin_within]

68. I like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSECT8QieGQ

[brendan120678]

71. I like the more "traditional" Christmas songs...

"O Holy Night" and "Silent Night" are my two favorites.
"Silent Night" especially if sung by a large choir in the original German is magnificent.

[CBR]

72. Mele Kalikimaka nt

[City of Mills]

73. George Winston - December

http://www.amazon.com/December-George-Winston/dp/B000000NFI

All of his albums are pretty good!

[Altoid_Cyclist]

74. Christmas by Bruce Cockburn

This isn't anything like the traditional Christmas music that one usually hears this time of year ad nauseum.
His guitar work alone makes this an album that can be played anytime of year.


From itunes:

A generous 15 tracks breathing new life into well-worn standards like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by focusing on their potential as good songs rather than distancing them on some solemn pedestal. When Cockburn sandwiches these between such non-conventional contributions as the gospel-bluegrass of "Early On One Christmas Morn," the Spanish "Riu Riu Riu," the French/world beat of "Les anges dans nos campagnes," the Huron Indian "Jesus Ahatonnia," and the ancient, spooky "Down In Yon Forest," the disc takes on a complex flavor that can be savored any time of the year.

Link to Rhapsody:
http://www.rhapsody.com/bruce-cockburn/christmas

[PRETZEL]

75. A few,

I have the Transiberian Orchestra Trilogy which I just love. My daughter turned me on to them a couple of years ago.

Also, in that same vein, Manheim Steamroller is also pretty good. I have a couple of their CD's.

But my favorite is probably Handel's Messiah. That came from my wife.