What is your favorite Christmas music that you listen to during the Holidays, whether it be a digital mix, an old CD or cassette, or heaven forbid – a vinyl LP?!!

Every year, for many years now, I have added a new Christmas CD (or 2 or 3) to my collection (and convert to digital of course!), but for some reason there are a handful that I continue playing more frequently. They keep drawing me back. I think the music holds up well on all of these, but perhaps it’s because these records have certain memories attached to them.

In no particular order – other than the first on the list, here is my list, with some honorable mentions at the bottom. This is by no means a definitive list, and I’d love to hear your favorites. Scroll to the Comments section and let me know what your go-to list is.

• Columbia Record Club – “A Treasury Of Christmas” (circa 1960’s)

This is my all-time favorite. It is so old that I can’t find it in any way, shape, or form anywhere on the Internet. About 10 years ago, though, I was able to find the artwork. (I still have my mom’s albums) My mom had a membership and used to get record albums every month. This 4-album set has 2 albums dedicated to instrumentals, some from Handel’s Messiah. In those days the songs were only about 2:25 long, so you could listen to all 4 albums in about an hour. There was something about hearing all the instruments in an orchestra playing in high-fidelity. The other 2 albums had songs by popular stars of that era – Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Doris Day, Mahalia Jackson, The New Christy Minstrels, Robert Goulet, Steve Lawrence & Edie Gourmet, The Ray Conniff Singers, and many more. As a child who grew up singing in church and school musicals and choirs, I remember playing these records over and over. Singing into the hairbrush in front of the wall of mirrors in our Living Room. (You know you did it, too!)

• Barbra Streisand – “Christmas Memories” (2001)

My favorite female singer of all time, I had to include Barbra in my list. Her vocal instrument is the human equivalent of the arrangements in The Nutcracker Suite. Barbra always has an orchestra accompany her, which I love, but her instrument has the high tones, going down to the low, whispers, and back up to the crescendos that very few other artists can achieve. And can she hold a note! I had the pleasure of seeing her in concert in 2006, and at the time I remember thinking that age had not affected her singing. And sometimes when you listen to someone on a recording and then go to see them in a show, you can be disappointed because they might not sound the same, with all the effects a recording studio can add, but Barbra did not disappoint. Her sound tells a story with each song, and it was no different on this Christmas record. And I don’t tend to think of Christmas music as romantic, but I’m sure this record has accompanied many couples next to a cozy fire. 

• Elvis Presley – “Elvis’ Christmas Album”(1957)

Elvis rendition of “Blue Christmas” went viral from the original 1957 release. This is Elvis’ best-selling album and has also remained the best-selling holiday album of all time – 50 years after its release with 20 million copies sold!* Part of Elvis’ legacy was that he loved and frequently mixed gospel music into his other albums, as he does on this record. One side is Christmas classics and carols and the other side is gospel music. These songs showed off Elvis’ rich vocal style with spiritual feeling. With the combination of these, plus the mix of pop, bluesy, country, and traditional styles on Side 1, Elvis had a whole new following. Elvis actually only made two Christmas albums, but after his death there were many spinoffs with different cover art. The original was in a red cover that included a picture book inside. The 1973 remake, which is the one I have, scrapped the gospel songs and added additional Christmas songs and a bonus track. I recently saw an original copy of the album on eBay for $1,500.

*Billboard Magazine, October 2020

• 4Him – “Christmas – “The Season Of Love” (1993)

This Christian group of 4 guys had a way of harmonizing that I just loved. The title song is still one of my favorites. There are also a few songs original to the record, but the arrangements they did on the old Christmas hymns infused new life into these familiar carols. Their harmonies are heavenly! One of the original songs is called “Strange Way To Save The World” which is a refreshing and surprising twist. Most religious Christmas carols are either about Jesus or Mary, but this song is from Joseph’s perspective. This record is both new and traditional at the same time.

• The Carpenters – “Christmas Portrait” (1978 & 1984)

This one’s a classic. The first version of this I had was on a cassette tape, and I have to say that I enjoyed it more than I did the 1984 remake on CD. They added a very long opening overture on the CD and also added several other songs that made this a very long CD. I know shuffle play is probably the younger generation’s preference, but there is something to say about listening to a record in its entirety in the order of songs as recorded on the album. There was a familiarity about it that had you looking forward to knowing what the next song was coming up. Because I had that order in my head, I never did get used to the new order of things on the CD. With that aside, Karen Carpenter had a voice like an angel and the warmth of her sound perfectly suited Christmas music. A good choice for any collection.

• The London Symphony Orchestra – “The Nutcracker Suite” (1992)

If you have never seen a production of The Nutcracker Suite, you can be sure you’ll be familiar with most of the music. This record is such a classic and never goes out of style; it’s a nice tradition to pass along. And the music production makes you feel as if you’re right there with the Sugar Plum Fairies. The arrangements in a song can start out quiet, almost to the point where you can’t quite hear it. But don’t turn up the volume too much because the songs can build to quite a crescendo. So, turn on the Surround Sound and enjoy!

• Amy Grant – “A Christmas Album” (1983)

Amy Grant has made many Christmas albums during her career, but this early record, her first Christmas recording, is still my favorite, which she recorded at age 22. Although she has a different tone to her voice than Karen Carpenter, they are similar in the ease with which they both sing. This one’s a good combination of favorite popular carols and Christmas hymns and is a great accompaniment for a long car ride. It includes the original song “Tennessee Christmas” for you Country Music fans and a great version of “Sleigh Ride.” You’ll find yourself singing along and never tiring of this record.

• NSync – “Home For Christmas” (1998)

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some music by an iconic boy band, and NSync is definitely iconic. The music on this record is as unique as they are, and the sound and arrangements are upbeat and definitely get you in the Holiday spirit. Let’s face it – some people have had enough of Christmas music by the time January rolls around but this is one of those records you can keep playing through the Holidays and never tire of it.

• Kelly Clarkson – “Wrapped In Red” (2013)

Kelly Clarkson is currently my favorite female pop singer. There is nothing she can’t sing. This record has so many styles of music, and she shows off her pipes in all of them, whether jazzy, bluesy country, or pop. Her version of “Run, Run Rudolph” is my favorite by far. She really belts it out in many of these songs, which I’ve heard as a criticism from some people. To those naysayers my response is, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” Maybe a different way to listen to this record is to make a mix of holiday hits and intersperse music from this record. Perhaps if you hear the songs on this record intermittently instead of listening to it in sequence from start-to-finish, you might come to appreciate her vocal artistry. Her powerhouse of a voice will lift you right out of the doldrums and put you in the Holiday spirit, which we all need so much this year.

• Various Artists – “Now That’s What I Call Christmas -Vol. 1” (2001)

This two-disc CD was the best-selling two-CD Holiday album and the #1 Holiday album for both 2001 & 2002. Its two sequels also sold well. Disc 1 features popular artists from the mid-20^th Century, such as Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, and others. Disc 2 features popular artists from the latter part of the 20^th Century, such as Michael Bolton, Paul McCartney, Harry Connick, Jr., Gloria Estefan, Luther Vandross, Britney Spears, Manheim Steamroller, and others. The perfect blend of artists, especially for us Baby Boomers who listened to all of this music. We were lucky that we had our own music and also our parents’ music that still stands the test of time by giving us the most popular Christmas songs by these artists to always cherish.

THIS ONE IS A TIE WITH:

• Various Artists – “A Very Special Christmas” – This record featured artists who were all coming off of #1 studio albums, including Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Bon Jovi, U2, Whitney Houston, Stevie Nicks, and The Pretenders, among others. There were five sequels to this album, but this was actually the best-selling Christmas record done by various artists. And in the spirit of giving, all proceeds from the sale of these albums was donated to the Special Olympics.

• Stevie Wonder – “The Christmas Collection” – (Remastered in 2004)

Stevie’s music makes me happy. This record is classic Motown old-school Stevie. A family-friendly record that is fun for children and adults alike. This a record to which you can bake cookies, decorate the tree, and dance around the Living Room on several of the more upbeat tracks. I have had the pleasure of seeing Stevie in concert twice and have to say he is my favorite artist and songwriter. Although I don’t believe he wrote any of the unfamiliar songs on this record, Stevie has a way of bringing people together. This was evident at both concerts. I have never attended another popular artist’s concert who had people of all ages and all races coming together as one to celebrate this man’s music. People who were kind to each other in the concession line, in the parking lot, and when you had to crawl over them to get to your seat. People who were dancing in the aisles together. Smiles everywhere. This record wasn’t considered a top seller when it was released, but I had to include it because of the collective work of Stevie. It’s like I say in my Sunrize Connection blog – it all comes back to relationships. If you have an experience in your life, no matter what you may be doing, that creates a memory, stirs a memory, or makes you smile, then it’s something worth sharing.

• Kenny Rogers – “Kenny Rogers Christmas” (1981)

This record has an interesting mix of the familiar and some that were not familiar at the time. Kenny sang with great ease; his voice and music always made me want to go home for Christmas. Christmas music meant so much to him, particularly after his twin boys were born.  that he had a 35-year tradition of bringing Christmas concerts to North America that ended in 2016. These arrangements will stick with you and have you singing along every time.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Kenny G – “Miracles”
• Celine Dion – “These Are Special Times
• Mariah Carey – “Merry Christmas”
• Pentatonix – Anything by this group is special
• Elvis Presley – “The Wonderful World Of Christmas”
• Various Christian Artists – “Our Family Christmas”
• Whitney Houston – song “Joy To The World”

Most of these are available digitally, but the vinyl or CD versions might set you back a pretty penny.