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Every year the Holiday CD market is given a few more gifts of song. The albums range from the singer-of-the-moment
to dead performers singing duets of marvel with present day stars. Through the years there have been some that stand out in our collection from all the others, and here they are in order of their release:
to dead performers singing duets of marvel with present day stars. Through the years there have been some that stand out in our collection from all the others, and here they are in order of their release:
Bing Crosby
White Christmas 1945
The song that inspired the 1954 movie
along with other carols with notable arrangements.
Phil Spector
A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector 1963
Classic recording including Darlene Love's
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Andy Williams
The Andy Williams Christmas Album 1963
Several of the songster's favorite arrangements.
Vince Guaraldi
A Charlie Brown Christmas 1965
The only jazz Christmas album I can stand!
Elvis
If Every Day Was Like Christmas 1966
All of the legend's favorite Christmas songs.
Barbra Streisand
A Christmas Album 1967
I've worn out three of these albums.
Philadelphia Brass Ensemble
A Festival of Carols in Brass 1968
Classic arrangements with no vocals.
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
Once Upon a Christmas 1984
Soundtrack from the vanguard music video TV special.
Peter, Paul, and Mary
Holiday Celebration 1992
Something for all ages.
Soundtrack from Toys
Toys 1992
A fantasy movie with a fantastical soundtrack.
Placido Domingo, Diana Ross and Jose Carreras
Christmas in Vienna 1993
Memorable recording of the PBS special.
Michael W. Smith
Christmas Album 1993
All three of his Christmas albums are great,
but this one started it all.
Vanessa Williams
Star Bright 1996
An instant modern hit.
Ru Paul
Ho Ho Ho 1997
Disco and irreverent takes on familiar and unfamiliar carols.
Linda Eder
Christmas Stays the Same 2000
Her Broadway interpretation of many holiday classics.
Martha Stewart Living
Home for the Holidays 2001
Compilation of singers with their holiday hits.
Adagio Trio
Winter Gift 2002
Barbara Cook
Count Your Blessings 2003
The Broadway veteran lends her interpretation
to some unconventional holiday songs.
Frank Sinatra
The Christmas Collection 2004
A timeless collection of many of his holiday classics.
Kristin Chenoweth
A Lovely Way To Spend Christmas 2008
Every arrangement works on this holiday songbook.
Glee
The Music, The Christmas Album 2010
The cast now has three holiday albums,
but this one was the beginning.
Indigo Girls
Holly Happy Days 2010
A romp through many unconventional holiday songs.
Of course, there are hundreds more out there and these are just our opinion of the best. Our taste in holiday music tends toward the traditional arrangements so ones like Mannheim Steamroller have been omitted even though they're the number one selling Christmas albums.
We do have a couple albums to be avoided at all costs. Christina Aguilera's (we love her) sounds like she's gargling her way through every tune and her rendition of Oh Holy Night should be banned. How anyone can take such a beautiful song and do that to it is simply beyond comprehension. We've only heard portions of Aretha Franklin's holiday attempt (we love her too) and that was enough to turn us off to the rest.
I hope you have a very merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWe have heard bunches of those, the Momma says she can sing the entire Andy Williams record by heart (We hope she doesn't start now...)
ReplyDeleteBack when she was a girl, she used to listen to two records that were put out by the Firestone Tire Company with Christmas songs by a lot of famous people on them. She said they "wore those things out" at the holidays. I think that means she liked them.
Neil says he remembers the Firestone albums too. I'm betting I could find some in our basement!
ReplyDelete