What are your 5 favorite Christmas records?

[minimetoo26]

Yesterday the DJ's hijacked the show and threatened to play Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer and nothing else until they got 20 people to donate $15 a month for 12 months to the Children's Hospital. By the end of the hour, some people were calling in to offer to donate if they would keep playing it!

I guess I'm not the only one who likes it around here.

Andy Williams' Most Wonderful Time is a major family favorite. You should see the dance we do to it. Or maybe not. It's blackmail-worthy.

[etaoin22]

Little Saint Nick - The Man With All the Toys - Beach Boys
Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby and David Bowie
Christmas In Jail - The Youngsters
Run Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry.

Maybe not all but no overplayed syrup, even Elvis.

[mellytu74]

I have been thinking a great deal about this over the last couple of days

I've been hearing Perry Como & The Fontaine Sisters' version of "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas" a lot more this year than in the recent past. It reminds me of the now-vintage greeting cards in TLAF's store in the 1950's.

I started playing around with lists -- contemporary, oldies, traditional & hymns.

Try as I might, I cannot limit the list to five songs.

Mele Kalekemaki - Bette Midler
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters -- completely different arrangement -- it's like it's two different songs.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Barenaked Ladies & Sarah MacLachlan
White Christmas - The Drifters
Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Frank Sinatra
Mary's Boy Child - Harry Belefonte
Mary, Did You Know? - I've mentioned my favorite version is done by our parish's childrens' choir
Adeste Fideles - I prefer the Latin version to Oh Come, All Ye Faithful (or a version that combines both)

That's 10 and I haven't even scratched the surface of songs I really love.

I just heard a terrific version of I Saw Three Ships - I have NO idea whose version this is but it's a choral and very Gaelic sounding at the end. If I can find out who did it -- somewhere on XM radio channel 37 -- it will be on the list of favorites.

Dominick the Donkey - I realize that Dominick isn't everyone's cup of tea (:D) but it's a song from my childhood that I hold dear to my heart.

I also like songs that aren't technically Christmas songs but fit the season -- I Believe by Larry Chance & the Earls and Count Your Blessings by Rosemary Clooney.

I really like Angels We Have Heard on High sung at church, too.

But if I cut it off there, where's Stevie Wonder's Someday at Christmas or O Holy Night (like Frank, pretty much any really well-sung version) or What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? -- I prefer Sonny Till and the Orioles' version.

And I'm still not done....

It's just too tough.

[TheCalvinator24]

I love "Little Drummer Boy," and the best version is the one by Bing Crosby and David Bowie

"O, Holy Night" is great. I like the Clay Aiken version

A good version of "Silver Bells" is always nice.

"This Baby" by Stephen Curtis Chapman

"Silent Night"

[mellytu74]

Bringing this forward...

We listened to Christmas music in the car to and from Boonie's doctor's appt. this morning. Three local stations and three XM stations.

I heard Gesu Bambino this morning for the the first time this year. Reminded me how much I love that carol.

I also heard the Hippopotamus song for the first time this year. It was the first time that Boonie ever heard it; he was having a fine time. I was having fun, too. Partially because I hadn't heard it a million times since Halloween.

A local station played Happy Christmas (War Is Over) and Wonderful Christmas Time back to back this morning.

I realized how much Happy Christmas (War Is Over) has grown on me over the years.

I also realized how much I've grown to dislike Wonderful Christmas Time. No reason. I think just hearing it too much has made me weary.

Kinda like the Celtic music in the other thread.

Or the Hippopotamus song.

[earendel]

My musical tastes are divided into two parts - religious and secular.

Religious:
Little Drummer Boy (the version by the French choral group)
O Holy Night (Bing Crosby)
Do You Hear What I Hear?
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Johnny Mathis)
Mary, Did you Know? (Kenny Rogers and friends)

Secular:
Sleigh Ride (Boston Pops or Leroy Anderson)
All I Want for Christmas is You (Mariah Carey)
Little St. Nick (Beach Boys)
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives)
White Christmas (Bing Crosby)

[5LD]

I'm with you on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan (but the rest of the Barenaked Xmas sucks!)

2. Judy Garland, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
3. Bing, I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
4. Zat You Santa Clause, Louis Armstrong
5. Pearl Bailey, Five Pound Box of Money
6. Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt

I also love the CD Everything You Want for Christmas by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Asylum Street Spankers Xmas CD. I also have a wonderful CD of campy Cha-Cha Christmas Music that includes "Mamacita, Donde Est A Santa Claus?" by Augie Rios. Delightful. Spike Jones does some fun Christmas stuff too.

[Appa23]

I love many of the same songs as others here, although sometimes by different singers. If I had to name my five (six) favorite:

1. "Behold the Lamb of God" (entire album, as it is a concept album) by Andrew Peterson.
- If I had to pick a favorite, it would be "Labor of Love", although "Matthew's Begats" is hilarious live.

2. Mary's Song (Breath of Heaven) by Rachael Lampa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5iiOzJc ... re=related

3. "Christmas Time" from the good Charlie Brown Christmas Special (if for no other reason than it reminds me of my ultimate favorite Christmas moment -- Linus reading Luke 2:8-14)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn10FF-FQfs

4. "Mary, Did you Know" by Kathy Mattea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFPHIK9a ... 1&index=84

5. "Little Drummer Boy" by Jars of Clay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHzxpECF ... re=related

5. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman" by BNL and Sarah McLachlan


Others just missing the list:

- "Carol of the Bells" by Mannheim Steamroller (gotta give some love to Omaha)

- "Wizards of Winter" by TSO (if for no other reason than my son and I have a holiday tradition where we watch lighting displays on Youtube utilizing this song.)

- "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"

- "O Holy Night" by nearly anyone (except Celine Dion)

[T_Bone0806]

This would take a lot of thought. By the time I narrowed it down to 5, It would be New Year's Eve. It wouldn't make my Top 5 when all is s aid and done, but Stevie Wonder's "What Christmas Means to Me" has been running through my head all day.

Snappy lil' tune.

[Merry Mini]

Free Christmas song! And I like Elliott Yamin, too.

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Store ... loads.aspx

I know Amazon had a free download of Jason Castro doing White Christmas on the ukulele. I'll check to see if it's still available.

American Idol is a great source of free promotional stuff. You don't feel ripped off at that price....

[Merry Mini]

Still free.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw_0_ ... son+castro

[T_Bone0806]

Bringing this forward...

We listened to Christmas music in the car to and from Boonie's doctor's appt. this morning. Three local stations and three XM stations.

I heard Gesu Bambino this morning for the the first time this year. Reminded me how much I love that carol.

I also heard the Hippopotamus song for the first time this year. It was the first time that Boonie ever heard it; he was having a fine time. I was having fun, too. Partially because I hadn't heard it a million times since Halloween.

A local station played Happy Christmas (War Is Over) and Wonderful Christmas Time back to back this morning.

I realized how much Happy Christmas (War Is Over) has grown on me over the years.

I also realized how much I've grown to dislike Wonderful Christmas Time. No reason. I think just hearing it too much has made me weary.

Kinda like the Celtic music in the other thread.

Or the Hippopotamus song.

As much of a Beatle fanatic as I am, I have never much cared for Wonderful Christmastime. It has always sounded like a quick knockoff thrown together on a lark. Sometimes that isn't a bad thing. Not in this case. Doesn't even sound like Macca is even giving a half-hearted effort.

However, I just heard a version by the Contemporary Christian band Jars of Clay that is pretty darn good. Quite interesting what they've done with it. They also do a song called "Love Came Down on Christmas" that is a gem.

The three new holiday releases that I am enjoying the most are "Christmas Spirit" by Los Lonely Boys, "Come Darkness Come Light" by Mary Chapin Carpenter, and "Christmas-a-Go-Go", a compilation from Little Steven's Underground Garage radio show (Little Steven is Bruce Springsteen's right-hand man/guitarist. This compilation features garage bands, Power pop bands, surf rock and psychedelia, ranging from recent to mid-60's stuff. Keith Richards does a loose and rollicking "Run Rudoplh Run", The Electric Prunes (?) offer "Jingle Bells", there's a young Bob Seger, The Knks, and A couple of oddities by Soupy Sales and Joe Pesci! A fun disc.

The M. C. Carpenter is a quiet type of disc I call a "fireplace album", as it lends itself to relaxing by a well-stoked fireplace and the glow of the tree. Gentle and soothing music.

Los Lonely Boys give us a tasty mix of originals and covers. Not too raucous and not too soft. Highlight is a Latin-flavored "Carol of the Bells", which sounds like Santana cutting loose. I was surprised how much I like this disc.

Enya's "And Winter Came" is not bad, but I have to admit there is a sameness to much of the music. One exception is "My time flies" which is bounciere than I think I've ever heard her. Again, most of it is not very groundbreaking but it is no terrible either. Another "Fireplace album".

[Estonut]

However, I just heard a version by the Contemporary Christian band Jars of Clay that is pretty darn good. Quite interesting what they've done with it. They also do a song called "Love Came Down on Christmas" that is a gem.

Shawn Colvin's Christmas album from about 10 years ago also has "Love Came Down at Christmas." That and "In the Bleak Midwinter" are my two favorites from her album, as they both fit her voice and style very well.

[Kazoo65]

Someone mentioned "Angels We Have Heard on High" earlier. Every time I hear that song, I remember being in 5th grade. Every year, the 5th and 6th grades in my school put on a Christmas concert. Since this is a Catholic school, we would sing lots of traditional Christmas music. We'd start learning the songs in October. Our music teacher was a nun (who looked like she was about 80-white hair sticking out from her habit, glasses, hands that looked arthritic) who insisted that we sing the "Gloooooooria" part really loud. I STILL sing it that way.

[Bob78164]

Most gifts under a Christmas tree
Most calories in a single Christmas dinner
Most relatives crammed around a single table
Most stars in a single night sky
Fewest battlefield casualties and unnecessary or downright stupid deaths in a single day.

Isn't that the kind of record you were talking about? --Bob

[AlphaDummy]

I will likely draw my quota of rotten tomatoes for the last couple of entries here, but what the hey...

"O Bambino" (Harry Simeone Chorale)
"Light of the Stable" (Emmylou Harris)
"The Little Drummer Boy" (by just about anybody)
"Silent Night" (Stevie Nicks)
"Mary's Boy Child" (Boney M)

I don't know what it is that draws me to the SN version of SN. Perhaps the perceived incongruity of Stevie Nicks performing a Christian favorite? Not sure, really. And the arrangement is admittedly not something that will please everybody. Still, there is something about it that keeps pulling me back. I do know that part of it is Stevie's voice, which would send chills down my spine even if she were singing page 3 of the Mosinee phone book...

As for Boney M: The thread title asks for "records". Avoid the video, unless you plan on turning the monitor off. Nothing offensive about it at all; it...just...sucks. Nevertheless, this is (IMO) a good match of group and song, and it works for me.

[Hotseat Or Bust!]

I almost forgot, I also enjoy Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses.

[Appa23]

Hey, T-Bone also is a Jars of Clay fan!

(Plus, he "cheated" off my paper on the awesomeness of Mattea's version of "Mary, Did You Know?")

[AlphaDummy]

A couple of quick non-"record" addenda:

- "A-Soalin'" (Peter, Paul and Mary) - Not sure if this was ever released on record. A shame if it wasn't.

- And a song whose title still eludes me (I posted about this some years ago): A few years back (quite a few, actually) my future wife and I went to Midnight Mass at the church where I grew up. These folks pulled out all of the stops when it came to music; all of the different groups who played/sang for Sunday Mass throughout the year (guitar group, traditional choir, etc, etc) all had a part. For me, the most moving part was a carol I had never heard before or since. The choir cranked it up on a carol whose chorus consisted of "Gloria, Gloria, Gloriaaa".

To this day I have not been able to figure out anything more about this particular carol - and, like I said, I have never heard it again. Maybe someday...

[Estonut]

- And a song whose title still eludes me (I posted about this some years ago): A few years back (quite a few, actually) my future wife and I went to Midnight Mass at the church where I grew up. These folks pulled out all of the stops when it came to music; all of the different groups who played/sang for Sunday Mass throughout the year (guitar group, traditional choir, etc, etc) all had a part. For me, the most moving part was a carol I had never heard before or since. The choir cranked it up on a carol whose chorus consisted of "Gloria, Gloria, Gloriaaa".

To this day I have not been able to figure out anything more about this particular carol - and, like I said, I have never heard it again. Maybe someday...

Is this it?

[AlphaDummy]

Thanks! Nice song, but definitely not it.

The one I am thinking of had a much more classical feel to it - the type of song that one would only imagine being performed by a choir. Also, the three "glorias" are repeated frequently throughout.

[T_Bone0806]

A couple of quick non-"record" addenda:

- "A-Soalin'" (Peter, Paul and Mary) - Not sure if this was ever released on record. A shame if it wasn't.

It is, it is!!

http://www.amazon.com/Holiday-Celebrati ... 544&sr=1-2

My wife and I love this disc.

A while back you sent me a VHS tape of a BB on BAM and I was never able to "repay" the kndness. If you wish, I can make you a copy of this disc and send it to you. Just PM me your address. You won't have it on time for THIS Christmas, but you'll have it for the next one.

I thought of a few more songs/discs I like that haven't been mentioned:

"Good News" by Kathy Mattea. Standout songs are "There's a New Kid in Town", "Mary Did You Know" (my favorite rendition of this song), and MOST especially, "Christ Child's Lullabye", which is absolutely beautiful.

"Hallelujah He is Born" by Sawyer Brown. The title track, "Glory to the King", and my favorite, "Where Christmas Goes":

Gold cardboard angels --- popcorn on string
One matchbox manger not fit for a King
Old decorations going back in their box
Down came the Christmas tree --
Just a child in its spot

And I was that child asking my Daddy why
Some things just come when it's Christmas time

Chorus
Tell me where Christmas goes
After all the gifts and snow
I hope it doesn't go far
Daddy said close your eyes
Remember when and you will find
That it's right where you are
Cause Christmas goes right to your heart

Two little people look up from their beds
No bedtime stories --- just questions instead
How do reindeer fly and where do they live?
And do little elves really make all the gifts that Santa gives

Oh I was that child asking my Daddy why
Now I look at their faces through my Daddy's eyes

Tell me where Christmas goes
After all the gifts and snow
I hope it doesn't go far
Daddy said close your eyes
Remember when and you will find
That it's right where you are
Cause Christmas goes right to your heart


And, off the beaten path, A song by the power pop band Mike Viola & The Candy Butchers "Give Me a Second Chance for Christmas", a midtempo Beatle-ish number with hooks aplenty. Viola is the guy who is ACTUALLY singing the lead on the title track in the movie "That Thing You Do".

[minimetoo26]

This would take a lot of thought. By the time I narrowed it down to 5, It would be New Year's Eve. It wouldn't make my Top 5 when all is s aid and done, but Stevie Wonder's "What Christmas Means to Me" has been running through my head all day.

Snappy lil' tune.

I just heard this yesterday! It made me look up to see what it was.

I like.