Back in 1979, I had a job in Nevada and was driving home to Indiana for Christmas. I think it was Nebraska where, for the first time ever, I heard “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.” Now, it just isn’t Christmas for me unless I hear that song at least once.
I have the whole Nat King Cole Christmas Album on CD. I also enjoy The Nutcracker suite with all the dances. Narada did a nice version of it. My favorite though has to be “Old Toy Trains” as sung by Nana Mouskouri. I didn’t hear it until I was in my 30’s, but there’s something about its simplicity that gets to me.
Philip Wesley’s “Carol of the Bells” (for those of you who’ve read Teleria, it’s the song I wrote Allenia’s “snowflake creation” scene to; that song gives me goosebumps): https://youtu.be/s8vZfvYW-34
I make a playlist every year. I put unusual stuff on it, including Goth, pagan and Jewish songs, novelty tracks, mashups, whatever I can find. I’ve had both Sting’s and Melanie Safka’s versions of “I Saw Three Ships,” “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle”, Jana Mashonee singing all the old carols in Native American languages, etc. My cousin did a Christmas special every year for The Swing Years & Beyond. The other sound that really means Christmas to me is Paul Eakin’s Christmas Music Box Favorites. My mother bought that in ‘64 or ’65, and every year you knew it was Christmas because you’d hear that lovely enhanced sound on her fancy high tech GE stereo with that nice Garrard turntable. Awesome speakers.
There are so many great Christmas songs out there. Some make me smile and others make me want to tear up and cry as they bring back memories of years past and sometimes of my parents, grandparents, other loved ones, friends and yes, pets, who are no longer here. I also love a lot of the Christmas specials that I remember through the year: Peanuts, Frosty the Snowman, A Christmas Carol, Its a Wonderful Life etc. I heard on the Today show that NBC will be showing “Its a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve this year, its comforting to know it did not get moved onto some “pay to watch” platform like what Apple did with the Peanuts specials last year but have agreed to have them on PBS this year.
Manheim Steamroller (which others have mentioned). Also Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Plus SHeDAISY’s version of Jingle Bells. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAyhH5XI_V8
If you haven’t heard the original 1857 “The one-horse open sleigh” (Jingle Bells) by James Lord Pierpont, you’re in for a treat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TV2JchT6ks (with sheet music and lyrics)
Thanks to my stint in retail, I can only really enjoy about 2 weeks of it in December anymore. But when I do, it’s all about Bing, Danny Kaye, Burl Ives, Andy, Frankie and others from that era. My grandma had all the good Christmas records. I always put The complete Nutcracker Suite into the mix. I don’t mind a little Wham, Beatles and Lennon in moderation, but can’t stand Mariah. Toss in some Dolly and Alabama for the country side of it. I also make sure to throw in the Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time, The Grinch, the Charlie Brown Christmas and some Gayla Peevey just to watch folk twitch.
“I heard the bells on Christmas day.” I just now found out (thank you Mr. Google) that the words are a variant of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Not Christmas until I hear “Oh, I Yust go Nuts at Christmas,” Jorge Jorgensen. And “Christmas Wrapping,” the Waitresses. On a serious note though, “Breath of Heaven,” Amy Grant.
I’m definitely not an East 17 fan but my boyfriend became obsessed with their Christmas song ‘Stay Another Day’. As we lived in different countries at the start of our relationship it became ‘our song’. Here’s a shameless plug (also posted above) to my boyfriend’s band Ricky Spontane and his Christmas song performed by an earlier reincarnation of the band https://youtu.be/55_GNntoV2c
For me its not so much what music I hear but what music I can sing. Church music, anything with four part harmony, classics on the radio, and most importantly the Christmas portion of Handels Messiah with a group of trained professionals. By the way, I have 2 adult daughters and one adult son. Starting about 20 years ago after Sons voice changed, our family sang the Hallejulah Chorus in 4 part harmony, a capella, every Christmas morning before opening gifts. Daughters doubled. On alto. we All love it.
Robert Shaw Chorale – Christmas Hymns Vol 1 and 2. My parents had the original LPs from when they were issued in the late 50s. After I graduated and was out on my own, I searched for years for those albums to see if they’d been released on CD. I made do with other singers’ versions of some of the songs but it wasn’t quite the same. Then finally I found them. Ah, bliss. It was Christmas again.
I’m a scrooge. I despise most Christmas songs. I think think only one I won’t turn off if it comes on is Slade.December is a month of me listening to the iPod play lists, and wearing headphones when shopping.
All I Want for Christmas is You by Vince Vance and the Valiants is probably one of the most underrated EVER! Lisa Layne’s voice was amazing and she was pulled out of the background of the group to do the song. She should have been a star in her own right. For me, that’s one of the ’it’s not Christmas without hearing that song’ songs. LOVE Straight No Chaser’s Christmas Album if you want a good mix of fun and beautiful a Capella music. Manheim Steamroller, The Ronettes. I’ve sung all my life, choirs, professionally, pretty much you name it. I miss performing the whole of Handel’s Messiah. We sat 2,000 and it was packed. Then again anymore, you can’t find a church that does anything traditional, it’s all guitars and drums :( But I love most all Christmas music. There are a few internet radio stations that play it year round and I will occasionally tune in.
I replied to another post with Andy Williams and Bing Crosby, but there are so many…Johnny Mathis, The Holly and the Ivy, Christmas in Killarney, The Christmas Toy, Dominic the Donkey, Frank Sinatra, and list list goes on…
My mom was a very good pianist, self taught, played by ear. All our family Christmas parties would end with us all gathered around the piano singing Christmas carols. I tried so hard to record her playing Christmas carols, but she seemed to know when I was sneaking up with my portable cassette player and would stop. I did manage to get a full recording of her playing “Silent Night.” I also have a fragment of a home movie of us all gathered around the piano. My aunt stored it in her attic, so by the time one of my cousins had a friend convert it to video cassette, it was kind of blotch. Of course, there is no sound. I managed to convert it to DVD, but I’ve been unsuccessful trying to a digital format that will work on computers that no longer have DVD drives. When my DVD player and current computer die, those ancient home movies will die with them.
Andy Williams Christmas CD and a few long out of print albums from 60+ years ago. Doctor Demento’s Christmas CD when we need some a bit of comic relief.
When I was little®, my parents bought the chipmunk Christmas album. We played it over and over. I think I can still sing the chipmunk Christmas song. Oh! and I was thrilled to learn you can find it on Spotify.
Medieval and old English stuff. Boar’s Head Carol. Holly and the Ivy. Kentucky Wassail or Gloucester Wassail. Maybe some Italian, like Dormi, Dormi Bel Bambin.
For my mom, it was the Goodyear and Firestone Christmas albums; she owned all of them, and we started hearing them on the morning after Thanksgiving each year. (For those too young to remember, those two automotive stores used to release a promotional album every Christmas.)
Someone digitized them a few years ago, so I now have an MP3 playlist of all those albums…“The Great Songs of Christmas”…“Your Favorite Christmas Music”…ahhhh.
“Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses, and the entire South Park album Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics (which also contains the Chanukah classic “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel,” in which Kyle’s dad professes his undying love for Courteney Cox).-—
Christmas sounds like Kermit and Piggy signing What Christmas Means from The Muppet Christmas Carol, arguably the best modern adaptation of that story.
My Christmas “do not play” list is short: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” I have to leave a store if either turns up on their playlist while I’m shopping.
Johnny Mathis, Mormon Tabernacle choir, Nat King Cole, Bing, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Elvis, Mel Torme (spelling?), Mahalia Jackson’s Silent Night. Brenda Lee Rocking around the Christmas tree, Burl Ives, Carol of the Bells,
I’m one of those people that has become largely disenchanted Christmas music due to how overused it has become these days…but that said, I can still relate. Growing up, my family had a particular CD with the top Christmas music hits from the year it was released, and it had become a Christmas tradition for many years to play this disc while we were setting up the Christmas tree.
With the advent of streaming, mobile devices, and all that making CDs old hat, we don’t use that particular CD anymore, but we still seek out and play many of those same songs whilst setting up the tree, with it being generally agreed by all members that it’d seem “weird” to not to. :D
The songs from this CD are also among my personal favorite Christmas songs, helped by the fact that many of them are quite as popular anymore these days and as such have been replayed to the point that they’ve become annoying.
Ten years of retail employment burned a permanent distaste for most Christmas music into me. (Hey, you try listening to some of this stuff non-stop from Halloween to New Year’s for a decade.) Now there are only three songs I can tolerate- one is TSO, one guest-stars Seal and one is a remix of a classic that was in an old series of commercials from The Gap.
And now I have an earworm of “I saw three ships…” Thank you, Georgia. The Nat King Cole Christmas album is beautiful. In my youth, it was his rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” that convinced me to buy other Nat King Cole albums and exposed me to “Unforgettable” and “Mona Lisa” among others.
These days, my go-to source is Jazzradio.com and its Holiday Jazz channel. Maybe, if I am really good, some day Santa will bring me Beegie Adair’s Christmas album.
I think my favorites among the newer (meaning post 1970) are “Mary Did You Know,” and " ‘Til the Season Comes Round Again." Whether you believe Christ was the son of god or not, you have to wonder if Mary knew that over 2000 years later people would still worship and celebrate the birth of her little boy. I’m wondering whether the season is ever going to come round again!
All wonderful Christmas music ‘favorites’. Can hear them in my mind when song title & artist is mentioned. But have no idea where I have the recordings in records, tapes, CDs, etc.
But still have ‘hearing memory’ of the music & the sound of antique leather strap of horse bells my parents used when I was 4 to make me feel Santa had visited our home.
Growing up….anything from the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Sing Along with Mitch Miller and the soundtrack from Rudolph… and always hearing Handel’s Messiah on Christmas eve….
We decorated the tree to The Beach Boys Christmas Album. Elvis, the Avon Christmas Album and Andy Williams played off and on. Mom likes the Harry Simeon Chorale, but I can’t stand their version of Little Drummer Boy. Starting at the age of 2, I would cover my ears, shake my head an say “No rum pum pum!” Beammeup doesn’t like Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. Too many years of that on a retail loop. We joke around each year about who will hear their least favorite first. He usual has the dubious honor of winning. This year I’m safe from mom playing it at me, I had to move the record player to the living room so she could use the sewing machine it was sitting on. I left the speakers where they were at. I’ll move it back after Christmas. She has the other albums on cd… except the one I’m avoiding.
I like “The Christmas Song” – by Nat King Cole. For years, I thought the title was “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”. It took trying to buy it as a 45 in a record store that I found out that wasn’t the title
Early music – medieval to 18th century are my favorites. I like American pieces like Shiloh and Shepherd’s Star for their harmonies. And this 12th night song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_4lhU6q46Y
I get a Christmas music channel on my TV through the cable company, but they play mostly the newer stuff that makes my ears ache. They keep showing a chyron inviting folks who prefer the classics to listen to their online streaming service. Did it never occur to them that they’ve got it backwards. Most folks who listen to Christmas music on their TV are folks like me who prefer the oldies. The folks who listen to streaming services are more likely to be the ones who prefer the newbies.
I have always liked Conrad’s Christmas [not sure if that is the title but that is how I think of it] but I only seem to hear it once every 10 or 15 years. As for my least liked song, I would have to list that terrible White Christmas. And what do we hear, over and over and over and…..?
I have Run Rudolph Run on my playlist and I think the girl child should ask for the rock and roll electric guitar too. I was wondering if anyone made an updated version with different lyrics, but haven’t had a chance to look yet.
Thanks to Georgia Dunn for creating such an enjoyable comments section. Of course, it couldn’t have been done without everyone else responding in kind.
A long time ago, I bought a James Brown Christmas album on cassette. Title: “Santa’s Got A Brand New Bag.” Now, THAT’S what Christmas sounds like to me.
Christmas means it’s time for Santa’s Polka from Brave Combo (a local Texas band) and their It’s Chistmas, Man! album. My sister and I always play it when we’re cooking and dance around the kitchen.
Sandler and Young’s Christmas album. I have the vinyl and finally a couple of years ago found it on cd so I can now listen to it again. The song “I Sing Noel” brings tears to my eyes to this day.
Far too many to really chose from. Our CD collection numbers around 30 with some of everything from the standards, pop/rock, Irish Rovers, reggae, Cajun, jazz, Mannheim, Transiberian, but one of our favourites is Harbour Light Choir of the Salvation Army here in Houston. Those guys rock and are great!
O.T. Georgia commented about Lupin (It sounds like she’s really worried) “This handsome Bond villain! He’s having good days and low energy days. Even on the low energy days Lupin still occasionally jumps over Elvis or across a table. He is thinner, sleepier, and a bit shakier, but in good spirits. Still interested in everything around him, still eating and drinking great. Saturday he sees the cardiologist! Fingers crossed for some answers and ways to keep him comfortable and happy. He still loves sitting over lamps, Lupin has enjoyed this since he was a kitten”
Julie Andrews singing “Joy to the World.” We couldn’t come downstairs on Christmas morning until we heard the first few thump-thumps. Then the entire album played while we opened presents/played. We still play it on Christmas morning.
I love all the older Christmas music like Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. For newer music I love Christmas/Sarajevo and Pentatonix’s arrangement of O Come All Ye Faithful.
My absolute favorite Christmas albums are “Christmas with Kiri” by Kiri Te Kanawa (from 1990) and “A Christmas Celebration” by Kathleen Battle (from about the same time), and the Christmas album by the New Christy Minstrels from way back when (“Tell Me” always brings a tear to my eye). Oh, yes, also Elvis! Great Christmas songs.
The 1955 “Christmas in High Fidelity” LP by George Melachrino and his orchestra (with a little help from the carillon at a church down the street). It not only defines Christmas for me, it did much to define my taste in music, with its sound halfway between Respighi and Lester Lanin, especially this “Hark! The Herald Angels sing!”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSjqGn0aNoU
I’m also very fond of what turned out to be the Moody Blues’ last album, “December”.
I absolutely get Nat King Cole. My mom used to break out her Nat King Cole Christmas album every Christmas from when I was very young (probably my first Christmas based on a recent comment she made) and play it on the record player every year until there was no more working record player in the house. I remember it was always a new needle for that one. And after the record could no longer be played had to get it on tape. Then on CD. I said it not too long ago, there are two things that signal the start of Christmas for me, and either one has to be after Thanksgiving dinner that day. One is Miracle on 34th Street, the original in black and white. The other is Nat King Cole singing The Christmas Song
It has changed over the years, dont crave Gene Autry or Burl Ives like I did as a child. Current favorite is Mary Chapin Carpenter “Come Darkness Come Light” the whole album, play and play, with gratefulness for her live weekly mini concerts from her kitchen during the pandemic (which is no way over, just sayin)
My dad’s favorite Christmas song has always been That’s What Christmas Means to Me by Stevie Wonder, so every Black Friday we blast it while we decorate the house.
My favorite is “Ella Wishes You a Swingin’ Christmas.” Second fave is an obscure compilation called “Christmas Cocktails.” For anyone who hasn’t added a Christmas song to their playlist in the 21st century, I suggest David Archuleta’s “Christmas Every Day.”
Although I stongly dislike most secular Christmas songs, the “classic” radio station at work is better than the modern station… at least they don’t warble or milk it. And it doesn’t have those whiny and/or jazzy modern ones.
The Kingston Trio’s album Last Month of the Year…and Jeannette, Isabella and Patapan conducted by George Szell, and Nine Lessons and Carols, and Rosemary Clooney and Eartha Kitt and Doris Day and Johnny Mathis and…I need to get out my vinyl and cassettes right now!
I love most all classical choral Christmas music! Favorites are the John Rutter Christmas Album and Christmas with Roger Wagner. Sang in church choirs from 1972-2012, with Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services always a highlight of the season. ♥
Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Perry Como, Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Judy Garland and the Nutcracker Suite, among others. This is some of the Christmas music from my childhood.
I love the classics, carols and secular. Oh Holy Night, Silent Night, Do You Hear What I Hear, White Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Little Drummer Boy (Crosby and Bowie) and many more. An absolute favorite is The Gift sung by anyone (Garth Brooks did a beautiful version on his first Christmas CD.)
We always brought out Snoopy and the Red Baron, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Lynn Anderson, and Herb Alpert (there’s a mix for ya!). For years after I left home I would make compilations of many great songs that are never played on the radio or in stores.
sugordon over 2 years ago
Pretty much the same here, only add Bing and Andy Williams to Nat and Perry
FreihEitner Premium Member over 2 years ago
Unfortunately that cursed Paul McCartney Christmas song.
Brian Premium Member over 2 years ago
My favorite is the Ronettes version of “Sleigh Ride”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkXIJe8CaIc
deadheadzan over 2 years ago
I love Joan Baez’s Christmas album, Emmy Lou Harris’s Christmas album, Manheim Steamroller, and Handel’s Mesiah.
in-dubio-pro-rainbow over 2 years ago
I like to listen to Chuck Berry’s Christmas tune…What ya mean? “My Ding-A-Ling” has nothing to do with jingle bells ringing?
Kim Metzger Premium Member over 2 years ago
Back in 1979, I had a job in Nevada and was driving home to Indiana for Christmas. I think it was Nebraska where, for the first time ever, I heard “I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas.” Now, it just isn’t Christmas for me unless I hear that song at least once.
Snomom over 2 years ago
Snoopy’s Christmas (aka Snoopy & the Red Baron or Christmas Bells) by the Kingsmen
GreasyOldTam over 2 years ago
Jimi Hendrix, of course!!
stairsteppublishing over 2 years ago
Traditional church music and of course, Handel’s Messiah. Can’t listen to it in the car, however. It is hard to stand and drive at the same time.
lopaka over 2 years ago
‘O Holy Night’ with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
mr_sherman Premium Member over 2 years ago
I have the whole Nat King Cole Christmas Album on CD. I also enjoy The Nutcracker suite with all the dances. Narada did a nice version of it. My favorite though has to be “Old Toy Trains” as sung by Nana Mouskouri. I didn’t hear it until I was in my 30’s, but there’s something about its simplicity that gets to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEccLtzLwJ4
Robin Harwood over 2 years ago
King’s College Choir.
lopaka over 2 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJxMJNrt-EY&ab_channel=MormonTabernacleChoir-Topic
LastRoseOfSummer 1 Premium Member over 2 years ago
My mother saying.." get away from the tree. You’ll mess up the tinsel" ( which she put on each branch, one strand at a time)
Crann Bethadh over 2 years ago
I’m all over the place depending on my mood, but a few favorites are:
The Folk instrumental Christmas station on Pandora
The Ventures’ Christmas album
Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas
Oscar Peterson Christmas
For vocals, I generally like the songs sung straight. No melismatic singers.
ctlum over 2 years ago
Who is the kitty pictured in back of Nana Dee Dee?
FreyjaRN Premium Member over 2 years ago
I’ve sung in several choirs, so Christmas sounds like that to me. One that I loved singing was Peter, Paul, and Mary’s Christmas Dinner.
Lady Bri over 2 years ago
Philip Wesley’s “Carol of the Bells” (for those of you who’ve read Teleria, it’s the song I wrote Allenia’s “snowflake creation” scene to; that song gives me goosebumps): https://youtu.be/s8vZfvYW-34
DennisinSeattle Premium Member over 2 years ago
Christmas on Christmas Island, by Leon Redbone.
Sionyx over 2 years ago
“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24,” and “Linus and Lucy.” Yes, I have eclectic taste.
catmom1360 over 2 years ago
Loved Perry Comp singing Home For the Holidays. It serves for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Aspen_Bell over 2 years ago
I make a playlist every year. I put unusual stuff on it, including Goth, pagan and Jewish songs, novelty tracks, mashups, whatever I can find. I’ve had both Sting’s and Melanie Safka’s versions of “I Saw Three Ships,” “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle”, Jana Mashonee singing all the old carols in Native American languages, etc. My cousin did a Christmas special every year for The Swing Years & Beyond. The other sound that really means Christmas to me is Paul Eakin’s Christmas Music Box Favorites. My mother bought that in ‘64 or ’65, and every year you knew it was Christmas because you’d hear that lovely enhanced sound on her fancy high tech GE stereo with that nice Garrard turntable. Awesome speakers.
catmom1360 over 2 years ago
I liked Frosty the Snowman by the Cocteau Twins. It wasn’t the song but the way they sang it.
TampaFanatic1 over 2 years ago
There are so many great Christmas songs out there. Some make me smile and others make me want to tear up and cry as they bring back memories of years past and sometimes of my parents, grandparents, other loved ones, friends and yes, pets, who are no longer here. I also love a lot of the Christmas specials that I remember through the year: Peanuts, Frosty the Snowman, A Christmas Carol, Its a Wonderful Life etc. I heard on the Today show that NBC will be showing “Its a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Eve this year, its comforting to know it did not get moved onto some “pay to watch” platform like what Apple did with the Peanuts specials last year but have agreed to have them on PBS this year.
valeries Premium Member over 2 years ago
Gaudete by Steeleye Span.
David 42 over 2 years ago
Manheim Steamroller (which others have mentioned). Also Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Plus SHeDAISY’s version of Jingle Bells. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAyhH5XI_V8
David 42 over 2 years ago
If you haven’t heard the original 1857 “The one-horse open sleigh” (Jingle Bells) by James Lord Pierpont, you’re in for a treat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TV2JchT6ks (with sheet music and lyrics)
Trellowyn01 over 2 years ago
Thanks to my stint in retail, I can only really enjoy about 2 weeks of it in December anymore. But when I do, it’s all about Bing, Danny Kaye, Burl Ives, Andy, Frankie and others from that era. My grandma had all the good Christmas records. I always put The complete Nutcracker Suite into the mix. I don’t mind a little Wham, Beatles and Lennon in moderation, but can’t stand Mariah. Toss in some Dolly and Alabama for the country side of it. I also make sure to throw in the Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time, The Grinch, the Charlie Brown Christmas and some Gayla Peevey just to watch folk twitch.
WelshRat Premium Member over 2 years ago
Noisy
ikini Premium Member over 2 years ago
“I heard the bells on Christmas day.” I just now found out (thank you Mr. Google) that the words are a variant of a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
mr_sherman Premium Member over 2 years ago
Another one: Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson.
sceadugenga1 over 2 years ago
A Christmas Gift For You produced by the not very likable Phil Spector does it for me, some fabulous songs.
zoesgramma over 2 years ago
Not Christmas until I hear “Oh, I Yust go Nuts at Christmas,” Jorge Jorgensen. And “Christmas Wrapping,” the Waitresses. On a serious note though, “Breath of Heaven,” Amy Grant.
RayWebster over 2 years ago
East 17 - “Stay another day”… Brings tears to my eyes.
RayWebster over 2 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wNhdjoF-6M
222jo over 2 years ago
I’m definitely not an East 17 fan but my boyfriend became obsessed with their Christmas song ‘Stay Another Day’. As we lived in different countries at the start of our relationship it became ‘our song’. Here’s a shameless plug (also posted above) to my boyfriend’s band Ricky Spontane and his Christmas song performed by an earlier reincarnation of the band https://youtu.be/55_GNntoV2c
Biskits over 2 years ago
For me its not so much what music I hear but what music I can sing. Church music, anything with four part harmony, classics on the radio, and most importantly the Christmas portion of Handels Messiah with a group of trained professionals. By the way, I have 2 adult daughters and one adult son. Starting about 20 years ago after Sons voice changed, our family sang the Hallejulah Chorus in 4 part harmony, a capella, every Christmas morning before opening gifts. Daughters doubled. On alto. we All love it.
PammWhittaker over 2 years ago
Gaelic music. Celtic Woman. And the weird ones like I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas :)
cat19632001 over 2 years ago
Robert Shaw Chorale – Christmas Hymns Vol 1 and 2. My parents had the original LPs from when they were issued in the late 50s. After I graduated and was out on my own, I searched for years for those albums to see if they’d been released on CD. I made do with other singers’ versions of some of the songs but it wasn’t quite the same. Then finally I found them. Ah, bliss. It was Christmas again.
maestrabella67 over 2 years ago
Johnny Mathis. As kid we always played the record while decorating the tree. Yeah, I’m old.
ElliottB.C.Rennie over 2 years ago
I’m a scrooge. I despise most Christmas songs. I think think only one I won’t turn off if it comes on is Slade.December is a month of me listening to the iPod play lists, and wearing headphones when shopping.
cat19632001 over 2 years ago
There’s nothing like a favorite music, a cup of cocoa, and a Pucky loaf.
Tigrisan Premium Member over 2 years ago
All I Want for Christmas is You by Vince Vance and the Valiants is probably one of the most underrated EVER! Lisa Layne’s voice was amazing and she was pulled out of the background of the group to do the song. She should have been a star in her own right. For me, that’s one of the ’it’s not Christmas without hearing that song’ songs. LOVE Straight No Chaser’s Christmas Album if you want a good mix of fun and beautiful a Capella music. Manheim Steamroller, The Ronettes. I’ve sung all my life, choirs, professionally, pretty much you name it. I miss performing the whole of Handel’s Messiah. We sat 2,000 and it was packed. Then again anymore, you can’t find a church that does anything traditional, it’s all guitars and drums :( But I love most all Christmas music. There are a few internet radio stations that play it year round and I will occasionally tune in.
arolarson Premium Member over 2 years ago
I am in awe of the miracle of having any cassette tapes that still play and a working cassette player!
michaeljwolff over 2 years ago
Here’s my official Christmas playlist:
“Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt
“Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses
“Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan
“Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
“Same Old Lang Syne” by Dan Fogelberg
Batteries over 2 years ago
The John Denver and Muppets Christmas album
anne o over 2 years ago
The Holly and the Ivy.
sprint over 2 years ago
Classical station WQXR.ORG streams Christmas music, it’s lovely.
dessertlady Premium Member over 2 years ago
Annie Lennox’s cover of The Holly and the Ivy and In The Bleak Midwinter.
eishtmo over 2 years ago
Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Pretty much all of it.
jazzinjeep Premium Member over 2 years ago
The Brian Setzer Orchestra “Boogie Woogie Christmas” Album
lauradolan over 2 years ago
I like most Christmas music, but my favorite would be “O Holy Night”, especially by Josh Groban.
Kelliekatlady over 2 years ago
I replied to another post with Andy Williams and Bing Crosby, but there are so many…Johnny Mathis, The Holly and the Ivy, Christmas in Killarney, The Christmas Toy, Dominic the Donkey, Frank Sinatra, and list list goes on…
DamSkippy over 2 years ago
Karen Carpenter’s, “Merry Christmas, Darling”.
Sue Ellen over 2 years ago
My mom was a very good pianist, self taught, played by ear. All our family Christmas parties would end with us all gathered around the piano singing Christmas carols. I tried so hard to record her playing Christmas carols, but she seemed to know when I was sneaking up with my portable cassette player and would stop. I did manage to get a full recording of her playing “Silent Night.” I also have a fragment of a home movie of us all gathered around the piano. My aunt stored it in her attic, so by the time one of my cousins had a friend convert it to video cassette, it was kind of blotch. Of course, there is no sound. I managed to convert it to DVD, but I’ve been unsuccessful trying to a digital format that will work on computers that no longer have DVD drives. When my DVD player and current computer die, those ancient home movies will die with them.
ladyre over 2 years ago
Andy Williams Christmas CD and a few long out of print albums from 60+ years ago. Doctor Demento’s Christmas CD when we need some a bit of comic relief.
golfgranny47 over 2 years ago
The Carpenters. I love their Christmas music.
Drag0nr1der over 2 years ago
We listened to Andy Williams, Burl Ives, and Ray Mancini
Miri Tallstag over 2 years ago
Nat King Cole. He’s just so good! All those cheesy pop Christmas songs can go jump in a volcano.
Kitty Katz over 2 years ago
Harry Simeone Chorale and Vince Guaraldi’s Charlie Brown Christmas.
Kitty Katz over 2 years ago
OT: My mother
stepzla over 2 years ago
When I was little®, my parents bought the chipmunk Christmas album. We played it over and over. I think I can still sing the chipmunk Christmas song. Oh! and I was thrilled to learn you can find it on Spotify.
Grace Premium Member over 2 years ago
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – Christmas in Sarajevo 12/24 is our favorite. We’ve seen TSO 4 times in concert. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHioIlbnS_A
MamaBird over 2 years ago
Burl Ives. We had a LP that was played every Christmas Eve. And we also ate plain omlettes with ketchup that Dad made because Mom was wrapping stuff.
Ignatz Premium Member over 2 years ago
Medieval and old English stuff. Boar’s Head Carol. Holly and the Ivy. Kentucky Wassail or Gloucester Wassail. Maybe some Italian, like Dormi, Dormi Bel Bambin.
Hydrohead over 2 years ago
Awkward family conversation.
MartinPerry1 over 2 years ago
The Pogues’ “Fairy Tale of New York.”
Just So So Premium Member over 2 years ago
Paul Muriat instrumental Christmas album and the Clancy Brothers, courtesy of my Irish mother. <3 She lives on through music for me.
wesmorgan1 over 2 years ago
OK, you got me with this one.
For my mom, it was the Goodyear and Firestone Christmas albums; she owned all of them, and we started hearing them on the morning after Thanksgiving each year. (For those too young to remember, those two automotive stores used to release a promotional album every Christmas.)
Someone digitized them a few years ago, so I now have an MP3 playlist of all those albums…“The Great Songs of Christmas”…“Your Favorite Christmas Music”…ahhhh.
gigagrouch over 2 years ago
Handel’s Messiah
Stygia Premium Member over 2 years ago
The Gene Autry Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer! I inherited the vinyl LP from my Mom and I put in the record player every year while I decorate.
over 2 years ago
The Christmas tree looks really beautiful.
mbourg63 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack…
Bucinka over 2 years ago
“Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses, and the entire South Park album Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics (which also contains the Chanukah classic “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel,” in which Kyle’s dad professes his undying love for Courteney Cox).-—
Also, on January 1, “New Year’s Day” by U2.
Harold Blackorby over 2 years ago
Christmas sounds like Kermit and Piggy signing What Christmas Means from The Muppet Christmas Carol, arguably the best modern adaptation of that story.
Hanmerhack over 2 years ago
Every Christmas CBC’s As It Happens plays a reading of The Shepperd by Frederick Forsyth about a pilot who gets lost over the North Sea at Christmas
davanden over 2 years ago
We have a big collection of early music and traditional carols. By traditional, I mean from the oral tradition, not “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”
among us over 2 years ago
“you’re a bad one, Mr. Grinch…”
wintercollie over 2 years ago
little drummer boy.
misty over 2 years ago
Happy Howl-idays!
May Your Christmas Be Furry and Bright
Feliz Navi-cat
Silent Bite
Santa Claws is Comin’ to Town
Deck the Paws!
Oh Christmas Treat! Oh Christmas Treat!
- rd.com
alliegator over 2 years ago
Bing.
La chat méchante over 2 years ago
My Christmas “do not play” list is short: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” I have to leave a store if either turns up on their playlist while I’m shopping.
Dewsolo over 2 years ago
I don’t know what Christmas sounds like, but I know it smells like tangerines.
scaeva Premium Member over 2 years ago
Add Mario Lanza, Harry Simeon Chorale, and the Roger Wagner Chorale.
vorlon42 over 2 years ago
What does Christmas sound like at my place?
“Daddeeee! Wake up, Santa was here!!! " [rumble rumble]
“Slow down you two, let me get a picture…”
[RIP SHRED] Yay! [TEAR CRUMPLE] “Ow! the tree poked me!” [TEAR SHRED RIP] Woohoo… Is that it? Daddeeee, make pancakes!" play play play…
Wife: “How long did it take this year?”
Me (checking clock) “Four minutes, they’re slowing down.”
Cat (from top of cat tree) “Mow?” {translation: Is it safe to come down?}
Me “Stay up there a while, they’ll be going on like this for a few hours.”
Kitsrulz53 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Johnny Mathis, Mormon Tabernacle choir, Nat King Cole, Bing, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Elvis, Mel Torme (spelling?), Mahalia Jackson’s Silent Night. Brenda Lee Rocking around the Christmas tree, Burl Ives, Carol of the Bells,
scyphi26 over 2 years ago
I’m one of those people that has become largely disenchanted Christmas music due to how overused it has become these days…but that said, I can still relate. Growing up, my family had a particular CD with the top Christmas music hits from the year it was released, and it had become a Christmas tradition for many years to play this disc while we were setting up the Christmas tree.
With the advent of streaming, mobile devices, and all that making CDs old hat, we don’t use that particular CD anymore, but we still seek out and play many of those same songs whilst setting up the tree, with it being generally agreed by all members that it’d seem “weird” to not to. :D
The songs from this CD are also among my personal favorite Christmas songs, helped by the fact that many of them are quite as popular anymore these days and as such have been replayed to the point that they’ve become annoying.
randybrewer Premium Member over 2 years ago
George Winston’s December record. Perfection!
The Wolf In Your Midst over 2 years ago
Ten years of retail employment burned a permanent distaste for most Christmas music into me. (Hey, you try listening to some of this stuff non-stop from Halloween to New Year’s for a decade.) Now there are only three songs I can tolerate- one is TSO, one guest-stars Seal and one is a remix of a classic that was in an old series of commercials from The Gap.
MIHorn Premium Member over 2 years ago
“Is That You, Santa Claus?” I’m not sure who sang it — Louis Armstrong, maybe?
Trespassers W over 2 years ago
And now I have an earworm of “I saw three ships…” Thank you, Georgia. The Nat King Cole Christmas album is beautiful. In my youth, it was his rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” that convinced me to buy other Nat King Cole albums and exposed me to “Unforgettable” and “Mona Lisa” among others.
These days, my go-to source is Jazzradio.com and its Holiday Jazz channel. Maybe, if I am really good, some day Santa will bring me Beegie Adair’s Christmas album.
Bex Premium Member over 2 years ago
Anybody remember the Ames Brothers “There’ll Always be a Christmas” album? Wonderful arrangement of “Go Tell it on the Mountain.”
Sue Ellen over 2 years ago
I think my favorites among the newer (meaning post 1970) are “Mary Did You Know,” and " ‘Til the Season Comes Round Again." Whether you believe Christ was the son of god or not, you have to wonder if Mary knew that over 2000 years later people would still worship and celebrate the birth of her little boy. I’m wondering whether the season is ever going to come round again!
♬"If we must say goodbye
Let the spirit go with you
And we’ll love and we’ll laugh
In the time that we had
’Til the season comes ’round again" ♬
—John Jarvis & Randy Goodrum
Banjo Gordy Premium Member over 2 years ago
All wonderful Christmas music ‘favorites’. Can hear them in my mind when song title & artist is mentioned. But have no idea where I have the recordings in records, tapes, CDs, etc.
But still have ‘hearing memory’ of the music & the sound of antique leather strap of horse bells my parents used when I was 4 to make me feel Santa had visited our home.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gLMZgb-Ij5fBhxgBRJcdwH1GFAUjdDIV/view?usp=sharing
acbmml over 2 years ago
Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Elvis (lol), the Rat Pack, all the goodies!
cemunsey Premium Member over 2 years ago
Growing up….anything from the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Sing Along with Mitch Miller and the soundtrack from Rudolph… and always hearing Handel’s Messiah on Christmas eve….
Slappy Squirrel over 2 years ago
We decorated the tree to The Beach Boys Christmas Album. Elvis, the Avon Christmas Album and Andy Williams played off and on. Mom likes the Harry Simeon Chorale, but I can’t stand their version of Little Drummer Boy. Starting at the age of 2, I would cover my ears, shake my head an say “No rum pum pum!” Beammeup doesn’t like Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee. Too many years of that on a retail loop. We joke around each year about who will hear their least favorite first. He usual has the dubious honor of winning. This year I’m safe from mom playing it at me, I had to move the record player to the living room so she could use the sewing machine it was sitting on. I left the speakers where they were at. I’ll move it back after Christmas. She has the other albums on cd… except the one I’m avoiding.
Wichita1.0 over 2 years ago
Jittery agitation, mostly.
christineracine77 over 2 years ago
Another great one is “Mary’s Boy Child,” either Harry Belafonte’s tenderly melancholic version or Boney M’s raucous joy fest!
rs0204 Premium Member over 2 years ago
I like the Vince Guaraldi trio from A Charlie Brown Christmas. I particularly like Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
romiaow over 2 years ago
Andy Williams and Charley Pride singing “They Stood in Silent Prayer”
panille over 2 years ago
Nat King Cole covers it quite nicely. It does not sound like Mariah Carey over a store loudspeaker.
jed19 over 2 years ago
John Denver and The Muppets “A Christmas Together”. Animal!
kathybear over 2 years ago
I like “The Christmas Song” – by Nat King Cole. For years, I thought the title was “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”. It took trying to buy it as a 45 in a record store that I found out that wasn’t the title
mistercatworks over 2 years ago
Unfortunately, it sorta sounds like Halloween and Thanksgiving, at least in the shops. :) :(
Jon Premium Member over 2 years ago
“Sleigh Ride”, of course. “We Need A Little Christmas” from Mame. And the Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick”.
Martin 78 over 2 years ago
I prefer Porky Pig’s rendition of Elvis’s Blue Christmas.
azkfwecho Premium Member over 2 years ago
Silver Bells is my Christmas song. Little Drummer boy for my husband.
ltrauth over 2 years ago
Early music – medieval to 18th century are my favorites. I like American pieces like Shiloh and Shepherd’s Star for their harmonies. And this 12th night song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_4lhU6q46Y
Sue Ellen over 2 years ago
I get a Christmas music channel on my TV through the cable company, but they play mostly the newer stuff that makes my ears ache. They keep showing a chyron inviting folks who prefer the classics to listen to their online streaming service. Did it never occur to them that they’ve got it backwards. Most folks who listen to Christmas music on their TV are folks like me who prefer the oldies. The folks who listen to streaming services are more likely to be the ones who prefer the newbies.
Decius Premium Member over 2 years ago
John Denver (my mom) and Charlie Brown Christmas. My daughter keeps trying to add Mariah Carey, but we’ve fended her off so far
serenasakitty over 2 years ago
I have always liked Conrad’s Christmas [not sure if that is the title but that is how I think of it] but I only seem to hear it once every 10 or 15 years. As for my least liked song, I would have to list that terrible White Christmas. And what do we hear, over and over and over and…..?
Natarose over 2 years ago
I love listening to Michael Buble. On Christmas eve we will watch John Denver Montana Skies and listen to Jimmy Buffet’s christmas album.
Jeffin Premium Member over 2 years ago
Tears at the moment. Thanks, good kitties.
notannaf over 2 years ago
Spike Jone’s silly Christmas Album with “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth,” the Christmas section of Messiah
asrialfeeple over 2 years ago
Better have those tapes digitised and backed up. They won’t last forever, you know? Especially with cats around.
floralian over 2 years ago
No one has mentioned the horrible Santa,Baby. BAD attempt at seduction!
Ignatz Premium Member over 2 years ago
You know what you NEVER hear on the radio? The Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight,” even though it’s a LOT better than Santa Baby.
Susanna Premium Member over 2 years ago
I have Run Rudolph Run on my playlist and I think the girl child should ask for the rock and roll electric guitar too. I was wondering if anyone made an updated version with different lyrics, but haven’t had a chance to look yet.
catwood55 over 2 years ago
Now I have to hunt out my parent’s Perry Como Christmas album! Thanks for reminding me.
rroxxanna over 2 years ago
“Oh LIttle Town of Bethlehem” as sung by the choir in the church in which I grew up. Why is the screen here blurry…
mr_sherman Premium Member over 2 years ago
Thanks to Georgia Dunn for creating such an enjoyable comments section. Of course, it couldn’t have been done without everyone else responding in kind.
Eric Wilson over 2 years ago
Vince Guaraldi and Ken Darby’s arrangement of “The Night Before Christmas” that the King’s Men did on the Fibber McGee and Molly show every year.
GaryCooper over 2 years ago
A long time ago, I bought a James Brown Christmas album on cassette. Title: “Santa’s Got A Brand New Bag.” Now, THAT’S what Christmas sounds like to me.
drbeth over 2 years ago
Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack to “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” My go-to for tree decorating.
Hedgehog over 2 years ago
The adults listened to The Ames Brothers Christmas album. As a kid I loved the Three Stooges Christmas album and the Shout…er….Chipmunks.
clarkcoolcat over 2 years ago
Christmas means it’s time for Santa’s Polka from Brave Combo (a local Texas band) and their It’s Chistmas, Man! album. My sister and I always play it when we’re cooking and dance around the kitchen.
anarresa Premium Member over 2 years ago
So touching! We had Mitch Miller on cassette, a holiday sing-along album.
Jennifer Kendzior over 2 years ago
Handel’s Messiah
willie_mctell over 2 years ago
“The Coventry Carol.” Cool melody and threats of infant splatter.
skipper1992 over 2 years ago
The entirety of the “John Denver and the Muppets” Christmas album.
Daeder over 2 years ago
It sounds like my wife making up the lyrics to Winter Wonderland.
pchemcat over 2 years ago
Sandler and Young’s Christmas album. I have the vinyl and finally a couple of years ago found it on cd so I can now listen to it again. The song “I Sing Noel” brings tears to my eyes to this day.
scaeva Premium Member over 2 years ago
All the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums.
kangtourcat over 2 years ago
Far too many to really chose from. Our CD collection numbers around 30 with some of everything from the standards, pop/rock, Irish Rovers, reggae, Cajun, jazz, Mannheim, Transiberian, but one of our favourites is Harbour Light Choir of the Salvation Army here in Houston. Those guys rock and are great!
meowlin over 2 years ago
Amazingly enough, nobody before me mentioned The Jingle Cats’ Meowy Christmas and Here Comes Santa Claws -
And then there’s this one (not) by Jim Morrison…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvj4yQF2fCU
DawnMcCandless over 2 years ago
My mother had Jimmy Dean and Danny Kaye Christmas albums. They were the best. Wish I could find them on CD
greenlynn Premium Member over 2 years ago
Little Drummer Boy, over and over and over and over again
SunflowerGirl100 over 2 years ago
O.T. Georgia commented about Lupin (It sounds like she’s really worried) “This handsome Bond villain! He’s having good days and low energy days. Even on the low energy days Lupin still occasionally jumps over Elvis or across a table. He is thinner, sleepier, and a bit shakier, but in good spirits. Still interested in everything around him, still eating and drinking great. Saturday he sees the cardiologist! Fingers crossed for some answers and ways to keep him comfortable and happy. He still loves sitting over lamps, Lupin has enjoyed this since he was a kitten”
ElsieJay over 2 years ago
Julie Andrews singing “Joy to the World.” We couldn’t come downstairs on Christmas morning until we heard the first few thump-thumps. Then the entire album played while we opened presents/played. We still play it on Christmas morning.
judy2eyes Premium Member over 2 years ago
I love this thread so much! I have Alexa and she plays every Christmas song I asked for… I’ve played a bunch of all your favorites.
Deborah T Lewis Premium Member over 2 years ago
I love all the older Christmas music like Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. For newer music I love Christmas/Sarajevo and Pentatonix’s arrangement of O Come All Ye Faithful.
Jayneknox over 2 years ago
“Sleigh Ride” by the Boston Pops. Anything from the Charlie Brown special. Silent Night and Joy To The World as sung in my hometown church.
JLChi over 2 years ago
My absolute favorite Christmas albums are “Christmas with Kiri” by Kiri Te Kanawa (from 1990) and “A Christmas Celebration” by Kathleen Battle (from about the same time), and the Christmas album by the New Christy Minstrels from way back when (“Tell Me” always brings a tear to my eye). Oh, yes, also Elvis! Great Christmas songs.
Andylit Premium Member over 2 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRzI8y-EJJ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cP26ndrmtg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRP8d7hhpoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7baFMmSv4k
John W Kennedy Premium Member over 2 years ago
The 1955 “Christmas in High Fidelity” LP by George Melachrino and his orchestra (with a little help from the carillon at a church down the street). It not only defines Christmas for me, it did much to define my taste in music, with its sound halfway between Respighi and Lester Lanin, especially this “Hark! The Herald Angels sing!”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSjqGn0aNoU
I’m also very fond of what turned out to be the Moody Blues’ last album, “December”.
knight1192a over 2 years ago
I absolutely get Nat King Cole. My mom used to break out her Nat King Cole Christmas album every Christmas from when I was very young (probably my first Christmas based on a recent comment she made) and play it on the record player every year until there was no more working record player in the house. I remember it was always a new needle for that one. And after the record could no longer be played had to get it on tape. Then on CD. I said it not too long ago, there are two things that signal the start of Christmas for me, and either one has to be after Thanksgiving dinner that day. One is Miracle on 34th Street, the original in black and white. The other is Nat King Cole singing The Christmas Song
Lily.spokescat over 2 years ago
It has changed over the years, dont crave Gene Autry or Burl Ives like I did as a child. Current favorite is Mary Chapin Carpenter “Come Darkness Come Light” the whole album, play and play, with gratefulness for her live weekly mini concerts from her kitchen during the pandemic (which is no way over, just sayin)
trudyconley Premium Member over 2 years ago
The Canadian Brass and Manheim Steamroller.
booksandtea over 2 years ago
My dad’s favorite Christmas song has always been That’s What Christmas Means to Me by Stevie Wonder, so every Black Friday we blast it while we decorate the house.
crazeekatlady over 2 years ago
Father Christmas by Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
La Gata Loca over 2 years ago
The Nutcracker and Handel’s Messiah.
Kelliekatlady over 2 years ago
There are so many great artists and songs listed in this thread. Thanks to everyone for sharing their favorites!
christopherbacon692 over 2 years ago
“Christmas at Ground Zero” and the entire soundtrack of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. Also “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas”
arolarson Premium Member over 2 years ago
My sister found this and sent it to me. A choir from an Irish school for autistic children. It is absolutely beautiful.
https://www.chonday.com/47060/autistic-kids-sing-hallelujah/
andycat Premium Member over 2 years ago
Nat King Cole, Mitch Miller and the Gang, Ray Conniff, and really good choir music.
MissBea over 2 years ago
My favorite is “Ella Wishes You a Swingin’ Christmas.” Second fave is an obscure compilation called “Christmas Cocktails.” For anyone who hasn’t added a Christmas song to their playlist in the 21st century, I suggest David Archuleta’s “Christmas Every Day.”
ChristineL Premium Member over 2 years ago
This alternative Christmas mix makes me happy:
http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2017/12/04/alternative-christmas-mix/
Teto85 Premium Member over 2 years ago
And Elvis’ Xmas album. The only Elvis I will listen to.
Teto85 Premium Member over 2 years ago
The Woman looks like she has found her “Comfy Zone.” Hot cocoa and Perry Como (And Mel Tormé) will do that for you.
Taracinablue over 2 years ago
Although I stongly dislike most secular Christmas songs, the “classic” radio station at work is better than the modern station… at least they don’t warble or milk it. And it doesn’t have those whiny and/or jazzy modern ones.
erinurse2000 over 2 years ago
The Kingston Trio’s album Last Month of the Year…and Jeannette, Isabella and Patapan conducted by George Szell, and Nine Lessons and Carols, and Rosemary Clooney and Eartha Kitt and Doris Day and Johnny Mathis and…I need to get out my vinyl and cassettes right now!
piwismom over 2 years ago
I love most all classical choral Christmas music! Favorites are the John Rutter Christmas Album and Christmas with Roger Wagner. Sang in church choirs from 1972-2012, with Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services always a highlight of the season. ♥
Gemina13 over 2 years ago
My mother also listened to Nat King Cole & Perry Como, as well as Andy Williams and Rosemary Clooney. I love them still.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member over 2 years ago
Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Perry Como, Nat King Cole, Doris Day, Judy Garland and the Nutcracker Suite, among others. This is some of the Christmas music from my childhood.
LoveBritTV Premium Member over 2 years ago
I love the classics, carols and secular. Oh Holy Night, Silent Night, Do You Hear What I Hear, White Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Little Drummer Boy (Crosby and Bowie) and many more. An absolute favorite is The Gift sung by anyone (Garth Brooks did a beautiful version on his first Christmas CD.)
ChristineFoxdale over 2 years ago
A new one (to me) that I found last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nuKmi5-G4I
Denny Wheeler Premium Member over 2 years ago
“The Christians and the Pagans” by Dar Williams
“A-Soalin’”, “Hayo, Haya”, and just about all the rest of PP&M’s Holiday Special
Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem’s Christmas album
“Christmas in the Trenches” by John McCutcheon
“I Wonder as I Wander” sung by Mary Travers
“The Cherry Tree Carol” in any of several renditions, including two albums above
“God bless us, every one”—Tiny Tim, in “Scrooge” starring Alistair Sim or “A Christmas Carol” starring George C. Scott
And no, I’m not at all religious.
Snomom over 2 years ago
Can’t forget ELP’s"I Believe in Father Christmas" or The Kinks “Father Christmas”
LucyLuLu over 2 years ago
I have no top favorites for holiday songs, but I like to drive my kitties crazy with a CD I have of nothing but cats mewing holiday songs..
Ikesmum over 2 years ago
We always brought out Snoopy and the Red Baron, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Lynn Anderson, and Herb Alpert (there’s a mix for ya!). For years after I left home I would make compilations of many great songs that are never played on the radio or in stores.
ElianaHerbst100 about 2 years ago
I am so glad each Christmas eve, but sung in Norwegian. no way am i going to type the lyrics out.
Totally Not a Killer Dolphin 6 months ago
Christmas sounds like Nat King Cole to me too! Also a bit of Bing Crosby and a smidge of Run DMC