Best Christmas albums (favorite 3)

Norm Apter
Norm Apter Posts: 1,036
edited December 2013 in Music & Movies
Well, BAF started a thread about Christmas music DVDs but I thought we could broaden the discussion to include Christmas albums in any format (CD, DVD, LP, cassette...whatever you have). What three can you not do without during the run up to the holidays. I'll start:

Kenny Burrell: Have Yourself A Soulful Little Christmas

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Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas

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Nat King Cole: A Christmas Song

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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited November 2009
    I know you already said it, but it's my number one so I can't not :

    Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas
    41GJ2GVVM8L__SS500_.jpg

    Dean Martin's Christmas With Dino
    Christmas.jpg

    Ella Fitzgerald Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas
    xmas+ella.jpg
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2009
    Always looking for good Christmas CD's. The Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas is great. Need to find the best version of Ave Maria by a female vocalist.
    Michael ;)
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,918
    edited November 2009
    Bruce Cockburn Christmas
    The Life Christmas Album
    Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians Wish you a Merry Christmas (1957 Capitol DJ promo record)
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited November 2009
    The Phil Spector Cristmas Album.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited November 2009
    I have quite a few Christmas albums and generally play them all each season.

    My TOP 3 are......

    Mannheim Steamroller - A Fresh Aire Christmas

    41T6TKVSFPL._SL500_AA240_.jpg


    Carpenters - Christmas Portrait

    971bc060ada08020d28a8110.L._AA240_.jpg


    Arthur Fielder & The Boston Pops Orchestra - White Christmas: A Christmas Festival

    51rEYrV0imL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

    Followed ever so closely by:

    Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas
    George Winston - December
    Anders Ohrwall & The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra - Messiah
    Amy Grant - A Christmas Album
    Jaci Velasquez - Christmas
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

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  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited November 2009
    Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown christmas is a classic and definitely one of my all time Favs

    I also really enjoy the first Transsiberian Orchestra xmas album (Christmas eve and other stories)

    Dr. Dementos Greatest Christmas Novelty is always fun as well.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited November 2009
    janmike wrote:
    Need to find the best version of Ave Maria by a female vocalist.

    You may want to check out Sarah Brightman - "A Winter Symphony".

    61tCKfmOjsL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

    The album as a whole is just ok but there is a solo and a duet version of Ava Maria that are pretty good.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • jgido759
    jgido759 Posts: 572
    edited November 2009
    George Grand wrote: »
    The Phil Spector Cristmas Album.

    GG comes through again. :D

    Probably may favorite along with:

    The Ventures' Christmas Album:
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    The Manhattan Transfer:
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited November 2009
    Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas

    Thats all I need.
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited November 2009
    Shizelbs wrote: »
    Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas

    Thats all I need.

    And this ashtray. I don't need this or this. Just Charlie Brown Christmas and this ashtray. And this paddle game, Charlie Brown Christmas, the ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need. And this remote control. Charlie Brown Christmas, the ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need. And these matches. Charlie Brown Christmas, the ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control and the paddle ball. And this lamp. Charlie Brown Christmas, the ashtray, this paddle game and the remote control and the lamp and that's all I need. And that's all I need too. I don't need one other thing, not one - I need this. Charlie Brown Christmas, the paddle game, and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches, for sure. And this. And that's all I need. The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, this magazine and the chair.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • THEJERMON
    THEJERMON Posts: 96
    edited November 2009
    The Carpenters, Christmas Portrait is one of my favorites. It was really nice buying the CD after having the album for so many years because the CD has like an additional 60 minutes of music.
    Blue Yule is another good one and lets not forget the Meinheim Steamrollers Red album. :)
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  • bigaudiofanatic
    bigaudiofanatic Posts: 4,415
    edited November 2009
    Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas

    Ray Charles The spirit of Christmas

    Kenny G Miracles
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  • geoffr
    geoffr Posts: 22
    edited November 2009
    Christmas Island, Leon Redbone
    Booker T & the MG's Christmas Album

    Highly recommended!
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  • phuz
    phuz Posts: 2,372
    edited November 2009
    For a new twist on some classics, Christmas Remixed 2.

    Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker will always be one of my all time favs.
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 955
    edited November 2009
    41qgLxA2f6L._SS500_.jpg

    This was the one I grew up on.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2009
    Jazz to the World

    Various Artist

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  • Polkie2009
    Polkie2009 Posts: 3,834
    edited November 2009
    There's a Bing Crosby and Andrews Sister Christmas CD that's very good. I'm not sure the exact name for it, but it's timeless. I have the Nat King Cole Christmas CD that Norm showed up at the beginning, also a wonderful Christmas CD and perfect to add to anyone's collection.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2009
    While I'm not normally a fan, Kenny G's Christmas album is very, very good. It's also extremely well recorded with some gut-wrenching bass notes.

    Nat King Cole is my FAVORITE, without exception.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    I'll add that any of the Windam Hill-A Winter's Soltice collections are very good.

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=a+winter%27s+solstice&sprefix=a+winter

    I have quite a few Windam Hill recordings, very nice indeed.
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited November 2009
    steveinaz wrote:
    While I'm not normally a fan, Kenny G's Christmas album is very, very good. It's also extremely well recorded with some gut-wrenching bass notes.

    Which one? It seems he has about a thousand of them...:D
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

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    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • mshan242700
    mshan242700 Posts: 823
    edited November 2009
    Time-Life Treasury of Christmas: http://www.timelife.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=1001&langId=-1&productId=210150


    :)
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited November 2009
    Any of the Mannheim Steamroller christmas albums!
    DKG999
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited November 2009
    Not my all-time favorites, but some newer folk/rock stuff to throw into the mix that I really listened to a lot last Christmas.

    The Dawn of Grace - Sixpence None the Richer

    My Holiday - Mindy Smith

    Snow Angels - Over the Rhine

    Peace,
    Paul
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2009
    shack wrote: »
    Which one? It seems he has about a thousand of them...:D

    Kenny G's "Wishes Holiday Album" it has a wonderful version of Auld Lang Syne. The recording quality is really very impressive.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2009
    I have 4 different Trans-Siberian Orchestra cd`s that I play
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited November 2009
    6a00c22523962f604a00cd96f76b554cd5-500pi

    I typically don't like covers, but this CD is definitely my favorite Christmas album. Very tastefully done.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited November 2009
    lanion wrote: »
    6a00c22523962f604a00cd96f76b554cd5-500pi

    I typically don't like covers, but this CD is definitely my favorite Christmas album. Very tastefully done.

    I like this one as well...although not my favorite SM album as a whole.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2009
    shack wrote: »
    I like this one as well...although not my favorite SM album as a whole.

    How's the sound quality Steve?
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited November 2009
    janmike wrote:
    How's the sound quality Steve?

    The SQ is very good...as is usually the case with her albums. The song selection is fine...but some of the interpretations are a little TOO melancholy for my tastes. Not bad at all...and that was the mood she was stiving for as I understand...especially since that is her style of music. There are definitely some nice tracks...starting with the first three... "Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Greensleeves, and River. Any fan of Sarah needs this album. If you like your Chrismas music on the laid back side of "cheerful"...this is your album.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited November 2009
    As another alternative...I've had a chance to hear Clay Aikens "Merry Christmas With Love" CD. It is one of my wife's favorite Christmas CDs. I liked it. Christmas music suites his musical style qutie well. Defintely worth a listen IMO.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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