My general preference in Christmas music is for the classics. My wife hates Mannheim Steamroller, I hate the Rat Pack, and I'm going to become homicidal if I hear Rudolph or Frosty or Mariah Carey.

Anyone have some album recommendations?

Ummm...

Squirrel Nut Zippers - Christmas Caravan

Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics

Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Have Yourself a Meaty Little Christmas

Ha ha. Those are the three that I actually enjoy listening to. I only have a couple more Christmas albums. The Tori Amos one didn't do a lot for me, and I have to admit I haven't listened to Shawn Colvin's all the way through yet.

I'm sure someone else will come along with some better choices.

I think that's sort of by definition.

Oh, I did actually like Christmas With Weezer, too.

I downloaded Amazon's 99 Most Essential Christmas Masterpieces for $2. That's 99 tracks for $2. Many classics in there but all played by classical orchestras, choirs, etc. I found it definitely worth the price.

You say classics as in Bing Crosby White Christmas etc.?

For a slightly modern version of some Christmas music my wife and family quite enjoy The Barenaked Ladies Christmas effort Barenaked for the Holidays

We also listen to Lawrence Welk and Reader's Digest - I'll Be Home For Christmas

My favorite Christmas song:

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - Little Drummer boy

Careful if you buy this album because it was only a limited release during that Christmas season otherwise the track on this album was “Oh! Woes Me” which sucked.

Brian Setzer, Ella Fitzgerald, Natalie Cole, Vince Guaraldi, Wynton Marsalis, Trans Siberian Orchestra.

Good call on TSO Tom.

I should have said Christmas Carols. When it comes to Christmas, I'm pretty much Linus--and that's the only time.

Geez, Ken, you're so picky!

I should have mentioned Vince Guaraldi as well, I like listening to Charlie Brown Christmas music.

Hmmmm, a CD of Christmas Carols,..... I can think of some old LP's my parents have (not the names of them though) but I have not seen anything like them on CD.

Yeah, I can think of 2 albums that my parents had on vinyl--one was blue, the other red!

Ken, you want classic Christmas carols, this is it.

I think that might be one of the albums my parents have!

I really like Wintersong by Sarah Mclachlan. I was wanting some Christmas music a couple of weeks ago. Walked into a Borders and this was the first one I picked up. Listened to her voice on the headset they had and I was sold right away. I like it more every time I listen to it.

Which TSO album is the best for Christmas?

Like you, Ken, if I hear one more version of "Little Drummer Boy. . a rum, pum, pum, pum", I'll go crazy.

I like offbeat albums of Christmas music. Try The Roches' "We Three Kings". The three sisters sing around Manhattan from time to time, and there's nothing like a tight blend of sibling vocals when they sing well. Their harmonies are pitch-perfect and some of the arrangements are lovely; I like the a cappella stuff best. And you can skip the Little Drummer Boy track.

Give it a listen on Amazon and see if you like them.

Cheers,
Alan

I don't do much holiday music.

If I put it on Music Choice or something, I become aware in the third hour that I've essentially heard four versions each of the same twenty songs!

Hi,

My all time favorite . . .

Album Review
Christmas 1984 is the first holiday album the Mannheim Steamroller released, and it remains their definitive work. Chip Davis never strayed from the clean, airy instrumental style that he exhibits here (and earlier perfected on his Fresh Aire albums), but it is here where it all sounded fresh. It's also where he had his best selection of songs, tackling a variety of classic carols like "Deck the Halls," "We Three Kings," "Good King Wenceslas," "Wassail, Wassail," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," and "I Saw Three Ships." Some listeners never found the Mannheim formula that engaging, but anyone who his been captured by one of their holiday records should investigate Christmas 1984, which is where it all began.

Merry Christmas to all ! ! !

I tend to go for Christmas music that has less vocal, more instrument. My favorite is the first Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas Eve and other Stories, although I do like all of there albums. A couple days ago I heard a song on Pandora (again) that I really liked, Immanuel. Tried to buy the album at Amazon after listening to the samples, but it's not available. Celtic Carols by Kildare. If you like the Irish Flute (I do), you might like this album.

Harry Connick Jr. for the holidays is a great album. So is "Soul of Christmas" along with Stevie Wonder's and Ray Charles' christmas albums are excellent.

I prefer more soul and R&B type of Christmas music, the standards have started to wear on me. My 2 favorite songs are Holy Night by the Temptations and One LIttle Christmas Tree by Steve Wonder.

Last week I created a Pandora channel w/ the Holy Night by the Temptations. Now it streams Motown-type of Christmas songs. I love Pandora.

This is my favorite Christmas song rendition.

That's our Cam, always classing up the joint.

Just like the rest of us.

I like Jewel's Christmas CD and Ray Charles' Spirit of Christmas is good as well.

Here's one for Jay. link

Here's a good one:

RUDOLPH, you don't have to put on the red light

Very cute.

Thanks Cam, a SILENCE night to you!

Well, I just ordered some
Flecktones-Jingle All the Way
Mormon Tabernacle Choir-Silent Night: The Greatest Hits of Christmas
Andy Williams-The Andy Williams Christmas Album The Andy Williams Christmas Album
and
Wynton Marsalis-Crescent City Christmas Card

Has anyone heard the Dave Brubeck Christmas CD that I have seen as a recent release?

I'm not a huge Mariah Carey fan, but I really enjoyed her first christmas album. I haven't heard the new one yet though.

My feeling about Mariah Carey is that she's certainly gotten a lot of play out of that one outfit.

oh wow...just noticed my signature...yikes. B.O.'s choking on those words right now isn't he.

Jabba the Hutt gins a Christmas song:

http://www.paulandstorm.com/archives/holiday-greetings-from-jabba-the-hutt/

Pink Martini just release a holiday album. I just found out 90 seconds ago, and I'll be heading to Best Buy right now to purchase it. Gotta go!

I'm downloading it now on iTunes. Thanks for the tip!

EDIT: Two thumbs up!

sad...am I the last person on earth that purchases actual cds?

I went to Best Buy and their selection of cds is pathetic now. They used to have a HUGE selection. Needless to say they didn't have it. Aarrg.

Nope. Not even Pink Martini can make Little Drummer Boy tolerable.


Ok, that's not completely honest. I enjoy the instrumentation. They lyrics should just never have been written.

I buy some CDs still, but I wanted instant gratification.

They never were.

So did I. That's why I didn't purchase the cd on amazon.com

It's funny that people always want a way to "protect" and archive their digital music. Buy the cd. Rip it however YOU want, and the cd IS your backup. Duh.

Does anyone sell uncompressed digital downloads? Prince offered them on his god awful website. He at least got that right. I'd pay a premium (not more than the cd, but more than the standard download). I don't think I'm alone.

No kidding, Craig. Best Buy's selection has dropped off the face of the earth. I stick to Amazon now.

It is looking like you have to buy CD's online now, everywhere I go I see less and less shelf space for CD's. I am ordering a bunch of cd's this Christmas, none of which I was able to find in a store. At least they are still producing them........for now. It wouldn't be so bad if they at least offered full cd quality(or better) downloads.

...pc games are even scarcer! Sigh...I'm getting old.

hdtracks.com
They have a lot of stuff, but very little of what I want, unfortunately.

I buy CDs whenever possible. The only ones I don't buy as CDs are the ones that are unavailable in the format or are insanely expensive.

More bands are offering FLAC downloads, but of course most of the time they're offering the CD at the same time, so I go with that and make my own FLACs.

Speaking of wood... here's a unique rendition of O Holy Night:

http://devour.com/video/o-holy-night-by-matt-mulholland/

I'm glad that video didn't play at work.


I'd be singing it all day long.




And then I'd probably get a call from corporate. . .

Oh God, what a word to have stuck on my mind....... you suck Peter

That was awesome, Peter!