List of Christmas albums that are more than just background music?

**Blackbird** · #1 12-24-2008, 10:10 AM

Can we have a list of Christmas (or holiday) recordings that make for good listening any time of the year?

Here are two albums worth having:

Six String Santa - Joe Pass
A Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi Trio

Any more?

theoldmiami · #2 12-24-2008, 10:11 AM

Yeah... Vince Guaraldi is hard to beat.

Hoover · #3 12-24-2008, 10:16 AM

Jon Anderson's Three Ships

Lady Kayri · #4 12-24-2008, 10:19 AM

I just picked up Bela Fleck & the Flecktones "Jingle All the Way"... wow.

TheWalrus · #5 12-24-2008, 10:20 AM

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra CDs.... Christmas Eve & Other Stories, The Christmas Attic, and The Lost Christmas Eve

If you aren't familiar with TSO, it started as a project including members of the band Savatage with members of the New York Philharmonic.

I particularly enjoy the songs Christmas Eve/Sarajevo and A Mad Russian's Christmas.

Green Mind · #6 12-24-2008, 10:24 AM

Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas

Jeff Martinez · #7 12-24-2008, 10:25 AM

Definitely Vince Guaraldi

anything by Trans-Siberian Orchestra is amazing

Last night, I was out doing some last-minute shopping with my 2-year-old. We were at the local "outdoor" mall. Every hour, on the hour, they have a light show that is coordinated with about 15 minutes of TSO music. As soon as the music started, my daughter raised one hand and threw the horns. and then proceeded to dance like crazy for the rest of the show. It brought a tear to my eye to see her appreciate such cool music... especially knowing to throw the horns when the guitars came in. She's a freakin' rockstar!!!

TheWalrus · #8 12-24-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Martinez

Last night, I was out doing some last-minute shopping with my 2-year-old. We were at the local "outdoor" mall. Every hour, on the hour, they have a light show that is coordinated with about 15 minutes of TSO music. As soon as the music started, my daughter raised one hand and threw the horns. and then proceeded to dance like crazy for the rest of the show. It brought a tear to my eye to see her appreciate such cool music... especially knowing to throw the horns when the guitars came in. She's a freakin' rockstar!!!

Cool!

JimK · #9 12-24-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Kayri

I just picked up Bela Fleck & the Flecktones "Jingle All the Way"... wow.

I agree 100% on that one.

Also-
Wynton Marsalis' Crescent City Christmas Card

jmattis · #10 12-24-2008, 11:03 AM

James Brown's Funky Christmas and David Friesen and Jeannie Hoffman's the Spirit of Christmas.

CapnSev · #11 12-24-2008, 11:04 AM

I 2nd the TSO alnums.

tasty sweeps · #12 12-24-2008, 11:48 AM

GG's twelve days of X-mas single - GG Allin.

brilliant.

davetakis · #13 12-24-2008, 11:51 AM

these are my 4 favs:
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Buck...0144617&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Shop...0144652&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Fab-Four-Chris...0144670&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Have-yourself-...0144670&sr=1-2

MistaMarko · #14 12-25-2008, 01:29 AM

"The Jethro Tull Christmas Album"

PHENOMENAL.

Great flute work (obviously), very tasty jazz guitars, and the bass is killer, especially on track #5 "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman"..very nice swing bass, then it shifts into more of a heavy rock feel, then there is a pretty neat bass solo under the flute melody..just the two of them. I recommend it to all.

cripula · #15 12-25-2008, 02:38 AM

I couldn't listen to a christmas album any other time of year, but some of my faves are:

Leon Redbone: Christmas Island
Christmas With the Rat Pack
Ella Fitzgerald: Have a Swingin' Christmas
The Ventures Christmas Album
James Brown Funky Christmas
Temptations: Give Love at Christmas
Charlie Brown xmas, of course
There's a good Motown christmas collection, can't recall the name.

The South Park Christmas album still makes me laugh.

bassforce · #16 12-25-2008, 02:46 AM

We Wish You A Metal Xmas & A Headbanging New Year. By various artists

It's too loud to be background music

TheWalrus · #17 12-25-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassforce

We Wish You A Metal Xmas & A Headbanging New Year. By various artists

It's too loud to be background music

The "Merry Axemas" CDs are good for that too..

Vetchking · #18 12-25-2008, 03:08 AM

Vetchking Here:

I love the classics......... Unbeatable.............

namraj · #19 12-25-2008, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green Mind

Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas

I didn't think anyone who makes music that cool was aloud to release a christmas album, I thought it was against the laws of physics.

Ekim · #20 12-27-2008, 04:50 PM

Too late for this year, but I love the first "Ho Ho Hoey" CD by Gary Hoey. He has a few others but I always forget to hit Amazon for them.

I love the "We Wish You A Metal Christmas". Great ensemble of players and personalities. Alice Cooper just rocks.

But the two "Merry Axemas" CDs are probably my favorites. Both are very strong musically.