Since WAJ traffic has been higher around here than ever before it's time for all of you lurkers to come out of hiding. Wendy H finally had the courage to comment (Hi Wendy! I really am going to email you! I promise.), now it is your turn.
I typically start listening to Christmas music around September and don't stop until around August. Obviously as a songwriter and music nut putting "Christmas" and "Music" together, (hence, "Christmas Music") is the ultimate treat. We all have our favorite songs, both secular and sacred. What albums do you absolutely HAVE to have playing for Christmas to be complete?
I'll start off. These are just a few w/ brief notes. I won't list all of my favorites, that would take forever. This is all from memory, so let me know if I flubbed any of the info.
"These Are Special Times" - Celine Dion : Strangely enough, I don't really listen to all that many secular artists, but this is one of my all time Christmas favorites. She starts with the most unbelievable rendition of "O, Holy Night" (which is worth the price of the album alone) and doesn't hardly miss a beat throughout. A little old, a little new...hardly a "skip over" track here.
"An Evening in December" Volumes I & II - First Call & Friends : Listening to these albums (along with Manheim Steamroller) always reminds me of late nights spent building sets for our Christmas musicals at the Christian school I attended. A few unique arrangements of traditional fare, some beautiful harmonies, and great guest vocalists (Russ Taff, Cynthia Clawson, Wayne Watson, and more) make this overall a very enjoyable set of albums.
"Jesus, the Best Gift of All" - Various Benson Artists : If you can find this CD anywhere buy it. A Benson holiday compilation unlike any other label holiday project I have heard. It wasn't a big concept project like "Young Messiah" and probably didn't sell a gazillion units, but it still has a special place in my heart. My uncle gave me a copy on our first Christmas without my Grandma. At the tender age of 12 the project meant a lot to me on that very emotional holiday. I was horrified years later when I lost the tape while moving. After years of looking I finally found a used copy on CD. Just checked and there are a few online here and there.
The title track by 4 Him starts the album with the observation that "Christmas time is like a window all the world looks through once a year, but the light they find as they look inside is shining every day we are here." Artists include Larnelle Harris, Glad, Dino, Harvest, Commissioned, and more. Some of my favorite tracks are "Christmasing" by Billy and Sarah Gaines, " For Unto Us" Ed Kerr and Kelly Willard, and the grand finale, "Our Blessed Savior Has Come", a stirring duet by Carmen and.... Carmen and... oops, I don't remember her name, but the song is awesome. (I'll update her name as soon as I get home)
So many others I want to list (Kenny G, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Boney James - You HAVE to check out "Boney's Funky Christmas" - really.) Oh, I also just downloaded Josh Groban's Noel. Probably will be right up there on the list.
How about you?
It wouldn't be Christmas without...
I typically start listening to Christmas music around September and don't stop until around August. Obviously as a songwriter and music nut putting "Christmas" and "Music" together, (hence, "Christmas Music") is the ultimate treat. We all have our favorite songs, both secular and sacred. What albums do you absolutely HAVE to have playing for Christmas to be complete?
I'll start off. These are just a few w/ brief notes. I won't list all of my favorites, that would take forever. This is all from memory, so let me know if I flubbed any of the info.
It wouldn't be Christmas without...
"These Are Special Times" - Celine Dion : Strangely enough, I don't really listen to all that many secular artists, but this is one of my all time Christmas favorites. She starts with the most unbelievable rendition of "O, Holy Night" (which is worth the price of the album alone) and doesn't hardly miss a beat throughout. A little old, a little new...hardly a "skip over" track here.
"An Evening in December" Volumes I & II - First Call & Friends : Listening to these albums (along with Manheim Steamroller) always reminds me of late nights spent building sets for our Christmas musicals at the Christian school I attended. A few unique arrangements of traditional fare, some beautiful harmonies, and great guest vocalists (Russ Taff, Cynthia Clawson, Wayne Watson, and more) make this overall a very enjoyable set of albums.
"Jesus, the Best Gift of All" - Various Benson Artists : If you can find this CD anywhere buy it. A Benson holiday compilation unlike any other label holiday project I have heard. It wasn't a big concept project like "Young Messiah" and probably didn't sell a gazillion units, but it still has a special place in my heart. My uncle gave me a copy on our first Christmas without my Grandma. At the tender age of 12 the project meant a lot to me on that very emotional holiday. I was horrified years later when I lost the tape while moving. After years of looking I finally found a used copy on CD. Just checked and there are a few online here and there.
The title track by 4 Him starts the album with the observation that "Christmas time is like a window all the world looks through once a year, but the light they find as they look inside is shining every day we are here." Artists include Larnelle Harris, Glad, Dino, Harvest, Commissioned, and more. Some of my favorite tracks are "Christmasing" by Billy and Sarah Gaines, " For Unto Us" Ed Kerr and Kelly Willard, and the grand finale, "Our Blessed Savior Has Come", a stirring duet by Carmen and.... Carmen and... oops, I don't remember her name, but the song is awesome. (I'll update her name as soon as I get home)
So many others I want to list (Kenny G, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Boney James - You HAVE to check out "Boney's Funky Christmas" - really.) Oh, I also just downloaded Josh Groban's Noel. Probably will be right up there on the list.
How about you?
It wouldn't be Christmas without...
5 comments:
Okay, I gotta make a comment on at least one of the things you mentioned. Let's say I'm not exactly a Celine Dion fan. Yeah, not a fan at ALL. If I had to pick a favorite, I gotta say, I've got an awesome Winton Marsalis Christmas CD. It's kind of old but it still swings. And I love Christmas music as much as the next guy but I gotta say, come December 26th I'm packing up the tree, the music and everything that goes with it.
Can't live without Bing Crosby's White Christmas. Probably the best xmas CD ever!!
Elvis Presley "Blue Christmas." My parents played that on an 8 track every single year until the thing gave out and we had to find a cassette. Family tradition when putting up the tree; no idea why.
And for me, the "Christmasy" pieces from Handel's "Messiah" have to be heard at some point in the season.
But my more recent fav (like the last 4 years maybe) is "Child of the Promise." It's a sublime combination of Contemporary Christian and Musical Theater, people! I mean, how do you beat Michael Crawford, Crystal Lewis, Steven Curtis, and Russ Taff (and so many more)all on the same recording? I LOVE it. And I'm wishing for more of the same.:)
I LOVE the Celine album. I think it's one of her best. Her rendition on O Holy Night is stunning, and the Ave MAria will take your breath away. I listen to that track starting in August. Got to have a little Bing Crosby. I read that Michael Buble is putting out a Christmas album. You can bet I'll be buying it.
Susan - Had a Winton Marsalis Christmas tape that I lost years ago. Good Stuff. Kinda brutal on the abrupt end of the festivities, no?
Stacy - Bing rocks!
Becky - What's an 8 track? ;)
Not sure how I missed Child of the Promise, but I have to check it out.
Melissa - Not a Celine fan, but I LOVE her Christmas album. Gonna have to look for the Buble project.
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