Speaking of Christmas music

[germdoc]

It's the time of year that brings the Christmas curmudgeon (me, that is) out of his shell. If I hear "Silver Bells" one more time, I'll hurl...

Anyway, I have been trying to listen to really good seasonal stuff, like Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and Sting's "If on a Winter's Night".

How about "Christmas with the Big Bands"--Christmas eve live concert with Glenn Miller, etc.; Harry Connick Jr's "What a Night! A Christmas Album"; "Christmas with Sinatra and Friends"; and The Chieftains' "The Bells of Dublin"?

Any other suggestions?

(BTW, for Hanukkah, there's only one choice, Erran Baron-Cohen's "Songs in the Key of Hanukkah". Yes, that's Borat's brother...)

[JR]

On Car Talk this weekend Tom and Ray recommended the following Hannukkah songs:

Oy to the World
Schlepping through a Winter Wonderland
Bubbe Got Run Over By a Reindeer
Enough with the Jingle Bells!
Come On Baby, Light My Menorah
Deck the Halls, and Clean Up This Schmutz
I Saw Mommy Kissing Some Fat Goy with a Beard
Over the River and Through the Woods… “Harold, the Road’s Over There!”
All I Want For Christmas Is for My Son to Call Me Once in a While
I’ll Be Home for Christmas…. Don’t Worry About Me… I’ll Sit The Dark
Silent Night? I Should Be So Lucky

[Richard in Smithville]

How about this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlf---13Q0g&feature=fvw

[HarmsWay]

Martini Merry Christmas was my fave buy last year. It's got some of the less typical ones like Mr. Heatmiser by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and 'Zat You Santa Claus? by Louis Armstrong with the Commanders.

Bob

[BobSch]

Almost anything from Mannheim Steamroller's first two Christmas CDs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCsQX-TY-dQ

[Knottscott]

A Creole Christmas has always been one of my favorites, and I have a lot of Christmas CDs.



The Mannheim Steamroller stuff is cool if you haven't listened to it a ton. The trans siberian orchestra is cool too. I like the Statler Bros Christmas Present too. Hard to go wrong with Josh Groban. Rockin Little Christmas is another favorite. Harry Connick Jr's album is another great one.

[cgallery]

One of my favs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsMf-6F1aVM

(Ray Charles, "Christmas is the Time of Year").

Soundtracked in one of my favorite movies (National Lampoon's "Christmas Vacation").

Anything Ray Charles and Christmas is fine by me.

Also like the Crash Test Dummies "First Noel" (love that voice):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdP9qKxvWh0

[knotley]

Dean Martin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0Zx8c55f7Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18vsYFF0rTE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0Zx8c55f7Y

[Woodshark]

I'm so tired of hearing the same songs. Everyone does a remake of the same dozen Christmas songs over and over. The Christmas CD that lives in my player during the season is Peter Mayer's "Stars and Promises" http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mayerxmas

He has some great, original songs for the holidays. "This Christmas" and Ring Out the Bells" are favs. When he does cover an old standard, (Little Drummer Boy) it has a fresh new twist.

I highly recommend this CD. He is on tour so a lot of sites are out of stock. If you can find one, order it asap. I guarantee you won't regret it.



FYI. Peter plays & write for Jimmy Buffett.

[LinuxRandal]

I HATE this time of year. There is just ONE song that I can stand listening to this time of year, and I hope others listen to it as well, especially the (censored) thief that stole my toolbox yesterday and ruined yet ANOTHER Christmas.

John Lennon, So this is Christmas?

[germdoc]

By definition, any Christmas music by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong is a classic and worth listening to.

And anything with a lute in it.

[Mr__Bill]

This prompted me to dig out the box with the Christmas CDs in it. Right now I am listening to Alan Jackson's "honky tonk Christmas". Next up is Trans Siberian Orchestra "Christmas Eve and other Stories". Followed by Willie Nelson "Pritty Paper" I am holding "Christmas with the Chipmunks" in reserve, just in case someone (who parks in my shop) wants to listen to more Christmas Music.



Bill,
in the rain on the Sunny Oregon Coast

[germdoc]

Just listened to Jimmy Smith, "Christmas Cookin'". It doesn't get any cooler than that.



...

[germdoc]

And The Ventures Christmas Album, an all-ti9me favorite of mine since the mid-60's:



Man, that reverb is Mos-rite!

[germdoc]

Just listened to the Beach Boys' Christmas album, also Ray Charles The Spirit of Christmas. Both HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to get you in the mood of Christmas!