Yep, there has been many a great Christmas songs: Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and my favorite, The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York,” but I am looking at an entire album. And I’m not including any compilations like “NOW Christmas” which doesn’t count; that’s just too easy. Granted I’m limited to my own collection (totaling about 50 discs), but here are my favorites.
1 - Vanessa Williams “Star Bright”
This disc is a great mix of generic holiday songs, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and traditional Christmas songs like “What Child Is This.” Vanessa is consistently good on songs like a rousing spiritual “Go Tell It On The Mountain / Mary Had a Baby” and on original songs like the title track, “Star Bright”. Honestly, I like to listen to this from beginning to end and not once do I reach for the remote changer. It’s my number one go-to holiday disc.
2 - Annie Lennox “A Christmas Cornucopia”
This disc surprised me. Annie Lennox doing Christmas? Her normal albums are deeply emotional, often depressing, songs that are personal therapy. How could that possibly translate to the holidays? The sound of the record is like a traveling band on the old Silk Road - peasants just out to have a great time. And what’s even more surprising is that most of the songs are Christian traditional songs, “Silent Night”, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. Annie? Really? Still scratching my head. I know this disc came out this year, 2010, but it’s already a favorite. Who knows, maybe next year it will usurp Queen Vanessa for number one!
3 - Louis Armstrong & Friends “What A Wonderful Christmas”
Satchmo just having a grand old time. I can’t help but smile when I listen to this record. “Christmas In New Orleans” - winner. “White Christmas” - better than Bing. “Christmas Night in Harlem” - a joyous romp. The “friends” here are a stellar cast too, Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, and Louis Jordan. Man, I love this record. Puts the fun back in the holidays.
4 - Ella Fitzgerald “Wishes You a Swinging Christmas”
According to the liner notes from the original 1960 release, Ella didn’t want to do any religious or solemn holiday songs. So she ampted up the swing and kicked some holiday ass with “Sleigh Ride”, “Winter Wonderland” and “Frosty The Snow Man.” She does some ballads like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, but emphasizes the joy of the season (rather than the typical dour sense one gets!). I love Ms. Ella and look forward to this record every year.
5 - The Glenn Miller Orchestra “In The Christmas Mood”
Yea, go ahead. Call me a douche bag for including this one. But it’s the big band at it’s finest. Recorded in 1988, it’s got all the usual standards, “White Christmas”, “The Christmas Song” and “Jingle Bells.” My favorite is “Sleigh Ride” and I get a kick out of their fun arrangements and medleys. If you’re looking for background music for a party, this is it. Oh and don’t forget, there’s a “In The Christmas Mood #2" album - just as good.
*****
With a collection of 50 discs, there’s bound to be some honorable mentions. The Top 5 might make it seem like I love the festival stuff the best - well I do - but it helps during the usual holiday doldrums. If it doesn’t make you puke, it makes you better. Isn’t that the saying? Anyway, here’s a few disc I like to play just as much:
Honorable Mention
“A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert” with Kathleen Battle, Frederica von Stade, and Wynton Marsalis
The Manhattan Transfer “The Christmas Album”
Barbra Streisand “A Christmas Album”
Ottmar Liebert “Poets & Angels”
Finally, here’s one of my favorite holiday songs:
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