My favorite Christmas albums

Christmas comes but once a year unless you're one of those "Christmas in July" weirdos in which case, get off my blog, freak! Secret Santas, too much food, awkward Christmas parties, melancholy, stress, kids, warmth, lights, sweets, year-end accounts, loneliness, the lone voice cryiing in the dark, the guttering flame of life boldly shining bright as the forces of night strive to quench life itself....The age-old "fuck You" to death, winter and decay. 

'Tis the time of year for Christmas music and there's a ton out there. I make no pretence that the below list reflects anything but my own tastes and for all I know there are many other great Christmas albums. My thing about Christmas albums is that it needs to feature beloved songs I like that have an original twist, but, also, crucially, they need to be able to fade into the background when you need them too.  Here are some that I love: 


We Three Kings -- The Roches (1990)



A fun album from one of the finest and most underrated vocal harmony folk groups of all time: the Roches, three sisters from New York sisters. (I think one of htem passed away not too long ago. )These girls are so much fun to listen to, beautiful harmonies delivered with a healthy dose of humor.



Spotify Link:

https://open.spotify.com/album/0brZ42BYzsNRi1BSJOYwnz?si=cb4177ba2313467d

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi Trio


This mellow warm record by this brilliant jazz pianist,  will bring back nostalgic memories for Americans and like much of Vince Guaraldi's stuff, this one really hits the spot -- even without the  the nostalgia factor.

https://open.spotify.com/album/2XnNY3GEkbWHor5kyvXLu4?si=8bc87269649d4f6a



Light of the Stable - Emmylou Harris


Emmylou Harris is a lovely singer, from the Outlaw Country era and at this point she is approaching icon status and this sweet, understated mostly acoustic album will totally make you feel the Christmas spirit if you have any affinity for Americana. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/3FGUuuml7BwQVDrhb20Elz?si=Wy6jWlZyRamvYrICNflaZg

A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector - Various Artists (Phil Spector)



Just packed with great pop songs from these old nor mostly forgotten R&B/pop stars from the grand sixties, including some real classics. Recorded in the California sun of L.A. somehow this manages to bring the spirit.


Spotify: 
https://open.spotify.com/album/0rvsyotOHtpH6GQq2I3S1Q?si=243afd9dda134962

The Beach Boys Christmas Album - The Beach Boys



Half tossed-off (but tuneful and fun) originals recorded in about three days by the band, half old-fashioned orchestrated Christmas standards, this was designed to appeal to kids and parents a like in that innocent time of 1964.  As a subtle political statement, the Beach Boys dressed in Ukrainian colors on cover.


Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/67nqYhvjDyJXGD64937Lw3?si=c465290c5c0c40d6

One More Drifter In the Snow



In a just world, Aimee Mann would be hailed universally as one of the greatest songwriters of her generation, but what do I know?  This one doesn't have a lot of originals, but it does have a couple and the rest of it sees Aimee's cool alto crooning a number of classics, as well as a couple of amusing choices. 



Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5HG425mpvfjpIQcbaKkhQl?si=bb951dad03004ae3

Christmas with the Academy: Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Chamberlain



When you're having Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, nothing beats choral music in my opinion. This presents a number of traitional Christmas carols from many European languages. It is simply beaitufl and well put together, with a long build and a final climax. 


Spotify Link:

https://open.spotify.com/album/6iTdvF2QKKP9ZQtPuhwl0e?si=72841a0144cd4ea2



What I Really Want for Christmas - Brian Wilson

Brian and his stellar band, led here by Jeffrey Foskett, I think, deliver a set of Christmas standards produced in the Brian Wilson style and on some there is the unmistakeable stamp of the Big Guy himself..The version of "The Man with All The Toys" here betters the tossed off Beach Boys' original. Includes a couple of new songs and some previously "bonus tracks' that I really enjoy.  



https://open.spotify.com/album/1DGawSAfSZos5csiXscFP9?si=a7dc5b8151374ae6




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