I always try to add a few acquisitions to my holiday music collection each year. I'm ready to start shopping and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions - new releases, older stuff? My collection is ecclectic, incorporating music from the swing era to the present. I've got a good size collection, so these last several years I've been happiest with quirkier things I hadn't heard before. Last year I really focused on Hawaiian Xmas music, so I may have missed some other good stuff.

Will the music be for your own listening pleasure, a party you're throwing @ home, music for a work holiday party? It makes a difference to know what you're thinking about & for what type of audience.

I only like traditional Christmas music. I would recommend picking up Josh Grobin's "Noel" CD. Some of these new school artists and their renditions of holiday classics really erk my nerves. I know that "NOW" has a new CD out and I heard some things on it that were ok.

I play nothing but "Merry Christmas" by Mariah Carey, during the Cristmas Season. It has some of the classics plus her own "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Still fabulous after all these years.

OK- I might be changing the thread a little bit here....

But what do you do when you want to listen to some holiday music at work, but you work with coworkers that practice religions that do not celebrate Christmas- i.e. Judaism, Jehovah's Witnesses.- how do you respect their wishes but also be able to have them equally respect you in this manner?

Josh Groban "Noel" is a nice CD...

The only Christmas albums I can remember willingly listening to are:

- Beach Boys, get the "Ultimate Christmas" CD
- Phil Spector
- Early '90s VA collection of Geffen artists called "Just Say Noel"

I don't think you're allowed to wear headphones on your job so you're out of luck.

We have a radio in the clinic that both staff and patients listen to... my thought is- I think there should be a happy balance. Does the right to listen to holiday music (i.e. that would be playing in any mall or public facility this time of year) outweigh the right to not listen to it?

Umm...put the volume down. Thats what I would do. Now I happen to work with people who all celebrate Christmas. I'm sorry but I refuse to do any ridiculous PC changes regarding people who don't celebrate Christmas. I love the holiday and I love the music. Now when addressing people I don't know I wish them Happy Holidays because I respect the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas. Fortunately for me, I have an office with a door. But, even if I was at a cubicle or shared space...sorry boo boo...I'm playing my Charlie Brown Christmas CD.

I'm guessing there's Jewish music related to Hanukkah. If so, maybe play a combo of X-Mas, Hanukkah & non-religious/generic stuff.

i like playing smooth jazz christmas music and have a good collection taken from itunes. it's nice to play at gatherings, and I like playing it when i'm home next to the fireplace.

i also have a separate cd of quirky christmas songs--- one of them which is a rock version of my favorite things... that i play in my car but not at home because it irritates my partner

Artist: Barbra Streisand
Album: A Christmas Album - 1 review: *****
Year: 1967

Track #1 will run you out of breath, crazy, not cheery!

Tracks
1. Jingle Bells
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. The Christmas Song
4. White Christmas
5. My Favorite Things
6. The Best Gift
7. Sleep in Heavenly in Peace (Silent Night)
8. Gounod's Ave Maria
9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
10. I Wonder as I Wander
11. The Lord's Prayer

This is a very funny production, by a very un-perfected BS. Kinda like Ethel Merman backed by a disco beat. (get this CD too, just released last summer I think)

TRL

I like compilations. You can get a lot of great stuff from itunes, buying individual songs. Some of my faves:

- "It's the most wonderful time of the year," Andy Williams
- "Have a holly jolly Christmas," Burl Ives
- "White Christmas," Bing Crosby
- "There's no place like home for the holidays," The Carpenters
- "I'll be home for Christmas," The Carpenters
- "The Christmas song," Nat Cole
- "Blue Christmas," Elvis Presley
- "Have yourself a merry little Christmas," Judy Garland
- "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas," Bing Crosby
- "Jingle Bell Rock," Bobby Helms & the Anita Kerr Singers
- "Rockin' around the Christmas treet," Brenda Lee
- "Silver Bells," Kate Smith

TRIVIA QUESTION: Three of these songs originated in major motion pictures. Which are they and what are the films?

I like Ella's Xmas album, can't remember the name but I am sure you can search for Ella Fitzgerald and xmas and it will come up.

As opera fan I can't support Josh's album but happy if it gets people in the holiday spirit, after all to each his own.

I second the Charlie Brown Xmas, Let's hear it for Vince Gerardi.

Mahalia Jackson, now ANYTHING THAT WOMAN DOES means Xmas to me!!!!!

I can not pass a season without listening to her.

That is a HUGE compliment from me who for work plays this XMAS music(Junk, classical, Pops, Messiah, Carols, Operas, or whatever people hire me for over the holidays) for a living.

Have already done 3 programs of holiday music since Thanksgiving, and have a Messiah tonight...............ahhhhhh the joy of the season................

But, seriously, Mahalia and Ella........that is Xmas for me!

Best,

Drew

"Mahalia Jackson, now ANYTHING THAT WOMAN DOES means Xmas to me!!!!!"

Who are you? I didn't know Mahalia had a Christmas CD? Now I have to find it.

Thanks,

TRL

I love Christmas music. I actually listen to it all year....I loved it at work in like June when White Christmas would be coming out of the pc speaker and co-workers would ask what the hell I was listening to LOL

I listen to Christmas Broadband frequently on Live365, and had some "favorites" that they played, so I made my own CD from my favorites:

1. Winter Wonderland - Ray Conniff
2. All I Want For Christmas - Mariah
3. Please Come Home - Rosie O & Cher
4. Children of Sarajevo - Trans Siberian Orchestra
5. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
6. Do You Hear What I Hear - Whitney
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Martina McBride
8. It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year - Andy Williams
9. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
10. Last Christmas - Wham
11. Let It Snow - Ray Conniff
12. It's Hard To Be A Jew on Christmas - Kyle (South Park)
13. Jingle Bells - Ray Conniff
14. Mary's Boy Child - Boney M
15. Oh Come All Ye Faithful - Martina McBride
16. O Holy Night - Mariah
17. Sleigh Bells - Ray Conniff
18. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
19. Santa Baby - Madonna
20. Silver Bells - Ray Conniff
21. Happy Christmas - Melissa Etheridge
22. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
23. Grown Up Christmas List - Amy Grant
24. White Christmas - Ray Conniff

My Mom and Dad played Mahalia for us growing up.

Check out this google search for Mahalia Jackson and Christmas.

Enjoy.

Drew

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navc...ckson+christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas, Vince Guaraldi Trio

"A John Waters Christmas" is essential for me. Also, I like a number of the remix Xmas albums, such as "Merry Mixmas." But here are some more thoughts----Xmas recordings by Rosemary Clooney, Sarah McLachlan, Aimee Mann, Emmylou Harris, Chris Isaak. A possible companion piece to the John Waters collection might be Kiki and Herb's "Do You Hear What We Hear?, wherein they combine "What Child is This?" with "Deep Inside" (the "just Mary" song from Mary J. Blige). And for serious reggae fans, there is a Sly and Robbie Christmas compilation.

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Home for Christmas

I've always been a sort of fair-weather fan of them, but was unaware that they released a holiday CD last year. I was in a bookstore here in ATL and it was playing. I found myself really getting into it as I browsed and then recognized Darryl Halls voice. So I asked an employee there about it and he showed me the CD. Which I then purchased and listened to in the car on the way home. It's very mellow with touches of jazz, r&b, even a little country sounding on a couple of tunes. I highly recommend it!

Judy Collins has a pure, beautiful, and other worldly quality in her voice that seems appropriate for Christmas. Her 1994 CD "Come Rejoice" has many standards and some songs written by her that are quite good. One is an anti-war song Song For Sarajevo that speaks of childhoods robbed by war.

I know it's a bit early for X-Mas music but just read this. It'll be interesting to hear Dylan's take on traditional holidays tunes. Can't wait to hear it. Plus, I love what he's doin w/ the royalties. Great cause!

Kevin & Bean present Swallow My Eggnog

1. Swallow My Eggnog
2. Ex-Miss - New Found Glory
3. Someday at Christmas - Remy Zero
4. Seth Green's holiday message
5. Clint Frostwood - Chillaz
6. Cookin' with Walken
7. Get Your Dreidel on - Pudie Tadow
8. Christmas in Cali - P.O.D.
9. Steve Erwin's Crocodile Christmas
10. Harry Blotter & the Sorcerer's Bone
11. Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World
12. The Night Before Christmas - Cypress Hill
13. Silent Bob's Christmas Memory
14. Little Girls and Hobos - The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show
15. Unwritten Christmas - Unwritten Law Featuring Sum 41
16. Christmastime is Here - Richard Cheese & Lounge Against The Machine
17. A Very Jackass Christmas - Johnny Knoxville
18. Happy Holidays, You Bastard - Blink 182
19. Dave Gahan's Christmas Message
20. Westside - Dr. Dyke & The Cinnamon Cowboys
21. Don Quixote's Christmas Bonanza - Gorillaz
22. Under the Mistle-Toke with Mole
23. A Family Guy Christmas
24. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Coldplay
25. Things I Want - Sum 41 vs. Tenacious D
26. Jackie Chan's Christmas Message
27. Santa Bob
28. Afroman's Christmas Joint
29. Always - Weezer
30. Rock 'n Pot Christmas - Armenian Comedian

Bob Dylan does Christmas music??? WTF!? He's Jewish. Has anyone heard Barbra Streisand's album of Christmas music? It's hideous -- easily one of her worst. Maybe Dylan's will be better if he's learned how to sing and not glissando through all the songs like he usually does.

Bob Dylan is a brilliant songwriter, but he should let others sing them.

Lol! Puschkin! I'll keep an open mind.

I'm an early music geek, so here's a start:

Bright Day Star, The Baltimore Consort (Dorian, 1994). Early American and earlier English Yuletide music, none of which you've ever heard. Singer Custer LaRue is wonderful.

Noel, Noel! French Christmas Music, 1200-1600, The Boston Camerata (Erato, 1990). The same sort of thing, except now it's all French. Again, you've never heard any of this wonderful stuff.

I'm over shopping mall sound systems braodcasting "Frosty the Snowman" ad nauseum. This music gets to the root of the holiday/holy day far, far better.

Wait, Dylan sings? Is that what that noise is?