Everytime I think I've covered my FAVORITE music, I hear something I have forgotten about or someone shares with me something they like and then, yes, I like it, too!  The newest addition to my list is from the 10 member (good looking guys!) vocal group ,Straight No Chaser, singing acapella harmonies and adding humor! One of their fun songs on their newest CD, Christmas Cheers, is the Christmas CanCan.  They have been featured on PBS, so perhaps you are familiar with them and have seen and heard this talented group of guys!

Holiday Spirits is their 2008 Christmas CD.

Christmas music is played in stores, to help put shoppers in the mood for buying Christmas presents.  Christmas music ranges from joyful, upbeat tunes to quieter more reflective songs and melodies, and I enjoy most of them, except, perhaps, for Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer… just don’t care for that one!               

A favorite Christmas album that has been played in our home each Christmas season for years is The Ventures - Christmas Album with traditional songs done in a fun rock and roll style, including “Jingle Bells”,  “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Sleigh Ride”, “Scrooge” etc.  Imbedded in their songs are 1960s pop tunes – “Woolly Bully” strains are in “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “I Feel Fine” is in “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”!  “Scrooge” contains a scary intro and slide whistle and noisemaker!  So much fun to listen to!  You can’t help but feel happy!  Some say this album just might be the best rock and roll holiday record ever made.

Several years ago I had the awesome opportunity to hear Neil Diamond in concert! He has been a favorite singer, songwriter, and performer, of mine, for a very long time and his Christmas show was fantastic!  His newest Christmas CD, A Cherry, Cherry Christmas is a wonderful mix of traditional and new songs.  Cherry, Cherry Christmas is his brand new original song- if you are a Neil Diamond fan, you will really enjoy this!  This CD also includes old favorites such as Jingle Bell Rock, The Christmas Song, Joy to the World, Amazing Grace, Deck the Halls, Winter Wonderland, and more. A joy to listen to!

A newer addition to my fun Christmas music is the Jimmy Buffet - Christmas Island CD.  In case you didn’t know this trivia fact, Jimmy Buffet was born on Christmas Day in 1946. This peppy Caribbean music is a sure way to cure any wintertime chills!  When I sing along with “Mele Kalikimaka”, this retired teacher is reminded of the fun I had teaching a group of first graders this song for our school’s annual Christmas program.  Aaahhh  - those were the days!  This CD contains some traditional songs (with a few tropical ad libs!) as well as 3 songs he co-wrote, “A Sailor’s Christmas”, “Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rhum” and “Merry Christmas, Alabama”. 

Still in a lighthearted mood, we laugh and sing along with John Denver and the Muppets - A Christmas Together [CD on Demand] , with my favorite being “Twelve Days of Christmas”, especially every time Miss Piggy belts out ‘Five goooolden rings’! “Deck the Halls” is sung with much gusto and so is “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.  “Silent Night” is sung tenderly, as it should be. 

The album/CD Christmas with the Chipmunks with their joyous versions of standard Christmas songs is very amusing, too!  This music phenomenon has been around since 1962. We never seem to tire of these fun musicians!

Listening to Alan Jackson - Let It Be Christmas soothes my soul. The CD begins with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, then “Winter Wonderland”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”, “The Christmas Song”, “Silent Night”, my favorite, “Let It Be Christmas”, “Jingle Bells”, “White Christmas”, “Silver Bells”, and ends up with another of my  all-time favorites, “Away in a Manger”.

The 1970 Elvis' Christmas Album, has a lovely, comforting selection of Christmas songs sung by “The  King” with his smooth voice.  Some songs are lively, like “Santa Claus is Back in Town”, “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me”.  Most songs, though, are quieter and more melancholy, like “Silent Night”, “Peace in the Valley”, “I Believe”, etc.   Anything Elvis sings, I love listening to!

Alabama Christmas was originally released in 1985 and re-released on a CD in 1998. “Joseph and Mary’s Boy” tells a special story, “Candle in the Window” ,“Tender Tennessee Christmas” and “Christmas in Dixie” are fantastic .  All the songs are well-done and even if you aren’t a fan of country music, I think you’ll enjoy this CD.

Then there’s the power of Mannheim Steamroller’s music.   Their music is so uplifting!  Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas 25th Anniversary Collection features guest vocals from Johnny Mathis and Olivia Newton-John and others.  The group performs traditional songs like “Let it Snow”, “The Christmas Song”, “Feliz Navidad”, etc. as well as original works, “Catching Snowflakes on Your Tongue”, “Above the Northern Lights”, etc.

Whether I am writing out Christmas cards, finishing up sewing projects or baking cookies, listening to my 1970 vinyl LP, Living Strings - The Spirit of Christmas is just what I need to stay calm and focused on my tasks.  It’s too bad it hasn’t been released on a CD so more people could enjoy the finest instrumental renditions of favorite Christmas carols and songs.  It begins with “White Christmas”, then “Silver Bells”, …”Mary’s Boy Child” – so beautiful!  There are a few medleys of religious Christmas songs and side 2 ends with “The Christmas Song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, and “The Little Drummer Boy”.  If you love the orchestra, this is like being in the   audience of a concert hall!  Note: The link below is for used vinyl LPs. 

Ray Conniff - Christmas Album with the Conniff Singers is now available on CD.  These mostly traditional religious songs are performed in a snappy, happy way and ...

definitely put you in the mood for Christmas!  

Another favorite CD I have, with an orchestra, is Lorrie Morgan’s Merry Christmas from London, featuring The New World Philharmonic. Lorrie Morgan and Andy Williams sing ‘Little Snow Girl’ as a duet; Tammy Wynette sings ‘A Christmas Festival Medley’ with Lorrie; Johnny Mathis sings ‘Blue Snowfall’  with her.  “O Holy Night” is awesome, as is “Ave Maria”.  There are also the fun songs of “Sleigh Ride”, “Up on Santa Claus Mountain” and “Toyland”.  The well-known Rodgers and Hammerstein “My Favorite Things” is also one of the selections included in this great collection!

Bing Crosby - White Christmas  is great and of course, "White Christmas" is also available on many other CDs, which also include many other familiar Christmas songs sung only the way Bing Crosby does it!  A must, in some form, for your collection.

Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas is another favorite (Have you figured out yet, that I have MANY favorites?!) album I’ve had for years.  Songs from this album are now available for purchase as MP3s. Other albums can be purchased this way, also.  Johnny Mathis has a wonderful voice and it is truly an enjoyable listening experience, no matter what song/album you choose.

When the tree is adorned, the tasks are generally, completed and there is finally time to sit and revel in the beauty of the Christmas lights and decorations, I reflect on the blessings of the season, and play my Amy Grant - Home for Christmas CD, especially enjoying  “Breath of Heaven” and “Emmanuel, God With Us”  to complete that warm and fuzzy Christmas feeling.

Hallmark has had several special Christmas CD promotions in their stores and online, and ‘Tis the Season with Vince Gill and Olivia Newton-John and George Strait: Fresh Cut Christmas are two CDs I have and enjoy.   Kohl’s Cares for Kids Christmas CDs have also been added to my Christmas collection of albums and CDs from which I get pleasure during this “most wonderful time of the year”!

A visitor to this site reminded me that The Trans Siberian Orchestra is a must for anyone's collection!  Thier music is an inspired fusion of classical music and rock-opera pageantry. I am so glad he took the time to email us with this information.  I, personally, do not own (soon to change, though!) any Trans Siberian Orchestra CDs, but I've heard their music on the radio and they are an excellent group.

The three albums -- "Christmas Eve and Other Stories," "The Christmas Attic" and "The Lost Christmas Eve" -- three separate stories, each with a booklet telling the story that accompanies each song.  Included in this boxed set is the DVD, The Ghost of Christmas Eve.  A lot of value for your money.

The Christmas Trilogy (3CD/DVD) [BOX SET]

Another possibility to consider, according to our visitor to the site, is Now That's What I Call Christmas! (2001 CD) Just the title made me want to check it out!  36 songs on 2 discs, sung by a variety of artists: Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song, Bing Crosby's White Christmas, Elvis' Blue Christmas, Sinatra's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Tony Bennet's Winter Wonderland, Gene Autry's Rudolph, Beach Boys' Little St. Nick, Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmas, Luther Vandross' O Come All Ye Faithful, Boyz II Men's Silent Night, etc.

2003 CD - More great songs from popular artists, for example - Jimmy Buffett's Jingle Bells, Vince Gill's Do You Hear What I Hear?, Celine Dion's O Holy Night, Amy Grant's A Christmas to Remember, Barbara Streisand's I'll Be Home for Christmas, Lou Rawls' The Little Drummer Boy, Jose Feliciano's Feliz Navidad, Pavarotti's Adeste Fidelis, etc.

So, there you have it!!!  More great Christmas music!!!!