Monday ~ To the Tune of my Christmas

I think unanimously most everyone would agree that one the one thing that really makes Christmas Christmas, is the music we listen to during this most festive time of the year! Whether it’s old-english carols, orchestral pieces, a capella numbers, soft instrumental, country ballads or popular pop songs, there is  a wonderful wealth of Christmas music to be had, and sometimes when faced with such a wide variety to choose from, it’ s a bit overwhelming. In a good way. :)

So, I’ve compiled a little list of my top favorite Christmas cd’s, in no particular order.

1. Michael W. Smiths’ Christmas. This cd would probably rank amongst my top five Christmas cd’s of all time. “All Is Well” is probably one of my favorite Christmas songs as well. I love the calming instrumental pieces that slowly build to the rousing upbeat rendition of Angels We Have Heard On High.

2. First Call’s a cappella Evening In December. Okay, folks, this cd harkens back to the early days of my life, and we still listen to it on cassette ta pe. The title track is close to my heart, being the sentimental nostalgic that I am!

3) Kristin Chenoweth’s What  a Lovely Way to Spend Christmas. Not a fan of  her work (other than a few choice pieces from Wicked) in general, but I do love her Christmas cd! “Come On, Ring Those Bells” always gets me singing it out!

4) An Old-English Christmas is another album of my childhood. With chorale pieces and instrumentals, it’s one we often listen to during the December days.

5 Michael W. Smith’s It’s a Wonderful Christmas. What’s not to like??

6) Okay, ladies, who doesn’t like this one? Michael Buble’s Christmas was a welcome addition to the scene last year and I happily paid the $13 bucks at my local Starbucks as soon as I could following it’s release. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a special fondness for “Cold December Night.” Hmmm, ladies?

7) David Archuletta’s Christmas from the Heart was another addition to my collection last year and it does not disappoint. Mostly straight renditions of tradition Christmas carols, I appreciate the fact that a current artist would record an album of 90% Christian carols, in a society where no secular artist puts any carols amongst their album’s tracks. Go, Archy!

8) Clay Aiken’s All is Well, as well as his other album Merry Christmas with Love. Despite the facts of the actual man himself, he sure knows how to crank out a Christmas carol and bring new life to it! Like David Archuletta, this is another album where a large amount of the track numbers are tradition Christmas carols. His versions of “All is Well” and “Mary Did You Know” give me the goosebumps every time!

9) Quiet Christmas. This is a breathtakingly beautiful cd of traditional songs played so restfully on the piano. This is one of the albums that I play on the nights I turn off the house lights, plug in the tree, light some candles and just “soak” in the full beauty and wonder of Christmas.

10) Julie Andrew’s Greatest Christmas Songs. It’s Julie Andrews, ‘nuff said.

11) Tom Howard plays beautiful instrumental Christmas songs on this special edition Thomas Kinkade-inspired Christmas cd. We bought this years and years ago from a traveling Thomas Kinkade show. You can’t find this particular cd anymore and so as it’s one of my all-time favorite Christmas cd’s, I cherish the burned copy that I made from the original.

12) Maranatha’s Long Play Christmas. Okay, we’re talking LOTS of memories to be found for me on this old cassette tape! Even though it’s obviously dated from back in the 80’s/90’s, I still love the heart behind this album. From the children’s choir to the everyday church choruses intermixed with the traditional Christmas songs, I love how it really does encourage worship of Christ at Christmas.

13) And last but certainly NOT least, is my main man himself! Dave Barne’s Very Merry Christmas! There is nothing disappointing about this cd and I’ve listened to it way too many times already this season! Can’t stand yet another unoriginal version of “Baby, it’s Cold Outside?” (gag) Dave’s got another guy/girl echo song called “Christmas Tonight,” that besides containing none of that slight innuendo of “Baby’s It’s Cold Outside,” is way more fun and catchy! And the girl singing is Hillary Scott from Lady Antebellum. 

What are some of your favorite Christmas albums? I need some new suggestions!