Monday, December 17, 2012

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!

5 comments:

  1. I love my Micheal Buble Christmas CD, it's my very favoritest!!

    I'll need to look up a few of these, (ecspecially that last one!) my Christmas music collection always has room for a few more CDs!

    I was a die hard Clay Aiken fan and his version of Mary Did You Know became my favorite Christmas song, but now it's kind of hard to listen to him.....the mocking of my family who were convinced from the beginning of his...erm... persuasion.....is far to loud! =P

    Have you heard Cee Lo Greens version of Mary Did You Know? I know, I know, it's Cee Lo Green, but it's fantastic!

    Hmm, a few of my favorites that you don't have listed are:
    David Kilkenburg, he's a violinist and his CD is beautiful!
    Any Christmas CD by Bing Crosby
    The Celtic Women's Christmas CD
    Amy Grants, A Christmas Album

    My 3 favorite songs are, Sleigh Ride, Mary Did You Know and this one:
    http://katysuepillsbury.blogspot.com/2011/12/happy-new-year.html

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  2. LOVE Kristin's music. :)

    (And your cute new header - everything looks fabulous, Kellie!)

    Merry Christmas!

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  3. I LOVE Buble's Christmas CD. ANd like you, my friend--bought it in Starbucks shortly after it's release & much too early for Christmas. ;)

    I have Lady A & Scotty McCreery sitting on my shelf near the CD player right now, & I am heartily enjoying both. And also your latest epistle--which I will be getting to *before* Christmas.
    Promise! <3

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  4. Great picks! Ah, I just love Julie Andrews:) I think my all time favorite Christmas has to be George Winston's December - I grew up with it, and each note is layered with memories of my childhood. Also Leslie Stratton Norris' Christmas harp album, and Phil Keaggy with the London Philharmonic. SO happy:)
    Your new header is adorable, Kellie-with-an-ie!
    Hugs!
    --me

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  5. Don't Laugh...but Christina Aguilera's Christmas CD is pretty good!! VERY oldschool....but still good! :D Also try Matthew West's Christmas CD! It was shockingly AWESOME! Like...he could be Michael Buble....and track one "Come On Christmas" is so completely addicting and cheery!! I LOVE it!

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