Monday, December 04, 2006

Christmas music must haves

I should be doing my Monday chores (Tidy, Laundry, Dust, Water plants, Kitchen) while Anna is napping, or working on Christmas gifts, but I have been thinking about helping all of you who don't have 52 Christmas CD's to know which ones are really very important and good. I am going to try to make the list all linky.

These are not in order of importance. They are all important.

1. Over the Rhine "The Darkest Night of the Year" (Oh! When I made this linky, I discovered they came out with a new Christmas CD!!! This one is my very favorite, so I'm so excited, my heart is beating fast, I know I'm not supposed to, but, I bought it. I'll let you know if it's also wonderful.)

2. Chris Rice "The Living Room Sessions Christmas" It's all piano music, very simple and calm and nice. I like to play it during dinner.

3. Martina McBride "White Christmas" She doesn't fuss with the songs too much, and has such a nice voice. I love her "O Holy Night".

4. Johnny Cash "Christmas with Johnny Cash" So many nice Johnny songs, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", "The Gifts They Gave", and some nice spoken word bits too.

5. Johnny Cash "Country Christmas" This one's with the Carter Family, and there's a hilarious rendition of "Figgy Pudding".

6. Martha's Trouble "Christmas Lights" I got this one new this year, and I love it. It's soft and very pretty, acoustic with interesting vocals.

7. Vince Guaraldi Trio "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Happy, especially good for baking cookies.

8. "Elf Soundtrack" It has some songs that no one else does, and is very peppy. Also it's a little longer, which is nice because most Christmas Albums are very short.

9. John Jonethis "The Ultimate Lounge Christmas" I bought this because it was cheap, but I love this CD. I'm not sure how to describe it. It's just a really nice, normal Christmas Album, with regular versions of everything, easy to sing with. I couldn't find a link to buy it, but there were several ways to download it.

10. Burl Ives "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" It's so good and happy and classic. You'll love it.

11. Bing Crosby "White Christmas" Surely you all have this, but if you don't, you must. If I had to take only one Christmas album with me to a desert island, it would be this one.

12. Jaci Velasquez "Navidad" It's in Spanish (The first half) and I really like it. Linda thinks it's overly emotional, and the second half (in English) I don't like so much, but I love the first part.

***And now two that I think Matthew would pick.***

13. VeggieTales "A Very Veggie Christmas" It's silly and fun.

14. Various Artists "Happy Christmas Volume 3" It's a little more rock-y, I do like it. We haven't heard the other volumes. Maybe we should get those too...


There--Only 14 must haves. What would you add?

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Definitely Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens.. this is a must must must must have. My fave. although I do love Martina's.

betsyann said...

Ooh, I'm so tempted. Maybe it'll go on sale after Christmas.

Except, I'm not supposed to buy any more.

Hmmm...

Anonymous said...

It is not a good idea to buy yourself things just before Christmas. Especially when someone who really, really likes to buy gifts and knows that you love the first Over the Rhine Christmas CD might have been planning to buy it for you. Ah, well. Plan B.... (If anyone has a plan B and doesn't need it themselves, please let me know.)

betsyann said...

Shoot, sorry Trinket. I didn't even think about that. But, I have a great selective memory, and every time I see the CD, I'll remember how you found it and got it for me this Christmas, and it was a fantastic present. Thanks!

lobiwan said...

I hope Katrina didn't buy me a pair of customized Nike shoes in my signature colors...

mllr said...

So since someone who posted on this blog has taken what few christmas cds I had and put them into her cd case,... I went ahead and ordered the bing crosby cd today...it will remain in my house.

betsyann said...

Goody! I'm helping to spread Christmas cheer!

jmlo said...

Kathy Mattea--Good News "What a wonderful begining To the greatest story ever told His birth still rings with promise As true as in the days of old..."

betsyann said...

I've been thinking I'd like a Kathy Mattea CD. What better place to start than Christmas?

Anonymous said...

Ditto on the Sufjan Stevens CD- good call Jo. Also, Betsy if you get an extra copy of that Over the Rhine CD... I'd take a regifted present.

Anonymous said...

Mega Dittos on the Sufjan Stevens CD. I actually got on here just to post that you should get it but low I am late and 3rd in line. 3 witnesses make it true though.

betsyann said...

Wow. Who knew that this Sufjan person was so popular? All of the reviews online are also raves.

Unknown said...

he's definitely worth all the attention.

Unknown said...

one of my favorite parts is Come Thou Fount. not a Christmas song but if you heard this rendition you would never have known that.