I have always had a strong sentimental streak when it comes to Christmas, and I dig listening to Christmas music. But it’s easy to get sick of the stuff before the holiday even arrives. I’m convinced a big reason for this is that there is an absolute glut of Christmas albums, and most of them are unbearable. If you’re looking for a new Christmas CD, picking something at random from the music store is risky at best, and downloading the most popular holiday tracks on iTunes is the musical equivalent of adding a full season of Two and a Half Men to your DVR.
So if I may be so bold, please allow me to present some recommendations. Of course, these suggestions will be reflective of my tastes, which tend toward a moral traditional sound. There’s nothing I hate more in a Christmas recording than a glossy, overproduced track. At the same time, there’s not much point in me recommending the stuff everyone already knows. You don’t need me to tell you about Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. And you’ve likely had your fill of Andy Williams and (gag) Mannheim Steamroller.
The selections on my list of Ten Christmas Albums to Add to Your Collection aren’t necessarily obscure or surprising, but they are all excellent and magically un-cynical. Oh, and they all share another important quality: you don’t hear them all the damn time.
“Standout tracks” are provided in case you just want to make a playlist.
Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas
Ella Fitzgerald
(1960)
Why isn’t this a holiday standard? Fitzgerald is a legend, arguably the most renowned female recording artist ever (sorry Babs), and yet her initial Christmas offering is generally overlooked. But boy has it aged well. Despite the fact that it’s approaching the half century mark, there’s nothing fuddy duddy about this album. I don’t know how you could listen to this upbeat, jubilant collection of classics without tapping your toes and smiling.
Standout Track: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
Silent Night: Songs for Christmas
Mahalia Jackson
(1962)
Speaking of legends, Jackson’s reputation is unsurpassed in the world of Gospel music, and her lone holiday album is a powerful calling card. Even a secular Christmas reveler (like me) has to feel uplifted by Jackson’s immensely powerful voice and conviction. Crank the volume and let the spirit flow over you. Clapping and waving your arms in the air is optional but highly recommended.
Standout Track: “Go Tell It on the Mountain”
The Many Moods of Christmas
The Robert Shaw Chorale
(1962)
If huge orchestras and choruses are your thing, this album is for you. It sounds like they put the whole population of Connecticut to work on these recordings, either playing instruments or singing (or refilling water glasses). A technically perfect collection of bombastic classical holiday music.
Standout Track: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
The Joy of Christmas
Leonard Bernstein, conducting the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and New York Philharmonic
(1965)
Along those same lines, but more restrained, is this fine collaboration between three giants of the classical music scene. Imagine you’ve got good seats at Carnegie Hall while you listen. Besides, how can you have Christmas without the MTC?
Standout Track: “Patapan”
The Charlie Byrd Christmas Album
Charlie Byrd
(1982)
This is a charming collection of solo guitar pieces for when you’re looking for something simple that won’t overwhelm a nice conversation. A great antidote to the synthetic pop nightmares piped into department stores.
Standout Track: “Mistletoe and Holly”
December
George Winston
(1982)
If you want to take things down yet another notch, you’ve got this holiday classic (arguably the greatest instrumental piano album ever made) from America’s preeminent new age pianist. Best listened to late at night or while staring at falling snow on a lazy afternoon, there’s no reason this album shouldn’t stay on your iPod all year.
Standout Track: “Joy”
To Drive the Cold Winter Away
Loreena McKennitt
(1987)
Your holiday collection probably doesn’t include enough beautiful Irish songs about the winter solstice. You certainly wouldn’t have any problems filling that void — call up a list of Christmas albums, and you’ll see “Celtic this” and “Celtic that”, but this album rises high above the rest. McKennitt’s voice is heavenly, and when you’ve heard every conceivable take on “Deck the Halls”, it’s nice to know there are still carols to be discovered. Plus she plays a mean harp.
Standout Track: “Snow”
Christmas
Low
(1999)
Possibly the least energetic Christmas recordings ever made (the opening track “Just Like Christmas” being a jaunty exception), this is a much more sacred sounding album than you’d expect from a late-90s indie rock outfit. It’s a slim album, barely more than an EP at just under 30 minutes. It won’t cheer you up if you’ve got a case of the Christmas blues, but the songs are frequently beautiful and sound unlike any other holiday album you’ve ever heard.
Standout Track: “Long Way Around the Sea”
Christmas Songs
Diana Krall
(2005)
This is probably my favorite. Krall’s silky smooth vocals go down like warm cider. Free of unnecessary blandishment, this is what Christmas music is like when it’s made by adults, for adults. It’s jazzy Christmas comfort food without all the saccharine.
Standout Track: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
Merry Christmas Baby
Lou Rawls
(2006)
If you need music for your holiday party, you need look no further than this compilation from the late, great Rawls. Culled from two previous albums and the final recording sessions of his life, this album is a fun, soulful collection of holiday standards. Press play and start handing out the hors d’oeuvres.
Standout Track: “The Little Drummer Boy”
