Favorite Christmas Music

[dreadnut]

I've tried to collect a wide variety of Christmas music, and there's some pretty neat stuff out there. One of my favorites is "Merry Axemas", a collection of Christmas favorites as interpreted by Steve Vai, Brian Setzer, Joe Satriani, etc.

One I intend to add to my collection after listening to a friend's cd is "James Brown Christmas".

And of course, no collection would be complete without the Drifters "White Christmas" :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mryJ7XvgMU

 

[FNG]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUELu8o5KJg

:lol: :lol: :shock:

 

[BluesDan]

Ha! I thougnt I was the only one with the Merry Axemas CD! There is also a Merry Axemas Vol. 2 with Robin Trower, Al Dimeola, Ted Nugent, and others. Great stuff.

The whole "Very Special Christmas" series is good stuff too, with various artists including Jonny Lang, Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews, Sting, Petty, Bruce, John Cougar, and even some Sinatra, Run Dmc, and Michael Bolton mixed in! A rather eclectic collection......

And Jorma's Christmas album is a must have.

 

[fronobulax]

As noted in another thread,the only Christmas CD that I can tolerate for more than one playing is Bobby Horton's Homespun Songs of Christmas.

 

[taabru45]

Bruce Cockburn, Christmas! If you aren't familiar with Bruce, I recommend getting to know him. He has been writing and performing since he was about 13, and has been one of the best in both the writing and playing departments. His Christmas album is up tempo and feel good. Beautiful renditions that are a little different than most.... Steffan

 

[dklsplace]

I'm not in the habit of purchasing Christmas cd's often......yeah I know, but not even once a year. But my 2 all time favorites are a Mel Torme' Christmas cd, & the Vince Gauraldi trio, Charlie Brown Christmas.

 

[taabru45]

Here is a b e a u t i f u l rendition of O Holy Night by a very talented young man.
:shock: Steffan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otdn5Lr3 ... re=related

 

[Guildmark]

These are my favorites. I can't survive Christmas without listening to them.

 

[TonyT]

"New Star Shining" by James Taylor and Ricky Skaggs. Can be found on Skaggs' first album, called" Loves Gonna Getcha"

 

[Frosty]

Good thread!

Ed Sweeney has recorded a few CDs of holiday music which never leave the 5-disc changer this time of year. Except when it's time for John Fahey's New Possibility or that Vince Gauraldi Trio disc Don likes so much.

 

[Ross]

Bruce Cockburn, "Christmas". Fine guitar work, as always.

R

 

[dreadnut]

Wow - lots o' good stuff I'm gonna have to check out!

That kid was outstanding on O Holy Night :shock:

Think I'll go get my D-25 and do "Christmas In Prison" (John Prine) Actually, I usually play the 5 string banjo on that one.

We're doing our December stops at the Alzheimers Units, and Hospice at Trillium Woods. There are 3 places on our regular rotation, and we're going to play on the next three Thursdays.
We'll be doing lots of Christmas music as well as other fun stuff.

Little bit of thread veer here, but you shoulda heard the choir we had at the Alzheimers unit last time. We did some a capella stuff, and they really sounded good There's about 40 people every time now, and some of them still have some great pipes. I also hand out shakers and blocks, etc., and one old gal was right on the beat with the blocks last time. More fun than oughta be legal

 

[RussD]

Stan Roger's "First Christmas Alone."

 

[kitniyatran]

Bruce Cockburn, Christmas! If you aren't familiar with Bruce, I recommend getting to know him. He has been writing and performing since he was about 13, and has been one of the best in both the writing and playing departments. His Christmas album is up tempo and feel good. Beautiful renditions that are a little different than most.... Steffan

I was going to tout this one, but now I don't have to! :lol:
probably my favorite Christmas album since David Grisman's "Acoustic Christmas".
Some Very different material on the Bruce Cockburn one!

 

[bedell]

Lots of good recommendations here. I have not heard any of these artists so i have some catching up to do.
The first CD I ever bought was "The Carpenters Christmas album" in 1998. I adore Karens voice. I know that Richard Carpenter went nuts with his overuse of layering vocal tracks , but I just try to ignore it and listen to Karen. She was a very talented drummer by the way. Buddy Rich's favorite if I recall correctly...

 

[caveman]

I only have one, but it's a good one :

and my parents have this one, and it aint christmas untill we play it :

 

[walrus]

If you ever get a chance to get one (eBay perhaps) the Beatles Christmas album is great. Only available to members of their fan club, they put out a 45 every year from 63 - 69. Then, they put them all on one album in 1970.

Skits, music, etc. that are quite amusing. Original songs, Monty Python like humor, and avant garde tape loops in the later years. Even a guest appearance by Tiny Tim!

Think the Beatles meet Monty Python meets Revolution #9 meets Stockhausen meets Paul on acoustic guitar.

Rare, but my all time favorite Christmas album...

walrus

 

[bedell]

What, no more music suggestions?? I just recently discovered this CD.

http://cdbaby.com/cd/gilewitz6

 

[bighouse]

Tuck Andress' "Hymns, Carols, and Songs About Snow" is at the top of my xmas playlist. If you like his playing, you'll dig this album.

Bill

 

[Scratch]

Ray Charles: 'That Spirit of Christmas': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf4Nf8w0 ... re=related

And of course, its classic association with Clark Griswald: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzyDsY0I ... re=related