Jeez, I've got so much Christmas music and my favorite things to put on are my own mixes.
But there are some particularly strong sets that I love.
Two Rhino collections are great, Hipster's Holiday and Doo Wop Christmas. Both are superfun.
There was an independent country label, Giant, that put out some lovely comps. One was called Tinsel Tunes.
Emmylou Harris' Christmas album is gorgeous.
For traditional British xmas music I put on The Players, which was produced by two guys from Roxy Music. Very Dickensian, all instrumental, beautifully played on old timey instruments, including the droning ones like the Hurdy Gurdy. If you like those old minor key hymns, this is excellent.
Five Chinese Brothers did my favorite set of Christmas originals, including my favorite new xmas song of the last 20 years, "And To All A Good Night."
I've got some good big band Christmas collections. It's interesting in part because Christmas has its own fads and trends from generation to generation and certain songs were more common back then. Besides I can always sneak in "It Happened At Sun Valley."
Short Rogers has a fantastic West Coast Jazz version of the Nutcracker that I love, particularly the "Swinging Plum Fairy."
Hec, have you heard the Brian Setzer Orchestra's Nutcracker Suite, which uses the Nelson Riddle arrangment?
David, I was just listening to your Wintergrace mix this morning! I love that one. Other favorites include the Roches CD that Kathy mentioned and Susan McKeown and Lindsey Horner's rather somber album of winter/solstice/Christmas songs,
Through the Bitter Frost and Snow.
It's very spare, mostly just McKeown's voice and Horner's upright bass, and the songs are about cold and snow and the dark of December, but there's the promise of light as well. To me it's the perfect Solstice album.
For a sample of The Roches songs, here's a YouTube video of Xmas lights using their version of "Deck the Halls" as the soundtrack.
Susan McKeown and Lindsey Horner's rather somber album of winter/solstice/Christmas songs, Through the Bitter Frost and Snow.
Oh, I have this and forgot about it. I got it 2ndhand somewhere.
(hi Kate! good to see your pixels! how's Nashvegas?)
Hey lady! Nashvegas is treating me very well. :-) When are you gonna come visit??
Denver/Muppets
a Starbucks comp - Hi-Fidelity Holiday
a couple of GoodYear compilations from the 60's
Roberta Flack - The Christmas Album
Harry Connick, Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas
This is where I have to mention that apparently the Jack Jones Christmas Album that I listened to growing up is now worth about $100!. My favorites for sentimental reasons are that, The Kingston Trio's Last Month of the Year and of course The Ray Conniff Singers Christmas Album.
Oh, nd I forgot the Harry Connick, Jr!
Not albums, but my favorite songs as a retail clerk-- the ones that made me happy no matter how many times I heard them were Christmas in Kilarny, Mele Kalikimaka (the Hawaiian Christmas SOng) and The Waitresses' Christmas Wrapping. Everything else seemed to blur into one big mass of annoying music that played from before Thanksgiving until February.
