All-Time Favorite Christmas Albums, Regardless of Genre

**PeaceNHarmony** · 12-13-2017, 09:37 AM

What are your 10 favorite & most played Christmas albums? Here are mine:
1. Ray Conniff 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'
2. The Supremes 'Merry Christmas'
3. Ray Conniff 'Christmas With Conniff'
4. Frank Sinatra 'Jolly Christmas'
5. Barbra Streisand 'A Christmas Album'
6. The Jackson 5 'Christmas Album'
7. Phil Spector 'A Christmas Gift For You'
8. Julie Andrews and Andre Previn 'A Christmas Treasure'
9. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass 'Christmas Album'
10. Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops 'A Christmas Festival'
Honorable mention: the 2 lp 'A Motown Christmas'

There are many more that get at least a spin or two per season but these are the titles that I have been playing annually, some since childhood.

**reese** · 12-13-2017, 09:56 AM

1) CHRISTMAS GIFT 'RAP - Various Motown artists
2) SOUL CHRISTMAS - Various Atlantic and Stax artists
3) CHRISTMAS SOUL SPECIAL - Various artists
4) A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU - Phil Spector
5) CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY - Various Motown artists
6) MERRY CHRISTMAS - The Supremes
7) THIS CHRISTMAS - Aretha Franklin
8) THAT SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR - Gladys Knight and the Pips
9) A VERY SPECIAL SEASON - Diana Ross
10) ONE WISH - Whitney Houston

At this point, I have so many Xmas albums that it almost becomes a chore deciding which one to play, as I can never get to them all.

**Circa 1824** · 12-13-2017, 11:14 PM

Brenda Lee
The Carpenters
The Supremes
Perry Como
Andy Williams
Ray Conniff
Hanson
Merle Haggard
Frank Sinatra

**sophisticated_soul** · 12-14-2017, 01:28 AM

Merry Christmas - Johnny Mathis
Merry Christmas [[mono) - Diana Ross & The Supremes
A Very Special Season - Diana Ross
Christmas Memories - Barbra Streisand
David Foster's The Christmas Album - Various Artists
Lifetime Intimate Portraits: Christmas Belles - Various Artists
Star Bright - Vanessa Williams
Sings Songs Of Christmas - Mahalia Jackson
Christmas With Tammy - Tammy Wynette
Someday At Christmas Stevie Wonder

**sophisticated_soul** · 12-14-2017, 02:46 AM

. . . and Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift For You, of course.

**Motown Eddie** · 12-14-2017, 07:14 AM

1. Merry Christmas-The Supremes
2. A Christmas Gift For You [[aka Phil Spector's Christmas Album)-Various Artists
3. Christmas Classics-Various Artists [[Rhino Records-1988)
4. Peace-Rotary Connection
5. A Very Special Christmas-Various Artists
6. Christmas In The City-Various Artists
7. Christmas With The Miracles-The Miracles
8. The Season For Miracles-Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
9. The Temptations' Christmas Card-The Temptations
10. Someday At Christmas-Stevie Wonder
11. Soul Christmas-Various Artists

**Bluebrock** · 12-14-2017, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by PeaceNHarmony

What are your 10 favorite & most played Christmas albums? Here are mine:
1. Ray Conniff 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'
2. The Supremes 'Merry Christmas'
3. Ray Conniff 'Christmas With Conniff'
4. Frank Sinatra 'Jolly Christmas'
5. Barbra Streisand 'A Christmas Album'
6. The Jackson 5 'Christmas Album'
7. Phil Spector 'A Christmas Gift For You'
8. Julie Andrews and Andre Previn 'A Christmas Treasure'
9. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass 'Christmas Album'
10. Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops 'A Christmas Festival'
Honorable mention: the 2 lp 'A Motown Christmas'

There are many more that get at least a spin or two per season but these are the titles that I have been playing annually, some since childhood.

What a great thread Peacenharmony!! I have over 100 Christmas cd's and they get added to every year so it it is impossible for me to play them all each and every year. Some only get an airing every 5 years or so even though in recent years i have brought forward my starting date for playing xmas albums from Dec 1st to Nov 25th, but there are certain few that have to be played every December. Here are most of my essential ones in no particular order.
Phil Spector xmas album.
Jackson 5
Beach Boys
Diana Ross
Supremes
Patti Labelle [[both albums)
Boyz2men
Celine Dion
Mariah Carey [[ist Christmas album)
Luther Vandross
Jeffrey Osborne
Dionne Warwick
Barbra Streisand
Sounds Of Blackness
Alexander O'Neal
Be Be Winans
Be Be and Ce Ce Winans
Three Tenors
Nat King Cole
Michael Bolton
Harry Connick Jnr
Michael Mcdonald
Michael Ball
Il Divo
Andy Williams

and a couple of recent ones which have got under my skin

Kelly Clarkson
Leona Lewis.

As you can see it is quite a list. There are probably others too which currently elude me.

There are also a couple of ones that have disappointed me in a big way.
Anita Baker
Peggy Lee
Ledisi
Frank Sinatra - i have 3 of his xmas cd's and can just about make a decent album out of the combined 3.
Tony Bennett.

I am currently listening to Vanessa Williams. Ilike both of her albums and maybe at least onhe of those belongs on the list too!
Thank you again for such a great thread Peacenharmony. I look forward to reading other peoples favourites.

**marv2** · 12-14-2017, 01:59 PM

It was one of those Goodyear or Firestone Tire compilation albums my dad would get at the gas station. LOL! I liked them because they had a variety of artists and songs on them.

**thanxal** · 12-14-2017, 11:58 PM

1. Merry Christmas, Bing Crosby
2. Merry Christmas, Brenda Lee
3. Ella Wishes You a Swingin' Christmas
4. Christmas Portrait, The Carpenters
5. A Christmas Gift For You from Philles Records
6. A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra
7. Andy Williams Christmas Album
8. The Supremes Merry Christmas
9. The Christmas Song Nat King Cole
10 A Christmas Cornucopia - Annie Lennox

**PeaceNHarmony** · 12-15-2017, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by reese

1) CHRISTMAS GIFT 'RAP - Various Motown artists
2) SOUL CHRISTMAS - Various Atlantic and Stax artists
3) CHRISTMAS SOUL SPECIAL - Various artists
4) A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU - Phil Spector
5) CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY - Various Motown artists
6) MERRY CHRISTMAS - The Supremes
7) THIS CHRISTMAS - Aretha Franklin
8) THAT SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR - Gladys Knight and the Pips
9) A VERY SPECIAL SEASON - Diana Ross
10) ONE WISH - Whitney Houston

At this point, I have so many Xmas albums that it almost becomes a chore deciding which one to play, as I can never get to them all.

Lots of these are in my rotation as well - just not top 10! It's nice to see others who like Aretha's - I think it's under-rated.

**PeaceNHarmony** · 12-15-2017, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Bluebrock

What a great thread Peacenharmony!! I have over 100 Christmas cd's and they get added to every year so it it is impossible for me to play them all each and every year. Some only get an airing every 5 years or so even though in recent years i have brought forward my starting date for playing xmas albums from Dec 1st to Nov 25th, but there are certain few that have to be played every December. Here are most of my essential ones in no particular order.
Phil Spector xmas album.
Jackson 5
Beach Boys
Diana Ross
Supremes
Patti Labelle [[both albums)
Boyz2men
Celine Dion
Mariah Carey [[ist Christmas album)
Luther Vandross
Jeffrey Osborne
Dionne Warwick
Barbra Streisand
Sounds Of Blackness
Alexander O'Neal
Be Be Winans
Be Be and Ce Ce Winans
Three Tenors
Nat King Cole
Michael Bolton
Harry Connick Jnr
Michael Mcdonald
Michael Ball
Il Divo
Andy Williams

and a couple of recent ones which have got under my skin

Kelly Clarkson
Leona Lewis.

As you can see it is quite a list. There are probably others too which currently elude me.

There are also a couple of ones that have disappointed me in a big way.
Anita Baker
Peggy Lee
Ledisi
Frank Sinatra - i have 3 of his xmas cd's and can just about make a decent album out of the combined 3.
Tony Bennett.

I am currently listening to Vanessa Williams. Ilike both of her albums and maybe at least onhe of those belongs on the list too!
Thank you again for such a great thread Peacenharmony. I look forward to reading other peoples favourites.

Glad to hear; it is fun for a special occasion to see what other genres people like. I find that for Christmas music I operate largely on a sentimental bases and many of those I listed I have listened to since childhood. Here in the states in the 1960s and early 70s the Columbia and RCA labels would issue 10-12 cut compilation LPs that sold for $1.99 or so in supermarkets; these have a sentimental pull for me as well and SOME day I'll get a USB turntable to burn them to CD. The Vanessas are lovely, and I also love Natalie's Holly & Ivy [[which does not seem to get much notice)

**Bluebrock** · 12-16-2017, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by PeaceNHarmony

Glad to hear; it is fun for a special occasion to see what other genres people like. I find that for Christmas music I operate largely on a sentimental bases and many of those I listed I have listened to since childhood. Here in the states in the 1960s and early 70s the Columbia and RCA labels would issue 10-12 cut compilation LPs that sold for $1.99 or so in supermarkets; these have a sentimental pull for me as well and SOME day I'll get a USB turntable to burn them to CD. The Vanessas are lovely, and I also love Natalie's Holly & Ivy [[which does not seem to get much notice)

Natalie's is one that i bought at the time and did not rate. I bet i haven't played it in 15 years, but i shall give it another go this weekend. Thanks for reminding me about it. I also struggled with Whitney's album "one wish". I played it again the other day but i still cannot get into it. I actually prefer Christina Aguilera'a festive offering. I could about Christmas music all day long at this special time of year.

**thanxal** · 12-18-2017, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by PeaceNHarmony

I also love Natalie's Holly & Ivy [[which does not seem to get much notice)

I have to revise my list. Natalie's London Symphony Orchestra Christmas Album has to be on there. Is there a number between 5 and 6?

**Bluebrock** · 12-19-2017, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by thanxal

I have to revise my list. Natalie's London Symphony Orchestra Christmas Album has to be on there. Is there a number between 5 and 6?

I don't have that one. Maybe i should invest in it. I am currently listening to Toni Braxton's "snowflakes" festive album for the first time in many years. This was another one that i never rated but i am finding it to be quite a pleasant listen all these years later.

**PeaceNHarmony** · 12-19-2017, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by thanxal

I have to revise my list. Natalie's London Symphony Orchestra Christmas Album has to be on there. Is there a number between 5 and 6?

Sure!! Anything with a decimal point!

**thanxal** · 12-19-2017, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Bluebrock

I don't have that one. Maybe i should invest in it. I am currently listening to Toni Braxton's "snowflakes" festive album for the first time in many years. This was another one that i never rated but i am finding it to be quite a pleasant listen all these years later.

Worth every penny.

**carlo** · 12-19-2017, 10:52 AM

This was hard, but here we go...

1. One Wish - Whitney Houston
2. The Supremes - Merry Christmas
3. A Very Special Season - Diana Ross
4. Joy - Avalon
5. A Christmas Gift For You - Phil Spector/Various
6. Merry Christmas - Mariah Carey
7. Christmas Album - Anne Murray
8. Christmas Portrait - Carpenters
9. Star Bright - Vanessa Williams
10. Christmas Spirit - Donna Summer
Bonus: These Are Special Times - Celine Dion

**thanxal** · 12-19-2017, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by PeaceNHarmony

Sure!! Anything with a decimal point!

You are a math wiz! lol. Thanks...

**PeaceNHarmony** · 12-19-2017, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by carlo

This was hard, but here we go...

1. One Wish - Whitney Houston
2. The Supremes - Merry Christmas
3. A Very Special Season - Diana Ross
4. Joy - Avalon
5. A Christmas Gift For You - Phil Spector/Various
6. Merry Christmas - Mariah Carey
7. Christmas Album - Anne Murray
8. Christmas Portrait - Carpenters
9. Star Bright - Vanessa Williams
10. Christmas Spirit - Donna Summer
Bonus: These Are Special Times - Celine Dion

I love Anne Murray & Carpenters titles as well -

**floyjoy678** · 12-20-2017, 08:34 AM

Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift For You. I play this one every year and never get tired of it. I've seen Ronnie Spector's Christmas show in New York many times and she still sings those Christmas songs exactly how she did back then.

Whenever I hear the Jackson 5 sing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" or "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", I cringe and long for the Ronettes and the Crystals.

And of course Darlene Love's songs are among my favorites. Can't forget Sonny and Cher's background vocal contributions. Nedra of the Ronettes said everyone sang on everyone's songs for this album so it really was a team effort.