Right now spinning an original Living Stereo copy of Christmas With Chet Atkins! Forgot I found this treasure in a thrift shop about 5 years ago for $1.00. And it's in incredible condition! My only gripe is that he shouldn't leave a Gretsch out there in the snow, leaned against a tree!
I’ve got a bunch of Chet I’ve found used but have never been able to find that record. Is it good? There’s a new pressing but it seems like a lot of money for his typically short albums ($30).
A little (or a lot of) Rufus Wainwright always puts me in the spirit. Love his many live renditions of this French version of O, Holy Night:
Also from Rufus, Spotlight on Christmas: Don't forget Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Running from the law King Herod had imposeth And they were each one quite odd A mensch, a virgin, and a god
Just played these two back to back. Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album Elvis Presley - Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas
Same with me, in that I've found Chet LPs in a lot of places, all in excellent condition and not costing much (I think the most I paid was $3.00 a piece at a flea market in Vineland, NJ) but that was the first time I ever saw the Christmas LP (apart from me getting the Razor and Tie CD some time ago). I like the album! It's definitely a product of its time with some of the production, but a very good album to me. If you've heard the Joel Patterson one for example, you're in the same zone as the Chet LP.
Joseph, Who Understood -- The New Pornographers tribute to Jesus's seriously underrated step-dad. When somehow you find out That you are stepfather to a God Well, Mary, that's life
Chris Squire's - Swiss Choir An impressive and beautiful album of traditional Christmas music with contributions by Steve Hackett and Jeremy Stacey. It's Chris' second and final solo album.
Every Xmas I play Franz Liszt's Weihnachtsbaum Suite just the once while sitting in the dark and looking at the Xmas tree lights. I've probably been doing this for over 30 years now. Liszt Complete Music for Solo Piano 8: Christmas Tree & Via Crucis
Another vote for: Nat Cole, Vince Guaraldi, Ramsey Lewis, Crystal Lewis, and Phil Spector Adding: J D McPherson “Socks” and Kacey Mmusgraves
Working retail as a kid, I loathe Xmas music because that's all I heard at work... totally burnt on it
In addition to the "staples": Bing, Dean, Frank & Nat, one of my favorite Christmas albums is from The Roches - it gets played multiple times each year! Possibly my favorite version of this carol!
If you are a fan of A cappella music, I have been in love with this album since it came out in 1972 on an MPS/BASF label. (I still have it...) It contains a number of the Alfred Burt carols - this is one of my favorites. 4 singers recorded across 16 tracks (as I recall). Apologies for the mis-spelled title on You Tube. The correct title is (of course) "Nigh Bethlehem":
