Favorite Christmas albums (yeah it's early)

[Don Shumai]

We're putting one out of all indiepop Christmas/Hanukah/winter songs called "Cwistmas Twee." It's at the pressing plant as we speak. With any luck, it will be available by Christmas. But we did it because I too am sick of most of the Christmas music you hear. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree sends me into a blind rage.

[syrupcore]

Low put out a really nice christmas record a few years ago.
two to please the whole family: jackson 5 christmas and one called Louis Armstrong and friends makes it into my cd player every year.

I'm gonna have to find the booker t and the mgs one.

[mjau]

Blowfly Does XXXmas

I'm proud to say that I once saw Blowfly live, opening for members of Fishbone and John Frusciante one night at a wierd summer festival in Norfolk, VA. Blowfly rules.

[wing]

the only good one ever... "Snow" by the Cocteau Twins (it's an EP)

[WelcomeHome]

L Contra, WINTER LIVES.

Villa Magica records, 2003.

All original tunes! My personal fave is "It's Not Snowing". "Fat Reindeer" takes a close second.

M

[Brett Siler]

The Vandals Christmas Album with such hits as "Christmas Time for my Penis" and "My First Christmas as a Woman"

[YOUR KONG]

I love the Squirrel Nut Zippers Xmas album.

This is a good thread, though - we need better Xmas music and this gives me good ideas.

[rfbutter]

I know the thread is for an album, but I can't wait to start djing around the holidays so I can play "Christmas in Hollis" by Run D.M.C.

[KennyLusk]

I still love the original Perry Como Christmas album.

Classic recording with all the warmth of the mic's and gear they used then and Perry Como's voice is amazing on that album.

[Devlars]

The Beatles- Christmas Time Is Here Again. A fanclub members only release back around '65 though it was re-released when the Anthology stuff was first being issued. It's dead funny too.

[GLEA]

Side one of the Beach Boys Christmas album. Original tunes, great spirit.

Yes, the Beatles Christmas Messages. I traded a Procol Harum press kit for an authentic Fan Club album.

Christmas At The Patti- The Manband's 1972 Christmas Party, recorded live in Wales... Dave Edmunds, Ducks Deluxe, Help Yourself etc. Plus it comes in a fantasic double 10" package. Don't get me started about Andrew Lauder and his perfect vision..

[Jpp]

Childhood faves that still work for me:

Elvis singing "Here Comes Santa Claus"

John Denver "Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas"

The Sinatra stuff can be good even if the b-vox and string arrangements are kinda dated.

For newer stuff, I gotta go with the Jingle Cats. It starts out cute, then gets annoying, then gets funny.

I'll put on James Brown's "Santa's Got a Brand New Bag" just to marvel at the extreme screams and hollers JB spreads around songs of quiet holiday peace. "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto"... you can dance to it, baby!

But I had a co-worker who couldn't take it any more and frisbee'd the CD out into the traffic. Bad music: the gift that keeps of giving.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Jpp

[junkstar]

The Ventures
Nat King Cole
Ella Fitzgerald
Louvin Brothers
Phil Spector

That's all you need. Feeling like you want a few more? The Squirrel Nut Zippers album and the Shawn Colvin one get honorable mention, Ringo's is fun and The Beach Boys Ultimate Christmas is fine work too.

[mikedaul]

I *love* the duke ellington nutcracker suite: Duke Ellington: Three Suites

[wrenhunter]

Two nice ones I got last year:

Eric Reed's Merry Magic
Kenny Burrell's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (also best Xmas cover design ever)