So for Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday, here are my ten favorite Christmas albums.
10. Home for Christmas / Amy Grant
One of my first Christmas TAPE loves. I could listen to "The Night Before Christmas" over and over again. You gotta have a little Amy in your Christmas music.
9. Snowed In / Hanson
Y'all know I cannot deny my Hanson
8. Anything by Bing Crosby
What's Christmas music without "White Christmas"? Not only is the movie perfection, the song is a Christmas staple. I love pretty much anything by Bing.
7. The Nativity Story: Sacred Songs / Various Artists
A more recent favorite, this CD is honestly heavenly. I didn't care much for the movie, but these "inspired by the movie" songs are just gorgeous. "The Virgin's Lullaby" is enchanting and will provoke tears. Last year, I told you about "Labor of Love." Seriously, this one is worth purchasing.6. A Christmas Together / John Denver and the Muppets
And on a less serious note... This is one we also wore the heck out of the tape each Christmas. My parents were big John Denver fans and I grew up on his music. I was so glad to see they've added back the tracks from the tape that they had excluded when they originally put this on CD. Yay!
5. Anything by Manheim Steamroller, especially Christmas Celebration
I mean, you just can't not feel Christmasy when you hear the first few bars of "Celebration," the first track on this album. So much fun!
4. Let it Snow / Michael Buble
OK, so granted he must have been really busy because this album only has 6 tracks. But they're still really good. And I love Michael Buble. Looooove.3. The Living Room Sessions: Christmas / Chris Rice
I'm not usually that into instrumental music. I mean, I don't sit around listening to classical music, generally speaking. Maybe Christmas changes that? Or maybe this piano music just makes me think of cold Virginia nights with ice on the trees and sitting around our old piano, singing in harmony or just listening to my daddy play.
2. Believe / Natalie Grant
I am a big Natalie Grant fan. I think she has an incredible voice. I was so happy when she did this Christmas album a few years ago. "I Believe" is a really lovely track.
1. Handel's Messiah
Coming from a very musical family, Messiah is just the ultimate Christmas music! Every "Thanksmas" we attempt a few crazy chorales (I'm not up on my music terminology--is that the right word?). Singing through Messiah in college choir was one of my favorite life experiences. Challenging (especially for a second soprano ... Handel didn't do no second soprano part!) but awesome.
So ... what song or album embodies Christmas for you? And when do you start listening to Christmas music?
For more Top Ten Tuesday, visit OhAmanda.
I love your list! I would add Harry Connick Jr.'s CDs on there. He has several Chrismas CDs and we were listening to one tonight, even! So great. Really- I heart him.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also got the new Casting Crowns CD at Lifeway (for just $5!!) and it is fantastic, too.
I am totally ready for Christmas music, too! Bring on the bells, reindeer and snowmen. And baby Jesus, too, of course.
Can you believe I don't own some of these? I must rectify that. I DO love Natalie Grant's. And Michael Buble.
ReplyDeleteBut where oh where is HARRY?!!
A Christmas classic...John Denver and the Muppets singing The 12 Days of Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI remember the Muppet ones from when I was a kid! Thanks for reminding me. I will have to search for that one...maybe it is still in my parent's attic somewhere...
ReplyDeleteDitto what Hillary said about Harry Connick, Jr.! I grew up listening to the John Denver & the Muppets album, too - except ours was on vinyl! Now it's on my iPod, and we were listening to it yesterday. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I just bought the Michael Buble album. You are right - it's short. But great! (Oh, and I second Hilary and Jeni - love Harry Connick Jr!)
ReplyDeleteSarah
Oooo, I need to get the Natalie Grant album. Love her! I could listen to Christmas music year round...and secretly I do. lol! My favorite is Mariah Carey though....that girl can sing!
ReplyDeleteMy family always played the Alvin & the Chipmunk's Christmas RECORD. So I love that one! And YES to Harry Connick, of course!
ReplyDeleteI love The Messiah, too, and thoroughly enjoyed singing part of it in college!
Amy Grant Christmas...definitely. I think I have gone through 3 of those cd's ~ can't seem to get the family to respect the Amy Grant CD!
ReplyDeleteAnd I am a brand new fan of Michael Buble (heard him for the first time on Dancing with the Stars and fell in love with his style{ya...don't listent to much radio})...so will have to go get that six song wonder of a cd!
And ME TOO on the Messiah! I love a good sing along!
How on earth is Hanson all the way down at number 9?! Aisleigh and I were just talking about it last night and we both agreed, it's top 3 or 4, easy. Right up there with Bing (#1) and Mariah Carey and the Carpenters. :) I actually just listened to it this morning while having breakfast and bottles and coffee with the babies :)
ReplyDeleteHey, Jessie!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love many of these albums. My favorite on Natalie Grant's 1st album is "Breath of Heaven." It gives me chills no matter how many times I hear it!
I fell in LOVE with Michael McDonald's Through the Many Winters (http://www.amazon.com/Through-Many-Winters-Christmas-Album/dp/B000C153HW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1259103090&sr=8-2) album. It's phenomenal, and I could listen to it on replay all season without getting sick of it! Sean and I both love the Celtic Woman Christmas CD, too. Another big favorite is an old CD I got from Restoration Hardware, which has great tunes from the 30s and 40s.
oooh, i love john denver and the muppets, too! john denver's voice always brings back lots of memories for me.
ReplyDeletemy favorite (and very overplayed) christmas song is mariah carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You.
gets me in the mood every time!