10 Best Christmas Albums Ever
The season’s merriest mix of jingle bell rock, holly jolly carols and heavenly hymns
by Edna Gundersen, AARP, November 20, 2017
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PHOTO BY: Ariel Zambelich
'Tis The Season
It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas in malls, restaurants, elevators and TV specials. But if Justin Bieber’s "Mistletoe" or Tiny Tim’s "O Holy Night" or "The Chipmunk Song" (“Me, I want a
Huuula Hoop”) doesn’t ring your silver bells, why not seek out these winter wonderful collections, the 10 best Christmas albums ever. -
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PHOTO BY: Album Cover: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images; Ariel Zambelich
Various Artists, A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector
The storied producer brings his majestic “wall of sound” to lively holiday tunes, first released in 1963. Ronnie Spector shines on "Frosty the Snowman," and Darlene Love cranks up the drama in "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." The Crystals and Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans also contribute to this early pop masterpiece.
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PHOTO BY: Getty Images
James Brown's Funky Christmas
Brown’s soul-powered Funky Christmas, released in 1995, culls the best tracks from three earlier holiday albums, distilling his fiery R&B into a brand new bag of holiday fun. With his crack band lighting the fuse, Mr. Dynamite shifts from sizzle on "Go Power at Christmastime" to social commentary on "Santa Claus Goes to the Ghetto" to heartfelt pleading on "Please Come Home for Christmas."
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PHOTO BY: Ariel Zambelich
Various Artists, A Very Special Christmas
The first all-star volume of the successful series, organized to benefit Special Olympics, arrived in 1987 with a cover by Keith Haring and contents courtesy of the pop world’s top talent. U2 delivers a soulful "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," Madonna vamps through "Santa Baby," John Mellencamp belts "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and Sting serves up a soothing "Gabriel’s Message." Also on tap are the Pointer Sisters, Stevie Nicks, the Eurythmics, Whitney Houston, the Pretenders, Bob Seger, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Alison Moyet, and Run-DMC rapping their original "Christmas in Hollis."
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PHOTO BY: Redferns/Getty Images
Elvis' Christmas Album
If you like your holidays all shook up, consider this Christmas package that Elvis Presley wrapped up and delivered in 1957, when he was 22 and at the peak of his rocking prowess. It remains a vibrant, inspiring collection decades later as the King toggles from chestnuts ("White Christmas," "Silent Night") to rock ’n’ roll ("Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me") and gospel ("I Believe").
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PHOTO BY: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album
The early Beach Boys’ sunny harmonies and effervescent pop made them uniquely suited for Christmas fare, and in 1964 they shifted from surfing to sleighing on a timeless set of holiday favorites and originals. Peak moments: An orchestra backs Brian Wilson’s heartfelt renditions of "Blue Christmas" and "White Christmas," the group presents "Little Saint Nick" as a retooled "Little Deuce Coupe," "Frosty the Snowman" gets a jazz upgrade and a mall Santa is exposed on the cheeky original "Santa’s Beard."
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PHOTO BY: Ariel Zambelich
Bing Crosby, Merry Christmas
Crosby’s interpretation of Irving Berlin’s "White Christmas" is not just definitive; it’s also the best-selling single of all time, with sales exceeding 50 million copies worldwide. More than two dozen versions of his Merry Christmas album have been issued since the 1945 debut. While the languid "White Christmas" serves as the calling card, his buttery croon brings a graceful lilt to other classics, especially "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."
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PHOTO BY: Ariel Zambelich
Christmas with Johnny Cash
Released just after he died in 2003, the moving Christmas With Johnny Cash compiles the best seasonal songs the Man in Black recorded from 1962 to 1980. He brings a plainspoken dignity to "Silent Night" and "O Come All Ye Faithful," as well as his own "The Gifts They Gave" and "The Christmas Spirit." The highlight is the wrenching "Christmas as I Knew It" (
cowritten by June Carter Cash), a previously unreleased track about a poor rural family feeling the joy of giving, not getting. -
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PHOTO BY: Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Various Artists, Christmas With the Rat Pack
Frank Sinatra may have been
the heavy in the legendary Vegas trio, but his cohorts do the heavy lifting on this boozy, swingin’ holiday frolic. Dean Martin summons his creamiest vocals for "Peace on Earth/Silent Night," one of the disc’s rarest gems, and leans into his signature cocktail slur with Ol’ Blue Eyes on "A Marshmallow World" and "Auld Lang Syne." Sammy Davis Jr. upstages both with a rip-roaring take on "Jingle Bells" and stellar versions of "The Christmas Song" and "Christmastime All Over the World." -
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PHOTO BY: Mario Ruiz/Getty Images
The Roches, We Three Kings
New Jersey folk trio of sisters Maggie, Suzzy and Terre Roche, known for their velvety harmonies and stage drollery, apply their considerable talents to a diverse and endlessly engaging 24-track album. The strength and beauty of their voices shine in the a cappella "Star of Wonder" and "Angels We Have Heard on High," while they turn "Winter Wonderland" and "Frosty the Snowman" into playful romps.
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PHOTO BY: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Willie Nelson, Pretty Paper
Willie Nelson’s mellow 1979 holiday offering gets a huge lift from soul legend Booker T. Jones, who serves as keyboardist and arranger on a batch of homey tunes that are relaxed but never boring, emotional but never mawkish. The keeper is the poignant "Pretty Paper," a Nelson original that Roy Orbison rode up the charts in 1964.
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Also of Interest
Curious what movie you should see this weekend? Our huge 2017 fall movie season preview has our recommendations for the best films to watch this season.