Christmas Albums
Now that we are officially past Thanksgiving, I am comfortable cranking up the Christmas music! And when I do, these are albums that regularly put me in the Christmas Spirit. I’m not saying these are the best Christmas albums, but they are the ones that hold a special place in my musical memory and never fail to bring about the warm holiday feelings that come with the Christmas season.
I have made an Apple Music playlist and a Spotify playlist that you can find here if you want to listen along:
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/pastor-johns-favorite-christmas-albums-2023/pl.u-DdANvpato5BVy
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ncKMfzdL8I9qfuvIyZ6sP?si=9686375e644447c9
Some of these will be rather obvious but others may be a bit surprising.
1. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” – Vince Guaraldi Trio
This one is a staple around Christmas for many people but the reason this tops my list is very personal. On Christmas Eve as a kid my family would attend our church’s Christmas Eve service in the early-evening, then we would attend a late-night service at a large church in downtown Des Moines where my dad was hired to play in a brass ensemble every Christmas. And in between those two church services our family would go home and eat a delicious meal and then watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “A Garfield Christmas” (on VHS!).
So, for many years Vince Guaraldi was the soundtrack of my Christmas Eves. This recording of “Linus and Lucy” is one of my favorite instrumental songs of all time.
2. “Songs for Christmas” – Phil Wickham
This album consists of mostly re-imagined Christmas carols with a few new songs thrown in. But something about the overall tone of this album brings about joyful meditation and reflection upon the Advent of Christ.
The longing desperation of this arrangement of “O Come O Come Emmanuel” captures the song’s intent better than most I have heard.
3. A Brad Paisley Christmas – Brad Paisley
This one might seem like a real wildcard on this list, but it has two things going for it that make it a regular in my Christmas listening: Levity and smokin’ guitar playing. There is a lightness to Brad Paisley’s interpretations of the carols, and some genuine humor in the originals like “Santa Looked a Lot like Daddy” and “364 Days to Go”. Sprinkle in some virtuoso country-guitar playing and this one goes on the list!
I have been trying to learn Paisley’s version of “Jingle Bells” for years. Maybe it will make an appearance at the Christmas Eve prelude program?
4. Joy to the World (A Christmas Collection) – Lincoln Brewster
There is one reason this album makes my list: Epic Guitar Solos! Lincoln Brewster uses classic Christmas carols as a vehicle for soaring and gratuitous guitar playing. This one won’t be for everyone but it’s definitely for ME!
This album has a long instrumental song called “Miraculum” that covers pretty much the entirety of what rock-guitar playing can do. And it’s awesome!
5. “That’s Christmas to Me” – Pentatonix
This album was the soundtrack our young family listened to in the car as we would drive around with the kids and look at Christmas lights. And it still makes an annual appearance in our home as we decorate and celebrate Christmas.
This album is also a spectacular showcase of vocal dynamics and emotion. “Mary Did You Know” is particularly moving.
To wrap up this list I have a few specific songs that deserve an acknowledgement.
Honorable mention songs:
1. Christmas in Sarajevo – Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Duh! This is a classic. It is also reminds me of the musical backdrop for the montage of Kevin McCallister setting his traps for the robbers in “Home Alone”.
2. Bela Fleck – 12 Days of Christmas. Jazz/bluegrass weirdness of 12 different keys and 12 different time-signatures for the 12 Days of Christmas. It is absurd and a lot of fun for the musically inclined.
3. Come Thou Fount - Sufjan Stevens. This is not a Christmas song but it is on Sufjan Stevens’ Christmas album, so it counts. And it’s my favorite hymn. And this arrangement just brings about the hopeful expectation of Advent and the coming of the Fount of every blessing.
Merry Christmas Listening!
