Christmas CD's
I don't like "best of" lists or "Top whatever number" lists . . . well, not much anyway. I suppose I do like them, only in so much as I can contest them. But I've been wanting to post a list of "personal favourite" Christmas CD's for some time - but I want to state that I don't consider this a "top" or "best" or anything like that - these are just some Christmas CDs that I have loved for years, they've stood the test of time, and even though there are certain versions of Christmas carols that I may like better, or individual Christmas songs that just melt my icy heart, these are overall ALBUMS that are strong all the way through.
So here goes:
Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas (1984) - this was the first one that they did (and I've lost count how many they've done since) but this is by far my favourite - it's just like Fresh Aire III, in that it's the perfect balance of synthesizers and lutes, synth drums and tambors, postmodern and renaissance styles.
John Doan - Wrapped in White. This man plays a harp/guitar, and is probably t
he best practitioner of the instrument - in that he makes it sound like a legitimate instrument instead of just being a harp with a guitar stuck on the bottom of it. But what's great about this album is that he has some interesting arrangements of the songs (like a calliope if I remember right), and to wax poetic, each plucked note is as perfect as any individual snowflake falling gently on a clear crisp winter's evening.
Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel - The Gift. Another damfine guitarist with his oboe playing partner, offering up more mellow acoustic merriment for that fireplace warmth. I've always liked this album.
Big Iron's Honkey Tonk Holidays: Christmas in Deep Noellum. Just so you don't think I'm an old fuddy-duddy with his "acooooooostic" Christmas music, this album is fantastic. I just found out that it's out of print, which is a shame, because I think everybody truly needs a copy of this CD. Every song is a gem, and some standouts are the Mutineers' Halloween version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town,"
The Sutcliffs' "Alcoholidays" and Old '97's "Holly Jolly Christmas"
Truly, this is a CD for barflies, and if I must say, it goes down like a smooth malt liquor, with just the right amount of kick.
The Chieftains - The Bells of Dublin (1991) - my wife begrudgingly likes this one, even though she admits that it has the feeling of a bunch of people celebrating Christmas in a pub. But that's the whole point! I told her. Truly it does, this one offers up some Christmas carols that may not be that widely known this side of the pond, but it's an essential for rounding out my Christmas festivities.
New American Guitar Ensemble - Christmas Carols. I found this one on cassette tape many years ago and wore it plumb out! I finally found a CD version of it last year and I feel completedd again. This one is, yet, more acoustic
instruments, but it truly has some of the best arrangements of carols that I've ever heard. A must have for any stocking stuffer! (now I'm starting to sound like an infomercial!)
Boston Camerata - A Renaissance Christmas. They've done several, like a Medieval Christmas and I think some early American pioneer Christmas songs, and they are good in locking down some of the songs from those time periods that might otherwise be lost to the ages. My favourite of this canon is the Renaissance, particularly for the Middle English reading of the
"Booke" of Luke - nicely done, as it transports you back 500 years to a dark Cathedral in a cold midwinter, with the resonant tone of the parish priest reciting the beautiful story of the angels proclaiming to the shepherds the birth of the Saviour . . . .wow! (give it a listen, you might like it - but there are no guarantees)
And lastly, if more "cool" is your particular Christmas music bent, then the Ultra Lounge has some good CDs. I've heard the first and the
second, liked them both. There's a third out, but I haven't listened to it yet. These certainly go down like those rum-filled chocolate candies that are an integral part of every Christmas family gathering!!
So, I hope some of these suit your fancy, and if anybody out there has some suggestions for me, please let me know. I'm always on the lookout for some good music!
That said, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VG
So here goes:
Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas (1984) - this was the first one that they did (and I've lost count how many they've done since) but this is by far my favourite - it's just like Fresh Aire III, in that it's the perfect balance of synthesizers and lutes, synth drums and tambors, postmodern and renaissance styles.
John Doan - Wrapped in White. This man plays a harp/guitar, and is probably t
he best practitioner of the instrument - in that he makes it sound like a legitimate instrument instead of just being a harp with a guitar stuck on the bottom of it. But what's great about this album is that he has some interesting arrangements of the songs (like a calliope if I remember right), and to wax poetic, each plucked note is as perfect as any individual snowflake falling gently on a clear crisp winter's evening.Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel - The Gift. Another damfine guitarist with his oboe playing partner, offering up more mellow acoustic merriment for that fireplace warmth. I've always liked this album.
Big Iron's Honkey Tonk Holidays: Christmas in Deep Noellum. Just so you don't think I'm an old fuddy-duddy with his "acooooooostic" Christmas music, this album is fantastic. I just found out that it's out of print, which is a shame, because I think everybody truly needs a copy of this CD. Every song is a gem, and some standouts are the Mutineers' Halloween version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town,"
The Sutcliffs' "Alcoholidays" and Old '97's "Holly Jolly Christmas"Truly, this is a CD for barflies, and if I must say, it goes down like a smooth malt liquor, with just the right amount of kick.
The Chieftains - The Bells of Dublin (1991) - my wife begrudgingly likes this one, even though she admits that it has the feeling of a bunch of people celebrating Christmas in a pub. But that's the whole point! I told her. Truly it does, this one offers up some Christmas carols that may not be that widely known this side of the pond, but it's an essential for rounding out my Christmas festivities.
New American Guitar Ensemble - Christmas Carols. I found this one on cassette tape many years ago and wore it plumb out! I finally found a CD version of it last year and I feel completedd again. This one is, yet, more acoustic
instruments, but it truly has some of the best arrangements of carols that I've ever heard. A must have for any stocking stuffer! (now I'm starting to sound like an infomercial!)Boston Camerata - A Renaissance Christmas. They've done several, like a Medieval Christmas and I think some early American pioneer Christmas songs, and they are good in locking down some of the songs from those time periods that might otherwise be lost to the ages. My favourite of this canon is the Renaissance, particularly for the Middle English reading of the
"Booke" of Luke - nicely done, as it transports you back 500 years to a dark Cathedral in a cold midwinter, with the resonant tone of the parish priest reciting the beautiful story of the angels proclaiming to the shepherds the birth of the Saviour . . . .wow! (give it a listen, you might like it - but there are no guarantees)
And lastly, if more "cool" is your particular Christmas music bent, then the Ultra Lounge has some good CDs. I've heard the first and the
second, liked them both. There's a third out, but I haven't listened to it yet. These certainly go down like those rum-filled chocolate candies that are an integral part of every Christmas family gathering!!
So, I hope some of these suit your fancy, and if anybody out there has some suggestions for me, please let me know. I'm always on the lookout for some good music!
That said, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VG
posted by Verble Gherulous at 12/23/2008 03:33:00 pm
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