Recommendations on Christmas Music??


With all due respect to those who choose not to celebrate Christmas (for whatever reason); for those who do, what recommendations do you have for this Christmas Season??

If you're like me, I find Christmas Music to be terribly commercialized with artist after artist coming out with there 'token album', almost as if it was an obligation to fans or perhaps an easy way to make a few extra bucks. I apologize if this sounds too harsh, but when an artist does take the time to come up with something special, I have to give a special nod of appreciation.

So help me out here, if you have some personal favorites that you feel rises above the mundane, please share those gems with the AudiogoN community.

Many thanks!!
brauser
"Disco Baby" - Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony

"The Nutcracker Suite" - The Modern Mandolin Quartet

"Parallel Lines" - Blondie

"Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite" - already mentioned

"Greatest Hits" - ABBA

"Christmas With SCTV" volumes 1, 2 & 3 on DVD
John Fahey has an amazing Christmas album that I can't get enough of every season. It is one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. It is called John Fahey's Guitar Soli Christmas Album. I recommend the original vinyl, not to hard to find on Tacoma.
Here are a few traditional style CDs that I choose for top-notch recording qualitiy and performance. Stunning in both those areas, especially when played in a large room.
-John Rutter and Cambridge Singers on Collegium
Records has 3 blockbusters: CSCD510, CSCD512, COLCD133
-Handel's Messiah: Hogwood on L'oiseau-Lyre- first choice
-Handel's Messiah: Marriner on London- close second