What’s your top 5 Christmas albums ?


It’s snowing here in Michigan today. Got me into the Christmas spirit. Curious what’s your favorite 5 Christmas albums.

I will get the ball rolling 
Ray Charles- The spirit of Christmas 
Vince GuaraldI Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas 
Jimmy Smith - Christmas Cookin
Various Artists- Blue Christmas (BlueNote)
Aguanko - Latin Jazz Holiday in Havana





Ag insider logo xs@2xbiketony
I love Christmas music, and I have about 60 CDs, which, while not a huge collection is probably more than the average person. I think that most good artists that have wanted to make a Christmas album have made something enjoyable, but there are few that are what I would call masterpieces.
In that category of beginning to end masterpieces that have the ability to conjure the most beautiful Christmas thoughts and emotions, I will nominate only three:
Glen Campbell - Christmas. (On the Icon Label) It was out of print for many years and only available from England for around $100.00 for the CD. It was originally called  "That Christmas Feeling". His voice, the song selection and the arrangements are just impeccable.
The Carpenters - Christmas Collection. What can I say? It is just a beautiful 2 disc set Lovingly arranged by Richard with wonderful orchestrations and Karen's heavenly vocals. 
Randy Travis - Old Time Christmas. I am not even a fan of country music, but this disc transcends the genre. It's just beautiful and his voice is sublime. This one is also what I would consider a real demonstration quality recording. Not a very long collection, but every song a gem. 
As much as I love many orchestral collections as well as collections of classic vocalists like Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and of course Nat King Cole, whose classic disc I don't really list because we all know it so well; For me, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without these three.
I was never able to tolerate that chipmunk singing, but I know people who enjoy it.
Around 130 Christmas albums in my collection, currently. It is hard for me to pick a Top 5. However, it is easy for me to pick The Top One: The Magic Of Christmas by The Soulful Strings. This album has the most inventive and catchy arrangements (without going into over-the-top, zany territory) that I have ever heard Christmas music-wise. I'd like to give honorable mentions to Herb Alpert's Christmas Album from 1968 and Have Yourself A Soulful Little Christmas by Kenny Burrell. For Christmas music played in a straight-up classical sense I suggest these two albums: The Charlie Byrd Christmas Album and Music Of Christmas by The Empire Brass. Of course, there are several artists who have the definitive version of a particular song (Andy Williams and Johnny Mathis come to mind, and already mentioned by others above) but in terms of having an album by them that I would place in the Top 5 or Top 10 -- there is some pretty stiff competition. Finally, I'd like to mention a few songs that I think are unappreciated gems worth seeking out: "A Girl Named Noel" by Jim Nabors; "He's Gonna Take Away Our Christmas" by Robert Goulet; "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas" by The Beginning Of The End; "Christmas Must Be Tonight" by The Band.