Christmas Music
When I come home from Christmas tour I have a little less than a week to enjoy the tree and listen to Christmas music before Andy bans it from the house for another year. He is one of those "no Christmas music before Thanksgiving or too long after Christmas" kind of guys. Thankfully singing the songs from Behold the Lamb fills my advent season and is a perfect way to prepare for the holiday, but when I get home I pull out all the other records that have been lying in wait all year collecting dust. I thought I would share my top five, the ones I need longer than a week to soak up. I will preface this list by saying I didn't include Andrew Peterson's record because that is just a given. So here goes...
Number Five- John Denver Muppet Christmas. This has been around for eons and it is still great. I watch these specials with my kids every Christmas, the Muppet Family Christmas where they meet the Fraggles is still my favorite. I mean, who doesn't love Swedish chef? This is a perfect record for kids, a perfect one for decorating the tree. It is silly and fun and yet has moments of beauty and sincerity.
Number Four- James Taylor- At Christmas. Despite a few cheesy misses this record is fantastic. His version of "Some Children See Him" is gorgeous and I love his duet with Natalie Cole. This is classic Christmas fare, if you don't like that you probably won't like this record. My mom, who is a huge JT fan, doesn't like this record because she thinks it is too "jazzy". That, my friends, is EXACTLY why I like it.
Number Three- Bruce Cockburn- Christmas. If Andy was doing this list it would be number one, hands down. Bruce Cockburn's arrangements of classic Christmas songs as well as more obscure ones is perfection. The instrumentation is eclectic, organic and beautiful and he seems to have thought deeply about the choice of songs and lyrics. You feel that he believes every word he is singing and that makes it even better. A highlight for me is his version of "Mary Had a Baby".
Number Two- Sufjan Stevens- Songs for Christmas. I just love this record. Or actually, records. Only the insanity of Sufjan Stevens could bring you a Christmas box set complete with 5 CDs, stickers, folksy artwork and booklets and a picture of him by a Christmas tree. It is such a hipster's Christmas record that you want to hate it, except it is so unbelievably good. The choice of songs (42 songs!), the simple and inventive production, the earnestness in his vocal delivery make me want to listen to this project over and over again. Highlights for me are his version of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and his new song aptly titled, "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" Listen for Shara Worden's angelic background vocals.
Number One- Vince Guaraldi Trio- A Charlie Brown Christmas. I took my kids to see the Charlie Brown Ice exhibit at Opryland this year and was reminded once again how much I love "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Vince Guaraldi's arrangements are the perfect accompaniment, I cannot imagine the show without it's standout soundtrack. An almost entirely instrumental record (save "Christmas Time is Here" ) it plays over and over again in our house throughout the Christmas season. It is a classic and I have a feeling we will be listening to it for many years to come.
I have to mention that there are tons of other Christmas records I love, but these are my standards. What are yours?
Behold the Lamb of God would be my absolute favorite, but that album could really be played any day of the year and be relevant. So excluding that, my favorite Christmas albums would be in no particular order:
It's a Wonderful Christmas - Michael W. Smith. I really love how this album is almost like the soundtrack to a Christmas movie. And the choirs and orchestra on Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah nearly make me cry - they are so powerful and majestic.
Christmas Songs - Jars of Clay. I love this album because it is Jars of Clay's album. Nobody else could pull off the renditions they pull off. They chose songs that are not so familiar as well. It is altogether a fresh sound without being what I would call "irreverant" to Christmas music.
Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan. Only one thing made me want to buy this album - hearing her sing Jessie's Song on Toy Story 2. Her voice and her songs are very haunting and very beautiful. I absolutely love In the Bleak Midwinter.
All I Really Want for Christmas - Steven Curtis Chapman. There are two beautiful things about this album. One is the theme of adoption which has really become one of his personal missions as an artist. It's hard to describe the feeling of warmth hearing his adopted daughter reading the Christmas story from Luke 2. The second is the diversity - it ranges from pop to ballad to orchestrated rock to gospel. All in all, an enjoyable experience.
Charlie Brown Christmas - we do have one in common. I love it not simply for the music, but for the cartoon itself. None other hits what Christmas is all about in such a short time.
Hi Jill! We met at Baylor University a couple times (I used to work for spiritual life). Anyway, I love your music, and Andy's - it has ministered to me so often and in so many ways - and have enjoyed reading your blog updates as you are able to post. But I was especially treated tonight to see your fave Christmas albums - because I also love the Muppet Christmas! LOL. The Sufjan album, too, is genius. I'm psyched to check out your other recommendations. My new favorite is Over the Rhine's Snow Angel. Check it out!
These are great suggestions, some of these are new to me so I will have to check them out!
Hi Jill. I came upon your blog post a little late, but when you mentioned the James Taylor Christmas CD I had to respond...it's definitely in my top 5 as well. I absolutely love it. The last two years I've felt less excited about traditional Christmas music, but JT's album is still very listenable for me even when I'm not as "in the mood" for holiday jingles. It's definitely because of the jazzy feel of the music, and Taylor's ability to set you at ease when you listen to him.
Jacob
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