It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Friends and family are gathering to exchange laughter and gifts, and to appreciate the simple joys of time spent with loved ones.
Along with lights, gifts, and delicious treats, music has become an essential element of the holiday season. With thousands of renditions of beloved Christmas classics available to stream at our heart’s content, folks are able to craft their very own custom playlists for their family gatherings.
But with so many options available, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the immense selection of Christmas music available. Who’s to say which version of which song is best? At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference.
But for those looking for a bit of direction as to where to start, you can’t go wrong with our list of five classic albums that will be sure to bring plenty of Christmas cheer to your celebration this year!
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Elvis’ Christmas Album
It just isn’t Christmas without The King. Presley’s 1957 holiday classic has sold over 17 million copies since its release, and with good reason. Elvis brings his unmistakable vocals to a number of Christmas classics, while introducing two new numbers, “Santa Claus is Back in Town,” and “Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)” to the holiday lexicon.
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A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
Phil Spector’s patented “wall of sound” technique made him one of the most sought after names in the business in the ‘60s. In 1963, the anomalous producer rounded up some of his most frequent collaborators to record A Christmas Gift for You. The album features essential numbers like “Sleigh Ride” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” from artists such as The Ronettes and Darlene Love, among others.
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Merry Christmas – Bing Crosby
The multi-media star lent his distinctive croon to a dozen holiday-themed tunes for this compilation, not the least of which was the definitive version of “White Christmas.” Since its release, the collection has gone 4x platinum, and has been re-released a number of times in various formats. With this one, you can’t miss.
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Louis Armstrong & Friends – What a Wonderful Christmas
Only those who knew the man can speak to the nature of his personal character, but if outward appearances were any indication, Louis Armstrong was the physical embodiment of the joy of Christmas. With a broad grin and a joke to crack wherever he went, Satchmo was the ideal curator of artists like Lionel Hampton, Dinah Washington, and Duke Ellington for this big band Christmas celebration.
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A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra
Ol’ Blue Eyes brings his irrefutable swagger to both holiday-themed cuts and traditional carols on A Jolly Christmas. With his unmistakable, smooth-as-butter delivery, Sinatra saunters through the songs we know and love with an assurance one could only expect from the Chairman of the Board.
And there you have it! We hope this serves as a sufficient jumping-off point, though readers are encouraged to explore the wealth of Christmas adaptations available to find favorites of their own as well.
From all of us at Lootpress, here’s wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas!
