Why is so much of the Christmas music we hear so lame?

[paulycy]

If you like a capella music, check out http://www.singers.com/christmas/

I like *really* good acapella music. I'll check it out. Thanks!

[LibFreeOrDie]

Try The Blenders:

[paulycy]

I most definitely will. :0)

[combat_boots]

It’ll take me awhile and several phone calls to find the album....

Some of the words go...

Christmas Gift! Hand it here!
Christmas Gift! Hand it here!
Christmas Gift! Hand it here!
I said it first, so now, hand it here!

....???

Possum, possum, you better run.
My daddy’s in the woods with his big shotgun.
Ol’ man turkey flyin’ so high,
Don’ you see that gleam in my daddy’s eye.

Christmas Gift! Hand it here!
Christmas Gift! Hand it here!
Christmas Gift! Hand it here!
I said it first, so now, hand it here!

Loved that whole album, but that tune was jazzy and fun. 1940s, I think.

[real saxophonist]

As long as you don’t have any Kenny G on your iPod, you’re okay.

[RayChuang88]

I agree with your sentiments. If you want to enjoy Mannheim Steamroller's best Christmas album work, the four albums you want are:

Christmas (1984)
A Fresh Air Christmas (1988)
Christmas in the Aire (1995)
Christmas Extraordinaire (2001)

My two favorite pieces from the four albums are their rendition of Stille Nacht (Silent Night) (still the most beautiful version of this song I've ever heard) and Davis' original composition "Traditions of Christmas" (which captures the feeling of Christmas morning like no other composition I've ever heard).

[dangerdoc]

It's hard to write music about the birth of a savior you don't really believe in?

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Being 66, I still prefer what, I guess, would be considered the "classics:" Crosby, Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, et al.

While it took me 3 consecutive years of listening (at first not really liking it much) to finally appreciate and come to enjoy Manheim Steamroller's Christmas Music (Thanks Rush) it is and has been for 7 years, a staple this time of year.

I don't think Manheim's haunting and beautiful version of Silent Night, can be beat, bar none!!!

[RayChuang88]

Oh by the way, here's a new favorite of mine for Christmas:

[SamAdams76]

Of course I've got some Burl Ives! But I'm posting my collection at random and when you have over 3,000 songs, it might take a while for him to come up...

One Christmas Catalogue - Captain Sensible
Star of Wonder - Tori Amos
Santa Came On A Nuclear Missile - Heather Noel
Jingle Bells - Reverend Horton Heat
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Tiny Tim
The Seven Rejoices - Loreena McKennitt
Happy Holidays - Bing Crosby
Silent Night - Thanatos
At The Christmas Ball - Bessie Smith
Greensleeved - Jethro Tull

[combat_boots]

Take Six:

YouTube medley:

http://christmasmusicvideos.com/song-titles-j-l/joy-to-the-world-christmas-medley-take-6/

Amazon samples:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QJK078/ref=pd_krex_dmusic_artist_rd?ie=UTF8&parent=B001MCV752

Smooth.....A capella, too. “I L-O-V-E You” is a surprise.

A Christian group.

[GLDNGUN]

Any list of best Christmas tunes that does not include Loreena McKennitt’s “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is sorely lacking. It’s like having a list of top 20 NBA players that doesn’t include Michael Jordan.

[combat_boots]

Oh yes. Their “Amen” is one to listen to over and over and over.

[InspectorGadget]

Not only does the lack of playing really good Christmas music bother me, but the fact that once the clock strikes midnight on December 26th, no more Christmas music is played AT ALL! I thought the 12 days of Christmas STARTED on the 25th and ran until the Epiphany.

[MCH]

"Traditions of Christmas" (which captures the feeling of Christmas morning like no other composition I've ever heard).

Yes, very good. Mannheim's "The Holly and the Ivy" is also beautiful. Excellent group (saw them in concert 2 years ago), but I suspect Mannheim Steamroller (MS) kind of falls into the "overplayed" category I think the original poster was complaining about.

If you like MS and instrumental Christmas music, you'll really like both Narada Christmas albums. Over the years, I think I like Narada the best - even a bit more than MS. John Tesh's Christmas album is also really good, as are a number of the songs from the "Home Alone" soundtrack by John Williams.

Also on my all time Christmas favs list are some older ones, including the Burt Kaempfert and Chet Atkins Christmas albums from the late 50's/early 60's, and John Denver's Christmas album ("Christmas for Cowboys" in particular is original/good). Finally, a "shout out" for Donny Osmond's (I assume) original song "Soldier's King" on his Christmas album from a few years back. Beautiful song that I've never heard anyone else do and that very few people have ever heard of.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Get yourself a copy of this:

[LibFreeOrDie]

Definitely “Take 6”!

[Chickensoup]

Dan Fogelberg

Depression unlimited. Not enough Prozac in the world to get through his songs.

Didnt the poor soul suicide recently?

[Seven plus One]

...Just come on in, take a seat, and let the candles, incense, sounds, and beauty of traditional Christian seasonal observance enfold you. You won't regret it!

You bet! Love and devotion are very musical aspects of our personalities. At Christmas we share with each other the best that we have to offer. (at least we used to did, terms like "Black Friday" give me the willies.) Since I was a little kid, this meant Christmas to me.

[kickonly88]

“I have the Jethro Tull Christmas album too...great stuff.”

One of my absolute all time favorites;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yibz4xAejos