I’m
going to admit something to you… Christmas music isn’t my favorite music in the
world. In fact, I believe all the years of working in the retail world over the
holiday season may have permanently soured me on a large percentage of the holiday
tunes that tend to be piped into stores from November 1st through
the end of the year. Though, there are a couple dozen tunes that tend to be
staples in my music collection at Christmastime.
The
Carpenters Christmas albums (A Christmas
Portrait and An Old Fashioned Christmas)
never fail to bring happy memories of childhood Christmases. It’s probably my
favorite Christmas album. Karen's rich and warm voice over a dazzling selection
of beautifully arranged Christmas songs, is a perfect cup of hot chocolate for
the season. There a number of lovely classic Christmas tunes, saturated in gorgeous
harmonies and a few medleys (which, I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for). My favorites
of the Carpenters’ holiday songs are “Christmas Waltz”, “Sleigh Ride”, “It’s
Christmas Time”, “Little Alter Boy”, and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”. Of
course, I absolutely adore Richard’s impressive piano solo of “Carol of the
Bells” and my favorite Christmas carol for many years was the now classic, “Merry
Christmas Darling”.
Aside
from The Carpenters’ albums, there aren’t too many other full holiday albums
that I even listen to, let alone own. I do enjoy The Partridge Family song, “My
Christmas Card To You” and included it as the opening track on the Christmas CD
I sent out one year (instead of Christmas cards). Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself
A Merry Little Christmas” from Meet Me In
St. Louis is flawless. There are a handful of Frank Sinatra holiday carols
that tend to play on my iPod in December and of course, Nat King Cole’s
rendition of “The Christmas Song” may be the definitive version of the song in
my book. I couldn’t exclude Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and I threw in his
collaboration with The Andrews Sisters, “Mele Kalikimaka” in last year’s
Christmas compilation. I ran across a duet that Bing did with Judy on his radio
show in 1950 and while I’m generally not a big fan of the song “Rudolph the
Red-Nosed Reindeer”, I found their rendition entirely amusing – especially the
bit about Rudolph “smoking Chesterfield’s all the day” (a shameless plug, I’m betting!)
When I was a child, I loved Barbra
Streisand’s speedy performance of “Jingle Bells”. I also remember when I was
about 8, I loved Amy Grant’s “Emmanuel”. And of course, I dug “You’re A Mean
One, Mr. Grinch”. These days, I prefer Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmastime Is Here.”
And, true to the die-hard Beatles fan I am, I will always find time to listen
to Paul’s “Wonderful Christmas Time” and John’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”. But
I think my favorite Christmas-y tune this year may be the 1967 Beatles Fan Club
message, “Christmas Time Is Here Again”, complete with John Lennon speaking
nonsense-speak. :)
Whatever Christmas tunes you prefer to
listen to, I do wish a happy holiday season to you all!
