Christmas Music (or Holiday music if you insist on PC)

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Comments

  • @ Greg, I'm anxious to see your Christmas article! By the way, I love that Jethro Tull Christmas album.
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    Amie Street, where else?
  • @Kez - it won't be today, I'm sorry. The two hours I set aside for research and writing this morning were not enough to complete the research, and with the emusic search facility not working now, it doesn't help. I'll let you know when it is up in draft form.
  • @Greg - I'll be looking forward to it.
  • edited December 2011
    A Michael Buble fan here -- I picked up his new album, Christmas, while out shopping the other day. I had to postpone listening because I was doing computer housekeeping (full hard drive), and finally had a chance to listen this morning. It's a winner for me.

    Santa Baby (turns into Santa Buddy for him, plus changed lyrics) doesn't quite work for me. Admittedly, he turns it into a more wistful song than a sexy one, but I'm so used to Eartha Kitt on that one that his rendition is too far away from what I expected. Maybe I will like it better as I listen to this CD. I do like the big band, jazzy feel of most of the songs -- typical Buble styling.

    Yep, I'm an oldie, and he fits right into the type of music I heard when growing up.

    @greg -- I need to check on the 7digital rec. I may have it already. If not, I will probably buy it.
  • @Doofy -- hunting through my collection for Christmas music and found that I have the Christmas Jazz Collection. It's playing now, and I do recognize the music, so I know it has been played many times.

    My music is everywhere -- Cds, data mp3 CDs, Amazon cloud, 7digital library, hard drives of two computers, and I am making an effort to organize so that I can go to one location or document to see what I have and where it is located. I can't believe I have so much -- and some of it still not heard.
  • edited December 2011
    12 Hours of Christmas, a Naxos collection that is, yes, 12 hours! For $9.99 at Classics Online. It includes a number of Christmas oratorios and cantatas, including the Messiah and Nutcracker Suite.

    [ETA] It also appears to have the complete Vaticini di paci by Antonio Caldara
  • Thanks for the link to Classics Online BT. The Christmas album is £7.99 UK but I won't download - 12 hours is just too much for me, but there are other reasonably prices albums/sets I might go for.
  • edited December 2011
    I've been meaning to post this one - it was one of my favorites last season - not a Christmas album per se but more a winter seasonal type thing - Strange Communion by Thea Gilmore - in a similar way to Midwinter Graces by Tori Amos (N.B. If going to eMu be sure to get this linked 14 song version which is cheaper than the 12 song version also available there - go figure). Anyway, they are both albums I like at this time of year.

    And BTW, only 1 listen so far but I liked A Waverly Consort Christmas - some unexpected ground covered there but it was good.
  • Just got this a few days ago - The Ancient Music of Christmas by Ethan James - very olde schoole renditions on not the usual instruments. Really like it - very medieval vibe. Might also be suitable for driving off children or teenagers - ho, ho, ho.
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  • @BigD - so why don't you write a Christmas piece for the blog? You've pointed out a nice selection here - I'm particularly glad to know about the Thea Gilmore.
  • edited December 2011
    NPR's First Listen - John Zorn - A Dreamer's Christmas

    Pretty nice, laid back bar-lounge, but not corny, batch of traditional pop xmas music.
  • Thanks, Kez, but greatly stressful time right now with family medical issues - no time really for the time being.
    lucky to get a few moments to hear anything. Hopefully better soon.
  • BigD - I understand what you're saying. I hope things improve for you on the homefront soon.
  • Kargatron, I'm really enjoying that John Zorn, even though the NPR player window keeps cutting off suddenly part way thorough the album.

    Kez, the 2011 Paste Christmas Sampler has 40 tracks!
  • Denver - Thanks for pointing out the new Paste Christmas sampler. I have that song "Christmas Wrapping" and it's great. That "Party Hard" song sounds really good - new to me. Not a bad price for 40 songs, huh?
  • BN - You are now my hero.

    Craig
  • Here's a link to a free download of a new holiday album from the Grip Weeds. Rockin' power pop from the Garden State.
  • edited December 2011
    [img]http://jeanies_home_studio.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/icon-santa-guitar-animated.gif[/img] - "In the hollyday spirit, some of the Mimi Record artists have gathered to launch this unique, memorable album, that will undoubtly lighten up any household's Christmas dinner.
    - Featuring a grand total of 5 tracks, 3 being versions of timeless classics":

    va_mimi_xmas2005.jpg
  • edited December 2011
    Kez, I am finally listening to that Paste sampler. Most of it unfortunately is pretty unremarkable. Does "In the Bleak Midwinter" have to sound only bleak? The Josh T. Pearson is an exception. I'm going to have to check out his album before I do my 2011 list.
  • edited December 2011
    Here's a bit of a Christmas curiosity recorded on cylinder at around 1908 from The Free Music Archive @ Archiive.org:

    Holiday Selections from cylinder.de (December 20, 2011)
    "These cylinder recordings were originally transferred as part of an online project started in 1998 by Norman Bruderhofer, a phonograph collector and audio preservationist from Berlin. Check out his website cylinder.de and his full collection at the Internet Archive."
    ETA: One of the oldest Christmas songs ever recorded.
  • edited December 2015
    A couple of examples of "slightly different" Christmas music: <div><a href="http://thekcsp.com/track/im-dreaming-of-a-white-christmas"><img src="http://f1.bcbits.com/img/a1517033834_14.jpg"> </a><br><div&gt;1878488727-1.jpg
    The Kevin Costner Suicide Pact - I'm Dreaming (of a White Christmas)</div></div>
  • Ho Ho Ho !

    Badgerland's third instalment of Festive tunes. Free to download and share.
  • Shout out for two Xmas releases that I just picked up and really like:

    Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, It's a Holiday Soul Party. Leads off with the funkiest Hannukah song EVER and also includes my new favorite version of Drummer Boy that actually gives the drummer some.

    Nick Lowe and Los Straightjackets, The Quality Holiday Review. A live mix of holiday originals and classics and covers of Nick Lowe songs. Nick is really charming (which is a word I have never used to describe anyone, ever).
  • I stopped by to wish everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas. I'm surprised that this thread was revived, and I remember having some harsh words for another poster ( I hope there are no hard feelings).

    I have not bought much music in the last year. I have been more focused on my son's needs and desires that I sometime forget that I have interests of my own. I suppose this is a symptom of parenting: the more my son grows, the more I am drawn into his life. Of course, I have spent a lot of time discovering what I already have, all those cheap downloads from eMusic, Amie Street, Lala, Amazon daily deals, Guvera, eClassical, mtraks, Bandcamp, archive.org, etc.

    Please have a safe holiday.

    Best,

    NR
  •  I'm surprised that this thread was revived,

    Hi there ! - It is always nice when you stop by.

    I was looking for a Christmas thread and found this one

    For me Christmas will always be . . . Christmas.
    - So, Merry Christmas !
  • edited December 2015
    Bad Thoughts, always good to see you here, thanks for stopping by. I actually enjoyed reading this discussion again - feistiness and all. May your holiday be a peaceful one; may your family enjoy you and you them.
  • Hey, BT, nice to see you here again.  Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all.  I too have slowed down on the music acquisition and have tried to catch up a little in the listening - it is sort of wonderful to discover stuff you already had that surprises you.  I often think how we have gotten some amazing deals over the years, and good thing because they don't seem to be out there as much.  Christmas wise I'm digging the Joe Pass Six String Santa album (at eMu) and the Eddie Higgins Trio double album Christmas Songs that Doofy rec'd over there.  Have a Merry, all.
  • BT, nice to see you as well,

    Merry Xmas and festive time to all, its always the Phil Spector album 1st thing on Xmas morning in Lowlife Towers. I am hoping to secure a very old copy of Jonathan Kelly's album Twice Around the Houses, it will be the third time I have had it, both copies were stolen from me.

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