Every year we play Christmas music that was part of our childhood seasonal experience. For me this means listening to two albums in particular: John Denver — Rocky Mountain Christmas and John Denver & The Muppets - A Christmas Together.
Wrapping gifts, watching the lights sparkle on the tree and drinking egg nog would not be the same without listening to John serenade Christmas with Cowboys or hearing Miss Piggy belt out 'Five Golden Rings' during the Twelve Days of Christmas. These songs have such a strong attachment — they are like another member of the family.
In the last ten years the wife and I have added Bing Crosby, Reindeer Room I & II, Charlotte Church and some rendition of the Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite to our annual repertoire, but John and Kermit will always be in heavy rotation.
I think it's safe to assume that not everyone grew up listening to Captain Grape Nuts every December so I'm curious what music you play each and every year as part of your Christmas tradition.
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FIIIIIIIIIIVE GOLLLLLLLLLLDEN RIIIIINNNNNGS.
BA-DAHP-DAHP-DAHP!
Every time I sing that, I get weird looks.
Trying to sing along with the tape of Jose Feliciano to the tune of Feliz Navidad at about 6 or 7 years of age. I remember not knowing what the spanish part meant, but was still able to sing along. That brings back memories of christmas vacation, 1986-ish.
Happy Holidays.
I have a single Christmas album I've been listening to for the last 10 years. I only allow myself to play it from 1-December, through the first of the new year. That is a "best of" album from a group called Nowell Sing We Clear. ..and I sing along in harmony.
As with Brandon, Feliz Navidad brings a lot of Christmas memories out. When I was around 9-12, I distinctly remember my brother and my dad dancing to FN on the radio. Good times.
Doesn't that John Denver album have the classic "Daddy, Don't Get Drunk On Christmas" on it? One of the all time bests, that one.
Muppets Christmas Carol is our 'tradition'. Christmas Eve, candles, wine and the muppets. Can't beat it!
Have a good one.
I cannot help but think of the Eddie Izzard bit about "12 Days of Christmas"... no on knows any of the words, except "FIVE GOLD(en) RINGS!" "12 Monkeys dancing... 11 something something..."
Christmas at our home growing up was always centred, audibly, around "A Beach Boys Christmas." Strange as it may seem that a band famous for surf songs would remind me of Christmas...
When I sang in my elementary school chorus I learned the harmony to Deck the Halls. It is a Gates tradition that I make someone sing a duet with me every Xmas. This year it was my coworker Cathy, as we walked out of our building to get some coffee.
Of course, I have to sing REALLY LOUD to hear my part of the harmony. Fun is usually had by all --except for the people around us.
I grew up listening to John Denver as well, but these days my wife and I usually listen to Harry Connick Jr.'s Christmas albums. We also have another Christmas CD that I think we actually got at Eddie Bauer with a nuch of classics on it like Bing Crosby.
Much like gb, I grew up listening to a very strange album as well. My father has this ratty old copy of "A very reggae christmas" that gets played every christmas morning. He goes through the same ritual of cursing the new stereo system as he attempts to hook up his old turntable every year at this time for the sole purpose of playing that record one single time while we open presents.
Yes, it is very odd that dreadlocked rastafarians make me think of christmas, but they do, and I have come to love it. I can't wait for tomorrow morning.
Charlie Brown - Vince Guaraldi Trio. I own the Christmas Special DVD but it's just not the same unless I watch it on TV with commercials.
I also grew up with the Muppets Christmas with John Denver, of which my favorite line is Gonzo's "Made with Figs. And bacon." but specially amongst that CD is Noel: Christmas Eve, 1913. It's a song I've never heard anywhere else and it has become my favorite Christmas song, period. The original poetry of Bridges, the British Poet Laureate at the time is just awesome.
I also love the hammer dulcimer carols of Mark Davis, and the new Barenaked Ladies Christmas album, simply because it's so much FUN.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who grew up on BAH DAHP DAHP DAHP!
I don't really have a Christmas music tradition, but if I ever start one it'll kick off with Robert Earl Keen Jr.'s "Merry Christmas from the Family".
posted here for a very limited time: http://tinyurl.com/4279b
two Sing-Along with Mitch Miller LP's from the late '50s/early '60s:
33 1/3 album covers came with insert pad of 10 copies of Lyrics sheets for group sing-alongs.
1) Christmas Sing-Along with Mitch Miller(religious, "The First Noel",etc.)
2) Holiday Sing-Along with Mitch Miller(secular, "Must be Santa","Auld Lang Syne",etc. )
re-mastered CDs can be special ordered at Borders @ $9.99
I still want a Hoola Hooooop....
I can barely stand to wait, ohh christmas don't be late
Merry Christmas from Sesame Street!
Apologies for being high-brow, but I know Greg would expect nothing less. Three compositions/performances stand out: 1) Handel's "Messiah" (I have a great London Symphony recording), 2) Beethoven's 9th, better known as "Ode to Joy"—choose your performance, there are a lot of great recordings, and 3) Bach's "St. Matthew Passion" performed by Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Players. I can't really enjoy the commercial schmaltz, with the exception of the Bing Crosby-David Bowie duet of the 'Little Drummer Boy.'
Doesn't that John Denver album have the classic "Daddy, Don't Get Drunk On Christmas" on it?
Yeah I'm not sure what he was thinking with that song especially when that was recorded when Dr. Phill was an undergraduate student.
I don't play much Christmas music (four years in retail will do that to you), but my parents always play Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas albums.
I admit that I've had some Muppet Christmases myself. Other than that, my Christmases growing up have been mostly Blue Note.
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas" by Ray Conniff was the Christmas album both my wife and I grew up with. We now enjoy the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CDs and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.
A number of years back my mother bought the Harry Connick Jnr album "When My Heart Finds Christmas". The CD has come out of hiding every year since, and now no family christmas gathering feels complete without him crooning in the background...
1. Elvis' Christmas Album.
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Original Sound Track Recording Of The CBS Television Special [SOUNDTRACK]
3. Christmas with the Rat Pack - although our cover doesn't look like the one on Amazon.
Oh, the other album I listen to, which is actually a tradition in my ex's family: Listening to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album.
Jim Reeves.
Amen, I second the Jim Reeves. I celebrate the guy's entire catalog.
Relient K's Christmas album from last year is awesome...They do a great job of making each run-through in "12 days of christmas" interesting, different, and fun.
and the added bridge is cool too -
"what's a partridge? and what's a pear tree?
I don't know so please don't ask me.
but I can bet that those are terrible gifts to get."
I listen to Punk Rock Christmas each and every year the Imposibles rendition of White Christmas and The Vandals Oi to the World are great
the boney-m christmas record.
I thought that I was the only one. Long live John Denver.
I'm a bit late to the party on this one, but I wrote a whole thing about the holiday music at my house -- Gene Autry and Perry Como-- on my blog. Funny how it shapes our holiday memories so much.
Count me as another person saddened when Capt. Grape Nuts died. Whatever his musical choices, he did have a warm and engaging voice that made you smile when you heard it. (Or at least me, anyway).