There are certain CD’s and songs that mean Christmas to me more than others. Many come from my childhood, from the music I heard playing on scratchy LP’s year after year. Others I discovered as an adult. Some are traditional, some are contemporary. It’s an eclectic mix, but Christmas just isn’t Christmas without these tunes.

CDs
Bing Crosby – Merry Christmas
Do I really need to explain this one? Bing is the king of Christmas and always will be. One of the original crooners, his voice still makes me weak in the knees. ‘Adeste Fideles’, ‘Silent Night’, ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’…they’re all favorites on here.

Raffi’s Christmas Album
This one was played every year growing up. ‘Must Be Santa’, ‘Up On The House-Top’, ‘Old Toy Trains’. These songs take me back to a time when I was the one whose excitement kept me awake at night just waiting for Christmas morning to come. Bella loves the music now just as much as I did then.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra – Boogie Woogie Christmas
Christmas and Swing – who woulda thought. It shouldn’t work, but for me it somehow does. ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ – while not my absolute favorite version of this song – is pretty darn good, and ‘The Man With the Bag’ is not too shabby either. Bella and I like to play this one and Boogie Woogie till we drop. High energy Christmas Fun.

A Noteworthy Christmas: Great Canadian Choirs Sing Holiday Favorites:
This is one of those compilation CD’s that was sold at the cash register of Coles bookstores one year before Sam and I moved to the US. It contains some wonderful choral Christmas music, including a haunting version of ‘Huron Carol’ (one of my favorites) and ‘Il est ne le devine enfant’, a French carol that I had not heard before getting this CD.

Sarah Mac Lachlan – Wintersong
I cannot tell you how much I love this CD. Can’t even pick a favorite song, although her version of ‘River’ is just amazing. I could play this all day long.

Songs:
Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt version only.
Always makes me smile. Someday i want to get a slinky little Santa suit and sing this for my husband

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Sarah MacLachlan and The Barenaked Ladies
This version of the traditional carol might be my favorite Christmas song of all time. Great Canadian artists and ah – the harmony. Download it, you won’t be disappointed.

Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron – The Royal Guardsmen
This one always gets blasted when I hear it on the radio, and I cannot stop myself from singing along. Another favorite from my childhood – I can’t ever resist this one.

All I Want For Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey
You know, I’m not a Mariah fan. Not one little bit. For some reason though, this year I’m liking this song. It makes me smile, it makes me want to dance. It’s cheesy – but what better time of year to revel in the cheese.

Oh Holy Night
My favorite religious Christmas Carol – but I still have not found *the* version of this one – not the one that I love more than all others. If you have a version you love, please share it.

Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella (traditional French Carol)
Obvious why I love this one – isn’t it? See if you can find a version to listen too, aside from the names, it really is beautiful. Have not found a version of this one that I love, love, love either – although I search every year hoping to find a great one.

I’m sure there are more, and I want to add links – but once again the clock has struck midnight – so I’m going to post now and update tomorrow.

In the meantime, be sure to post and tell me what CD’s and songs you have to play during the Holiday Season.