Christmas Music

Larry and I both love Christmas music. He tends to favor the pop/contemporary, I the classical. Too much of either make me squirrely. And of course there is a host of bad Christmas music (yes NSYNC did a Christmas album).

Check out Bob & Doug Mackenzie's "Twelve Days of Christmas" (Dr Demento Christmas novelty songs) or David Sedaris' "Santaland Diaries" ( NPR Morning Edition archives).   "I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day" comes  from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  John Gorka did a great version on a Wyndam Hill album, but the new Casting Crowns is pretty spectacular.

OK, Emily, I added the second CD list (As if anyone listens to actual CDs when they've got iPods) Bruce Cockburn's "Cry of a Tiny Babe features Rosanne Cash and Lou Reed. Yes, Lou Reed 'singing.' I couldn't leave out the 1980s hit, "Feed The World." George Winston recorded "December" 20 years ago. Still holds up.  David Bowie and Bing Crosby made an odd pair on Bing's last Christmas special.  Sorry folks, no Elvis' "Blue Christmas." I can't stand those lady background singers, woo-ee-oo'ing like the Great White North.

Christmas CD Mix

Christmas Time (Is Here Again) - The Beatles
Christmas Time Is Here - Vince Guaraldi
* Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen - Chanticleer
Gaudete - Steeleye Span
All That I Want - The Weepies
Christmas I Wish I Could Stay - The Rayvonettes
The Twelve Days Of Christmas - Bob & Doug McKenzie
Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - Mariah Carey
The Holly and The Ivy - Wyndam Hill
Coventry Carol - King's College Cambridge
Christmas for Cowboys - John Denver
The Infant King - King's College Cambridge
Huron Carol - Chanticleer with Dawn Upshaw
O Magnum Mysterium - Chanticleer
* I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day - Casting Crowns
Peace - Michael McDonald
Mary Had a Baby - Bruce Cockburn
Hallelujah Chorus - Chicago Symphony Chorus
Joy to the World - Mariah Carey
Oi to the World - No Doubt
* Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Solveig
Santaland Diaries - David Sedaris

CD 2
Song for a Winter's Night - Gordon Lightfoot
Baby It's Cold Outside - Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
Feed the World - Band Aid
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent - Choir of St George's Chapel
All I Want for Christmas is You -  Mariah Carey
Variations on Pachelbel's Canon - George Winston
Blessed Be That Maid Mary - King's College Cambridge
Sleigh Ride - Ella Fitzgerald
Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie & Bing Crosby
Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg
Of the Father's Love Begotten - Richard Proulx
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
A Mighty Fortress /Angels We Have Heard On High - Amy Grant
Run Run Rudolph - Sheryl Crow
Cry of a Tiny Babe - Bruce Cockburn, Lou Reed, Rosanne Cash
Some Children See Him  - George Winston