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Earlier this week, I talked about singing Advent hymns vs. Christmas carols. Some of you may wonder if I listen to any Christmas music during Advent and the answer is yes. While at work (much to the dismay of some of the others) I tune to Sirius channel 2 — which is temporarily Sirius holiday. They play some alright Christmas music, but I’d rather mix my own.
Over the years, collected several Christmas albums. Most of were released by Christian artists and I appreciate their unique look at Christmas. That made me think, what would my favorite Christmas albums be. Most of these are/were available on CD at one time. Feel free to disagree with me.
10. Red Hot Christmas Blues — a very bluesy half instrumental/half vocal CD — It was recorded in the late 90′s with Christian studio musicians lending their chops. Very different.
9. Russ Taff – A Christmas Song — Though it was recorded in the 90′s, think Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and others singing Christmas songs. It has a fortys/fiftys feel — not quite Big Band but swing. Again different.
8. Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir – Christmas at the Brooklyn Tabernacle — Lots of original tunes except for the carol medley. Black gospel meets orchestration with some great songs and a big choir feel.
7. Michael W. Smith – Christmas — MWS’ first Christmas album — definately neo classical — boy’s choirs, regular choirs, orchestra – lots of classical dynamics make for a great CD — the rock influence Gloria near the end is a nice bonus and a change of pace — it almost doesn’t fit. I love Anthem for Christmas.
6. Young Messiah – Various Artists – If you look at the whole list, you will see that I love classical or in this case Baroque music paired with contemporary music. Take a generous dose of Handel, add a choir and orchestra, the best vocal artists at the time with a rhythm section and you get this favorite of mine. If you know much about Baroque music and it’s figured bass and improvised accompanment, you understand it wasn’t much of a stretch to take this into the contemporary realm. I love the selections on this CD — I only wish they would re-record this with a live rhythm section. The drums and bass were all programmed so at times the presentation is a little stiff. I would love to see Handel’s Messiah paired with Trans Siberian Orchestra — that would be cool.
5. Steven Curtis Chapman – Music of Christmas — Like most of the rest of the list contemporary music paired with some great classical sounding selections. Don’t miss out on Home for Christmas — what a powerful little story. There are quite a few great selections including some instrumental selections where SCC shows his guitar chops. Not to be forgotten is This Baby — a great reminder that Jesus came as a human to earth — the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
4. Amy Grant – Christmas — This was a follow up to the amazing Age to Age album — Tender ballads like Tennessee Christmas are contrasted with the classical synth Praise the King and followed by Michael W. Smith’s Emmanuel and a wonderful remake of O Little Town followed by the neo classical – Christmas Hymn. At one time this would have been #1.
3. Emmanuel – Various Artists – Think Young Messiah, minus – the synth programmed bass and drums — Almost all the songs on this CD are originals except for Michael W. Smith’s Emmanuel sung by Amy Grant and MWS. Like Messiah it takes us through the life of Christ through music, complete with Arias, Narratatives and Choruses. I described it once as a modern oratorio.
2. Trans Siberian Orchestra – Christmas Eve and Other Stories — I am in no way a headbanger, but there is something about this music that I love. I first heard it when we were heading home for Christmas on Christmas Eve, stuck in traffic in New Jersey. The radio station played it in its entirety. To some it up, it tells the Christmas story in a completely new way.
1. Todd Agnew’s – Do You See What I See — I am currently preaching our Advent series based on songs from this CD. It is so refreshingly different — a much more bluesy, earthy Christmas album that can be played any time of year, because except for the opening track and the Bob Kauflin penned closing track (In the First Light) there is no traditional Christmas music on this CD.
The top three have been in serious rotation around here for the last week. Again most have a neo-classical with pop/rock feel. I wonder what it would sound like if Kerry Livgren produced a Christmas album? What are some of your favorites?
