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Thumper
Veteran Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 712
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 12, 2008 - 09:35 pm: | 
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Hello All,
On another thread, Carey and I was talking about Ledisi's new, fabulous Christmas CD, It's Christmas. On this thread I would like to discuss the BEST Christmas/Holiday CDs. I have quite a few Christmas CDs, but I don't like everything that I have. I have come to recognize that I'm picky. The major bone of contention is that many artist produce their albums that sounds of their present day instead of producing timeless rendition, songs when played would not sound dated. Innovated-yes, fresh-yes, dated--NO! The following list is those CDs that I play every years and it still sounds good.
1.) It's Christmas - Ledisi. Even though the CD came out this year, it's a definite keeper.
2.) Christmasing - Shirley Ceasar. At first, I heard her Hark, the Hearld Angels Sing and thought it was Tina Turner. I love this CD.
3.) Soul Christmas - Various Artist. This CD is happening. There's Aretha's Winter Wonderland, Otis Redding's Merry Christmas, Baby, The Drifters' White Christmas (I remember this one back from the day), King Curtis with the baddest version of What Are You Doing New Year's Eve. Carey, I know you don't know nothing about this...please take notes.
4.) Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald. Oh, this is a tight Christmas album HERE! Ella swings these songs from one wall to the next. LOVE IT!
5.) Mahalia Sings Songs of Christmas! - Mahalia Jackson. There are a couple of Christmas CDs by Mahalia, but this one here, she kills.
6.) Christmas with Leontyne Price. I fell hard for this one when I first heard it. The orchestration, the vocals are all lush and gorgeous. Beautiful. I think it was on listening to this one that I fell real hard for Leontyne.
7.) A Christmas Celebration - Kathleen Battle. I began investigating Kathleen Battle when I started listening to opera/classical vocal music. Love that voice! This Christmas CD, Miss Kathleen did not go cheap, by that I mean, she had more instruments accompanying her.
8.) A Classic Christmas - Wynonna. Yep, Wynonna Judd. She nails this sucker. The CD is another lush, gorgeous number.
9.) Merry Christmas - Mariah Carey. Mariah made the list because she was the ONLY one to have my favorite Christmas song on her album, Jesus, Oh What A Wonderful Child.
10.) Christmas with Yolanda Adams - Yolanda Adams. This has to be my favorite Christmas CD of all times. There's not a bad track on this CD! The arrangements are updated but classic in feel, which explains why I can play this CD at any time of the year. Love it! If you don't have this one, I suggest you get it. |
Mochascafe
Regular Poster
Username: Mochascafe
Post Number: 84
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2008 - 03:03 pm: |
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I was a seventies baby so to me it is still not Christmas until I hear:
1. Sal Soul Orchestra Christmas Jollies. It has to be my all time favorite. So many memories!
2. You are not truly West Indian unless you have the Boney M Christmas album on your list. It is almost sacrilege
3. Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas" is always a great "marker" of the season. Voice as smooth as Godiva.....
4. I have to agree with you Thumper on Mahalia. Another great classic.
5. Ok, this one is embarrassing, Bing Crosby was always playing in my house as well. I dont own it, but if I hear "Mele Kalikimaka " playing on a radio station I might just hum along.
6. Last but certainly not least Jose Feliciano's Feliz Navidad. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 13190
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2008 - 01:04 pm: |
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All I need to rev up the motor of my holiday spirit is to hear "The Christmas Song" by Nat Cole, "This Chrismas", by Donny Hathaway, "Merry Christmas, Baby," by Charles Brown, "The Christmas Waltz," by Frank Sinatra, and even "Another Lonely Christmas" by Prince. Once the mood has been established, I sing along with all of the old pop favorites and traditional carols.
A particular treat for me is to be lucky enough to catch the video of that jazzy/gospel treatment of the "Hallelujah Chorus" sung by a large choir of various black artists and directed by Quincy Jones.  |
Carey
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Carey
Post Number: 1445
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2008 - 03:38 pm: |
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Hello
Okay, it is time I throw my little nothing into the pot.
After reading the question I was thrown for a loss. Like others, the first thing that jumped in my head was Donny Hatheway's This Christmas. Although I liked Ledisi's It's Christmas, I am sort of old school when it comes to traditional Christmas song. But I have to tell you, yesterday in church our choir killed This Christmas. Thumper wouldn't know nothing about that. I don't know, do they sing Christmas songs in Catholic churches? Anyway, I had to look around the church to see if others were feeling it as much as I. We have a new director and he's been bringing an upbeat tempo to our already great choir. I had to tell my shoulders and legs to slow down.
Since Mocha Mint admitted her shame, I guess I can say that Perry Como was one of my favorites. Yeah, I said it, Perry Como. Boys to Men also have some nice Christmas stuff.
On a side note, I sincerely hate those that do a wack job of the national anthem as much as I do not like those that butcher Jiggle Bells. |
Troy
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 1616
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 15, 2008 - 05:14 pm: |
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I only have three that I listen to each year without fail and often during he course to the year:
1 - Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
2 - The Jackson 5 Christmas Album
3 - Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas"
As a side note; Has anyone else come to the conclusion that CD's and obsolete? |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3302
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 12:16 pm: |
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Truth be told: In recent years by this time of the season I am so sick of Christmas songs that I rarely play them of my own accord. Seems stores begin playing them earlier and earlier (like, right after Halloween!), and of course ads on TV...add to that kids' Christmas concerts, and the radio and I just want to scream at any mention of "snow," "St. Nick" and "little town of Bethlehem."
I have been developing an "anti-Christmas playlist" to play while we're opening up gifts, full of upbeat, family friendly tunes from a wide variety of time periods. So far the only remotely Christmas-y songs are the Hallelujah Chorus and Kathleen Battle's version of Ave Maria.
But in prior years the Christmas albums that would immediately take me back to my childhood were Jimmy Smith's Christmas Cookin, Johnny Mathis's Merry Christmas--and of course Charlie Brown Christmas. (Oh, and we did Perry Como at Christmas in our house, too!) |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2459
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 12:56 pm: |
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http://www.mesasoftware.com/merrychristmas.htm
I like a Charlie Brown Christmas
And it ain't Christmas for me unless I hear the Temptations sing SILENT NIGHT. |
Thumper
Veteran Poster
Username: Thumper
Post Number: 714
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 01:21 pm: |
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Hello All,
I was driving to work the other day and guess what came on the radio...talk about a throwback...Santa Claus Is a Black Man. I have heard that song practically every Christmas my whole life. Now, that is some 70's old school for ya.
Carey: There you go, I'm not Catholic. So, I don't know what they do in a Catholic Christmas ceremony, I can tell you how First Freewill Baptist use to roll, Jesus What a Wonderful Child would have folks shouting, wigs and hats to flying, and folks running up and down the aisle. |
Mochascafe
Regular Poster
Username: Mochascafe
Post Number: 86
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 - 07:46 pm: |
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Oh, I almost forgot.... Run D-MC's Christmas in Hollis.... Classic. Even in Canada |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 13195
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - 12:46 am: |
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The link provided in a_womon's post hooked you up to a version of the old Christmas favorite that should've been referred to as "I'm dreamin of a doo-wop Christmas". 
All the information about Bing Crosby and Irving Berlin was supplied, but the caption neglected to say that Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters were one of the premier doo-wop groups of their day. I'd forgotten all about that song, I hadn't heard it so long. I also forgot about Charlie Brown's Christmas album. I love it, too! |
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