Christmas and singing have gone together since the birth of our Savior. I look forward to joining with family and friends to sing the carols of Christmas every year. You should have heard the music and singing at Woodland this past Sunday. It was a supreme moment of joy to look at men, women and children singing and smiling those great songs of faith.
Of course its part of my family’s tradition. I remember my Uncle Shelvie standing and singing loud and proud those Christmas carols every Christmas Eve before we opened family gifts. We would beg him to not sing another one, because we were ready for gifts. But he would begin to sing another one and all of the adults and children would join in. We knew if we didn’t our parents would never stop singing those carols. By the way, that’s my Christmas calling now!
It’s an absolute part of my family’s Christmas celebration. So while I sit by a fire tonight. Everyone else is either preoccupied or gone I thought I’d share my favorite Christmas CD’s with you.
Each year I add a new Christmas CD to my collection. I’ve not bought one this year, yet. If you’ve got a suggestion I would appreciate hearing from you.
- Gene Autry: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and other Christmas Favorites. This was my sisters and my favorite Christmas collection growing up. Just hearing the sounds brings back memories of a scratched up long play album.
- Amy Grant: The Christmas Collection. This is one that my daughter and I agree on!
- Steven Curtis Chapman: All I really want for Christmas. This is one that you’ll listen to over and over again.
- Yo Yo Ma: Songs of Joy and Peace. I bought this one last year. I could not get enough of it. This one is a joy! Possibly my very favorite.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas: Vince Guaraldi Trio. Come on now, this has got to a favorite for everyone.
- Michael Card: The Promise. Joseph’s Song is my favorite here. This one I listen to all through the year.
- Celene Dion: These are the Special Times. Yep, I like listening to her. Especially this one.
- Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song. The Christmas Song is my favorite here. I remember listening to this song every Christmas while I was in college. Last year was the first time we roasted chestnuts. We didn’t do too well. We’ll try again this year.
- Mannhiem Steamroller: Christmas. For us this is the official CD to play on Friday after Thanksgiving!
- Bing Crosby: White Christmas. Need I say more. We had to move to Michigan to have a White Christmas. I really like the stuff on Christmas Eve and during the break.
- Alabama: Christmas II. Christmas Time in Dixie and The Blessings!
- Merry Christmas from Vienna: Placido Domingo, Ying Huang and Michael bolton
- Handel’s Messiah. I listen to this typically on a road trip. My family likes a couple of tracks but no way is this going to play when we are all home without losing some Christmas cheer.
- Christmas at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Soulful and joyful
- Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker. Every year we took our children to see this when they were small.
Coram Deo 
I love Mannheim Steamroller! I first learned of them a couple of years ago from Rush Limbaugh. He plays it on his shows during Christmas.
What about Dean Martin, Andy Williams, or Harry Connick, Jr.? These are some of our family’s favorites.
Josh, I like Mannheim Steamroller as well. I put them in the CD player when I’m driving. I also have to put the cruise control on. For some reason, my foot turns to lead when their music is playing.
I like all of those. Andy Williams just sounds like Christmas. What do your kids like?
Our kids like all of those. One of Gabe’s favorites is Nat King Cole’s “All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth”. Jacob likes also from NKC “Mrs. Santa Claus”. We all enjoy the older classic songs from Bing, NKC, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, and Dean Martin. One of my favorites is Bare Naked Ladies and Sarah McLaughlin covering “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. I am also a fan of a guitarist named Gary Hoey that covers Christmas songs that are all instrumental. He plays a mean guitar and really puts a new spin on these songs.