A good Christmas music playlist or collection of Christmas albums is a must-have for our holiday celebration. Good Christmas music lightens my mood, especially when I feel stressed with the holiday preparation. I am almost guaranteed to sing along to one of the several renditions of Jingle Bells, Silent Night, or Silver Bells. Here are my favorite albums of all time!
1. Michael Bublé Christmas
The one Christmas song we hear on the radio every year is “All I Want for Christmas is You” from Michael Bublé. He is one of the top names when it comes to Christmas music, and this is not surprising. His eponymous Christmas album features an unflawed delivery of many Christmas classics.
From jingle bells to Santa Claus is coming to town and silent night, there’s enough traditional Christmas music on this album to set the desired mood.
One lovely thing about this Christmas album is that there are different songs for different moods. For instance, while songs like holly jolly Christmas and white Christmas will get you in a playful/cheery mood, silent night will leave you snug. In either case, you’ll feel the magic. There’s also blue Christmas – not the jolliest Christmas song – but well-written to reflect the Christmas blues.
Besides being a cheery song, white Christmas has a jazz feel to it. Of course, this is understandable since it is a cover of Bing Crosby’s song.
2. Mariah Carey Merry Christmas Deluxe Edition
When people talk about the merry Christmas album from Mariah Carey, everyone almost always brings up All I want for Christmas is you. But then, there’s more to this album – especially the deluxe edition.
Besides Mariah’s soothing soprano voice, you get to enjoy her cover of traditional Christmas songs like joy to the world, and Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child. Then there are originals like Jesus born on this day, miss you most, and of course, all I want for Christmas is you.
This album’s reputation precedes itself – being one of the best-selling holiday album of all time, this body of work promotes itself.
3. A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra
Coming from a musical legend of the mid-20th century, it is no surprise that this album is one of the best-selling albums of all time. In his typical fashion, Frank’s light baritone seeps into the listener. If you listen to Mistletoe and Holly in a dimly-lit room with your eyes closed, you’d probably journey into another realm. The same goes for the first Noel, Christmas waltz, and the Christmas song. Unlike these 3, the jingle bells song on this album is pretty jolly.
Overall, the album is perfect if you want to create a soulful Christmas mood.
4. Bing Crosby Christmas Classics
It’s not hard to see why this album from around 6 decades ago is still popular today. First, Crosby’s rendition of I wish you a merry Christmas is just so tranquil. You could have it on repeat in the background all day on Christmas and Christmas eve. The same valuation applies to other songs like winter wonderland and have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Like winter wonderland, the littlest angel is also tranquil, but the slow tempo gives it a more calming effect. Frosty the snowman is one of the livelier songs on this holiday album. But even at that, it retains the soothing feel peculiar to the whole album.
5. Christmas With Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
This posthumous Elvis Presley album was only released in 2017, but it embodies the talent of the legend. For someone who has one of the best-selling Christmas albums of all time, the quality is as expected.
It features hits like blue Christmas, white Christmas, silver bells, the first noel, Santa bring my baby back, and much more. You get to alternate between Elvis’s Christmas originals and traditional carols without skipping any song.
6. When Christmas Comes Around – Kelly Clarkson
Compared to the others we have seen so far, this Christmas album is pretty new. It’s been only about a year since its release yet the songs feel evergreen.
The album has songs like jingle bell rock, Santa baby, and glow. You can slow dance to when Christmas comes around or merry Christmas (to the one I used to know) with your special person. Alternatively, you could lay back and relax to these songs.
7. Home For Christmas – Dolly Parton
As you will find with most Christmas holiday music, Dolly Parton’s Home for Christmas album features her own version of some of the most popular Christmas carols. Just imagine listening to joy to the world or Santa Claus is coming to town in Dolly’s unique voice. The feeling is just different – the holiday cheer does not go amiss in her remake of the classics.
Besides the traditional Christmas holiday songs, the Home for Christmas album has songs like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer if you want to dance. Then there’s the eponymous I’ll be home for Christmas for the blues.
8. Evergreen – Pentatonix
The pop group, Pentatonix, knows more than a thing or two about making hits to spur people’s Christmas spirit. Their albums – that’s Christmas to me, the best of Pentatonix, and a Pentatonix Christmas are some of the most successful Christmas collection in recent years. So, you can be sure they delivered on this album too.
While this album was only just released in 2021, it already feels like it will surely be evergreen.
The whole of the album is melodious – from evergreen to the prayer, we wish you a merry Christmas, and it’s been a long, long time, the group did not hold back on their vocal power.
9. A Charlie Brown Christmas – Vince Guaraldi Trio
This Vince Guaraldi Trio’s holiday album is amongst the best Christmas day albums ever. For an album that’s been around for almost 6 decades, the quality hasn’t waned with time.
On it, you have O Tannenbaum – a song that has transcended centuries. There’s Linus and Lucy to give you some fast-paced tune. Then if you would prefer to set a serene mood throughout the Christmas season, songs like Christmas is coming, Christmas time is here, and my little drum would fit right in.
10. Jackson 5 Christmas Album
With quirky songs like I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus, you could have a little laugh while enjoying your peaceful Christmas.
You could also dance around if you want; songs like up on the housetop, Christmas won’t be the same this year, and Frosty the snowman will easily keep your feet moving. Even if you do not dance with your feet, you will most likely sway your in satisfaction head from tom time.
The Christmas song, little drummer boy, a Christmas pop album, and a few others have a slow tempo. They are more appropriate for when you want to create a calm ambiance for Christmas. But if you want to get energetic, those songs you can dance to should work the magic.
