Favorite group for Christmas songs is The Lower Lights. Just discovered Folk Angel(Holiday) Radio on Pandora. Lovely listening!!!
If you are in the mood for some Christmas surf music, nothing beats Los Straitjackets!
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I second the Kacey Musgrave album with attention to âHave a really Willy Nice Christmasâ. Also John McCutcheonâs song âChristmas in the Trenchesâ. A true story about WW1. He also does another âBreaking Up Christmasâ about an Applalachian tradition. Also Scott Millerâs Christmas Gift album in 2010. âChristmas in Prisonâ and âOld Toy Trainsâ.
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Merle Haggard: Hagâs Christmas. RIP, Merle.
KEXP in Seattle has some shows that do great Holiday specials, especially Swinginâ Doors on Thursday at 6 and In the Roadhouse on Wednesdays. You can stream them!
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I love The Roches, too! Just saw fiddler extraordinaire Mark OâConnor in concert and bought his âAn Appalachian Christmasââalso lovely and fresh. Other favorites include: Leon Redboneâs âChristmas Island,â Pink Martiniâs âJoy to the World,â and The Klezmaticsâ âWoody Guthrieâs Happy Joyous Hanuka.â Ahh, Iâm going to have to listen to Leon sing âThat Old Christmas Moonâ right now.
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Bruce Cockburn has a wonderful Christmas album. Itâs way old ('93), but always puts me totally in the holiday mood when it moves into rotation on the playlist. Here, take a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdJR0Jh8BbA
Also, to make you feel transported back to a Victorian Christmas, John Rutterâs âCarols from Clareâ. All frosty, and clear harmonies, and hey, where are the little mince tarts for me to nibble with my egg nog?
And if you havenât got this album, go out right NOW and download it or buy a hard copy. Bells of Dublin is a classic!
Oh my word, how have I never heard of this! These guys are genius.
A great album - it even includes a Hanukkah song â Iâm looking at you, Kay : Itâs a Holiday Soul Party - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings (Sharon is another great that was taken from us this year.)
And a personal favorite, Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses.
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EIf you enjoy Irish music, âDrive the Cold Winter Awayâ by Horslips is highly recommended. If an Appalachian Christmas appeals, check out âWinter Tidingsâ by Al Petteway and Amy White. For a spicy Cajun sound, try âChristmas Gumboâ by multiple artists. Finally, for fingerstyle guitar, try âWinter Guitarâ by Laurence Juber.
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In our house it is John Denver and the Muppets traditionally. This year I will try to sneak in the Pentatonix.
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I love Tracey Thornâs Tinsel and Light â her original song Joy hits all the right notes of happiness and sadness rolled into one.
Also: Chris Isaak Christmas!
Yes, Chris Isaak! I love his Christmas album. If you ever get a chance to see him perform, go!
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Thanks a lot for putting this out here. I love it. Annie
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My fave CDs that I play over and over: Vince Guaraldi âA Charlie Brown Christmasâ, James Taylor âAt Christmasâ, Sting âIf on a Winterâs Nightâ , and Barbra Streisand âChristmas Memoriesâ. What a great topic, taking us all over music playland. Thanks!
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I canât believe I forgot this one. This is a contemporary Irish band out of Yonkers and they are wonderful. If theyâre ever playing anywhere near you, I highly recommend seeing them. They are actually from my neighborhood and went to the same elementary school that I did although a few years later (the drummers dad was my basketball coach). Thereâs never a dry eye in the house for this one.
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Holy moley, never heard this before! Bob Dorough is the voice of my childhood - heâs the voice of Schoolhouse Rock! What a fun version of this one.
I really love Winter Song by Sara Bareilles:
And I love the kitsch factor of Happy Holidays. Donât forget to hang up your sock!!
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A Scottish Christmas by Bonnie Rideout can be counted on to get me through the season. My favorite track is âRorate.â
I have an entire collection. New album every year. Iâm a big fan of your Nashville Neighbor Amy Grant. Current fave: Almost There (with Michael Smith) - Itâs on his 2014 album, which also includes Carrie Underwood on a piece called All is Well. Just saw the Amy Grant/Smitty Christmas Concert - so great - special guest Jordan Smith from the Voice - he did All is Well, and my goodness - you could have heard a pin drop - amazing. The thing I love best about Amy (besides her voice) is that she is till writing NEW Christmas music (check out âTo Be Togetherâ on her new Christmas album) - which become instant favorites - Breath of Heaven, Emmanuel, HeirloomsâŚLove her.
Another favorite: local group Cantus (man singers. Love, love, love!)
Floating in the ânot often heardâ bucket is Stingâs version of Angel Gabriel, and the Bare Naked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan for God Rest Ye Mary Gentleman. Last but not least: Christmas Dinner, Peter Paul & Mary.
I could go on and on.
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