On Thursday, I checked the updated Billboard charts. I was most interested in the most popular 2011 holiday albums. The following albums were on the top of the holiday chart.
- Christmas – Michael Buble
- Under The Mistletoe – Justin Bieber
- Heavenly Christmas – Jackie Evancho
- My Christmas – Andrea Bocelli
- Glee: The Music: The Christmas Album
- Christmas Symphony – Mannheim Steamroller with Czech Philharmonic
- Noel – Josh Grobin
- The Gift – Susan Boyle
- Glory In The Highest – Chris Tomlin
- A Very She & Him Christmas – She & Him
When you look at the list you can see that it is a combination of new albums and albums that have become classics. I am sure that each one of the albums is very nice, but it certainly isn’t MY list of favorite holiday albums:
- Merry Christmas With Love – Clay Aiken (surprise!)
- All Is Well – Clay Aiken (I wish more people could hear the fabulous songs.)
- It’s A Wonderful Christmas – Michael W. Smith (I can imagine Clay dueting on Christmas Day.)
- Let It Snow – Chanticleer – New Yorker Magazine calls Chanticleer “the world’s reigning male chorus.” The 12 male voices range from countertenors to bass. It’s different, but really amazing.
- Christmas Carol – This 1986 album is more instrumental than vocal. Because Galway is a flautist, the arrangements are a bit different than you find in other albums.
- Heavenly Christmas – Jackie Evancho – This is Jackie’s first full-length Christmas album, and her 4th album overall. The album was released exclusively at Walmart and Walmart.com
What about you? Besides Clay’s fabulous Christmas, do you have a favorite album or recording? If so, why not let us know? We don’t need Billboard – we can put together our own Top List!
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Of course Clay's MCWL and AIW are my favorites. I also like Josh Groban's Noel and David Archuleta's Christmas from the Heart and Glad Christmas Tidings.
Merry Christmas with Love is my absolute favourite Christmas CD…and my second is the EP of All Is Well. For the life of me, I don't understand why a Christmas Album that sold over 1 million copies in 6 weeks, is not on that list….Amazing!!!!!
My next favourite Christmas Album of all time, is the Carpenters "Portrait of Christmas". Every song is wonderful, and I love Karen Carpenter's voice. I don't usually like female singers, but Karen's voice is one that you never got tired of hearing.
Guess I'm dating myself, but my list would include both of Clay's cds, Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole!!!! That is MY Christmas music!!!!
Of course Clay's Merry Christmas With Love will always be my favorite. Another favorite old album is done by Glen Campbell …I would love to hear Clay sing some of the songs from that album!! Another favorite is by Enya…And Winter Came. I gave a copy to Clay and Jerome to enjoy a few years ago. A very Merry Christmas goes out to all my dear Clay Friends and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year as well! Hugs…..Cookie http://www.clayfanfest.com
I have to admit it…Clay's Christmas projects are at the top of my list but I also love a very old album (yes, I said album as in LP lol) of the Carpenter's Christmas! I listen to it every year. I need to figure out how to get it over to cd…hmmmm…anyone? I also have a collection of Children's Christmas songs….everything from Charlie Brown to Alvin and the Chipmunks! LOL I love it all…I think that AIW is my hands down favorite though.
I don't like Christmas Music – in our house, we have Clay and Johnny Mathis. In the car, I really enjoy hearing anything by the Carpenter's – just like Judy, I never get tired of hearing Karen's voice.
Besides Clay of course — I'm dating myself, too… Perry Como would be top of list. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been a tradition in my house since I was a little girl. I have a boat load of Christmas albums, everything from Medieval to Mannheim Steamroller and A KVIL Christmas (a local adult radio station). Linda Ronstadt has a beautiful Christmas CD too.
Clay's Christmas CD's, of course, top my favorites list too! Thanks for the cute and interesting blog!
Thanks for this! I'm surprised MCWL isn't on there, perhaps it charted last week? He was in the top 5 movers and shakers on Amazon that week. I think Susan, Jackie, and Josh have beautiful voices but haven't heard their holiday songs; ditto Linda Ronstadt, I forget how lovely her voice is but I'm really a big fan; Andrea is marvelous; and thanks for the info on Galway and Chanticleer, I'll check them out; also love the Irish singers, both ladies and tenors.
But I don't have a particular list except for the following (not including just about every song from Clay's Christmas concerts that are not recorded), with no priority:
Merry Christmas With Love – Clay Aiken
Handel's Messiah
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas carols.
P.S. Ooops, how could I forget — I liked Andy Williams's Christmas. And I'm Johnny Mathis/Nat Cole fan too, but when it comes to Christmas songs, I prefer Clay's sound. He even makes me love ones I never liked before, e.g., The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting); even though it's like a Nat signature, I never cared for it, but Clay singing it in his play was pure heaven.
still getting Dec. 16th.