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.

1. Christmas – Michael Buble
2. Under The Mistletoe – Justin Bieber
3. Heavenly Christmas – Jackie Evancho
4. My Christmas – Andrea Bocelli
5. Glee: The Music: The Christmas Album
6. Christmas Symphony – Mannheim Steamroller with Czech Philharmonic
7. Noel – Josh Grobin
8. The Gift – Susan Boyle
9. Glory In The Highest – Chris Tomlin
10. 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:

1. Merry Christmas With Love – Clay Aiken (surprise!)
2. All Is Well – Clay Aiken (I wish more people could hear the fabulous songs.)
3. It’s A Wonderful Christmas – Michael W. Smith (I can imagine Clay dueting on Christmas Day.)
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Heavenly Christmas – Jackie Evancho – This is Jackie’s first full-length Christmas album, and her 4^th 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!