If you’re in the mood for some jazzy Christmas songs, listen to Al Jarreau’s Christmas. Jarreau sings some of the traditional songs in his mellow voice and others with a more flamboyant style. There’s plenty of variety on Christmas. My favorite song on this CD is Jarreau’s rendition of “The Christmas Song (Chrestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire).” Jarreau and TAKE 6 do an cappella version of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.” Some people might find the upbeat style of “Gloria In Excelsis” a little over the top, but I liked it. This is a change-of-pace Christmas album and may not be for everyone. But if you like mellow jazz, you’l enjoy most of the songs on Al Jarreau’s Christmas. Do you have a favorite Christmas album or song? GRADE: B+
TRACK LIST:
1: Winter Wonderland 4:19
2: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 3:22
3: White Christmas 5:49
4: INTERLUDE: By My Christmas Tree 0.29
5: Carol Of The Bells 4:22
6: O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) 4:17
7: The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) 4:55
8: I’ll Be Home For Christmas (featuring TAKE 6) 3:43
9: Gloria In Excelsis 4:34
10: Christmas Time Is Here 4:27
11: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 6:05
12: Some Children See Him 4:09
13: The Little Christmas Tree 2:59
14: Up On The Housetop 0.34
No thanks. I worked retail for a number of years and got my fill of Christmas songs. Especially these that have been done to death. At least he doesn’t do Little Drummer Boy. The only Christmas songs I can listen to are Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and 2000 Miles by The Pretenders.
Steve, good choices! I listen to a lot of instrumental Christmas music this time of year. The only Christmas song I can’t stand is “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.”
Sacred: “O Come O Come Emmanuel”—which is actually an advent carol and is sung each of the four Sundays in Advent, culminating with all eight verses on Christmas Eve.
Secular: Amongst the old classics, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Blue Christmas,” “Santa Baby,” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” Of more recent vintage, I really like Elton John’s “Step into Christmas” and the Carpenter’s “Merry Christmas Darling.” I know it’s universally derided, but I like Paul MacCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” If I never have to hear Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” again, it would not trouble me unduly.
Deb, since we only hear the Mariah song on our annual viewing of LOVE ACTUALLY, it doesn’t bother me at all.
Jeff, LOVE ACTUALLY might be my favorite Christmas movie.
Deb, when Mariah Carey’s Christmas CD was first released, we bought it and listened to it…and we couldn’t stand it. It just didn’t sound “Christmasy.” We gave it to our daughter who loved it! I think it might be a “generational” thing.
No, thanks. Phil Spector’s Christmas album, with the aforementioned (by Deb) version of “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love.
I do see three of my favorite songs:
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (I like Judy’s version in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS)
I’ll Be Home for Christmas (of course, I hate Bing Crosby, who did the original; I prefer the Carpenters version)
The Christmas Song (can’t go wrong with the Nat King Cole original)
I dislike intensely: McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime, Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, most remakes (especially Madonna’s) of Santa Baby – it’s the Eartha Kitt original or nothing. I still get a kick out of Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, in small doses.
Jeff, I loved The Carpenters version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” but since Karen Carpenter died, I find that song hard to listen to.
Ah, crazy Phil Spector!
I liked all his productions, collected a set of 4 CDs where one is filled with Xmas songs.
But I have to admit I’m not a Xmas fan – now even in Hungary and Germany all the stores are decorated, selling so much cr*p and playing Xmas music.
Not for me!
Luckily my wife feels the same …
Deb, I see we disagree on the McCartney. I like Blue Christmas too, the Elvis version but especially the Porky Pig (check youtube).
Jeff, Elvis nailed it on his version of “Blue Christmas.”
My favorite is Mannheim Steamrollers “Deck the Halls”
Maggie, we have a couple Mannheim Steamroller CDs. They’re right next to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra CDs.
I’m not a big fan of Christmas music, but when I was a kid in the 50s my parents had a Johnny Mathis Christmas album that I just loved. It’s probably still available.
Michael, my wife loves Johnny Mathis’s MERRY CHRISTMAS CD! I’m sure it’s the same one your parents had:
1. Winter Wonderland – Johnny Mathis
2. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Johnny Mathis
3. Sleigh Ride – Johnny Mathis
4. Blue Christmas – Johnny Mathis
5. I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Johnny Mathis with Percy Faith & His Orchestra
6. White Christmas – Johnny Mathis with Percy Faith & His Orchestra
7. O Holy Night – Johnny Mathis with Percy Faith & His Orchestra
8. What Child Is This? – Johnny Mathis with Percy Faith & His Orchestra
9. The First Noel – Johnny Mathis
10. Silver Bells – Johnny Mathis
11. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear – Johnny Mathis
12. Silent Night, Holy Night – Johnny Mathis with Percy Faith & His Orchestra
13. Christmas Eve – Johnny Mathis
14. My Kind of Christmas – Johnny Mathis
George – I’ll have to give Jarreau’s Christmas album a listen. He has been a favorite of mine since hearing him do the theme song for MOONLIGHTING in the ‘80s. As for favorites, it just wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t hear Gene Autry sing FROSTY THE SNOWMAN and RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER.
Elgin, some local radio stations here play 24/7 Christmas music. Gene Autry gets played frequently!