The Happiest Christmas - Petula Clark

 One of the Christmas albums I grew up listening to was Great Songs of Christmas Album 9 put out by Goodyear in 1969.  So, Mom would have bought this for their 2nd Christmas as a married couple.  Bill gifted me a copy of the album for Christmas this year. In addition to Petula Clark, the album has songs by Bing Crosby, Joan Sutherland, Richard Kiley and Lena Horne among others. It's a wonderful and fun album and the first track is this little-known Christmas gem performed by Petula Clark.  Enjoy!

How Far Is It To Bethlehem - The Tabernacle Choir

 I first heard this carol years ago when the women's choir at FBC Monroe sang it.  Mom brought home a copy of the sheet music to practice, and we would sit at the piano and play and sing this sweet carol. Here is a lovely arrangement sung by the Tabernacle Choir.  I hope you enjoy it!

Caroling, Caroling - Nat King Cole

 Nat King Cole had so many wonderful Christmas songs that he recorded.  This 1954 gem is no different.  It is in my top 5 Nat King Cole Christmas songs!   I hope you enjoy it!

Silent Night - Megan Mullally

 I have posted this version of Silent Night before, but it's been several years, and I wanted to revisit this Christmas season. I first heard this on an NBC Celebrity Christmas CD that was put out in 2000.  It's got some good tracks on it but for me, this one stands above all the rest.  Megan did a lot of theater before landing the role of Karen Walker on Will & Grace, so most people don't know what an amazing singer she is.  I hope you enjoy her beautiful rendition of Silent Night. 

We Need a Little Christmas - Angela Lansbury

 Angela Lansbury introduced this song to the world in the 1966 smash hit musical, Mame, in which she originated the title role.  The score is full of wonderful songs including this little gem that has become a holiday classic.  Here she is with the Tabernacle Choir 55 years after first performing it on Broadway!

I'll Be Home for Christmas - The Carpenters

 I'll Be Home for Christmas is another holiday favorite of mine. It is definitely a song full of sentiment and emotion of someone who dreams of being home, wherever that may be. Here is the beautiful and talented Karen Carpenter performing.  Enjoy!

Three Wishes - Anne Murray

 It's not a secret that I am an Anne Murray fan.  I grew up listening to her with Mom and Christmas time was not different than any other time.  We had her Christmas album on cassette and played it over and over.  This is one of the tracks from that album.  I have always loved it and hope you do too!

Do You Hear What I Hear? - Harry Simeone Chorale

 I have always found this song to be a haunting Christmas song, especially the version here by the Harry Simeone Chorale.  The song was first released in 1962 originally by the Harry Simeone Chorale and has since been recorded by artists from Bing Crosby to Whitney Houston. The song was written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne, who were married at the time, as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis.  I find it to be a beautiful song with profound lyrics, still relevant today. 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 It's just not Christmas without the silky tones of Johnny Mathis.  I have always loved his voice and Christmas time is no different.  Please enjoy his version of this holiday classic!

The Nativity Carol - John Rutter

 I was listening to a CD of John Rutter's Christmas compositions and this was the last track on the album.  Such a beautiful Christmas carol.  He always writes such glorious music.  Enjoy!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Perry Como

 This Christmas song was written in 1951 by Meredith Wilson, composer of The Music Man. It has been recorded multiple times and was incorporated into Wilson's 1964 musical version of Miracle on 34th Street titled Here's Love. Here is Perry Como singing with the Fontane Sisters.  A very fun version!

The Gift of Love - Placido Domingo

 I bought the Christmas in Vienna cd when I was a freshman in college back in 1993.  It's a holiday concert with Placido Domingo, Diana Ross and Jose Carreras. It's filled with beautiful Christmas music but this particular song was one I played over and over.  It is performed by Placido Domingo and it was written by his son, Placido Domingo Jr. It's simply beautiful and I hope that you enjoy it.

Sleigh Ride - Steve & Eydie

 I love Steve and Eydie's version of Sleigh Ride.  It is on one of the Goodyear Christmas albums that Mom had that I know have, so I grew up listening to this one.  I also have the same version on their album, That Holiday Feeling!  It's just a fun, spirited version of the song and I hope that you enjoy it!

Somewhere in My Memory - John Williams

 John Williams score to the film Home Alone is simply magnificent.  It is as important to that film as any other component.  Williams wrote the Christmas song Somewhere in My Memory for the film. I think it is simply beautiful and I hope you enjoy it.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - the song and the story

 I was listening to an episode of "Music and the Spoken Word" the other day and this was one of the pieces they played.  I didn't really know the story behind the song, which I've heard my entire life. It's a beautiful song, but now it means so much more.  The words are extremely powerful for us today just as it was for Longfellow over 150 years ago.  Be blessed.

In the Bleak Midwinter

 This is a carol that I never paid much attention to for years simply because of its title.  It did not sound very holiday like to me.  But I happened to be listening to one of my Christmas records and really paid attention to the song and fell in love with it.  And it was years later that I realized the music was written by Gustav Holst, a favorite composer of mine. Julie Andrews does a very beautiful version and I hope you enjoy.

Still Still Still

 Still Still Still is one of my favorite Christmas Carols.  I absolutely love this arrangement by Norman Luboff and I have it on many recordings.  There are many other wonderful arrangements, but this one is my favorite.  The Mississippi College Singers perform it here and do a wonderful job with it. Such a beautiful piece of music. 

All Those Christmas Cliches - Nancy LaMott

 This has been one of my favorite Christmas songs since I first heard this album in 1994.  It's very sentimental which, if you know me, is right up my alley.  Having just come from Dad's for Thanksgiving and spending time with the family, this song really resonates with me right now.  I suppose the fact that I'm turning 50 in a few days is a big factor. This year, more than others in the last decade or so, I really do want all of these Christmas cliches.  Enjoy!

The First Noel - arranged by David Lanz, performed by Christina Avila

 I love David Lanz's music, both his original compositions and his arrangements.  Tanya, my best friend from high school, first introduced me to him decades ago!  I can't remember if we listened to his Christmas albums together, but I fell in love with them as well.  My friend Danielle got me the sheet music to his first Christmas album for my birthday one year.  I love playing it.  This is David's arrangement of The First Noel performed by Christina Avila.  Enjoy!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland

 For me, there is no better way to start my holiday season than with this gem from Judy Garland's 1944 classic film "Meet Me in St. Louis". It is a beautiful film and one of my all-time favorites.  The words of this song are Christmas to me. The love we share with our family and friends.  One of the most important aspects of the holiday season.  I share this with you with love and all of my heart.  Let's all have ourselves a merry little Christmas.  We all deserve it!