Craig D. Barton is a creative consultant, editor, and writer, having written for and consulted on multiple Disney Editions books and various other projects. Besides being a self-described "DisNerd," Craig is an advocate for all arts, loves travel, movies, making his own eclectic music playlists, and, most of all, spending time with his family. Craig currently resides in Avondale, AZ with his lovely wife, quirky daughter, newly rescued dog, and just plain weird cat.
Craig D. Barton • December 4, 2020
A Nerd At Christmas - Christmas Music to Love, Part 1: The Albums
by Craig D. Barton
It’s Christmas time again – that time of the year when we celebrate a season of love, cheer, giving, and joy. A time when neighborhoods are aglow with lights and décor, displayed for neighbors and passersby to admire. A time of the year meant for gathering near to those we love and sending love to those who can’t be with us. A time for giving of ourselves, through gifts to others as well as acts of charity and service (as should be remembered year-round!).
It’s also a time for music. Christmas music, and lots of it.
Confession time: I am a Christmas music addict. I absolutely LOVE listening to Christmas music. Sometimes for a needed boost, one can find me listening to tunes in June or July. When September 1st hits, I unashamedly put on my playlist of holiday tunes, listening in my office or on a drive to work. For a long time, I couldn’t understand why those who celebrated Christmas still despised listening to Christmas music too early, or would only listen to it for a limited amount of time.
Then I thought about some of the most popular selections. Don’t get me wrong. I know some people love the offerings, but I realize for myself, I always get so excited to hear the local radio station is switching to continuous Christmas music, only to switch it off five minutes later to my own playlist of holiday tunes. One can only hear the same rendition of “My Favorite Things” (Which isn’t even a Christmas song!) so many times before their eardrums explode.
There’s also the problem of music that just isn’t good. It seems like every recording artist is releasing a Christmas album these days. But many, to be quite frank, don’t really seem to put much thought into it. They’re just not that... great. Or, as one fellow Christmas music lover put in a review of one particular artist (not naming names here) whose album he was really looking forward to: “Such utter garbage that it actually sucked all of the Christmas spirit from my soul and tossed it out into the woods, only to be stepped in again by some poor human being or unlucky deer.” Hyperbole? Maybe a bit. But as someone who seeks out good Christmas music, I do understand.
With that explanation out of the way, I’d like to spend the rest of this article listing off a few Christmas albums that I personally find wonderful from beginning to end. These are albums I can put on and listen to each track and enjoy as really good Christmas music, much of which won’t get played on mainstream radio if at all. A few may be familiar, but maybe I can help bring something new to your list of holiday cheer - links for listening via Spotify are included.
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives, or, Have Yourself a Classic Childhood Christmas
Many of us have that ONE album. The one that we remember from our own childhoods that was a constant during the holiday season. For me, this was it. As much as a staple that “A Holly Jolly Christmas” is on seasonal radio these days, this album is one that just says “Christmas kick-off” to me. From the title song to classic standards such as “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town,” and “White Christmas,” Ives delivers in his soft and distinct voice, almost like a grandparent singing to the grandkids on the front porch. “Christmas Can’t Be Far Away” has become a bit of a Christmas anthem for me, paving way for a yuletide season:
“Both young and old are planning sweet surprises.
They'll soon be tied with ribbons bright and gay.
Good will is in the air and you feel it everywhere -
Christmas can't be far away”
The album closes with, in my opinion, the definitive version of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” the carol of man’s hope, despair, and return to hope again. That, to me, is indicative of what the day is all about. It’s no wonder to me that to this day, the album is still a must when decorating for Christmas. Speaking of which…
Christmas – The Oak Ridge Boys, or, Have Yourself an 80’s Country Christmas
For my lovely wife (who introduced me to this one), this is her childhood album, and our other decorating must. For fans of country music in the 80s, this one definitely delivers on the feels. The Oak Ridge Boys are country legends, and this album fits right into their catalog of classic hits. In fact, “Thank God for Kids” was a hit single from this album, reaching #3 on the Billboard charts in 1982. This album is a great mix of standards and originals. The opening song, “Jesus is Born Today” starts with a bit of a late disco feel – perhaps a little cheesy, but pure bliss and fun to sing along to. “Santa’s Song” contains a few fun Easter eggs, with references to other classic Oak Ridge hits (Elvira and Bobbie Sue). The harmonies in “O Holy Night” are reflective of what made this group so great, and will bring back a lot of memories for country children of the 80’s.
Andrew Peterson Presents Behold the Lamb of God – Andrew Peterson and Friends, or, Have Yourself a Storyteller’s Christmas
Some Christmas albums are good albums in their entirety. This one demands to be listened to in its entirety, in sequential order, as it tells a story from start to finish. Singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson has crafted a story of Christmas from a Biblical perspective, explaining the need of a savior, from the exile in Egypt to the birth of Jesus. Each original song is well written and sung (by Peterson and other artists), but woven together paint a bigger story. Told with both theological knowledge and a very human perspective, Behold is a great break from Christmas norms. Note: Behold the Lamb of God is performed live yearly by Peterson and his friends, and this year’s performance from the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville can be viewed by purchasing a ticket for its livestream on Dec 6th by clicking here – perhaps a great way to responsibly celebrate the season in 2020 and still feel a wonderful Christmas spirit.
Socks – JD McPherson, or, Have Yourself a Retro Rock n’ Roll Christmas
This one is just plain fun. A mix of rockabilly, swing, R&B, and 50’s and 60’s rock, this is a (mostly) up-tempo blast to put on and dance around the house (or Christmas tree, if so desired) to. An album comprised of entirely original songs like “Every Single Christmas I Just Fall in Love” and “Holly, Carol, Candy, and Joy” are upbeat and infectious, while tunes like “Hey Skinny Santa” and the title song, “Socks” inject fun humor into the holidays. Seriously, why are socks and Christmas gifts a thing? (Side note – I love novelty socks, so I actually appreciate socks these days – not so much when I was 10!) This album is a great find for someone who wants to feel the Christmas spirit with original tunes that avoid the monotony of standards that can sometimes inundate radio. Maybe in discovering new tunes, these ones may become a standard in your own playlist!
And speaking of all-new and original….
The Pianoman at Christmas – Jamie Cullum, or, Have Yourself a Glass of Wine to go With Your Christmas
The same friend that warned me off of the unmentioned Christmas album at the beginning of this piece recommended this one to me, and I’m glad he did! Upon my first listen to this album, my reaction was to listen again. The jazzy big-band inspired sound works well with the holiday season, and the all original songs just make for an easy listen. The title song starts with the simplest of questions: “It’s Christmas – why can’t we all just get along?” Good question, Jamie. Maybe if we all had this album playing in the background, it would help put us all at ease and make the season a bit more enjoyable. Again, brand new songs to put a spin on the holiday season make this a true discovery. The sound and feel make these all new pieces sound like they should be standards. “Turn on the Lights” stands out as something that I could see Sir Paul McCartney singing, and in my humble opinion, is a much better earworm than “Wonderful Christmastime.” Swing along, snap along, or learn the lyrics and sing along – this album is a great new album for 2020!
These are just a few of my favorite holiday albums, but ones that stand out as a break from most mainstream holiday music. Like I’ve said, maybe they’ll earn a place in your own Christmas music collection if they so meet your tastes as well. I’d love to hear from others – do you have any “must listen” Christmas albums that you can listen to with a smile and without skipping a track? I’d love to hear from you!
"I almost feel like it would be harder to go through the next handful of years without Bandit internalizing his dad struggles while still dropping the weight of the world off his shoulders to still play crazy games with his girls."
:It’s the beauty of Disney – it holds different memories… different meanings… for everyone."
"I can almost envision Alice and I walking hand in hand among the croquet match, listening to the Queen of Hearts demand her bounty of rolling heads, and trying to make heads and tails of who is winning the confounded game. Am I leading her to safety or is she leading me?"