OK...a few favorites from when I used to perform with my High School Glee Club:

 

White Christmas (my solo)

Carol of the Bells (A cappella)

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Not at all an inclusive list, but the first that come to mind when I think "favorite"?

 

Religious:

O Holy Night

Silent Night

O Come All Ye Faithful

 

Secular:

Little Drummer Boy

Christmas Time is Here (from A Charlie Brown Christmas)

You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch

 

That's actually a religious-themed song.

Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby

 

I don't much care for Christmas and Christmas songs, but this is one of my favorites, as well as "Frosty The Snowman" by Dr. John and Leon Redbone.

I was over at my folks for a bit last night, and they already had the Christmas music pumping out of their stereo. They both swear by Johnny Mathis' album Merry Christmas, but I'd rather chew on broken glass than listen to that. What are some of your favorite Christmas songs and/or favorite versions of them?

 

The Mathis Christmas album is a classic.

 

Mel Torme's "Christmas Song" is a gold standard.

I don't much care for Christmas and Christmas songs, but this is one of my favorites, as well as "Frosty The Snowman" by Dr. John and Leon Redbone.

 

Listened to Leon Redbone's "Christmas Island" today, Jim. The video for "Frosty is classic.

Listened to Leon Redbone's "Christmas Island" today, Jim. The video for "Frosty is classic.

 

Leon Redbone has one of my all-time favorite voices.

Oh Holy Night but it has to be sung by someone with a very strong voice or the whole OH NIGHT DIVINE isn't effective.

Feliz Navidad easily takes the cake.

I could honestly go on for days about this, but I'll keep it simple.

 

O Holy Night is spectacularly beautiful and, to my mind, nothing even comes close. Here are the three best versions I've ever heard. Warning: only one of them is in English.

 

It was originally a French tune called "Minuit Chretiens" and the lyrics are very different than the ones we attach to the song now. It's performed here by the world's first musical superstar, Enrico Caruso, in a recording from 1916.

 

 

This second one is the one I grew up listening to. My dad's family is Norwegian, but there weren't any world-famous Norwegian singers. Sweden was as close as we got. Jussi Bjorling is my favorite vocalist of all time and this "O Helga Natt" is just remarkable.

 

 

 

If Mario Lanza hadn't died of a pulmonary embolism when he was only 38, he might be known as the greatest tenor of all time. He's certainly the finest tenor these United States have ever produced. I think that his version of the song is magnificent. That final note... I honestly can't put it into words.

 

 

So much for keeping it short... sorry...

Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby

 

This is my absolute favorite version of this song. Bing Crosby died not too long after recording it.

I also love Ray Charles' song "Spirit of Christmas". It's the song in National lampoon's Christmas Vacation when Clark Griswold is stuck in the attic and is watching old family movies.

I don't much care for Christmas and Christmas songs, but this is one of my favorites, as well as "Frosty The Snowman" by Dr. John and Leon Redbone.

 

Redbone did a pretty solid version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Zooey Deschanel too.

- John Lennon. One of the few I can listen to on days that aren't Christmas. It's also one that has been covered to death despite it being impossible to improve.

Not an Amy Grant fan at all, but I admit her Christmas album is really good--especially "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."

 

I don't even know you anymore...