Though I haven’t been able to do any decorating yet (m-I-l is in my house…my sanity, therefore, is not) I am really trying hard to get into the Christmas spirit. We’re trying to hold off on watching our favorite holiday movies until oldest daughter comes home from college for the holidays. But in the meantime, I’m satisfying my craving by playing Christmas music as often as possible.
I have a tradition of buying myself one new Christmas CD every holiday season. Some years I cheat and get more, but I never go without buying at least one.
You can imagine the size of my collection…
It all started on the first Christmas Bruce and I spent together. He bought a compilation of Bring Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. That CD is the one that gets played at noon on Thanksgiving Day, after Santa Claus makes his appearance at the Macy’s Parade. In our house, that moment is the “official” start of the holiday season. Before that moment, absolutely NO holiday stuff allowed (Bruce’s rule, not mine.) But I make up for it from then on out by giving my CD’s a year’s workout in a 3-4 week period.
This year, I picked up the new James Taylor CD (love it love it, especially the “Baby It’s Cold Outside” duet with Natalie Cole) and the new Harry Connick, Jr. one. Connick’s first Christmas collection from several years ago is one of my all time favorites. His second one just didn’t do it for me—too many dischordant, jazzy melodies made it just too hard to recognize the famous holiday tunes. This new one, I am glad to say, is another winner. Some really good standards, including It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, plus a couple of fun new (or new to me) numbers, like “That You, Santa Claus?” I highly recommend it.
One of my other favorites is my find from two year ago, Bette Midler’s Cool Yule. I LOVE that one, especially the first song, “Merry Christmas.” She has such a wonderful voice and the songs have a big-band, swing sound that I really love.
I think I’m going to have to break down and pick up another one, too. I have been hearing this wonderful song by a group called Straight, No Chaser. Very interesting back story on these guys (a 10 man a’capella group who sang together in college and got “discovered” when a video of one of their performances from many years ago went viral on You Tube.) Here’s the song that made them famous:
Fabulous, isn’t it?
Back to my collection—I have all the old standards—Frank, Bing, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole. I also have, on lp, some other old ones including Streisand, Placido Domingo, Roger Whittaker, Mario Lanza. So many. Probably the only “biggie” I don’t have is Elvis. Sorry, just never got the whole Elvis thing.
Anyway, I’m always up for hearing about any more great collections. What are your favorites—any recommendations?
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
3 Seductions and a Wedding
COLD SIGHT
Kiss Me If You Can
Wild For Him
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I’m a Scrooge. I still don’t want to listen to Christmas music. I figure a week at most is all I need.
I like Mariah Carey’s stuff, especially “All I Want For Christmas”. Bono’s version of “It’s Christmas” (I don’t know the name of it), Harry Connick’s “Baby It’s Cold Outside”, Elvis’ “Blue Christmas” (really, no one else does it better, so why bother?) , Streisand’s “Jingle Bells”, Garth Brooks’ whole Christmas album, especially “Silent Night” and the one about the soldiers.
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Our Christmas CD purchase for this year was The Chipmunks Christmas. Our daughter is five so we’re now growing our kid’s collection. It’s all the favorite contempoary songs. Very Cute!
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Good morning all, today is SSAT day, so I get a chance to log on earlier than I normally would…
Carly and Les, love the new covers…Jules, you know how much I drool over yours…couldn’t find it at the stores near me though…now I have an excuse to go to the actual bookstore…
I have been gone too, too long…Carly and Les when do your books come out? I didn’t see them in my local haunts for books…
Les, I love the topic today…I have a lot of Christmas music….Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas, Luther Vandross’ This Christmas, Bing’s White Christmas (the movie), Boys 2 Men, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, CeCe Winans, 98 degrees, Whitney Houston’s The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack, a lot of Gospel and instrumental Christmas Cds, and many more…I absolutely love them all, so it is difficult to pick out the ones that I really love…
I hope that everyone is having a wonderful day…I will try to swing by again later…
We need more Christmas emoticons…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
:freezin
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Love the clip Leslie. I will need to pass that one on. Next time you are on YouTube look for “the 12 Gays of Christmas”. The words are the same, it’s the dance number that goes with it that is a killer. My step-son showed me it. He knows one of the guys in the group.
I love Christmas music and have been known to listen to it in the summer just to cool off. To say I have an extensive collection would be putting it mildly.
My all time fave is my Reader’s Digest Treasury- 4 CD’s that I have had since CD’s first came out. I actually have it in the original vinyl set too. Twisted Sister’s Twisted Christmas is also a favorite. Actually, it’s one of my mother’s too. Now there’s a version of the 12 days for you.
I still have to get Tony Bennett’s Xmas CD, maybe today since border’s is having a big sale- check your coupons. Il Divo is also great. Too much of the Chipmunks and I would go crazy though. And I love my Garth Brooks and Vince Gill ones.
As you can see I have very eclectic taste in Christmas (actually all) music. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else has to say, as I am always looking for something I don’t have to add to the collection. (although hip-hop, rap and crap are all out). I do have some standards, unless it involves John “Dr. Dirty” Valby, in which case I have no standards at all.
:freezeman
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Um, guys, we need some Christmas/Holiday icons.
Please??? :yikes:
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That group is fabulous Leslie!! I love them!!
I’m a sucker for Christmas music too. In fact, when September comes around I get a hankering to put a CD in just to sort of get a little pre-fix preview. I can’t help myself. Some of my favorite Christmas CD’s are Jewel–Joy A Holiday Collection, James Taylor’s CD, Vanessa Williams, Jim Brickman…Also, a few years ago, my husband bought me a Christmas present at Helzberg Jewelrs and they were giving out a holiday CD. We still have it. It’s so good. It’s a mix of different artists.
We had snow last night and it’s going to be really cold today. :freezin
Have a good one everybody!
Cher
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I love Christmas music and actually listen to it in the summer too. Everyone has already listed many of my favorites(except Elvis, never have been a fan), but I love Amy Grant’s Christmas cds(I have all of them). My new purchases this year were Amy Grant’s new cd and Faith Hill’s 1st Christmas cd. I’ll have to look into getting a few more with all the suggestions.
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My husband sent this link to me. Just had to pass it along to give everyone a chuckle. :giggler
Enjoy! http://bewareofthedoghouse.com/videoPage.aspx
Cher
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First of all, thanks for all of the recipes/suggestions yesterday. I am in the process of still figuring out what to make for Christmas day (most things require an oven). I am seeing buying stuff in my future.
I bought the new Amy Grant cd and I should have bought the new Harry Connick cd. Hubby just got a new ipod shuffle (from his work) and put all of our Christmas songs on it, so I can listen to Christmas music while I walk. I have been listening to Christmas music on the radio since before Thanksgiving…they started a little early this year.
I love Amy, Harry, pretty much anything pop-py and Christmas-y.
No Scrooge here!
Leslie…hope things get better soon for ya. Totally understand!
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Cher- thanks for the link. I sent it to hubby!!
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I only have one Christmas cd – Jimmy Buffet rocks. Christmas music with a island twist.
Every year on Thanksgiving one of the radio stations in Tampa starts playing Christmas music only. I LOVE IT!!!!!! I listen to the station at work, in the car , at home. I now have the kids hooked. That’s all they want to listen to so they can sing!!! :wub:
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Hey, hey. As you may recall, as part of the government stimulus package, the “no Christmas music before Thanksgiving” rule was relaxed this year. I don’t think celebrating holidays in order is unreasonable and the holiday season doesn’t start in August when Walmart puts out the Christmas decorations. Besides, if you could listen to Christmas music anytime you wanted you wouldn’t appreciate it nearly as much. Ya’ll remember how much you looked forward to watching The Wizard of Oz every year when you were a kid? Since it’s been out on video, when was the last time you watched it? Uh huh. I love Christmas music! I’ve been listening to it non-stop since Thanksgiving. Although I will say that if I have to hear Paul McCartney’s “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time” one more time I’ll put a sprig of holly through my own heart.
BTW, you’re behind on the holiday icons. And what exactly is that little animated monkey doing?
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I love, love, LOVE this time of year. I am one of those who actually listen to Christmas music throughout the year. It is one of those things that gives me a pick me up when I need it. Our all time favorite Christmas music isThe Ray Conniff Singers. Is along the same lines as Sinatra and Crosby, very old school sounding. My parents always listened to it when we were kids and now it is what we listen to when we decorate or are just in the mood. I highly recommend them.
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Hi, Bruce! :wave: I’ve got the Christmas CD for you! http://www.amazon.com/Toolbox-Christmas-Woody-Phillips/dp/B000005C3F The music is truly amazing. Trans-Siberian Orchestra rocks my Christmas world, followed by John Tesh, Jim Brickman, and for those long winter nights curled up in front of the fire, NOTHING beats Kenny G.
I vote for Christmas emoticons, too! :devilbanana
On a more personal note, DD came through surgery and is resting. I promised to make her many of the goodies from yesterday.
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I love Christmas music and I drive my son crazy by starting to listen to it in October.
I have over 100 CD that are just Christmas music.
I found a good one this year at Hallmark its jazzy. I’ll try to send the name of it
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Hi all~
My two favorite Christmas CD’s are Barbara Streisand’s and Trisha Yearwood’s (both are older CD’s) Truly wonderful voices singing classics and new songs. Loved some of the suggestions today. Gives me something new to purchase in the CD department.
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I am not a big Christmas music fan. I do like Luther Vandross christmas collection and Peanuts Holiday collection.
Thanks Cher for the link. I needed a chuckle.
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I love Christmas music from the day after Thanksgiving and all through Christmas Day, after that I don’t want to hear it for awhile!!! :giggler
Favorite Christmas music, many!!! Last year I discovered the Trans-Siberian Orchestra that just blows me away. Besides a CD there is also a DVD with their music that they do in concert. It would be fabulous to see them in person. They are a combination of Classic & Rock that is outstanding. Older favorites: The Nutcracker (a must in my opinion), The New Christy Ministrels “Merry Christmas” & “Christmas with the Christies”, The Kingston Trio, “The Last Month of the Year”, Ray Conniff, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” & “Christmas with Conniff”. Newer music: “Christmas with the Stars” a special at Target one year done by a variety of “Stars”, Il Divo, “The Christmas Collection”, I love this, Michael Buble “Let it Snow” , and “Silent Night Holy Night” by The Montovani Orchestra. I’ve tried to replace all my LP’s with CD’s but I am not there!! May never be!! Enya’s new “Winter” CD is one I would love to ad to the collection but don’t think the budget will allow it this year. The radio station I listen to starts playing a little Christmas music before Thanksgiving & increases the amount the closer it gets to Christmas. On Christmas Eve they start playing Christmas music non-stop all through Christmas Day with only a few commercials, it is lovely & full of a variety of Christmas music.
I asked for Christmas icons a week or so ago. Pretty Please.
Bruce, you make me laugh!!
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Leslie, I had a friend send me the link to that video just before Thanksgiving and I absolutely love it. I spent the rest of that day at work listening to all of their videos I could find. (I say listening since I couldn’t really watch them since I was at work.)
Anyway, my mom really loves the Amy Grant Christmas CD she got years ago. It gets a steady rotation among the huge collection of Christmas music my parents possess.
By the way, I actually agree with Bruce about celebrating holidays in order. If my dad had his way, we’d start putting Christmas stuff out before Thanksgiving, but my mom and I won’t let him. It just gets to be a bit too much to have Christmas before Thanksgiving and I can’t fully appreciate the holiday.
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OMG, those guys are amazing! And Bruce you made me lol. :) I love Christmas music and it starts on Thanksgiving as well. SG, however, isn’t as fond of it as I am. We work it out though.
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Thanks guys. I make Leslie laugh too. Not always when I want her too but hey, a laughs a laugh. Silver, the Toolbox Christmas is too funny. WAY better than the dogs barking Jingle Bells.
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Bruce, my DH is…Let’s just say that he’s mechanically challenged. We put fire rescue and the ambulance on standby whenever he picks up a power tool. (seriously) I got that CD for him as a joke and it turned out to be one of our favorite Christmas albums.
It’s 27 degrees outside and *sneeting*. I think I’ll go bake some of those goodies from yesterday. :freezin
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I had to come back after listening to that YouTube video. Those guys are amazing! I saw them on the new briefly. They have a CD out that would be fun to listen to.
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Two of our local stations started their all Christmas music 2 weeks before T-day. I hate that. The stores do it too and it ruins the holiday.
I do put the decorations outside up the day after Halloween and then the T-day/fall ones in front- mainly because of weather. i don’t want to climb ladders in the snow and cold or try to drive stakes into the ground. However, the do not get turned on until dark on T-day. And hopefully they are off by V-day.
I did get the new Tony Bennett, Harry Connick and I got Jim Brickman’s today too. It was a good day.
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My newest addition this year was a copy the Tran Siberian Orchestra.
They rock at Christmas music.
I also love anything Manhiem Steamroller puts out.
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A few songs I have on my cd player are “I’ll be home for Christmas,” sung by Kenny Chesney (he does a really great job) Merry Christmas Darling by Karen Carpenter (her songs seem to never get old) and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sung by Luther Vandross who is always awesome.
Hope your holidays are wonderful, Merry Christmas! Kristi :flower4you: :wave:
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Just want to add a couple of different X-mas cd’s
Moody Blues and Jethro Tull They’re both very good and upbeat. Not the usual songs that you hear over and over.
Although, Justin Hayward’s(Moody Blues) What Child is This is very nice!!
Beach Boys CD is OK too.