I collect Christmas music. I have been doing so since I was a teenager, and it’s become something of an obsession. Before Apple Music and Spotify took everything online, I had collected over 500 physical Christmas albums. Now, of course, we can access all music all the time, so that little boast falls away.
Choosing the best of the albums and songs is not an easy task – and obviously highly subjective. In fact, it’s impossible. But I guess I am as qualified as anyone to do so. Here then are my “best of” lists of Christmas music (this is a work in progress – latest update 10 Dec 2020):
- Best Albums by artists
- ** Best version of every Christmas song **
- Best modern Carols
- Best Compilation Albums
- Best Album by genre
- Best medleys (songs)
- Best Full Christmas Concerts (YouTube videos)
- Best lists of Best Christmas songs
- I have created a YouTube Playlist (here) that includes almost all the songs below, and is a great way to listen through these songs.
To get into these lists the songs and albums need something distinctive, they are musically excellent (even if I don’t particularly like the style), they must not be cheesy (so, no Boney M then), and they must capture the Christmas spirit (festive or reflective). I also favoured variety (so that my list of top albums didn’t dominate the individual songs list too much). The final criteria is that I included not just popular musicians, but Christian artists and worship albums as well – it is Christ-mas, after all.
These lists are going to be updated regularly, and change as I get suggestions and come across new songs and albums (and get slapped down for my initial choices). I’d love to hear your suggestions for these lists, and any songs or albums you think are better than the ones in my lists below.
Please remember that it’s actually impossible to create a “best of” list of Christmas songs. It’s actually better to be clear on what musical styles you prefer, and then get the best Christmas album in those styles. It’s also a good idea to select the best version of each Christmas song you like. That’s what I’ve done below, knowing full well there is not one chance that any list of “best Christmas songs” will ever be satisfactory. There are just too many musical genres competing for attention.
So, add your voice below.
Best Christmas Albums Overall (excluding compilations)Chosen because album brings the specific artist’s style to Christmas songs, is distinctive, has at least one original song on it – and also takes into account everything I said above. I have also favoured genre diversity in this list, including many albums of church and worship music. |
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| Artist | Album | Year | Buy Album |
| 1. Pentatonix | a. A Pentatonix Christmas
b. That’s Christmas to Me c. PTXmas |
2016
2014 2014 |
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| 2. Michael Bublé | Christmas (Special Deluxe Edition) | 2011 | |
| 3. Francesca Battistelli | Christmas | 2012 | |
| 4. Lincoln Brewster | Joy to the World | 1999 | |
| 5. Mariah Carey | Merry Christmas | 1994 | |
| 6. Michael W. Smith | a. The Spirit of Christmas
b. Christmas c. It’s a Wonderful Christmas |
2014
1989 2007 |
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| 7. Steven Curtis Chapman | a. Music Of Christmas
b. Joy |
1995
2012 |
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| 8. CeeLo Green | CeeLo’s Magic Moment | 2012 | |
| 9. The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir | A Brooklyn Tabernacle Christmas | 2010 | |
| 10a. Andy Williams | Christmas with Andy Williams (Best of the many Christmas albums Andy recorded) This is my choice of the old classic crooners |
2002 / 2014 | |
| 10b. Frank Sinatra | A Jolly Christmas (now mainly available as Best of albums) I’m cheating a bit on this list, but this is a Christmas classic in the crooner style |
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| 11. Casting Crowns | Peace on Earth | 2008 | |
| 12. Paul Baloche | Christmas Worship – Volumes 1 and 2 | 2013 and 2015 | 1: 2: |
| 13. Andrea Bocelli | My Christmas | 2009 | |
| 14. Meredith Andrews | Receive Our King | 2017 | |
| 15. Sidewalk Prophets | Merry Christmas To You | 2013 | |
| 16. Celine Dion | These are Special Times | 1992 | |
| 17. Joe McElderry | Classic Christmas | 2011 | |
| 18. Celtic Women | a. A Christmas Celebration b. Christmas |
2006
2015 |
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| 19. TobyMac | Christmas In Diverse City | 2011 | |
| 20. Keith and Kristyn Getty | Joy – An Irish Christmas | 2012 | |
| 21. a, b, c and d. Classical style bests: John Rutter ex Cathedra Kings College Choir Libera |
The John Rutter Christmas Album (feat The Cambridge Singers)
Joy In the Morning Essential Carols – The Very Best of King’s College, Cambridge Libera: The Christmas Album |
2002
2009 2011 2011 |
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| 22. James Brown | James Brown’s Funky Christmas | 1986 | |
| 23. Matthew West | The Heart of Christmas
Unto Us |
2011
2016 |
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| 24. Rod Stewart | Merry Christmas, Baby | 2012 | |
| 25. Ed Jordan, Shaluza Max, Bongani Masuku et al | African Christmas | 2005 | The single is available: |
| 26. Dustin Kensrue | This Good Night Is Still Everywhere | 2008 | |
| 27. Michael Bennett & The Dixieland Ramblers | Gumbo Christmas | 2003 | |
| 28. Christina Aguilera | My Kind of Christmas | 2000 | |
| 29. Chris Botti | December | 2002 | |
| 30. She & Him | A Very She & Him Christmas | 2011 | |
| 31. The Carpenters | Carpenters Christmas Collection | 1984 | |
| 32. Jessica Simpson | ReJoyce – The Christmas Album | 2004 | |
| 33. Bing Crosby | Many different albums recorded
Best Selection: Christmas Classics (Digitally Remastered) |
2006 | |
| 34. Brett Elredge | Glow | 2016 | |
| 35. Mindy Smith | My Holiday | 2014 | |
| 36. Phil Driscoll | Heaven and Nature Swing | 1993 | |
| 37. Josh Groban | Noël | 2007 | |
| 38. Mark Feehily | Christmas | 2017 | |
| 39. Jackson 5 | Ultimate Christmas Collection | 2009 (this edition) | |
| 40. Smalltown Poets | Christmas Time Again | 2014 | |
Best Version of Each Christmas SongSome songs were too difficult to choose between or the genres so different that I’ve included multiple “best of” options below. Help me choose between them by adding to the comments below. |
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| Song Name | Artist/Album | YouTube video |
| African Christmas | Ed Jordan African Christmas |
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| All is well | Michael W. Smith (feat. Carrie Underwood) The Spirit of Christmas |
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| All I Want For Christmas Is You | Mariah Carey Merry Christmas |
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| Angels, From the Realms Of Glory / Emmanuel | Paul Baloche Christmas Worship Vol 2 |
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| Angels We Have Heard On High (mental version) | David Crowder Band Oh For Joy |
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| Angels We Have Heard On High (traditional version) | Josh Grobin (feat. Brian McKnight) Noël |
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| The Angel Song | Jaci Velasquez Christmas |
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| A Strange Way to Save the World | 4HIM Christmas the Season of Love |
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| Ave Maria | December Chris Botti |
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| Away In A Manger | It’s Christmas Hillsong (2001) |
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| Baby It’s Cold Outside | Jessica Simpson feat. Nick Lachey ReJoyce – The Christmas Album |
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| Baby It’s Cold Outside | Idina Menzel and Michael Bublé Christmas Wishes |
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| Blue Christmas | Michael Bublé Christmas |
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| Born That We May Have Life | Chris Tomlin Glory in the Highest |
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| Born Unto Us Today | Philips, Craig and Dean Hope for all the world |
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| Breath of Heaven | Amy Grant The Christmas Collection |
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| Breath of Heaven | Kutless This Is Christmas EP 2011 |
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| Carol Of The Bells | Pentatonix PTXmas |
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| Christmas Is | Francesca Battistelli Christmas |
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| Christmas Is All in the Heart | Steven Curtis Chapman Music Of Christmas |
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| Christmas is Coming | Jason Gray Christmas Stories: Repeat the Sounding Joy |
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| The Christmas Song / Chestnuts Roasting (slow version) | Adam Kersh NorthPoint Christmas: Let There Be Light |
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| The Christmas Song / Chestnuts Roasting (slow version) | Evan Wickham Christmas Music Vol. 1 |
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| The Christmas Song / Chestnuts Roasting (slow version) | Michael Bublé Christmas (Special Deluxe Edition) |
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| The Christmas Song / Chestnuts Roasting (slow version) | Les Brown (sung by Doris Day) 1946 |
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| The Christmas Song / Chestnuts Roasting (slow version) | Ne-Yo & Tasha Cobbs Motown Christmas (2014) |
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| The Christmas Song / Chestnuts Roasting (quick version) | Chicago Chicago Christmas – What’s It Gonna Be, Santa? |
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| The Christmas Song / Chestnuts Roasting (quick version) | Francesca Battistelli Christmas (2012) |
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| The Christmas Song / Chestnuts Roasting (quick version) | The Overtones Good Ol’ Fashioned Christmas (2015) |
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| Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) | Michael Buble Christmas |
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| Christmas Offering | Paul Baloche Christmas Worship |
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| Christmas This Year | Toby Mac feat. Leigh Nash Christmas In Diverse City |
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| Christmas Time is Here | Terry Butler and Smitty Price Yuletide Blend – Songs for Christmas (2003) |
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| Come Thou Long Expected Jesus | Meredith Andrews | |
| Deck The Halls | ||
| Ding Dong Merrily On High | Rend Collective Campfire Christmas, Vol. 1 |
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| Do They Know It’s Christmas? | ||
| Do You Hear What I Hear? | Steven Curtis Chapman Joy |
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| Do You Hear What I Hear? | Lincoln Brewster Joy to the World |
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| Do You Hear What I Hear? | Glee cast Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, Vol. 2 (2011) |
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| Do You Hear? | James David Carter North Point Christmas (2010) |
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| Driving Home For Christmas | Chris Rea The Christmas EP |
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| Fairytale Of New York | The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl | |
| Feliz Navidad | ||
| The First Noel | ||
| Frosty The Snow Man | ||
| Glow | Brett Eldredge Glow |
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| Go Tell It On The Mountain (medley: Ain’t No Mountain High Enough) | Motown Christmas (2014 album) Gregory Porter & Anita Wilson |
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| God Rest You Merry Gentlemen | Pentatonix | |
| Good Christian Men, Rejoice | ||
| Good King Wenceslas | ||
| GreenSleeves | ||
| Hallelujah | A Pentatonix Christmas Pentatonix |
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| The Happiest Christmas | Michael W. Smith | |
| Happy Christmas (War is Over) | John Legend | |
| Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | Lincoln Brewster | |
| Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | Kelly Clarkson Wrapped in Red |
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| Heaven Everywhere | Francesca Battistelli Christmas |
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| He Shall Reign Forevermore | Matt Maher | |
| Holly Jolly Christmas | ||
| I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day | Casey Darnell NorthPoint Christmas |
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| I’ll Be Home For Christmas (slow version) | Michael Bublé Christmas |
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| I’ll Be Home For Christmas (upbeat version) | Chris August WOW Christmas 2013 |
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| I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus | The Jackson 5 Ultimate Christmas Collection |
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| It Came Upon A Midnight Clear | Kutless This Is Christmas EP |
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| It Really Is a Wonderful Life | Mindy Smith My Holiday (2007) |
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| It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas | ||
| It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year | ||
| I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas | ||
| I wish it could be Christmas every day | Wizzard | |
| Jingle Bell Rock | ||
| Jingle Bells | Andrea Bocelli (feat The Muppets) My Christmas |
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| Joy To The World | Mariah Carey Merry Christmas |
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| Joy To The World | Francesca Battistelli Christmas |
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| Joy To The World | Steven Curtis Chapman Joy |
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| Joy To The World | Phil Driscoll Let Heaven and Nature Swing |
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| Joy To The World | Keith and Kristyn Getty Joy, An Irish Christmas |
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| Let It Snow | ||
| Little Drummer Boy | for KING & COUNTRY | |
| Little Drummer Boy | Audio Adrenaline WOW Christmas 2002 |
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| Little Drummer Boy | Walk Off the Earth iTunes Sessions single (2013) |
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| Merry Christmas, Everyone | Slade | |
| The Magic of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone) | Celine Dion These Are Special Times |
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| Mary’s Boy Child | ||
| Mr. Grinch | ||
| Noel | Christ Tomlin (feat. Lauren Daigle) Adore |
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| O Christmas Tree | ||
| O Come All Ye Faithful | Samuel Ljungblahd & Ole Børud Someday at Christmas |
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| O Come All Ye Faithful | Tenth Avenue North | |
| O Come, O Come | MercyMe | |
| O Come, O Come Emmanuel | for KING & COUNTRY | |
| O Holy Night | Christina Aguilera My Kind of Christmas |
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| O Little Town of Bethlehem (traditional) The trumpet part won me over… |
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa & BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Downton Abbey Christmas |
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| O Little Town of Bethlehem (The Glory of Christmas) | Matt Redman | |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem (jazz) | Sister Rosetta Tharpe Let It Swing: A Jazz Christmas with Verve |
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| O Tannenbaum | Nat King Cole The Christmas Song |
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| River | Joni Mitchell Blue (1971) |
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| Rocking Around The Christmas Tree | Rockin’ Rudolph Brian Setzer Orhcestra |
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| Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer | Barry Manilow In the Swing of Christmas |
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| Santa Baby | The Puppini Sisters Christmas Wish |
No video available iTunes Link |
| Santa Claus Is Coming To Town | Justin Bieber Under the Mistletoe (2011) |
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| Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Slow version) |
The Carpenters | |
| Santa Will Find You | Mindy Smith My Holiday |
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| Shout for Joy | Lincoln Brewster Joy to the World |
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| Silent Night | Idina Menzil Christmas Wishes |
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| Silent Night by Chewbacca (warning, only for Star Wars fans) | Just for fun | |
| Silver Bells | Barry Manilow | |
| Sleigh Ride | ||
| Sweet Little Jesus Boy | Peace on Earth Casting Crowns |
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| The Twelve Days Of Christmas | ||
| This is Love | Christmas Worship Paul Baloche |
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| Tiny Little Christmas | Holiday Best The Blenders |
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| We Three Kings of Orient Are | Joy Steven Curtis Chapman |
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| What a Glorious Night | Christmas Sidewalk Prophets |
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| What Child Is This? | Christmas Francesca Battistelli |
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| When A Child Is Born | Joe McElderry Classic Christmas (2011) |
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| While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks | Liberia: The Christmas Album Liberia |
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| White Christmas | A Pentatonix Christmas (2016) Pentatonix |
No video iTunes Link |
| Winter Wonderland | Symphonic Rock Christmas The Festival Rock Orchestra |
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Best Modern Christmas Carols |
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| Song | Album / Artist | Year | Buy Album |
| A Christmas Alleluia | Adore Chris Tomlin (feat. Lauren Daigle) |
2015 | |
| All is Well | Michael W. Smith feat Carrie Underwood | 1998 2010 |
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| Behold the Savior | Meredith Andrews Christmas |
2013 | |
| Bethlehem | Kem & Janice Gaines Motown Christmas |
2014 | |
| Born That We May Have Life | Glory in the Highest Chris Tomlin |
2011 | |
| Born Unto Us Today | Philips, Craig and Dean Hope for all the world |
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| Christ is Come | Big Daddy Weave | 2010 | |
| Christmas Time Again | Smalltown Poets | 2015 | |
| Do You Hear? | James David Carter Northpoint Christmas |
2010 | |
| Emmanuel (God With Us Forever) | Bryan & Katie Torwalt | 2017 | |
| Everything Changed | Eddie Kirkland North Point Christmas |
2010 | |
| Glory (Let There Be Peace) | Matt Maher | 2016 | |
| Into the Silent Night | for KING & COUNTRY | 2013 | |
| Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heavens | Joy – An Irish Christmas, Keith and Kristyn Getty | 2011 | |
| The Name of Emmanuel | Matt Redman These Christmas Lights |
2016 | |
| Noel | Adore Chris Tomlin (feat. Lauren Daigle) |
2015 | |
| O Come, All You Unfaithful | Sovereign Grace | 2020 | |
| Ring the Bells | Big Daddy weave feat. Meredith Andrews Ring the Bells |
2013 | |
| Shout for Joy | Originally Paul Baloche, done best by Lincoln Brewster | ||
| Oh What a Glorious Night | Sidewalk Prophets | 2013 | |
| More coming soon | |||
Best Compilation Christmas Albums |
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| Album Name | Description | Year | Buy Album |
| A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector | British focused | ||
| The Playlist – Christmas Hits 2015 | Pop new and old | 2015 | |
| Christmas Is… Jesus | Various | 2013 | |
| Ring The Bells | Various | 2013 | |
| A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary | |||
Best Christmas Albums Per Genre |
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| Genre | Artist | Album | Buy Album |
| a Capella | Pentatonix | PTXMas
That’s Christmas to Me |
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| Acoustic | |||
| Boy Band | *NSYNC | Home for Christmas | |
| Big Band | Big Band Holidays Wynton Marsalis & Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra |
2015 | |
| Bluegrass | David Crowder Band | Oh For Joy | |
| Blues | Various | Alligator Records Christmas Collection | |
| Blues | B. B. King | Best Of B.B. King: The Christmas Collection (also called A Christmas Celebration of Hope) | |
| Blues | Dustin Kensrue | This Good Night Is Still Everywhere | |
| Cabaret | Kylie Minogue | Kylie Christmas | |
| Calypso | |||
| Celtic | Celtic Women | a. A Christmas Celebration b. Christmas |
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| Choral | Libera | Libera: The Christmas Album | |
| Classical | Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Sir Andrew Davis & Sir David Willcocks | Essential Carols – The Very Best of King’s College, Cambridge | |
| Country | |||
| Dance | |||
| Disco | |||
| Dixie | Michael Bennett & The Dixieland Ramblers | Gumbo Christmas | |
| Folk | |||
| Funk | James Brown | James Brown’s Funky Christmas | |
| Gospel | Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir | A Brooklyn Tabernacle Christmas | |
| Hip Hop | TobyMac | Christmas in Diverse City | |
| Jazz | |||
| Irish Folk | Keith and Kristyn Getty | Joy: An Irish Christmas | |
| Lounge | Lounge Music Café | Christmas 2013 Lounge Music Cafe | |
| Lullabies | Fred Mollin | Disney’s Christmas Lullabies | |
| Metal | Twisted Sister have an entire live Christmas album.
Best compilation album is “We Wish You a Metal Xmas” (2009) |
A Twisted Christmas
We Wish You a Metal Christmas |
Twisted Sister album:
Metal Xmas: |
| Motown | Various | A Motown Christmas | |
| Nu Metal | A Very Korn Kristmas | Korn | Get a sense of this album here |
| Opera | |||
| Orchestral | |||
| Pop | |||
| Punk | |||
| Rap | |||
| Reggae | |||
| R&B | Christina Aguilera | ||
| Rock | Lincoln Brewster | ||
| Ska | MU330 | Winter Wonderland | |
| Soul | Andrae Crouch | The Gift of Christmas | |
| Swing | Phil Driscoll | Heaven and Nature Swing | |
| Swing Punk | The Puppini Sisters | Christmas with the Puppini Sisters | |
| Tijuana Brass | Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass | Christmas Album | |
Best Medleys |
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| Song Name | Artist/Album | YouTube video |
| Christmas Joy | Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir A Brooklyn Tabernacle Christmas |
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| The Angels Medley: The First Noel/Angels We Have Heard On High/Hark the Herald Angel Sing | Avalon Joy: A Christmas Collection |
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Best Christmas Concerts (Full YouTube videos) |
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| Artist | Year | Video / Buy Album | |
| For King and Country | 2016 | ||
| Mariah Carey | 2014 | ||
| More Coming soon | |||
Best of Best Christmas Songs Lists
OK, so now we’re getting a bit “meta” here. Obviously lots of people do “best of” lists, and these are often put out to public vote. Here are my top lists of best Christmas songs:
- Rolling Stone’s Top 25 Christmas Albums of all time (2012)
- Timeout London, 2015
- Billboard USA
- About Entertainment’s Top 100 Christmas Songs (2015)
- Huffington Post, 2013
- Official all-time downloads and purchases charts, 2013
So, what’s your verdict? What would you add or change to the lists above?
Wow, what a labour of love and seriously comprehensive.
Thanks for sharing. Perhaps my taste leans towards the classical but no Groban or Bocelli in the top 30?
Thanks for sharing – interesting site and i will explore some more
regards
Andre
Andre, I had not heard Bocelli’s album. Listened to it today, and agree completely. I also realised that Pentatonix was not on my list. Good grief. That’s been sorted. Updated the Best albums list today.