Every Christmas Album In My Collection

Links lead to Amazon pages of the albums. If you want me to upload anything, just let me know. :)

A
Air Supply - The Christmas Album
Alan Jackson - Let It Be Christmas
Aly & AJ - Acoustic Hearts of Winter
Amy Grant - A Christmas Album
Amy Grant - Home for Christmas
Amy Grant - A Christmas To Remember
Amy Grant - The Christmas Collection (just the four new songs)
Amy Grant & The London Voices - Hallmark Presents The Spirit of Christmas
Andrews Sisters - Christmas
Andrea Bocelli - My Christmas
Andy Williams - The Andy Williams Christmas Album
Andy Williams - Merry Christmas
Anthony Burger - A Christmas Gift
Avalon - Joy
Ayeisha Woods - Christmas Like This

B
Barbra Streisand - A Christmas Album
BarlowGirl - Home For Christmas
Beach Boys - Christmas With The Beach Boys
Bette Midler - Cool Yule
Bing Crosby - Christmas Album
Bing Crosby - Christmas Classics
Bing Crosby - Merry Christmas/White Christmas
Bing Crosby - The Voice of Christmas
Bing Crosby - White Christmas (Radio Show)
Boney M. - Christmas With Boney M.
Brad Paisley - Brad Paisley Christmas
Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Brian Setzer Orchestra - Boogie Woogie Christmas (missing two tracks and I absolutely cannot find them)
Brian Setzer Orchestra - Dig That Crazy Christmas!
Brooke White - iTunes Live Christmas Session
Burl Ives - Have A Holly Jolly Christmas

C
Carnie & Wendy Wilson - Hey Santa
Carola - Christmas In Bethlehem
Carpenters - Christmas Collection: An Old-Fashioned Christmas/Christmas Portrait
Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride Christmas EP
Celtic Thunder - Christmas
Charlotte Church - Dream A Dream (with 3 bonus tracks)
The Chipmunks - Christmas With The Chipmunks (with 9 bonus tracks...? idk)
Chris Rice - The Living Room Sessions
Crystal Lewis - Holiday!
Crystal Lewis - Home for the Holidays

D
Dave Barnes - Very Merry Christmas
David Archuleta - Christmas from the Heart
Dean Martin - Christmas With Dino
Diana Krall - Christmas Songs
Disney Presents a Family Christmas
Doc Severinsen - Merry Christmas from Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Orchestra
Dolly Parton - Home For Christmas
Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - Once Upon A Christmas
Donny Osmond - Christmas At Home
Doris Day - The Doris Day Christmas Album
Doris Day - Personal Christmas Collection

E
Eddy Arnold - Christmas With Eddy Arnold
Ella Fitzgerald - Christmas
Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Wishes You A Swingin' Christmas
Elliott Yamin - Sounds of the Season
Erin Bode - A Cold December Night
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - Christmas With Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - Every Light That Shines At Christmas
Enya - Sounds of the Season
Enya - And Winter Came
Evie - Christmas Memories

F
Frank Sinatra - Christmas Collection
Frank Sinatra - A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra
Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians - Now Is The Caroling Season

G
Garth Brooks - Beyond The Season
Garth Brooks - The Magic of Christmas
Gene Autry - Christmas Classics
Gene Autry - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
George Strait - Classic Christmas
George Winston - December
Glee - The Christmas Album
Glenn Miller - In The Christmas Mood

H
Hanson - Snowed In
Harry Connick, Jr. - When My Heart Finds Christmas
Harry Connick, Jr. - Harry For The Holidays
Harry Connick, Jr. - What A Night! A Christmas Album
Harry Simeone Chorale - It's Christmas Once Again
Hayley Westenra - Winter Magic
Henry Mancini - A Merry Mancini Christmas
Hollyridge Strings - Christmas Favorites

J
Jaci Velasquez - Christmas
Jack Jones - The Jack Jones Christmas Album
Jackie Gleason - Merry Christmas
Jackie Gleason - 'Tis The Season
Jamiee Paul - Christmas Time Is Here
Jane Monheit - The Season
Jessica Simpson - ReJoyce: The Christmas Album
Jewel - Joy: A Holiday Collection
Jim Nabors - Jim Nabors Christmas
Jo Dee Messina - A Joyful Noise
Jo Stafford - Happy Holidays/I Love The Winter Weather
John Denver & The Muppets - A Christmas Together
John Legend - Sounds of the Season
John Rutter & The Cambridge Singers - The John Rutter Christmas Album
Johnny Mathis - Merry Christmas
Johnny Mathis - For Christmas
Josh Groban - Noel
Julianne Hough - Sounds of the Season
Julie Andrews - Christmas With Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews - Christmas With Julie & Andre/A Christmas Treasure

K
Kate Smith - Christmas With Kate Smith
Kate Smith - Kate Smith's Christmas Album
Katharine McPhee - Christmas Is A Time To Say I Love You
Kristin Chenoweth - A Lovely Way To Spend Christmas

L
Lady Antebellum - A Merry Little Christmas
LeAnn Rimes - What A Wonderful World
Lee Ann Womack - The Season For Romance
Leigh Nash - Wishing For This
Lennon Sisters - Christmas With The Lennon Sisters
Linda Eder - Christmas Stays The Same
Living Strings - The Spirit of Christmas
Los Straitjackets - 'Tis The Season For...
Louis Armstrong - Christmas With Louis Armstrong & Friends (I think? idk, I downloaded this from someone)

M
Mandisa - It's Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas Extraordinare
Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas In The Aire
Mannheim Steamroller - Christmas Live
Mannheim Steamroller - A Fresh Aire Christmas
Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas
Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas II You
Marie Osmond - Marie Osmond's Magic Of Christmas
Martina McBride - White Christmas (Also the 4 bonus tracks from the 2007 version)
Matt Belsante - White Christmas
Michael Buble - Let It Snow EP
Michael W. Smith - Christmas
Michael W. Smith - Christmastime
Michael W. Smith - It's A Wonderful Christmas
Mitch Miller - Christmas Sing-Along (LP & CD)
Mitch Miller - Holiday Sing-Along
Morman Tabernacle Choir - Christmas With

N
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
Natalie Grant - Believe

O
The Osmonds - Osmond Family Christmas

P
Patti Page & Children - Christmas With Patti Page
Patti Page - Christmas With Patti Page
Patty Loveless - Bluegrass & White Snow
Peggy Lee - Christmas Carousel
Percy Faith - Christmas Is...
Percy Faith - Music of Christmas
Perry Como - A Perry Como Christmas
Perry Como - Greatest Christmas Songs
Perry Como - Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music
Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift For You
Point of Grace - A Christmas Story
Point of Grace - Winter Wonderland
Point of Grace - Tennessee Christmas (just the song Tennessee Christmas - other tracks are on the previous two albums)
Point of Grace - Home for the Holidays
Puppini Sisters - Christmas With The Puppini Sisters

R
Ray Conniff - Christmas With Conniff
Ray Conniff - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Ray Conniff - Here We Come A Caroling
Relient K - Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer
Rhonda Vincent - Beautiful Star: The Christmas Collection
Roger Whittaker - The Christmas Song

S
Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong
Sandi Patty - Yuletide Joy
Sandi Patty - O Holy Night
Sandi Patty - The Gift Goes On
Sharon, Lois & Bram - Candles, Snow & Mistletoe
SHeDAISY - Brand New Year
Sixpence None The Richer - The Dawn of Grace
Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme - That Holiday Feeling!
Straight No Chaser - Holiday Spirits
Straight No Chaser - Christmas Cheers
Sufjan Stevens - Hark! Songs for Christmas 1-3 (basically the same thing - I might be missing a track or two)
Sugarland - Gold and Green

T
Taylor Swift - Sounds of the Season
Tony Bennett - Snowfall: The Christmas Album
Town Pipers - Christmas Greetings
Travis Cottrell - Ring The Bells

V
The Ventures - Christmas Album
Vince Gill - Breath Of Heaven
Vince Gill - Let There Be Peace On Earth
Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas
Voices of Walter Schumann - Voices of Christmas

W
Wilson Phillips - Christmas In Harmony
Wynonna - A Classic Christmas

#
98° - This Christmas

Various Artists
Various Artists - Elf OST
Various Artists - Home Alone OST
Various Artists - The Polar Express OST
Various Artists - Christmas with the Rat Pack
Various Artists - Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty Songs of All Time
Various Artists - The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs
Various Artists - A Classic Christmas
Various Artists - Reader's Digest: Christmas Through The Years
Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Christmas
Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Christmas, Vol. 2
Various Artists - Pottery Barn Best of Christmas Trilogy (Classic Christmas, Cool Christmas, Hip Holidays)
Various Artists - Unexpected Gifts: 12 New Sounds For Christmas
Various Artists - WoW Christmas
Various Artists - Merry Mixmas: Christmas Classics Remixed
Various Artists - Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails
Various Artists - Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails, Vol. 2
Various Artists - Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails, Vol. 3

Pretty In Pink

I am so very absolutely in love with pink flowers right now. From peonies to roses to hydrangeas, I'm in love.

I have two very empty vases right now, and I'm dying to put some lovely pink flowers in them, I just haven't found the right ones yet (one of the vases is HUGE and I need very, very long stemmed of whatever I get!). These photos are making me envious.

Candles!

The other day I got an email from Bath & Body Works saying they had candles on sale 2 for $20. Now, the candles normally run $19.50 a piece, so this was an awesome deal. And I was super excited, because I had just seen some Slatkin & Co. candles on QVC and was desperate to get my hands on some. So I went to B&BW, and picked up the Creamy Nutmeg one, which I had never smelled before, but they spoke highly of it on QVC. So I bought that and a Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin. THESE CANDLES ARE SO AMAZING, I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU. You can just open the lid on them and smell them from across the room. But when you burn them, they are sooooo delicious and amazing. And when you burn them together? Brilliance. But my favorite has become the Creamy Nutmeg. It is divine. Just a very simple scent, but it's so wonderful. Smells like you've been baking all day, it's just so warm. Honestly, it smells like autumn to me (as does the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin!). It's just absolutely amazing, and I highly recommend it. Or any Slatkin & Co. candles, honestly. Since it's October, BB&W mostly had their autumny/wintery scents out, so I don't know what their spring/summer scents are like, but if they're half as amazing as these, I'll definitely be buying some more.

Slatkin & Co. at Bath & Body Works; Slatkin & Co. on QVC.

Four Seasons, Four Playlists: Autumn

While it's not cold today here in Atlanta, it looks like it should be, so as I sit here drinking my first cup of hot chocolate of the 2009 "fall" season (in quotes, as Autumn does not officially start for another week), I find myself getting even more into the mood of the season. I'm anxious for the leaves to change, the air to get cold and crisp, and the taste of some clam chowder.

A few weeks ago, I had the idea to create a playlist for the Fall season. This has since led to creating playlists for all four seasons, but as Fall was the first one I did, and the season that's upon us first, I'm posting it first. I hope you enjoy the music, and I hopethis helps you get into the mood for what's sure to be a gorgeous Autumn.

The playlist is under 80 mins (it's 1hr, 17mins and 31secs to be exact), so you can easily burn it onto a CD or whatever you want to do with it.





















Tracklisting:
01. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A, K. 331 - "Alla Turca": III. Alla Turca (Allegretto) - András Schiff
02. Autumn Leaves - Bing Crosby
03. Lump Sum - Bon Iver
04. I'll Fly Away - Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
05. When The Stars Go Blue - Ryan Adams
06. I Still Miss Someone - Johnny Cash
07. Fall Day - The Icicles
08. You Are What You Love - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
09. Happy Halloween - Jim Dooley
10. A Rather Blustery Day - Winnie the Pooh
11. Hello - Sugarland
12. I Saw the Light - Hank Williams
13. The Best Day - Taylor Swift
14. Howl - Florence + The Machine
15. Woods - George Winston
16. Autumn in New York - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
17. Monster Mash - Bobbie 'Boris' Picket & The Crypt-Kickers
18. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - Fleet Foxes
19. Coat of Many Colors - Dolly Parton
20. Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me) - The Andrews Sisters
21. How Great Thou Art - Martina McBride
22. Thanksgiving Theme - Vince Guaraldi Trio

Inspiration:
01. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A, K. 331 - "Alla Turca": III. Alla Turca (Allegretto) - András Schiff
This was put on here because it's from one of my favorite movies, Arsenic and Old Lace, which just so happens to take place on Halloween night. The character of Teddy plays this on the piano, and for some reason now it just always reminds me of Halloween/Fall.

02. Autumn Leaves - Bing Crosby
The falling leaves
Drift by the window
The autumn leaves
Of red and gold

03. Lump Sum - Bon Iver
This isn't a song that specifically mentions fall, or really has anything to do with it all, but I think the feel of this song is what gets me. Really, the entire album is perfect for autumn/winter. This song just makes me want to curl up with a book and a cup of hot chocolate on a dreary fall day. Perfect.

04. I'll Fly Away - Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
One thing that I LOVE doing during the fall is driving up to the Smokey's and seeing the beauty of the mountains. It's breathtaking. And this is a great, backwoods version of one of my favorite hymns. I just find it incredibly fitting.

05. When The Stars Go Blue - Ryan Adams
Where do you go when you're lonely, where do you go when you're blue?
Where do you go when you're lonely, I'll follow you
When the stars go blue.

06. I Still Miss Someone - Johnny Cash
At my door, the leaves are falling
A cold, wild wind has come
Sweethearts walk by together
And I still miss someone.

07. Fall Day - The Icicles
There's something about a cool fall day
Reminds me of football games
Cold bleachers and popcorn
Blankets to keep me warm

08. You Are What You Love - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins
I just think the alt-country feel of this song is very autumn-y. Plus Jenny's voice is so amazing. I couldn't leave her off.

09. Happy Halloween - Jim Dooley
Title says it all, don't you think? This is from one of the most whimsical television shows to ever exist (Pushing Daisies), and as I prefer the more whimsical side of Halloween, I thought it was perfect.

10. A Rather Blustery Day - Winnie the Pooh
Oh the wind is lashing lusterly, and trees are thrashing thrusterly
And the leaves are rustling gusterly
So it's rather safe to say that it seems that it may turn out to be
It feels that it will undoubtedly, looks like a rather blustery day.

11. Hello - Sugarland
I was born in the heart of a hurricane season, in the house where my mama was raised
That old September wind feels just like a long lost friend
And I wanna run through those cottonwood trees
Fall asleep in a big bed of fresh fallen leaves

12. I Saw the Light - Hank Williams
Another one of those songs that makes me think of mountains and church. Hank is always appropriate.

13. The Best Day - Taylor Swift
I'm five years old, it's getting could out, got my big coat on
I hear your laugh, and look up smiling at you, I run and run
Past the pumpkin patch, and the tractor rides
Look now -- the sky is gold

14. Howl - Florence + The Machine
Another one that doesn't deal with autumn specifically, but it does have a werewolf type thing, and that's good enough for me.

15. Woods - George Winston
George, George, George. He plays the piano so well, and I think he's exceptional at writing and playing music to make you feel a certain season/time is upon you. It's marvelous.

16. Autumn In New York - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Yes, lovers that bless the dark
On the benches in central park
Greet autumn in New York
Its good to live it again

17. Monster Mash - Bobbie 'Boris' Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers
Only the greatest Halloween novelty song of all time. I couldn't make a playlist featuring autumn music and leave this off. It's the unpardonable sin.

18. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - Fleet Foxes
Graceful in the morning light
To banner fair
To follow you softly
In the cold mountain air

19. Coat of Many Colors - Dolly Parton
There were rags of many colors
Every piece was small
And I didn't have a coat
And it was way down in the fall

20. Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me) - The Andrews Sisters
Apples are one of my favorite things about Autumn, so I had to include a song that featured them!

21. How Great Thou Art - Martina McBride
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
Autumn for me is the most beautiful time of year, and in awesome wonder I do say "My God, how great Thou art."

22. Thanksgiving Theme - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Anything relating to Peanuts/Charlie Brown holiday specials is absolutely amazing, of course. And though I thought The Great Pumpkin Waltz might have been more recognizable, I have several Halloween-themed songs already. And it's not even my favorite "holiday" of the autumn season. That goes to Thanksgiving, which I thought was a bit underrepresented here. I thought this was a great, happy way to end the playlist.

Download
(. rar; 107mb)

I'm bored, sooo...

I'm just gonna rank the songs on a bunch of albums I've been listening to lately.

The Killers - Day & Age (because it's what I'm listening to right now)

1. Tidal Wave
2. This Is Your Life
3. A Dustland Fairytale
4. I Can't Stay
5. Spaceman
6. Losing Touch
7. A Crippling Blow
8. Joy Ride
   
9. Human
10. The World We Live In
    
11. Forget About What I Said
12. Neon Tiger
13. Goodnight, Travel Well

Carrie Underwood - Carnival Ride

1. Flat On The Floor
2. The More Boys I Meet
3. Twisted
4. I Know You Won't
5. Get Out Of This Town
6. I Told You So
7. Crazy Dreams
8. Wheel Of The World
9. Just A Dream
10. All American Girl
11. So Small
12. Last Name
13. You Won't Find This

Martina McBride - Shine

1. Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong
2. Lies
3. Don't Cost A Dime
4. Walk Away
5. Ride
6. Wide Rebel Rose
7. I Just Call You Mine
8. You're Not Leaving Me
9. Sunny Side Up
10. I'm Trying
11. What Do I Have To Do

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

1. Go Your Own Way
2. Dreams
3. Second Hand News
4. You Make Loving Fun
5. The Chain
6. Never Going Back Again
7. Gold Dust Woman
8. I Don't Want To Know
9. Songbird
10. Oh Daddy
11. Don't Stop

(I feel really bad that 3/4 of Christine's songs are at the bottom, but whatever. I still love those songs, just not as much. I prefer her songs on Fleetwood Mac).


Taylor Swift - Fearless

1. You Belong With Me
2. You're Not Sorry
3. Breathe
4. The Way I Loved You
   
5. The Best Day
6. Hey Stephen
7. Forever & Always
8. Change
9. Tell Me Why
10. Love Story
11. White Horse
12. Fifteen

Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift (including I'd Lie and I'm Only Me When I'm With You)

1. I'd Lie
2. Mary's Song (Oh My My My)
3. The Outside
4. Should've Said No
5. Our Song
6. I'm Only Me When I'm With You
   
7. Picture To Burn
8. Stay Beautiful
9. Tied Together With A Smile
10. Cold As You
11. A Place In This World
12. Tim McGraw
13. Teardrops On My Guitar

CD Reviews

CD's I want to review for no real reason at all:
Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You
Taylor Swift - Fearless
Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted

Five Basic Parts of Christmas Songs.

So in my Christmas music listening (which is a little lighter than normal around this time of year, I'm trying to hold off listening to it 24/7 until around Thanksgiving like normal people), it's occurred to me what I find to make a really good Christmas song. It's like a formula made up of five different parts, but it seems to never fail. Or rarely fail.

1. Bells.
Any variety of them, but sleigh bells seems to be the most popular and fun. It's unclear to me why bells add such a Christmas-y sound, but they do.

2. Children choirs.
Really, any choir would do, but children choirs also seem to be the most popular and fun. They go great with bells.

3. Strings.
Strings are very Christmas-y. I've noticed that Christmas music from artists of all genres have used strings in Christmas music. It's most common in sacred songs, to add a more reverent feel, I suppose. They also go great with bells and children choirs.

4. Snow.
Now, this isn't really per my recommendation, as much as it just seems to be a trend. If you mention snow, it automatically qualifies as a Christmas song. Case in point? My Favorite Things. Not a Christmas song, but constantly played around Christmas because of the line about snow.

5. Nostalgia.
Anything referring to Christmases of past, or remembering the good times throughout the year, nostalgia is like a ninja of Christmas music. It's always there, even if you don't always realize it. ... the ninja metaphor may be weak, but you know it's true. Christmas songs you've heard throughout your life leads to nostalgia, even if the song doesn't mention nostalgia.

This formula is very versatile and will work with any two. The only trick? Don't overdo it. But if you add the right amount of each, you'll have your very own Christmas masterpiece, even if it has nothing at all to do with Christmas!