Top 5 Christmas Albums of All Time
There’s a certain serenity that comes from listening to Christmas albums. They brings us joy in more ways than one. The nostalgic feeling of classic holiday tunes evoke much delight, just as the fresh sound of original ones do. Additionally, Christmas albums have special ways of bringing divine comfort to any atmosphere. As a result, here are 5 of best Christmas albums of all time.
Elvis’ Christmas Album – Elvis Presley (1957)
Elvis’ Christmas Album features an eclectic of Christmas pop, gospel, and rock and roll genres. It spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, becoming one of the biggest-selling Christmas albums in the United States. The album’s track listing features a blend of traditional carols, secular Christmas songs, and gospel tracks.
The original 1957 release came with a red gatefold cover and a booklet with promotional photos from Presley’s film Jailhouse Rock. The album remains a staple on the holiday charts. With tracks like “Blue Christmas” and “Santa Claus Is Back in Town”, it’s no surprise that the album remain a holiday classic.
Frank Sinatra – A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra (1957)
There’s nothing like a serenade from “Ol’ Blue Eyes”. Sinatra’s first full-length Christmas album, this masterpiece features orchestral arrangements by Gordon Jenkins. It also features backing vocals by the Ralph Brewster Singers. The album Is divided into two thematic sides. Side one contains secular songs like “The Christmas Song” and “Jingle Bells,” while side two focuses on religious carols such as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and “Silent Night”.
Over the years, the album has been reissued under different cover art and titles, including the Sinatra Christmas Album (1965). This was before restoring its original title in later CD pressings. The 50th-anniversary edition (2007) includes bonus tracks like the 1954 single version of “White Christmas”. Certified Platinum in the US, the album continues to chart internationally during the holiday season. Today, the album is often cited as one of the greatest Christmas albums ever recorded.
A Charlie Brown Christmas – The Vince Guaraldi Trio (1965)
A Charlie Brown Christmas features a blend of jazz-infused traditional and original songs. Key tracks include “Skating”, “Linus and Lucy”, and “Christmas Time Is Here”. The latter is played during the opening ice skating scene of the iconic Christmas special. With contributions from drummer Jerry Granelli and bassist Fred Marshall, the album was recorded in multiple sessions. The Vince Guaraldi Trio has received numerous accolades.
Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, A Charlie Brown Christmas has also sold over 5 million copies in the United States. The album’s cultural impact extends beyond far music. As a result, it has become an iconic American holiday tradition. Today, A Charlie Brown Christmas continues to be broadcast every holiday season, contributing to the album’s permanent place in pop culture.
Merry Christmas – Mariah Carey (1994)
Released on October 28, 1994, Merry Christmas is a soulful mix of original and cover versions of classic Christmas songs. A collaboration with Carey and award-winning producer Walter Afanasieff, all songs are produced to perfection. Most importantly, all are brilliantly delivered in Carey’s stellar five-octave vocal range. The album’s lead single, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”, became one of the best-selling singles of all time. To date, the song remains a modern Christmas classic.
As a result, it continues to generate significant revenue by repeatedly becoming a hit each holiday season. Other original songs are “Jesus Born on This Day” and “Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)”. The album’’ track listing also includes popular covers such as “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night,” and “Joy to the World”. The album has sold 5.7 million copies in the United States. Globally, the album has sold over 18 million copies, making it one of the best-selling holiday albums in history.
Christmas – Michael Bublé (2011)
Produced by Bob Rock, Humberto Gatica, and David Foster, Christmas is Bublé’s very first holiday release. The album is a delightful mix of traditional and original holidays tunes. Songs like “White Christmas” with Shania Twain and “Jingle Bells” with the Puppini Sisters, gives the album mass appeal. It also includes original song, “Cold December Night”. The album has achieved massive success, selling over 16 million copies worldwide.
This status made the album become one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century. It also reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, and remained there for five weeks. Additionally, the album topped charts in multiple countries including the UK, Australia and Germany.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the pleasure of Christmas albums lies in their ability to unite us body, mind, and soul. These are feelings that we look forward to each year. As the final note of each album plays, we’re always left with a sense happiness that lingers long after the season ends.
