Michael Crawford has a pretty decent one out from like 1993. They have it at Borders for I think 11 dollars...definitely worth the money!!
~Meg~
Featured Actor Joined: 12/31/69
Vanessa Williams --- Star Bright...i LOVE it..
and definately Linda Eder's!! YES YES YES...i love the woman...she is one in a million and her new beau is sooooo handsome and TALL!!!
I love Barbra's first Christmas album, totally amazing.
well, my 2 fave of all time still are "Merry Christmas and have a nice life" by Cyndi Lauper and "Ho - Ho - Ho" by RuPaul. My secret alternate is "Mr. Hankey's Christmas" which always has me in stitches! I'm looking forward to this years "Carol's for a Cure" that someone here turned me on to when I needed a new something for this year - Jingle Bells Everybody!!
My fav cds I can't start the holidays without...
Michael Ball Christmas
Rockapella Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas with Vince Guaraldi Trio
Sorry, I guess only the first one would be Broadway related. But it's excellent...five out of five stars for me. A well crafted album with an interesting mix of songs. And Ball's voice...mmmm.
Rockapella Christmas...oh it's just great fun. If you haven't listened to any Rockapella listen to a sample somewhere. It's my guilty pleasure after watching Carmen Sandiego years ago...lol. Those boys can sing and play..themselves.
Charlie Brown Christmas..as someone else said..CLASSIC. You cannot hear this music without thinking of the holiday special. Ford is doing a tv ad right now using the song Linus and Lucy and all I can think of is the animated special.
Another vote for Michael Ball's Christmas CD. The cut "Driving Home For christmas" is my new favorite Christmas song.
Since it hasn't yet been mentioned...the NEW Barbara Cook COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
For me, Broadway musical cast albums for Promises, Promises, A Christmas Carol, the Gifts of the Magi and Hard Candy Christmas from Whorehouse as well as The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, which ends with God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen conjurs up instant nostalgia.
I also loved Joan Baez Noel, Peter Paul and Mary Christmas (the video even has a young Daisy Egan in her dads lap), Charlie Brown Christmas and most of all, Mr Magoo Christmas Carol...with its Broadway styled score.
Harry Connick Jr's "When My Heart Finds Christmas"
and at least once a year, for old time's sake I must pop in a classic - The New Kids On The Block - Merry Merry Christmas, with the unforgetable song "Funky, Funky Christmas".
I can't believe that no one has mentioned Nancy LaMott's Christmas CD...absolutely a beautiful recording and some songs you don't hear often - It is a "must-own" for anyone who loves great vocals and fantastic lyric phrasing.
Another vote for Michael Ball's Christmas CD -- which was available in Colony when I was in Manhattan on November 18. Another favorite is Rosemary Clooney's White Christms.
Most of my other favorites are choral group CDs.
Barbra Streisand's Christmas Album
The old Firestone recordings with lots of 50's and 60's recording artists, opera singers, and Bway legends...but my favorite is the one with Julie Andrews singing "The Bells of Christmas."
I was raised on Julie's Bells of Christmas - such a lovely recording with amazing arrangements - they've been re-released in the past few years and are available again after many years. Another pair of recordings I'd highly recommend are those two Julie Andrews CDs
ooh...are they released on cd? I just did a quick search and came up empty...you've given me hope red!
off topic sorta, those were really well produced albums, and the arrangements are all wonderful. My other favorite is Jack Jones' "This is That Time of the Year"...so cheesy, but he is great.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/12/04
My folks had those old Firestone albums too, but Julie Andrews' Christmas CD (with Andre Previn) is essentially the same thing from what I can tell. It should be out there.
Note to RedHot - I mentioned Nancy's CD in my post on the first page of the thread. i agree it is a truly special and wonderful album.
julie's cd w/ andre previn (a classic! beautiful arrangements!) seems to be out of print and available only as an import.
i was raised on that pavarotti x-mas cd -- i don't even really "hear" it anymore--but i think it's good.
streisand's 2 x-mas cd's are being re-formatted and sold together--don't know if they're out yet --but i'd get it.
any x-mas music by nat cole, ella fitzgerald and mel torme is my favorite.
the vince guarauldi cd is on my IPOD and i play it when it's not even xmas, i love it so much.
i am also loving ann hampton callaway's THIS CHRISTMAS -- jazzy and beautiful, and a great duet w/ liz on the original GOD BLESS MY FAMILY.
Call me (REALLY) old school but my favorite Christmas CD's are still the classic recordings by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and the like. I know they are not technically "Broadway" performers, but the are most definitely synonymous with Broadway and have covered many a Broadway tune.
Every year I also have to watch some of my favorite Christmas musical movies. It is tradition to watch White Christmas, Scrooge, and Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol with a great score by Broadway composer, Jule Styne. Of course, "Thank You Very Much" will be stuck in my head until January!
For a more off beat Christmas album try these.........
Christmas on Christmas Island..........Leon Redbone
John Water's christmas album.
Broadway Cares HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Christine Ebersole's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is sublime. Gotta love the key change!
"Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" this time recorded by Anthony Rapp & Everett Bradley is one of my favorite holiday pairings.
And Davis Gaines can sing "The Christmas Song" to me anytime!
And for the Contemporary Christian fans among us, I recommend Mercy Me's "The Christmas Sessions."
As I listen to my "Christmas" playlist on my iPod, I am reminded that the original "A Very Special Christmas Album" is also excellent.
"I love Barbra's first Christmas album, totally amazing."
Did she sing Ave Maria on that? I heard her singing it last Christmas, and it sent chills through me - it was so beautiful! Maybe I'll get that cd.
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