The Best Christmas Music of 2022; Unwrap Holiday Gifts from Andrea Bocelli, Joyce Cooling, Andrea Corr, Gloria Estefan, Chris Isaak, Dave Koz, Loreena McKennitt, Jane Monheit, Pentatonix, Joss Stone, and Many More
Welcome to the new Christmas releases for 2022. There are some really good ones this year. I am always amazed by the resiliency of the Christmas repertoire. Even though we may have heard the same songs hundreds of times, they still have the capacity to delight us. The artists who go out on a limb to write new music occasionally come up big.
I still remember hearing the actual soundtrack LP for the first time. The album by the Vince Guaraldi Trio blew me away then, and every time I've played it since. The good news is that Blue Note has opened up the vaults and prepared a special edition with almost four hours of recordings from the original sessions.
So, come on and check it all out; there's lots of great listening here to sweeten your holidays.
We extend to all our best wishes for a safe, happy, and peaceful holiday season.
New music is listed first, followed by reissues and various additions.
New goodies for 2022:
As they approach their 30th anniversary as a band, Backstreet Boys, who have always considered themselves more of a vocal group than a boy band, have just released their first Christmas album. With mostly familiar favorites, it's easy to imagine these guys standing on a street corner somewhere singing these songs. Along with their voices, the most prominent part of the mix is usually the rhythm, which you'll know by the ubiquitous finger snapping. Older songs like "Winter Wonderland" and newer songs like "This Christmas" and "Next Christmas" all lend themselves to this approach. The 'Boys also add a couple of originals for good measure. Note: Target has an exclusive deluxe edition with two additional tracks.
Andrea Bocelli has been a world-renowned singer of classical, opera and pops for almost the last thirty years. On this album, he shares the vocal duties with two of his children, son Matteo (25) and daughter Virginia (10). The program is warm and inviting with selections that include superb sounding carols like "Do You Hear What I Hear" amidst popular songs like José Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" and John and Yoko's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." The instrumental backing is applied sparingly, and one thing I find refreshing about this record is that there are about five tracks that aren't generally heard on Christmas albums. Andrea Bocelli seems to have passed his musical gift to the next generation. A Family Christmas is one of the most enjoyable releases this year.
Pickin' On Christmas is a delightful and relaxing instrumental record that pairs Davis Causey and Jay Smith playing their guitars on a set of mostly popular favorites plus one original tune. "Following A Star," an original penned by Causey, is also notable for the participation of guest Randall Bramblett. Originally recorded in 1998, it was given to friends and relatives that year. Smith passed away shortly after the recording and Causey dedicates the album to his memory. Maybe it's me, but I tried this record in spite of the title. There is a series of bluegrass albums entitled Pickin' On... and I was happily surprised to hear that this was not one of them. It is truly a gift that this year sees a general release on Strolling Bones Records, as this is one of my favorite holiday releases of 2022.
According to her bio, Sarah Connor is a singer-songwriter in her native Germany. Listening to her latest release, Not So Silent Night, I take away a couple of things. First, the album is in english and I can pick up no trace of an accent. The second thing you need to know is that of the thirteen tracks on this record, twelve of them are new originals. I should add that Connor is a really talented songwriter in addition to being a first-rate vocalist. Writing new original Christmas songs is really hard, but Connor comes up with material that is constantly inventive and clever and this goes way beyond the title track. As for whether listeners will want to hear these songs five, ten, or twenty years down the road, that's anyone's guess. But, just to put a point on her accomplishment, Connor closes the album with what may be the best written Christmas tune of all time, at least the version sung by Nat King Cole may be the most beloved. When Sarah Connor sings "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting), her version compares favorably to Cole's. I haven't heard a version this nice in many a year.
Joyce Cooling is a musician, singer, and songwriter. Cooling's specialty is jazz and with seven albums plus an EP to her credit, The Holiday's On! is her first holiday album. The album offers seven originals written by Cooling and Jay Wagner. Cooling favors the electric guitar and I've enjoyed her work since the late 90s. This set is perfect for fans who may be tired of hearing the same holiday repertoire repeated over and over again. Cooling recalls writing the title track quickly. The song came together easily and it was previously released as a digital single for charity NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
When Andrea Corr recorded The Christmas Album it seemed like the producer wanted it to sound different from the rest. You can hear it right on the opening cut, a glorious take on "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas." At one point, the song shifts gears into a very New Orleans style "Jingle Bells" and back again. Corr's very appealing voice is well suited for quieter fare like "The Christmas Song," which features her voice, piano and some light strings. She is also very good at capturing the mixed emotions of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (complete with the original lyric). Corr is a natural on songs like "Blue Christmas" too, which is a duet with Ronnie Wood. At the outset of her career, Corr was in a Irish family band called The Coors, which included a brother and three sisters, all with extraordinary voices. When they released their first album, their label sent them to the U.S. to tour retail locations. I was fortunate to catch one of these in-store appearances. After an acoustic set, they stayed to meet the audience. I was so totally bowled over by them that I've been a fan ever since. These days there are solo records and Andrea has even branched out to movies. So, to receive a solo album such as this, is truly a gift to us all.
Kat Edmonson is a musician, singer, and songwriter who specializes in jazz, pop, and the place where jazz and pop meet on Broadway. Holiday Swingin'! is her first Christmas album, her sixth overall, and sounds like nothing else you'll hear this year. The tracklist may look like other Christmas albums, but these have a swinging style that belongs only to Edmonson. There are a number of things that make this album special. The song line-up has some selections you wouldn't expect. Sometimes she riffs on the song, and sometimes she'll make a song completely her own. You've never heard "The Christmas Blues" like this one. It may remind you of the Dean Martin classic before it veers into uncharted territory, and the "O Christmas Tree" that follows puts a perfect point on it. I must mention that listening to the new Jane Monheit (below) and then following it with Edmonson's Holiday Swingin'! definitely enhances the listening pleasure of both. However, I would recommend this album unconditionally.
Three generations of Estefans appear on Gloria's second Christmas album, Estefan Family Christmas. It's pretty much warmth and good vibes as they sing their way through a seventeen song set, consisting of mostly holiday hits like Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" and Alvin and the Chipmunks' classic "Christmas Don't Be Late." There are snippets of dialogue that sound like they might have been part of a holiday TV special. Performers, in addition to Gloria, include daughter Emily, son Nayib and his wife Lara, and grandson Sasha. Her musician husband Emilio even makes his vocal debut on Estefan Family Christmas.
Jessy J - California Christmas, Vol. 2
Jessy J, a jazz saxophone player, follows her California Christmas (2016) with a second volume. Like her first one, this album immediately separates itself from the crowd just because it sounds so good. Other than the appealing tone she gets on her sax, and the magnificent choice of material, this is the result of excellent production by J and Jeff Lorber. All of the instruments can be heard clearly, especially the sax. That quality may seem simple, but it requires meticulous attention to engineering, mixing, and mastering the recording. J draws from an array of handpicked musicians including her normal players along with some invited guests. Among the three vocal tracks, "O Holy Night" takes a nice soulful turn with guest singer Maurice Smith, who also appeared on California Christmas, Vol 1. The vocal arrangement of "Go Tell It on the Mountain" explores the hymn's gospel side. California Christmas, Vol 2 includes arrangements that you are not likely to hear any place else.
Chris Isaak - Everybody Knows It's Christmas
For Chris Isaak's second Christmas album he has written eight new originals to record along with five familiar favorites on Everybody Knows It's Christmas. Isaak, who is no stranger to the top of the charts, still sounds like something of a cross between Roy Orbison and Ricky Nelson, heavy on the Roy Orbison. Interesting that he's on Sun Records now; he always seemed the embodiment of the rockabilly elements that defined the label when Sam Phillips founded it. With his smooth delivery, good looks, and talented band, Isaac has made one of the more enjoyable holiday albums this year.
Smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz celebrates the 25th anniversary of what he calls the longest continually running Christmas tour. On his new album, Christmas Ballads, Koz chose to record songs that he had not recorded on his previous Christmas albums. It's a gem of a lineup that includes songs like "The Christmas Waltz" and the Carpenters' classic "Merry Christmas Darling." Accompanying Koz is a veritable jazz super group of David Benoit, Rick Braun, and Peter White. The record is mostly instrumental but for a nice John Lennon medley of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" and "Imagine," sung by Rebecca Jade. I've always felt that there is a special relationship between Christmas music and jazz and "Dave Koz & Friends: Christmas Ballads (25th Anniversary Collection)" is a perfect example.
In the 1980s, American radio (of the AAA or AOR persuasion) began playing Canadian musician, singer and songwriter Loreena McKennitt. McKennitt's strong and clear voice, combined with a penchant for incorporating other cultures' music into her compositions, quickly caught the ear of anyone listening. Those in search of a Christmas album zeroed in on her second release To Drive the Cold Winter Away with its splendid version of "In the Bleak Midwinter," which has become a standard. All that is to explain that even though that album dealt with winter, it was not a proper Christmas album and that (with the exception of her Winter Garden EP) the McKennitt faithful have waited until now, on her 16th album, for this double CD. I am happy to report that Under A Winter's Moon, A Concert of Carols and Tales was well worth the wait. Beautifully recorded in Knox Church in Stratford, Ontario, that location may have just as easily been Stratford, England. Spoken word readings, such as A Child's Christmas in Wales, are interspersed throughout the program. For those who want the whole live Christmas experience, McKennitt brought the requisite musicians and produced an album for the ages.
Jane Monheit, who has honed a career at the top of what I like to call the supper club jazz-pop portion of the music business, gets jazzier than you'd think on her latest Christmas album, The Merriest. The program is familiar tunes, the older the better (with one notable exception). There is one song, "(Christmas) Stay With Me," that was written by Cy Coleman (Broadway) that makes its recording debut here. "The Christmas Song," as sung by Nat King Cole, was already jazz-pop to start with and when you do a song that's so utterly familiar, you can't stray too far from the original. The other material on here is much friendlier to an little swingin'. As her publicist explains, "When classic Christmas songs are dipped in the sweet, luscious swing of jazz music, the results are always as warm and soothing as hot cocoa and chestnuts." The combination of the quality of her voice with that of the performances, the arrangements, and the production makes this record feel both new and old at the same time. I should also point out that Monheit's take on the standard "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" easily surpasses neatly every other version I've heard, and makes this album indispensable.
With four Christmas carols plus "Jingle Bells," it's just Allison Moorer's voice and guitar. The vocals are strong and the backing is acoustic except for a glorious "Oh Holy Night," which is played on electric with a tasty guitar solo in the middle. This EP is about as Americana as it gets.
One of the hardest things to do is to write or sing new, original Christmas music and have it be memorable. Nashville singer-songwriter Jamie O'Neal does just that on her first Christmas album, Spirit & Joy. There are four such songs here, three of which O'Neal co-wrote, and not only do they feel like Christmas but one of them, "Gulf of Mexico," is one I'd like to hear a lot. O'Neal's distinctive voice and the relaxed sound of her backing musicians, make the familiar favorites sparkle. Several generations of her family join her on "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Collin Raye duets with O'Neal on "Silver Bells." Although everybody and their brother has done "White Christmas," this is one version that you'll want to hear. The real standout on Spirit & Joy for me is "Please Come Home for Christmas" (which also has vocals by Rodney Good); in fact I would place this rendition on par with the Charles Brown original and the Eagles cover version.
And now for something completely different... from Pentatonix. Just when you thought they had recorded every Christmas song in the known universe, here comes Holidays Around the World complete with songs and guest recording artists representing ten different countries spread over four continents. The Grammy winning vocal quintet offers up, as they put it, seven holiday staples and five originals. We're not really used to hearing Pentatonix in a backing role, as they are with Meghan Trainor on the original "Kid On Christmas." She sounds good, but you may be forgiven if, like me, you mistake this for some other album being that this is only track one. And the new sounds don't stop there. Chinese sensation Lang Lang lets his remarkable piano do the singing on "Jingle Bells," truly a family friendly production. Of the less familiar artists, I love the version of "Feliz Navidad" turned in by La Santa Cecilia and Pentatonix. "Last Christmas" does double duty representing both Japan, with the artists Hikakin & Seikin, and Great Britain from where the composition comes. If any of the tracks sound like grand production numbers, know that there is an accompanying TV special. Ho ho ho!
It's a nice touch that Joss Stone opens her first ever Christmas album with a reading of the first verse of "Twas The Night Before Christmas." I don't think her British audience would necessarily find her English accent to be cute, but here in America (and in the rest of the world), it may be another story... For Stone, who started out singing vintage R&B and soul, the soulfulness of her voice seems simply effortless on this set of holiday tunes. It almost seems like a contradiction that Stone's band has turned into a full orchestra, complete with backing singers and the whole nine yards. You can hear it immediately after the recitation when the album launches into "Let It Snow." The production is impeccable rendering this a timeless Christmas classic. All of the tracks on this album receive, more or less, the same treatment. I must point out that on her version of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting...) the backing has been stripped down to just piano and strings, and Stone sounds like she totally gets it, even the nuances of Nat King Cole's iconic recording. Merry Christmas, Love consists of sixteen tracks, most of them familiar favorites, along with a couple of Christmas carols and two new originals “If You Believe” and “Bring On Christmas Day.” The combination of soulful voice and ultra traditional arrangements brings to mind the Diana Ross Christmas albums.
Also of note...
There used to be a tradition of novelty records in pop music. Christmas novelty records used to be plentiful, but now it's become a lost art. There used to be sports novelty records, too. Does anyone remember "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" for the World Series winning 1980 Philadelphia Phillies or "The Super Bowl Shuffle" by the 1985 Chicago Bears (Jim McMahon and Co.)? Now, the (hopefully) Super Bowl bound Philadelphia Eagles have produced a seven track Christmas album A Philly Special Christmas. All of the money raised by this record is destined for charity. It is worth noting that all of the physical records (CDs and vinyl) were sold out before the release date, so the only way to obtain this is by digital download or by streaming. It's also worth noting that this does not sound like a novelty record; these guy can really sing. By that I mean, the primary protagonists from the Eagles' O Line: Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. Right from the top, Mailata has a wicked falsetto on "White Christmas," which might remind you of the Temptations' version. They pretty much play it straight with the basically good time Christmas tunes, backed up by the cream of Philadelphia musicians. They even have play-by-play announcer Merrill Reece reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas." This set doesn't even mention The Eagles until the last two tracks. The last cut is a very Bruce Springsteen inspired version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with lots of fun ad-libbing that you will love. Whether or not you follow the Philadelphia Eagles, you cannot go wrong with A Philly Special Christmas.
Reissues, Remasters, Collections, Expanded Deluxe Editions, and etc.
Over the years the great Louis Armstrong recorded any number of Christmas songs, but he never made a proper Christmas album. Now, all of those songs have been collected on the new Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule. Even though most tracks have been heard before, the last track, a Louis Armstrong reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas," is previously unreleased. All told, this is one of the best Christmas albums that you are likely to hear.
During his career, Ray Charles only released two Christmas albums. They are both excellent and essential. The Spirit of Christmas was recorded in 1985 and is the only studio album Ray made for the holidays (the other is a live concert recording). The good news is that The Spirit of Christmas, which was out of print for the last decade, has been remastered and is once again available. This album is every bit as good as you might hope. It has his usual backing band including the Raelettes. The program consists of familiar favorites (carols and popular songs) and some very well written originals. Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and saxophonist Rudy Johnson also guest. The title track was used in the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's fair to say that this album sounds like no other Christmas album.
One of this year's real treats is the reissue of Christmas with Judy Collins. Collins is possessed of a voice that is strong, clear, and perfect for a Christmas album; she's made four of them. Christmas with Judy Collins is the fourth and was released in 2013. There's nothing new in this release, but it's good to have this record back in print and available. Not many singers could pull off an a cappella "I'll Be Home For Christmas," but it sounds beautiful sans instruments. The album is extraordinarily well performed and produced. That girl sure knows how to make a Christmas album.
On December 9, 1965, when the special A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted on the CBS television network, the twelve year old me knew it was something special, but at that age I was not focused on the music or on how brilliant it was on any number of levels. That message didn't sink in until some years later when I first heard the soundtrack LP. The mixture of jazz and Christmas music was just the start of it. The way in which Vince Guaraldi captured in music the many emotions we all have during the holidays at one time or another, so accurately parallels the plot of the program that it's a wonder unto itself. Full disclosure: This has been my #1 Christmas album for over 50 years. I am happy to report that for the deluxe edition, they have not only remixed and remastered the album, but they have also released the recording sessions that were used in the making of it all. This box set is not for everyone, but if you want to hear the artistry of the Vince Guaraldi Trio, then you might wish to hear numerous versions of the each song. When I listen to these sessions, my appreciation for this music only grows.
By virtue of the hit "Don't Know Why" the world recognized Norah Jones' talent right off the bat with her first album Come Away With Me (2002). For nearly twenty years, Jones' participation in Christmas music has been limited to just one song, "Peace." In 2021, she released her first full length Christmas album, I Dream Of Christmas. This record consisted of thirteen tracks: new original songs, popular Christmas standards, and recent holiday hits, all of which shared Jones' unique musical style. This was easily heard on favorites like "White Christmas" or Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas." The only thing that this album lacked... was... more of it. Now expanded to 24 tracks, I Dream Of Christmas, the deluxe edition, includes all of that and more. There are five new tracks recorded live at the Empire State Building in NYC, a studio version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and the four bonus tracks only available previously on special editions. While there is something to be said for the original album reflecting the artist's vision, the bonus tracks that this deluxe edition carries have their charms as well. You can't go wrong either way.
If Reba McEntire is not the original country artist, she might be the first such to substantially cross over to the pop market. This year, for your listening pleasure, The Ultimate Christmas Collection brings together the best tracks from her three Christmas albums (1987, 1999 and 2017). In addition, this release also includes last year's single, "I Needed Christmas." Ho! Ho! Ho! It's Christmas in Reba-land.
One of the best reissue gifts this year is A Soulful Christmas by The Miracles. What's so special about this record is not even hinted at on the cover or in the name. Back in the 1960s, this group used to be billed as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. Smokey may have chosen to bill this as The Miracles in deference to the other Miracles. They may be a good vocal group, but hey, there is only one Smokey Robinson and I am happy to report that he's singing lead on every one of these excellent tracks. The program here is a friendly selection of favorite carols, popular songs, recent hits, and even a couple originals. A Soulful Christmas was first released in 2001, and with this reissue comes for the first time a vinyl edition. Everything you need to know about this album is right there in the opening track, "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose..."
A Holly Dolly Christmas was first released in 2021 with twelve tracks, sounding a lot like a Christmas party hosted by Dolly Parton. She sang on every track, often accompanied by guest artists. This year, for the super ultimate deluxe edition, eight bonus tracks have been added. Two of them came from exclusive retail versions of last year's release. The other six are new to A Holly Dolly Christmas and includes a guest turn from Rod Stewart duetting with Dolly on "Baby, It's Cold Outside." There are also some originals penned by Parton. And, the party continues...
I don't generally follow the mainstream country artists, but this album does knock it out of the proverbial park on every track. The material sticks to the popular song repertoire of Christmas. Superstars abound such as Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, and Darius Rucker to name a few. They pretty much all do new or recent recordings and they do throw in a classic, Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" for good measure. Various artists' Christmas albums like this used to abound, with albums devoted to a theme, label samplers, etc. Now they are more sporadic. The trick is to look at the tracklist and if you are interested in the artists then Country Christmas Greatest Hits might be just the thing for under your tree.
This is exactly what I was referring to above. Holidays Rule was first released in 2012 and featured mostly alternative rock artists with a few ringers thrown in to keep you guessing. The overall approach here is pretty reverent to the material, which is drawn from a wide swath of the holiday repertoire. The artists represented include The Shins, Rufus Wainwright, Paul McCartney, and The Civil Wars just to name a few. Even if you don't know all of the artists, give this one a shot and you may find that in fact holidays do rule.
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