keeping on counting 'em down: favorite christmas albums 18 - 13

welcome back to the continuation of the countdown of my favorite christmas albums. christmas is in two days, but i've got some great musical gifts to share today. so, the next album is number 18 on the countdown. let's get to it.

18.  one wish: the holiday album - whitney houston

if i were just rating these albums on the vocal performances alone, i know this album would be much, much higher in the countdown; however there's more that goes into my ratings than just the singing. other elements like song selection, originality of songs and/or arrangements, and how much emotional history i have with the album are also key factors in my evaluation for relative placement of my favorite holiday albums. if there is one factor that contributes to this album being placed where it is, it's the fact that i just haven't had enough time with it. even though this album was released twelve years ago, there are albums higher up that i've been listening to for twenty, thirty, even forty years. that's a lot of history. still, with an album this good, i'm sure it will continue to climb over time.
here's the title track as proof of my prediction.

one wish (for christmas)

17.  noel - josh groban

this artist has a voice that is ideally suited for christmas music. with so many of particularly the centuries old songs being anthemic in nature, his full voice embodies them perfectly. yet, it's not just about singing to the rafters. much of the music of the season, if it is done well, also requires the ability to convey compassion, reverence, and peace. again, this is an artist for whom christmas music is a perfect match. the song i'm sharing is an original song, and the third song i've shared from mr. groban this month. it captures everything that i've just written and transcends it. try not being moved by it. i dare you.

thankful

16.  the andy williams christmas album - andy williams

this album is considered to be one of the quintessential holiday albums. if you say christmas album to many people of a certain generation this is surely going to be one of those albums that almost immediately will come to mind. even with this being the case and the fact that it was first released just before the year of my own birth, i didn't "discover" this album until much later in my life (unlike another classic christmas album that i'd been hearing likely since i was born, which will make its appearance later in this countdown). there's something about these older albums that is just so special with their "bright and shiny" vocals and arrangements. listen to this selected song and you'll get my meaning.

happy holiday

15.  a sentimental christmas - kathy troccoli

it's interesting that this album should be so closely ranked to the one that precedes it. it's one that shares that classic, timeless feeling but was released over 30 years later. i just love the way it makes you feel as if you're witnessing a holiday performance by glenn miller and his orchestra with kathy as their featured "girl" singer. if you enjoy christmas music with a 1940's big band sound then this album is definitely for you. and so is this song.

let it snow

14.  a charlie brown christmas - the vince guaraldi trio

is there a more fun christmas album with a cooler vibe than this one? not only does it make me want to get into the christmas groove every year. it makes me want to do it in a black turtleneck, dark sunglasses and a beret. and to think it was the soundtrack to a kid's cartoon special. but charlie brown has always been about more than entertaining just children and the songs on this album are meant to be enjoyed long after the kids have (finally) been put to bed on christmas eve. here's two more from this album for all you cool cats out there to add to the ones posted a couple of weeks ago.


skating
christmas is coming

13.  a christmas story - point of grace

so it's back to the contemporary christian music ranks for our next album from one of that genre's most successful and popular groups. the harmonies that these four (at the time) women achieve are a feast for the ears. on this particular album not only are they in fine voice, but the selections of both classic and original songs are top notch. flawless from beginning to end. this one gets two song selections as well (one of which has a special guest star who was the first male to appear on a point of grace record).

when love came down
light of the world (feat. michael tait)

with all of this great music shared thus far can you believe there are still 12 more albums to come? well, there are, and i hope you'll be back tomorrow on christmas eve day to hear the selections from albums 12 - 7.