Now this is a very very important issue...

[Magneto]

What do you reckon is the best Christmas cd to get?

The wrong cd can make christmas songs torture!!!

I've just bought the Phil Spector one and haven't played it yet.

The Now one is good, the version I have has 3CDs.

We always liked Max Bygrave's Singalong Christmas when we were kids, and now I have it on CD so DH can endure enjoy it too. [hgrin]

Got to have the classic protest song too

Dub a dub a dum dum
Dub a dub a dum
Dub a dum dum dub a dub
Dub a dub a dum

Wish I was at home for christmaaaaaaaas.

My husband always plays "Stop the Cavalry" when driving home on the last afternoon's work before Christmas.

biscuit - carols from kings changes every year (though they always start with Once in Royal). There's always one carol specially composed new for them every year, IIRC.

greenknowe - just being nosy but is your name from the LM Boston books?! I love those ... The Children of Green Knowe is such a perfect Christmas story.

I'm getting some great playlist ideas from this thread! My all time favourite has to be 'have yourself a merry little christmas' though it can reduce me to tears

We always get the Xmas music out when we're decorating the tree

I made an itunes playlist last year to try to solve the 'which CD?' problem

Here's my list:

Carols (by various cathedral choirs) -

Once in Royal David's City
Away in a Manger
Silent Night
We Three Kings
The Holly and the Ivy
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Coventry Carol
Bethlehem Down
In the Bleak Midwinter
Little Drummer Boy
Deck the Halls
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
God Rest Ye Merry gentlemen

Various Christmas cheese:

Walking in the Air (Aled Jones, obv)
Misteltoe and Wine (Sir Cliff)
Mary had a baby (CRS Players)
All I Want For Christmas (Mariah)
Last Christmas (Wham)
Rocking around the Christmas tree (Brenda lee)
I wish it could be Christmas every day (Wizzard)
Jingle Bells (Frank Sinatra's version)
Jingle Bell Rock (Brenda Lee)
Fairytale of New York (Pogues/Kirsty)
Twelve days of Christmas (Bing Crosby)
Frosty the Snowman (Gene Autry)
Santa Claus is coming to town (Gene Autry)
Here Comes Santa Claus (Gene Autry)
Baby, its cold outside (Dean Martin)
Winter Wonderland (Dean Martin)
White Christmas (Bing Crosby)
Merry Christmas Everyone (Slade)
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas (Perry Como)
have yourself a merry little Christmas (Judy garland)

HTH

Any other suggestions and I'll add them to my playlist!

Yep it is EllaDee . I usually re-read it around Christmas time to get me in the festive mood! I keep meaning to visit the actual Greene Knowe house, although I would probably make a prat of myself by stroking the topiary deer if I did .

Don't forget "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" by David Bowie and Bing Crosby.

Although I am biased, being a massive Bowie fan

Green - yes, I keep meaning to visit it too. Have you seen the website? Lovely pictures. I am making a quilt off one of her (simpler) patterns atm.

In my dafter moments I want to call a DD 'Linnet' but fortunately DH would probably not let me!

Btw, if we are listing carols, I love:

Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day (cf. The Children of Green Knowe!)

This Little Babe
Adam Lay Y-Bounden
Corpus Christi Carol
Riu Riu Chiu
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

And this - Sans Day Carol:

I have Christmas Classical and Christmas Other playlists. They take up quite a bit of space on my iPod in December :)

might extend the season into a bit of November this year....

Which version of Tonorrow shall be my dancing day is on your playlist? I have a great one but will have to check who it is by.

Um, two of them!

I have a nice one which is by Canterbury Cathedral and one that my friend recorded with his choir, where it's made into a round - it is very beautiful! I think that version is arranged by Rutter (isn't everything?!)

(Btw, is it me or is the wrong tempo the most annoying thing about some recordings? I hate it when you buy a CD and it turns out to have a version of a song you love but annoyingly slow/fast!)

I can't listen to Fairytale of New York at Christmas - reminds me of waiting outside dd1's nursery in the car for dh to fetch her and hearing on the news that poor Kirsty Mccoll had been killed in Mexico. Her kids and her mum were with her - awful tragedy.

It is awful Northernlurker, and her poor mum is still fighting to find out exactly what happened.

On the subject easy listening type music, can I suggest going a bit "out there" to those who appreciate the alternative by buying Ultra Lounge - Christmas Cocktails??

www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-Lounge-Christmas-Cocktails-Various-Artists/dp/B000002UFL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319927024&sr=8-1

Both sets of BIL and SIL, my BF and SIl's parents bought this, following me taking it up one year to play during a visit. Then i took it to DS godparents and they bought it too, every year in work they ask for it too, as we play music in the office in the run up.

DN's love it, my DH now loves it and so does DS. It's so funny to watch everyone doing a 60's dance to track number 3 by Ray Anthony. ( think of "The Party" starring Peter Sellers)

Also it's got Deano on there, singing "i've got my love to keep me warm..." with his amazing molten chocolate voice. This has become a true annual fave for me....

Oh and the season of madness would not be complete without this blaring on the sound system in Boots, as you rush round frantically buying 3 for 2 wrapping paper, and nearly fainting in the overheated queue in your hat, and coat:

And this.....

www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDwQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DX4uLZcaRXcU&rct=j&q=mike%20oldfield%20christmas%20song&ei=d4CsTuPaJIbLtAbc9sAG&usg=AFQjCNG0fPtiJg06nU8jNl5XlPsSJL9egg

Xmas day is the only day in the year I switch on Classic FM to listen their top howevermany carols while I'm cooking christmas dinner, love it.

this is the poppy one I play at Christmas in the run up and sometimes on the day.

I usually have a Kings type one on Christmas Eve and it seems to fit

I have been very busy on iTunes whilst reading this thread!

What have you bought biscuit..?

Well I've bought the Darkness one as for some reason I didn't have it, When a Child is Born by Johnny Mathis and the Ultra Lounge Christmas Cocktails album recommended by you!

I am tempted by Neil Diamond's CDs too, but have so far resisted!

Can I just say also, I am astonished that Ronan Keating has not only released Fairytale of New York but that it is the version on the NOW Christmas CD! Never will that record assault my ears.

All good, all good. Also loving Kate Rusby and her Sweet Bells album. Lovely folky stuff to warm your cockles- mulled wine for your ears

Aimee Mann, one last drifter in the snow. Beautiful laid back festive grown up loveliness.
Feliz Navidad for jumping around in a bossa stylee.
Advent carols for the first two weekends in December.
yy to tomorrow shall be my dancing day!