5 Christmas Carol CDs for All Tastes: Harry Connick, Jr. to The Boston Pops

It's that time of year again; amid the barrage of holiday standards blasting department store shoppers and radio listeners there are some true Christmas gems out there. So what albums should you bet on to suit every taste this holiday season? The following five holiday favorites are timeless enough to get you from Thanksgiving to New Years with your sanity intact. So warm up your CD player and open your ears to the best sounds of the season.

Alabama Christmas, Alabama

You don't have to live in the country to enjoy country music and no group proves this better than Alabama. An instant classic when it was released in 1985 Alabama Christmas has won legions of fans thanks to its unique song selection, emphasis on the meaning of the holiday and earnest approach that offers country melodies without the stereotypical twang. For anyone who wants to be transported this holiday season, whether in a New York City Penthouse or Tennessee farmhouse, Alabama Christmas is a real delight.

When My Heart Finds Christmas, Harry Connick, Jr.

This mix of traditional holiday songs and originals written by the multi-talented Connick will have even your stodgiest relative tapping his toes and snapping his fingers. A decidedly upbeat album with jazz and big band undertones and but also the gravitas of favorites like Ave Maria, this is a selection both holidays purists and hipsters can enjoy.

The Christmas Collection, Frank Sinatra

Old Blue Eyes has a voice smoother than buttery holiday cookies and provides a nice alternative to the usual Bing Crosby holiday overload, in this collection he teams up with Crosby on only two songs. With eighteen tracks highlighting Sinatra's voice in all its glory supplemented by personal family photos this album is a Christmas treat for anyone who longs for a little rat pack in their holiday.

A Very Special Christmas, Various Artists

Showcasing performers from Sting to Springsteen, A Very Special Christmas provides holiday music with a coolness factor that any parent of a teen can appreciate. Though the song choices are rather traditional the artists' own distinctive interpretations set it apart from other albums. While there have been subsequent editions of this charity album in the opinion of many holiday music lovers, the first is still the best.

A Christmas Festival, The Boston Pops

Instrumental only tunes can be immensely enjoyable during the holiday season when one more verse of "grandma got run over by a reindeer" threatens to put you over the edge, and you can't go wrong with the venerable Boston Pops. Online reviewers consistently rate this a "must have" and with good reason, legendary conductor Arthur Fiedler delivers seventeen tracks of holiday hits ranging from new twists on old favorites to more obscure but equally enjoyable tunes.

While holiday worries abound from putting together toys to taking apart the turkey choosing the soundtrack for your family's festivities should be relatively stress free. Select one or all of the albums above and rest assured that your music will be merry and your Christmas bright.