Top 5 Christmas Music CDs That'll Have You Caroling the Entire Season

Christmas music is one of those pleasures that you enjoy as a child anticipating that grand day when you get to open your presents. As a parent also, you look forward to hearing certain songs that remind you of those days past and the newer music, though sometimes very good, just does not conjure up the same memories and feelings as those songs you grew up singing. Here are five Christmas CDs to bring back memories from yesteryear, from all over the spectrum, just in time for Christmas caroling, sitting by the fire on a cold winter's night or just singing and smiling as you wake up with your family on Christmas morning.

The Beach Boys start things off at #5 with Christmas with the BeachBoys which is a compilation of previous Christmas albums by the surf band that is quite infectious even though these songs are from the 1960's. Little Saint Nick in classic 60's car song form has you singing along for the ride and this Christmas CD is packed with alternate versions of your favorite songs for even more fun. Merry Christmas Baby is another great song of getting back together at Christmas time and then the good time fun of Frosty the Snowman, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and the Beach Boys at their harmonious best on Auld Lang Syne, round out the collection.

A harder to find Christmas CD and less well known is #4 on the list by Alexander O'Neal called My Gift to You, was an instant Christmas Holiday favorite upon its release. Featuring five songs written by the R&B dynamic duo Jam and Lewis, this CD is soulful and smooth with beautiful versions of The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland and the Little Drummer Boy, as well as the beautiful My Gift to You. This CD is a real feel good treat for the entire family with a very special song entitled Thank You for a Good Year. This song is what Christmas is all about as it reflects on the past year and how God has made it so special because of the relationships with family and friends through good times and bad times. This song alone is worth the price of the CD.

Coming in at #3 is AlabamaChristmas by the country band Alabama, featuring such great songs as Tennessee Christmas, Christmas Memories, Homecoming Christmas, Santa Clause (I Still Believe) and Christmas in Dixie. These are songs with incredible stories to tell and a sincerity and warmth not found in many songs today. Randy Owen on lead vocal sings them as only Alabama can and this album is a Christmas classic that cannot be missed.

Merry Christmas by Johnny Mathis is the #2 pick originally released in the 60's and re-released in 2004. This Christmas CD has all the classic holiday songs sung beautifully by Mathis including Winter Wonderland, I'll be Home for Christmas, White Christmas, What Child is This?, Silver Bells and Silent Night, Holy Night. Each song is perfectly crafted combining rich warm vocals with just the right orchestration and each song belongs to Johnny Mathis as he just makes you believe in the music. Soulful and smooth, this CD will warm your heart and create great new memories of Christmas.

So what is the #1 CD for Christmas? Believe it or not, it is Holiday Sing Along with Mitch by Mitch Miller and the Gang. Who? What? Buy this album and play it while you are wrapping presents, drinking eggnog on Christmas Eve, opening up your presents on Christmas morning or making Christmas dinner. The songs are not especially soulful, dramatic or majestic, they are just fun. Santa Clause is Comin' to Town, Frosty the Snowman, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause, Must be Santa, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Jingle Bells, Silver Bells, Let it Snow, Winter Wonderland, Silent Night, Holy Night, and Auld Lang Syne are some of the greatest sing along songs ever written. And that is the key to this album being at the top. The entire family can and will sing along or hum along to these songs. Kids will sing and laugh and even those people who think these songs are too corny, will soon be singing along with Mitch and the Gang. This CD is a true blast of winter fun for Christmas.

All of these albums are just perfect for family gatherings and can be purchased online at the usual websites and can be found used from $4 to $9. A few can be found new up to $14 but check out the used ones, if the CD is no longer in print. Your Christmas will be merrier with the addition of any of these Holiday Classics.