The Hidden Gems of Christmas Albums

A curated selection in time for the holidays.

It is a bit of a sacrilege to start playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving, although I will admit that I wasn’t displeased to hear one of my sons crooning his favorites in November as his choir was warming up for their Christmas concert. Once Thanksgiving passes, though, all is fair game—in our world, Christmas albums are played full steam ahead.

I recommend music quite frequently in the “et cetera” section of my published readings. (If you don’t know what the “et cetera” section is, you simply aren’t scrolling down far enough in my emails. It can be found below the essay and is where I tuck away all sorts of interesting bits, from recipes to great products to, you guessed it, terrific music.) Today, I am putting these music recommendations front and center with a set of hidden-gem Christmas albums that will surely enrich your festive spirit wherever it may find you.

This list is arranged not by preference but by mood, from upbeat to downtempo.

Please enjoy…and don’t forget to “♡ Like” this post and share your favorites in the comments!

Holiday For Swing! by Seth MacFarlane (2014)

Seth MacFarlane loves Christmas, and it shows. Play his album while running errands, and you’ll float through traffic at the mall. Brake lights will almost add to the twinkling theatrics of the whole endeavor.

Socks by JD McPherson (2018)

JD McPherson accomplished the impossible with Socks: He created a brand-new set of Christmas songs in the modern era that are brilliantly addictive and feel fully classic. His feat is akin to when a new house is built to look like it has been around and lived in for 100 years…difficult to pull off and deserving of admiration when it is. This album is a family favorite.

It’s a Holiday Soul Party by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (2015)

Want to get the party started? Sharon Jones’ holiday revue is a fail-proof recipe, blending soulful cool with punchy arrangements. It is a retro-soul invitation to get on the dance floor and boogie.

Merry Christmas, Ho! Ho! Ho! By Lou Rawls (1967)

Rawls gifts us, hands down, with the best version of “Little Drummer Boy” ever pressed to vinyl. This is a great album to have on while wrapping presents. Let your shoulders start to feel the groove, and next thing you know, you’ll be up and dancing with the ribbons and singing into a wrapping-paper tube.

The Nutcracker Suite by Duke Ellington (1960)

It is rare that an artist’s re-imagining of a lauded original can stand on its own. Ellington certainly had the chops. His inventive take on The Nutcracker Suite redefines Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece while demonstrating his clear respect for its compositional integrity. This is one you’ll want to listen to year-round.

Sound of Christmas by The Ramsey Lewis Trio (1961) & More Sounds of Christmas by The Ramsey Lewis Trio (1964)

The Ramsey Lewis Trio serves up a big helping of warm, lush instrumental arrangements with this pairing of releases. They are both great during a leisurely dinner or lilting over the office hum. Piano lovers will find a happy home here, and aficionados will take exception with me calling these “hidden gems”…but I’m sure we can all agree they don’t get the airtime they deserve.

Hark by Andrew Bird (2020)

Andrew Bird has a quiet, gentle musical presence and an amazing whistle. Hark puts his best qualities on display. The cover art’s lantern-guided evening walk conjures the mood of the album perfectly.

Christmas in the Congo by Les Troubadours Du Roi Baudouin (1963)

Opening with a beautiful rendition of “Holy Night,” Christmas in the Congo was performed by a choir of several dozen Congolese boys, formed by a Belgian Friar working in the region. The result is an uplifting and spiritual tribute to the traditions of both regions.

Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs by Charles Brown (1976)

This is one to put on towards the end of the night with something dark in your glass. It’s drowsy, bluesy, and soulful.

Merry Christmas by Jackie Gleason (1956)

When you’ve done it all—cookies iced and gobbled, gingerbread houses decorated, gifts opened and loved, hearty meals savored, glasses raised, affections shared—all that is left to do is recline on the couch, put Gleason’s Merry Christmas album on the turntable, and make eyes at your Christmas tree twinkling in the dark.

And, scene!

So…what did I miss? ;)