Holiday Albums 2024: Choirs-A-Joy Season
The holiday season is upon us and I releasing my take on this season holiday albums for the 10th year in a row. It’s a season of original new songs, vying for cult hits that will be replayed each holiday season. Are there any stiff competitions for current top 2 place holders, Mariah Carey & Wham! We will find out more later. I did add several new songs to holiday playlist. I’ve been building this list all the way back to 1991 when I made my first holiday mix tape. Yes, those plastic little mini-reel-to-reels.
First up is the surprise release of CeCe Winans second holiday album. The album only has two new songs, but she re-released several songs from her 2018 album Something’s Happening, A Christmas Album. That album has so many songs on my Holiday Playlist. From the title song, “Something’s Happening”, which is such a beautiful original song by Winan’s. I am glad she rereleased this song because, while it is christian song, it such an amazing arrangement. CeCe Winan’s use of choral backup is the key to it’s success and, that was mimic’d in her two new songs on the new album Joyful, Joyful: A Christmas Album. I’ve added both new singles, “Joy to the World” and “Angels We have Heard on High (Joyful, Joyful)” to my holiday playlist. Bravo CeCe!!!
CeCe Winans - Joy to the World
Cece Winans - Angles We Have Heard on High (Joyful, Joyful)
The last time Phil Whickham dropped a holiday album, was back in 2019 and his rendition of “The Christmas Waltz" is still one of my top versions of the song. This holiday season his first single released from his new holiday album was Angels. This song certainly fits into his catalog of Christian rock. This is Whickham’s fourth holiday album. While I waited for the full version of the album to be released. I had a chance to listen back to his first holiday album in 2010 , titled Songs for Christmas. For his new album he dropped singles, “Shepard Boy” and “Angels (Glory to God)” and both are great songs but they did not scream playlist worthy for me. Although “Angels” is a powerful and fun song for kids.
Swinging over in to the country genre for holiday albums. Dropping a ballad for your holiday albums first single is a big challenge and I think Little Big Town released a great single with “Glow” from their The Christmas Album. I really wanted to add it to my holiday playlist, but it just didn’t click with me. Then there is the “If We Make It Through December”, which sounds more like Garth Brooks “Life is a Roller Coaster”. There are so many unique holiday songs for someone who really enjoys a good country album. Their “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” has a beautiful orchestration and harmony. Overall the album is an interesting mix of sounds, some borrowed and some, well just should have been manifested. For example “Holiday” is an original song by the band, but the arrangement as a disco song, is a little hard to un-hear. Sadly I had no playlist adds from this album.
A little bit of jazz, a little bit of blues, and a little bit of elevator music. Rick Braun’s Bronze Holiday album titled It’s Christmas was a little slow to start but few key tracks in the middle of the album stood 0out. His slow version of. "The Christmas Song” was added to my holiday playlist for sure. Although the next track titled, “Do You Hear the Angels?”, I thought was an original song because there is a hymn titled “Can yo hear the angels?” But this song turned out to be a mashup of “Hark The Herald Angel” and “Do you Hear What I Hear”. Then “Angels On High” followed by “Oh Come, Let Us Adore Him”. I think I have a 2 to 3 song mashup limit. Six songs is a lot. I’m sure there was another song placed in there somewhere. Another song I enjoyed from this album and added it to my holiday playlist is “The Santa Clause”, which I was excited to see the track title because I thought for a hot second that the track was from the The Santa Clause main title from the Disney class movie by the same name. Sadly, that was not the case. Te Santa Clause actually didn’t have a main title, the movie actually opened with “Oh Christmas Tree” and “Carol of the Bells”. I thought it might be another mashup but it only had one song, “Santa Claus Come to Town”. I am not sure why he renamed the song, it’s just a new arrangement for the song. I think there are certainly other great jazz tracks that would be great for holiday dinner playlist. “The Coventry Song” actually has a great upbeat to it.
Rick Braun - “The Santa Clause”
‘tis the season for new original holiday songs and the raining Queen is Miss Jennifer Hudson. Her first holiday album release feature several original songs written for holiday album, titled The Gift of Love. Two of those songs that really jump out at you include "Santa For Someone” and “Make It To Christmas”. I added both songs to my Holiday Playlist right away. Both of them have a great beat and fit well into any mix, dinner or party. I especially loved her nod to her family’s musical roots in the “Little Drummer Boy”. Which takes me back to another version of the little drummer boy released back in 1970, by the Jackson 5. Which also happens to be on my holiday playlist. The arrangement of the choir in the song really makes it stand out along with Hudson‘s vocal range throughout the song. While the album has a handful of strong songs, she featured a story song with "Almost Christmas". Opening the song with citing of The Night Before Christmas rewritten with a modern poetic take on holiday celebrations today by the talented lyricist and writer Common. I added that song as well as the classic "The Christmas Song” to my Holiday playlist. Both of them have such a relaxing sound with Hudson’s vocals and how they were arranged.
Hudson has several other classics on the album, but “The Christmas Song” stood out the most for me. Although her “Jingle Bells” is quite a fun song for any holiday playlist. I had to cap my adds at 5 songs this holiday season. Doesn’t mean I can find another favorite as the holiday season carries on. Overall I have to say Ms. Hudson put together an amazing first holiday album, and I cannot wait to see her second release in the years to come. There are so many great songs for her to embrace, dare I suggest, “River”, “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas”, “Merry Christmas Darling”. So many options. But new songs are always an added plus.
Jennifer Hudson -"Santa For Someone”
Jennifer Hudson - “Make It To Christmas”
Jennifer Hudson - “Little Drummer Boy”
Jennifer Hudson - “The Christmas Song”
Jennifer Hudson - "Almost Christmas"
Ben Folds new album Sleighter dropped with two singles being released. His duet with Lindsey Kraft, “We Could Have This” is another original song for the holiday season. I love this song! While it doesn’t have your usual holiday arrangement, it’s a fun song to have playing in the background during the special time of year. His second single was a popular track option this holiday season, “The Christmas Song”. I added this version to my holiday playlist, sadly it’s doesn’t break into the Top 10 list I created last year for this song. Another song that I really liked on this album, that is worth looking at for a holiday list add, is “Waiting For Snow”. It’s a short instrumental piece, which I did add to my Classical Holiday Playlist.
Ben Folds - “The Christmas Song”
Ben Folds - “Waiting for Snow”
First, I’d like to preface the fact that I was excited to see this album listed on the coming soon less for the 2024 holiday season. A child of the 80s, I am a huge fan of Amy Grant’s early days and now in her prime. I will admit, I’m not a huge follower of Vince Gill, but appreciate a some of his country tracks. Then comes their first holiday duet album, When I Think of Christmas, which left me saying out loud, REALLY! Let’s just start with the fact there is ONLY one duet on this album of two shinning stars. “Til the Season Comes Around Again” is a beautiful duet and I was really hoping to see the duo follow the success of Seth McFarland & Liz Gilles, where nearly all of the songs on the album were duets. Sadly, that’s not the case. I don’t like to crap on a album, so instead I am doing something new.
While her new album When I Think of Christmas is Amy Grant’s fourth holiday album. Not counting her compilation releases, her three earlier albums I’ve loved and taken several songs and placed them on my holiday playlist. Her Tennessee Christmas album in 2016 is all over the place on my holiday playlist. Grant‘s first holiday album dropped in 1983 titled A Christmas Album. Like most albums in the 80s it’s laced with a lot of synthesizer sounds, one could liken to a Mannheim Steamroller album. Now we have credit Grant for her synthesizer sound, because she was a pioneer. Mannheim’s first holiday album was not release until one year later in 1984.
Right from the start Grant dabbled in picking obscure holiday songs. I’ve always had “Hark the Harold Angel Sings” from her 1983 album, on my holiday playlist for over 4 decades now. Another great song from this album is a mashup of “A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard on High.” Then came her greatly mastered 1992 holiday album, Home For Christmas. I have so many songs on this album on permanent rotation on holiday playlist. From “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, which she performed on Kathy Lee’s Just In Time for Christmas tv concert in 1996. To two other playlist adds from this album “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Joy to the World/For Unto A Child is Born”.
In 1999 she released a third holiday album, A Christmas to Remember. Which finally gifted us with her rendition of “Silent Night”, which I gave a solid A and has been on my holiday playlist since 1999. What I loved about second and third albums, was she had a couple orchestra songs on each album. Fast forwards almost 17 years, Grant released Tennessee Christmas in 2016 and I added a handful of songs from that album to my holiday playlist. These additions include the title track, “Tennessee Christmas”, along with “Baby It’s Cold Outside” which was her first holiday duet with husband Vince Gill. Going back the new album, Gill’s voice sounded amazing on the duet track, just like first duet. What I notice is he is using his chest voice, which is present in all his regular solo work. It feels like Gill didn’t watt to overshadow Grant on his solo tracks on the new duet album. I think they sound great together, I just wish their was just one or two more duets.
Amy Grant - “Hark the Harold Angel Sings”
Amy Grant - “Silent Night”
Amy Grant - “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Amy Grant - "Tennessee Christmas”
Amy Grant - “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
Kelly Clarkson is back on top of the charts with a new holiday single for Christmas, “You For Christmas” is return back to Motown to the sound she mastered on her 2021 album When Christmas Come Around. Is this going to be the new all I want for Christmas? It certainly a play on the Carrie classic song title. But definitely has its own sound and lyrical style. Personally, I think the song is a great addition to her already fruit fall holiday library. I added it to my holiday playlist because it has such a positive energy and nostalgic sound. That is a great nod to the great greats like Diana Ross and Ronnie Spector.
Kelly Clarkson - “You For Christmas”
It feels like just last year that Brett Eldridge released a heavily packed holiday album of keepers. This holiday season, Brett releases a follow up album Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family with all the holiday leftovers. I wanted to really like this album but all eight tracks felt like they were all b sides to his successful 2021 album Mr. Christmas. With that said, I will say I did go back to his 2021 album and and added a fifth song from the album, his saucy version of “Cool Yule”, a great nod to composer Steve Allen and his 1953 holiday classic. I just wish I could really like the album. Even the duet of “Sweetest December” with Kelly Clarkson sounded drowned out. Maybe is the studio song that was used for the album that is throwing me off. It’s just to distant and muffle sounding. The album is worth a listen to see if you see a song that would fit your own holiday rotation. One song I did like, but just did spin me the first listen, but caught my ear the second time around was “It Must Be Christmas”.
Brett Eldridge - “It Must Be Christmas”
Ok if you are huge fan of R&B then this is your go to Holiday Album. Tower of Power has been putting out albums since the 60s. There many classics on their It’s Christmas album, with some amazing vocal ranges but the standout song, that I’ve already added to my playlist is the title track “It’s Christmas (A Long Way from Home)”. From what I can tell this is an original song. Overall their first foray into the holiday album world is a solid R&B release. I like how they meshed funk and slow jazz on some of the songs, but the vocal ranges gives something for everyone. I went with the baritone voice of Doc Kupka, who’s been a member of the group since 1968.
Tower of Power - “It’s Christmas (A Long Way from Home)”
Christmas Soul might be small album but it packs holiday funk punch. Wesley Bright is gifting us another Motown and Funk sound album this holiday season. “Give Out My Christmas Love” reminds me of “The Loco-motion” from the 60s. The one song that I really loved and added to holiday playlist was “It’s Raining Reindeer”. Such a blast from the past sound for the holidays. If you are big fan of the funk and Motown sounds during the holidays, this is your album to check out.
Wesley Bright - “It’s Raining Reindeer”
Dan + Shay are a Nashville pop-country duo and they add a better take on a good old country holiday album. Their first holiday album, It’s Officially Christmas Time is packed a lot of the classics and several are worthy of your holiday playlist. The album opens with several holiday standards ranging from “The Christmas Song”, “Jingle Bell Rock” and even “Silent Night”. The duo went with a-cappella version of silent night, which had a beautiful harmony. I would give it a B minus. Then came an avalanche of original songs to some simple tempo arrangements. I really liked “Officially Christmas” but a lot of the other songs had similar lyric patterns and “Pick Out A Christmas Tree” was to close to “Islands in the Stream”.
I loved the lyrics for Parson Brown but I just wish the arrangement was a little more festive sounding. I was also lit up when I saw they did Bon Jovi’s “Christmas Isn’t Christmas”. Sadly it was another original song with the same name. I think the song would have been better with more of a festive country sound. I get it a lot of the album is relationship based. I think that’s why so many of songs just bleed together by the end of album. I was hoping to get more than one song my playlist from this two sided album. I was impressed they wrote and released 11 original tracks for this album. I think in the end the pushed too hard to release this album and orchestra arrangements were just too simple. I think they could have held off on releasing half and taking the time to working on the arrangements.
Meghan Trainor returns to the holiday song grind with Jimmy Fallon, being featured on his first holiday album. Trainor sounded great on the first single “Wrap Me Up”. Before you freak out Jimmy Fallon singing, he actually does a great job with this album heavy on the duets. His second single “It Was A….” was a nod to WHAM’s “Last Christmas”
The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square is an old favorite from the 90’s. Most recently I added “Holly and Ivy” from their “O’Holy Night” and as far back I added “ We Wish You a Merry Christmas” from their 1990 Joy To The World album. The choir and orchestra have a long history of holiday album releases. They’ve been releasing a holiday album every year, since their 1990 album. Over the last 30 years they have also featured guest vocal artists on their albums. From Natalie Cole’s epic The Most Wonderful Time of the Year in 1990, to other amazing artists like Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Huh Boneville, Megan Hilty, Lea Solange, and so many more amazing talents.
This year with the release of Joy! Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, they brought on Michael Maliakel and Lesley Nicol from Downton Abbey fame to the celebration. While Nicol received the “The Christmas Story: Luke 2, Maliakel provided the many vocal solo tracks. I only added one of Michael Maliakel’s vocal tracks, “Joy to the World” and one of the choirs tracks, and the choirs, “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas” from the Home Alone movies. I also want to highlight some of the tracks I added back in 1990 to my holiday playlist, “Silent Night”, “Carol of the Bells” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.
The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra - “Joy to the World”
The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra - “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas”
The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra - “The Christmas Waltz (feat. Kristin Chenoweth)”
The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra - “Silent Night”
The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra - “Carol of the Bells”
The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra - “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”
The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra - “Caroling, Caroling (feat. Natalie Cole)”
The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra - “Grown Up Christmas List (feat. Natalie Cole)”
Lea Salonga is probably one of my top 10 broadway voices of all time. Having previously recorded holiday songs with several orchestra’s on the planet, like the The Tabernacle Choir & Orchestra listed above, she ventures on her first holiday album release. She goes out with the big band bang with “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” on her The Holiday Album. She shines best though with some of the more modern classics, like Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) and “Christmas on Broadway”. Overall the album has some uplifting arrangements but some of the key songs were just downplayed to much in their arrangement. That said I did add her mashup single, “Christmas Time/The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
Lea Solange - “Christmas Time/The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Tasha Layton returns for the 2024 season with another holiday album, Wake Up It’s Christmas. Last year she dropped her 2023 This Christmas album. I missed this album because it was release really close to the Thanksgiving holiday. So this will be a double review. Her This is Christmas album had some great ballads and fun tracks for your holiday playlist. First I have to give her a solid A- for her rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas”, which I added to my holiday playlist right away. Layton abandons her Christian Pop roots and dabbles in Big Band and Jazz melodies for the 2023 album. I am so enjoyed the handful of original songs that Layton wrote for the album. I strongly recommend a listen, you might like several of them. I think she covered 7 of my top ten holidays songs of all time. I added “This Christmas” to my holiday playlist, which offered smooth arrangement, which is not really seen, even in the R&B genre. I was delighted to also see Layton offer her version of “Somewhere in My Memory” which is the second time this season I’ve added it to my holiday playlist. Must urge a listen to “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “Turn Your Eyes (This Christmas Day)” are both great songs that she ends the album with.
Next we fast forward to her 2024 release of Wake Up It’s Christmas, which came out 10 earlier this year and I was able to review on time for this post. I am not sure why people choose to publish album so late in the season. Layton delivers….
Tasha Layton - “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas”
Tasha Layton - “Somewhere in My Memory”
Tasha Layton - “This Christmas”
Tasha Layton - “Hang Up Your Stockn’”
Alicia Witt’s second holiday album I Think I am Spending Christmas With You, she dips into old standards in a few original songs. She starts off her new album with the title track quote. I think I am spending Christmas with you” which had a tempo and styling similar to George Michaels “Healing The Pain“ from his listen without prejudice album. I commend Alicia for her extensive track list, with so many original songs. I especially liked her song soap said snow” which was arranged in the Irish folk song tempo. I added that song to my holiday playlist, but there are a couple of other songs like “December 26“ which are worth a listen to what your own holiday playlist. For her rendition of silent night, I give it a solid C.
OK, this next holiday single was added without even listening. My kids affection for Ava Max is mountainous. This holiday season she released a holiday single titled “1 Wish”. At first listen I was hooked and even on the second and third time I’ve listened to it, the song truly grows and grows on you. It’s a great fun holiday song and kids are gonna definitely love it. Hopefully she will record a full album for the holiday. Season for the next year or two. this single was a quick add to the holiday playlist for me.
Ava Max - “1 Wish”
Last but not least we have Jaymes Vaughn who returned to music last year has him releasing a extended play album Feels Like Christmas with four tracks. It’s exciting to hear such a great baritone vocal artist shine during the holidays. I immediately responded to his third track on his feels like Christmas album “You Made It Christmas“ along with the other three tracks are all unique holiday songs. I added “You Made It Christmas“ onto my holiday playlist for the season. I look forward to possibly releasing another holiday album someday. Would love to see him do some classics next time but all four songs are fun.
Jaymes Vaughn - “You Made It Christmas“
Another fun single release this season is BOYNEXTDOOR “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas”. I really like this version because last year “V” from BTS released the same so but it didn’t make my 2023 post. I add the BOYNEXTDOOR version to my holiday playlist. There is some rumors “V” will be releasing a new duet single with Bing Crosby. So far it wasn’t released yet.
BOYNEXTDOOR - “It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas”
Ruben Studdard is truly a reincarnation of Johnny Gill. Every time I hear his voice I’m thrown back to the 1980s. Stubbard new holiday album My Favorite Things with five songs and I was initially struck by his rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “One Little Christmas Tree”. Which stubborn truly paid a homage to Wonder’s original arrangement. Also, on the album is Stubbard’s soft but so full “Silent Night”, which I have to give a solid B minus. Then there is the album title track which is the shining star, “My Favorite Holiday”. Both the title track and “One Little Christmas Tree” were placed on my holiday playlist. Not bad for two out of five songs being strong listens.
Ruben Studdard - “My Favorite Holiday”
Ruben Studdard - “One Little Christmas Tree”
Jonathon McReynolds holiday album Red & Green may be short, but it is packed with some great tracks. My favorite song on the album is “Christmas is Everything” which I immediately added to my holiday playlist. This is definitely an album worth listening to to find your favorite. We are seeing a lot more extended play album being released versus long play albums. Many artists this season focused on certain songs while if you threw everything in the kitchen sink into the mix. Overall, I think this is another wonderful holiday season filled with music.
Jonathan McReynolds - “Christmas is Everything”
In 2021 Griff her first holiday single “ Oh Come All Ye Faithful” which is still her number one single. This holiday season she’s dropped another holiday single but with a twist. This is the second artist who’s actually released this song for the 2024 holiday season. I personally believe that “Pure Imagination” can be played during the holiday season. I definitely added this to my holiday playlist because she really holds together a great arrangement with her young vocal style leads.
Griff - “Pure Imagination”
Overall I think this years crop of holiday albums were a great success. I was happy to see the release by the Tabernacle Choir, was filled with so many great songs. Granted I listed songs from previous albums, for more than one artists this holiday season.