Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 3)

 

Here we are again, getting in the mood. Be sure to check the previous two posts, as well as the Getting in the Mood posts from 2020. Today we are on number three of my picks of the best Christmas Albums. If you didn't get the hint from number two, I'm a big guitar guy and I love Surf guitar and Surf Rock. So today I give you...

The Ventures:  "Christmas Joy"

Let's start with their take on "Winter Wonderland"...What a groove.

Next up, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Not how you typically would expect to here this one, which is why I like it. A totally different feel and vibe to it.

Now lets get to that oldy but goody, "Sleigh Ride." If you're talking about Surf Rock and Christmas, this is exactly what you want to hear. Straight rocking, big drums, plucky groove and all.

How about one more for good measure. "Jingle Bells" opening up the album with a strong bass line, bring in the drums, organ and guitars boys...

That's some quality Christmas grooving.

Track List:

1. Jingle Bells

2. We Wish You a Merry Xmas

3. Winter Wonderland

4. Joy to the World

5. O Christmas Tree

6. Silent Night

7. Jark! The Herald Angels Sing

8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

9. O Holy Night

10. The Christmas Song

11. Sleigh Ride

12. We Three Kings

13. What Child is This

14. O Come All Ye Faithful

15. Deck the Halls

16. Feliz Navidad

17. Christmas Joy

Enjoy!

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums (vol. 2)

 

 We're back with the second installment of Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums. Today's pick is from a legendary Jazz guitarist. One of my all-time favorites, and one of Jimi Hendrix's major influences...

Kenny Burrell: "Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas"

We'll start with the opening track, "The Little Drummer Boy." It starts out how you may expect a Jazz guitarist to put their spin on the song, but eventually Burrell goes off with a solo that any shredder would love to play, and he's doing it clean with no pedalboard tricks. 

Now we'll move onto his rendition of my favorite, "White Christmas." Burrell's is beautiful, smooth and soulful. I simply elegant.

Now we move on to "Children Go Where I Send Thee." This is a total jam! Mixing Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Bing Band, the song just rips. You can't help but tap your foot and smile.

Burrell puts his unique and skillful style on every one of these classics, and for anyone who may say Jazz is boring or dull...There is nothing boring or dull about this album. Check it out kids!

Track List:

1. The Little Drummer Boy

2. Have Yourself a Merry Littles Christmas

3. My Favorite Things

4. Away in a Manger

5. Mary's Little Chile

6. White Christmas

7. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

8. The Christmas Song

9. Children Go Where I Send Thee

10. Silent Night

11. Twelve Days of Christmas

12. Merry Christmas Baby

Getting In the Mood: Best Christmas Albums ( vol. 1)

 

In 2020 I did a series of posts titled "Getting in the Mood," all about some of my favorite Christmas songs. This year we are going to be talking about Christmas albums. It's easy to put out one good song. It's something special to put out a album full of Christmas "bangers" as the kids say. Some may not find all the songs on these albums to be "bangers" but fuck them! They're clearly uncultured shit-bags who don't appreciate jazz, blues, soul, rock and the classics the way this old fucker does.

So, number one on the list...

Booker T. & The MG's: "In the Christmas Spirit"

This is the coolest, grooviest, and my favorite version of "White Christmas" which is one of my favorite Christmas songs.

And how about this jam of "Winter Wonderland!"

Then they take "Silver Bells," a traditional slow, somber tune and give it soul, and it's a version you actually hear plenty of jingle bells in, and in the end as it fades out they give you a taste of the songs original tone.

Every song from beginning to end is fantastic and grooves.

Full Track List:

1. Jingle Bells

2. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

3. Winter Wonderland

4. White Christmas

5. The Christmas Song

6. Silver Bells

7. Merry Christmas Baby

8. Blue Christmas

9. Sweet Little Jesus Boy

10. Silent Night

11. We Three Kings

12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Check it out!