Ten years ago I was on bedrest due to complications in my twin pregnancy. During my many hours of TV watching I kept seeing ads for The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas. I’d never bought anything off TV before, and I haven’t since, but I’m glad I got these CDs. The treasury comes with two discs and a total of forty-five Christmas songs.
Even though my twins are almost ten, these Christmas CDs are still played a lot at our house. I don’t remember what I paid for it, but it was worth every penny! Some of the singers are from an older generation and were songs that I hadn’t heard since I was a child. The first song is Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas”. And can anybody sing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” like Gene Autry? What about Burl Ives singing “Holly Jolly Christmas”? You’ll also find songs by the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Harry Belafonte, Roger Whittaker, Lena Horne, The Carpenters, Judy Garland, and Perry Como. I’m not much of a country music fan, but “Christmas in Dixie” by Alabama is just beautiful.
Some of the songs are performed by chorale and orchestra groups. I enjoy the mixture of old time classic songs, the more modern renditions, and quiet and holy carols with light rock tunes. Such a mixture doesn’t seem like it work, but it really does. Who would have thought to put “Silver Bells” on the same CD as “Blue Christmas”, “Feliz Navidad”, “O Holy Night”, and “Santa’s Beard” (sung by the Beach Boys). There are also some nice song medleys like the combination of “Joy to the World” and “Angels We Have Heard on High”. The CD is fun, quiet and contemplative, rocking, traditional and is so diverse that surely everyone will find some happy listening.
Also See:
Winterlude: Instrumentals for Contemplative Christmas
A Holiday Celebration – CD – Peter, Paul & Mary