Christmas albums 2013

[Ray]

A lot of artists will release a Christmas album this year:

 

Wilde Winter Songbook / Kim Wilde

Christmas Where You Are / Linda Eder

One Christmas Night Only / Glennis Grace

Wrapped In Red / Kelly Clarkson

Winter Loverland / Tamar Braxton

TBA / Ariana Grande

Christmas With Love / Leona Lewis

Home For Christmas / Susan Boyle

A Mary Christmas / Mary J. Blige

The Best Man Holiday (soundtrack) / Various Artists

Sending You A Little Christmas / Johnny Mathis

 

Which one will you be buying?

[rael1983]

A lot of artists will release a Christmas album this year:

 

Wilde Winter Songbook / Kim Wilde

Christmas Where You Are / Linda Eder

One Christmas Night Only / Glennis Grace

Wrapped In Red / Kelly Clarkson

Winter Loverland / Tamar Braxton

TBA / Ariana Grande

Christmas With Love / Leona Lewis

Home For Christmas / Susan Boyle

A Mary Christmas / Mary J. Blige

The Best Man Holiday (soundtrack) / Various Artists

Sending You A Little Christmas / Johnny Mathis

 

Which one will you be buying?

A lot of artists will release a Christmas album this year:

 

Wilde Winter Songbook / Kim Wilde

Christmas Where You Are / Linda Eder

One Christmas Night Only / Glennis Grace

Wrapped In Red / Kelly Clarkson

Winter Loverland / Tamar Braxton

TBA / Ariana Grande

Christmas With Love / Leona Lewis

Home For Christmas / Susan Boyle

A Mary Christmas / Mary J. Blige

The Best Man Holiday (soundtrack) / Various Artists

Sending You A Little Christmas / Johnny Mathis

 

Which one will you be buying?

 

I think I will eventually get Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Leona Lewis and also Jewel's second Christmas record, "Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection". Her first one, "Joy: A Holiday Collection", was absolutely beautiful.

[LuisMa]

I agree, Rael. Jewel's first album is a MUST for me to play every year.

 

I got Kelly Clarkson's and didn't really like it. I want Tamar Braxton's, Kim Wilde's :wub: and Leona's.

[Ray]

My #1 has to be the new Linda Eder album. Can't wait! Her first Christmas album is one of my all time favorites!

 

[Jessyka]

Kelly Clarkson's Wrapped in Red is beautiful!

[celinefanonline]

already got MJB & Kelly's xmas album both r really good!!!

[ErwinG]

I really want Glennis' CD ... so that one I will most probably after X-mas ...

 

I ordered Kelly Clarkson CD, so hopefully I'll get it for this X-mas ...

[Ray]

Saw the coversleeve of Leona's album. I LOVE it!!!!

The tracklisting is not so special IMO and it only has 10 songs.

[Ray]

Erasure will also be releasing a Christmas album. There is a 1 disc available and a limited edition 3 disc (already sold out).

Tracklist: Erasure, Snow Globe

1. “Bells Of Love (Isabelle’s of Love)”

2. “Gaudete”

3. “Make It Wonderful”

4. “Sleep Quietly”

5. “Silent Night”

6. “Loving Man”

7. “The Christmas Song”

8. “Bleak Midwinter”

9. “Blood On The Snow”

10. “There’ll Be No Tomorrow”

11. “Midnight Clear”

12. “White Christmas”

13. “Silver Bells”

Tracklist: Erasure, Snow Globe box set

CD 1

1. “Bells Of Love (Isabelle’s of Love)”

2. “Gaudete”

3. “Make It Wonderful”

4. “Sleep Quietly”

5. “Silent Night”

6. “Loving Man”

7. “The Christmas Song”

8. “Bleak Midwinter”

9. “Blood On The Snow”

10. “There’ll Be No Tomorrow”

11. “Midnight Clear”

12. “White Christmas”

13. “Silver Bells”

CD2

1. “Gaudete” (A Cappella Version)

2. “Stop The Cavalry” (Acoustic Version)

3. “Silent Night” (Instrumental Version)

4. “She Won’t Be Home” (2013 Redux)

5. “Make It Wonderful” (Acoustic Version)

6. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (2013 Redux)

7. “White Christmas” (Instrumental Version)

8. “Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus” (spoken word piece)

CD3

1. The Erasure Christmas Radio Show (Recorded Live Inside The Snow Globe)

[Ray]

Tracklist Glennis Grace:

1.

Oh Holy Night

2.

All I Want For Christmas Is You

3.

Mijn Allermooiste Kerst

4.

Driving Home For Christmas

5.

Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)

6.

We Three Kings (In duet met de 3JS)

7.

Last Christmas

8.

NYE

9.

Ik Moet Je Laten Gaan

10.

It Should Be Christmas Everyday

11.

Santa Clause Is Comin' To Town

12.

Happy X-mas (War Is Over)

13.

Ondanks Alles (Christmas Edit)

14.

Eenzame Kerst (In duet met André Hazes) [bonustrack]

15.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (In duet met The Temptations) [bonustrack]

[comingback]

Here is Leonas album cover

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Il%2BjNG2YL.jpg

[Ray]

Ashanti is coming with a Christmas EP.

[Angel2006]

I think the Leona Lewis Christmas album would sound really nice and I'm interested in buying it, but i also would love to have Kelly Clarkson's new Christmas album!

 

I am still holding out hope that Celine will make another Christmas album. I love the These Are Special Times album, It's one of my favorite albums by any artist of all time!

 

Hopefully next year Celine will surprise us with a brand new Christmas release!

Edited November 18, 2013 at 10:17 PM by Angel2006

[Ray]

http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/x/www.broadwayworld.com/images.bwwstatic.com/columnpic6/29857293A-A1C0-CB80-BB2DE0AA9F4EBEE9.jpg.pagespeed.ce.J6ZpwqabY4.jpg

 

Linda Eder's album arrived today. I LOVE it. Best Christmas album of the year! And even got her autograph. She packs and posts the CD's herself.

Great choir, beautiful orchestra, amazing voice, good choice of oldies and beautiful new songs.

Edited November 19, 2013 at 08:10 PM by Ray

[Ray]

Ariana Grande released her version of Wham!'s Last Christmas.

 

She is to release a Christmas song every Monday for the coming weeks.

[Ray]

 

At time she reminds me of Celine. I love this song. It's from her first Christmas album.

[Ray]

My favorite Christmas album: Christmas Where You Are by Linda Eder. Although she released it herself, she did sing with an orchestra, wrote two new songs, and asked fans which traditionals she should record. She even send the cd's herself. You can order the album atwww.lindaeder.com

 

Linda Eder herself about the songs:

 

“CHRISTMAS WALTZ/IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR” (Medley)

 

“CHRISTMAS WALTZ”

 

“‘Christmas Waltz’ came in at Number 3 in the fan voting. I had never sung the song (even at home), so when I saw it on the list I wasn’t sure how I would use it on the CD. The original arrangement concept was a little different from how it turned out, but it’s because I discovered for myself what a beautiful melody it was all by itself… pure like the falling snow… and a perfect way to start the album.”

 

“IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR”

 

“‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ ranked at Number 10 for fan favorites. Because it wasn’t in the top 6, I did not know I would be singing it until I had Kim over to talk about arrangement concepts. He saw it on the list and that is when we came up with the idea of partnering it with ‘Christmas Waltz.’”

 

“THE SILENCE OF SNOW”

 

“In the early summer of 2013, I asked Frank to write a couple melodies for possible inclusion on my upcoming Christmas CD. True to form he quickly sent me two. I listened to the songs but kept putting off writing the lyrics because nothing was immediately popping into my head. I usually get an idea for a lyric after just a few listenings. So I basically had them on the back burner while Billy and I started work on the CD. As the weeks went by, Frank kept asking me if I had written the lyrics to either of the melodies, and I watched his face fall every time I said, ‘No… not sure I’ll be able to.’

 

Then one evening I felt guilty so I decided to give it a go. I chose the melody I liked best and got out a pencil and paper and… I stared at the paper. I played the track over and over waiting for something, anything to pop into my head. The paper was blank. I was about to give up when these words popped into my head… ‘There’s no sound to the snow when it’s falling….’ And that was the key that unlocked the song for me. Billy and I laid down a piano vocal, and then Kim Scharnberg worked his magic with an incredible horn and string arrangement. Needless to say… Frank is smiling.”

 

“O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL”

 

“‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ came in at Number 9 in the fan voting. I have always loved this Christmas classic and remember singing it in my high school choir. I gave this arrangement to Kim Scharnberg and he blew us all away with his upbeat take on the song. I love it! The choir sounds great and this version is really fun to sing. I think we all had a great time with this one!”

 

“GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST”

 

“‘Grown-Up Christmas List’ tied for 4th in the top six on the fan voting. When I saw it on the list, I got really nervous because the song has been recorded by some heavy hitters over the years, and the best known arrangement is David Foster’s very pop version. After listening to several versions and actually studying the lyrics for the first time, I came to the conclusion that although Foster’s recording (he wrote the song) is wonderful, it seems to focus more on the music and the beauty of the words is perhaps lost. I hope and I believe that this new arrangement preserves all the beauty of the melody and allows the heartfelt words to be front and center. Their meaning has never been more important.”

 

“ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH/HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING” (Medley)

 

“‘Angels We Have Heard On High’ came in at Number 7 on the list and ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ came in at number 25. I thought they would make a great medley. Kim Scharnberg agreed and he truly made this a great medley. The choir did a fantastic job, and I had to shake the dust and cobwebs off my ‘classical’ voice in order to sing this one. Kim made me work! Boy… did he ever! But I love the result and I love the unique color this brings to the whole CD.”

 

“BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE”

 

“‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ came in at number 5 on the top 6 fan picks. I was not happy when I saw it because, to be very honest, I have never liked the song! I was making a lot of ‘noise’ about the fact that I was going to have to sing it, and one of the things I complained about was the fact that the guy in the duet gets the better melody. It was Maureen Smith who then said, ‘Well, sing the other part then.’ That was the catalyst that started this track on its way to becoming something that will be forever precious to me. I knew I needed a duet partner, and that’s when I got the idea to turn it into a Mother/Son parody of the original song. Of course, it all hinged on whether or not I could convince Jake to sing it with me. To my surprise, relief and delight… he actually said yes. He helped me with ideas for the lyrics. I always knew he could sing, and even though he was shy you can hear the budding crooner in my big kid! So… a song that I started out not wanting to record at all has become a Christmas gift for me forever.”

 

“CHRISTMAS WHERE YOU ARE”

 

“I wrote ‘Christmas Where You Are’ one day when I was sitting in an airport waiting for yet another flight. The words started forming in my head without me even really trying, so when I got on the plane I took out a pen and spent that flight working to turn it into a song. When I got home I pulled out my guitar and because I already had a melody, it was a matter of finding the chords that matched what was already in my head.”

 

“ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE/HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS” (Medley)

“Neither of the two songs in this medley was on the list, but I knew I would get a lot of fan choices that were ballads so I wanted to find some fun up tempo songs to balance out the CD. These are two of my favorites. I gave this arrangement to Kim and he came back with something that had us all smiling. It was a hoot watching the choir record their part. Let’s just say the butts were bopping and swaying!”

 

“THE FIRST NOEL”

 

“I think the whole idea of doing a new Christmas CD started with this song. I’ve been performing it every Christmas for years and had been asked many times to record it. The arrangement is adapted from a lovely one that John Oddo did for me. The cello work is by Dave Eggar and it is stunning. Billy and I again stacked my vocals to create a choir effect that takes the place of a string section. It’s a classic melody that holds so many of my Christmas memories.”

 

“MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING”

 

“’Merry Christmas Darling’ was the number 1 pick of the fans! A song I had never sung. It is a classic written by Richard Carpenter with the quintessential vocal performance by Karen Carpenter. I decided that there was really no way and no point to try to recreate that standard arrangement. It had been done to perfection and was so ingrained in people minds. So we added a jazz feel and the icon of a jazz feel… the saxophone… played so beautifully by Dave Mann, who has been a fixture on almost everyone of my CDs. So this track is a ‘cozy up to the fireplace with someone you love!’”

 

“MARY, DID YOU KNOW?”

 

“‘Mary, Did You Know?’ came in 2nd place in the top six fan picks. I had never even heard of the song let alone listened to it. I was relieved and pleasantly surprised to find out what a great song it is. This is another track where I had fun doing all the background vocals. Actually… recording background vocals is always the most fun I have in the studio when I am working on a record. Jerry Marotta also got to bring out some of his really interesting drums and percussion ‘toys’ as I like to call them.”

 

“COVENTRY CAROL”

 

“‘Coventry Carol’ was not on the fan list but it was always on mine. We sang this song in my high school choir, and I have always been touched by the haunting melody. I knew I wanted to do an arrangement that had me singing with myself. I went into the studio and Billy played the piano while I sang the lead vocal. Then I laid down a harmony track. We let the song rest for a while and worked on other songs over the course of many weeks. When we finally went back to work on it, Billy and I worked out all the harmonies and layered my voice over and over so I sound like a choir.

 

The lyrics come from the 1500s and are about a dark and tragic event having to do with children. Christmas is all about children… and Christmas of 2013 and every one to follow will be sadly different for the families of Newtown and for two families in North Salem. This song is for them.”

Edited November 24, 2013 at 05:06 PM by Ray

[comingback]

https://soundcloud.com/leonalewis

 

Soundcloud for Leonas Christmas album.

Wow! That girl can sing.

[LuisMa]

I got the latest Mary J. Blige Christmas CD and it's great! Better than what I expected it to be.

 

[browseceline]

https://soundcloud.com/leonalewis

 

Soundcloud for Leonas Christmas album.

Wow! That girl can sing.

 

I sure agree! I also like that the old songs, like Holy Night and Silent Night not have a renewed sound or drumtrack.

And Ave Maria sounds angelic with that soprano voice ! She also sounds a lot like Mariah Carey, impressive album!

Edited December 10, 2013 at 11:42 AM by browseceline

[Ray]

 

New Christmas song by Kim Wilde. One of the best originals I've heard in a long time!

[LuisMa]

OMG I looove Kim Wilde. Thank you, Ray! It's really amazing!!!

[Ray]

The Kim Wilde album is really good. I also love Jewel's new cd. :)