'Tis the season for holiday albums, from Jennifer Hudson to Toby Keith
and Jimmy Fallon
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 [November 20, 2024]
By MARIA SHERMAN
NEW YORK (AP) — It's not the holiday season until the house is full of
festive music, from classics to covers and reimaginations across genres,
for all to enjoy.
In honor of the most wonderful time of the year, here are some of the
best new holiday releases for the 2024 season.
Vince Gill and Amy Grant, “When I Think of Christmas”
When it comes to country music Christmas classics, Vince Gill and Amy
Grant immediately come to mind. The couple is no stranger to the world
of holiday music, and their latest collection, “When I Think of
Christmas,” channels the spirit of their popular “Christmas at the
Ryman” residency in Nashville, with two new recordings: a duet of “'Til
the Season Comes Round Again” and Grant's take on the title track.
The Carpenters, “Christmas Once More”
Don't fix what ain't broke is an expression for a reason: Sometimes the
best holiday album listening experience is enjoying the classics, but
newly remixed and remastered. Enter the 16-track “Christmas Once More”
from the Carpenters. Fall in love with “Sleigh Ride” and “(There’s No
Place Like) Home For The Holidays” all over again.
Jennifer Hudson, “The Gift of Love”
Jennifer Hudson has done a ton in her career — including winning an
Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, making her the rare performer to EGOT, as
the expression goes — but a holiday album? That's new territory. “The
Gift of Love” is her first, full of big-hearted classics like “O Holy
Night,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Auld Lang Syne” and “Carol of the Bells,”
which features the a cappella-meets-Zulu music South African group The
Joy. The album also contains some inventive originals. In that category:
“Almost Christmas” with Common. If there is only one album to grab this
holiday season, you'd be wise to make it this one.
Little Big Town, “The Christmas Record”
Another big name in contemporary music has released their first holiday
album. Little Big Town's “The Christmas Record,” produced by the
legendary Dave Cobb, is a country music spectacular. Like Hudson's, this
one is a collection of familiar tunes along with originals — like the
opener “Glow,” and the cheery vocal harmony of its chorus: “That shine,
that shimmer deep inside of you / Find that magic, let the light in you
show / Let it go / Let it glow.”
Toby Keith, “Christmas to Christmas”
In February, country superstar Toby Keith, a hit crafter of pro-American
anthems who riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans, died at
62. In the time since, he's been eulogized and celebrated, and that
continues with a newly remastered reissue of his 1995 holiday classic,
“Christmas to Christmas.”
Clay Aiken, “Christmas Bells Are Ringing”
Clay Aiken — you read that name correctly, the onetime “American Idol”
runner-up and politician — has returned with his first studio album in
over a decade, “Christmas Bells Are Ringing.” His voice sounds as sweet
and theatrical as ever — a natural partner to holiday classics.
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This album cover image released by Republic Records shows "Holiday
Seasoning" by Jimmy Fallon. (Republic Records via AP)
 Jimmy Fallon, “Holiday Seasoning”
At the intersection of Christmas and comedy albums comes Jimmy
Fallon's “Holiday Seasoning.” The “Tonight Show” host gets into the
spirit of the season with jokes — and some A-list guests — included.
Check out “Almost Too Early for Christmas” with Dolly Parton,
“Hallmark Movie” with Cara Delevingne, and “New Year's Eve Polka
(5-4-3-2-1)” featuring the Roots and Weird Al. It's exactly what it
sounds like.
The Philly Specials, “A Philly Special Christmas Party”
For a third year in a row, the Philly Specials — former Philadelphia
Eagle Jason Kelce and current Eagles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata
— have released a holiday album for charity. “A Philly Special
Christmas Party” benefits a few organizations, including the
Children’s Crisis Treatment Center and Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia. If getting NFL stars to sing sounds funny, well,
that's kind of the point. The fun and absurdity are this album's
superpowers: On the Americana “Maybe This Christmas,” Kelce (brother
to Travis Kelce) and Stevie Nicks duet, singing, “And maybe
forgiveness will ask us to call / Someone we love / Someone we’ve
lost for reasons we can’t quite recall / Maybe this Christmas.” It's
moving.
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, “Ella & Louis Wish You a
Swinging Holiday”
Let's be honest here. Around Christmas, everyone wants to hear Ella
Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Why not hear them together? “Ella &
Louis Wish You a Swinging Holiday” is a new boxset, two jazz
classics meeting in perfect harmony: “Ella Wishes You a Swinging
Christmas” and “Louis Wishes You A Cool Yule.”
Ben Folds, “Sleigher”
Ben Folds might not be an obvious pick for holiday music —
“Sleigher” is his first Christmas album, after all — but it's a
match made in heaven. His indie piano pop has charmed horn-rimmed
glasses wearers for many years; his delicate compositions hit like
falling snow. There are seven originals here and three covers.
The Temptations, “Give Love at Christmas”
The holidays, like every day, are a time for listening to Motown
Records' vocal groups. This year, tuck into a new reissue of the
Temptations' 1980 album, “Give Love at Christmas.” It's for fans of
five-part harmonies and soulful renditions of classics.
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