There are Christmas songs and Christmas songs but there are Christmas songs that we Pinoys like best. These are the ones in the albums we bring out every year when September makes its entrance. These are also the ones we often need duplicate copies of because we wear them out from too much playing.
These are not the best recordings but these are the ones that make us feel the joy, the blessings and at times even the sadness of this very special season more than the others. At this time of the year, when no new Christmas releases seem to be forthcoming, here are the albums that are now the most indispensable.
Christmas Disco Medley. Whoever thought of giving Christmas songs a disco beat created the ultimate sound for Pinoy Christmas parties. There are several versions of this medley around all performed by artists with generic sounding names. It is just as well. Nobody cares about them anyway. What people want is to dance to Jingle Bells.
White Christmas by Bing Crosby with his timeless rendition of the great Irving Berlin composition. This was first recorded in 1941 and expressed the thoughts of the American soldier fighting a war away from home in a tropical country like the Philippines. He is of course dreaming of snow and sleigh bells. The album came out in 1945 and includes the only Hawaiian Christmas song I have heard of Mele Kalikimaka.
The Elvis Christmas Album by Elvis Presley. Pop music lore says that Irving Berlin was so scandalized by Presley’s version of White Christmas that he tried to have it banned from the air. It didn’t work. The DJs played the song and the album went on to No. 1 with help from new songs that became Presley’s very own Christmas classics like Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me and Blue Christmas.
The Jackson 5 Christmas Album by the Jackson 5. It is just too bad that little boys have to grow up. Like everybody else, the Jackson 5 did but here in this great album are their and our own Christmas memories set to the tune of Give Love On Christmas Day, Someday At Christmas and the cutest version ever heard of Up On The Housetops.
Miracles, Faith and Wishes by Kenny G. These are three Platinum selling Christmas albums released in a series featuring the artistry of sax wizard Kenny G. Who would have thought that the combination of Christmas songs and Kenny G’s sax can result in something so powerful, festive, elegant, very sexy and utterly irresistible? If you are already passed the disco medley stage then these are the sounds for your parties.
The Ray Conniff Christmas Album by the Ray Conniff Singers. When we are not dancing to Christmas disco, we are chilling out to the warm and easy holiday sound of the Ray Conniff Singers. With Sleighride, Count Your Blessings, White Christmas and many more. No Filipino Christmas is complete without repeated plays of this album.
Christmas In Our Hearts by our very own Jose Mari Chan. Multi-Diamond selling album with the now classic title track, plus A Perfect Christmas, A Christmas Carol and others. This is also the album alternating with the Ray Conniff Singers for playing time in the malls, in parties or anywhere where Christmas sounds are heard. Include the neighborhood carolers.
A Jolly Christmas with Frank Sinatra. Do not be fooled by that word Jolly in the title. A Sinatra Christmas is more emotional than usual. He has the usual O Come All Ye Faithful and Silent Night in this album but it also includes the absolutely heart-wrenching takes on I’ll Be Home For Christmas and I ‘ll Be Home For Christmas.
Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey. This was recorded early in Mariah’s career and has her sounding and looking like the way we like her best. Check out her effortless undulating tones and cute Santa outfit. I am not surprised at all that All I Want For Christmas Is You became the most downloaded Christmas single of all time.
The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole. It pays to have a hit song in order to have a hit album and in this case, it was The Christmas Song, now better known as Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire done with the sweet, velvety tones of Nat Cole. It also includes the wistful Little Christmas Tree.
A Very Special Christmas, a star-studded various artists collection produced by Jimmy Iovine for the benefit of the Special Olympics. It features Madonna with Santa Baby, U2 with Christmas Baby Please Come Home, Bruce Springsteen with Merry Christmas Baby, Bryan Adams with Run Rudolf Run, Stevie Nicks with Silent Night and others.