Dec 4, 2009
Recommend some Christmas songs that most of us have never heard of.
Like this post?
Put your esoteric knowledge of holiday music to use:
What rare(ish) Christmas songs should we check out?
(Please include links. Self-promotion welcome.)
* * * * *
Not sure how unknown this is but I have grown to really like Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Dave Matthews – Christmas Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbdylEE-0e4
Andrew Peterson’s “Behold the Lamb of God” and “Your King Has Come” by a variety of artists (Andrew Osenga, Matthew Smith, Jill Phillips, etc.)
Definitely second the recommendation of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” along with “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming” and “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”
Stole mine. “Your King has Come” is excellent.
Also Seven Day Jesus does a version of “O Holy Night” which is amazing but doubt you can find it anymore.
Caleb, I love SDJs version of O Holy Night. I managed to track down a copy of the CD a couple years ago (so I could own it legit). Looks like it’s a rare commodity indeed these days.
I love both the Andrew Peterson CD, and the three carols you mention are my absolute favourite! And they are all on a John Michael Talbot cassette that I am so thankful to have.
I love Rosie Thomas’ “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (http://lala.com/z0SR) and “Snow Day” (http://lala.com/zR2R).
Jeremy, you stole mine! That’s my favorite Christmas song. Here’s a link to where you can hear the music and read all the words:
http://songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/let-all-mortal-flesh-keep-silence
The last verse gives me chills when combined with the haunting music:
“At His feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
Lauridsen’s setting for the ancient text O magnum mysterium is transporting.
A not bad live recording of it is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZW1SH4bD6o
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.
It’s not very reverent, but I’m a sucker for Weird Al Yankovic’s tunes, so here you go: “Christmas at Ground Zero” and “The Night Santa Went Crazy.”
“The Shepherd’s Carol” by Bob Chilcott (recorded by The Cambridge Singers) is HIGH on my list. For the record, as evidenced by the title, the shepherds are telling Mary all about what happened, and they call her Lady.
http://bit.ly/4uCJ0L (track 3)
Oh, and I totally second Adam’s (#6) mention of Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium.” It’s the kind of piece you turn way up, lay between the speakers with your eyes shut and feel your breath just taken away!
Yeah!
My husband and I sung that piece in our high school’s chamber choir!
Blast from the past.
Let All Mortal Flesh
I think most versions are much too gloomy, though. While it’s not a jolly song, I think it can be done with a more bright and hopeful tone.
Maybe someone will find or make one that is?
Red Mountain Music has a great version that we’re doing at our Christmas services here at Parkview Church in Iowa City:
http://www.redmountainchurch.org/rmm/alb/silentnight.html
“The Blessed Son of God” and “Once in Royal David’s City” are two of my favorites.
Stryper – Reason for the Season
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEcycix2voI
I actually recommend the Sojourn Christmas album, which I think you can still find at noisetrade.com
“Peace Child” by the Normals off BEC’s Happy Christmas Vol. 2.
“Mary’s Prayer” by Bebo Norman, Ed Cash, and Allen Levi’s album Joy
“Salvation is Created” (version by Bifrost Arts). Kind of has a Sigur Ros feel to it.
Link: http://www.emusic.com/album/Bifrost-Arts-Salvation-Is-Created-A-Christmas-Album-from-Bifro-MP3-Download/11688443.html
This might be surprising, but Relient K’s “Let it Snow Baby, Let it Reindeer” is one of the most unique yet enjoyable Christmas albums I’ve ever heard. Most bands Christmas albums do the same songs with slight variations, but Relient K makes some really cool changes that bring a breath of fresh air to Christmas music. They also have written a few new Christmas songs worth listening to.
This is probably my favorite Christmas album. “I Celebrate the Day” is my favorite non-traditional Christmas song. It’s just beautiful.
I completely agree with this, most Christmas albums tend to have the same songs on them and, depending on who’s doing the album you can usually predict what they’re going to do with the songs. But this one is creative and enjoyable and “I celebrate the Day” is great. I also like Shane and Shane’s new Christmas songs…
The mp3 download of “I Celebrate The Day” is free on amazon right now: http://www.amazon.com/I-Celebrate-Day-Album-Version/dp/B001KW8QVM/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_15
Agreed! I Celebrate the day is an amazing song. Also checkout Dustin Kensrue’s christmas album (lead singer from Thrice), This Good Night is Still Everywhere. Tooth and Nail Records put out some great christmas albums if you like things on the alternative/heavy side.
Also Aaron Gillespie from Underoath put out a christmas album by his side project “The Almost” with a cover of Little Drummer Boy and a couple of other songs which is great too.
Sufjan Stevens has some lovely original songs on his Christmas album, like “Father Winter” and “That was the worst Christmas ever!”, as well as a beautiful version of “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella.”
I also love “Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming,” and I have a definite soft spot for Louis Armstrong’s “Zat You, Santa Claus?” Anything from Vince Guaraldi’s Charlie Brown album is pretty awesome, too. But we all know about that one already.
I second the Sufjan album.
Especially “Get Behind Me Santa” and “Sister Winter”.
The short story included in the box set was fantastic as well.
i second (fifth?) Sufjan Stevens, and i put in another vote for his “Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming” (both the sung and instrumental versions—very different from each other, but both very beautiful).
i also vote for his song “Star of Wonder.” i’m not exactly sure what it’s about but i think maybe it has to do with the Incarnation. it’s quite a wall of sound. i’ve always wanted to listen to it while heavily contemplating Van Gogh’s Starry Night . . .
“Please Daddy, Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas”…Alan Jackson
I still can’t figure out why this one hasn’t caught on! :)
Our youth ministry just did a Christmas album, it is free on Noisetrade.com called A Very Merry Christmas. The best song on it is O Come O Come Emmanuel – It is amazing!
http://atmospherechurch.com/christmas
I actually don’t know how well-known this song is, but I sang it in university choir and LOVE it. Our version was cooler, but Amy Grant’s is classic:
Little Town: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v881GMFjgyA
The whole Christmas EP by Dustin Kensrue is great-
http://www.myspace.com/dustinkensrue
Some covers, some originals.
Agreed!! “This is War” is fantastic.
“With hanged-out hearts, We stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.”
He is making a video for that song- should be really good!
How about:
Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’ by Albert King or Santa’s Messin’ With the Kid by Eddie C. Campbell both from the “Jingle Blues” the HOB Christmas Collection.
I Pray on Christmas – Harry Connick, Jr. (or The Blind Boys of Alabama) http://www.ilike.com/artist/search?artist_qp=i+pray+on+christmas&x=0&y=0
Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep – Diana Krall http://www.ilike.com/artist/search?artist_qp=diana+krall+count+your&x=0&y=0
And just about anything from Sufjan Stevens “Songs for Christmas” http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Christmas-Sufjan-Stevens/dp/B000HLDF0O.
My dad also forces us to listen to really depressing Johnny Cash songs at Christmas. Ballad of the Harp Weaver: http://www.ilike.com/artist/search?artist_qp=ballad+of+the+harp+weaver&x=0&y=0
I made my boys listen to a great Johnny Cash song, “The Christmas Guest” just the other night. They’ll write blog comments like this about me someday.
http://www.lala.com/song/504684642128501604
Last one… I promise.
At a winter concert a few years ago, Bebo Norman sang Jackson Browne’s “The Rebel Jesus” as a holiday song. Good song.
http://www.ilike.com/artist/search?artist_qp=the+rebel+jesus&x=0&y=0
And glad to see both of the songs I immediately thought of have already been mentioned.
“This is War” by Dustin Kensrue and “Rebel Jesus” by Jackson Browne.
Good stuff.
Break Forth, Oh Beauteous Heavenly Light
oh…and
Sleep, Holy Child
This will fall under the “Rare-ish” category, but Bebo Norman’s “Born to Die”. Love that song. And Relient K’s “I hate Christmas parties” – Saddest song ever.
in a weird juxtaposition, my favorite christmas album is the “b” side of my 42 year old copy of “how the grinch stole Christmas.” Yep, vinyl baby. worth it’s crackly weight in gold. My childhood love of the a-side has waned whilst my appreciation of the b-side has matured into love. the b-side is called “Christmas songs from many lands” by the Canadian folk singer Alan Mills and has some really great recordings of some rarely heard european carols. As the vinyl is now is no longer played, i downloaded the smithsonian MP3 of the album. enjoy @
http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx?itemid=1382
Nice.
“Christians, Awake, Salute the Happy Morn” is a great text. Haven’t heard a melody for it that I’ve loved yet, though.
Snoopy’s Christmas (or Snoopy vs the Red Baron) by the Royal Guardsmen just rocks. Especially if you’re familiar with the story of the “Christmas Truce” in WWI.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlf—13Q0g
Straight No Chaser’s “12 Days of Christmas”. These guys are spectacular!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GUU1YbP_E
that was amazing!! i especially love it once it hits the 2:00 minute mark. so fun!!!
ha, way cool.
A Midwinter’s Eve by Nathan Clark George
You can listen to the whole album free on his site http://www.nathanclarkgeorge.com/music/
Kemper Crabb, an Episcopal priest from the Houston area (and writer of “The Danse” on Caedmon’s Call’s first worship album), did a great live album called “A Medieval Christmas” that has some cool obscure medieval hymns: http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Christmas-Kemper-Crabb/dp/B000050HWO
I’m also a fan of the medieval Spanish carol “Riu, Riu Chiu”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uNh82VT3q4&feature=related
Great Christmas albums
Christmas with Johnny Cash
Snow Angels–Over The Rhine
The Darkest Night of the Year–Over The Rhine
Here’s a site dedicated to preserving Christmas music, so you might find some lesser known music here.
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/
Mine is actually well known. At least, the song is. It’s the version that’s been neglected. Donny Hathaway singing “This Christmas.” I know, it doesn’t have anything to do with the real reason we celebrate Christmas, but this man can sing. And the groove. Make no mistake. Machines cannot groove like people. I miss this sound.
David Lanz, “Christmas Eve” – gorgeous piano solos to make you cry; Anuna, “Winter Songs”, especially “Winter, Fire, and Snow”; The Washington Revels Youth Choir, “A Child’s Christmas Revels”; and Anonymous 4, “On Yoolis Night” – how I imagine the angels singing at the birth of Jesus.
david lanz is my hero! i love christoforis dream
Also, Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas from the Family” is every Texan’s secret favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg
I used to own that album – haven’t thought about that one in a long time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeUBgb5xaPQ
Sting’s “I saw three ships” is to the Christmas season what “Are you ready for some football” was to Monday Night Football.
for me, anyway.
Me too!!! I think it’s that flute-type instrument that does it for me.
Sting– Gabriel’s Message
Pretenders– 2000 Miles
not too obscure, really… but favs nonetheless.
Sorry… Here are the links.
Sting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWvIC3OR7wk&feature=youtube_gdata
Pretenders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0InMwNDFDVw&feature=youtube_gdata
“Let Creation Praise” (aka “Of the Father’s love begotten”)
Based on a chant… there’s a gorgeous arrangement for choir and wind ensemble.
Ethereal, haunting, triumphant.
High Street Hymns have some new Advent/Christmas music that I’m loving right now: http://www.myspace.com/highstreethymns
My favorite, not sung nearly enough, is “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” It’s based on a poem by Longfellow written in the middle of the War Between the States. Incredibly moving lyrics. There are lots of stanzas in the poem, but several of them aren’t heard in the carol. But those are some of the best! I’ve heard it set to a couple tunes, both are good. Karen Carpenter has a really good recording of it (of course without all the stanzas) http://tinysong.com/bDjn.
Steven Curtis Chapman recorded I hear the bells on his newest Christmas album a few years ago and it is my favorite
To me, Audrey Assad’s “Winter Snow” wins the year. Simple gospel presentation in beautiful medley. Understated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy29mQfiavg
All My Heart This Night Rejoices
from Carols of the Nativity, by John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers
Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
Soft and sweet, doth entreat, “Flee from woe and danger;
Brethren, come; from all that grieves you
You are freed; all you need I will surely give you.”
Thee, dear Lord, with heed I’ll cherish;
Live to Thee and with Thee, dying, shall not perish;
But shall dwell with Thee for ever,
Far on high, in the joy that can alter never.
If you can listen to it without crying, you’re probably not saved. :)
Wow! I thought I was going to be the only John Rutter fan on here. Glad to find another one. I love his Christmas stuff & listen to it every year.
Here’s one of his Christmas albums, with the Cambridge Singers… lots of little known Christmas carols! :)
http://www.rhapsody.com/john-rutter/the-john-rutter-christmas-album
A couple mentioned Sufjan;s christmas album but this is one of my favorites from that album.
Put the Lights on the Tree
i love that one too. it reminds me to call my grandma.
Nicole C Mullen’s Christmas Album is a favorite of mine!
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Black-White-Nicole-Mullen/dp/B00006J40Z/ref=sr_1_1/179-5195351-7514459?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1259946976&sr=8-1
Why has no one mentioned Dominic the Donkey??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQrdxtWgHbE Is it that it is too obscure or not obscure enough? I sing this song year-round, to my husband’s dismay:).
I second so many of the songs already mentioned!
Other favorites–Coventry Carol and Gesu Bambino (not coincidentally, I programmed these for my Christmas concert).
Also, “This Little Babe” from Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.
Can I put a vote in for most over-rated Christmas song? “O Come All Ye Faithful.” It’s got to be one of those incredibly boring songs that the Holy Ghost was smiling on when it was being written. I can feel the Spirit in that song, but it puts me to sleep every time.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktone’s “Jingle All The Way” album is absolutely incredible. My favorite is their version of 12 Days of Christmas using 12 different time signatures. Unbelievable. They also play Bach’s Christmas Oratorio (on the banjo!), Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, and Linus and Lucy. So fun.
Andy is my son-in-law, and he makes ME listen to Johnny Cash in the car! But, my favorite Christmas hymn is, “Who Is He in Yonder Stall?”.
Who is He in yonder stall
At whose feet the shepherds fall
Tis the Lord, O wondrous story
Tis the Lord, the King of Glory
At His feet we humbly fall
Crown Him, Crown Him, Lord of all
http://www.lala.com/song/4972255507574169970
I am not Roman Catholic, and I do not worship Mary, but this song is really a heartfelt Christmas song…
Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) by Amy Grant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4W01unY9Nw
Somebody already mentioned this album, but Bifrost Arts has a really rad Christmas Album. Christmas Carols the way they were meant to be sung.
You can stream a preview here:
http://lala.com/zc8q
Colin Buchanan’s “King of Christmas” is a GREAT album for kids/family…Aussie accent is a bonus!
https://secure.colinbuchanan.com.au/shop/shop92.html
Adagio Trio. Great album of flute, cello and harp. Some well known, some not so well known. A great find.
http://www.harpcenter.com/page/SWHC/PROD/RTYPEChrist/3025D
“The Boar’s Head.” Fun medieval carol.
I like that one, too. :)
There’s this Jennifer Knapp song called Sing Mary Sing that is so sweet. The melody, the words, everything. I love riding around during December at night with it playing in my car. It just brings tears to my eyes.
That song and anything by Chris Rice, but that’s not very rare :)
Someone already mentioned Over the Rhine’s _Snow Angels_–I love, especially, “White Horse.”
Listen here free:
http://www.overtherhine.com/recordplayer/recordplayer.html
White Horse is what I listened to over and over and over the winter we lost Felicity. Always made me sob.
*nods*
I’m echoing Kemper Crabb, especially Divinum Mysterium, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, and Good King Wenceslaus.
It reminds me a little of Monty Python, which makes it even more fun.
I’ll also echo Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas from the Family.”
For a good and funny rebuke of our materialism, try Stan Freberg’s “Green Christmas.”
Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
Aimee Mann – One More Drifter In The Snow
Hem – Peace At Last EP
Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming Christ – AP
Now It’s Christmas Again – Garrison Keillor
http://www.amazon.com/Now-Christmas-Again-Garrison-Keillor/dp/B000002SL2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1259953378&sr=8-3
Sandra McCracken just put out a new Christmas hymn that I’m loving. It’s called “This is the Christ.” http://sandramccracken.com/news/2009/11/30/free_song_and_coupon_code
Hm, well Jacob Moon has an awesome Christmas CD called This Christmas… but I can’t find it on YouTube. To give you an idea of his music, check a non-Christmas song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qphRwdr6MlY
Christian guy, really talented.
Must second Sufjan, love his whole Christmas box set (http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Christmas-Sufjan-Stevens/dp/B000HLDF0O)
Sister Winter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U0_OYCqHPM)
That was the worst Christmas ever! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGVZwi4VbvY)
The Friendly Beasts
i could go on and on
Dustin Kensrue’s “This Good Night Is Still Everywhere”
Future of Forestry’s “Advent EP”
and Daniel Renstrom’s “On Incarnation”
Gratuitous self-promotion:
Listen to Ubi Caritas on my Facebook artist page. Thought not a traditional Christmas song (and I can’t sing well either), it’s inspired by the meaning of the Advent.
The music player with Ubi Caritas (and some other demo tracks) is on the Boxes tab: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ben-Power/42151593002
Become a fan. Please?
You can hear several other Christmas songs of my wife and I on our Youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/bfpowerQQQ
I think “Somewhere It’s Snowing” is Christmassy, too…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrG0TFSiSkY
I like this version even better. It starts with a drama, so keep watching…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKs0bvLdzhc
Song: “Child of Bethlehem”
Album: One Christmas Eve
Artist: Wayne Watson
These are some of my favorite Christmas songs right now:
“This Is The Christ” – Sandra McCracken
“I Heard the Bells” – Pedro the Lion
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” – Sufjan Stevens
“Blue Christmas” & “White Christmas” – Martin Sexton
“All That I Want” – The Weepies
The “Advent Songs” album by Sojourn is good, too.
Sufjan Stevens. Let me say it again.
Sufjan Stevens!
“Put the Lights on the Tree”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gKzXlqsOeE
“Hey Guys!” Its Christmas Time!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UX8VZgPBp0
“That Was The Worst Christmas Ever” Live
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGVZwi4VbvY&feature=related
Five disc set for $15.00
http://asthmatickitty.com/songs-for-christmas
Oh, so many good ones! It’s going to take awhile to listen to them all! Thanks!
My 6 yr old’s fave: a very traditional rendition of “Silent Night”—the funny part is that she wants it cranked up!
Mine: “In the Bleak Midwinter” which has the feel of where I live, hardly where Jesus was actually born. Especially the verse:
“What shall I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shephard I would give a lamb.
If I were a wise man I would do my part…
What can I give him? Give him my heart.”
Brightest and Best, recorded by some dear friends of mine: http://www.reverbnation.com/charlieandalisonritch or http://apps.facebook.com/reverbnation_fb/artist/charlieandalisonritch
I like all of their Christmas songs, but I love Brightest and Best precisely because I’d never heard the song before.
Our church, Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, CA has just released our second worship album project. It’s a Christmas album entitled “So Much Joy”.
At our Songs of Grace website, http://www.songsofgrace.org you can download a free track, listen to entire album through the widget player, and watch a short video on the making of the album and philosophy of worship at Grace.
I second this recommendation. It’s an excellent album! Tracks to check definitely check out are “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” and “So Much Joy.”
I’m not sure if this is rare or not, but I heard it for the first time today — “The Gift,” by Aselin Debison. The lyrics are here: http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/christmas_songs_lyrics_10575/other_lyrics_33314/the_gift_lyrics_360354.html
and you can listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgvpI0xp9ms
How about anything by the Gamble Family!!!
http://www.gamblefamilychristmas.com/
Come to the concert!
Jubalson – Louisville KY
http://www.myspace.com/jubalson
O yea, almost forgot.
Sojourn Community Church of Louisville.
Their contemporary adaptations of Isaac Watts hymns is especially good.
http://www.sojournmusic.com/albums/
yea…please delete^^
I mistook “Christmas” for “Christian”
haha…
Thankfully, you can still check out Sojourn! Cause they have a Christmas album entitled
“Advent Songs”
I like Bruce Cockburn’s Quebecois version of “Angels we have heard on high.”
http://blip.fm/~h7bah
We LOVE that whole album.
Us TOO!!
One of my newest favorites is Over the Rhine’s Christmas Album, *Snow Angels*
I posted today about songs that are good for Advent…
http://bbarczi.posterous.com/advent-songs
Among the thousands:
“I Celebrate the Day” by Relient K (my personal favorite)
“Wicker Baskets” (aka “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming”) by Jars of Clay
“Baby Please Come Home” by Anberlin
Anything by Sufjan Stevens (“Sister Winter”, “Get behind me, Santa!” and “What Child is This, Anyway?” are favorites.) Not your average artist.
http://asthmatickitty.com/music.php?releaseID=63
Two favorites I didn’t see listed yet …
Joy Williams: Here With Us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om5-95_Byjo
Michael Card: Joseph’s Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BARVAg0gl6w
From the Danielson Family’s (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5r8-qk30DM) Great Comfort Records and Bifrost Arts is a new Christmas release called “Salvation Is Created.”
It’s not going to be your standard Christmas-time fare. But it’s still getting some major love:
“Think Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas with the life-changing message of peace on earth, goodwill to men.” (Christianity Today)
“This compilation album is one of the best Christmas records in years.” Relevant Magazine
“This is a record that aches with longing and invites us to take off our shoes and lower our voices to a hush as we behold the wonder that is Christmas.” Kevin Twit / founder of Indelible Grace
http://www.greatcomfortrecords.com/music.php?releaseID=2
For sheer novelty factor, this will do:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Christmas-Cocktails-Various-Artists/dp/B0002W4UQQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1259966638&sr=8-6-spell
Christmas Island refuses to leave my brain
Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming (Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen)
Shepherds, Shake off your drowsy Sleep.
Sussex Carol.
Star of the East.
Hail, the Blest Morn when the Great Mediator
Winds through the Olive Trees
I Wonder as I Wander
Funny how you think of a song as “common” and “overdone” until you leave your home community, and realize that nobody else knows these songs so near and dear to you…I sang these songs till I tired of them, and now long to sing them again, and haven’t heard them sung in a Church in decades.
Stop The Cavalry by Jona Lewie.
I don’t think it’s very well-known in the States.
Sorry. Here’s a link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOe18JcatZo
Thanks for mentioning this one. I heard this about 15 years ago when I was in Seattle and could never remember enough about it to find it again. Just decided to take another shot at it and looks like this is my year; just bought an MP3.
some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around car rides with our Christian Christmas rap CD called “Yo-Ho-Ho”
I wrote this one a couple of weeks ago. I’m pretty happy with it.
“Glory To God On High” http://bit.ly/4yVgIr
“Alleluia nativitas” by Perotin from Notre Dame in 12th-century Paris. Absolutely gorgeous.
Albums that are amazing:
Daniel Renstrom – On the Incarnation
Shane and Shane – Glory in the Highest
Shane and Shane… greatest Christmas album. Listen and see for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMOI20s7I3k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrOpogHbe2Y
Daniel Renstrom’s On the Incarnation is amazing!
Amazing!!!!
http://vimeo.com/7285261
“This Is War” by Dustin Kensrue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NApX65HKkiU
This is war like you ain’t seen.
This winter’s long, it’s cold and mean.
With hangdog hearts we stood condemned,
But the tide turns now at Bethlehem.
This is war and born tonight,
The Word as flesh, the Lord of Light,
The Son of God, the low-born king;
Who demons fear, of whom angels sing.
This is war on sin and death;
The dark will take it’s final breath.
It shakes the earth, confounds all plans;
The mystery of God as man.
Several years ago Flying Tart Records put out a CD called “Christmas In Heaven.” It’s awful. Except for two songs: 1) Sixpence None The Richer (before they were famous) singing “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” 2)Alexia (never heard of ‘em) doing a remix/dance version of Amy Grant’s “Tennessee Christmas.”
Two bizarre tracks you can be certain no one at your next Christmas party has ever heard before.
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Heaven-Flying-Records-Presents/dp/B000CE8DVM
You’re welcome.
And for fun: “Mrs. Fogarty’s Christmas Cake”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2pqpcW2p5I
Very obscure.
James Taylor released an incredibly good Christmas album a couple years ago. The arrangements of classic Christmas songs are beautiful. And in the midst of the fairly neutral songs are some really powerful truth-filled songs like “Go Tell It On The Mountain” “Some Children See Him” “Who Comes This Night” and “In The Bleak MidWinter”.
If you’re already a fan of James Taylor, it’s an absolute must. But even if you’re not, I still highly recommend it.
http://tinyurl.com/yaqu6qv
Interesting how many of these are Advent hymns, and how often Advent is overlooked. So often that, growing up in a Baptist church, I never even heard of it. At my church last year, on the first Sunday of Advent, the offertory was When the Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash. I still get shivers just thinking about it.
A moving Christmas / Incarnation song I haven’t heard much is Joseph’s Song by Michael Card.
And I like Blue Christmas by Porky Pig, just because it makes me laugh.
I posted some thoughts on Advent here:
http://findmyaddress.blogspot.com/2009/11/voice-crying-in-wilderness.html
My certain favourite is Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, so I’d be interested in hearing if you’ve heard great versions of it.
Little drummer boy by Andrew Case:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN7QO8QpQBo
http://hismagnificence.com/index.php/view/Audio-Listen/id/22/name/playlist.m3u
I’m listening to Travis Cottrell’s Ring the Bells Album this year. Some new songs some old.
That was the worst Christmas ever! Sufjan Stevens. A Christmas song that portrays what Christmas is like for a lot of people, but still looks to the resurrection.
Check it here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpmiPbDkvBQ
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb233/caught_not_taught/?action=view¤t=simplemystery.flv
I heard this song “From the squalor of a borrowed stable” for the first time two nights ago at a carol service.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80n62xs981s
It’s by Stewart Townend (the same guy who wrote “In Christ Alone”) and is so beautiful.
I also really like all of Sufjan’s Christmas e.p.s
Brian Stetzer orchestra has some great versions of familiar Christmas carols. (Great art too!)
Jonatha Brooke has an arrangement of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” that is stunning. Amazing harmonies.
I absolutely love her!!!
“All the World Was Waiting” by GLAD
Rosie Thomas, “Why can’t it be Christmastime all year?”
Michael McDonald’s PEACE is for tortured souls and sufferers and searchers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VqZxT8Woxw&feature=related
“Wondrous child of whom the angels sing
Know my joy, feel my suffering
Shining star make this love you bring
So bright that I may believe.”
Pretty sure the only song here that I’m gonna listen to is the one recommended by the person who said he or she also highly recommended the one I initially mentioned. That really saved me a lot of time.
“Stuck at the Airport”
http://www.imeem.com/artists/various_artists/music/prcLxqUq/money-mark-stuck-at-the-airport/
Jack Johnson’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
http://www.imeem.com/jackjohnson/music/YTkm8VqE/jack-johnson-rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer/
I’m really enjoying the new Wynton Marsalis Christmas album. The songs on it aren’t really rare, but they are performed VERY well!
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Jazz-Jam-Wynton-Marsalis/dp/B002SROHI4
A little self-promotion here, but we do think you’ll like it:
God Came: A Christmas Album
http://basicmusic.bandcamp.com (That’s the best link … full previews of the songs, and you can purchase individual tracks if you’d like, and it’s only $7.99 for the album)
Fun versions of old familiar songs, and two original songs: the title song and No Room For a King (seems to be one of the more popular tracks on the album)
Enjoy :)
Freefall by Stavesacre.
Mindy Smith`s Come Around and Rich Mullin`s You Gotta Get Up, it`s Christmas Morning
Christmas Festival (10 Carol Arrangements for Solo Piano) by Beatrice A. Miller, has unique carols from different countries. If you don’t play piano, you can look up many of them on You Tube or other sites to learn them. The words to many are available online, as well. Very good for singing with kids…
“Emmanuel God with us” it has a really cool mandolin riff and fun latin tune.
O brightness of the Father’s face
Savior of the fallen race
O Son who shared the Father’s might
Before the world knew day or night
Chorus
Emmanuel, God with us
Emmanuel, God with us
Today as year by year its light
Bathes all the world in radiance bright
One precious truth outshines the sun
Your blood has my sal-vation won. (chorus)
O Christ, Re-deemer, virgin-born
May our song your name adorn
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Spirit evermore (chorus)
And we are jubilant today
You have washed our guilt away.
Oh, hear the glad new song we sing
On this the birthday of our King!
My FAVORITE Christmas song is “Cry of a Tiny Babe” by Bruce Cockburn
lyrics here- http://cockburnproject.net/songs&music/coatb.html
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus – Red Mountain Music
Their entire Silent Night CD is superb.
Thank so much to everyone for these links. I’ve spent the afternoon listening to and learning about artists I’d never heard of. I’m glad to have some new “material”!
I’m a writer from Sojourn. A couple people have mentioned our CD “Advent Songs.” They’re correct in saying you can still get it for free or whatever price you want to pay, through Noisetrade. Check it out here:
http://www.sojournmusic.com/2007/12/05/advent-songs-2007/
Whilst the songs are familiar, I absolutely love Barenaked Ladies and Sarah Mclachlan’s medley of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen & We Three Kings from the “Barenaked for the Holidays”. Would recommend people check it out if they haven’t heard it.
One Wintry Night or The Singer. Both by David Phelps.
This Christmas Time by Take No Glory
http://www.takenoglory.com/
“Miracle” and “Christams All the Time” by Ginny Owens: http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/album/bring-us-peace/id295493488
and “The Friendly Beasts” by Sufjan Stevens or anywhere else you find it
Savior of the Nations, Come: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/a/saviorof.htm
The first verse gives me chills…this hymn more than any other shows both the transcendence and humility of Christ’s incarnation (in my mind). Also love Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.
And…my mom used to sing that verse of “In the Bleak Midwinter” (What can I give him, poor as I am?) when I was a kid. I didn’t know it was a Christmas song until today.
PS. Oh, and I hate the song “christmas shoes”. but it is rare and some people love it. did i mention i hate it? yeah. i won’t include the link.
Strypers “Winter Wonderland” from 1984
A Yellow and Black Christmas attack!
Christian Rock Christmas music was a scarcity.
Singing “Though Who Wast Rich,” a French Carol this Sunday at our church.
Though who wast rich beyond all splendor, all for love’s sake becamest poor.
Thrones for a manger didst surrender, sapphire-paved courts for stable floor…
Downhere – How Many Kings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iSivQmzJ_w
okay, this is old but here’s a link to a ton of great ones with mp3′s and leadsheets!
http://cardiphonia.org/2009/11/10/advent-and-christmas-music/
Hands down, Apple’s app store wins by a mile. It’s a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I’m not sure I’d want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.