Christmas Carols

Evann tagged me for what proved to be a very challenging meme.

The Rules:
If you were trapped on a desert island and it was Christmas and all you had was a small generator, Christmas lights for your coconut tree, an endless supply of Christmas cookies and eggnog (or hot chocolate), your CD player and 6 Christmas CDs , which 6 albums would you want them to be?

Wow. Whole albums? That is tough. First, I should confess that my collection is severely lacking. I have lots of favorites sung by individual artists, but I don't know that I have favorite albums. So, I will do my very best. If you are looking to stock your Christmas music shelf with suggestions, just know that not every song on these discs is my favorite.

6. We Need A Little Christmas ~ Andy Williams
Not Andy at his best but it is only one I own. I am sure one of his older ones is better but that's OK so long as I get to hear him sing the title song and It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Those are my favorites from him. Incidentally, am I the only one who fondly remembers the special he did with the NBC kids? Please say no.

5. Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming to Town (single song)
My secret shame! I know he is off-key but when isn't he? It's a fun song! And I crack up every time I hear him laughing at Clarence Clemons' "Ho, ho, ho!" Movin' on.

4. Veggie Tales: A Very Veggie Christmas
Seriously. Not just because the kids want this played non-stop. I really like the calypso version of Angels We Have Heard on High. Weird, I know, but you already knew that from #5.

3. In the Christmas Mood II ~ The Glen Miller Orchestra
Anything Glen Miller is welcome in my house.

2. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas ~ Burl Ives
You either love it or you hate it.

1. Carpenters Christmas Portrait
Hands down, best Christmas album ever. I can always count on this one to put me in a Christmas mood. I remember my mom listening to this while she did her Christmas baking combined with a little nip in the air (sometimes provided by the air conditioner). It definitely sets the mood.

I desperately need to work on our collection. This year we focused on books. Next year it will have to be music. Suggestions welcome!!!

Now, Red Cardigan has a post about a survey done over the pond and she asks...

Christmas Carols~

1. Love 'em, hate 'em, tolerate 'em, or...? Love 'em!

2. Policy: none before Christmas, none before Thanksgiving, or...? None before Thanksgiving.

3. Favorite? Favorites, if you've got more than one? O Holy Night, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Silent Night...just to name a few.

4. Least favorite? Drives you batty/hate it/turn it off if it comes on the radio? The one about the kid buying shoes for his dying mother. Santa Baby, especially the Madonna version and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.

5. Caroling door to door in neighborhood? Ever done it/would do it? Wouldn't even consider it? Did it as a kid.

6. Funniest kids' rendition, if any? Veggie Tales version of the 12 Days of Christmas. It's dough, wrapped around...meat!

7. Most inappropriate carol ever heard in a church setting (Catholic or otherwise)? I don't remember which song they played, but one church programmed the outside bells to play Christmas songs as we were leaving Mass and the first one up was something Frosty the Snowman or Jingle Bells or something. Church bells ringing out Jingle Bells? It just doesn't work.

8. The one foreign language carol I know (or know best) is...? I used to know O Tannenbaum in German and Silent Night but these days it's Feliz Navidad.

9. Carol that perplexes you the most? Most of the really British ones like Walking in a Winter Wonderland... the whole Parson Brown snowman thing confuses me.

10. Carol your whole family will sing? I don't know but now I am going to have to find out!

How about you? Inquiring minds want to know!