Without jovial music, what would the holidays be? Classics are wonderful, but how about classics performed by some of the greatest artists in pop, R&B, rock, opera, soul, and other genres? That is truly cause for celebration.
Maria Sherman, a music writer for The Associated Press, has selected some of the top new holiday releases for your enjoyment in observance of the most wonderful time of the year. Because bringing an old classic back to life with a fresh performance is sometimes the best thing that can happen to it.
“Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas” by Ella Fitzgerald
Get to the chorus, or in the case of this limited-edition vinyl version of “Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas,” give us the hits, please! Don’t bore us! Since many critics rank Ella Fitzgerald’s 1960 holiday record as one of the all-time greats, why not honor the greatest of the best with a brand-new wax figure? It’s also a pretty good idea for a gift.
Merry Christmas, Cher
Though she has been asked to record a holiday album in the past, “Christmas” is, for some reason, Cher’s first. “I just wasn’t feeling like doing one,” she said to the AP. “How I was going to turn it into a ‘Cher Christmas album,’ I had no idea.” It turns out that the key was to enlist a number of A-list musicians to work with her on the album—something she had never done before. Darlene Love’s song “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home),” Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means to Me,” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Put A Little Holiday In Your Heart” are among them. On “Home,” Michael Bublé, and even on “Drop Top Sleigh Ride,” rapper Tyga. Everyone can find something they like, and then some.
“Christmas with Brandy,” by Brandy
The hunt is over for anyone in search of a seductive holiday album. The legendary R&B singer Brandy has released “Christmas with Brandy,” an assortment of seductive and at times soulful renditions of original and classic Christmas songs. such as in “Feels Different” and “Christmas Gift,” which both star her daughter Sy’Rai.
Brandy has another PG-13 holiday special available. In the chorus of the lead single “Christmas Party for Two,” she sings, “Help me undress, oh, yes / I’ll be your present / Just give me your presence / That’s all that I’m askin’ of you.” “Take my body / Look what you started / It’s a Christmas party for two / Boy, you know you got it.”
“Chicago Greatest Christmas Hits,” Chicago
Chicago’s extensive holiday discography is well-known to longtime fans of the horn-wielding rock group: the album “Chicago XXV: The Christmas Album” (reissued in 2003 with six additional tracks), “Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three” (2011), and “Chicago XXXVII: Chicago Christmas” (released in 2019). The only way to finish the compilation, though, or even start your own with just the singles, is to check out “Chicago Greatest Christmas Hits,” which is available on festive red and green vinyl and features songs from all of those releases.
Virginia, Andrea, and Matteo Bocelli, “A Family Christmas”
The entire family came together for a new, deluxe edition of their first album together, which was recorded by Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli.
In love, war, and girl groups, everything is fair. Former Fifth Harmony member and Emmy Award winner Ally Brooke is back with a brand-new Christmas EP called “Under the Tree.” Under the Tree is a Brooke original that features her repeating the cheeky chorus, “You can find me under the tree (Under the tree) / I’ll be waitin’ on Christmas Eve (Christmas Eve) / Baby, unwrap me.” The shimmering retro-pop title track serves as the album’s standout track. It’s carefree, romantic fun. And then it abruptly reverses course, adding “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and of course, the beloved “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to complete the tracklist.
