The Best Christmas Albums of 2022
These are our top picks for the best holiday-themed albums of the year, including brand-new releases and timeless classics on vinyl, CD, and digital.
Are you looking for music to add to this year’s holiday playlist? Look no further. We’ve gathered our picks for the best Christmas albums of 2021 and ranked them here.
Neil Diamond – A Neil Diamond Christmas
A Neil Diamond Christmas is a specially artist-curated compilation which features many of the great hits from Diamond’s four beloved and best-selling Christmas albums – The Christmas Album, The Christmas Album Volume II, A Cherry Cherry Christmas, and Acoustic Christmas.
Ne-Yo – Another Kind of Christmas
Ne-Yo’s Another Kind of Christmas is his first and only holiday album (so far). The celebrated artist, however, decided to look back this year and deliver a Deluxe Edition of the record, which contains the previously unreleased track, “Everyday Is A Holiday.”
Nelson – A Nelson Family Christmas
This all-new Christmas collection by three generations of the Nelson family includes 14 yuletide favorites by Gunnar and Matthew Nelson. Highlighted by the holiday chart-topping single “This Christmas” featuring Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the album has never before been available digitally.
Louis Armstrong – Louis Wishes You A Cool Yule
Louis Armstrong’s first-ever Christmas album, Louis Wishes You A Cool Yule is available on CD, red vinyl, and a limited edition picture disc. All 11 tracks on the album have also been mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos and hi-res audio. The collection also offers duets with two of Pops’ favorite vocal collaborators, Velma Middleton and Ella Fitzgerald.
David Foster, Katharine McPhee – Christmas Songs
David Foster and Katharine McPhee have reunited for the first time in 17 years for Christmas Songs. The album is out on CD and includes holiday staples like “Jingle Bell Rock” and more.
Various Artists – Spirited: Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film
Spirited, the new American Christmas-themed musical written and directed by Sean Anders and John Morris, is a modern adaptation of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol. The film, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, and Octavia Spencer, features music written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (The Greatest Showman, La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen).
Various Artists – Holidays Rule
The seasonal music collection Holidays Rule is now available on vinyl for the first time ever. This translucent red 2-LP pressing features modern arrangements of timeless holiday classics like “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),” “Wonderful Christmastime,” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?,” performed by an all-star line-up of artists that includes Paul McCartney, The Shins, fun., Rufus Wainwright, The Civil Wars, Calexico, and many more.
Josh Turner – King Size Manger
Country star Josh Turner’s first ever Christmas album, 2021’s King Size Manger, features 11 tracks, four of which are originals. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” features Turner’s family on background vocals, and an electric version of “Mele Kalikimaka My Ohana” was inspired by a special trip to Hawaii.
Manchester Orchestra – Christmas Songs Vol. 1
Manchester Orchestra’s Christmas Songs Vol. 1 was initially released exclusively on Bandcamp, and is now available physically via Loma Vista Recordings. The EP, which features six seasonal classics, is also offered in a special blue vinyl variant, and another in a holiday red with an etching on the B-side, housed in a ruby red foiled jacket.
Norah Jones – I Dream Of Christmas
Norah Jones has expanded upon I Dream Of Christmas, with a deluxe edition now featuring 24 tracks. The holiday album is a delightful and comforting collection of timeless seasonal favorites and affecting originals. In addition to CD, the album is available on on 2-LP black, gold, or red vinyl.
Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas
The definitive, bonus-filled edition of Vince Guaraldi’s timeless score from the beloved, 1965 animated Peanuts showcases Guaraldi’s creative process like never before, thanks to hours of newly unearthed session tapes from Fantasy Records’ vaults. The original 11-track album has also been upgraded with a new stereo mix from the original two- and three-track sources.
Andrea Bocelli, Matteo Bocelli, Virginia Bocelli – A Family Christmas
On A Family Christmas, the internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli has teamed up with his 24-year-old son Matteo Bocelli and his 10-year-old daughter Virginia Bocelli for their very first album together. Each of the three Bocelli performers gets a chance to shine on A Family Christmas with solo tracks, duets, and trios.
Andrea Bocelli – My Christmas: The Fireside Edition
My Christmas: The Fireside Edition is now available in a special white & gold 2LP vinyl. This new edition of Andrea Bocelli’s 2009 collection is an update of one of the best-selling holiday albums of all time. Each song was carefully selected by Andrea himself and produced by the Grammy Award-winning David Foster, featuring collaborations with Katherine Jenkins, Reba McEntire, Mary J. Blige, and more.
Trisha Yearwood – The Sweetest Gift
The Sweetest Gift is Trisha Yearwood’s fourth studio album and first Christmas album. Now available on vinyl for the first time, the holiday record includes Christmas classics like “Away In A Manger,” “Santa Claus Is Back In Town,” and more.
Lindsey Stirling – Snow Waltz
Snow Waltz is Lindsey Stirling’s sequel to her modern holiday classic, Warmer In The Winter. The collection features a number of Christmas favorites in addition to original songs. Stirling populates the project with her celebrated violin player, and invites collaborations from Frawley, David Archuleta, and Bonnie McKee.
Reba McEntire – The Ultimate Christmas Collection
Reba McEntire’s Reba: The Ultimate Christmas Collection, is made up of favorites from her previous Christmas releases along with “I Needed Christmas,” featured in the Lifetime movie Reba McEntire’s Christmas In Tune.
Joss Stone – Merry Christmas, Love
Grammy-award winning artist Joss Stone’s first holiday album, Merry Christmas, Love, was inspired by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and Michael Buble. The album celebrates the holiday season with fifteen classic Christmas tracks including favorites such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow,” “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” and more.
Loreena McKennitt – Under A Winter’s Moon
Under A Winter’s Moon features 15 seasonal songs performed by Loreena McKennitt, interspersed with seasonal readings by Canadian Indigenous actor and Companion of the Order of Canada, Tom Jackson, Gemini Award-winning actor Cedric Smith, and Ojibway artist and flutist Jeffrey “Red” George.
Chris
November 23, 2022 at 10:02 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WVVA5I0WNA
Check this one out as well … 😉
Kevin McGrath
December 7, 2022 at 1:46 pm
At the beginning of 2022, I set about curating a fundraising album for Crisis at Christmas. I approached bands throughout the UK, Europe and North America with a view to asking them to “donate” an original Christmas song for a good cause.
As well as trying to raise as much money as possible to help the homeless, I wanted, as a music journalist, to compile an album that people would want to play for many Christmases to come. Have Yourself a Merry Indie Christmas was released in two volumes of 54 tacks (together with a limited-edition CD of Selected songs) last month. The reviews, led by renowned international critics such as John Harris and Pete Paphides, have been sensational and the album is being played on a network of Indie stations, as well as on BBC6 Music, Radio Wales, Radio X, Brum Radio and Dandelion Radio. The amount raised for Crisis so far is £4,000. https://v4velindre.bandcamp.com/music