As a genre, Christmas music is more than just the classics. As a true connoisseur of the season and a fanatic who writes my own Christmas-themed newsletter, I find the months of November and December to be a perfect time to relish in the perfections of old Christmas tunes and discover new tracks released by contemporary artists that deserve a first (and second) listen. Here, I’ve compiled my list of my top Christmas albums and compilations. Hopefully, you will find something new, surprising, or delightful to complement the rest of your season.
“A Christmas Record” (ZE Records)
“A Christmas Record”
A timeless Christmas can come from even the most obscure of record labels. As a teen, I fell in love with the long-defunct, New York-based post-punk and mutant disco label ZE Records. Their eclectic mix of artists who combined frenetic, glitchy guitars with funk basslines and rapturous percussion opened up a whole new world of music listening during the late aughts. And so, it was an even more delightful surprise to realize they released a 1982 compilation Christmas record featuring a number of their artists, including James White, who made “Christmas with Satan”; Was (Not Was), who dropped “Christmas Time in Motor City”; and “It’s a Holiday,” a track by Material and Nona Hendryx.
My favorite tracks from the compilation include Cristina’s “Things Fall Apart,” a perfect ode to the seasonal affective disorder that permeates the winter season, and Suicide’s “Hey Lord,” a haunting, rumbling outro for the record. But no song is as popular as The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping,” which has in the last three decades become a contemporary Christmas classic. Those weird little art kids in New York City knew exactly what they were doing.
“A Very Special Christmas 2” (A&M Records)
“A Very Special Christmas 2”
My sister and I grew up and fell in love with this 1992 compilation record featuring some of the biggest artists of that time. Created as a benefit for the Special Olympics, this record features some of my favorite originals and covers of all time. I feel a particular fondness for Debbie Gibson’s “Sleigh Ride,” which is infused with an extra power-poppy pep in its step. Sinéad O’Connor’s “I Believe in You” is as perfect a selection from her catalog as anything else she released. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Christmas All Over Again” is one of their best tracks ever — no exaggeration. But I will always love the comforting, abrasive cheesiness of Extreme’s “Christmas Time Again,” which wallops the listener in its late-’80s glam rock, organ-driven aesthetics. I include this track on every Christmas playlist I make, as it perfectly encapsulates the sounds and mood of midnight mass.
“Best of Motown Christmas” (20th Century Masters)
“Best of Motown Christmas”
For many Black Americans, there is no Christmas without Motown Christmas. And this compilation record by 20th Century Masters, released in 1993, includes some of the label’s best work of the previous decades, particularly the originals. To me, this is the true sound of Christmas. It is what I grew up with, what I remember from unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning with my immediate family.
Highlights of the record include Stevie Wonder’s timeless and iconic “What Christmas Means to Me,” The Temptations’ “Give Love on Christmas Day,” which always sounds and feels like a warm hug, and the emotional, triumphant “Little Drummer Boy” cover by The Temptations. A number of Jackson 5 songs appear, including their cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” one of my all-time favorites because it transitions from its traditional slow tempo into an upbeat, celebratory ditty. But make sure you spend time with Marvin Gaye’s “Purple Snowflakes,” a quiet masterpiece that captures the beauty and awe of the first heavy snow of the season.
“Christmas Jollies” by Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul Records)
“Christmas Jollies”
There is so much to love on “Christmas Jollies,” the magical collection of originals and covers by the lovely Salsoul Orchestra. For one, their New Year’s medley, which includes a cover of “Auld Lang Syne,” (among others) is a unique touch. Few Christmas records tie in the possibility and hope of New Year’s too. The only one I can truly think of off the top of my head is *NSYNC’s “Home for Christmas” record, which ended with the delightful “Kiss Me at Midnight.”
But my favorite track is their single “Merry Christmas All,” a V-103 Christmas-time staple that perfectly encapsulates and captures the magic and whimsy of Magnificent Mile-like Christmas shopping time. It is sweet and light and glides through the ear.
“Merry Christmas from José James” (Rainbow Blonde Records)
“Merry Christmas from José James”
This relatively new collection, released in 2021 from José James, a jazz musician and vocalist, is a sharp and delightful collection of many of the classics, including “The Christmas Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “My Favorite Things.” But the true standout is James’ cover of “The Christmas Waltz,” which, in my opinion, is 10 times greater than the original. There is something about the warmth and richness of James’ voice that makes the track sound timeless and not just a recent addition to the canon from only four years ago. Give it a spin.
Robert Glasper’s “In December” (Loma Vista Recordings)
“In December”
This eight-track EP, which at 37 minutes could be classified as an album, is as brilliant as Robert Glasper’s non-Christmas music. Released in 2024, the record includes a handful of covers with collaborators like Alex Isley on “Joy to the World” and Doobie Powell on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” But I am particularly fond of the originals, including “Make It Home,” a collaboration with PJ Morton and Sevyn Streeter, as well as “December,” perhaps my favorite contemporary Christmas song, featuring Andra Day. The track is a moody, introspective jazz-soul feat that understands the complexities of the season — dark and light — and it is nothing short of a sonic miracle.
Britt Julious is a freelance critic.
