Christmas music!

Yep, it's time for some holiday tunes! :)

Here are some great chill-out Christmas albums. If the constant repetition of seasonal classics drives you crazy, but you don't want to be a total Scrooge, you just might like these downtempo, lounge-y takes on perennial favorites. Some are not so good, but some (especially the instrumentals) are fresh reworkings that really get you into the Christmas spirit!

Various Artists
Christmas Remixed: Holiday Classics Re-Grooved
(2003) (192kb/s)

1. Andy Williams - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year [A Shrift Remix]
2. Bing Crosby - Happy Holiday [Beef Wellington Remix]
3. Dean Martin - Jingle Bells [Dan the Automator Remix]
4. Kay Starr - I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm [Stuhr Remix]
5. Cathedral Brass and Choir - Joy to the World [Mocean Worker Remix]
6. Johnny Mercer - Winter Wonderland [Rise Ashen's Brazilian Beach Mix]
7. Charles Brown - Merry Christmas, Baby [MNO Remix]
8. Berlin Symphony Orchestra - The Nutcracker Suite [Baz Kuts Breaks Mix]
9. Louis Armstrong/Velma Middleton - Baby, It's Cold Outside [Mulato Beat Remix]
10. Duke Ellington - Jingle Bells [Robbie Hardkiss Remix]
11. Bing Crosby - The First Noel [Attaboy House Party Mix]
12. Mel Torme - The Christmas Song [Michael Kessler Open Fire Mix]

Various Artists
Christmas Remixed 2
(2005) (192kb/s)

1. Joe Williams - Jingle Bells (Bombay Dub Orchestra remix)
2. Jimmy McGriff - The Christmas Song (Tonal remix)
3. Bing Crosby/Ella Fitzgerald - Rudolf, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (John Beltran remix)
4. Charlie Parker - White Christmas (King Kooba remix)
5. Rosemary Clooney - Have Yourself A Merry Christmas (MNO remix)
6. Patti Page - Frosty The Snowman (Rondo Brothers remix)
7. CSSR State Philharmonic - Good King Wenceslas (Patrick Krouchian remix)
8. Charles Brown - I'll Be Home For Christmas (Ohmega Watts remix)
9. Bing Crosby - White Christmas (Kaskade remix)
10. Berlin Symphony Orchestra - Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (Red Baron remix)
11. Vic Damone - Winter Wonderland (Future Loop Foundation remix)
12. Mahalia Jackson - Silent Night (46Bliss remix)

Various Artists
Merry Mixmas
(2005) (192kb/s)

1. Winter Wonderland (Bent Remix) - Bing Crosby
2. All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) (MJ Cole Remix) - The Nat King Cole Trio
3. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Arp Remix) - Dean Martin
4. Sleigh Ride (The Latin Project Remix) - Ella Fitzgerald
5. Santa Baby (Alexkid & DJ Sleep Remix) - Eartha Kitt
6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Awayteam Remix) - Lou Rawls
7. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Suedojazz Mix) - Lena Horn
8. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo (Malibu Remix) - Billy May
9. (Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag (Thunderball Mix) - Kay Starr
10. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Psapp's Lady Remix) - Les Brown And His Orchestra
11. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) - Johnny Mercer
12. The Christmas Waltz (AwayTeam Remix) - Nancy Wilson
13. I'd Like You For Christmas (Ursula 1000 Remix) - Julie London
14. The Merriest (Thunderball Mix) - June Christy
15. Christmas Time Is Here (Markus Enochson Remix) - Vince Guaraldi Trio

This next album is another lounge-y one, with lovely production and pretty female vocals.

Crystal Theory
Christmas Chillout
(2005) (192kb/s)

1. Sleigh Ride
2. What Child Is This?
3. White Christmas
4. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
5. Joy To the World
6. Silent Night
7. The First Noel
8. Do You Hear What I Hear
9. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
10. Little Drummer Boy
11. Good King Wenceslas
12. Got Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
13. Away In a Manger
14. O Holy Night

This last album is a compilation I put together. I made a '2006 edition' last year but I didn't have a music blog then so... it's kinda pointless to mention that. ;) Anyways, And So This Is Christmas: Tunes To Sparkle The Dark Up (2007 Edition) is my personal ultimate Christmas compilation. Some of these songs have been a part of my Christmas soundtrack since I was a young'un, some of them are more recent favorites - but they all mean Christmas to me. (I call it the '2007 Edition' because I've added a few songs since last year!) All tracks are @ 192kb/s unless otherwise noted.

Part 1 + Part 2

1. Jingle Bells (Bing Crosby)
2. Happy Xmas [War Is Over] (John Lennon)
3. Wonderful Christmas Time (Paul McCartney & Wings) *224 kb/s
4. Christmas Angels (Clannad)
5. December Will Be Magic Again [Bongo Version] (Kate Bush)
6. I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek (The Go-Gos)
7. O?che Chi?n [Silent Night] (Enya)
8. All I Want For Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey)
9. Santa Baby (Kylie Minogue)
10. Silent Night [Ghost of Oxford Street Version] (Sin?ad O'Connor)
11. Christmas Day (Dido)
12. Carol of the Bells (Moya Brennan)
13. Jingle Bells / Jingle Bell Rock (The Muppets) *160kb/s
14. Last Christmas (Wham)
15. Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord (Boney M)
16. I Wonder As I Wander (Jewel)
17. I'll Be Home For Christmas (Dannii Minogue)
18. Thank God It's Christmas (Queen)
19. Christmas Don't Be Late (Alvin & The Chipmunks)
20. Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24 (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
21. Sleigh Ride (Spice Girls)
22. Christmas Time Is Here Again (Ringo Starr)
23. Merry Xmas Everybody (Girls Aloud)
24. Wonderful Dreams (Holidays Are Coming) [Radio Version] (Melanie Thornton)
25. The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole)
26. White Christmas (Bing Crosby)

BONUS TRACKS ('Bonus' because they aren't hugely essential tracks to me, but they're pretty darn spiffy anyway!)
27. Christmas Time Is Here [Vocal Version] (Vince Guaraldi Trio)
28. Oh Holy Night (Cartman from South Park) *128kb/s
29. December Will Be Magic Again [Single Version] (Kate Bush)
30. A Dream In The Night (Clannad)
31. Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth (Bing Crosby & David Bowie)

Christmas music!