Every year, about this time, as we head into the holiday season and I flip the Christmas switch to holiday music on my radio program, I like to recommend some Christmas Music MUST’s to you. Songs and albums I think belong on your own personal holiday playlists.
This year there are several tried and true, and some brand new babes, swaddled and waiting to be picked up and played! Read on for this years MUST haves, to find the order links, and even watch a video from each selection.
Merry Christmas everyone, let the Holly Jolly, Ho Ho Ho begin on what would otherwise be a Silent Night! Let’s shake up some happiness together!
for KING + COUNTRY
”A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE)“
for KING + COUNTRY rings in the 2024 holiday season with a live rendering of their beloved Christmas show delivered straight to fans.
“A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE)” captures the joy, the wonder and the pageantry of the seasonal tour that has become an annual tradition for the duo capped by their signature rendition of “Little Drummer Boy.” The brand new recording serves as a companion to Christmas shows in LA, London, New York and Nashville; as well as a Fathom Event that will bring their live spectacle to theaters nationwide Dec. 5-9, 2024.
“Silent Night (Rewrapped)” is especially moving and the first on my list of Christmas Music Musts!
ORDER: “A Drummer Boy Christmas (LIVE)”
SIA
”Everyday Is Christmas”
"Everyday Is Christmas" first released in 2017 with a total of 10 original tracks. The album featured songs including "Santa's Coming for Us", "Candy Cane Lane", and "Snowman".
The all original album was written in only two weeks, and since then, “Snowman” has become a Christmas classic with over 1 BILLION streams. It’s since been reissued three times, in 2018, 2021 and 2022 with bonus tracks being added each time, bringing the total track list up to a whopping 21 with three different versions of “Snowman.”
It’s simply not Christmas without Sia’s Everyday Is Christmas!
BUY: “Everyday Is Christmas”
Lindsey Sterling
“Snow Waltz”
Snow Waltz is the second Christmas album by the amazingly talented American violinist and dancer, Lindsey Stirling. It contains a mix of traditional Christmas standards and some refreshing original tracks.
Because Lindsey’s performances are theatrical productions full of dance and beautiful costuming, the first single, “Ice Storm,” was released via YouTube on in August of 2022 and in October, the video for "Snow Waltz", featuring a Halloween theme, was released alongside the album.
While many of the songs may be familiar, Lindsey’s emotive violin arrangements are new and exciting and so very very moving. Adding “Snow Waltz” to your playlist is therefore a MUST in my book. It simply wouldn’t be Christmas without it!
ORDER: “Snow Waltz”
Dan + Shay
“It’s Officially Christmas :The Double Album”
Proven global superstars and 3x Grammy Award winners, Dan + Shay excitedly announced their very first Christmas album this year, and surprise, it’s a DOUBLE album!
“It’s Officially Christmas: The Double Album” is a 21-song 2-LP colored vinyl/CD collection of brand new originals and their takes on classics that you already know and love. The project was a whole a decade in the making, and they are so proud of every single note. They truly leaned into our love for the holiday season and found some magic in the songs.
Dan + Shay’s hope is that you are able to enjoy + share that same magic with your loved ones for years to come. It’s mine too!
ORDER: “It’s Officially Christmas :The Double Album”
Walker Hayes
“Christmas Vacation”
Walker Hayes' Christmas EP, “Christmas Vacation,” was just released November 1st! It contains 5 tracks in all, “Fancy Like Christmas”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, “Christmas Vacation”, “Come On Christmas”, and “Let It Be Christmas”.
Walker is the charming, affable, family-oriented country singer-songwriter who had a number one hit with "Fancy Like" in 2021 and then the remake, “Fancy Like Christmas” in 2023. “Country Stuff: The Album” was released in 2022, which reached number two on Billboard's Top Country Albums. Walker joined me on my podcast, LOVE SOMEONE, last year to talk about his Christmas hit and share all kinds of wonderful tidbits about his life with his wife, Laney and his seven children!
Be watching for Walker in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, on Thursday, November 28 and later in December for his guest appearance on The TODAY Show!
ORDER: “Christmas Vacation”
Elton John
”Step Into Christmas”
Just in time for the holidays, Elton’s classic "Step Into Christmas" is released for the first time on colored 10” vinyl. Originally released in 1973 it was intended as an audible holiday card for his fans following his record-breaking album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.“
This limited edition features "Ho Ho Ho (Who’d Be A Turkey At Christmas)" as well as 3 bonus tracks - “All Quiet On The Western Front”, “Cold As Christmas”, and, for the first time on record, "Calling It Christmas" by Elton and Joss Stone. It’s being pressed on festive red vinyl, adding that much more holiday magic to your Christmas playlist!
“Step Into Christmas” has become an essential part of the Christmas music canon, and its cheerful and festive spirit continues to delight audiences during the holiday season.
ORDER: “Step Into Christmas”
Jimmy Fallon
”Holiday Seasoning”
Late night host, friend to all, Jimmy Fallon, has announced a holiday comedy album, "Holiday Seasoning", a collection of all original songs with collaborations from the biggest superstars on the (snow) globe! Coming down your chimneys on November 1.
Following his recent Christmas hits, “Almost Too Early For Christmas,” with Dolly Parton and “It Was A…(Masked Christmas),” with Ariana Grande and Megan Thee Stallion, Jimmy took the 2023 holiday season by storm with his hit single “Wrap Me Up” with Meghan Trainor! To date, these have received over 70 million combined global streams and counting!
This year he’s spicing up our holiday playlists by adding 13 more tracks, teaming up with The Jonas Brothers, The Roots, Justin Timberlake, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Will Ferrell, Chelsea Handler and Cara Delevingne on a number of new great holiday tunes! This is the album you didn't know you were waiting for, but now can't wait to sink your teeth into!
The exclusive CD will come with a signed insert, the standard LP is a custom Peppermint Swirl vinyl, and there will be a deluxe LP package with Blizzard vinyl that will include a sticker sheet, a holiday table topper, and a pop-up vinyl gatefold. Target will also sell an exclusive edition of the LP in Ruby Red vinyl. This is a MUST!
ORDER: “Holiday Seasoning”
Train
“Christmas in Tahoe”
“Christmas in Tahoe” is the only Christmas album by the rock group Train, fronted by the charismatic Pat Monahan. It’s been a perennial favorite of my since it’s release in 2015.
Featuring renditions of twelve traditional Christmas songs and three originals written by the band, “Shake Up Christmas”, one of the originals, rates high on my list! It is so joyously infectious, it certainly shakes up some happiness! That’s why “Christmas in Tahoe “is most definitely a MUST each and every holiday season!
