7 Christmas/Holiday albums to get you in the Spirit, chosen by BCPL staff

BCPL Staff share their top picks for Christmas/Holiday albums to get you in the spirit. The list is a mix of traditional and the unexpected.

Barenaked for the Holidays by Barenaked Ladies is a Christmas/Holiday album favorite of Cindy, YS Collection Development Librarian.
This CD makes me happy, every time I play it. It is filled with the group’s take on Christmas classics, hilarious originals, and even a couple of Hanukkah songs, which helped introduce my kids to the holiday when they were young. And don’t miss Deck the Stills – it encapsulates the band in one blink-and-you-miss-it song.

A Cheetah-licious Christmas by The Cheetah Girls is a Christmas/Holiday album favorite of Bobbie, Circulation Assistant.
This is one of the few Christmas albums that I listen to in its entirety. I love the Cheetah Girls and their music so, from the moment they released a Christmas album, I was obsessed!

The Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles is a Christmas/Holiday album favorite of Tracey, Local History Associate.
Simply put – because everything is better with a little Ray Charles in the mix!

We Wish You A Metal Xmas, And A Headbanging New Year is a Christmas/Holiday album favorite of Joe, Circulation Assistant.
Christmas music can get a little boring after a while, but this album brings the usual holiday classics with some heavy flair. With tracks featuring Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Dave Grohl (Nirvana & Foo Fighters), and Ronnie James Dio (Dio, Rainbow, & Black Sabbath) just to name a few!

Wrapped in Red by Kelly Clarkson is a Christmas/Holiday album favorite of Jill, Youth Services Manager.
The music sounds both modern and classic and Kelly’s powerful voice lends itself perfectly to this mix of classic holiday songs and originals.

Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas by Ella Fitzgerald is a Christmas/Holiday album favorite of Hillary, Local History Associate.
I love this album because it’s filled with familiar Christmas songs but it’s ELLA, so they never sounded better!

A Jolly Christmas by Frank Sinatra is a Christmas/Holiday album favorite of Kathy, YS Circulation Assistant.
It is a timeless classic!

Merry Christmas by Mariah Carey is a Christmas/Holiday album favorite of Vicki, Public Services Associate.
We never opened presents on Christmas morning until we set the CD player to this album. Now my kids have their own families and continue this tradition.