Not many new Christmas albums released this year
It really feels like it is the right time to deck the halls with sounds of country Christmas music. There are not many new Christmas albums out this year, but rather songs and collaboration that you can only order online.
Alabama are the ones who offer the new country Christmas music release in 2017 while songs featuring Blake Shelton and Shania Twain are also quite interesting.
Alabama’s new Christmas album is one of very few full-length albums being released this year. Anyway, I am positive that an older Alan Jackson or George Strait album will sound perfect as you decorate.
This year, ‘O Holy Night’ has been the pick for four amazing performances being released in the past few weeks. Kelleigh Bannen, Brett Young, Lee Brice, and Luke Bryan all bring their own style to the classics, but if you’re a fan of country Christmas music, no doubt you’re going to love each of them.
There’s also Willie Nelson teaming with Lee Ann Womack to record ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside.’ Sometimes, releasing samples is what artists decide to do, instead of releasing a full album.
You can also find Kellie Pickler and Phil Vassar teaming up for ‘The Naughty List,’ Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton duet on, ‘You Make It Feel Like Christmas,’ Nick Jonas and Shania Twain Sing ‘Say All You Want for Christmas,’ while Lucas Hoge released a full album titled Christmas Is Here.
This is the first year that Kenny Rogers isn’t touring for the holidays but Martina Mcbride is picking up with a Christmas tour of her own. Home Free are touring too, and Brett Eldredge has a dash of holiday dates planned for 2017.
Here’s a look at what was released last year. You might find a few new albums that you don’t have. It’s time to bust out the decorations and fa-la-la-la-la-along to all this exciting music. Christmas Together, Garth Brooks
and Trisha Yearwood
This one is their first duets album. Selections include the jazz standard, ‘I’m Beginning to See the Light,’ as well as ‘Santa Baby,’ ‘Marshmallow Christmas,’ and Dolly Parton’s ‘Hard Candy Christmas.’ The 11-song collection closes with their original ‘What I’m Thankful For (The Thanksgiving Song)’ featuring James Taylor. A great choice if you like Garth Brooks.
Glow, Brett Eldredge From the strings to the jazzy horn arrangements, to Eldredge’s crooning, everything about the 11-song collection screams classic Sinatra. Eldredge cowrote the title track with Ross Copperman, who co-wrote his first four No. 1s including, ‘Lose My Mind.’ It sure gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling. You will love ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ It was my favourite Christmas album last year.
Tennessee Christmas, Amy Grant The 13-song collection is her first holiday album in nearly 20 years. Her vocal performances are warm and inviting on ‘December,’ ‘I’ve Got My My Love to Keep Me Warm,’ and ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside,’ the latter of which features her husband Vince Gill. The album opens with the title track, a song she co-wrote with Gary Chapman (her ex-husband) in 1983 for her first holiday collection, A Christmas Album.
White Christmas Blue, Loretta Lynn Recorded while tracking her latest album, Full Circle, Lynn’s 12-song holiday collection opens with the title track, a new original weeper she co-wrote with Shawn Camp. She revisits ‘Country Christmas’ and ‘To Heck With Ole Santa Claus,’ which were originally featured on a holiday album she released 50 years ago. Included are popular classics, traditional hymns, and a reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.’
My Kind of Christmas,
Reba Mcentire Mcentire decided to cover the classics for this 11-song Cracker Barrel exclusive, which is the first acoustic album she’s ever made. Selections include ‘Silent Night,’ ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas,’ and ‘The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire).’ It is her third Christmas album.
A Very Kacey Christmas,
Kacey Musgraves
It’s 12 songs of country Christmas magic from start to finish. Chris Scruggs’ lap steel picking and the Quebe Sisters’ singing on ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ instantly transport the listener to a Hawaiian paradise. Willie Nelson guests on ‘A Willie Nice Christmas,’ while fellow Texan Leon Bridges appears on the soulful ‘Present Without a Bow.’ Just like the singer herself, this album is refreshing and you will love it.
To Celebrate Christmas,
Jennifer Nettles Nettles’ voice is brightly shining throughout the 10-song collection. It’s especially powerful on her version of ‘O Holy Night.’ Additional standouts include Kenny Loggins’ ‘Celebrate Me Home,’ her jazzy spin on ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ featuring Andra Day and a driving cover of ‘Little Drummer Boy’ featuring Idina Menzel. Celebrate Christmas, the Oak Ridge Boys
This 12-song collection is heavy on hymns celebrating the night Jesus was born. But their new cover of ‘Blue Christmas’ has to be one of the bluest versions released last year.
The Greatest Gift of All, Rascal Flatts The 10-song collection kicks off with a big gospel rendition of ‘Joy to the World.’ The song reunites Jay Demarcus with the choir program at his alma mater, Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Lee University singers join in toward the end of the opener. Additional highlights include new doo-wop arrangements of ‘Deck the Halls’ and ‘Let It Snow’ that are reminiscent of vintage Phil Spector recordings. To me it lacks the warm and fuzzy feeling that Christmas music usually offers.
It Must Be Christmas, Chris Young On 1993’s Honky Tonk Christmas, Alan Jackson had one of Young’s favourite singers, Keith Whitley, guest on ‘There’s a New Kid in Town.’ So it’s only right that Jackson guests on Young’s take of the song. Brad Paisley and Young sound great together on a soaring version of ‘The First Noel,’ while Young sounds like a sixth member of Boyz II Men on their ‘Silent Night’ collaboration.
His performance of ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ is a real highlight on this album as it really touches your heart and soul.
I hope this information will help you pick your Christmas music. Some of my favourites have been released many years ago, but I still love to buy some of the new ones every year. Next week I’ll share which are my favourite Country Christmas albums of the past 25 years, the ones that I listen to year after year with the same pleasure.