Christmas Albums For Your Collection

 Here are some of my favourite Christms Albums by East Coast artists.  With four new releases (The Ennis Sisters, Hey Rosetta!, Jimmy Rankin, The Once) to add to the collection this year, it is sure to be another wonderful music listening season.

The Barra MacNeils - The Christmas Album (1996)

Famous for their annual concert, this was their first Christmas album.

01. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
02. Children's Winter
03. Carol of the Bells
04. Ann am Baile Ri'oghail Dhaibhidh
(Once in David's Royal City)
05. Singing in the Streets
06. Christmas Comes But Once a Year
(Christmas in Carrick)
07. Christmas in Killarney
08. Snowplow Set
09. O Holy Night
10. Galician Carol
11. O' Come Divine Messiah
12. Taladh Chriosda (Christ Child Lullaby)
13. Party in Washabuckt
14. Auld Lang Syne

The Barra MacNeils - The Christmas Album (2006)

Christmas Album II is the Barra MacNeils’ second seasonal recording.

1. I Saw Three Ships
0. At Last I’m Ready For Christmas
3. On The Very First Christmas
4. Angels We Have Heard On High
5. Good King Wenceslas
6. The Gathering Set
7. Christmas Together
8. Childhood Christmas
9. Ave Maria10. Dancing Angels
11. Merrily On High
12. Joy To The World
13. Oran nan Cailleachan (Song Of The Old Ladies)
14. Christmas Ceilidh
15. Samhach an Oidhch’ (Silent Night)

Dave Gunning Christmas (2007)

Gunning's first Christmas album featuring a mix of Christmas favourites and Gunning originals.  Daddy's Beer was recoded live at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax

1. Christmas Blanket
2. Silver Bells
3. Do You Feel What I Feel
4. Daddy’s Beer
5. Frosty The Snowman
6. Christmas Bells
7. Mary’s Boy Child
8. It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
9. O Holy Night
10. What Child Is This
11. Silent Night



Dave Gunning Christmas Too (2011)

Another beautiful Christmas album from Dave Gunning, appropriately titled Christmas Too.

1. Angels We Have Heard On High
2. Christmas Back Home Again
3. Do You Hear What I Hear
4. Joy To The World
5. In the Bleak of Winter
6. Winter Wonderland
7. Merry Christmas Lonely Cowboy
8. The Cherry Tree Christmas Carol
9. O Christmas Tree
10. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
11. Old Toy Trains





The Ennis Sisters: Christmas on Ennis Road (1998)

The Ennis Sisters first Christmas album is a staple in Newfoundland and Labrador homes:

1 Ennis Road
2 Silent Night
3 Christmas Must Be Tonight
4 Christmas Day
5 Midnight Clear
6 Friendly Beasts
7 Angel Gabriel
8 I’ll Be There Christmas Eve
9 Christmas Angel
10 Joyous New Year






The Ennis Sisters: It's Christmas (2012)

New for 2012!  Maureen, Karen and Teresa Ennis joined together, after a five year hiatus, to record a brand new Christmas album:
1 Harbour Lights 3:27
2 Still, Still, Still 2:52
3 The Holly and The Ivy 3:54
4 The Gift 3:57
5 It’s Christmas 3:53
6 Mary’s Lullaby 3:04
7 Three Kings 3:22
8 The Peace Carol 3:51
9 My First Christmas (Without You) 4:04
10 A Children’s Winter 3:01
11 Coming Down The Chimney 2:12
12 Go Safely Into The Night 3:12


Heather, Cookie and Raylene Rankin: Do You Hear (1997)

15 Songs from Cape Breton Royalty.

1. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
2. The Christmas Star
3. I Wonder As I Wander
4. Jesus Christ, The Apple Tree
5. Do You Hear What I Hear
6. Taladh Chriosda (The Christ-Child's Lullaby)
7. A'Challuinn (The New Year)
8. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
9. Quelle Est Cettre Odeur? (What Is This Scent So Pure and Lovely?)
10. Ave Maria
11. Welcome Yule
12. The Coventry Carol
13. Children Go Where I Send You
14. Angels We Have Heard On High
15. Oh Night of Joy and Gladness


Hey Rosetta; A Cup of Kindness Yet (2012)


New for 2012!  The Hey Rosetta! Christmas show has become a Christmas tradition in Newfoundland.  Now they have an lovely 4 song EP to go with it.  These songs feature all the best features of Hey Rosetta!, with thoughtful lyrics, exceptional musicianship, and Tim Baker's wonderful singing.  It is a must for music fans everywhere.

1. Carry Me Home
2. O Come O Come Emmanuel
3. The First Snow
4. New Year Song






Jill Barber, Rose Cousins and Meaghan Smith: A New Kind of Light (2008)

A New Kind Of Light is a collection of Christmas songs, recorded by three great singer/songwriters Jill Barber, Rose Cousins and Meaghan Smith.

1. Christmas Time is Here
2. It Snowed
3. This Christmas
4. The Little Drummer Boy
5. Christmas On The Town
6. Blue Christmas
7. In The Bleak Midwinter
8. New Kind Of Light
9. I'll Be Home For Christmas
10. Christmas Bells
11. The Angel Gabriel
12. Try For Peace



Jimmy Rankin: Tinsel Town (2012)

New for 2012!  Jimmy Rankin's 5th solo record, Tinsel Town, features four original songs to go with eight Christmas classics.  It is destined to become a holiday favourite. 

1. Tinseltown
2. Winter Wonderland
3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4. Jingle Bell Rock
5. December
6. Christmas for Cowboys
7. Silver Bells
8. Boogie Woogie Christmas
9. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
10. Let it Snow
11. Don’t Wanna Say Goodbye to Christmas
12. White Christmas



Meaghan Smith: It Snowed (2011)


Meaghan Smith won the 2011 Juno award for Best New Artist.  Later that year, she released my all-time favourite Christmas CD.  Smith has a beautiful voice whether singing originals songs (Breakable, It Snowed, Christmas Kiss) or holiday favourites.

1. Breakable
2. Silver Bells
3. Baby It's Cold Outside (ft. Buck 65)
4. It Snowed
5. Christmas Time Is Here
6. Christmas Kiss
7. Drummer Boy
8. Zat U Santa Claus?
9. Silent Night





What are some of your favourite Christmas albums?