Christmas albums are a mainstay of virtually every genre of music. That's because holiday music provides a very personal gift opportunity for shoppers.
HNGN has wrapped up an eclectic list of 2014 holiday releases just in time for Black Friday. The CDs on this list are ready for you to buy, put bows on and tuck under the tree - or into a stocking dangling from the mantel. Talk about the perfect stocking stuffer!
Kelly Clarkson: "Wrapped In Red"
The 16-track album includes two new songs, "Wrapped In Red" and "Underneath the Tree," as well as covers of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Blue Christmas," "Run Run Rudolph" and "Please Come Home For Christmas." Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood lend their voices to "Silent Night," while " Ronnie Dunn, formerly of Brooks & Dunn, appears on a remake of "Baby, It's Cold Outside
"Nashville" Cast Members: "Christmas With Nashville"
Dave Koz & Friends: "The 25th of December"
Lynyrd Skynyrd: "Christmas Time Again"
Darius Rucker: "Home for the Holidays"
The 12-track album showcases Rucker's special renditions of revered holiday classics, such as "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," "Winter Wonderland" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." There's two new songs, "What God Wants for Christmas" and "Candy Cane Christmas," and "Baby, It's Cold Outside," featuring special guest Sheryl Crow.
Caitriona O'Leary: "The Wexford Carols"
Kathryn Caine & Sam P. Bush: "Love & Mercy Christmas"
William Close: "Holidays"
Seth MacFarlane: "Holiday for Swing"
Daniel Rodriguez: "A Glorious Christmas"
The singing policeman whose tenor voice helped America heal after 9/11 releases his first-ever Christmas album. The 10-song CD includes duets on "I Believe" with international recording artist Marla Kavanaugh, on "Christmas Day" with pop diva Shelea Frazier and on "A Glorious Christmas" with Grammy-nominated Latin songstress Karina Nuvo.
Various Artists: "It's Christmas on Mack Avenue"
Various artists: "An Americana Christmas"
"Downton Abbey" Cast Members: "Christmas at Downton Abbey"
His Kids United: "His Kids Christmas Vol. 1"
B.J. Thomas: "O Holy Night"
Thomas, whose Oscar-winning performance on "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" catapulted him to fame, lends his distinctive voice to six new recordings of Christmas classics. "O Holy Night" is a limited-edition EP featuring "The First Noel," " O Holy Night," "Silent Night," "What Child Is This?," "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" and "Go Tell It On The Mountain."
Donna King: "Song For Noel"
Smalltown Poets: "Christmas Time Again"
The Modern Post: "Lowborn King"
John Schneider and Tom Wopat: "Home For Christmas"
Idina Menzel: "Holiday Wishes"
Idina Menzel's Christmas CD seems the perfect complement to her performance of "Let It Go" - the highlight of Disney's smash hit "Frozen." The song brought her an Oscar for Best Original Song and led the "Frozen" soundtrack to be the second best-selling album of 2014.
Alan Jackson: "Let It Be Christmas" (reissue)
Earth, Wind and Fire: "Holiday" (featuring Maurice White on vocals)
Various artists: "Midnight Clear: A Solid State Christmas Compilation"
Michael W. Smith: "Michael W. Smith & Friends: The Spirit of Christmas"
The Christian singer's Christmas album showcases the talents of Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Jennifer Nettles, Little Big Town, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, as well as appearances from Bono and Michael McDonald.
Richard & Adam: "The Christmas Album'"
Human Nature: "The Christmas Album"
Pentatonix: "That's Christmas to Me"
Judy Collins: "Joy to the World"
LeAnn Rimes: "One Christmas: Chapter 1"
A decade ago, Grammy-winning country-pop singer Rimes had a hit with "What a Wonderful World," a country-tinged Christmas record. Now comes her new Christmas CD - with the "Chapter 1" hinting that more holiday albums are to come. "Silent Night Holy Night" and "Blue Christmas" - the latter a classic made famous by Elvis Presley - are both true gems.
Sara Evans: "At Christmas"
Various Artists: "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
Mormon Tabernacle Choir: "Let the Season In"
The Roys: "Bluegrass Kinda Christmas"
The 10-song collection sets the stage for lively fiddle runs and the bell-like sounds of the mandolin. Elaine's angelic vocal on "O Holy Night" is a standout: Lee's stirring interpretation of "There's A New Kid In Town" is another highlight. The duo has fun with the upbeat classics
Renee Fleming: "Christmas in New York"
Jon McLaughlin: "The Christmas EP"
Anthony Hamilton: "Home for the Holidays"
"Santa Looked Like A Lot Like Daddy" and "Christmas Times A Comin'"
Heart: "Heart & Friends: Home for the Holidays"
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' CD includes less known tracks like "The River" and "Seasons." Even so, Sammy Hagar's "Santa's Going South" is way cool, as is Ann Wilson's "Please Come Home for Christmas," and Heart's version of "Stairway to Heaven" is a true standout.
Various artists: "Motown Christmas"
"Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever" Soundtrack
Johnnyswim: "A Johnnyswim Christmas"
Mark Kozelek: "Sings Christmas Carols"
Maysa: "A Very Maysa Christmas"
The Grammy-nominated contemporary jazz singer's holiday CD features Gerald Albright and Will Downing. The songs include a jazzy spin on "The Little Drummer Boy," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" featuring rap support from Jigz; "Jingle Bells" "Christmas Time is Here," "The First Noel" and "Silver Bells."
