<p>So many great suggestions- although I admit I am not familiar with the new releases.</p>
<p>OP, you are more committed than I am, my oldest was cast in the PNB Nutcracker when she was about eight and after I found out how much time it took for rehearsal & performances, I bribed her to turn it down. ( She took classes at PNB, and wanted to audition, but I didnt really think she would get a part- we also went away for the holidays, and if we stopped we would lose our place)
The PNB version of The Nutcrackers is pretty fun BTW, Maurice Sendak did the sets & it came out on video years ago.</p>
<p>I have many different Christmas cds. There are a few that people are surprised to hear. They include:
Vanessa Williams
Aaron Neville
Luther Vandross
Wynonna
Harry Connick, Jr.
Burl Ives
Perry Como
Bing Crosby…my girls like the oldies but goodies. ;)</p>
<p>There are the old standbys that we like, too:
Andrea Bocelli
Nat King Cole
Michael Buble
Kenny G
Mannheim Steamroller
Trans Siberian Orchestra</p>
<p>I think I might get the new Rod Stewart one this week.</p>
<p>I am checking out each and every suggestion, so keep them coming! I have checked the top list for each genre online and if Amazon has samples of each track, I am listing to those too. While searching online I found a Luther Vandross CD that I thought might be a good choice. The Pink Martini suggested early sounds nice also.</p>
<p>EK4- My daughter was a Pre Pro dancer and her school’s performances of the Nutcracker was an all children cast. One of her professional dancers actually joined the company at PNB. Nutcracker took over our lives from the beginning of October to Christmas; while I miss it, I don’t!</p>
<p>If I were buying for myself, I would like many of your suggestions, NorthMinnesota! I just want a mix of artist, performing their best song. Of course my daughter could do that by buying individual tracks on iTunes, but she wants to receive an actually CD from me. This child is a creature of habit, and I think this is just a tradition she enjoys. I would think by now her iPod has multiple versions of most every Christmas song :)</p>
<p>Maybe when she gets married at some point I can pass this job onto her husband ;)</p>
<p>Have you looked at the “Now That’s What I Call Christmas” CD collections? We have some of those also. I think #4 has some very current artists…Rhiannon, Lady Gaga, Maroon 5 and some country singers along with the old classics. We don’t have it but I remember looking at it.</p>
<p>N. Minn, You have a great list. My parent had a Perry Como record with a lyric book included when I was growing up. It was my first thought when I saw this post. </p>
<p>Also love Nat King Cole, Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble. Luckily my daughter loves older music too so I don’t feel so ancient. I am thinking I might order the Luther Vanross “Classic Christmas” :).</p>
<p>I haven’t made a decision yet; going to see what Target has in stock. My daughter is still in London and won’t be home until Christmas, so I have some time! I am going to get the Costco set and look for one other; leaning toward Luther Vandross, or maybe Michael Buble.</p>
<p>I heard Donny Hathaway’s “This Is Christmas” this morning and it made me smile. :)</p>
<p>I went digging through the CDs and pulled up some of the girls’ old Christmas ones. I found Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey, 98 Degrees, Charlie Brown, Alvin and The Chipmunks, *NSYNC, my old Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Whitney Houston to name a few. Hadn’t seen these ones for quite a while and they aren’t on my Ipod. They reminded me of how much fun we had picking out Christmas music as they grew up. Thanks for starting this thread! :)</p>
<p>While at Costco this morning I went ahead and purchased the CD there, but still looking for another. I went with the first one here, called This Christmas; a nice mix of artist. I think I will go with an instrumental for the second one, but still liking Luther Vandross! </p>