By Frank “Smokin” Truatt
Every Christmas season I always get excited to see what the latest holiday musical albums will be. I was able to come up with a few for this Christmas of 2024. Vince Gill and Amy Grant have a new album called “When I Think of Christmas.” This husband and wife duo will surely bring a bit of country into your Christmas this year. They have their residency at the Ryman in Nashville and apparently have included the songs they perform there with a couple of new recordings. Jennifer Hudson has turned out a holiday album this year called “The Gift of Love.” The artist seems to have done it all and over the years has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, and now a Christmas album. What about the guy also who seems to be doing it all, Jimmy Fallon? Is he a late night tv host, game show co-host, stand-up comedian, former Saturday Night Live regular, movie star, author, or a recording artist? Well, he’s all that and for his fans, he does it all rather well. His latest album is called “Holiday Seasoning.” Country music lovers will also enjoy the latest from Little Big Town, appropriately titled “The Christmas Record” along with Toby Keith’s “Christmas to Christmas.” Clay Aiken, American Idol runner-up is back with “Christmas Bells Are Ringing,” his first studio album in over a decade. A bit absurd, but it’s all for charity, you might enjoy “A Philly Special Christmas Party.” Jason Kelce, former Philadelphia Eagle along with a few of his football buddies did the album for the benefit of a few children’s charities in Philadelphia. Stevie Nicks does sing with Jason on one of the songs. For those classic jazz lovers there is a new boxset with Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong called “Ella and Louis Wish You a Swinging Holiday.” There are also a couple of re-issues available this year including the Temptations “Give Love at Christmas,” Motown Christmas at its best.
I know that I’ll be picking up the newly remixed and remastered “Christmas Once More” by The Carpenters. The Carpenter Christmas albums are my favorite for the season, and in this new album, Richard has put together 16 of his classics, and after checking the song list, I’ll guarantee this may become your favorite Christmas Album of all time, that is, unless you have the original Carpenter albums!
