Each family

has its own holiday traditions, including when the

decorations go up, what type of food is prepared, when

and, of course, what music is listened to.

Some

families lean toward the traditional songs sung by choirs

or performed by orchestras, while others gravitate toward

their favorite popular artists' renditions of holiday

classics. These are merely some suggestions that include

artists on both sides of the proverbial fence.

One of the

best Christmas albums ever is Vince Guaraldi's "A

Charlie Brown Christmas." The songs were mostly

heard in the "Charlie Brown Christmas Special,"

which is among many people's annual holiday traditions.

The album is very jazzy, relaxed and full of holiday

classics.

Another

favorite among many people (50 million at last count) is

Elvis Presley. The King's "Blue Christmas"

album fluctuates between his rock n' rolling side and his

reverent side. The album has so much variety that it

stands up to repeated listenings.

If you're

looking for some instrumental selections, Mannheim

Steamroller has several volumes of Christmas music

available as does Windham Hill. Mannheim Steamroller

first gained popularity in the early 1980s. They

steamroll through all of the holiday classics, playing at

a very upbeat pace and in medley form.

Windham

Hill has gained popularity over the last several years

with their "Celtic Christmas" albums. Most

selections are played by the Windham Hill Orchestra, but

several Irish folk and rock artists make appearances

throughout. The Windham Hill albums also can be played

after the holiday season is over and not sound out of

place.

Kenny G

also is a very popular instrumental artist, who saw one

of his largest successes in his Christmas album, which

sells exceptionally well every holiday season. It is very

mellow, and includes most of the songs you'd expect.

If you like

your Christmas music a little more upbeat, check out one

of the volumes of "A Very Special Christmas."

Each album features a variety of popular artists,

including Tom Petty, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Run DMC and

TLC, singing traditional and some of the more

non-traditional numbers. Portions of the proceeds go to

several charities and have kept the albums going over the

years.

Another

very up-beat, and often silly, album is John Denver and

"The Muppets Christmas" album. The song

features your favorite Muppet characters singing

Christmas carols with the late folk singer. The album

also includes an original song that Denver wrote for Jim

Henson's "Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas,"

called "When the River meets the Sea." It

recounts all of the holiday favorites like "The

Twelve Days of Christmas" and "Old Saint

Nick" with a muppet's sense of humor and

sentimentality.

These are

just a sampling of what is available in the realm of

holiday music. Other artists that have put out stellar

holiday albums include Nat King Cole with his rendition

of "The Christmas Song," Frank Sinatra's

version of "Greensleeves," and the Brady Bunch.

The Carpenters Christmas album also is popular with many

shoppers, as are Garth Brooks, Perry Como and Boyz II

Men.

The music

will serve as a reminder of the special feelings of the

holidays of the past and for many years to come.

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