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This index presents a selected discography of the best and/or most important various artist Christmas albums and soundtracks, organized by album name. Whenever possible, the listings are accompanied by links to the album art; to a place to buy the album (usually Amazon); and to my review of the album. Admittedly, the list skews heavily towards my preference for all things that rock, roll, swing, and twang. But, nothing's perfect - especially me and my crazy list. Please send additions, submissions, corrections, criticisms, and suggestions via email.

Title Date Image Buy Review
Bachelor Pad Christmas
- part of the 'Mondo Lounge' series from Polygram including Bachelor Pad Pleasures and Lounge Music Goes Latin (both 1996)
1996 image buy  
Badd Santa: A Stones Throw Records Christmas
- Presented by DJ, producer, and label founder Chris Manak (aka Peanut Butter Wolf)
2006 image buy  
Bah! Humbug: Christmas Songs For Grouch & Grinch
- fun LaserLight compilation containing several rare songs
1996 image buy  
Bands Under The Radar, Vol. 3: A Very Indie Christmas 2010 image buy  
Bands Under The Radar, Vol. 13: A Very Indie Christmas 2
- above two part of a download series promoting independent labels and artists
2014 image buy  
Beachwood Christmas
- folk session featuring Peter Tork (Monkees) and Tom Paxton
2003 image buy  
Best Christmas Album... Ever!
- Virgin/EMI 2-CD compilation reissued regularly with different covers (see below) but similar track listings (and, starting with the next volume, an expanded title that corresponded with an extensive and popular series of compilations in Europe)
1993 image buy review
Best Christmas Album In The World... Ever! 1996 image buy review
Best Christmas Album In The World... Ever! 2000 image buy review
Best Christmas Album In The World... Ever! 2004 image buy review
Best Christmas Ever
- diverse collection from Virgin Records
1996 image buy review
Best KIDS Christmas Album In the World Ever Ever Ever!!!
- not a children's record, but a compliation from UK indie label KIDS Records; 2007 UK CD edition includes the Wombats' "Is This Christmas?" but original MP3 and 2011 CD-R editions do not
2006 image buy  
Best Man Holiday (soundtrack)
- contemporary R&B including Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, and John Legend
2013 image buy  
Best Of Christmas (Capitol)
- 2-LP set reissued as CD in 1991 and MP3 download in 2011
1968 image buy  
Best Of Christmas (Nocturne)
- selections from to Christmas Blues, Christmas Jazz, and Christmas Voices
2007 image buy  
Best Of Cool Yule
- compact disc compiled mainly (but not entirely) from two previously released LP's, Cool Yule (1986) and Cool Yule Vol. 2 (1988); one of the historic Rhino compilations
1988 image buy review
Best Of Ichiban Blues At Christmas
- compiled by Rykodisc from four-album series released 1991-1997 by Atlanta-based modern blues label Ichiban Records
2002 image buy  
Best Of Street: New Orleans Xmas
- part of a project to discover, celebrate & empower street musicians around the world
2014 image buy  
Best of Ultimate Soul Christmas
- highlights from Virgin 2-CD set
2006 image buy  
Big Band Christmas
- vintage jazz from the vaults of Columbia Records
1990 image buy  
Big City Christmas: 30 Groovin And Croonin' Christmas Tunes
- pop and R&B rarities 1948-1966 from Germany's Bear Family Records
2016 image buy  
Big Stir Holiday Maxi-Single (EP)
- 8-song EP deleted after release of following
2019 image buy  
Big Stir Singles: The Yuletide Wave
- 25-track compilation including all of above; above two power pop from indie label based in Burbank, California
2020 image buy  
Billboard Family Christmas Classics 1995 image buy review
Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits 1935-1954 1989 image buy review
Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits 1955-Present 1989 image buy review
Billboard Greatest Country Christmas Hits 1990 image buy review
Billboard Greatest R&B Christmas Hits 1990 image buy review
Billboard Rock 'n' Roll Christmas 1994 image buy review
Billboard Top Christmas Hymns
- above seven part of the historic Rhino Records compilations
1995 image buy review
Black Christmas (promotional)
- compiled and illustrated by the Cramps' Lux Interior and Ivy Rorschach for Bust Magazine; by most accounts, the band only selected the tracks, leaving it up to readers to hunt them down...
2004 image buy  
Black Nativity (soundtrack)
- gospel and R&B by Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Nas, and others
2013 image buy  
Black Snow: The Completely Different Xmas Compilation 2009 image buy  
Black Snow 2: The Completely Different Xmas Compilation
- above two industrial and alternative rock from Black Rain Records
2010 image buy  
A Blackheart Christmas
- hard rockin' music from Kenny Laguna/Joan Jett label; originally an iTunes exclusive
2008 image buy  
Blame It On Christmas! Vol. 1
- parody album masquerading as collection of rare "weird Yuletide classics from around the world"
1995 image buy  
Bling Bling Christmas
- Studio One LP; very similar track listing to 2002 Heartbeat CD Christmas Greetings From Studio One
2002 image buy review
Bloodshot Records' 13 Days of Xmas (2017)
- storied Chicago indie finally takes the plunge...
2017 image buy  
Blue Blue Christmas (P-Vine)
- 20-track Japanese compilation of blues and early R&B
1988 image buy  
Blue Christmas (Blue Moon)
- 26 tracks of vintage rhythm & blues from the 40's and 50's
1994 image buy  
Blue Christmas (Blue Note)
- contemporary jazz from venerated label
2010 image buy  
Blue Christmas (dialtone)
- modern blues issued by Austin-based label Dialtone Records
2000 image buy  
Blue Élan Christmas 2015 image buy  
Blue Élan Christmas Vol. 2
- above two benefit the Alliance for Children's Rights, from Los Angeles-based indie label
2021 image buy  
Blue Xmas: Christmas Blues Instrumentals
- new recordings by modern blues artists for Evidence Records
2001 image buy  
Blue Yule: Christmas Blues And R&B Classics
- one of the historic Rhino compilations
1991 image buy review
Bluebird Cafe Christmas
- benefit for St. Patrick's Shelter in Nashville
1993 image buy  
Blues and Soul Christmas
- 10-track budget compilation with several rare cuts
1997 image buy  
Blues, Blues Christmas
- amazing 2-CD, 52-track compilation from Document Records subtitled "In The Blues, Jazz, Boogie Woogie, and Gospel Spirit"
2005 image buy  
Blues, Blues Christmas Vol. 2
- originally scheduled for 2008 release, finally available the following year (and worth the wait)
2009 image buy  
Blues, Blues Christmas Vol. 3
- Document Records continues fabulous series of blues, jazz, doo wop, rockabilly, and gospel holiday songs
2013 image buy  
Blues, Blues Christmas Vol. 4
- blues, jazz, doo-wop, rockabilly, and gospel 1925-1962
2014 image buy  
Blues, Blues Christmas Vol. 5
- blues, jazz, doo-wop, old-timey, western swing, and country 1925-1962
2020 image buy  
Blues, Blues Christmas Vol. 6
- blues, jazz, doo-wop, old-timey, and gospel 1922-1962
2021 image buy  
Blues Christmas
- vinyl-only collection from the Alligator catalog
2015 image buy  
Blues Christmas
- Cleopatra grab-bag of mostly modern blues; also issued with alternate cover, then reissued on CD in 2021 with that cover art, but reissued on LP in 2022 with the original cover art...
2015 image buy  
Blues, Mistletoe, And Santa's Little Helper
- recorded 1992-1995 by the artists of Black Top Records
1995 image buy  
Bollocks To Christmas
- CD on Dojo Records expanded from a 1981 EP on Secret Records
1994 image buy  
Bonanza: Christmas On The Ponderosa
- join the Ben, Hoss, Little Joe, and Adam Cartright for the holidays
1963 image buy  
Bonanza: The Complete Christmas On The Ponderosa
- expanded Real Gone/Second Disc CD edition of above; includes Lorne Greene's complete 1965 RCA album "Have A Happy Holiday"; reissued as a digital album by Sony in 2023
2018 image buy  
Boogie Woogie Santa Claus: An R&B Christmas
- compiled by Richard Weize, founder of Bear Family Records; companion to A Rootin Tootin Santa: A Hillbilly Christmas
2017 image buy  
Boston Rock Christmas
- 5-song vinyl EP of punk & new wave; never issued on CD
1983 image buy review
Bountiful Christmas: 25 All-Time Holiday Favorites
- eclectic, overstuffed sampler from EMI Special Products
1995 image buy  
Brah, Humbug! Xmas In NOLA
- 10 vintage New Orleans- and Louisiana-flavored Christmas songs; initially sold exclusively through the Tipitina's Record Club; reissued for Black Friday 2024 Record Store Day
2022 image buy  
Broken Christmas
- from Christian alternative rock label Broken Records
1988 image buy  
Brutal Christmas: The Season In Chaos
- extreme heavy metal from Sounds Of The Dead Records
2003 image buy  
Bullseye Blues Christmas
- from the catalog of Rounder-distributed label Bullseye Blues
1995 image buy  
Bummed Out Christmas
- 12 tales of holiday mayhem; one of the historic Rhino compilations
1989 image buy review

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