The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole

The 1961 Classic by Nat King Cole, The Christmas song

Number 10 on the Top 10 List of Holiday CDs, Let It Be Christmas, Alan Jackson

Let It Be Christmas, Alan Jackson

Ok, so lets go country for our number 10 CD on our Top Ten List of favorite holiday albums. With a sales rank right up there on Amazon, this album has all the rave reviews. Containing 10 well-know holiday tunes and Jackson's warm, soothing voice you have a winner. "Jingle Bells" has been given a honky-tonk piano, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a little jazzed up, and the acoustic based "Silent Night" is just gorgeous.

Alan Jackson brings his own style and flavor to classic holiday songs. Some even compare this to Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" and Johnny Mathis' "Merry Christmas." Jackson produces wonderful versions of the classics and pleasing versions of the standards. That says it for me, this is a must have.

Pick up a copy today at Amazon.com, the holidays are just around the corner.

Saga Appalachian Mandolin, with Gig Bag

When I look at my blog stats and see what people comment about the biggest area, other than all the amazing comments on the Clay Aiken's holiday CD, is on Mandolins. People love our Mandolin chord charts and download them all the time. So for this post I have put up a nice starter mandolin kit, a decent, mid price A-style body shape mandolin, all Maple construction, Rosewood fingerboard, adjustable strap, two picks, gig bag and tuner, plus an instructional dvd. A great place to start. The dvd is from Homespun instructional tapes and dvd, a long time respected place for lessons. I have many of their dvds.

The only change I might make is to add a electronic tuner, a little easier than the pitch pipe, check out our post on the IMT 500 tuner from September, something like works well. There were also some nice reviews on this instrument, like this one "Seems like a good beginner mandolin. I had to put better strings on it first thing, but other than that i've been very happy with it." The other reviews also mentioned about the strings, so I would pick up a set, they are all under $10. I like the Martin Mandolin strings or the D'Addario strings, Amazon carries the D'Addario.

To learn more check out the link below to Amazon

Yamaha Gigmaker Deluxe Acoustic Guitar Package

A great place to get started playing guitar, the Yamaha Gigmaker Acoustic Guitar. Everything you need, a nice entry level guitar, a tuner, case, picks and strap. Plus an instructional DVD full of lessons. Yamaha is a well respected name in the music instrument world, I have one of their guitars and love it. This package pulls it all together.

This is the little more expensive package, just under $200, this also comes in a standard version, but this guitar comes with a solid Spruce top, Mahogany back and side and a Rosewood fingerboard, just a little nicer. The deluxe and standard packages are both great ways for the first time player to get started.

Some excellent reviews on Amazon on this package, "Beautiful guitar, fast shipping...what more can you ask for? My son took guitar in school this year and was hooked. I didn't want to spend a fortune when he wanted a guitar for his 13th birthday so after ALOT of research, I found this steal! It's a really nice instrument. The guitar player next door was impressed with it as well. I like that this kit comes with everything he'll need to get started." And this quote "I did not expect the high level of finish and quality for the price.Great starter package."

Click through to Amazon to learn more about this package

Number 9 on Top Ten List, The Andy Williams Christmas Album

The Andy Williams Christmas Album by Andy Williams

We gave you a little hint below with the Andy Williams video, The Andy Williams Christmas Album is one of the best selling Christmas albums, it is a holiday institution. Big shoes in the world of Perry Como, Bing Crosby and Tony Bennett. This album is regarded as one of Williams best Christmas collections and should be in everyone's collection.

This album is filled with all the classics, "White Christmas, The First Noel, O Holy Night, Away in the Manger, The Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night, Holy Night" and more. Some call this the best ever recording of Holiday music, a voice that whenever you hear it you think of Christmas. This album has been remastered along with his green album, "Merry Christmas" and put in Columbia/Legacy's "Essential Holiday Classics" series, high praise indeed.

Amazon has them all, pick up Andy Williams for your collection today.

Number 8, Top Ten, A Fresh Aire Christmas, Mannheim Steamroller

A Fresh Aire Christmas, Mannheim Steamroller

The first Mannheim Steamroller "Christmas" Album completely changed contemporary Christmas, this album, the follow up album became a masterpiece, creating a truly unique classical/modern sound. Adding electronic touches and a percussion blend to beloved Christmas favorites. Chip Davis the creator of our Number 8 on our list of Top Ten Christmas CD, created some truly distinctive interpretations of Christmas classics.

This CD contains some of the most love Holiday classics, "Hark! The Herald Angles Sing, Little Drummer Boy, Greensleeves, and Carol of the Bells along with 6 more wonderful selections.

With over 60 reviews of this album on Amazon, this phrase sums them up, "Beautiful Christmas music for the Soul". Just a click away on Amazon check out the Mannheim Steamroller's, A Fresh Aire Christmas

The Andy Williams Christmas Show - Happy Holidays - The Williams & Osmond Brothers

Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Sensitive Lighted Keyboard Bundle

So lets open up the list of the best music gifts for the holidays and talk about a keyboard for your budding piano player. Amazon has some great deals this holiday season and this one is no exception. List price is well over $300 and this is going for nicely under $200.

The Yamaha EZ-200 61 is a full-sized touch sensitive lighted keyboard, this bundle includes a set of professional headphones, a keyboard stand, and the power supply. Amazon has less expensive models and other brands but this is a good place to start. I have a Yamaha electric piano at home and it has been great for years. Plus with the lighted keyboards it just leads you along in learning to play.

Here is a review from Amazon that says it all. "For someone looking for instant gratification, this keyboard offers just that. Open the box, read the simple instructions and begin playing even classical pieces because the keyboard will tell you where to put your fingers exactly! From there you can memorize the piece yourself so you can play without needing the assistance. Great Idea"

Check out the Yamaha 61 at Amazon for the holidays

Top 10 Christmas CD of All Time #7: A Christmas Album, Amy Grant

A Christmas Album, Amy Grant

Lets move up to modern times with the 7th album in our list of the Top 10 Christmas CDs, A Christmas Album by Amy Grant. As written on Amazon, this album is not only one of the best recordings of Amy Grant's career but is easily one of the best contemporary Christmas collections available.

Grant is one of the top Christian and country singers today and brings not only her faith to this CD but all her great talent as a singer and song writer, writing 4 of the songs on this album. With great songs like "Tennessee Christmas," and "Heirlooms," "Emmanuel" and the classic "Angels We Have Heard on High" we have a must have collection.

This review from Amazon pretty much says it all " I grew up listening to this album and I never get tired of it year after year. It's always the first one I play when Christmastime rolls around." You can get a copy today, click this link from Amazon.com

Fender Starcaster Electric Guitar Pack with Amp and Accessories, Candy Apple Red

Ok so we can't ignore the electric guitars, remember we are acoustic and acoustic is sound and well here we are. Just saying Fender Starcaster gets the juices going, and candy apple red well, what more do you want except for the screaming fans.

This is a great package on Amazon, you got the Strat with great sound, a cool little Squier SP-1- amp and all the accessories. The cable, tuner, gig bag, stand, strap, picks and a instructional DVD to get every player going. Did we say candy apple red. This is a great beginner package, perfect for the teen student getting into playing the guitar.

Lots of great reviews on Amazon with comments like, "As a beginning guitarist, I think the product is excellent. The little amp seems to have a lot of volume and good tone, and the guitar is very well made from what I can tell. It sounds good, feels good, and plays very well." and "One final note, the guitar not only sounds great, it looks beautiful as well. The candy-apple red color is rich and deep (slightly darker than the picture), and the finish has no flaws at all."

Check out all the details at Amazon on this cool electric guitar

Top 10's Number 6 Holiday Album, George Winston, December, Piano Solos

December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition by George Winston.

This holiday CD is regarded as one of Amazon.com's essential recordings. This CD holds the distinction of single-handedly putting Windham Hill on the map. It set up George Winston to be who we now think of. While being 20 years old it still holds its own and speaks to the spirit of the season. Mixing traditional carols and classical works and his own, you can just feel the winter silence and holiday that we call Christmas.

This recording contains 14 pieces including, Thanksgiving, Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head, Joy, Night/Part One: Snow, The Holly, Pachelbel, The Ivy and more. As an Amazon reviewer says "A true classic in the genres of new age music and holiday albums, this is a must-have CD." A classic holiday collection.

You can make it a part of your collection. Click this link to pick up a copy from Amazon today

Yamaha C40 Classical Guitar Package from Amazon

The Yamaha C40 is a guitar I can personally vouch for. This is my guitar and I have loved it. I bought a used C40 from my guitar teacher for $50. I always felt the guitar maker just had a great day the day he made mine. This is an acoustic classical guitar with nylon strings with a beautiful sound. Don't let the under $150 price fool you, this guitar has been a friend to me.

Here is what Amazon says about it. Yamaha guitar packages are an affordable, all in one solution to guitarists seeking a high quality instrument with multiple accessories. The C40 package includes a full sized Yamaha C40 nylon string classical guitar, a guitar case and a CD with examples for the student to listen to and play along with. The C40 guitar features beautiful Indonesian Mahogany back and sides, a Spruce top, Javanese Rosewood fretboard and bridge, and chrome tuners.

What is great about the nylon string guitars is that you can play them for hours, when everyone else's fingers are hurting you can just keep going. Also if you play at home around a family you can play these very quietly, they are just beautiful classical guitars at a great entry level price.

Check them out on Amazon, tell them Bruce sent you.

#5 in Top 10 List: Holiday Sing-Along with Mitch Miller

Holiday Sing-Along with Mitch Miller, Mitch Miller

Coming in at #5 on our list of Top Holiday CD is this favorite by Mitch Miller. Classic Holiday Carols sung by a good chorus is how they write about this CD. Hard to image Christmas without hearing Mitch Miller's music. Contains many traditional favorites including; Frosty the Snowman, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Christmas Song, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Twelve Days of Christmas, Jingle Bells, Silent Night and of course White Christmas, 16 songs in all.

Some have called this the greatest Christmas album ever recorded along with one of the most classic, others have called it uplifting. This classic album goes back to 1961, but if you like great and timeless then this is a must for your library.

Click on our affiliate link to get a copy at Amazon,

Takamine S35 Jasmine Acoustic Guitar (Natural)

Right at the top of the list for an entry level guitar, the Takamine S35 Jasmine Acoustic Guitar. A good deal at the $200 list price but for this year it is great at $74 at last we checked.

As Amazon says the best deal you'll find in a great acoustic guitar, the Jasmine S35 features a Spruce top and Mahogany back & sides with a satin finish. Contemporary styling and time-tested construction methods produce an instrument that is built to last and, most importantly, sounds powerful and clean on all strings, from treble to bass. Chrome covered tuning machines and a rosewood fretboard are also featured.

Good base, nice treble, just a great way to start. This guitar has over 60 reviews with comments like, "very good acoustic smooth sound," "a good beginner's guitar," "smooth, solid, rich wood, this guitar is top notch." A great place to begin learning the guitar.

Check it out at Amazon, click on the affiliate link below.

Top 10 Christmas CD of All Time: Bing Crosby and White Christmas

White Christmas, Bing Crosby

Well if we thought that Charlie Brown was a classic, Bing Crosby's White Christmas wrote the book. White Christmas the song and CD is forever stamped with Crosby's name. I remember watching White Christmas with Kanny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, This Cd has all of the classic tunes in his crooning Christmas manner. Even if you don't know who Bing Crosby is he is burned into our DNA. This is one of the finest Christmas albums every made with some estimates of over 50 million sold. This album started the trend of major artists recording holiday albums. The Guinness Book of World Records lists White Christmas as a 100 million seller. This record and now cd has never been out of print.

Including: Silent Night, White Christmas, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, I'll Be Home for Christmas, Jingle Bells with the Andrews Sisters, Silver Bells and who can forget It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.

This Amazon reviews kinds of nails it "Bing was an absolute master of his craft back when this album was made and John Scott Trotter's orchestrations were to Bing what Nelson Riddle was to Sinatra - perfect"

A must have for everyone's holiday collection, click here to pick one up at copy at Amazon:

#3 in Top Ten List of CD Albums: A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas, Vince Guaraldi

Well you can't get any more classic than the Charlie Brown Christmas, this CD is the original sound track recording from the CBS Television Special. A special that always stops everyone in my household for an evening of viewing. This disc will take you back to your childhood. Remember Charles Schulz's classic Peanuts characters well all of them are here.

Great piano playing will bring a smile to your home with the classic tracks, including: O Tennenbaum, What Child is This, Linus and Luch, Christmas Time is Here, Greensleeves and more.

A great comment from an Amazon reviewer says it all " This is the Tao of Christmas. You can't help but lose yourself in the meditative freedom expressed in this arrangement, like the Peanuts characters in the movie, gliding so freely, smoothly and gracefully on the frozen pond in the pristine greyness of winter."

Click here to get your copy at Amazon for the Holiday season:

Second Most Popular Amazon Instument, The Kala Mahogany Ukulele

Well here it is, this is the second most popular Stringed Instrument in the Folk & World Instruments area on Amazon.com. The Kala Mahogany Soprano Ukulele w/binding. Ukuleles are becoming more and more popular. I see them at guitar camp and in the stores all the time. This beauty comes in at $55.00, and has a full-bodied tone with as they say plenty of "Sweet Highs" and "Mellow Lows". I like playing the Uke, it is an easy little instrument to strum away on and very easy to cary around.

This one has the traditional white binding on the top and a rich satin mahogany finish with chrome die cast tuners. The Kala is a great little instrument to get started with, and looks like a favorite based on reading the reviews.

I would also pick up a couple of books by Jim Beloff, such at Camp Ukulele, or Ukulele Beach Party, all available on Amazon, just search on Beloff. Easy to understand, great songs, a great place to start. And remember we have free pdf chord charts for the Ukulele, just sign up above.

To check out more info on the Uku or to purchase for a Christmas gift click on the link below.

#2 in our The Best Christmas CDs: Holiday Spirits, Straight No Chaser

Holiday Spirits, Straight No Chaser

You may remember this guys, they are the a cappella group that had the 8 million views on YouTube with the phenomenon "the 12 Days of Christmas." Well they are out with a captivating Cd with ten unadulterated human voices singing extraordinary music with a sense of humor.

Includes songs Jingle Bell Rock, Christmas Wish, Little Saint Nick, The classic 12 Days of Christmas sung live, Silent Night, and Auld Lang Syne.

With over 200 reviewers this is quickly becoming one of the classic holiday albums. Quotes like "My favorites", "a must have addition to your Christmas music collection" and "If you like Holiday music, you will absolutely love this one."

You can see all of the list on our Top 10 Christmas CD site.

To pick up the CD collection, click on the Amazon link and enjoy.

Great Response to Clay Aiken's Top 10 Christmas CD

Well I wanted to thank all of our readers on the great response to our posting of our new Top 10 list and to the Number one CD on the list, Clay Aiken's Merry Christmas with Love. Just overwhelming. Here are some of the responses that came in as comments:

"This is one of my favorite holiday albums. Clay Aiken and the holidays are a good match. The album makes a good gift."

"I love Clay Aiken's Christmas album...He sings Christmas songs like no one else....If you have an opportunity to pick up an EP of "All Is Well"..please do so..you won't be disappointed..... It is incredible...You'll play Clay's music all through the holidays....it truly is wonderful."

"Thank you for the reminder -- it's not too soon to start playing Clay Aiken's "Merry Christmas with Love." Clay and Christmas music are synonymous, IMO. His vocals are superb."

"I just LOVE Clay Aiken's Merry Christmas with Love album. It's amazing!"

And these are just 4 of the many, so thank you everyone and make sure you check out his CD. Reading through his over 500 reviews on Amazon, your get the same love and affection.

Here is the Amazon link again, Merry Christmas With Love

Three Chords for Christmas Guitar Songbook

Three Chords for Christmas Guitar, Jerry Silverman

This is one of the books I use, 3 Chords for Christmas Guitar. Hard to beat, just 3 chords per song. Nice simple melody lines, lyrics and all the songs you know with over 90 to choose from. No strange chords, a great book for the beginning guitarist.

Over 90 great Christmas songs, all playable with just 3 chords! Including: Angels We Have Heard On High, As Lately We Watched, The Babe of Bethlehem, Boar's Head Carol, Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabell Carol of the Birds, Cherry Tree Carol, A Child This Day is Born, Christ Was Born on Christmas Day, Come, All Ye Shepherds, Come, Kiss the Baby, Come, Let Us Adore Him, Come, Little Sheherds, The Coventry Carol, Deck the Halls, The First Noel, The Friendly Beasts, Go Tell It On The Mountain, God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Here We Come A-Wassailing, I Saw Three Ships, In A Manger Was Born, and more.

Pick it up today at Amazon and you will be all set when the holidays come around and people want to sing.

Top 10 Christmas CD List on AMTV

I know it seems a little odd to have a top 10 holiday CD list in our blog, but I love playing the holiday songs on my guitar. You can't play them any other time of the year, people just look at you like you are nuts. There are a lot of great songs to play on guitar and because you have heard the songs your whole life you know where they are suppose to go and how they are suppose to sound. So at this time of year I break out my holiday song book and play away. And to go along with this are a list of some of the all time favorite CD collections. So watch this space play along.

Here is the link over to our full page of Top 10 Holiday CD,

Top 10 Christmas CDs: Merry Christmas with Love, Clay Aiken

Merry Christmas with Love, Clay Aiken

One of the most popular Christmas Cds, Merry Christmas with Love by Clay Aiken, including the songs, O Holy Night, Winter Wonderland, Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Mary-did You Know, Joy to the World, The Christmas Song, Don't Save it all fro Christmas Day, Merry Christmas with Love, Sleigh Ride, and What are You Doing New Years Eve?

This Cd has over 500 reviews on Amazon attesting to it popularity. He sings in a straightforward way, different from many celebrities who go a little crazy with holiday songs. As Tammy La Gorce says " Aiken lets it rip, reining in a passion and pure-heartedness so believable that fans will wish he, rather than the guy in the red velvet suit, were Santa Claus."

Some of the comments from customer reviews "amazing vocal range, shows his true talent" "A great voice...sounds like he's havingso much fun singing his song" and "Clay Aikens new Christmas Cd is one of the best I have ever heard"

Click here to pick up a copy of the CD at Amazon


Check out all of our Top Ten Holiday CDs on our Top 10 Christmas CDs site.