Artists & Albums: I-J
This index presents a selected discography of the best and/or most important Christmas albums, organized by artist name. (Note there's a separate section for various artists albums.) 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.
| Artist | Title | Date | Image | Buy | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ides Of March | Sharing Christmas (EP) | 2006 | image | buy | |
| Ides Of March | The Best Of Christmas | 2015 | image | buy | |
| Idol, Billy | Happy Holidays | 2006 | image | buy | |
| Idol, Billy | Happy Holidays - reissue of above with new cover and truncated track listing, but with new original song, "On Christmas Day" |
2021 | image | buy | |
| Impressions | I'm Coming Home For Christmas | 2009 | image | buy | |
| Indigo - aka Time Pools |
Indigo Christmas: Retro Jazz Swing | 1996 | image | buy | |
| Indigo - aka Time Pools |
Indigo Christmas 2: Retro Jazz Swing | 1998 | image | buy | |
| Indigo - aka Time Pools |
Indigo III - Merry Christmas Baby! A Swing'n Holiday | 1999 | image | buy | |
| Indigo - aka Time Pools |
Christmas Celebration: Holiday Jazz - selections from above; part of Sugo Records' "Gourmet Grooves" series |
2002 | image | buy | |
| Indigo - aka Time Pools |
Cool Christmas: Retro Jazz Swing | 2003 | image | buy | |
| Indigo Girls | Holly Happy Days | 2010 | image | buy | |
| Infant Kings | Jingle Up High, Jingle Down Low... - one-off group featuring members of Model Rockets and Young Fresh Fellows; originally released on CD locally in Seattle; widely reissued as MP3 download in 2010 |
1997 | image | buy | |
| Inner Voices | Christmas Harmony | 1990 | image | buy | |
| Insane Clown Posse | A Carnival Christmas - four song self-released EP |
1994 | image | buy | |
| Insane Clown Posse | A Carnival Christmas - two song major label version of above |
1997 | image | buy | |
| Iris, Donnie | Ah! Leluiah! The Christmas Album - originally sold exclusively at his website |
2010 | image | buy | |
| Ironstrings, Ira | Ira Ironstrings Plays Santa Claus: Christmas Music for Those Who've
Heard Everything - aka Alvino Rey |
1959 | image | buy | |
| Irreconcilables | Merry Ex-Mas... Songs For The Divorced and Soon-To-Be - one-off concept album helmed by songwriters Will Robinson, Mike Reid and Don Pfrimmer |
2010 | image | buy | |
| Isaak, Chris | Christmas - originally issued by Reprise; limited edition with one bonus track sold only at Target stores, while Australian edition contained two bonus tracks; an Australian reissue in 2017 included yet two more songs; reissued by Jimmy Buffett's Mailboat Records in 2005 and the revived Sun Records in 2022, neither with any bonus tracks |
2004 | image | buy | review |
| Isaak, Chris | Christmas Live On Soundstage - CD and DVD from 2004 TV broadcast |
2017 | image | buy | review |
| Isaak, Chris | Everybody Knows It's Christmas - deluxe edition with four extra tracks released in 2023 |
2022 | image | buy | review |
| Isley Brothers | I'll Be Home For Christmas | 2007 | image | buy | |
| Ivan & Alyosha | A Very Merry Christmas (EP) | 2020 | image | buy | |
| Ives, Burl | Christmas Day In The Morning | 1952 | image | buy | |
| Ives, Burl | Christmas Eve With Burl Ives | 1957 | image | buy | |
| Ives, Burl | Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - soundtrack to animated TV special, plus instrumental tracks by the Decca Concert Orchestra; reissued on CD in 1995 with amended cover |
1964 | image | buy | |
| Ives, Burl | Have A Holly Jolly Christmas | 1965 | image | buy | |
| Ives, Burl | Burl Ives' Christmas Album | 1968 | image | buy | |
| Ives, Burl | Very Best Of Burl Ives Christmas - Decca recordings 1952-1965 |
1999 | image | buy | |
| Ives, Burl | 20th Century Masters: Christmas Collection - same as above with new cover & title |
2003 | image | buy | |
| Ives, Burl | Christmas & Hits Duos - slipcase with 20th Century Masters plus Best of Burl Ives (2001) |
2008 | image | buy | |
| Iveys | Christmas (EP) - acoustic family trio from Texas - not to be confused with the Iveys, the presursor of Badfinger, or 90's indie rock band Ivy |
2012 | image | buy | |
| The JAC | I See Things Differently: Greatest Xmas Hits Vol. 1 2001-2012 - 12 years of holiday singles from Joe Algeri and friends |
2012 | image | buy | |
| The JAC | Not Just Quite: A Christmas Album Vol. 2 - holiday singles 2013-2022 |
2022 | image | buy | |
| Jackopierce | My Favorite Time Of Year (EP) - Texas alt-folk duo |
2012 | image | buy | |
| Jackopierce | Shine So Bright (EP) | 2019 | image | buy | |
| Jackson 5 | Christmas Album - reissued as MP3 download in 2014 with complete, original cover art |
1970 | image | buy | review |
| Jackson 5 | Christmas Album - European CD reissue with new cover |
1999 | image | buy | review |
| Jackson 5 | 20th Century Masters: Christmas Collection - same as above, new cover, bonus track |
2003 | image | buy | review |
| Jackson 5 | Ultimate Christmas Collection - contains complete 'Christmas Album' plus 10 rarities |
2009 | image | buy | review |
| Jackson, Alan | Honky Tonk Christmas - includes several previously released singles; reissued in 2009 with new cover art |
1993 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Alan | Let It Be Christmas - reissued in 2014 with new cover art |
2002 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Freddie | Freddie Jackson At Christmas | 1994 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Freddie | This Christmas With Freddie Jackson - same as above with new cover & title minus one track |
1998 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Sweet Little Jesus Boy - Columbia LP |
1955 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Sweet Little Jesus Boy - same as above with new cover art |
1962 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Silent Night: Songs For Christmas - new Columbia LP |
1962 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Christmas With Mahalia Jackson - material recorded during her stint at Apollo Records circa 1946-1954 |
1962 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Christmas With Mahalia - yet another new Columbia LP |
1968 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Silent Night, Holy Night - budget cassette reissue of 1955 Columbia LP, reissued on CD in 1992 |
1976 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Mahalia Sings Songs of Christmas! - 18-track Sony/Legacy CD selected from three Columbia albums, including entire 1955 LP |
1995 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Songs For Christmas - 12-track imported budget collection of Apollo recordings |
2004 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Joy To The World: A Gospel Christmas - 12-track imported budget collection of Columbia recordings; part of same lengthy series as above |
2005 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Silent Night: Songs For Christmas - Sony European CD reissue of 1962 Columbia LP with bonus tracks |
2008 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Mahalia | Silent Night: Songs For Christmas - UK public domain reissue of her 1955 Columbia LP with most of her 1962 Columbia LP appended as bonus tracks |
2014 | image | buy | |
| Jackson, Wanda & The Continentals | Merry Christmas Baby - Jackson appears on just four cuts; the Continentals are a German rockabilly band, and this album was largely unknown until its worldwide digital reissue in 2009 |
1997 | image | buy | |
| Jagger Holly | It's Christmas Somewhere - pseudonymous pop punk supergroup from Ohio; CD released by Outloud! Records, digital by Monster Zero |
2019 | image | buy | |
| James, Bob | Christmas Eyes - with daughter Hilary James |
2008 | image | buy | |
| James, Etta | Twelve Songs Of Christmas | 1998 | image | buy | |
| James, Joni | Merry Christmas From Joni - recorded 1953-1956 |
1956 | image | buy | |
| James, Joni | Two Classic Holiday Albums - CD containing above LP plus 'Give Us This Day' (1957), an inspirational album |
1995 | image | buy | |
| James, Sonny | My Christmas Dream - Capitol LP never reissued on CD; reissued as MP3 download in 2011 |
1966 | image | buy | |
| James, Tommy | I Love Christmas - includes titular 2004 single |
2008 | image | buy | |
| Jarreau, Al | Christmas | 2008 | image | buy | |
| Jars Of Clay | Drummer Boy - four track EP |
1995 | image | buy | |
| Jars Of Clay | Drummer Boy (EP) - issued on new label with different tracks |
1997 | image | buy | |
| Jars Of Clay | Christmas Songs | 2007 | image | buy | |
| Jars Of Clay | More Christmas Songs (EP) | 2011 | image | buy | |
| Jars Of Clay | A Family Christmas (EP) - with Colorado folk/pop band SHEL |
2019 | image | buy | |
| Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra | Big Band Holidays - with Wynton Marsalis and guests |
2015 | image | buy | |
| Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra | Big Band Holidays II - includes previously unreleased 2015 Aretha Franklin performance |
2019 | image | buy | |
| Jenkins, Katherine | This Is Christmas - British singer and tabloid fodder |
2012 | image | buy | |
| Jeremih & Chance The Rapper | Merry Christmas Lil' Mama - nine songs (disc one) posted to Soundcloud in 2016; 10 more tracks (disc two) posted in 2017 as "re-wrapped" version with amended cover |
2016 | image | buy | |
| Jeremih & Chance The Rapper | Merry Christmas Lil' Mama: The Gift That Keeps On Giving - 14 songs from above plus three new songs |
2020 | image | buy | |
| Jeremy | Christmas In My Heart - original album from power pop impressario Jeremy Morris |
2015 | image | buy | |
| Jerome, Henry | Christmas And Other Memories 1950-1956 | 2009 | image | buy | |
| Jesus Presley | Christmas With Jesus Presley | 2000 | image | buy | |
| Jethro Tull | Christmas Sampler - three-track promotional EP, 1968-1989 |
1995 | image | buy | review |
| Jethro Tull | Christmas Album - includes re-recordings of above |
2003 | image | buy | review |
| Jets | Christmas With The Jets | 1986 | image | buy | |
| Jewel | Joy: A Holiday Celebration | 1999 | image | buy | |
| Jewel | Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection - also available in a deluxe edition |
2013 | image | buy | |
| Jigsaw Seen | God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (EP) | 1989 | image | buy | |
| Jigsaw Seen | What About Christmas (EP) | 2006 | image | buy | |
| Jigsaw Seen | Winterland - concept album about the season, including a few Christmas songs |
2011 | image | buy | |
| Jigsaw Seen | Gifted - in essence, the sequel to above |
2012 | image | buy | |
| Jigsaw Seen | Sleigh Bells Ringing (EP) - digital collection of previously released material |
2015 | image | buy | |
| Jillaine | Jazzy Christmas To You! | 2011 | image | buy | |
| Jillaine | Jazzy Christmas To You II | 2012 | image | buy | |
| Jillaine | Jazzy Christmas To You III | 2013 | image | buy | |
| Jillaine & Jacob | Jazzy Duets For Christmas | 2015 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | The Punx Who Stole Christmas | 1998 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | Ho, Ho, Hokey! | 2000 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | Ahhh!!! Tannenbomb | 2002 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | What Noise Is This? | 2003 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | Coal | 2004 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | 1225 | 2005 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | It's What I Got In My Sack | 2006 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | Discomfort & Joy (EP) | 2007 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | Re-Gifted Volume 1 | 2016 | image | buy | |
| Jingle Punx | Re-Gifted Volume 2 - above two contain most of previous eight albums plus later singles |
2016 | image | buy | |
| Joe | Home Is The Essence Of Christmas - originally an iTunes exclusive; widely released in 2010 |
2009 | image | buy | |
| Joe | Make Sure You're Home for Christmas (EP) - 6-track EP, Target exclusive, drawn from same material as iTunes album above |
2009 | image | buy | |
| John, Elton | Step Into Christmas (EP) - digital compilation of 1973 single plus holiday odds and sods |
2023 | image | buy | |
| Johns, Evan & The H-Bombs | Please Mr. Santa Claus | 1990 | image | buy | review |
| Johnson, General - and the Chairmen of the Board |
Merry Christmas | 2007 | image | buy | |
| Johnson, Jacob | I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day (EP) - guitarist, singer, and self-described "Sinatra of neo-acoustic folk funk" |
2011 | image | buy | |
| Johnson, Jacob | Wild and Sweet: A Christmas Album - includes all tracks from above EP, a 2012 single, and three new songs |
2013 | image | buy | |
| Johnson, Jamey | The Christmas Song (EP) | 2014 | image | buy | |
| Jokers | Beat On Christmas - instrumental combo from Belgium |
1965 | image | buy | |
| Jokers | Christmas Album - same as above with new cover and title |
1976 | image | buy | |
| Jokers | Best Of The Jokers Vol. 3 - CD including entire Christmas album; download listed separately |
2010 | image | buy | |
| Jon B. | Holiday Wishes From Me To You | 2006 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Davy | It's Christmas Time Again - Monkees singer's first and only holiday album, produced by Chip Douglas and initially released on cassette |
1991 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Davy | It's Christmas Time Again - CD reissue of above, with new cover art |
1997 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Davy | Christmas Jones - same as above with new cover and title; became widely available only after Jones' death in 2012 |
2005 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Davy | It's Christmas Time Once More - same as above with new cover and title, remixed and enhanced with new recordings by original producer Chip Douglas; CD sold through davyjones.net; none of the above include Jones' 1997 single It's Christmas |
2020 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Etta | Christmas With Etta Jones | 1990 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Etta | Christmas With Etta Jones - same as above on new label |
2003 | image | buy | |
| Jones, George & Wynette, Tammy | Classic Christmas Album - Sony/Legacy compilation from prior holiday releases |
2013 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Jack | Jack Jones Christmas Album - original Kapp LP; issued with an new cover in 1965; original 1964 LP reissued on CD by Real Gone Music in 2016 |
1964 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Jack | A Jack Jones Christmas - original RCA LP |
1969 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Jack | Christmas With Jack Jones - Camden reissue of RCA LP with new cover & title |
1973 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Jack | Jack Jones Christmas Album - MCA reissue of Kapp LP with new cover |
1973 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Jack | White Christmas - MCA CD reissue of above with same cover art but new title and minus two tracks |
1987 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Jack | Christmas - Laserlight CD reissue of RCA LP with new cover & title |
1994 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Jim | A Dipset Xmas - also released in a clean version |
2006 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Jim | A Tribute To Bad Santa - with Mike Epps and the Skull Gang |
2008 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Norah | Winter Jones (EP) - digital collecton of previously released tracks |
2021 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Norah | I Dream Of Christmas - issued in a variety of formats including extended digital edition with extra tracks |
2021 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Norah | I Dream Of Christmas: Deluxe Edition - new double CD and LP versions, as well as digital, incorporating all the extra tracks from 2021 plus more |
2022 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Sharon & The Dap-Kings | It's A Holiday Soul Party - includes earlier singles |
2015 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Shirley | A Touch Of Christmas | 2010 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Spike | The Nutcracker Suite - originally issued as a 78-rpm boxed set; entire suite included on RCA CD's Spiked (1994) and Tchaikovsky's Greatest Hit (2004) |
1945 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Spike | Christmas Fun With Spike Jones (EP) - 4-song, 7-inch EP compiling previous singles; 2-song, 78-rpm single with identical title issued circa 1950 |
1955 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Spike | Presents A Christmas Spectacular | 1956 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Spike | Let's Sing A Song Of Christmas - LP reissue of above with new title & cover |
1961 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Spike | It's A Spike Jones Christmas - same as above with new cover and title; reissued by Rhino in 1988 |
1970 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Spike | Let's Sing A Song Of Christmas - same as above with old title, new cover |
1998 | image | buy | |
| Jones, Spike | Christmas Crackers - UK CD reissue 'The Nutcracker Suite' from inferior 78 transfer |
2000 | image | buy | |
| Jordanaires | Christmas To Elvis - with Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana |
1978 | image | buy | |
| Jordanaires | Christmas Tribute To The King - budget-priced selections from above |
2000 | image | buy | |
| Jordanaires | The Christmas Album - new recordings (I think…) |
2005 | image | buy | |
| Josi, Christian | Holiday 2012 (EP) - with Pat Dinizio of the Smithereens |
2012 | image | buy | |
| Joy, Samara | A Joyful Holiday (EP) | 2023 | image | buy | |
| Juber, Laurence | Winter Guitar - solo acoustic set from longtime member of Paul McCartney's band |
1997 | image | buy | |
| Juber, Laurence | Holidays & Hollynights - with bassist Domenic Genova and drummer Michael Jochum |
2016 | image | buy | |
| Judd, Wynonna | A Classic Christmas | 2006 | image | buy | |
| Judds | Christmas Time With The Judds | 1987 | image | buy | |
| Judds | Christmas With The Judds and Alabama - budget CD with songs from both groups |
1994 | image | buy | |
| Judds | Christmas Time With The Judds - reissued with amended cover art |
1999 | image | buy | |
| Jules, Jimmy & The Nuclear Soul System | Xmas Done Got Funky - with guest vocalist Jackie Spencer; only a few tracks would appear to be Christmas songs |
1977 | image | buy |