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Herein, you'll find a selected discography of the more important soundtrack albums associated with hip Christmas music. These include movies about Christmas; movies featuring Christmas music; television specials; Christmas albums spun off from both TV shows and movies; and collections of songs from all the above. It's a biased selection, to be sure. So, please send additions, submissions, corrections, criticisms, and suggestions via email .
Title Date Image Buy Review
All I Want For Christmas
- features the hard-to-find Stephen Bishop song "All I Want"
1991 image buy  
Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas
- featuring vocalist Vonda Shepard and cast members from show
2000 image buy  
American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics
- performances by contestants in the popular reality TV show
2003 image buy  
Angels Sing
- family movie starring Connie Britton and Harry Connick; album features mostly Texas artists, some of whom also appear in the film
2013 image buy  
Animaniacs: Hip-Hopera Christmas
- also released Helloooo Holidays! (VHS, 1993)
1997 image buy  
Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Have Yourself A Meaty Little Christmas
- holiday tunes from Meatwad, a character on the long-running show on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim; includes cameo performances by Neko Case ("Santa Left a Booger in My Stocking") and Schoolly D ("'Twas The Night Before Jesus"), who also wrote and performed the show's theme song
2009 image buy  
Best Man Holiday
- contemporary R&B including Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly, and John Legend
2013 image buy  
Black Nativity
- gospel and R&B by Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Nas, and others
2013 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  
Charlie Brown Christmas
- featuring Vince Guaraldi's jazz trio
1965 image buy review
Charlie Browns's Holiday Hits
- composed mainly of non-Christmas music
1998 image buy review
Christmas At The Movies (Capitol)
- 15 songs featured in films
2008 image buy  
Christmas At The Movies (Universal)
- 20 songs featured in films
2010 image buy  
Christmas In TV Land: Classic Favorites From Holiday Specials
- songs culled from non-animated Christmas TV specials; companion to Yules Of Yore; part of the Nickelodeon cable TV channel's "Nick At Nite" franchise
1995 image buy  
Christmas Story
- long-awaited reissue from beloved 1983 comedy
2009 image buy  
Christmas Story: The Musical
- 2011 Broadway adaptation of above
2012 image buy  
Christmas Story live!
- live television broadcast of above
2017 image buy  
Christmas With Nashville
- from the TV show starring Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere; also limited edition CD
2014 image buy  
Christmas With The Brady Bunch
- infamous spin-off from the Sherwood Schwartz-produced sitcom
1970 image buy  
Christmas With The Kranks
- soundtrack produced by "Little Steven" Van Zandt
2004 image buy  
Classic Cartoon Christmas 1996 image buy review
Classic Cartoon Christmas, Too
- above two compiled by Nickelodeon from animated TV specials
1997 image buy review
Colbert Christmas
- iTunes exclusive soundtrack to Comedy Central TV special
2008 image buy  
Deck The Halls
- new and old music from Matthew Broderick film
2006 image buy  
Elf
- comedy starring Will Farrell as human raised by elves
2003 image buy  
Elf: The Musical
- Broadway play based on the movie (above)
2011 image buy  
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
- Paul Williams' soundtrack to Jim Henson's HBO television special
1977 image buy  
Flintstones: Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm Singing Songs Of Christmas
- spin-off album from the popular Hanna-Barbera animated series
1965 image buy  
Four Christmases
- mixed bag from Vince Vaughn/Reese Witherspoon vehicle
2008 image buy  
Fred Claus
- classic pop and rock holiday standards from Vince Vaughn vehicle
2007 image buy  
Friday After Next
- holiday-themed installment of popular Ice Cube franchise
2002 image buy  
Frosty The Snowman/Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- two Rankin & Bass animated TV specials, 1969 & 1970 respectively
2002 image buy  
Glee: The Christmas Album
- popular Fox TV show
2010 image buy  
Glee: The Christmas Album 2 2011 image buy  
Glee: The Christmas Album 3 2012 image buy  
Glee: The Christmas Album 4 (EP) 2013 image buy  
Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever
- from Lifetime TV movie based on internet meme
2014 image buy  
Holiday Inn
- film starring Bing Crosby that marked debut of the song "White Christmas"
1942 image buy  
Holiday Inn
- special edition of above also including the 1954 movie "White Christmas"
2002 image buy  
Hollywood Christmas
- Time-Life release marks first widely distributed CD appearance of Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road"
2009 image buy  
Home Alone Christmas
- holiday songs from Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2 (1992)
1993 image buy  
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- original soundtrack from the animated Dr. Seuss TV special
1966 image buy review
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- audio track from TV special, plus "Horton Hears A Who" (1966)
1999 image buy review
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- theatrical movie starring Jim Carrey
2000 image buy review
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
- new edition of 1965 TV special, same programme, similar cover to 1999 version
2012 image buy review
How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- Broadway adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic
2013 image buy review
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
- new computer-animated movie version featuring Tyler The Creator and an odd assortment of pop classics
2018 image buy review
It's A Wonderful Life
- first-ever release of Dimitri Tiompkin's complete original score from the perennial 1946 Frank Capra favorite; limited edition Kritzerland compact disc
2014 image buy  
It's A Wonderful Life: The Record
- Nickelodeon "Nick At Nite" CD edition of soundtrack with both music and dialogue
1997 image buy  
Jack Frost
- Christmas-themed movie starring Michael Keaton
1998 image buy  
Jingle All The Way
- Schwarzenegger comedy marks Brian Setzer's Christmas debut
1996 image buy  
Mad Men Christmas
- music from and inspired by the AMC TV series; originally a Target exclusive
2013 image buy  
Merry Christmas At The Movies
- digital-only collection of classic Christmas songs featured in recent soundtracks
2008 image buy  
Merry Friggin' Christmas
- comedy starring Joel McHale and Robin Williams (one of his final performances); features new and exclusive music from Ben Kweller and Rufus Wainwright
2014 image buy  
Miracle On 34th Street
- John Hughes-produced remake of the 1947 Christmas classic; stars include Richard Attenborough and Elizabeth Perkins; soundtrack includes new recordings by Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, and Aretha Franklin plus classics by Elvis Presley and Ray Charles
1994 image buy  
MTV TRL Christmas
- bands featured on 'Total Request Live' hosted by Carson Daly
2001 image buy  
Muppets & John Denver: A Christmas Together
- soundtrack to television special
1979 image buy review
Muppet Christmas Carol
- adaptation of Dickens classic starring Jim Henson's puppet troupe
1992 image buy  
Muppet Christmas Carol (Special Edition)
- reissued in celebration of the Muppets' 50th anniversary
2005 image buy  
Muppet Christmas Carol
- vinyl reissue with new cover art by Light In The Attic Records
2021 image buy  
Muppets: A Green and Red Christmas
- new recordings, sans Jim Henson and Frank Oz; expanded edition with new artwork issued 2011
2006 image buy  
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
- Yuletide installment of comedy film series starring Chevy Chase; 1999 limited CD release sold only through on-demand kiosks
1989 image buy  
Nightmare Before Christmas
- Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo) score to Tim Burton animated film
1993 image buy  
Nightmare Before Christmas
- special edition with 3D cover and bonus disc
2006 image buy  
Nightmare Revisited
- tribute to "Nightmare Before Christmas" featuring Marilyn Manson, Polyphonic Spree, et al.
2008 image buy  
The O.C. Mix 3: Have A Very Merry Chrismukkah
- third in a series of CD's from the popular Fox TV show
2004 image buy  
Partridge Family Christmas Card
- seasonal effort from musical TV family featuring David Cassidy
1971 image buy review
Phineas & Ferb: Christmas Vacation!
- Disney cartoon soundtrack features new cuts from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Bowling For Soup
2009 image buy  
Polar Express
- new and old Christmas songs, plus Alan Silvestri score
2004 image buy  
Prancer Returns
- traditional and pop fare highlighted by Nickel Creek song
2001 image buy  
Ren & Stimpy's Crock O' Christmas
- original recording featuring characters from John Kricfalusi cartoon
1993 image buy  
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV Show)
- complete soundtrack to Rankin & Bass TV special starring Burl Ives; 2014 MP3 edition restores original LP cover art
1964 image buy  
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (movie)
- animated feature starring John Goodman and Whoopi Goldberg with music by Clint Black, Paul McCartney, and the Pointer Sisters
1998 image buy  
Rudolph Mit Der Roten Nase (German movie)
- German version of above featuring punk priestess Nina Hagen
1999 image buy  
Rudolph, Frosty & Friends' Favorite Christmas Songs
- culled by Sony Wonder from the Rankin & Bass TV specials Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Little Drummer Boy (1968), Frosty The Snowman (1969), and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1970)
2002 image buy  
Santa, Baby!
- animated film with Eartha Kitt, Vannessa Williams, Patti LaBelle
2001 image buy  
Santa Claus: The Movie
- film score by Henry Mancini; limited edition, 3-CD reissue offered by www.screenarchives.com (2009)
1985 image buy  
The Santa Clause 1995 image buy  
The Santa Clause II
- above two Tim Allen comedies
2002 image buy  
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town/Frosty The Snowman
- two Rankin & Bass animated TV specials, 1970 & 1969 respectively
2002 image buy  
Scrooge
- Leslie Bricusse's musical based on Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol" starring Albert Finney and Alec Guiness
1970 image buy  
Scrooge's Rock n' Roll Christmas
- TV special starring Jack Elam with numerous 60's rockers; also issued by Radio Shack as Christmas Party
1983 image buy  
Scrooged
- Richard Donner film starring Bill Murray
1988 image buy  
Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas
- companion to the popular musical about the Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons who recorded a Christmas album called "Seasons Greetings" in 1962 (later reissued as Christmas Album)
2011 image buy  
Sesame Street: Merry Christmas From Sesame Street
- original LP reissued in 2011 as CD-R and MP3
1975 image buy  
Sesame Street: Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
- original PBS TV special; soundtrack album not issued until 1980; only reissued digitally as an MP3 download
1978 image buy  
Sesame Street: A Special Sesame Street Christmas
- original CBS TV special; not issued for sale until 2012 when Legendary Entertainment issued it in multiple formats
1978 image buy  
Sesame Street: A Sesame Street Christmas
- revamped, somewhat bowdlerized version of Merry Christmas From Sesame Street (1975)
1996 image buy  
Songs To Celebrate 25 Days Of Christmas
- family-oriented ABC-TV soundtrack collection
2009 image buy  
South Park: Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics
- scatological humor from the animated Comedy Central TV show
1999 image buy  
Star Studded Christmas
- Part of the "AMC Presents: Listen To The Movies" series; compiles songs that have been featured in Christmas-themed films
2002 image buy  
Star Wars Christmas Album: Christmas In The Stars
- produced by Meco, featuring John Bongiovi (aka Bon Jovi)
1980 image buy  
Stingiest Man in Town
- TV adaptation of Dicken's Christmas Carol with Vic Damone, Johnny Desmond, the Four Lads, and Basil Rathbone
1956 image buy  
Surviving Christmas
- holiday favorites and Randy Edelman score
2004 image buy  
Tales From The Crypt: Have Yourself A Scary Little Christmas
- unlikely meeting between the Crypt Keeper and Santa Claus
1995 image buy  
This Christmas
- mostly contemporary R&B from Preston Whitmore film
2007 image buy  
Touched By An Angel: The Christmas Album
- otherwise dull CD marks debut of good Keb' Mo' track
1999 image buy  
Tyler Perry's A Madea Christmas Album
- features classic and contemporary Motown artists
2013 image buy  
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
- part of a series of stoner comedies
2011 image buy  
Walton's Christmas Album
- music by the Holiday Singers; narration by author Earl Hamner and actor Will Geer; reissued as MP3 download in 2014
1974 image buy  
We Wish You A Merry Christmas: 15 Great Christmas Favorites Sung By Warner Bros. Stars
- TV and movie stars sing Christmas music
1959 image buy  
White Christmas
- studio recording of Irving Belin songs from the film starring Danny Kaye, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Allen; Peggy Lee sings Clooney's part for contactual reasons; Trudy Stevens dubbed Allen's voice both in the movie and on record
1954 image buy  
White Christmas
- special edition of 'Holiday Inn' (1942) also including above
2002 image buy  
Ultimate White Christmas
- original soundtrack plus Rosemary Clooney's 1954 solo recording
2005 image buy  
Year Without A Santa Claus
- narrated by Boris Karloff; early musical adaption of Phyllis McGinley story, plus songs by Capitol Records artists; story later became a popular Rankin/Bass animated TV special in 1974 (which never had a proper soundtrack album)
1968 image buy  
Year Without A Santa Claus
- same as above reissued on CD with new cover and largely different tracks from the Capitol vaults
2010 image buy  
Yules Of Yore: TV Land Tunes From Christmas Past
- songs culled from non-animated Christmas TV specials; companion to Christmas In TV Land; part of the Nickelodeon cable TV channel's "Nick At Nite" franchise
1995 image buy  

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