31 Christmas Albums Perfect for the Whole Family

Dawn Denning:  Charlie Brown Christmas is a holiday tradition in my family, so the album is a big hit for my kids. It is mostly instrumental, but it does feature "Christmas Time is Here" with the characters singing along. The expanded version also includes Thanksgiving and Halloween songs. This is such a sweet album with beautiful music.

Dawn Denning:  White Christmas is one of my family's favorite Christmas movies and the album does not disappoint. No list of the best Christmas albums of all time would be complete without this one! Bing sings all the songs from the movie and the Andrew Sisters join in on a few. Although the sound quality isn't perfect, the muffled sound adds to the charm of the album.

Dawn Denning:  Most of the songs on this album are upbeat and fun, and can set the tone for a fun day and holiday season! "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" is a great sing along for our family.

Dawn Denning:  The Chipmunks Christmas album is a big hit for my kids. The album includes all the funny and upbeat songs of Christmas that make a kid want to dance in the kitchen. Always a good time....at least for a short time in my house!

Tim Ponisciak:  Your kids will love the Muppet Christmas Carol movie and they will love the music even more! All of the songs are original to the movie and feature the beloved voices of your favorite Muppets along with Michael Caine. Our family's favorite song is "One More Sleep Til Christmas."

Dawn Denning:  Mariah Carey's first Christmas album includes the song "All I Want for Christmas is You," which is a song my boys sing along to..maybe because I play it all the time. This holiday album is fun and light, like a lot of Mariah's early music. It is a big hit and a lot of fun!

Dawn Denning:  This is the least traditional Christmas music album I have purchased and I love it. The way Pentatonix creates music always gives me pause, they are so unique and talented. My kids love this album because it is upbeat and fun. They have more Christmas albums out for the world to enjoy. Don't miss out! They are all very good.

Kelly R:  The Home Alone soundtrack makes for a fantastic and unconventional Christmas album, providing a refreshing change of pace from the recycled standards (and making for great background music at any holiday gathering). The album shines with John Williams' festive score which is somehow both playful and sinister, beautiful performances by a children's choir, and a couple of holiday classics for good measure. Williams' "Somewhere in My Memory," the movie's signature song, is a pure, lovely, and essential Christmas tune.

Dawn Denning:  "The Christmas Song" by the Jackson 5 is one of my favorite songs on this album. "Little Christmas Tree" sung by a young Michael Jackson sounds so pure and beautiful. The album was released in 1970, so the sound is more traditional. It has a Motown and soulful feeling and we love having it in our Christmas album rotation.

Tim Ponisciak:  This new age music group has made a living off of creating new versions of old classic Christmas tunes. This is their first of many Christmas albums. Kids love the refreshing take on some of the songs they know and love. I especially enjoy the "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Rock" song!

Dawn Denning:  This album is so much fun for the entire family with all the Muppet add-on lyrics and John Denver's classic folksy sound. My kids love to sing along, especially with Miss Piggy's part in "Twelve Days of Christmas."

Dawn Denning:  I love Kelly Clarkson singing anything and her Wrapped in Red album is wonderful. I picked this album up on a whim one year and I replay it all season long. She belts out every song and has a duet with Reba McEntire. Most of the album is not traditional holiday music, so it is a nice change of pace.

Gina I.:  This college a cappella turned pro brings a fun and sometimes funky twist to your favorite holiday classics and new holiday hits...like "Who Spiked the Eggnog," "The Christmas Can-Can," and an arrangement of "The 12 Days of Christmas" that morphs into Toto's "Africa." Apart from the boozy titles, Straight No Chaser's Christmas album is fun, kid-friendly, and will leave you amazed at what this talented group can do with only their voices.

Dawn Denning:  Ever since Wicked, Idina Menzel has been known for her beautiful voice. Her Holiday Wishes album is pretty mellow; the most upbeat is her duet with Michael Buble singing "Baby it's Cold Outside." She includes a lot of traditional Christmas songs with a nice addition of "When You Wish Upon a Star."

Dawn Denning:  This was another spontaneous purchase when Glee was so popular, but the songs are fun. My kids love the Grinch song that is sung by the cast of Glee and K.D. Lang. It is a fun family Christmas album and if you are a Glee fan, check out the rest of their collection.