Some recommendations for your Festivus non-gatherings this year
In no particular order, here are some of my top albums. I included some recommended venues for listening, and links to buy or listen. Enjoy at home, in the car looking at lights, and with cookies and cocktails aplenty.
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Various (Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals)
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
(Fun Cocktail Hour)
James Brown
(Fun Cocktail Hour)
Squirrel Nut Zippers
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Kacey Musgraves
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
The Mavericks
(Fun Cocktail Hour)
Kermit Ruffins
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Harry Connick, Jr.
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
The Ramsey Lewis Trio
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Eve Dinner)
Leslie Odom, Jr.
(Classy Cocktail Hour)
Los Lobos
(Fun Cocktail Hour)
She & Him
A Very She & Him Christmas / Christmas Party
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
The New Standards
Seven Songs of Comfort and Joy
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Eve Dinner)
Ella Fitzgerald
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
The Vince Guaraldi Trio
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Eve Dinner)
Bing Crosby
(Christmas Morning)
The Jackson 5
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Michael Buble
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
JD McPherson
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
John Legend
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Oscar Peterson
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Eve Dinner)
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra w/ Wynton Marsalis
Big Band Holidays / Big Band Holidays II
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Eve Dinner)
Bob Dylan
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Booker T & the MGs
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Various (Paul McCartney, Punch Bros, Andrew Bird, fun)
Holidays Rule vol. 1 and vol. 2
(Fun Cocktail Hour)
Diana Krall
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Irvin Mayfield & New Orleans Jazz Playhouse
A New Orleans Creole Christmas
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Eve Dinner)
Various Stax Artists (Otis Redding, Booker T, Isaac Hayes)
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Stevie Wonder
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
Weezer
(Fun Cocktail Hour)
Wynton Marsalis
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Eve Dinner)
Eric Clapton
(Christmas Morning)
John Denver & The Muppets
(Christmas Morning)
Al Green
(Fun Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
CeeLo Green
(Fun Cocktail Hour)
Mariah Carey
(Fun Cocktail Hour)
Jamie Cullum
(Classy Cocktail Hour, Christmas Morning)
A Miscellaneous Mix Tape
Santa Bring my Baby Back (To Me) – Elvis Presley
Merry Christmas Baby – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Christmas in Hollis – Run D.M.C.
Mardi Gras for Christmas – Squirrel Nut Zippers
Baby it’s Cold Outside (Updated) – Lydia Liza, Josiah Lemanski
Christmas Time is Here – Khruangbin
Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus? – Guster
Santa’s Second Line – New Birth Brass Band
Shakana Santa Shake It (feat. Bonerama) Bo Dollis & Wild Magnolias
Christmas Fais Do Do – Marcia Ball
Run, Rudolph, Run – Chuck Berry
What Do the Lonely do at Christmas – Mayer Hawthorne
Christmas Will Really be Christmas – Black Pumas
Back Door Santa – Black Crowes
Brunchkateers 