12 Christmas Albums to Know: A Break-Down of the Season’s New Offerings

To celebrate the holiday season, a host of stars are releasing Christmas-themed albums. Among them: Lady Antebellum’s On This Winter’s Night, Cee-Lo Green‘s Cee-Lo’s Magic Moment and Colbie Caillat‘s California-themed Christmas in the Sand.

Grammy Award-winning singer Norah Jones also released her cover of Edmund Sears‘ classic carol “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” via Blue Note Records, which has been featured prominently on iTunes.

PHOTOS: 7 Most Popular Christmas Songs From Radio

While Christmas time almost always means new yuletide albums, there are several new offerings this year to add to the rotation. After all, haven’t you listened to Mariah Carey‘s Merry Christmas (circa 1994) enough by now?

The year’s slate of Christmas albums and singles are diverse in sound, from soulful melodies and island tunes to country ballads and fresh takes on old classics. For the modern pop lovers, there’s also a new compilation featuring old and new Christmas covers from Carly Rae Jepsen, Justin Bieber, Christina Aguilera and more. Read below for a complete breakdown, in no particular order, of the season’s offerings.

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Artist: Lady Antebellum

Title: On This Winter’s Night

The Pitch: Country trio Lady Antebellum celebrate the holiday spirit with their new release, On This Winter’s Night. The album features versions of classic holiday hits along with their original Christmas song, “On This Winter’s Night.”

Release Date: Oct. 22

Label: Capitol Records

Track List: 

1. A Holly Jolly Christmas

2. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

3. All I Want for Christmas Is You

4. I’ll Be Home for Christmas

5. This Christmas

6 The First Noel

7. On This Winter’s Night

8. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

10. Silent Night (Lord of My Life)

11. Blue Christmas

12. Silver Bells

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Artist: Colbie Caillat

Title: Christmas in the Sand

The Pitch: Colbie Caillat gives listeners a laid-back feel on her first ever Christmas album, Christmas in the Sand. Her beach-y, island versions of several holiday classics feature guest apperances from Brad Paisley, Gavin DeGraw and more. Plus, for California natives like herself, Caillat co-wrote an original song with Kara DioGuardi and Jason Reeves titled “Christmas in the Sand.”

Release Date: Oct. 22

Label: Universal Republic Records

Track List:

1. Merry Christmas Baby ft. Brad Paisley

2. Santa Baby

3. Christmas in the Sand

4. Baby It’s Cold Outside ft. Gavin DeGraw

5. The Christmas Song ft. Justin Young

6. Santa Claus is Coming to town

7. Every Day is Christmas ft. Jason Reeves

8. Silver Bells

9. Winter Wonderland

10. Mistletoe

11. Happy Christmas

12. Auld Lang Syne

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Artist: Various Artists

Title: NOW That’s What I Call Today’s Christmas

The Pitch: NOW That’s What I Call Today’s Christmas, releases a pop-friendly compilation mix of Christmas hits from Carly Rae Jepsen to Gavin DeGraw. The mix CD contains an extensive 18 tracks (old and new) for a variety of Christmas fans.

Release Date: Sep. 25

Label: EMI/Capitol Records

Tracklist:  

1. Mittens – Carly Rae Jepsen

2. ?Mistletoe – Justin Bieber

3. ?Shake up Christmas – Train

4. Christmas Without You – OneRepublic

5. Christmas Lights – Coldplay

6. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Norah Jones

7. Love is Christmas – Sara Bareilles

8. The Christmas Song – Gavin DeGraw

9. White Christmas – Lady Gaga

10. Christmas Time – Christina Aguilera

11. Oh Santa! – Mariah Carey

12. Winter Wonderland – Selena Gomez and The Scene

13. Wonderful Christmastime – Demi Lovato

14. Jingle Bell Rock – Rascal Flatts

15. Please Come Home for Christmas – Grace Potter and the Rascals

16. The First Noel – Carrie Underwood

17. Silent Night – Sugarland

18. Christmas Eve/Sarajevo – Trans-Siberian Orchestra

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Artist: Cee-Lo Green

Title: Cee-Lo’s Magic Moment

The Pitch: Cee-Lo Green’s Cee-Lo’s Magic Moment features The Muppets, Christina Aguilera and Rod Stewart, among others, on the artist’s first holiday album. The Voice coach will promote his EP with a televised special to air on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on TV Guide Network.

Release Date: Oct. 30

Label: Elektra Records

Track List:

1. What Christmas Means to Me

2. Baby It’s Cold Outside ft. Christina Aguilera

3. This Christmas

4. The Christmas Song

5. White Christmas

6. All I Need is Love ft. The Muppets, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson, Steve Whitmier

7. You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch ft. Straight No Chaser

8. Please Come Home for Christmas

9. Run Rudolph Run

10. All I Want for Christmas

11. Mary, Did You Know?

12. River

13. Merry Christmas, Baby ft. Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, Rod Stewart

14. Silent Night

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Artist: Rod Stewart

Album: Merry Christmas, Baby

The Pitch: The iconic singer releases his first holiday album in his five decade-long career. The release, comprised of standards, carols and one original tune, includes appearances from Cee Lo Green, Michael Buble, Chris Botti, Ella Fitzgerlad and Mary J. Blige.

Release Date: Oct. 16

Label: Verve

Track List:

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

3. Winter Wonderland feat. Michael Buble

4. White Christmas

5. Merry Christmas, Baby feat. Cee Lo Green

6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Feat. Dave Koz

7. What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve? Feat. Chris Botti, Ella Fitzgerald

8. Blue Christmas

9. Red-Suited Super Man feat. Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews

10. When You Wish Upon a Star

11. We Three Kings feat. Mary J. Blige

12. Silent Night

13.  Auld Lang Syne

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Artist: Scotty McCreery

Album: Christmas With Scotty McCreery

The Pitch: American Idol champ puts a country spin on several Christmas tunes with his second studio album, released exactly one year after his debut – Clear As Day – charted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The collection features secular standards with a hint of spirituality.

Release Date: Oct. 16

Label: Interscope, Mercury Nashville

Track List:

1. Let It Snow

2. First Noel

3. Jingle Bells

4. Holly Jolly Christmas

5. Winter Wonderland

6. Christmas in Heaven

7. Mary Did You Know?

8. Christmas Comin’ Round Again

9. O Holy Night

10. The Christmas Song

11. Santa Claus Is Back in Town

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Artist: John Travolta, Olivia Newton John

Album: This Christmas

The Pitch: Grease duo and longtime pals Olivia Newton John and John Travolta teamed up for a future holiday classic. Sales from This Christmas will benefit their respective charities.

Release Date: Nov. 13, 2012

Label: Hip-O, UMeTrack List:

1. Baby It’s Cold Outside

2. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree feat. Kenny G

3. I’ll Be Home for Christmas feat. Barbra Streisand

4. This Christmas feat. Chick Corea

5. Silent Night

6. This Christmas Waltz

7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas feat. Cliff Richard

8. Winter Wonderland feat. Tony Bennett, Count Basie Orchestra

9. White Christmas

11. The Christmas Song

12. Deck the Halls feat. James Taylor

13. Auld Lang Syne/ Christmas Time is Here

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Artist: Barry Manilow

Title: The Classic Christmas Album

The Pitch: Seasonal-album veteran Barry Manilow releases an anthology of sixteen of his most popular Christmas singles on The Classic Christmas Album.

Release Date: Oct. 2

Label: Sony Legacy Label

Track List: 

1. Silver Bells

2. Happy Holidays/White Christmas

3. Jingle Bells ft. Expose

4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

5. I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

6. Violets for Your Furs

7. The christmas Waltz

8. Christmas Is just Around the Corner (From Cranberry Christmas) ft. K.T. Oslin

9. (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays

10. Because It’s Christmas (For All the Children) ft. Rosie O’Donnell

12. River

12. Silent Night/I Guess There Ain’t No Santa Claus

13. Santa Claus is Coming to Town

14. Joy to the World/Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

15. It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve

16. A Gift of Love

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Artist: Pentatonix

Title: PTXMas

The Pitch: Pentatonix, the season three winners of NBC’s The Sing Off, bring their signature a capella style to Christmas.

Release Date: Nov. 13

Label: Madison Gate Records

Track List:

1. Angels We Have Heard on High

2. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

3. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

4. O Holy Night

5. This Christmas

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Artist: Blake Shelton

Title: Cheers, It’s Christmas

The Pitch: The Voice co-host Blake Shelton’s album, Cheers, It’s Christmas, features a host of star and family collaborations.  His wife, Miranda Lambert, lends her vocals on his version of the classic “Jingle Bell Rock,” along with his mother, Dorothy Shackleford, on “Time for Me to Come Home.” Also featured: Reba McEntire, Michael Buble, Pistol Annies and Kelly Clarkson. Kick back with a glass of eggnog and Shelton’s fun-loving, country flare.

Release Date: Oct. 2

Label: Warner Bros. Records

Track List:

1. Jingle Bell Rock ft. Miranda Lambert

2. White Christmas

3. Oklahoma Christmas ft. Reba McEntire

4. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

5. There’s a New Kid in Town ft. Kelly Clarkson

6. Santa’s got a Choo Choo Train

7. Home ft. Michael Buble

8. Winter Wonderland

9. The Christmas Song

10. Blue Christmas ft. Pistol Annies

11. I’ll Be Home for Christmas

12. Silver Bells ft. Xenia

13. Time for Me to Come Home ft. Dorothy Shackleford

14. The Very Best Time of Year ft. Trypta-Phunk

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Artist: Andre Rieu

Title: Home for the Holidays

The Pitch: The violinist brings an easy-listening classical album to our list with Home for the Holidays. The holiday set was recorded and filmed on a gigantic winter wonderland-themed set in his hometown of Maastricht, Holland, and is being released on CD and as a two-hour DVD concert. 

Release Date: Oct. 30

Label: Universal Music Enterprises

Track List:

1. White Christmas

2. Old Toy Trains

3. Walking In The Air (Theme From The Snowman)

4. December Lights

5. Go Tell It On The Mountain

6. O Come All Ye Faithful

7. O Holy Night

8. The Christmas Song

9. Silver Bells

10. God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

11. O Little Town of Bethlehem

12. Ave Maria

13. Hallelujah

14. Silent Night

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Artist: Christina Perri

Title: A Very Merry Perri Christmas

The Pitch: Christina Perri’s A Very Merry Perri Christmas blends five easy-listening holiday tracks with one she penned herself, “Something About December.”

Release Date: Oct. 16

Label: Atlantic Records

Track List: 

1. Something About December

2. Merry Christmas Darling

3. Please Come Home for Christmas

4. Ave Maria

5. Happy Xmas (War is Over)

6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Watch the video for Perri’s single “Something About December” below: