As I’ve posted here many times, I’ve become something of a Christmas music aficionado over the years. As such, I’ve accumulated quite the holiday music library. For the past several weeks, I’ve been listening through my Christmas playlists over and over. Here are the top 5 Christmas albums on my iPod. Feel free to let me know your thoughts.

5. Martina McBride, White Christmas
Martina is at the top of Sunny’s list of favorite artists. She released a holiday album a few years back, but this updated version includes all of those previous songs as well as a few new ones. For my money, there is no finer female vocalist alive than Martina McBride. We could listen to this one around the clock. Essential tracks: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, O Holy Night

4. Vince Guaraldi, Charlie Brown Christmas
And listening to this album makes me nostalgic for the Christmases of my childhood. Top to bottom, this is a great holiday album and it needs to be a part of your library. I’m surprised that this album is this low on my list. It should probably rank higher on longevity alone, but I can’t move it past any of the top three, at least not at the moment. Guaraldi’s vintage soundtrack made the Charlie Brown Christmas special an instant classic back in 1965. By the way, I think this album is available on eMusic. If you’re a music lover, you need to be on eMusic. Essential tracks: Christmas Time Is Here, Hark the Herald Angels Sing

3. Third Day, Christmas Offerings
Third Day has been a favorite of mine for a decade; and while I love every one of their “Offerings” recordings, this one sits at the top of my list. What I love about this album is that each song embodies the glorious wonder of the Incarnation and the pronouncement of the Christ child’s birth as “Good News”. No schmaltzy novelty songs; no Rudolph or Frosty; just songs that exalt the name of Jesus. I’ve heard people say this before, but this is the only Christmas album that falls into this category for me: I could listen to this music any time of the year. Essential tracks: Joy to the World, Merry Christmas

2. Harry Connick, Jr., Harry for the Holidays
I always felt that Harry Connick’s first Christmas album, When My Heart Finds Christmas, was his essential holiday recording. And when he released Harry for the Holidays in 2003, I’ll admit, I thought it was somewhat derivative at first. But this album has slowly grown on me over the years, so much so that it has surpassed When My Heart Finds Christmas and ranks #2 on my all-time list. All 16 songs are simply amazing. Essential tracks: Frosty the Snowman, This Christmas

1. Elvis Presley, Elvis’ Christmas Album
Big surprise, right? This stuff is just awesome. I’m a passing fan of the King’s more popular non-seasonal stuff, but this Christmas album is far and away my favorite. This is the album that made me love Christmas music. I absolutely dare you to listen to “Blue Christmas” and not do a lip-quivering imitation. Nary a bad track to be found on this one. This one will always be a holiday tradition around the Bybee house. Essential tracks: Blue Christmas, Santa Claus is Back in Town