Hearing Christmas music everywhere you turn? That’s a sure sign the holiday season is upon us. The best holiday music can immediately put you in the Christmas spirit, evoking warm memories and good cheer. This timeless quality prevents even decades-old first-rate Christmas albums from becoming stale.

Christmas songs comprise a large share of the songs played throughout December on music streaming service Spotify in the United States, peaking at more than one in 10 songs played on Christmas Day. According to estimates from Spotify, there are more than 1.3 million Christmas songs.

24/7 Wall St. has reviewed a number of measures, including Billboard chart performance, album sales, and critical reception to identify the 50 best and the 50 worst holiday albums. The resulting collection of albums shows a great diversity of genres and artists, illustrating that the creation of holiday music can be approached in many ways.

Click here to see the full list of the best and worst holiday albums.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

The best holiday albums:

50. “A Christmas to Remember” (1999)
> Artist: Amy Grant
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 23
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

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49. “Christmas Offerings” (2006)
> Artist: Third Day
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 33
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

48. “Christmas with the Rat Pack” (2010)
> Artist: Sammy Davis, Jr. / Dean Martin / Frank Sinatra
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 101
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.0/5

47. “An Old Fashioned Christmas” (1984)
> Artist: Carpenters
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 5
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

46. “Raffi’s Christmas Album” (1983)
> Artist: Raffi
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 6
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

45. “Aaron Neville’s Soulful Christmas” (1993)
> Artist: Aaron Neville
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 28
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

44. “Christmas Celebration” (2004)
> Artist: Mannheim Steamroller
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 69
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.5/5

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43. “Now That’s What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 3” (2006)
> Artist: Various Artists
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 52
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.5/5

42. “Christmas Collection” (2005)
> Artist: Il Divo
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 84
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.0/5

41. “Give Love at Christmas” (1980)
> Artist: The Temptations
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 37
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

40. “Merry Christmas” (1965)
> Artist: Andy Williams
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 1
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

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39. “Christmas Memories” (2001)
> Artist: Barbra Streisand
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 25
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

38. “The Andy Williams Christmas Album” (1963)
> Artist: Andy Williams
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 2
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

37. “The Sinatra Christmas Album” (1987)
> Artist: Frank Sinatra
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 4
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

36. “The Glorious Sound of Christmas” (1989)
> Artist: Eugene Ormandy
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 18
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

35. “Beyond the Season” (1992)
> Artist: Garth Brooks
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 47
> Album Sales: 3 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.0/5

34. “The Three Tenors Christmas” (2000)
> Artist: The Three Tenors
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 29
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

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33. “Disney’s Christmas Collection” (1995)
> Artist: Disney
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 45
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

32. “Christmas Time with the Judds” (2003)
> Artist: The Judds
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 16
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

31. “Now That’s What I Call Christmas!, Vol. 2: The Signature Collection” (2003)
> Artist: Various Artists
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 47
> Album Sales: 2 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.5/5

30. “A Christmas Celebration” (2006)
> Artist: Celtic Woman
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 79
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.5/5

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29. “Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits: 1935-1954” (1989)
> Artist: Various Artists
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 5
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 5.0/5

28. “The Bells of Dublin” (1991)
> Artist: The Chieftains
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 6
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 5.0/5

27. “Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album” (1968)
> Artist: Tony Bennett
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 18
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 5.0/5

26. “Christmas Portrait” (1978)
> Artist: Carpenters
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 142
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.5/5

25. “That’s Christmas to Me” (2014)
> Artist: Pentatonix
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 42
> Album Sales: 2 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.5/5

24. “Christmas Live” (1997)
> Artist: Mannheim Steamroller
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 35
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

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23. “Rocky Mountain Christmas” (1975)
> Artist: John Denver
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 23
> Album Sales: 2 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

22. “A Christmas Album” (1983)
> Artist: Amy Grant
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 19
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 5.0/5

21. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (1995)
> Artist: Burl Ives
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 136
> Album Sales: 500,000
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

20. “Honky Tonk Christmas” (1993)
> Artist: Alan Jackson
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 81
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

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19. “Christmas” (1985)
> Artist: Alabama
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 47
> Album Sales: 2 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

18. “Peace on Earth” (2008)
> Artist: Casting Crowns
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 90
> Album Sales: 1 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

17. “The Lost Christmas Eve” (2004)
> Artist: Trans-Siberian Orchestra
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 129
> Album Sales: 2 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.0/5

16. “Home for Christmas” (1992)
> Artist: Amy Grant
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 53
> Album Sales: 3 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

15. “Christmas in the Aire” (1995)
> Artist: Mannheim Steamroller
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 65
> Album Sales: 4 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

14. “Merry Christmas” (1958)
> Artist: Johnny Mathis
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 30
> Album Sales: 5 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

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13. “December” (1982)
> Artist: George Winston
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 66
> Album Sales: 3 million
> AllMusic ratings: 5.0/5

12. “A Very Special Christmas” (1987)
> Artist: Various Artists
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 77
> Album Sales: 4 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

11. “A Christmas Album” (1967)
> Artist: Barbra Streisand
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 97
> Album Sales: 5 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

10. “Merry Christmas” (1994)
> Artist: Mariah Carey
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 193
> Album Sales: 5 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.0/5

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9. “White Christmas” (1945)
> Artist: Bing Crosby
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 172
> Album Sales: 4 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

8. “These Are Special Times” (1998)
> Artist: Céline Dion
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 185
> Album Sales: 5 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.0/5

7. “Noël” (2007)
> Artist: Josh Groban
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 127
> Album Sales: 6 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.0/5

6. “Now That’s What I Call Christmas! [Universal]” (2001)
> Artist: Various Artists
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 78
> Album Sales: 6 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

5. “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” (1996)
> Artist: Trans-Siberian Orchestra
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 183
> Album Sales: 3 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.0/5

4. “Miracles: The Holiday Album” (1994)
> Artist: Kenny G
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 103
> Album Sales: 8 million
> AllMusic ratings: 3.5/5

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3. “The Christmas Song” (2003)
> Artist: Nat King Cole
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 139
> Album Sales: 6 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

2. “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957)
> Artist: Elvis Presley
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 41
> Album Sales: 10 million
> AllMusic ratings: 4.5/5

1. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965)
> Artist: Vince Guaraldi Trio / Vince Guaraldi
> Weeks on Billboard chart: 244
> Album Sales: 4 million
> AllMusic ratings: 5.0/5

The worst holiday albums:

50. “Acapella Christmas”
> Artist: The Belmonts
> Year: 1995
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

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49. “Christmas with The Brady Bunch”
> Artist: The Brady Bunch
> Year: 1970
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

48. “Hanna Barbera Christmas Sing-Along”
> Artist: Hanna-Barbera
> Year: 1991
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

47. “Santa’s Boy”
> Artist: Del Reeves
> Year: 1966
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

46. “Do You Hear…Christmas With Heather, Cookie & Raylene Rankin”
> Artist: The Rankin Family
> Year: 1998
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

45. “All I Want for Christmas Is a Tax Increase”
> Artist: Capitol Steps
> Year: 1993
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

44. “A Liberace Christmas”
> Artist: Liberace
> Year: 1995
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

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43. “Digs Christmas”
> Artist: Harry “The Hipster” Gibson
> Year: 1974
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

42. “Pokemon: Christmas Bash”
> Artist: Pokemon
> Year: 2001
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

41. “Lonely Christmas”
> Artist: Sloppy Seconds
> Year: 1992
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

40. “Christmas at Boots’ Place”
> Artist: Boots Randolph
> Year: 1992
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

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39. “Jingle Belles: Christmas With the Del Rubio Triplets”
> Artist: Del Rubio Triplets
> Year: 1991
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

38. “Disco ’round the Christmas Tree”
> Artist: Claudja Barry
> Year: 1995
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

37. “Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year”
> Artist: The Mom and Dads
> Year: 1995
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

36. “Commodores Christmas”
> Artist: The Commodores
> Year: 1992
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

35. “Christmas Is Really Fantastic”
> Artist: Frank Sidebottom
> Year: 1984
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

34. “Redneck 12 Days of Christmas/Here’s Your Sign Christmas”
> Artist: Bill Engvall and Jeff Foxworthy
> Year: 2003
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

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33. “Christmas with the California Raisins”
> Artist: The California Raisins
> Year: 1988
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

32. “It’s a Spike Jones Christmas”
> Artist: Spike Jones
> Year: 1970
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

31. “Christmas All Over the World”
> Artist: New Edition
> Year: 1985
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

30. “Christmas with Freddie Jackson”
> Artist: Freddie Jackson
> Year: 1998
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

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29. “It’s Christmas Everywhere”
> Artist: Paul Anka
> Year: 1960
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

28. “An Inconvenient Christmas”
> Artist: The Oak Ridge Boys
> Year: 2002
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

27. “Christmas Songs”
> Artist: Roger Whittaker
> Year: 1995
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

26. “Christmas with Ronnie Milsap”
> Artist: Ronnie Milsap
> Year: 1986
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

25. “Navidades”
> Artist: Luis Miguel
> Year: 2006
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

24. “The Archies Christmas Party”
> Artist: The Archies
> Year: 2008
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

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23. “A Chipmunk Christmas”
> Artist: The Chipmunks
> Year: 1981
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

22. “Ashanti’s Christmas”
> Artist: Ashanti
> Year: 2003
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

21. “It’s Christmas Time”
> Artist: Kathie Lee Gifford
> Year: 1993
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

20. “Jive Bunny Christmas”
> Artist: Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
> Year: 1997
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

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19. “Here Comes Frani Claus”
> Artist: Francine Reed
> Year: 2000
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

18. “A Greater Vision Christmas”
> Artist: Greater Vision
> Year: 1999
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

17. “Merry Christmas Everybody”
> Artist: Stompin’ Tom Connors
> Year: 1970
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

16. “Christmas with the Animals”
> Artist: Animal Kwackers
> Year: 1995
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

15. “The Hammond Organ of Christmas”
> Artist: Rhoda Scott
> Year: 2003
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

14. “Christmas Like Never Before”
> Artist: Allen & Allen
> Year: 1995
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

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13. “Take the Holiday Train”
> Artist: Mercer Ellington
> Year: 1992
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

12. “Silent Nightclub”
> Artist: Richard Cheese
> Year: 2006
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

11. “The Best Christmas of Them All”
> Artist: Shakin’ Stevens
> Year: 1990
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

10. “Best of the Season”
> Artist: Mantovani
> Year: 2003
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

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9. “A Christmas Concert”
> Artist: Glenn Miller
> Year: 1996
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

8. “Santa’s Helpers”
> Artist: Frankie Avalon
> Year: 2002
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

7. “It’s Christmas Time Again”
> Artist: Davy Jones
> Year: 1997
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

6. “Holiday Harmony”
> Artist: America
> Year: 2002
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

5. “A Drifters Christmas”
> Artist: The Drifters
> Year: 1998
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

4. “A Very, Very Yellow Christmas”
> Artist: Yellowman
> Year: 1998
> AllMusic rating: 1.5/5

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3. “A Crystal Christmas”
> Artist: Crystal Gayle
> Year: 1986
> AllMusic rating: 2.0/5

2. “Christmas with Willie Nelson”
> Artist: Willie Nelson
> Year: 1994
> AllMusic rating: 1.0/5

1. “Hung for the Holidays”
> Artist: William Hung
> Year: 2004
> AllMusic rating: 1.0/5

Many of the highest ranked holiday albums were released decades ago. Christmas music is often nostalgic in tone, which may contribute to the popularity of some older holiday albums. Some 31 of the 50 best albums were released at least 20 years ago, and five of the top 15 were released prior to 1966. Meanwhile, 40 of the 50 worst ranked holiday albums were released after 1990.

At the end of every year, Billboard publishes a special weekly chart of the most popular holiday albums. Many of the best holiday albums, released decades ago, resurface every year. Albums such as Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Mariah Carey’s “Merry Christmas,” and Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” have made the Billboard Holiday albums charts nearly every year since their release, essentially cementing their position in the holiday music canon.

Many of the highest ranked holiday albums feature popular artists singing time-honored christmas classics. Traditional renditions of classical songs such as “Silent Night,” “The Christmas Song,” and “O Holy Night” appear on many of the most popular holiday albums, often in a style that preserves the songs’ original compositions.

Many of the least successful holiday albums, however, take unique approaches to classic Christmas songs that stray far from their original arrangements. Examples include Claudja Barry’s “Disco ‘Round the Christmas Tree,” which features songs like “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” set to a disco beat. Another example is Yellowman’s “A Very, Very Yellow Christmas,” which features reggae renditions of “12 Days of Christmas” and “Deck the Halls” as well as original holiday-themed tunes like “African Christmas” and “Santa Claus Never Comes to the Ghetto.”

To determine the best and worst holiday albums, 24/7 Wall St. developed an index based on Billboard chart performance, album sales, and critical reception. An inverted ranking of an album’s performance on the Billboard Holiday album charts — wherein a week at position No. 50 is worth one point, a week at position No. 49 two points, and so on, up to a week at position No. 1 worth 50 points — was included in the index and given full weight. An album’s total certified sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America and was given full weight. An album’s rating on music review website AllMusic was included in the index and given full weight. For the list of best holiday albums, albums with AllMusic ratings below 3.0/5 were not considered. For the list of worst holiday albums, artists who also had an album that ranked within the top 100 best albums based on our methodology were not considered. Additionally, only musical acts with Wikipedia pages were considered. Compilation albums, as well as works by cover bands, were not considered.

Albums included on this list were selected based exclusively on this methodology. This article includes affiliate links, and 24/7 Wall St. may get a share of the revenue from sales.

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