Your Carpenters Christmas Favorites Chosen

John Adam

"A House Is Not A Home"
"So I'm offering this simple <challenge> phrase to kids from one to ninety-two. Although it's been said many times, many ways....."

I know it's an odd time of year for this (May), but it's obvious how passionate most of us are about the Carpenters interpretations of this music genre.
A recent comment posted from a forum resident. "Maybe there should be a separate list of Christmas favorites? Either Top 10 or 12."

Lets say it is going to be a list of your favorite "12 tracks." Also include "two or three" bonus selections you'd like to expanded upon, alongside your original twelve choices. Feel free to sequence them in the order you'd like to hear them, and any commentary about why these particular tracks/versions made your list. The performances don't have to be on Carpenters releases, these are "your" choices! Feel free to be indulge.

Most of all, have fun!!!
With that, I am going to drop this thread into your capable hands. :)
 
Mine is pending. Much to think about. Feel free to be the first, but don't rush it. Enjoy the process! TY
 
A recent comment posted from a forum resident. "Maybe there should be a separate list of Christmas favorites? Either Top 10 or 12."
^^^^ That was me!! ^^^^

Thus, here is my list (this was harder than I anticipated).

In no particular order:

1. Santa Clause is Coming to Town (full version)...both '74 and '84 remix are just fine with me!
2. Merry Christmas Darling...again, I am fine with both versions!
3. Sleigh Ride
4. First Snowfall/Let it Snow
5. An Old Fashioned Christmas
6. No Place Like Home for the Holidays
7. Little Alter Boy
8 I heard the Bells on Christmas Day
9. Carol of the Bells
10. He Came Here For Me
11. Do You Hear What I Hear
12. Christ Is Born

Honorable Mentions: O Holy Night (one of Richard's finest piano instrumentals); Ave Maria (with our without choir, I like 'em both); and Christmas Waltz.
 
First kudos to "Geographer" who was the concept idealist for this thread, which has now come to realization! But I second it's a timeless idea!
Second, how odd it seems in the near summer weather listening to Carpenters holiday selections.....but such ear candy!

1) Sleigh Ride
First, great Karen vocals and all the schtick you've come to know from the TV specials, in a good way!

2) White Christmas (KC & Bruce Forsyth)
Karen was spot on during that taping in December 1978. One of four memorable performances that day!

3) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
This performance and recording is perfect, and no other version even comes close to achieving this quality!

4) The Christmas Song (Roasting Chestnuts On An Open Fire)
Not my favorite Christmas song, but Karen singing it is my favorite, next to Nat King Cole's original. That says a lot!

5) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (single version)
A Christmas song which is also the way the ultimate pop record should sound. This, and 1973 "Ticket" are engaging and genius!

6) Silent Night (End side one.)
One of my favorites of all Christmas songs and Karen sounds stunning vocalizing this holiday classic!

7) An Old Fashioned Christmas
Wishing Richard and John would of wrote more songs for the 1984 album, and wishing more Karen could of been there to do the vocals. But this lovely song shows the potential.

8) Do You Hear What I Hear?
Talk about potential. Richard sounds amazing, and when Karen comes in.....a truly wow moment.

9) Merry Christmas Darling (Original 1970 version)
It's not my favorite recording of this song, but it has an innocence of the younger, struggling vocalist, just beginning to find her voice.

10) Little Alter Boy
Stunning vocal. Karen's voice just gave a believability to many of the songs she performed, like this lovely example.

11) I'll Be Home For Christmas
Again that voice! The longing in it really suits this song well.

12) Ava Maria (From The Top version)
Perfect way to end fictitious side two. Nothing can really top the grandiose of that song in it's final moments.

13-14-15) Which were hard choices to leave off. "Christ Is Born, Christmas Alphabet, and Richard's solo vocal of (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays from 1983. Tomorrow the set list will probably change somewhat.

Edit: BOY, THAT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK.
 
So many great songs to choose from!

In no particular order:

Silent Night
I'll Be Home for Christmas
O Holy Night
What Are You Doing New Years Eve?
Christmas Waltz
Do You Hear What I Hear?
First Snowfall/Let it Snow
Merry Christmas Darling (1978)
The Christmas Song
Christ Is Born

I so wish they'd recorded "Grown Up Christmas List" and the amazing "Christmas Lullaby" (by Amy Grant).
 
Little Altar Boy
He Came Here For Me
Ave Maria
I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day
Christ Is Born
Home For the Holidays
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (AOFC version)
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Sleep Well, Little Children
White Christmas
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
What Are You Doing NY’s Eve?
 
Last edited:
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
1984 Overture
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Home For The Holidays (Richard’s Solid Gold performance)
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1978 short version)
Stille Nacht
Merry Christmas Darling (1992 Remix)
He Came Here For Me
Carol of the Bells
Christ Is Born
What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?
 
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Merry Christmas, Darling
I'll Be Home for Christmas
The Christmas Song
The Christmas Waltz
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (jazzed up version)
Home for the Holidays
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Winter Wonderland/Silver Bells/White Christmas medley
Little Alter Boy
It's Christmas Time/Sleep Well, Little Children
What Are You Doing New Years Eve?
 
1. Overture (from Christmas Portrait, because it sets the stage perfectly for Karen's intro)
2. Christmas Waltz (Christmas season starts officially with "Frosted windowpanes")
3. Sleigh Ride (Perfect song sequence)
4. It's Christmas Time/Sleep Well Little Children (A fantastic combination)
5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (The highlight of the album)
6. O Holy Night (Best display of Richard's talent)
7. Home for the Holidays (best song on "Old Fashioned Christmas")
8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town 1984 version (Karen's voice sounds better here than on any other song)
9. Carol of the Bells (another great instrumental track)
10. Merry Christmas Darling (Royal Philharmonic version is superb)
11. Christ Is Born (The best of all Karen's religious Christmas songs)
12. Winter Wonderland/Silver Bells/White Christmas (this one and the next make up one great combination, so I'm cheating and adding a 13th!)
13. Ave Maria (the original, no choir -- just Karen's majestic alto on this classic)
 
1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. Christmas Waltz
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1974 single version)
4. The Christmas Song
5. Merry Christmas Darling (1978 version)
6. I'll Be Home For Christmas
7. Do You Hear What I Hear?
8. Little Altar Boy
9. He Came Here For Me
10. Silent Night
11. O Holy Night
12. Christ Is Born

Bonus tracks on the "Deluxe Edition":

13. First Snowfall / Let It Snow
14. Sleigh Ride
15. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
 
Thank you for your excellent choices (so far) everyone! Gets your playlists and CD's made for your listening enjoyment, share with family and friends.
Maybe we can get some new fans enjoying the timeless sound of the music and the Carpenters.
 
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Merry Christmas, Darling
I'll Be Home for Christmas
The Christmas Song
The Christmas Waltz
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (jazzed up version)
Home for the Holidays
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Winter Wonderland/Silver Bells/White Christmas medley
Little Alter Boy
It's Christmas Time/Sleep Well, Little Children
What Are You Doing New Years Eve?

My list exactly :) Couldn't agree more.
 
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