Christmas Album Countdown (#7 and #6)

7. VP Records presents The Christmas Album (1997)

A wintry December day in 2002 found me strolling the streets of Ochos Rios. I wanted to pick up a CD from there that would enable me remember the fond times I had there. I went correct with "The Christmas Album." I figured this album would be excellent because of all the big names on it. Beres Hammond, Sanchez, Fiona, Freddie McGregor, Pam Hall, Wayne Wonder, and Lady Saw ensured that this album would be great even before I pressed play. But it was two artists I had never heard of which stole this record for me. Nikesha Lindo singing "Joy to the World" and Dean Fraser's "Holiday Medley" really captured what I wanted on this record.

6. Bootsy Collins: Christmas Is 4 Ever (2006)

From the years 2003-2007 I had a tradition that went on for almost five years before both our lives dictated otherwise, Christmas shopping with Stacey. Stacey is the oldest sister of an ex of mine but we still consider ourselves family, which meant every year we went shopping for my nieces and nephews together. The soundtrack of our 2006 shopping experience was this record. The grooves are so heavy that our heads were boppin' and the car was bouncin'. What a record. The video below (found on YouTube)was the first single off the record "Be-With-You." Unfortunately it makes me think of all the cow cheese I eat during the holiday season. Enough said.