1. The Staple Singers: “The 25th Day of December” This is a classic album that just happens to be about Christmas. The dozen tracks, many traditional spirituals, are rendered seriously and sincerely. Even standards like “Go Tell It on the Mountain” and “Silent Night” are stripped down and laid bare. “The 25th Day of December” is not only a great holiday CD, it’s also one of the year’s most essential reissues in any genre. By: John Bergstrom 2.

Darlene Love: “It’s Christmas, of Course” Darlene Love has one of the most iconic voices of the holiday season. This CD stands apart from other similarly themed efforts with renditions of strictly contemporary Christmas compositions. Love tackles songs by Robbie Robertson, Tom Petty, and John Lennon with her full-bodied and gospel-inflected phrasing.

There’s an authentic, joyful soul emanating from each one of these songs, making this an indispensable addition to anyone’s holiday music collection. By: Christian John Wikane 3. Over the Rhine: “Snow Angels” “Snow Angels” relies on mostly original material. Over the Rhine brings the jazz-and-blues-tinged intimacy of 2007’s “The Trumpet Child” to these Christmas songs.

Songs like “Darlin’ (Christmas is Coming)” and “Snowed in With You” winningly recall the Christmas music of yesteryear, meant to evoke a cozy, snowed-in cabin. “Snow Angels” exudes the peace and quiet that everyone longs for at Christmastime, and does so with class. By: John Bergstrom 4.