Merry Christmas - Bing Crosby (Decca/MCA/Geffen, 1942/1955)

This is probably the world's best known Christmas album. Nearly every household with a collection of Christmas music has a copy. And it still sells briskly 70 years after it's original release.

It was originally released in 1942 as a 4 record set of 78 RPM discs, later a 10" LP and 4 disc 45 RPM set in 1949. In 1955, the album was expanded to include 4 more songs on the 12" LP.

Original 1942 78 RPM copy

"The Sound of Christmas" The Living Strings (Pickwick/Camden, 1970)

You probably had a mom or a grandma with a BIG veneer console stereo and some record like this would plop down from the automatic record changer inside it.

Here it is, complete with the snap crackle and pops of vinyl you remember..... 

"Christmas In Japan" Paul Anka (1960)

Merry Christmas from The Brady Bunch (Paramount, 1970)

A Partridge Family Christmas Card (Bell Records, 1971)