Digital audio files are available:
You can download all of the albums at this Dropbox link. The folder "All Christmas songs" contains each album 2001-2022 and each song collated in chronological order with the year, track number, and album title right in the file name. The individual album folders only contain songs for that particular year.
You can download all of the albums at this Dropbox link. The folder "All Christmas songs" contains each album 2001-2022 and each song collated in chronological order with the year, track number, and album title right in the file name. The individual album folders only contain songs for that particular year.
2021: Christmas Connections (Cover Art by Wynn Carr)
The 2020 EXPERIENCE
2019: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
2018: Tracks in the Snow
I tend to stack my favorite songs at the start, to try to catch the listener's attention right off the bat. The back half of this list has songs that will grow on you more slowly. By the time the cd was finished and we had all listened to it several times my favorite songs are now 14-18. The danish female group Nelson Can contributes one of my new favorites: "On Christmas Night." It is smooth, alluring, deep and unique. Check it out! No one else seems to like the Bill Murray and George Clooney duet, but hey, you've got to have a little fun. We don't want things to get boring!
2017: Crowdsourced Christmas
The 2017 cd was a group effort: Nominated by you and voted on by you!
The cover is a mosiac of over 1500 small images I took in Labrador (Northern Canada) broken into 20,000 tiles. It is meant to represent the part the group played in collectively generating the cd. The original pictures are photographs I took of the Aurora Borealis (Northern lights) that I witnessed for the first and only time in my life in Labrador in August 2017. These photos were taken towards the end of one of the most thoroughly enjoyable days of my adult life.
Note: the cover mosaic was generated with AndreaMosaic free software.
The 2017 cd was a group effort: Nominated by you and voted on by you!
The cover is a mosiac of over 1500 small images I took in Labrador (Northern Canada) broken into 20,000 tiles. It is meant to represent the part the group played in collectively generating the cd. The original pictures are photographs I took of the Aurora Borealis (Northern lights) that I witnessed for the first and only time in my life in Labrador in August 2017. These photos were taken towards the end of one of the most thoroughly enjoyable days of my adult life.
Note: the cover mosaic was generated with AndreaMosaic free software.
2016: Little Snow Girl
The theme of enjoying Christmas and the holidays and giving as much as we did when we were kids is woven throughout. It features a sweet Chuck Berry tune and Run Run Rudolph, but that tune is played by the Grateful Dead ;) My favorite song here is Von Grey's "Cozy Tranquility." Paul Gary contributes the title track from his terrific 1964 Christmas album. And check out David Wesley's Youtube video for his recording of O Come O Come Emmanuel. A one man a capella band? That is cool!
The theme of enjoying Christmas and the holidays and giving as much as we did when we were kids is woven throughout. It features a sweet Chuck Berry tune and Run Run Rudolph, but that tune is played by the Grateful Dead ;) My favorite song here is Von Grey's "Cozy Tranquility." Paul Gary contributes the title track from his terrific 1964 Christmas album. And check out David Wesley's Youtube video for his recording of O Come O Come Emmanuel. A one man a capella band? That is cool!
2015: Christmas Dynasty
Another great lineup of tunes this year! Give it a listen and see if it stands up to years past- I think it will...but let's see what you think!
Is that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on the cover or Dave Mello and Jamie Carr?....
Another great lineup of tunes this year! Give it a listen and see if it stands up to years past- I think it will...but let's see what you think!
Is that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady on the cover or Dave Mello and Jamie Carr?....
2014: Frozen, Over!
This effort has now become a favorite in the rotation, as the diverse mix of songs keeps on coming with tunes the entire family sings along to.
This effort has now become a favorite in the rotation, as the diverse mix of songs keeps on coming with tunes the entire family sings along to.
2013: Slide Into Christmas
This year's cd is two years in the making. Does that mean it is twice as good? Yup! You'll be hard pressed to resist moving and grooving to Laura Vane, Matisyahu, and Rufus Thomas. John Gaudet and Frank Sinatra add a touch of nostalgia, while Randy Travis and Leann Rimes bring in just enough country. Relient K ensures you don't nod off in your egg nog, while the Vanishers and Fitz and the Tantrums will help you hook up at the bar after Santa steals your lady. The real meat and potatoes here though are the variety of good modern holiday songs brought to life by great musicians that can evoke the best feelings of the holiday season while you are tapping your foot and singing along yourself.
2011: Carr's Christmas Compendium
This "Compendium" compiles the greatest hits of the past 10 years of cd's, so this is one way to cut right to the chase if you are new to the line of cd's. Only All Stars allowed in here!
__2010: Working in a Water Wonderland
_The title for this one comes from my new position as an Aquatic Biologist working for MA DCR on the Wachusett Reservoir, and I tried to keep up with the goofy, somewhat self deprecating cover photo in the tradition of the older cd's (and past jobs!). "The Old Stone Church" featured in the background is the last remnant of the town which was once in the valley, but was flooded upon completion of the reservoir
2009 Merry Christmas Baby!
I think Wynn's expression will always make me smile when I look at this one! This tracklist has stood up to another year of listening as it stays strong from start to finish. The Fleet Foxes and Farrah have put up two of my favorites to follow the intro from Simon and Garfunkle to start us off right, and Marvin Gaye, Something Corporate and Relient K finish it off in style.
2008: It’s Christmas Every Day in Alaska!
I was a bit worried that the cupboard would be growing bare for the 7th cd! But I got a lot of good suggestions and found enough new material to have a lot to choose from to put this disc together. Some music editing software helped me cut and paste together a decent song from The Who from their 1970 Live at Leeds material- so you won’t hear that anywhere else. Hank Thompson’s 1964 track may be one of the only Alaska specific Christmas songs ever recorded- and it’s not too shabby! Chris Trapper was generous enough to grant permission to put the finishing touches on the cd with “Thorn Becomes a Rose”- a beautiful song that improves as you listen to how polished it is. Relient K and Surfjan Stevens contribute somewhat somber songs but they were just too good to leave off. The Three Stooges should balance those off, though. By the time you get through the Carpenters classic recording and the Snoopy Christmas song- you should be in the right frame of mind for your Holidays!
2007: Gone Fishin’ for Christmas
This might just be the best one yet. The Killers song is so tough to get- but it was worth it. I normally have a low tolerance for Elton John- but his just seems to be a good song. The Barenaked Ladies, is quality, as usual. The Christmas Waltz from Sinatra is just smooth- that and the Setzer tune should really put you in the Christmas Mood. It’s quality throughout as I really built up my Holiday song library this year- tracks by the Eagles, The Who, and AC/DC didn’t make the cut...so you might see them next year.
2006: Hey! Hey! It’s A Monkees Christmas Mystery
I love the Monkees song on this one- you’ll just have to find it! Not many people had success right away picking out the Monkees tune, so I guess it was a success in that respect. If you really listen to the set list, though, it comes clear after a bit. The Dwight Yoakam song is crazy- kind of jazzy and slow and introspectful- I can’t even decide if I like it or not yet but I get hooked on it. The Man in the Santa Suit has great lyrics. The Mary Chapin Carpenter song is good even though it’s sad. You’ve got the star appeal with tough songs to find from Coldplay, Queen, and Foghat. How can you resist a song with John Lovitz singing in it? Yes, that John Lovitz. Then you have Gary the Green Nosed Reindeer- that one always gets me moving- it’s hilarious. Christmas Singles has a great second verse and finished it off well.
2005: Back in New England for Christmas
This cd is the most solid throughout- no holes at all. Every song may elicit “Oh, I like this one.” It starts off with the New Orleans song for the Hurricane Katrina recognition. Spotlight on Christmas is just a great song. The Bosstones and Blink 182 get it going a bit, then the second half really has kind of a modern classic deal to it, with songs that are new, but are good and sound old. You could win money trying to get people to guess who is singing on the Brian Setzer track. A Cradle in Bethlehem is just a nice, well done song. Fountains of Wayne and Nerf Herder get silly and fun. The Ian Moore tune at the end is a Christmas classic- I end up singing it in the shower all year round.
2004: From the Four Corners of Pennsylvania
This is by far the worst of the bunch. I don’t know how or why, but it is. Well, maybe it’s the 12 days of Christmas. The Muppets almost make that song bearable. There are a few gems- What a Year for a New Year from Dan Wilson (of Semisonic) is awesome. Hey Santa Claus from the Moonglows you might recognize from the Christmas Vacation movie. I think I put all of my effort into trying to track that song down and just let the rest slide…so this one is just OK.
2003: A Stream Sampler’s Christmas Sampler
This one begins and ends with two great Christmas songs. Ron Sexsmith is plain, simple, and good. Moe’s Together at Christmas is the best “newer” Christmas song there is. Put Eve 6 and Ben Folds in the middle, and it is good to go. But the Harry Connick Junior sounds like a 50’s or 60’s tune- I bet you didn’t know he sings that one! Mariah Carey, Blues Traveler, and Bon Jovi all fill in well between those. The Barenaked Ladies/ Sarah McLachlan is one of the most requested Christmas songs on the radio. It was tough to get back then but due to the demand now it’s on several cd’s. Carol of the Bells is the best instrumental rock Christmas song. It rocks. There was a lot of good stuff lying around for this one since it was only the second cd.
2002: A Quaker Fisherman’s Christmas Favorites
The original! I thought only about ten people would ever see this cover, with me as the “Quaker Fisherman.” There were so few issued I actually hand colored my shirt in with a red sharpie! It is filled with superstars and more songs you’ll hear on the radio than any other cd. This started off as a way to get Father Christmas, Christmas Wrapping, and Wonderful Christmastime all in the same place so I could listen to them whenever I wanted. Most of the other songs are from the Very Special Christmas cd’s, which are star studded and very good. You gotta like the Thorogood Christmas tune thrown in there, too. Tom Petty, Sting, Run D.M.C, No Doubt and Mary J. Blige- this one just has stars throughout.