Christmas is just around the corner, so it's time to bring out the Holiday CDs once again. In addition to Aaron's two Christmas discs, there are a handful of other Neville holiday recordings available.

1986

The vinyl LP "Creole Christmas" included Aaron's recording of "The Christmas Song" was released in 1986 (and was reissued on CD in 1990.) The same recording of "The Christmas Song" was issued in 1989 on a promotional CD with a substantially different mix. I am unsure which mix was used on the original vinyl LP. (NOTE: This is NOT the same version of "The Christmas Song" that was later included on "Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas.")

1992

In 1992, Charmaine contributed three songs to the "Christmas In New Orleans - R&B, Jazz & Gospel" compilation: "Santa Baby," "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Christmas Comes But Once A Year."

1993

In 1993, Aaron released his first full-length Christmas CD, "Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas." The songs included were: "Home For Christmas," "O Holy Night," "The Christmas Song," "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," "White Christmas," "Such A Night," "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," "Silent Night," "Louisiana Christmas Day," "The Star Carol" and "The Bells Of St. Mary's." (The disc was reissued in 2003 as part of the 20th Century Masters series with the new title "The Best of Aaron Neville: The Christmas Collection")

1999

In 1999, Cyril released a single titled "Christmas Scene in New Orleans." A year later, the song was included on the "Seasoned Greetings from Louisiana" compilation.

2003

In 2003, three holiday recordings by Aaron were released on three different discs. All three songs would later be included on Aaron's "Christmas Prayer" CD, so none of these discs is truly a "must-have." "The First Noel" was included on T.D. Jakes' "Follow the Star" LP (although the recording there is an edited version of the one on "Christmas Prayer.") Aaron's recording of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" was included on the "Now That's What I Call Christmas #2" compilation. "Joy To The World" was included on the Blind Boys of Alabama's "Go Tell It On The Mountain" CD.

2004

In 2004, the excellent "Christmas Gumbo" compilation was released, including "Christmas Prayer" by Aaron, "Christmas Gumbo" by Art and "Got to Get You Under My Tree" with sister Athelgra (as a member of the Dixie Cups) backing Sonny Landreth. Ivan contributes organ to Art's tune (as well as two other tracks on the CD: "Pimp My Sleigh" with Houseman and "Christmas Without the Creole" with Irma Thomas.) Aaron's recording of "Christmas Prayer" was included the following year on his CD of the same name.

2005

In 2005, Aaron released his second full-length Holiday CD, "Christmas Prayer" featuring: "Christmas Prayer," "Go Tell It On The Mountain," "Mary's Boy Child," "White Christmas," "Joy To The World," "Merry Christmas Baby," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "The First Noel," "Christmas Everyday," "O Come all Ye Faithful," "Ave Maria," "It Came upon a Midnight Clear," "Amen" and "Amazing Grace." As was mentioned previously, "Christmas Prayer" and "Joy To The World" had been released before and "The First Noel" had also been issued previously (albeit in edited form.)