Let’s all agree, this is a crazy year for Christmas celebrations. Entire cities are on lockdown, and the Feast of the Seven Fishes is on pause indefinitely. But you know what endures? Christmas albums, your Grandma’s silver bird ornaments, nutcrackers, and the things that remind you of childhood. There is a familiar joy in collecting holiday records. You decorate the tree to the sounds of Bing Crosby, and then you rearrange the ornaments at midnight, because that’s who we are as collectors. We are, at heart, sentimental and maybe a little hyper-focused. It’s okay. I’m right there with you. My entire tree is decorated with white birds. Will they appreciate in value? Nope, but they make me happy. So let’s explore collecting holiday records more.
What Christmas albums are worth collecting?
Christmas albums, in particular, are a cost-effective way to bring some holiday vibes into your home. There are, of course, specific genres that are a little harder to find or may cost more (Bad Religion’s “White Christmas” or the Cocteau Twins rendition of “Frosty the Snowman”), but the hunt is worth it. And those who love vinyl understand the beauty of a needle being the conduit to nostalgia. Sure, there are moneymakers in the Christmas collection realm, blow molds and Shiny Brites, for example, but Christmas albums are an easy way to build a holiday collection and might make that ugly sweater purposeful.
Where can I find collectible Christmas records?
So, let’s talk sourcing. Thrift stores are an obvious choice. Most Christmas albums are played minimally, right? So, while the album jacket might not have been cared for, the vinyl itself should be pretty clean. Look for Nat King Cole, Percy Faith, and Andy Williams.
There’s also the various artist albums as opposed to LPs from one artist from a label. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, you could get a compilation album at places like hardware stores and banks. Goodyear was great for this, offering new albums from 1961 to 1977. Plus, Firestone was their competitor – a little Hatfields and the McCoys happening. But here is the Holy Grail for collectors: “A Christmas Gift for You From Philles Records.”
Keep your holiday records clean to enjoy every year.
While 2020 is unlike any other year, dust off that vinyl, make your martini as dirty as it can be, and put the needle on the record. Then, clean them with a record cleaning brush on a slow spin, store them back in their jackets, house them upright, and understand that stacking vinyl or cleaning them with t-shirts is a fast-track to the naughty list.
