Artists & Albums: R
This index presents a selected discography of the best and/or most important Christmas albums, organized by artist name. (Note there's a separate section for various artists albums.) Whenever possible, the listings are accompanied by links to the album art; to a place to buy the album (usually Amazon); and to my review of the album. Admittedly, the list skews heavily towards my preference for all things that rock, roll, swing, and twang. But, nothing's perfect - especially me and my crazy list. Please send additions, submissions, corrections, criticisms, and suggestions via email.
| Artist | Title | Date | Image | Buy | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralphie's Red Ryders | You'll Shoot Your Eye Out - pseudonymous release by Vista Blue; punk retelling of the beloved movie "The Christmas Story" |
2020 | image | buy | |
| Ramone, Cassie | Christmas In Reno - née Grzymkowski; former member of the Vivian Girls |
2015 | image | buy | |
| Ramone, Joey | Christmas Spirit... In My House (EP) | 2002 | image | buy | |
| Ramos, Hedras | Holy Gift of Shred | 2009 | image | buy | |
| Randolph, Boots | Boots & Stockings - reissued as digital album in 2014 |
1969 | image | buy | |
| Randolph, Boots | Boots & Stockings - budget CD reissue with new cover |
1995 | image | buy | |
| Randolph, Boots | Christmas At Boots' Place - with the Tommy Newsom's Jazztet |
1992 | image | buy | |
| Randolph, Boots | Christmas At Mr. Yakety Sax - same as above with new cover and title |
1995 | image | buy | |
| Randolph, Boots | A Christmas Holiday | 2002 | image | buy | |
| Rankin, Kenny | A Christmas Album | 1999 | image | buy | |
| Rascal Flatts | Unwrapped (EP) - digital compilation of tracks issued in 2006 and 2008 |
2009 | image | buy | |
| Rascal Flatts | The Greatest Gift Of All | 2016 | image | buy | |
| Raveonettes | Wishing You A Rave Christmas (EP) | 2008 | image | buy | |
| Ravers | Punk Rock Christmas (EP) - first two songs released as a single in 1977 |
1978 | image | buy | |
| Rawls, Lou | Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho! - original Capitol album |
1967 | image | buy | review |
| Rawls, Lou | Christmas Is The Time - original EMI/Manhattan album |
1993 | image | buy | review |
| Rawls, Lou | A Merry Little Christmas - budget CD reissue of 'Merry Christmas' with new cover and title minus two tracks |
1995 | image | buy | review |
| Rawls, Lou | Swingin' Christmas - budget CD reissue of 'Merry Christmas' with new cover and title minus one track |
2000 | image | buy | review |
| Rawls, Lou | Christmas Will Be Christmas - 12 tracks from Rawls' two previous original albums |
2001 | image | buy | review |
| Rawls, Lou | Lou Rawls Christmas - original HyLo album |
2004 | image | buy | review |
| Rawls, Lou | Lou Rawls Christmas - Time-Life reissue of HyLo album with new cover and bonus track |
2006 | image | buy | review |
| Rawls, Lou | Merry Christmas Baby - 20 tracks from all three of Rawls' original albums |
2006 | image | buy | review |
| Rawls, Lou | Merry Christmas From Lou Rawls - five-track digital EP from the Capitol vaults |
2009 | image | buy | review |
| Raye, Collin | Christmas: The Gift | 1996 | image | buy | |
| Red Sky July | Silent Night (EP) - new band formed by husband-and-wife team Ally McErlaine (guitarist for Texas) and Shelly Poole (Alisha's Attic) |
2012 | image | buy | |
| Redbone, Leon | Christmas Island - originally released by August Records; reissued in 1989 by Private Music with amended cover; reissued in 2003 by Rounder with one new track; reissued in 2019 by Made In Germany Music with original cover and another additional track |
1988 | image | buy | |
| Redding, Noel | No More Christmas (EP) | 1993 | image | buy | |
| Reddy, Helen | The Best Christmas Ever - 15 track original album |
2000 | image | buy | |
| Reddy, Helen | Christmas - reissue of above with new title and artwork, 10 tracks |
2001 | image | buy | |
| Reddy, Helen | Christmas Mem'ries - reissue of above with new title and artwork, 12 tracks |
2003 | image | buy | |
| Reel Big Fish | Happy Skalidays (EP) | 2014 | image | buy | |
| Reeves, Del | Santa's Boy | 1966 | image | buy | |
| Reeves, Diane | Christmas Time Is Here | 2004 | image | buy | |
| Reeves, Jim | Merry Christmas From Jim Reeves - released only in South Africa |
1962 | image | buy | |
| Reeves, Jim | Twelve Songs Of Christmas - worldwide reissue of above with new title and cover art plus one new song; 1990 BMG CD reissue |
1963 | image | buy | |
| Reeves, Jim | Twelve Songs Of Christmas - 2000 BMG CD reissue |
1963 | image | buy | |
| Reeves, Jim | Twelve Songs Of Christmas - 2019 Real Gone Music CD reissue with two extra tracks |
1963 | image | buy | |
| Reeves, Jim | Christmas Songbook - imported collection mixing all of above with Gospel and other non-seasonal songs |
2003 | image | buy | |
| Refreshments | Rock 'n' Roll X-Mas - Swedish roots rock band |
2003 | image | buy | |
| Refreshments | Christmas Spirits: Rock 'n' Roll X-Mas 2 | 2007 | image | buy | |
| Refreshments | Christmas Wish: Best Of Rock 'n' Roll X-Mas | 2010 | image | buy | |
| Reggie & The Full Effect | X-Mas Mini EP | 2013 | image | buy | |
| Relient K | Deck The Halls, Bruise Your Hand - limited edition bonus CD packaged with 'Two Lefts Don't Make a Right' |
2003 | image | buy | |
| Relient K | Let It Snow, Baby, Let It Reindeer - seven new songs plus all of 'Deck The Halls, Bruise Your Hand' |
2007 | image | buy | |
| R.E.M. | Fan Club Singles 1988-1999 - bootleg compilation |
2000 | image | buy | review |
| R.E.M. | Complete Christmas Singles 1987-2003 - another bootleg, badly packaged but generally better mastered than above; tracks actually span only 1988 to 2002 |
2003 | image | buy | review |
| Remington Super 60 | Christmas In May (EP) - digital release from self-described "Norwegian pop/easy listening group"; only two of five tracks are defensibly holiday songs |
2001 | image | buy | |
| Remington Super 60 | Merry Christmas EP - three previously released songs; given away through band's website |
2007 | image | buy | |
| Remington Super 60 | Winter EP - five-track digital EP of all new material, though only one song has an even tenuous connection to Christmas... |
2009 | image | buy | |
| Remington Super 60 | Christmas EP - four-track vinyl-only compilation sold only overseas, I think... |
2019 | image | buy | |
| Reno & Smiley | True Meaning Of Christmas | 1963 | image | buy | |
| REO Speedwagon | Not So Silent Night | 2009 | image | buy | |
| REO Speedwagon | Not So Silent Night - new edition with bonus tracks and amended red cover |
2010 | image | buy | |
| REO Speedwagon | Not So Silent Night - yet another edition with another bonus track and amended gold cover |
2017 | image | buy | |
| Residents | Refused - CD collection of "Santa Dog" recordings 1972-1999 |
1999 | image | buy | |
| Residents | Refused - CD update of above |
2019 | image | buy | |
| Residents | Santa Dog 50th Anniversary Collection - vinyl and digital update of above |
2022 | image | buy | |
| Restless Heart | A Restless Heart Christmas | 2013 | image | buy | |
| Retrospective Soundtrack Players | It's A Wonderful Christmas Carol - an imagined pop/rock soundtrack to "It's A Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Carol"; not available for download in the United States |
2014 | image | buy | |
| Revere, Paul & The Raiders | A Christmas Present... And Past - original Sony CD reissue (1989) |
1967 | image | buy | review |
| Revere, Paul & The Raiders | A Christmas Present... And Past - Koch reissue, amended cover (2005) |
1967 | image | buy | review |
| Revere, Paul & The Raiders | A Christmas Present... And Past - Columbia LP newly remastered as digital album |
1967 | image | buy | review |
| Reverend Horton Heat | We Three Kings | 2005 | image | buy | |
| Rhodes Kids | Rock 'n' Rhodes Christmas | 1974 | image | buy | |
| Rhodes, Kimmie | Miracles On Christmas Day | 2010 | image | buy | |
| Rhys, Gruff | Atheist Xmas EP - former member of Super Furry Animals |
2011 | image | buy | |
| Richard, Cliff | Together - includes several older singles |
1991 | image | buy | |
| Richard, Cliff | We Should Be Together (EP) - 4-track EP includes two songs from above plus two non-LP tracks |
1991 | image | buy | |
| Richard, Cliff | Cliff At Christmas - includes old and new recordings 1982-2003 |
2003 | image | buy | |
| Richard, Cliff | Christmas With Cliff - new album with three original songs |
2022 | image | buy | |
| Richie, Lionel | Sounds Of The Season | 2006 | image | buy | |
| Riders In The Sky | Merry Christmas from Harmony Ranch | 1992 | image | buy | |
| Riders In The Sky | Christmas The Cowboy Way | 1999 | image | buy | |
| Rimes, Leann | What A Wonderful World | 2004 | image | buy | |
| Rimes, Leann | One Christmas: Chapter 1 (EP) | 2014 | image | buy | |
| Rimes, Leann | Today Is Christmas | 2015 | image | buy | |
| Rimes, Leann | It's Christmas, Eve (soundtrack) | 2018 | image | buy | |
| Rivers, Bob | Twisted Christmas | 1992 | image | buy | |
| Rivers, Bob | I Am Santa Claus | 1993 | image | buy | |
| Rivers, Bob | Twisted Christmas Boxed Set - both of above plus non-Christmas CD |
1994 | image | buy | |
| Rivers, Bob | More Twisted Christmas | 1997 | image | buy | |
| Rivers, Bob | Chipmunks Roasting On An Open Fire | 2000 | image | buy | |
| Rivers, Bob | White Trash Christmas | 2002 | image | buy | |
| Robbins, Marty | Christmas With Marty Robbins - original Columbia album |
1967 | image | buy | |
| Robbins, Marty | Joy Of Christmas - Columbia Special Products compilation with tracks from above on the first side (and Robbins pictured on the cover) and various artists on side two |
1972 | image | buy | |
| Robbins, Marty | A Christmas Remembered - Thunder Records; reissued by Columbia Special Products in 1990 |
1987 | image | buy | |
| Roberts, Julie | Who Needs Mistletoe | 2011 | image | buy | |
| Robinson, Smokey | Christmas Everyday - an "Amazon Original" with guests Trombone Shorty, Take 6, the Dap-Kings, and Us The Duo |
2017 | image | buy | review |
| Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles | Christmas With The Miracles | 1963 | image | buy | review |
| Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles | A Season For Miracles | 1970 | image | buy | review |
| Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles | Our Very Best Christmas - contains selections from both above |
1999 | image | buy | review |
| Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles | 20th Century Masters: Christmas Collection - same as above with new cover & title; digital edition listed separately |
2003 | image | buy | review |
| Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles | Soulful Christmas - recorded without Smokey Robinson; expanded version of budget CD released in 2000 and mercilessly reissued ever since |
2001 | image | buy | review |
| Robinson, Smokey & The Miracles | Christmas With The Miracles - not the 1963 classic of the same name, but a Sony budget reissue of Soulful Christmas (above) minus two tracks |
2013 | image | buy | review |
| Roches | We Three Kings | 1990 | image | buy | review |
| Roches | We Three Kings - reissue on new label with new cover |
1994 | image | buy | review |
| Rock & Roll Xmas Spectacular | Trim My Tree | 2007 | image | buy | |
| Rockapella | Rockapella Christmas | 2000 | image | buy | |
| Rockapella | Comfort & Joy | 2002 | image | buy | |
| Rocket Summer | Christmas Madness (EP) - Texas-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Bryce Avary |
2013 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Sidney | Holiday Celebration with Rockin' Sidney | 1983 | image | buy | |
| Rodgers, Jimmie | It's Christmas Once Again - Roulette LP, reissued on CD by Collector's Choice (2003) |
1959 | image | buy | |
| Rodgers, Jimmie | Christmas with Jimmie Rodgers - Dot LP, never reissued on CD |
1965 | image | buy | |
| Rodgers, Kris & The Dirty Gems | A Dirty Gems Christmas (EP) - Bandcamp exclusive; includes new version of Rodgers' 2011 single |
2014 | image | buy | |
| Roe, Tommy | It's Now Christmas Day - now deleted; title song is update of his 1967 hit "It's Now Winter's Day" |
2015 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Christmas | 1981 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Once Upon A Christmas - with Dolly Parton; companion to their CBS TV special "A Christmas To Remember"; later editions remove Rogers' two solo tracks but add Parton's 1982 single "Hard Candy Christmas" |
1984 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Christmas In America - reissued on CD with new cover |
1989 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Christmas Wishes - budget collection |
1995 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | The Gift | 1996 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Christmas From The Heart | 1998 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Christmas Greetings - reissue of Christmas (1981) |
2000 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Christmas With Kenny | 2004 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Christmas Collection - 2-CD collection taken from first two albums |
2006 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Christmas From The Heart - soundtrack from a Hallmark TV special |
2008 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Kenny | Once Again It's Christmas - apparently, he doesn't know when to fold 'em... |
2015 | image | buy | |
| Rogers, Roy | Christmas Is Always - with Dale Evans |
1967 | image | buy | |
| Romeo's Fault | If Christmas Trees Were Ice Cream Cones | 2011 | image | buy | |
| Ronstadt, Linda | Merry Little Christmas - remastered in 2023 |
2000 | image | buy | |
| Roomful Of Blues | Roomful Of Christmas - two songs released on single in 1996 |
1997 | image | buy | |
| Rose, David | The David Rose Christmas Album - Capitol LP first reissued on CD by Real Gone Music (2011) |
1968 | image | buy | |
| Rosebuds | Christmas Tree Island | 2012 | image | buy | |
| Ross, Diana | Christmas In Vienna - with Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras, arranged and conducted by Lalo Schifrin |
1993 | image | buy | review |
| Ross, Diana | A Very Special Season - includes 'Amazing Grace' from above; EMI release available only in Europe |
1994 | image | buy | review |
| Ross, Diana | Making Spirits Bright - with the King's Singers, Modern Jazz Quartet, and London Symphony Orchestra; originally sold only in Hallmark stores |
1994 | image | buy | review |
| Ross, Diana | Wonderful Christmas Time - Dutch reissue of "A Very Special Season" with new title and artwork |
2000 | image | buy | review |
| Ross, Diana | Wonderful Christmas Time - new Motown compilation containing all 14 tracks from "Very Special Season" and Ross' six tracks from "Making Spirits Bright" |
2018 | image | buy | review |
| Rotary Connection | Peace - featuring a young Minnie Riperton |
1968 | image | buy | |
| Roubion, Rebecca | Christmas Lights - Nashville-based indie-pop artist on Dualtone Records |
2014 | image | buy | |
| Rouse, Josh | The Holiday Sounds Of Josh Rouse | 2019 | image | buy | |
| Royal Crown Revue | Don't Be A Grinch This Year - CD sold exclusively through their website, but digital edition widely available |
2010 | image | buy | |
| Royal Guardsmen | Merry Snoopy’s Christmas - Mistletoe Records repackaging of the 1967 Laurie Records album Snoopy and His Friends; reissued by Holiday Records in 1980 |
1978 | image | buy | |
| Royal Guardsmen | Snoopy’s Christmas! - CEMA Special Markets collection of songs recorded 1966-1968 |
1993 | image | buy | |
| Royal Guardsmen | Merry Snoopy Christmas - Creative Sounds CD reissue of Mistletoe album with amended title and new cover |
2006 | image | buy | |
| Royant, Gaspar | I Can't Believe It's Christmas (And Other Xmas Hits) (EP) - French retro-hipster |
2016 | image | buy | |
| Royant, Gaspar | Wishing You A Merry Christmas - full-length album collecting previous single and EP tracks 2014-2016 plus new material |
2017 | image | buy | |
| Rubber Band | Xmas! The Beatmas - Beatles tribute band |
1996 | image | buy | |
| Rucker, Darius | Home For The Holidays - Hootie & The Blowfish singer |
2014 | image | buy | |
| Ruffins, Kermit | Have A Crazy Cool Christmas | 2009 | image | buy | |
| RuPaul | Ho Ho Ho | 1997 | image | buy | |
| RuPaul | Slay Belles | 2015 | image | buy | |
| RuPaul | Christmas Party | 2018 | image | buy | |
| RuPaul | Hey Sis, It's Christmas (EP) | 2020 | image | buy | |
| RuPaul | Essential Christmas - digital compilation |
2023 | image | buy | |
| Rusby, Kate | Sweet Bells - reissued with new cover in 2010 |
2008 | image | buy | |
| Rusby, Kate | While Mortals Sleep | 2011 | image | buy | |
| Rusby, Kate | The Frost Is All Over | 2015 | image | buy | |
| Rusby, Kate | Angels And Men | 2017 | image | buy | |
| Rusby, Kate | Holly Head | 2019 | image | buy | |
| Rusby, Kate | Happy Holly Day - livestreamed concert |
2020 | image | buy | |
| Rusby, Kate | Light Years | 2023 | image | buy | |
| Rushlow, Tim | Classic Christmas - Little Texas singer |
2014 | image | buy | |
| Russell, Leon | Hymns of Christmas | 1995 | image | buy | |
| Rydell, Bobby | A Philadelphia Christmas - includes rerecordings of his early hits |
2003 | image | buy | |
| Ryder, Mitch | Christmas (Take A Ride) | 2018 | image | buy |