Various Artists: R
This index presents a selected discography of the best and/or most important various artist Christmas albums and soundtracks, organized by album name. 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.
| Title | Date | Image | Buy | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&B Christmas - Sony budget compilation, companion to Country Christmas and Pop Christmas |
2011 | image | buy | |
| R&B Christmas Classics - budget-oriented collection of smooth rhythm & blues; companion to Jingle Bell Rock (2005) |
2005 | image | buy | |
| Radiant Radish Christmas 2010-2015 | 2016 | image | buy | |
| Radiant Radish Christmas 2016-2022 - above two recorded by friends and family of Mike Patton, leader of New Orleans/Nashville bands Robinsons, Sally Stitches, Loblaws, and Vista Blue |
2023 | image | buy | |
| RCA Christmas 1997 (promotional) - country promotional CD featuring nine usual suspects plus a track from an obscure Peter McCann album |
1997 | image | buy | |
| The Real... Christmas Crooners - imported Sony/Legacy 3-CD boxed set |
2016 | image | buy | |
| Really Swell Christmas - unusual mix of easy and difficult listening from Columbia/Legacy |
1996 | image | buy | |
| Redeye 2008 Holiday Sampler - indie rock distributor's roster includes Fleshtones, Supersuckers, Ron Sexsmith; MP3 download only |
2008 | image | buy | |
| Redneck Christmas - country and southern rock from Time-Life |
2006 | image | buy | |
| Redneck Christmas Party - also known as Trailer Trash Christmas |
1999 | image | buy | |
| Reggae Christmas (Famous) - VP-distributed Jamaican LP, includes Freddie McGregor track |
1989 | image | buy | |
| Reggae Christmas (Profile) - original Profile Records release reissued intact by BMG in 2001 |
1991 | image | buy | |
| Reggae Christmas (RAS) - new recordings from the label with the Real Authentic Sound; reissued on CD in 1988 |
1984 | image | buy | |
| Reggae Christmas (Trojan) - subtitled '21 Christmas Classics... Jamaican Style' |
2001 | image | buy | |
| Reggae Christmas Collection - Doctor Bird/Cherry Red two-CD set containing four albums by Joe Gibbs, John Holt, and Yellowman |
2024 | image | buy | |
| Reggae Christmas From Studio One - 12 tracks from producer Coxsone Dodd's historic label |
1992 | image | buy | review |
| Reggae Pulse 4: Christmas Songs - part of Trojan's excellent 5-volume series |
2004 | image | buy | |
| Reindeer Rock - Sony 10-song budget compilation with a number of rare songs |
1994 | image | buy | review |
| Reindeer Room: A Christmas Chillout | 2002 | image | buy | |
| Reindeer Room 2: A Christmas Chillout | 2003 | image | buy | |
| Reindeer Room 3: A Not So Silent Night - above three hip techno-jazz from Kriztal Records |
2005 | image | buy | |
| Ren & Stimpy's Crock O' Christmas - original recording featuring characters from John Kricfalusi cartoon |
1993 | image | buy | |
| Rhythm and Blues Christmas (Ace) - 20-track CD of vintage R&B from UK label |
2006 | image | buy | |
| Rhythm and Blues Christmas (Ace) - 14-track LP reissue of above with amended red cover art |
2018 | image | buy | |
| Rhythm & Blues Christmas (Gusto) - 16 tracks from the vaults of King, Federal, and and other affiliated labels |
2009 | image | buy | review |
| Rhythm & Blues Christmas (Hollywood) - 20 tracks from the vaults of King, Federal, and and other affiliated labels |
1988 | image | buy | review |
| Rhythm & Blues Christmas (MCA) - 10 tracks ranging from the 50's to the 90's |
1995 | image | buy | |
| Rhythm & Blues Christmas (United Artists) - unprecedented cross-label compilation produced by Snuff Garrett; companion to Twelve Hits Of Christmas; with these two records, my obsession was born... |
1976 | image | buy | review |
| The Right Stuff Christmas Sampler/Holiday Guide (promotional) - 10-track catalog survey from EMI-distributed reissue label |
1996 | image | buy | |
| Ring: A Cincinnati Guitar Christmas for Public Radio - available as premium with $100 donation to several Midwestern stations; notable for an otherwise unavailable Peter Frampton version of "O Holy Night" |
2010 | image | buy | |
| Ring II: A Cincinnati Guitar Christmas for Public Radio | 2011 | image | buy | |
| Ring III: A Cincinnati Keyboard Christmas for Public Radio | 2012 | image | buy | |
| Ring IV: A Cincinnati Keyboard Christmas for Public Radio | 2013 | image | buy | |
| Riot Grrrl Christmas - grab bag from Cleopatra Records, mostly new bands rather than groups from the 90's heyday of the genre; issued with different cover art in the UK; reissued with new cover art in 2020, including new green vinyl edition |
2015 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Christmas (Ace) - vintage tracks from independent label based in Jackson, Mississippi |
1989 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Christmas (Polygram) | 1994 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Christmas (Polygram) - ultra-budget reissue of above with different cover, minus one track (notwithstanding claim of "bonus tracks") |
1994 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Christmas II (Polygram) - above three budget CD's compiled by Polygram Special Markets |
1998 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Christmas (Sony) - 10-track budget collection with unusual track listing |
1995 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Christmas (Universal) - imported CD containing vintage oldies |
2005 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Christmas: Cool 105.9 FM - new recordings by 50's and 60's stars for Orlando, Florida oldies station; reissued in 2009 with different cover art by Essential Media Group |
1993 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Era: Jingle Bell Rock - original 25-track Time-Life CD (also released as double LP) |
1987 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Era: Dick Clark's Rock 'n' Roll Christmas - 40-track, 2-CD expansion of above incorporating America's oldest teenager |
1997 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Era: A Rockin' Merry Christmas | 2001 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Era: Jingle Bell Rock | 2001 | image | buy | |
| Rock 'n' Roll Era: Rockin' Holidays - above three 12-track, updated versions of original 25-track CD (above); above three also released in tandem boxed set, Christmas Hits (2001); above five adjuncts to extensive, now-defunct Time-Life series |
2001 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 1 | 2010 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 2 | 2011 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 3 | 2012 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 4 | 2013 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 5 | 2014 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 6 | 2015 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 7 | 2016 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 8 | 2017 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 9 | 2018 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 10 | 2019 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 11 | 2020 | image | buy | |
| A Rock By The Sea Christmas Volume 12 - above series released by Florida-based charitable organization that raises money though music festivals, events, and merchandise; albums feature mostly local artists |
2021 | image | buy | |
| Rock YA Christmas - nearly an exact reissue of Metal Christmas (1994), but with new title and cover; features a slew of mid-level British rock stars from the 70's and 80's |
1999 | image | buy | |
| Rockabilly Christmas (Delta) - German two-CD set very similar to Buffalo Bop compilation Rockabilly Xmas (2000), though they are probably unrelated in any formal sense |
2016 | image | buy | |
| Rockabilly Christmas (Rockabilly) - digital release combining all 14 tracks from the Swing Cat's Rock-A-Billy Christmas (2001) with 17 tracks from the Buffalo Bop compilation Rockabilly Xmas (2000) |
2008 | image | buy | |
| Rockabilly Xmas - mastered from original vinyl 45's by German label Buffalo Bop |
2000 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (BEC) - alternative Christian rock from Tooth & Nail and BEC Recordings |
2011 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (Universal) - 10-track modern pop collection from Universal Special Products |
1994 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Bethlehem | 1989 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Bethlehem: The Second Coming - above two albums compiled by Australian label Timberyard Records to benefit the Sydney Children's Hospital; artists include the Lime Spiders, Celibate Rifles, and members of The Church |
1990 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Christmas (BMG) - budget-oriented BMG CD includes some fairly rare tracks |
2005 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Christmas (Columbia) - 10-song LP of 60's-era artists, mainly from Columbia & Epic artists |
1974 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Christmas (Razor & Tie) - 2-CD collection available through TV and mail-order only |
1993 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Christmas: The 50's | 1984 | image | buy | review |
| Rockin' Christmas: The 60's - above two LP's were the first-ever Rhino Records compilations of historic holiday music |
1984 | image | buy | review |
| Rockin' Christmas: Special Collector's Edition - selections from above two, produced for now-defunct West Coast eclectronics store The Good Guys |
1984 | image | buy | review |
| Rockin' Christmas Party - latter-day effort of 60's pop stars produced by Archies' Ron Dante |
2004 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' In Your Stockin' - budget modern rock compilation from EMI-Capitol Special Markets; same track listing and SKU as Christmas In Your Ear (1997) |
1999 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' Little Christmas - 12 tracks from Decca, Chess, and other MCA-affiliated labels; liner notes by Brenda Lee |
1986 | image | buy | review |
| Rockin' 'n' Rollin' With Santa Claus - BBC personality Mark Lamarr presents 25 vintage classics |
2011 | image | buy | |
| Rockin' The Mistletoe - modern pop compilation from indie label Side B Music featuring artists with connections to Brian Wilson, Joe Jackson, and Wilson Phillips |
2010 | image | buy | |
| Rocksteady Christmas - modern music in a vintage reggae style; produced by the artist Patrice Bart-Williams; reissued in 2023 as Rocksteady Christmas II with extra tracks, same cover art |
2021 | image | buy | |
| Rodney Bingenheimer Presents "All Year Party!" - hosted by legendary KROQ disc jockey Rodney On The ROQ |
1984 | image | buy | review |
| Rodney On The Rock Presents... Santa's Got a GTO Vol. 2 - released shortly after Rodney Bingenheimer's departure from Los Angeles radio station KROQ; companion to Santa's Got A GTO (1997) |
2017 | image | buy | review |
| A Rootin Tootin Santa: A Hillbilly Christmas - compiled by Richard Weize, founder of Bear Family Records; companion to Boogie Woogie Santa Claus: An R&B Christmas |
2017 | image | buy | |
| Roots Of Rhythm: Merry Christmas Baby - part of book-and-CD series from International Masters Publishing |
2000 | image | buy | |
| Rudolph, Frosty & Friends' Favorite Christmas Songs - culled by Sony Wonder from the Rankin & Bass TV specials Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), Little Drummer Boy (1968), Frosty The Snowman (1969), and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (1970) |
2002 | image | buy | |
| Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - thirty versions of Johnny Marks' most celebrated composition compiled by German reissue specialist Bear Family Records |
2004 | image | buy | |
| Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV Show) - complete soundtrack to the 1964 Rankin & Bass TV special starring Burl Ives; 2014 digital edition restores original LP cover art |
1965 | image | buy | |
| Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (movie) - animated feature starring John Goodman and Whoopi Goldberg with music by Clint Black, Paul McCartney, and the Pointer Sisters |
1998 | image | buy | |
| Rudolph Mit Der Roten Nase (German movie) - German version of above featuring punk priestess Nina Hagen |
1999 | image | buy |