By Keith O'Connor | Special to The Republican

You’ve probably heard the song “We Need A Little Christmas” penned by Jerry Herman for the 1966 Broadway musical “Mame.” As the lyrics go, “We need a little Christmas, right this very moment.” And, if ever there were a time when we “need a little Christmas ‘music’” to stir our spirits during what has been a year filled with turmoil and the stress of COVID-19 — it’s now. 

Fortunately, there is no shortage of new Christmas recordings for the 2020 holiday season, most recorded after the COVID-19 pandemic began. In fact, many of the artists in their promotional materials for their new holiday products mentioned the fact that it was particularly fitting to bring a little cheer to the holidays for those suffering from the effects of the pandemic. “We could really use an infusion of holiday cheer after this unbelievable year,” wrote JoJo on social media about her first-time Christmas album.

This year’s new Christmas albums to add to your collection include an array of artists from Broadway’s Leslie Odom, Jr. to pop’s Meghan Trainor and from country favorite Dolly Parton to indie rockers The Goo Goo Dolls. There is something for everyone to unwrap including all genres such as pop, jazz, country, rock, R&B, Christian and more. 

Among the Top 10 albums and others to give a jingle to this holiday season are: 

“It’s Christmas All Over” by The Goo Goo Dolls — Every year there is a Christmas album released by someone you would never expect to go into the studio to record a holiday album. This year that someone is the Goo Goo Dolls, and it’s a keeper. Not what you would expect, “It’s Christmas All Over” is a thoroughly enjoyable trip down holiday lane featuring holiday classics and more, including two original songs. There is some rock like the album’s title suggests, a tribute to Tom Petty’s “Christmas All Over Again,” which jump starts the album, to a jazzy “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” to faithful renditions of “Christmas Don’t Be Late,” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

See the complete list here - https://www.masslive.com/music/2020/12/10-christmas-albums-to-seek-out-this-holiday-season.html