I am the sentimental type who goes joyful to the sounds of Christmas music but each year it gets harder to find that rare gem of an album, old or new, that pricks up my ears.

This year my pick is 'The Animals' Christmas' an 80s concept album composed by Jimmy Webb, performed by Art Garfunkel with Amy Grant and backed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Kings College School Choir.

The concept of this cantata is to 'tell the story of the Nativity from the perspective of the animals who were there.'

To listen to sample tracks, click here.

And if you have recommendations for other special Christmas albums or songs, please share them!