Reviews (2)

Wonderful; marvellous
Andre Rieu proves again he is the best of the best! I bought this CD in october 1997, a few weeks before Andre's concert In Quebec city. In this CD, you'll find all the classics of Christmas. They are well played because Andre and his orchestra know how to bring us the atmosphere of Christmas. The desing of the CD is well done. If you,re looking for good music, please try this CD You'll enjoy it. If you have the occasion to see his Christmas concert on TV, watch it. It's very beautiful.

This his not the first CD made by Andre. In 1992, he released "Spielt Die Schonten Weihnachtslieder".

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL
Another wonderful Andre Rieu CD. All the Rieu recordings and videos are a breath of fresh air - a joy to the soul. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

'Tisn't Quite the Season, But...
Every once in a while, you come across a Christmas album that stays with you long after the holiday season is over. The Roches WE THREE KINGS is definitely in that category for me. Somehow it remained close to my CD player long after the other holiday CDs were tucked away for another year and helped see me through the unusually bitter winter of '02-'03. What differentiates this from the thousands of other holiday records available? Well, the Roches have carved out their own special turf over the years. They can always be counted on for tight harmonies, intriguing arrangements, and a touch of whimsical humor.

Some people I know never did care much for the whimsy--and I guess it wouldn't be too unfair to say that there have been times in the group's career when they crossed the line into preciousness. But that's hardly the case with this recording. The album consists mostly of the usual holiday classics, but with strikingly unique arrangements and inventive harmonies. Get irritated when everyone is singing "Jingle Bells" and some jerk keeps inserting "I like a sleigh ride" between every line? Well, you won't find anything that hackneyed here. What you will find is a fresh approach to almost all the standards.

There are two original Roche compositions on the record, and they are both stunners. Suzzy's "Christmas Passing Through" and Terre's "Star of Wonder" are two of the album's highlights, along with an uptempo version of "We Three Kings" that sounds like it was arranged by Mark Knopfler (I checked the credits to verify, but no...). For those whose taste leans toward the classical, check out the gorgeous versions of "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" and "Break Forth, O Beautious Heavenly Light." Some will doubtless find their versions of "Frosty" and "Winter Wonderland" (replete with Brooklyn accents) a bit on the cutesy side, but what's a Christmas record without a little cuteness? Again, is it whimsy or preciousness?--you be the judge. One additional confusion, the album seems to be available in two different versions (different covers and different sequencing of the tracks). I wouldn't purchase both, but it's hard to see how you could lose with either.

Only a Grinch could Hate this Album
I have to cast my vote with the majority of reviews here--of the 40+ Christmas CDs in my collection, this is my favorite. I love Christmas music, and among my other favorite Christmas albums you will find Jose Feliciano, Booker T & the MGs, Ramsey Lewis, Percy Faith, the Choir of King's College (Cambridge), the Carpenters, and Leon Redbone. I was introduced to the music of the Roches when I received a review copy of their debut album in 1979. I don't remember how I reviewed it, but the Roches' unique style caught my attention 'way back then. When this Christmas album came along in 1990 I had to settle for a cassette because I couldn't find it on a CD. I remedied that later on. It gets played more than all my other Christmas CDs combined. The harmonies, the arrangements, the choice and sequencing of songs all get top marks from me. While I love this album, apparently a few people dislike it intensely (read their grumpy reviews somewhere down the list here). That makes me wonder what music they do like.

An Unknown Classic
I am glad to see so many good reviews because I had long thought we were the only people who knew about this gem. We were extremely pleased to find the CD to replace the old tape we had bought a decade ago but misplaced. This album is a crowd pleaser. The songs are refreshing and interesting takes on the classics, but sweet enough for any traditionalist at a family gathering. (Even the exagerated Brooklyn-accent version of Wawking in a Winta Wunda Lyand, is gentle good fun.) The two negative reviews are hard to reconcile with the CD we know.

The Best == Period
Can't remember a Christmas since this CD first came out that our house didn't have this CD in the player. No tree has been trimmed without the wonderful haromonys. Can't be Christmas without this CD. Have recommended it to many friends and they all agree.

My Favorite Christmas CD
This is The CD I play the day after Thanksgiving. The one I listen to as I decorate my tree. The one I listen to Christmas night after all the radio stations have stopped playing holiday music, after all the guests have gone home and the kids have gone to sleep, crashed on the sofa with a glass of wine in happy exhaustion. The one I couldn't have Christmas without. In a musically perfect world, this CD would be my generation's "White Christmas." Read the other reviews - I'm not alone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is your father's Oldsmobile! Packaging a handful of '60s entertainers all crooning Christmas tunes, Mob Hits, is a virtual Christmas setting of Oceans 11. Among others, there are tracks by Connie Francis, Vic Damone, Jerry Vale, Paul Anka, Bobby Vinton, and, of course, Wayne Newton (with a big band rendition of "Jingle Bells"). Dion's "Merry Christmas Baby" is a howler and Louis Prima's timeless "Shake Hands with Santa Claus" is probably this CD's highlight. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A great group of songs
No this cd doesn't have Como, Sinatra, Martin or Bennett but none of the artists included are second rate losers. So if you're looking for a solid collection of Christmas classics with an Italian flare then this is the perfect disc. Of course it reminds me so much of my favorite little restaurant, perhaps I'm biased!

Highlights include "We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Silver Bells", "Shake Hands With Santa Claus", and "Jingle Bells". The lesser of the tracks would have to be "The First Noel" and "Merry Christmas Baby" though neither are bad.

If you're like me and just outright love Christmas music then you have to add this one. But if you're more a fan of "mob" music I'd maybe go for a Sinatra or Como holiday disc.

3 Wise Guys Beware!
While there are a couple of gems from classic Italian swingers like Vic Damone, Al Martino and Jerry Vale, the rest of the album is full of second- rate singers and horrible versions of Christmas songs (Dion especially!). And how can you have a definitive Mob Hits Christmas Collection without the big paesans like Perry Como, Sinatra, Dean Martin or Tony Bennett???? This is one offer you can refuse!

Another Mob Hit
If you enjoyed the first and second Mob Hits-album, this third album in the Mob Hits-series will not make you disappointed! Every track of this album has that good old neighbourhood feeling and this time it is spiced with some genuine Christmas happiness! Even if my girlfriend says that this album just is worth 4,5 stars (she misses the big Dean), I can assure you that Al Martino will compensate that lost and secure a strong 5 stars! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Canadian Bruce Cockburn's understated musical and vocal strengths belie his more ardent political folk-pop in a career that never found a wider U.S. audience. Too bad, because Cockburn deftly mixes folk, rock, country, gospel, and international music without making it seem forced or found. On Christmas the singer takes artistic and poetic license to rearrange "Silent Night," "Adeste Fidelis," and other more reverent standards alongside "The Huron Carol," "Go Tell It on the Mountain," and "Mary Had a Baby," another beautiful gospel tune often overlooked by more mainstream singers. Cockburn's quiet intensity ignites most of these--and his liner notes are brief but poignant and informative. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Here's Why You Should Buy
Bruce Cockburn's voice is an acquired taste. I'll give you that. Aside from this, however, this has got to be one of the freshest collections of traditional Christmas songs I've ever heard. Gorgeous, sparse, acoustic arrangements of old standards like "O Little Town of Bethlehem," a haunting minor version of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Silent Night," and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," are interspersed with ethnic folk songs like "Riu Riu Chiu," "Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes (Gloria In Excelsis Deo)" and "Iesus Ahatonnia (The Huron Carol)" to great effect. The recording quality is intimate and uncluttered, giving the whole disc a homey, fireside feel.

A unique take on Christmas with a folksy feel.
Bruce Cockburn is a consummate guitarist and lyricist. In this album he draws together traditional Christmas carols (Go Tell It on the Mountain & God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen), folk ballads (Mary Had a Baby & Early On One Christmas Morn), traditional ethnic (Iesus Ahatonnia & Les Anges Daus Nos Campagnes), lost wonders (Riu Riu Chiu & Down in Yon Forest) and a great original (Shepherds). Cockburn deserves to be listened to on a still winter night with a glass of wine in one hand and the liner notes in the other. This album can make Christmas a wholly new and refreshing experience for those burned out on the usual Christmas fare.

Christmas with a twist
This is one CD you'll need to buy several of. For gifts? No. Why multiples? Because either you'll wear the CD out or friends will borrow and not return.

Of all of the Christmas CDs we have, this one tops the list. Unlike some artists who take Christmas/holiday standards and alter them to fit their style, Bruce recreates them with feeling. There are a few standards on here (O Little Town, Silent Night, Joy to the World, etc) there are several surprises, like Don in Yon Forest (very haunting, it has a heavy overtone) and Iesus Ahatonnia (Huron Carol).

The music is very Bruce - lots of his excellent string work and his ability to sing from the soul. The folks backing him up are amazing, this is one crafted CD.

If you haven't see him live, please do so. I saw him in a small setting (about 50 people) and he played with little to no amplification; he had more instruments on stage than people in the audience it seemed. Very talented, he had the crowd in awe the whole evening.

Nice CD, Bruce.

com"YULE"ation Cleric : Compass for Compassion
As a collection and YULEtune crafting, this early 9o's release may still inspire many a songsmith and listener to venture back along a path more parallel in song origin, or forth to seek familiarity with several seldom sung seasonal selections. Throughout the informative inner liner notes insite into the extensive pre~production planning is revealed thus enhancing the depth to which these recordings are preceived and appreciated.~~~Merrily Mix~ 1#, 2$, 3#, 4#, 5$, 6#, 7#1\2, 8$, 9$, 11$, 12$, 14$1\2, and 15# ~~~Post Script : For those in the kNOw and\or YULEtide Treasure Seekers searching for spiritually inspired seasoning that polarizes the power and beauty of song, dig here often.***buyit*saveit*shareit*giveit*donateit to the local library*** YULEridGEMality Factor = 4

Simply the Best
Simply the Best christmas CD going! Real and heartfelt, I never tire of "Mary Had A Baby" or "Early on One Christmas Morn". Why is this disc almost impossible to find???? Thank goodness for the internet. I have given it as a gift numerous times and it has always been well received. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A perfect martini-and-mistletoe combo, Christmas Cocktails will gaily seduce you with its bevy of nostalgic and occasionally campy holiday fare. Vocal vixens Peggy Lee, Julie London (her "I'd Like You for Christmas" will melt the ice cubes in your fridge), Kay Starr, and Nancy Wilson join forces with perennial crooners such as Lou Rawls, Dean Martin, and the immortal Nat "King" Cole, along with a handful of instrumental big-band numbers and odd, at times cheese-ball-shaped jazz organ pieces from Jimmy McGriff and the flammable Eddie Dundstedter, among others. But the essential item that makes plunking down your pelts for this very chi-chi set is none other than Billy May's lovably kitschy workout called "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo." It's a scream. The package comes complete with its own cocktail minimanual and the recipes for Hot Toddys and Hot Tom and Jerrys. Garishly retro and naughtily nostalgic, this kind of slinky Christmas gift should probably be illegal in many prudish states. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Ultra-Lounge does it again!
Love, love, love this CD! If you're a Christmas nut like me who listens to holiday music all year, this is for you! There were a few songs I didn't care for, but mostly this is a great CD. I've always liked Latinesque big band arrangements of holiday tunes, and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo" hits the spot like no other. The powerful brass, the chugging rhythm, and those giggling marimbas all combine wonderfully. And love those slurping saxophones! My favorite part is when the whole band breaks into a slow, blaring "Jingle Bells." (And does anyone else think the guy talking every now and then on this track sounds oddly like Manny the Uncanny? ) Peggy Lee's breezy, unflappably cool "Winter Wonderland," bongoes and all, is the coolest Christmas song ever. And this recording of it was the first place I heard the alternate "snowman" verse. Noe, "Christmas Trumpets" doesn't agree with me at all. I think it sounds like a cheesy '70s game show theme waaay to much. (See a below review.) The baritone sax at the start of "Christmas Is" sets the tone for the whole song. Lou Rawls deeply soulful voice guides you on a jazzy trip, and you'll love every step. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town/White Christmas" I could go either way on. I'm not terribly fond of them, but some may be. I do enjoy Julie London's sexy "I'd Like You for Christmas." Melancholy and teasing at the same time, the way she just breathes out the words will makes you want to scream "You can have me!" "Holiday on Skis" is a beautifully wintry piece played by guitarist Al Caiola (who can be heard on many other U-L CDs). The way the orchestra plays behind him brings a perfect mental picture of snow (especially the introduction). From the jazzy intro to the crashing close, "The Man with the Bag" is the best track on the whole CD. I don't know what it is about it, but I just can't stop listening to it! Now, the Hollyridge Strings...I don't really care for their music. (They're on other U-L volumes, too, sounding not different from here.) Their "Jingle Bells" medley will leave you wanting something less sugary. Dean Martin's "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" is just that: warm. A pleasant recording from his own Christmas collection, it gives way to the so-so organ version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," which is packaged with a headache-inducing "Jingle Bell Bossa Nova." "Christmas Kisses" is a little annoying, feeling like a Christmas single from some one-hit wonder '50s girl group. "I'll Be Home for Christmas," by the Great One, Jackie Gleason, is far too depressing for a Christmas song, and jarringly brings the pace and feel of the whole CD thus far to a dead stop while every note holds on for what seems like minutes and the song stretches into what seems like infinity. Along with it is a somewhat annoying whistling version of "Baby, it's Cold Outside." Beginning with a music-box introduction, Nancy Wilson outclasses all else with her flirty and ever-so-slightly cocky "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" Sounding so sure that the one she's approaching will accept, she goes on anyway, and it's very fun. (For anoher beautiful version, check out Ella Fitzgerald's holiday offering.) Hold onto your seatbelts for "Cha-Cha All the Way"--it'll have you dancing in the aisles! Some, now, may find it hideous and bothersome, but others will adore it like I do. Can't you just tell Billy May had something to do with this track? Love the sax soloist! With its famous lush string opening, Nat King Coles legendary "The Christmas Song" IS included here, folks. And a very welcome addition it is. Les Brown and his Band of Renown do a great job on the over-six-minute "Nutcracker Suite." The lengthy but fun piece goes through pretty much the whole thing, hitting on all the famous pieces you remember and love. I'm not big on caroling or bells, so the next track bothers the daylights out of me. But the bonus tunes are wonderful. The Ultra-Lounge series' enigmatic 'The Continental' makes a holiday appearance here. (Who IS he really, anyway! And why did they record these! ) Next is a "Toys for Tots" advertisement featuring the Chipmunks, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and Nancy Wilson singing a catchy tune for the good cause. The final bonus song is Billy May himself, singing (in a pleasant voice, too!) a Christmas greeting to all of Capitol's listeners. To the tune of "Jingle Bells," he thanks us for supporting Capitol, and wishing us merry christmas from the entire Capitol Records staff. Very cool--why doesn't everyone do this stuff?

This is a fantastic CD. The great tracks outweigh the clunkers, and the CD will leave you wishing you had been around Capitol Studios back in the '60s.

Gimme a martini baby!
OH MY GOSH do I love this CD. I just got it yesterday and I've listened to it 4 times already. I've even played some songs over the phone for some friends. They all want it now too. Since radio stations are playing Christmas music 24/7 now-a-days, you hear the same ol' stuff. I can tell you that you haven't heard these yet (with one exception: Nat King Cole). It's very refreshing to hear something new. Plus if you're into lounge music, jazz, vintage music, swing music, or anything older, this is for you. I love swing and these songs are done with a REAL swing band. I'm thinking about having a martini Christmas tree decorating party this weekend now. Now I just have to get Volume 2 and I'm all set!

Pure, unadulterated Christmas joy
Tired of choral Christmas music? Tired of the songs you've heard year after year after year? Well, then this is the one you want.

This album has probably done something amazing, brought back some old chestnuts and helped them regain new classic status. Already, I've noticed stores playing these tunes. And, personally, I believe Kay Starr's "(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With the Bag" deserves such status.

So, yes, buy it. It'll give your holiday some extra verve, class and fun.

Good christmas standard lounge music.
This is a good compilation of schmaltz from the days when bad habits were the rule, and being hip was Perry Mason having a car phone. The music is mostly good,a few cuts are great, and there are a couple of dogs too. It is in regular rotation at my house for Christmas.

Hot Totties!
This is the ultimate Christmas party disc! You'll be wearing your mambo pants before the first song is finished... ... Read more

Amazon.com

Part three of a series of records that benefits the Special Olympics, A Very Special Christmas 3 from 1997 is as excitingly eclectic as its predecessors. Though it features the likes of R&B chart toppers and hip-hoppers Mase, Puff Daddy, and Snoop Doggy Dogg and alt-rockers No Doubt, Smashing Pumpkins, , Blues Traveler, and others, the real standout performances belong to Jonny Lang, with his bawdy, barroom version of "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" and Sting, who delivers a proper reading of that old English carol "I Saw Three Ships." The showstopper, though, is Natalie Merchant's "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" in an arrangement so rich and compelling it may top even the many five-star versions of this African-American hymn that have come before it. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Memorable Modern Classics
The feel of this third collection of Christmas songs for the "Very Special Christmas" series is a lot less pop, and a bit more alternative. I think this collection is my favorite of the first three. Although I had some strong individual favorites on the first two albums, there were more unique stand-outs on this version.

Sting opens the CD with a very traditional version of "I Saw Three Ships", followed by a very off-beat rendering of "Christmas Time" by the Smashing Pumpkins. Natalie Merchant does a fantastic job with the gospel standard, "Children Go Where I Send Thee." Perhaps my favorite song on the album is "Christmas" by Blues Traveller, an original and very honest song of Christmas hopes and cultural differences.

Hootie and the Blowfish bring a modern flair to the traditional "Christmas Song", and I absolutely adore Chris Cornell's earthy version of "Ave Maria." Steve Winwood sounds a bit like Cat Stevens on the beautiful "Christmas Is Now Drawing Near at Hand", and Tracy Chapman's version of "Oh Holy Night" is very simple and less showy than other renditions.

All in all, I find this the best album in the series, as far as being unique and listenable, and with rock singers focusing more on the spirit of the songs, with a few glaring exceptions.

A Very Worthy Addition to your Christmas Collection
The third album in this series is mostly a winner and well worth adding to your Christmas collection (as well as the first two volumes). As with any compilation that attempts to cover multiple genres, it is bound to be a hit or miss affair for most, but I think the producers of this series have done a pretty good job of it so far. Like the first volume, this record has very few clunkers and is overall worthy of five stars (I gave Volume 2 only four stars on account of it having a higher number of unworthy tracks).

The collection leads off with Sting's short and sweet rendering of the traditional "I Saw Three Ships." Does such a good job with it that you wish the tune went on longer. One of these days, Sting will produce his own Christmas album. Next up is the now defunct alternative band Smashing Pumpkins with their original composition "Christmastime" which you most likely have heard on the radio a number of times. This is one of the top songs on this album. But the best song on this record could very well be Natalie Merchant's "Children Go Where I Send Thee" which is an old gospel song. So the first three songs are already worth the price of this CD alone.

Unfortunately, the mood is spoiled by the next track featuring a whole mess of rap artists doing an ugly version of "Santa Baby." I don't know why the producers of this series feel compelled to stick a rap track on every volume but I don't appreciate it. Next is No Doubt doing "Oi To The World" which is a very annoying song that grates on your nerves after repeated listens. This song would no doubt (pardon the pun) drive Noriega out of his compound. Then we have Sheryl Crow doing a version of the overrecorded "Blue Christmas" that doesn't do anything for me but at least it gets the album sounding like a Christmas record again.

Now we have Blues Traveler doing an original John Popper composition ("Christmas") that is one of the top tracks on this album and this also gets a lot of radio airplay around the holidays. Following that is Enya's Gaillic version of "Silent Night" ("Oiche Chiun"). This is just superb and very hypnotizing. I like playing this late at night on Christmas Eve by the fireplace once the gifts are under the blinking lights of the tree and the champagne is uncorked. If you are not familiar with the music of Enya, I highly recommend getting some of her albums. Then we have Hootie & The Blowfish (who were one of the hottest bands in music when this collection came out in 1997) doing a version of "The Christmas Song." While the performance is okay, I do not like this song at all as it is recorded by so many other artists and it's getting sort of old. Whatever happened to Hootie & The Blowfish anyway? They sort of disappeared after this.

Next is my personal favorite song on this CD, Chris Cornell (of the alternative rock band Soundgarden) doing a spine-tingling version of "Ave Maria." This is another song I like to hear late at night on Christmas Eve. It sets quite an atmosphere. Next is "Christmas In The City" by Mary J. Blige. This soulful track doesn't sound very Christmasy at all and it sort of spoils the mood that was created by Chris Cornell's song. After that is Jonny Lang's version of "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" which is a bluesy rocker which is quite good but it just doesn't flow right here. The producers of this album don't do a very good job ordering the songs. They are all over the place.

Next track is probably the one that gets the most radio airplay, that would be the Dave Matthews Band doing a live version of "Christmas Song" which was written by Dave Matthews himself. This is definitely a highlight of this CD. Next is Steve Winwood doing a version of an obscure ancient song called "Christmas Is Now Drawing Near At Hand." I like it but you need to give it a few spins before it starts growing on you. Tracy Chapman then follows with her version of "O Holy Night." This is a very atypical and sparse interpretation of this song and quite interesting to listen to. Like the Steve Winwood track, you have to give it time to grow on you.

Finally, the set concludes with Patti Smith doing an eclectic version of "We Three Kings." I've seen some negative comments about this song on other reviews but I like it a lot and consider it one of this album's highpoints.

There are enough great songs on this record to make this an essential part of your Christmas collection.

This is "Christmas music"?
I was always a fan of this series even though I wasn't always a fan of some of the artists included in each compilation. But when I heard #3 for the first time I couldn't believe my ears. Is this the best combination of pop and Christmas music they could come up with? I was actually laughing out loud in my car the first time I listened to this disc because it was so horribly wrong. As some other reviews have mentioned, this isn't a very Christmasy-sounding offering, which, in my opinion, is a big mistake for anything offered as a Christmas Album.

And the musicianship on this disc is completely laughable. Many of these songs sound as if the "musicians" performing them tried to pick out the tunes and harmonies by ear without ever referring to the readily available printed music. I mean, couldn't they have even taken the time to consult a chord chart before destroying these classic Christmas songs? I'm all for reharmonizing a song to make it fresh, but this is ridiculous.

If you're a fan of the individual artists, this might be a good disc to pick up. But if you're looking for musicto put you in the holiday spirit, stick with something more classic (like "Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas") or something by a newer artist that has respect for the traditions of these songs.

A review from an italian boy
I bought this CD last year and I didn't find it so beautiful but there is a song that's INCREDIBLE... this is the Tracy Chapman's "oh holy night"... simply amazing... buy it only for this song... I love it

Many fabulous surprises
I was familiar with (and enjoyed) the first release in this series. I hesitated from the 2nd and, initially, the 3rd because the artist groups weren't striking my facuty. But when I learned that track seven involved Popper putting lyrics to the incredibly swift and complex guitar lead of the Phish composition "Divided Sky", I knew it was going to be either the most horrific mistake I'd ever heard or a complete stroke of musical genius. And, oh! What genius it is!

And, I found, the rest of the disc was more than up to snuff as well. Contrary to some other reviews here, I found Chris Cornell's "Ave Maria" quite moving and Patti Smith's "We Three Kings" really *real*. Even Sting's opener, while a bit pop-y, is plenty pleasant as well.

All around, this is more than seasonal background music. There are some real gems here to hook your interest. Bravo!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Amy Grant's Home for Christmas showcases her mellifluent vocal chops in a variety of settings and succeeds mightily. There's a sophisticated touch of Streisand in Grant's clear and bright timbre, but there's also a young tenderness and innocence there, as well, that captures peoples' hearts. Grant puts a batch of standards, more recent works by Carly Simon and David Foster, and her own songs through big but tasty orchestral swells, rock & roll reveries, acoustic pieces, and mild pop surroundings. Most surprising are Grant's two contributions (cowritten with Chris Eaton and Robert Marshal, respectively,) "Breath of Heaven/Mary's Song" and the powerful and humbling "Emmanuel, God with Us." Exquisitely produced and arranged, Home for Christmas is a highly rewarding mainstream Christmas masterpiece without flaw or pretense. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (51)

An Absolute Classic
This album is simply top rate. Everything is done so well: song choice, original-song music and lyrics, arrangements, orchestration, performances, even the album art and photography. Especially enjoyable are the lush orchestral treatments of the classics and the exquisite original songs. Amy has always been a great songwriter, and this album contains two of her best: Breath of Heaven and Emmanuel, God With Us. Phil Keaggy's guitar on O Come All Ye Faithful and its gentle, beautiful arrangement also deserve mention. If there's one Christmas CD you'll want to put on Repeat, this is it.

I look forward to pulling this out every year after year.
This has to be one of the most incredible Christmas cd's I've ever owned. I've replaced it a couple of times and I'm so confident it's a universally appealing compilation I've given it as gifts to many people I love.
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is so charming and sweet but not saccharin.
"It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" sounds as if she is as jubilant about Christmas as anyone could be.
"Joy To The World/For Unto Us A Child Is Born" is a resounding buoyant combination.
"Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)" is a song I look forward to every year because it captures the meaning of Christmas on a very personal level, the birth of a child.
"O Come All Ye Faithful" is a great classic.
"Grown-up Christmas List" is probably my favorite modern Christmas song. The first time I heard this I was so touched. The sentimantality is incredibly moving and also captures Christmas.
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" is still a fun and upbeat to hear, just don't carry egg nog while listening - you'll spill it.
"Winter Wonderland", "I'll Be Home For Christmas" are classics she sings with fresh and joyous appeal.
"The Night Before Christmas" even in the middle this is a great track.
"Emmanuel, God With Us", "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (Instrumental)" are both goosebump-producing-musical "abundanza".

If you really want a Christmas cd that "gets" the respect and wonderment of Christmas and yet has fun with the secular party element of the season this is THE cd for you.

One of my Top 10 Christmas CD's
This CD does everything well - the big orchestral arrangements that are fun and swingy, the hauntingly beautiful religious songs she wrote, the softer acoustic numbers. She doesn't make any bad choices here and there's maximum style with minimal schmaltz. I'd never purchased any of her music before but consider this in my top 10 of Christmas CD's, which is saying a lot because I've collected a ton of Christmas music over the years.

Another classic mix of Christmas songs from Amy Grant
Amy Grant's first Christmas album was released in 1983, when she was one of the top Christian gospel singers in the country, contained four original songs on which she was one of the writers and a mixture of contemporary Christmas songs and religious hymns. For her second album in 1992, a year after she had three singles on the pop charts ("Baby Baby," "Every Heartbeat," and "That's What Love Is For"), Grant only had a hand in writing two songs for the collection, which clearly emphasized popular Christmas songs over the religious hymns. After all, why argue with success. "A Christmas Album" has been a perennial seller for twenty years and "Home for Christmas" is just a step below (the formula was more impressive the first time around and the choices were a more eclectic and more interesting).

I usually think that Amy Grant is almost the ideal singer of Christmas songs, because she has a nice enough voice, but it is also a natural voice, and you can sing along without feeling like she is blowing you away. She sings slow songs like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as well as the fast paced holiday rocker "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." I really like the medley of "Joy to the World/For Unto Us a Child Is Born," and the beautiful "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)," one of the two songs co-written by Grant. Once again, Grant ends her album with a really old-fashioned hymn, this time Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," as a final reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Once again, Amy Grant supplies a solid mix of Christmas songs for our holiday listening enjoyment. "Home for Christmas" made it to #2 on the Billboard album chart in 1992 (and #1 on the Top Contemporary Christian chart, of course).

sweetness and light, joy and delight
There are numerous musical styles on this CD, but they are all tied together beautifully, and the musicianship is superb, from the classical orchestral mode to the very '50s rendition of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". The orchestrations are mostly by Ronn Huff, and performed by The London Studio Orchestra, and are simply exquisite, as are the individuals like Shane Keister, who plays piano on the fantastic "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" and 2 other tracks. Grant's voice, though not strong, is charming, and she has a lovely style. Her sound is one that falls gently on the ears.

"Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)", is a song Amy co-wrote with Chris Eaton, and is for me, the highlight of this CD. The words are incredibly moving, and apply not only to Mary as she carried Jesus within, but to motherhood, and every new mother who must feel awe and little fear; " I am waiting in a silent prayer / I am frightened by the load I bear". Amy sings her composition with conviction and passion. It is a perfect song and a perfect performance.

Another standout is "I'll be home for Christmas", with a great vocal by Amy, Clare Fischer playing a wonderful jazzy piano, and lush and fabulous strings.
You don't have to wait until Christmas to enjoy this CD, it's good music, anytime of the year. The booklet insert includes all the lyrics, the sound is excellent, and total time is 42'39. ... Read more

Amazon.com

New Orleans pianist, singer, and songwriter Harry Connick Jr. has done what many makers of Christmas records strive for but seldom achieve: he's made a Christmas record that sounds convincingly like a '40s period piece and rigorously like a cool, contemporary jazz disc. His powerful, self-written Christmas songs sound like polished standards, and he delivers the whole package with a sassy, vocal economy (with the occasional New Orleans accent) and an orchestral richness that is never indulgent or overwhelming. When My Heart Finds Christmas is a true classic that no lover of big-band jazz and singing (in the Sinatra style)--and Christmas music--should be without. There are so many great moments here that singling any one out would be at the expense of the others. Still, the reverential, solo-piano intro to "Ave Maria," Connick's own "(It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus," (a rousing, second-line swing tune), and his triumphant "I Pray on Christmas" (a get-happy-now gospel song) deserve mention if only because they'll earn Connick extra credit in heaven and on Earth. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (62)

Why does the Christmas season have to be so short...
...as my husband has limited me to playing this between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This a truly wonderful Christmas album, as well as just being a great Harry Connick, Jr. cd.

There is a delightful mix of serious and silly songs, jazzy piano pieces and rollicking traditional songs and gospel-inspired songs and inspirational classics.

My favorites include It Must've Been Ol' Santa Claus, which tends to lead to dancing around the living room, O Holy Night which is heart-breakingly beautiful, the Little Drummer Boy (one of the only versions of this song that I really like), and What Are You Doing New Year's Eve, a wistful song which is the perfect ending to the cd. There really isn't a bad song on this CD.

If you like Harry Connick Jr, you will love this cd. And buy the soundtrack to When Harry Met Sally, which also contains a lot of holiday songs.

Great variety
The feeling of a traditional family Christmas is captured within this superb CD. Harry Connick Jr has combined classic Christmas and spritual songs (Ave Maria being the standout track) with some fantastic new songs - It Must've Been Ol' Santa is a tune guaranteed to get any Christmas party going. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, with children's choir, swings along like the best of Sinatra, while the warmth in Connick's voice is evident in Let It Snow, which rivals the best versions by Dean Martin and Sinatra. An essential Christmas CD.

Christmas Must Have
I am a real Harry fan and I don't think I could make it through the holidays without this album. Does a great job with the classics and adds new songs that are a must for the Christmas season. Love it!!!

Best Christmas CD!
This is a must have in your Christmas collection. With some oldies but goodies and originals songs, Harry sings the songs like they were meant to be sung with his incredible voice.

Great reviews for a reason!
I read the (very) few bad reviews here for this album and have to say that those folks must not be true Harry fans, because this album is extremely true to form for him. I don't buy the "I love him normally, but..." nonsense - he sang all of these great songs with the same passion and warmth that he has on all his non-seasonal albums. There is not a badly done song in the bunch, and he even made me like songs I hadn't really cared for before, such as "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" and "Ave Maria". Best cuts are "I Pray on Christmas" and "O Holy Night", but I never get tired of any of them. Look at the overwhelming number of happy listeners here and know the true quality of this album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Resplendent in voice and manner, José Carreras, Placido Domingo,and Luciano Pavarotti deliver 21 songs of traditional sacred music and secularnumbers in a remarkable 1999 live recording from the opulent Viennese concerthall (Konzerthaus), with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and a renowned choir. The Three Tenors are practically as famous as the faces of Mount Rushmore and inspire perhaps even more awe and adulation around the world than the four presidents. The performances--whether alone, in tandem, or simply as the threesome that has made them collectively famous--are generally impeccable for their passion, nuance, and sheer tour de force vocal artistry. Reaching often into the classical realm for such works as the traditional German carol "Susani," Strauss's and Brahms's "Wiegenlied," plus traditional Polish and Spanish pieces, the trio also visits Pavarotti's "Ave Maria, dolce Maria" (cowritten with Vittoriano Benvenuti), and "Un nuevo siglo," written by Domingo's son. Only John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Happy Christmas/War Is Over" doesn't quite work in this grand setting. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (18)

THE THREE TENORS WITH THREE GOLDEN VOICES
Each time these guys get together for a recording session, all things turn to gold in their particular style of music. I have all the Three Tenors CDs and I am not surprise on how good this venture turned out. I am not a great lover of opera, but these guys I do like. For the opera lover, you may be able to pick apart the flaws and be crtical about their performance, but not I. I just love it. This CD will not be played only at Christmas, but it will be apart of my everyday listing pleasure along with other Three Tenors CDs. I am hoping that there will be another Three Tenors performance in 2002 after the World Soccer Championships.; we can only hope.

Happy listing, because you will enjoy it

Tripp

great gift
I had already purchased the VHS and received the CD as a gift. This CD is a great addition to add to your collection if you are a Three Tenor's fan. The selections are mixed with pieces from various countries. However, the English selections I would have prefered Carreras and Domingo. I find Pavarotti not to be his best in this language.

All three gave 100 % however, I would have enjoyed more individual performances than the program that was chosen.

My favorite selections were Dormi O Bambino, Carol of the Drum, and Adeste Fideles. The John Lennon selection Happy Christmas/War is Over I have to get use to.

Overall it is great holiday music to listen to when you cannot watch them on the VHS or DVD.

buy it
BUY THIS ALBUM FOR THE GREATEST ITALIAN OPERA VERSION OF O HOLY NIGHT! it makes me cry :(

Time and tide waits for none of them
Do not expect their legendary voices in this CD.

Not a "Three Tenors" fan _but_
This is _not_ the usual type of Christmas music you will hear over the radio as the holiday approaches. Speaking strictly for me, if I never heard "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" again in my life, it would be too soon. So I thought I'd try out "The Three Tenors" and see what their Christmas album had to offer.

There are some problems with the music - Pavorotti seems to have some difficulty with English, but on the whole I did enjoy this album - and I'm not a fan of "The Three Tenors". I would have picked some other music for them to do - the John Lennon composition "Happy Christmas / War is Over" doesn't seem to work wel in this particular format, but it's entirely possible that I am too used to the Lennon/Ono performance.

So try something new for the Christmas season and listen to this cd. It has some very good cuts, especially "Felice Navidad". ... Read more

Amazon.com

The cover of this holiday classic pictures Ray Charles with a sleigh-full of gifts. That's an appropriate image, since he's so generous with the soulful sounds contained inside. Ray's gravelly growl may turn sweet on such merry romps as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," but he doesn't fully hit his groove until he delves into the set's more grown-up material. He gives "Winter Wonderland" a soul transfusion the likes of which you won't see on many televised Christmas specials, and really lights a fire under "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Now that's the spirit! --David Sprague ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Bring Ray home for Christmas
I searched high and low for the song that accompanied Clark Griswold's watching of his old family movies during my favorite movie "Christmas Vacation"...Well...I found it on this album. Not only did I get the song I was looking for, but also a bunch of other songs that were equally as enjoyable. You can't go wrong with Ray charles, he is truly a master. And to have him over for Christmas is a true blessing! Don't miss this one! You won't be sorry! A true Chrismas Classic

Ray Bringing the Holidays On Home
I have had this set for some time&it is one of those Albums that you play during the Holidays&you can play at any time because Brother Ray brings the Soul on this Set as He always does.

What a Christmas album should be.
This is one of the top 10 Christmas albums to own. A great variety of tunes and my 5 year old daughter loves it too, especially Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Buy this CD now and enjoy it during the Holiday season.

Wonderful!
I bought this CD in Los Angeles in 1992 and loved it every year (never got old). Moved to Georgia adn LOST it. Spent another 12 bucks to get this album again. I cannot say enough good things about this one. A great mix of traditional songs done as ONLY RC can do...with a couple of songs I had never heard before (now they are traditional favs). Sitting on the dock in front of my house overlooking Lake Oconee with a light snow falling...priceless.

Buy this album
Please make no mistake; this is one of the greatest Christmas sets ever compiled. If you like anything by Ray Charles, or if you even "kind of like" rhythm and blues or jazz, make this the one Christmas disc you buy this year. The album is noteworthy for many reasons - the excellent mix between standards and more obscure cuts, the originality of the arrangements (especially on the standard tracks), and the overall passion evident in the playing and the singing (by everyone). Ray Charles has a history of inspired performances, and this set is no exception. I found this disc in a cut-out bin in the late 1980s, and was very skeptical about it. I loved it on the first play and have loved it more with each additional listen. I have many, many Christmas CDs, and this is in the top five. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Bing Crosby recorded six Christmas songs during the '40s and '50s with the popular Andrew Sisters and all are compiled here for the first time. Twenty tracks overall, A Merry Christmas with Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sisters showcases classic and timeless performances between the three sisters and the king crooner on staples such as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Winter Wonderland" (with Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians), "Mele Kalikimaka," and others. In between, there's plenty of Bing ("Happy Holiday" from his smash film, Holiday Inn, "The First Snowfall," "Christmas in Killarney") and a bounty of Andrew Sisters' songs that run from the "Merry Christmas Polka" to the peppy vocal burst of "Jing-a-Ling, Jing-a-Ling." --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Beautiful Christmas music
I loved all of the music, but I was a bit concerned when I heard
"Christmas Candles". Candles on a Christmas tree just isn't a smart idea in this day and age ... don't know how they did it in
the Victorian days w/o a fire extinguisher ... but anyway, I love
all the songs and it's a nice mixture of both Bing's & the Andrew's songs together, along with songs of their own. I definitely recommend this cd to anyone who loves beautiful Christmas music.

Nice Recording
The fun thing about this CD is that most of the songs are not traditional Christmas songs, which get so over-played during the holidays. So these cuts add a fresh dimention to your holiday mix if you drop this CD into your random CD carosel.

I loved this collection!
As a collector of Christmas music - I LOVE the fact that this album is loaded with "non-traditional" songs. It's not the same old stuff that every artist puts on a Christmas album, yet the songs sound distinctly "Christmassy". Bing's voice is like a big velvety cloak that wraps you in Christmas spirit, and the energetic vocals of the Andrews Sister's will have you tapping your toes. This collection is classic and timeless, and evokes images of a simpler time. It will be a much-played selection in my Christmas collection. In fact - I think I'd better go order more as gifts or my sister might try to swipe it from me!

The original King and Queens of Christmas music
Although Christmas music has been around for humdreds of years, it's popularity now owas a lot to Bing Crosby and (to a lesser extent) the Andrews sisters, with the outstanding and extremely popular Chrismas songs they recorded in the 1940's.

This is a sample of their Christmas music. They only recorded six Christmas songs together, all included here, the rest of the tracks featuring one or the other.

The duets are Jingle Bells (their most famous Christmas duet), Twelve days of Christmas (a song which has inspired many parodies, some of which are extremely funny, but this is still the best straight version of the song I've come across), Mele Kalikimaka (a Hawaiian song), Santa Claus is coming to town, Here comes Santa Claus and Poppa Santa Claus.

Bing sings seven solo tracks - these are identified in the Amazon[.com] track listing and are generally slower than the other songs, although Christmas in Kallarney is a very upbeat song. The slow songs provide a nice contrast to the songs featuring the Andrews sisters (with or without Bing), which are mostly bright, uptempo songs.

Most of the Andrews sisters tracks without Bing feature Guy Lombardo, including Christmas Island, a million selling single for them. Christmas candles is a really beautiful song which is much slower than usual for the sisters and it's great to hear.

Some reviewers suggest some of the songs are dated, but how many modern songs will still sound modern in sixty years time? Many of the greatest Christmas songs were written in the thirties and forties. The versions here are still as enjoyable as any more modern versions - and I also enjoy those. As to the obscure songs, they merely add to the enjoyment. Not every song can become a standard.

This collection is not a comprehensive collection of their music, and you can find most (maybe all) of these tracks on their other albums, but this is a very convenient and highly entertaing collection with a great mix of songs and styles.

A nice package!
...While some of the material is a bit dated and perhaps slightly obscure, the tune "Christmas Island" (The Andrews Sisters w/ Guy Lombardo) sold over one-million copies upon its release in 1946, and it became an instant Top-10 Billboard hit. The trio's version w/ Lombardo was soft and dreamy and can still be found on jukebox panels today, almost 60 years later, and the tune was revised by the four Lennon Sisters in a bouncier, Hawaiian-influenced arrangement circa 1960. As for Bing's rendition of "O Fir Tree Dark," I find it pleasantly reverent with beautiful lyrics reminding us of the true meaning of the holiday. While, unfortunately, the trio's version of "The Parade of Wooden Soldiers" has been inexplicably excluded from every seasonal package thus far from MCA, this cd is a nice blend of holiday melodies, all enhanced by the wonderful talents of fine artists. Check out my book, "Swing It! The Andrews Sisters Story," available in bookstores and right here at Amazon.com for much more detail on the trio's working and personal relationship with Crosby, as well as many other popular artists of the 1940s, including Abbott & Costello, Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller, and Danny Kaye. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The prepubescent country-singing wonder did his homework for his first Christmas CD. Covering a handful of classics from "White Christmas" and "The Christmas Song" to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Jingle Bell Rock," young Mr. Gilman also sets out to make "Warm & Fuzzy" and "There's a New Kid in Town" holiday standards, too. The former is as muslin-soft and sugarcane-sweet as Christmas sentiment can get, while the latter is one of the better-written country Christmas songs of late, and Billy does them up with all the emotion and emoting he can. Producers Don Cook and Blake Chancey manage to keep the big-production sound toned down a bit in order to showcase the kid's pipes, and when he joins classical soul mate Charlotte Church for a go at "Sleigh Ride," you get to hear two prodigies whose voices are as crisp, clear, and clean as a chilly night far north of Nashville. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (32)

An album to add to your holiday collection
Every year, I find myself on the hunt for new albums to add to my Christmas collection. This year, I happened upon a new brilliant voice by chance while listening to another seasonal album. To me, Billy Gilman is the voice of the season. With the purity of his voice, he has blended traditional tunes with his country inflection and it has produced an endearing and memorable Christmas album.

Gilman is a true talent with his pure and resonant voice which is strong and charming. He is another child prodigy on the rise and he amply displays this with some new songs as well. "Warm and Fuzzy" is a swingy and catchy song whose lyrics capture the holiday atmosphere almost as well as the timeless "Christmas Song". In addition, Gilman pierces the heart with the song "There's a New Kid In Town", a song that speculates on the prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. And Welsh talent, Charlotte Church joins him in a duet in "Sleigh Ride" which blends the two extraordinary voices which sound unexpectedly beautiful when conjoined. Gilman doesn't just stun his audience with new songs, he belts out his traditional tunes in an engaging manner and really brings back the magic of a season which has become more associated with commerce as the years pass. Grab this album and enjoy the holidays with this young artist whose voice transcends the projection of retailers and draws you closer to the heart of the holidays.

There's A New Kid In Town
For the last few years I have dreaded the arrival of the holiday season due to its over-commercialization. However, this year I am already in the Christmas mood as a result of the talent of a very special 12 year old boy. As a follow up to his outstanding debut album, "One Voice", Billy Gilman has released an album simply named "Classic Christmas", and that name says it all. His strong, clear voice brings new life to the classics like Silent Night, Away In a Manger, Angels We Have Heard On High, and my personal favorite, Oh Holy Night. Billy brings youthful enthusiasm to such upbeat numbers like Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bell Rock, Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree, and White Christmas. Another bright moment is a duet with English teenage star Charlotte Church performing Sleigh Ride. However, the two highlights are a pair of new songs written just for Billy. Both songs very easily could join the others as Christmas standards. Warm & Fuzzy is an upbeat, happy song that makes you feel just like its title. Billy even gets to try out some skat singing on this track. However, I've saved my final comments for my favorite selection on "Classic Christmas." There's A New Kid In Town is a wonderful new Christmas song that I will predict will be a staple of children's choirs for years to come. (I've already given a tape to my own church's children's choir.) Just buy this album, listen to this song, and I am sure you will agree. Billy Gilman's "Classic Christmas" will make you feel warm and fuzzy all over, and that is exactly what a good Christmas album should do. Thank you, Billy, for restoring my enthusiasm for the holidays!

Good job Billy
I own this album. However I would of liked to hear him sing the Drummer Boy song before his voice changes too much. Such a song is perfect for an alto singer like Billy Gilman. However it is not the same if a man sings it.I wish you luck Billy, love your singing, You are the best.

The perfect happy, fun Christmas CD
I LOVE this album!! It has become one of my top three favorites over the past few Cchristmases! I highly recommend it!

A Great Young Singer
Billy Gilman is a voice to listen to. He has great range and tone. This is one young man that has nowhere to go but up. Look for his new CD coming out on April 15th. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It was only a matter of time before the folks behind the wildly successful WOW series turned their eyes toward Christmas. After all, holiday releases by Christian artists flood the market every year, and there's plenty of stock to choose from. WOW Christmas does, indeed, capture a nice range of styles and artists from releases over the last few years. Among the sweeter moments are Michael W. Smith's new standard, "Emmanuel," Point of Grace's angelic "O Holy Night," Rebecca St. James's quirky "Sweet Little Jesus Boy," and the Mark Schultz-Nichole Nordeman gentle treatment of "Silent Night." There are a couple of curiosities here, as well: Avalon jazzing up the old standard "Winter Wonderland" with a Manhattan Transfer-like big-band sound; and Fred Hammond's soulful "Go Tell It on the Mountain." And if that's not offbeat enough, we also get the flat-out weirdness of Audio Adrenaline's punked-out "Little Drummer Boy." For the most part, though, WOW Christmas spices up the classic Yule tunes with freshness and creativity, making it a must disc for your holiday party. --Michael Lyttle ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Great New Christmas Album
I've been listening to WOW Christian compilation CDs for a while now. My first was 1995, and the Christmas discs are a great addition. This album has a fresh and modern sound, and the variety of artists gives an excellent blend of genres. Of the 31 songs only two or three don't have a distinct Christian message. Some songs such as 'Breath of Heaven' and 'Ava Maria' are very traditional while some are new renditions of old classics such as 'Do you Hear what I Hear?', and some are less well known. My favorite of these is 'What a Strange Way to Save the World' performed by 4Him which describes how Jesus saved the world and how strange indeed it seems. I also love the song 'Mary did you know?' performed beautifully by Kathy Mettea which asks Mary if she knew all the great things her baby boy would do. There are a few songs that I think try too hard to be modern such as the rap song 'This Christmas Joy to the World' and 'The Little Durmmer Boy' which has a bit too much electric guitar. Besides those few, I like all the others for a slightly different Christmas sound that doesn't get old after listening for a few rounds.

Different arrangements of mostly familiar songs
The style of this compilation is modern pop/rock in various styles. This may surprise those who have a very traditional image of Christian music. The majority of the songs here are extremely well known. However, these songs are not normally recorded in the familiar style. Instead, they have been arranged differently to appeal (supposedly) to the modern generation of music lovers. While not everybody will be pleased at the results, I bought this compilation precisely because I wanted to hear something different. The various reviews (even those from people who obviously disliked it) inspired me to buy it.

No matter how many versions of Winter wonderland you have heard, you are unlikely to be prepared for Avalon's version unless you've heard it before. It is the opening track on CD 1 and is one of the most dramatic new arrangements. Many of the other songs are given new arrangements but do not generally stray quite as far from the familiar arrangement.

While many of the featured artists are big names within Christian music, very few are more widely famous, but country fans will be familiar with Kathy Mattea while contemporary pop/rock fan will know about Sixpence none the richer. Amy Grant may be best known of the others, but there are many excellent singers here who deserve wider recognition.

This is an excellent collection for anybody looking for Christmas music that is unique, different and modern. If you are looking for something traditional, look elsewhere.

A very refreshing change
I don't understand the negative reviews on this one. If you are looking to traditional arrangements of all of these songs, there are thousands of other CD's to pick up. Stop and think for a second, "Would you honestly expect Audio Adrenaline to do a traditional version of Little Drummer Boy?" I can honestly say that is is one Christmas album that will NOT collect dust between January and November, and the ONLY other Christmas album I can say that about is Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas. Don't hesitate for a second on this one IF you are looking for the songs you love but want to hear them done in a different way.

WOW Christmas
I am very disappointed in my purchase of this CD. I wish I would have read the other reviews on Amazon before purchasing. Why can't the popular Christian singers just sing the songs as they are instead of messing them all up with their own "creativity"! I actually bought 2 copies of the CD, one for me and one for my sister in law as a Christmas gift. I will be returning the one I haven't opened yet, for my sister-in-law, and get a different CD for her. I wish I could return mine as well! A waste of $20, which is what I paid at Best Buy.

The worst Christmas CD out there!
I thought I'd heard everything, but WOW is absolutely the worst Christmas CD out there. Kathy Mattea's inspired "Mary Did You Know?" was my reason for buying, but it's the only track worth a listen. Every other song is a weird pop/jazz/soul arrangement most listeners would find jarring, cacophonous and irreverent. Don't waste your money. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Should be in everyone's Christmas CD collection
The penultimate version of "Sleigh Ride" is on this CD, as are other holiday favorites that one remembers from childhood but had no idea who performed them. Buy it and enjoy it!

Christmas in Beantown
In Boston, Christmas music is synonymous with The Boston Pops, and for many people, Christmas music is synonymous with its legendary conductor, Arthur Fielder. The album contains many Pops favorites including Leroy Anderson's arrangement of Christmas carols and his well known Sleigh Ride. We actually hear the authentic rendition of Sleigh Ride on this recording since the Pops made Anderson's music famous. The recording includes classical favorites such as music from the opera Hansel and Gretel, Mozart's Sleigh Ride, a highlight from The Nutcracker, and Fantasia on Greensleves. Newer works include Al Hirt's Toy Trumpet. The recording concludes with the Pops timeless rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

As soon as the music of this recording begins, the listener is transported to Boston's Symphony Hall. So take a break from the hectic holiday season and enjoy the sound of the Boston Pops!

A Christmas festival, indeed
I was looking for a mainly instrumental CD to augment my expanding Christmas collection, and I chose this one because of the wide variety of songs it contained. It has Leroy Anderson's definitive arrangement of "Sleigh Ride," two medleys, and songs like "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," "March of the Toys," "Dream Pantomine" from Hansel & Gretel, and Mozart's "Sleigh Ride," which make this mixture a little different than the average Christmas CD. This album is not completely all instrumental, as there are a few choral pieces ("The Little Drummer Boy," "Carol of the Bells," and "Silent Night"). The choir does not overwhelm the orchestra, though, and these selections blend in well with the rest. The songs were originally recorded in the late 1950s, but the background "hiss" is hardly noticeable, if at all present.
All in all, a warmly recommended orchestral Christmas album with plenty of old favorites and good cheer.

Traditional Songs of the Season Instrumentally
Pops fame of Fiedler and Boston Pops is well illustrated in this Christmas collection.

Well done recording balanced with religious and secular offerings. Especially enjoy the versions of "Carol of the Bells" and "What Child Is This?"

Worthwhile addition to play to provide variety of sung and instrumental holiday cheer.

Fantasctic all instrumental Xmas music
Arthur Fiedler has created a timeless classic album with the Boston Pops. All the Christmas standards are here, all in instrumental form (which is hard to find these days). Even if you aren't a classical music fan you will find these renditions exciting and fitting for any Christmas occasion. The songs will draw pleasant memories of your youth at Christmas time. Especially unique is the whimsical "sleigh ride" with the clip clop sounds of horses hooves, a whip snapping, sleigh bells ringing, and for the finale, the neighing of a horse (portrayed by a trumpet of course). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Emmanuel
This is a MAGNIFICENT piece to add to your gospel Christmas music collection.Norman Hutchins' rendition of the title song is MOST EXCELLENT!Also very enjoyable are the very spirited versions of Go Tell It on the Mountain (led by Chester Baldwin), Joy to the World and He Has Come on this album.What more can I say? This a great album with a sampler at the end in case you'd like to hear similar gospel artists.A must have for any true collector of Christian Christmas music. ... Read more

Album Description

Hard rock producer Paul O'Neill, renowned for his work with Aerosmith and Savatage, teamed with the latter band's Jon Oliva to create Trans-Siberian Orchestra, an inspired fusion of classical music and rock-opera pageantry. Their first two releases are visionary and timeless Christmas-themed concept albums, spotlighting lead guitars and classical string sections alike, and they became instant contemporary holiday classics. 2004's The Lost Christmas Eve, which completes their symphonic rock Yuletide triology, underscores Billboard's recent comment that TSO "seems to be turning into a Christmas tradition." ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A Christmas Gift From Ray Conniff
If I added in the nostalgia factor, I'd have to give this five stars. After reading through the other reviews it's obvious that I'm not alone in having grown up in the Sixties listening to this wonderful album and having this music so closely linked to my fondest Christmas memories. And as much as I might hate to admit it, I guess I've turned in to my dad when it comes to selecting Christmas music.

Conniff keepts it mostly secular on this 12-track CD. The lone exception is the inclusion of "Grensleeves," also one of the few ballads on this album. For the most part Conniff keeps it cheery and bright with songs like "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Frosty the Snowman."

If you're looking for an album to lift your spirits, you can't do better than this. [My only complaint is that Conniff released several holiday albums and they all had running times in the neighborhood of thirty minutes--it would have been nice to see them packaged as two-fers.] My suggestion? Buy extra copies for your kids. [My daughter just took a copy back to college with her today.] Enjoy! RECOMMENDED

At Last - Christmas with Conniff on CD!!
This has always been one of my favorite Christmas Albums. Unfortunately we never play vinyl. When my husband and I were dating "Christmas Bride" was special to us - we were engaged in February and married in June! I still think "Christmas Bride" may have "moved things" along. Our daughters grew up listening to this album - every selection is wonderful, especially like "Sleigh Ride", but hard to single out just one, except "Christmas Bride". I love Christmas!!!

Christmas With Conniff
This CD is such a treat! My old vinyl LP (actually, my Dad's) was nealy worn out from decades of play. Columbia sure had the right idea when it reissued this album on CD. Buy it for nostalgic reasons, buy it for the great holiday tunes, but by all means, BUY IT! I've been listening to this album for over 40 Christmases, and it still makes me feel great every time I play it.

Christmas with Conniff is Timeless!
The music of Ray Conniff at Christmas time ( or anytime) is superb! This has been a part of my Christmas celebration for many,many years. The C.D. version is of high quality with all the original Christmas tunes released in 1959. I especially enjoyed "Sleigh Ride", "Jingle Bells" and "Christmas Bride" All of the Ray Conniff Christmas C.D.'s (Christmas with Conniff, We Wish You a Merry Christmas Albun and the Christmas Album from the mid 1960's) should be in your C.D. collection!

Ol' memories...
My parents still have the vinyl copy of this album at home in Spain. It was the one Christmas album that would really get me in the mood, even with no snow outside. This is a classic, bouncy, sing-a-long set of songs with no long and dreary carols to be seen, perfect for young and old. I have trawled through endless shops here in Britain trying to find this album and I am so glad I have finally managed to find it! It means every Christmas I will be able to relive those cherished childhood memories! Definitely a must-have for your Xmas collection. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Winter's Crossing: the ultimate Irish CD
Sir James Galway and Phil Coulter crank out another superb recording after "Legends".

Each song illustrates a facet of immigration (traveling to the boat, the boat ride over the Atlantic, Ellis Island, etc.)

Track 3 very movingly narrated by Liam Neeson. (Mt. Everest Imax film, Star Wars, etc.)

The vocals on this CD are phenomenal, which is very unusual in an instrumental album.

Track 12 is such a joyous piece, with all the people singing.
If you have to have just one Irish CD, get this one... for we're all Irish at heart, right?

Note: from a very strict viewpoint: there is 1 bad word in the insert which could be scribbled out. I think Phil Coulter writes the inserts... but not sure.

Still an awesome CD!

Truly Special
Once in a while, you find a CD that really is "moving" and special. I knew that "Winter Crossing" was one of these CDs the moment I put it in my CD player and pressed "play."

"Winter Crossing" is the "musical" story of Irish immigration. The fact that this CD is a "story" is one of its many unique aspects. Often, we listen to CDs that are simply a series of "pretty" or "cool" music, but these CDs aren't trying to tell us or show us something. Yet in "Winter's Crossing," it is apparent that by choosing certain songs in a chronological order, the makers of this CD were seeking to capture the many emotions-anticipation, anxiety, nostalgia, fear-of an Irish immigrant.

Galway, Coulter, and their orchestra not only tried to capture these emotions and "make" us feel them as well, they succeeded in their attempt. "Winter's Crossing" opens with a haunting ballad, "Steal Away." Complete with "throaty" Irish pipes and soulful Irish voice, this song captures the feelings that many Irish must have had when they decided to leave their native country. Other moving "farewell" songs include the bagpipe/Irish pipe duet "Farewell to County Atrim," and the poignant narrative-set-to-music, "Thousands are Sailing." The next "phase" of "Winter's Crossing" shows the Irish experience on the actual journey (via ship) to America. Perhaps my favorite of these "journey" songs is "Gartan Mother's Lullabye," which uses the tones of Galway's calming, angelic flute to capture the sounds of a mother singing her baby to sleep amidst the squalor of the ship. The final "phase" of this CD deals shows us how the Irish adjusted to their new life in America. This final section opens with nostalgia (in the form of ballad "On the Shores of Amerikay") and ends with joy and triumph ("Appalachian Roundup")

Galway, Coulter, and the orchestra involved in making this CD certainly deserve thanks for creating such a moving "work of art." When a piece of history is so wonderfully told, who needs the textbook?

A wonderful choice!!!!
We purchased Winter's Crossings about a year ago and have listened to it just about non-stop since then. It's a wonderfully varied CD, with quiet, peppy, and thoughtful music-it's hard to pick out a single track that we don't like. It was our first introduction to James Galway and Phil Coulter and we're back looking for our next purchase(s). We highly recommend this CD to anyone.

Stunning music
Winter's Crossing is one of the most beautiful musical "experiences" in which I've engaged. The listener is taken on a journey with the emigrant, from the quayside in County Antrim, through the difficulties of the crossing itself, to the Shores of Amerikay. When the Irish newcomers arrive in this land they experience the sadness, the longing for home, that all such immigrants must have known. The music of Coulter and Galway perfectly and stunningly guides the listener through every emotion of the journey and the process of becoming assimilated but never losing the Irish spirit or the lilt of their music."

WOW!
This is the best CD I own. I love it! I play both flute and piano and hail my celtic ancestry. James Galway and Phil Coulter are masters! This recording is absolutely glorious, and deserves praise for its creativity, power, originality, beauty, and everything else about it. Incredible! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Still Exciting
The album I have is not this one but the Charly label import LC8477 called The Beginning. It has all the same cuts as this but adds one more a 14 minute version of How High the Moon with Krupa, Willie Smith, Ventura, Howard McGhee, Jacquet et al. Amazon has it and I recommend it. Yes it is all that the previous reviewer has said. You will play be playing an air instrument before this album ends.

Jazz at the Philharmonic
If you are a fan of Les Paul, Nat King Cole, or Illinois Jacquet this album is for you!Better than that, this album is also a historic first, the first of Norman Granz's "Jazz at the Philharmonic" concerts. The album was recorded in Philaharmonic Hall, Los Angeles, July 2, 1944.The reissue has been done masterfully, and it is a good recording. I bought this album because of Les Paul combined with Nat King Cole - I thought what an interesting combination. I did not realize what a great jazz album I had purchased! Many of you will be surprised to hear another side to Nat Cole and Les Paul (I'm already on a search for more of their jazz contributions!).They are gathered with Illinois Jacquet and Jack MeVea on tenors, Shorty Sherock, trumpet; J.J. Johnson,trombone; Johnny Miller and Red Callender, basses, and Lee Young, drums.This is a live concert and the crowd and band were in a great mood for a night of music - lots of crowd noise and comments from band members.My favorite numbers include "Blues", a number that is far from what one usually considers a blues tune - an untempo, driving piece which includes a solo by Illinois Jacquet that's fantastic. He produces notes on his tenor that I didn't even know existed!You want to hear a hot, hard driving, and wailing sax - listen to his solo!Body and Soul is a great ballad during which a solo by Les Paul providesa great lesson in improvisation (this would be a great piece to instruct a newcomer to jazz as to "What is all about". My other favorite on this album is "I've Found a New Baby",Everyone gets a great solo in this uptempo piece.Johnny Miller is particularly interesting and clever with his bass solo as is Illionis Jacquet on his great tenor solo(I've got to hunt up more of his work!). This album has a lot to offer. It marks a historic moment in jazz performance history, it assembles a great group of musicians, the crowd and the band were ready for some great music, and there is some great solo work.Again, it is fascinating to hear Nat King Cole and Les Paul play great jazz. If you're foot doesn't tap to this, you're dead! ... Read more