5 comments about The Ultimate Christmas Collection.

1. REALY ENJOY THE CHRISTMAS ALBUMS CARNIES TO WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF OLD BEACH BOY CHRISTMAS SHOWS ETC ESPECIALLY GOOD TUNES TO MAKE GIFTS BY A-Z&0-9+_)(*&^%$#@!~ RAY SANTAS HELPER...



2. they are very good i hope they6 can came to fl this year i like the bach boys they are a very good songers ok thanks bye.



3. The Beach Boys are one of the all time greats in American rock music. Not only could they jam, but they could sing! In this album, you get a taste of their awesome vocals. These guys could harmonize for a rock band. Check out track #12 and #14, which are a capella, to confirm what I have written. Even people who are not fans of the Beach Boys can enjoy this sweet album with all its catchy Christmas tunes. Happy Holiday's!!



4. This is indeed the "Ultimate" Beach Boys Christmas CD. The first 12 tracks are the entire original Beach Boys Christmas Album. I'm sure most of you are already familiar with this classic album, so I don't need to discuss it in detail. Next we have the awesome single version of "Little Saint Nick". Then there is an alternate mix of "Auld Lang Syne" without Denny's voiceover, which really shows off the boys beautiful a capella singing. Then there's the oddball version of "Little Saint Nick" sung to the backing track of "Drive-In". Next we get the great but rare 1974 single "Child of Winter". In 1977, the Beach Boys recorded a second Christmas album, intending it to be their last album for Warner/Reprise. But Warner rejected the album, and it was never released. Seven of the songs from that album appear here for the first time. They are actually pretty good, for the most part. Interestingly, most of the songs are rewritten versions of songs that they had already started working on, with lyrics rewritten to be about Christmas. The CD closes with two Toys For Tots public service announcements, and a promotional interview that Brian did for the original Christmas album. This is the only Beach Boys Christmas CD you'll ever need.



5. I admit it. I love the Beach Boys. And I love Christmas music. So I love this album. But my wife, who is not a fan of the Beach Boys but who does like Christmas music, adhors this album. My point is simply that unlike other artists on many Christmas albums, the Beach Boys have not lost their sound and style. This is truly a Beach Boys album, but they just happen to be playing and singing Christmas tunes.
   
   Apparently, this album combines their original Christmas album from the 60's with a previously unreleased Christmas album from the 70's. I appreciate the fact that this disc is relatively long, with a lot of music, in contrast to so many 8 or 10 track albums. There is lots of good stuff here.
   
   My primary complaint is that the interviews and radio promos are strange, especially as an end to the album. But this remains one of my favorite Christmas albums, even if I only listen to it when my wife isn't around. The Beach Boys were a fantastic band with amazing vocal talents, and I'm glad that they decided to do some Christmas stuff for us to enjoy!!

2 comments about Danish Christmas.

1. Out of nearly a hundred Christmas music recordings, this one is one of my all-time favorites. The lyrics are all in Danish - of which I understand not a word - but the effect is pure Christmas. Beautiful voices and exquisite melodies combine in an unforgettable manner. The overall effect is very soothing and gentle. In fact, many pieces seem to be lullabies. I would suggest sampling several of the songs to see if these gentle sounds appeal to you.



2. This is a fine recording of Danish christmas carols from Danish composers, and traditional carols. This is the first time I had heard a collection all in Danish and I find it an excellent addition to my collection of Christmas music. The choir is outstanding! Shirley R. Honore'

5 comments about The Muppets - A Green and Red Christmas.

1. BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FOR ALL AGES TO HEAR VOICES OF THE MUPPETS. REALLY WELL PLACED AND GREAT MUSIC...



2. Wow--what a treat. Finally after years of waiting THE MUPPETS have finally returned! "A Green and Red Christmas" is a merry, cheery, and dreamy collection of unreleased Muppet Christmas songs. And it's truly got that MUPPET MAGIC!!
   
   The music is so well produced, full, rich, and loud. Each Muppet is voiced in it's classic, familiar way. And voice actors have changed over the years...but these folks are right on here. The tracks with Miss Piggy (my favoritest of all Muppets) are so fabulous but don't think this a solo Piggy project. Each song is wonderful and will instantly put you in the Holiday mood!
   
   A must have for any fan of the Muppets and for fans of classic Christmas albums!



3. I ordered a CD that turned out not to have the song I wanted. Two CDs were sent in error--mine or the vendors??? I remember having some difficulty with the site while placing the order. Anyway, I returned them both.



4. I bought this for my daughter who is a Muppet maniac. She loves it and has the CD memorized already. A must have if you love the Muppets.



5. The cd arrived in good condition and in a timely manner. Thank you for great service.

5 comments about Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics.

1. These classic Bing Crosby Christmas songs have been remastered to perfection. His incredible voice and articulate speech along with the clear sounds of the different instruments will amaze you. You will get chills listening to this version of Do You Hear What I Hear - you can fully appreciate the dynamics of this beautiful song from the beginning through when Bing Crosby and the musicians bring the song to a magnificent climatic end. My children love listening to Crosby's rendition of Drummer Boy and a song I heard for the first time ever, Christmas Dinner Counry Style. This album is worth adding to your Christmas collection.



2. This CD features Christmas music Bing Crosby recorded after his "glory years" with Decca Records. The bulk of the CD is taken from Bing's 1962 album I Wish You a Merry Christmas. It also features his 1963 single "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and it's b-side "Christmas Dinner Country Style". And also his duet with David Bowie of "Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy", which was recorded for Bing's last television special, a few months before he died. On the I Wish You a Merry Christmas album, Bing tackled some Christmas standards he hadn't previously recorded, along with a few newer songs. He handled it with his usual aplomb; this guy practically invented Christmas music, and he knew exactly how to sell this type of song. "O Holy Night" is particularly good; quite moving, actually. Of course, the highlight of the CD is Bing's classic hit "Do You Hear What I Hear?", which has gone on to become a standard. Bing was the first to record the song, and his version is still the definitive version. And, of course, the Bowie duet is another great one that just becomes more popular every year. At 74 years old, Bing Crosby was still "The Voice of Christmas"!



3. Great! How can you beat Bing? I could listen to this all year round and do!



4. Since the 1940s and films like Holiday Inn, Bing has been synonymous with the Christmas season, with all of his early classics being recorded for his long-time label, Decca. In fact, up to 1957, and with two exceptions, all of his hundreds of hits were on Decca. Those exceptions came in 1956 when, with Decca's permission, True Love (with Grace Kelly) and its flipside, Well Did You Evah? (with Frank Sinatra), and Now You Has Jazz (with Louis Armstrong (the flip was a Louis Armstrong-only tune), from the film High Society were released on Capitol.
   
   Then around Christmas 1957 he had a release on Kapp titled How Lovely Is Christmas, which made the charts at # 97 Billboard Pop Top 100, and in 1963 did Do You Hear What I Hear? for Capitol, a # 2 on the Billboard Christmas charts b/w Christmas Dinner Country Style. In 1965 his final hit ever was The White World Of Winter for Reprise, a # 20 Christmas charts hit b/w The Secret Of Christmas.
   
   In the single page of liner notes in this volume it says "This album is an abridged version of the album previously released by Warner Bros. Records which carried a different title and album jacket." How this wound up being released by Capitol, first on vinyl in 1977 and then on CD in 1988, is not explained. What the notes do tell us, however, is that the musical arrangements for the 10 tracks were handled by Bob Thompson, Peter Matz, and Jack Halloran.
   
   As other reviewers have attested, the sound quality is perfect.



5. I really enjoy Christmas music and I really enjoy Mr. Crosby. With that said I'm already prejudiced. This is a delightful holiday listen.

1 comments about Christmas.

1. Kenny has recorded five Christmas albums - four solo and one with Dolly - but this was the first one he did. It includes an excellent mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar.
   
   The most familiar songs here are White Christmas (the Bing Crosby classic), When a child is born (the song that gave Johnny Mathis his only UK number one hit), O holy night (one of the most popular carols) and My favorite things (originally sung by Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music).
   
   Before you get to them, there are some great songs, of which Carol of the bells is a cover but the others might all be originals. Kenny must like Sweet little Jesus boy a lot - he re-recorded it for the Gift, one of his other Christmas albums, but I particularly like Kentucky homemade Christmas (about a poor family determined to have as good a time as they can) and Kids (about the people who enjoy Christmas most).
   
   This was a great start to Kenny's career as a singer of Christmas music.

2 comments about New England Christmastide, Vol. 2.

1. One of the first "traditional instruments" versions of holiday music on the scene in the late '80s / early '90s. I used to have both volumes one and two on cassette tape. I've only been able to locate Vol 2 on CD and I wish I could complete the set. Both are still in print but difficult to locate.

   Well rounded collection of songs from European traditional to early American and contemporary folk.




2. This collection by Otis Read and fellow musicians is by far some of the best traditional instrumental Christmas music I've ever heard. I bought it just by chance back in 1990 for my parents and it became a family tradition. Now it's a tradition in my own family. Unlike other Christmas tunes with singing that "gets old" after the second play, I can listen to this CD over and over again and it is not repetitious. There's 22 carols altogether and all instrumental with no singing: We Three Kings, Joy to The World, Silent Night, O Come Emanuel, Angels We Have Heard on High, to name a few. A total of 14 musicians perform on a variety of instruments, among them flute, mandolin, piano, guitar, violin, cello, bass, banjo, concertina, accordion, tin whistle, vielle, hurdy-gurdy, harmonium and Irish pipes. All songs are performed in small instrumental ensembles. It's rich in traditional folk sounds. As Otis himself says on his website, "This has become a fireside, tree-trimming, gift-opening classic."
   
   Otis sells his CD collection on his web site if you google "Otis Read". I don't think Amazon will allow me to include a direct URL/link here. He sells this and other CDs for approximately $14 brand new plus a $2 shipping charge. I've seen some people on here selling for almost $70 which is really unfortunate if you aren't aware that you can buy direct from the musician (via PayPal) for under $20.

1 comments about Jungle Bells.

1. Our family loves this Christmas CD! It has some of the Christmas tunes we're most familiar with, being played on a variety of percussion instruments. It's bouncy and cheerful - and as soon as it starts we are tapping our feet. It often leads us to tapping out our own riffs on the kitchen table or coffee table - or whatever surface is handy. I like playing this CD while I decorate the house.

2 comments about Easy to Love...The Music of Cole Porter.

1. In one of the Amazon editorials about this effort, the writer said something like "sweeping romantic renditions....." of classic Cole Porter songs. All I can say is his interpretation of something that is sweepingly romantic is a far cry from my own. To me Mr. Wilson's playing is very similar to Stephan Grapelli, which means the intonation borders on the squawking rather than the creamy and romantic. The sound quality of the recording itself is quite good. But unless you want a CD that could easily be titled "Stephan Grapelli Plays Cole Porter," you can safely avoid this production. Now both Mr. Wilson and Mr. Grapelli are exceptional jazz violinists. But from you've already read, you can probably tell this effort is not suited to my tastes.



2. Having very much enjoyed Mr.Wilsons previous albums, "Romance of Paris" and "Cafe Europa," my husband and I where delighted to discover this Cole Porter Collection. We were not disappointed. The qualities David imbues into these great songs combine gentle casualness with an elegant passion. Speaking for my husband and I, this album succeeds in pushing all the right buttons.

1 comments about The Merriest Christmas Album.

1. Track listing:
   CD 1
   1. Jingle Bells - Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters
   2. Home For the Holidays - Perry Como
   3. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Frank Sinatra
   4. Count Your Blessings - Rosemary Clooney
   5. White Christmas - Bing Crosby
   6. Baby It's Cold Outside - Johnny Mercer & Margaret Whiting
   7. Here Comes Santa Claus - Doris Day
   8. Christmas Eve In My Hometown - Eddie Fisher
   9. Adeste Fidelis - Mario Lanza
   10. Frosty the Snowman - Nat King Cole
   11. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Mahalia Jackson
   12. Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson
   13. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
   14. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Vaughn Monroe
   15. It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas - Dean Martin
   16. December - Kay Starr
   17. Christmas Dreaming - Frank Sinatra
   18. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jimmy Boyd
   19. Little Jack Frost Get Lost - Frankie Carle
   20. Ring Those Christmas Bells - Peggy Lee
   21. Twas the Night Before Christmas - Fred Waring
   22. O Come All Ye Faithful - Deanna Durbin
   23. It's Christmas Time Again - Peggy Lee
   24. Mary Had a Baby, Yes Lord - Paul Robeson
   25. Silver Bells - Doris Day
   
   CD 2
   1. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
   2. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Les Brown
   3. Away In a Manger - Mario Lanza
   4. Greensleeves - Mantovani
   5. Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem - Frank Sinatra
   6. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
   7. Toyland - Vaughn Monroe
   8. You're All I Want For Christmas - Frankie Laine
   9. Winter Wonderland - Perry Como & the Andrews Sisters
   10. All I Want For Christmas Is (My Two Front Teeth) - Spike Jones
   11. The Christmas Blues - Dean Martin
   12. I Just Go Nuts At Christmas - Yorgi Yorgesson
   13. At the Christmas Ball - Bessie Smith
   14. Christmas Day - Eddie Fisher
   15. Coventry Carol - Elizabeth Schumann
   16. Old Saint Nicholas - Doris Day
   17. The Lord's Prayer - Mario Lanza
   18. The Skater's Waltz - Al Goodman
   19. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - The Weavers
   20. Christmas In Killarney - Dennis Day
   21. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland
   22. Hello Mr. Kringle - Kay Kyser
   23. Merry Christmas Polka - The Andrews Sisters
   24. The Night Before Christmas Song - Rosemary Clooney & Gene Autry
   25. Noel - George Thill
   
   CD 3
   1. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Perry Como
   2. Christmas Cards - Petula Clark
   3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bing Crosby
   4. White Christmas - Frank Sinatra
   5. Suzy Snowflake - Rosemary Clooney
   6. The First Noel - Mario Lanza
   7. Twelve Days Of Christmas - Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters
   8. Snowfall - Claude Thornhill
   9. I'll Walk Alone (Through Every Christmas) - Dinah Shore
   10. Ave Maria - Perry Como
   11. Happy Holiday - Bing Crosby
   12. Blue Christmas - Hugo Winterhalter
   13. Christmas Bells At Eventide - Gracie Fields
   14. Santa Claus Got Stuck In My Chimney - Ella Fitzgerald
   15. That Christmas Feeling - Perry Como
   16. The Man With the Bag - Kay Starr
   17. When You Trim Your Christmas Tree - Les Brown
   18. Winter Weather - Benny Goodman & Peggy Lee
   19. O Holy Night - Mario Lanza
   20. Swinging Them Jingle Bells - Fats Waller
   21. The Christmas Spell - Peggy Lee
   22. There's a Train Out For Dreamland - Nat King Cole
   23. We Three Kings Of Orient Are - Mario Lanza
   24. Christmas Island - The Andrews Sisters & Guy Lombardo
   25. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Kay Kyser
   
   There's something here for everybody. Name your favorite Holiday song and it is probably here. The only thing that I didn't like about this collection is the Mario Lanza selections. They seemed to slow down the overall "festive feeling" of the songs. Other than that, it's a perfect collection!

No comments about Incredible Christmas Album.