5 comments about What I Really Want for Christmas.

1. In 2005, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys released a Christmas album. It features mostly traditional Christmas carols, plus a few new songs and remakes of the Beach Boys' most popular Christmas songs ("Little Saint Nick" and "The Man With All the Toys"). The songs are very well arranged and performed. If you are a fan of Brian or the Beach Boys, you will probably enjoy it.



2. I didn't feel that this collection was worth a listen or even came close to ever being one of my "must have" Christmas CDs. I bought it on a whim and because I have always liked the Beach Boys sound and that other reviewers had given it high marks. Not my favorite Christmas CD by a long shot. It just sounded like the effort from a tired, burnt out, has- been who needed a little cash.



3. This album is just wonderful. Beautiful arrangements.. The title track is a big favorite. It will be in my stereo every December.



4. The masterful arrangement of "Auld Lang Syne" alone is worth the cost of the CD. I have listened to it over and over and am still surprised at the chord progressions he chooses.



5. Brian Wilson's What I Really Want For Christmas should be in everyone collection of Christmas albums! This album is a mix of tradional Christmas music and new Christmas songs. Including a new recordings of some of The Beach Boys Christmas songs.

4 comments about Disney's Princess Christmas Album.

1. There are a few Christmas songs on this CD that are traditional, but are given a Disney twist. Most are original. They're not bad, and any princess fan would enjoy this. The songs are sung by the original voices, of Ariel, Belle, and Jasmine, and they have new voices for Cinderella, Snow White, and Aurora, for obvious reasons. Snow White is actually better, the other two are up to par.



2. I bought this album and listened to it just a day or two ago, a long time before Christmas of course. I was so happy and excited, because Christmas is a very important festival to me, and one of my favourites. This album with lyrics such as snow, mistletoe and trees and so on made me felt as if Christmas is coming!
   There were many traditional and new songs for Christmas. It made me associate this album with the soundtrack of "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas". One of the reasons why I love this album so much is that it featured many my favourite vocals, such as Jodi Benson's, Paige O'Hara's and Lea Salonga's. Jodi Benson's voice will always be the most beautiful in my opinion.
   I think the best song in this album was "Christmas is coming". I love songs which all the princesses sang together, just like "If you can dream". This song made me felt a little cold, but I could feel the happiness Christmas brings. I felt it as if I see the princesses were giving presents to each other to make the world filled with happiness, warmth and magic. One of the traditional songs named "Twelve days of Christmas" was sung by all the princesses too. The princesses sang their own stories in this song, with new lyrics of course. "Christmas in the Ocean" of Ariel was very funny, because this song was featured with Sebastian. This song made me dream of a Christmas which is not so cold, just like Ariel's! I was surprise and felt a little strange that Mulan sang a song named "The holly and the ivy" in this album. There is no holidays during Christmas in China, maybe it's because that there is only a few Christians in China, although I'm a Chinese Christian. But this song was still good!
   Generally speaking, I love this album very much, and it fits for young and old who love Christmas and Disney Princess.



3. We just got our copy of this yesterday, and I bet we have already played it 20 times at least! We bought it for our 2 year old daughter, who is obsessed with the princesses, but we have all five enjoyed this cd. The songs are all good, and a good mix of older songs and newer, princess songs.
   Our little girl has been thrilled with this album, and since this is the first Christmas she has really been old enough to notice music, I am so glad we bought this. Our other two children, ages 10 and 5, also enjoy it.
   My favorite selection from the cd is Silver and Gold, but they are all good. Ariel's Christmas Island is cute, and since we are used to hearing this on Jimmy Buffet's Christmas Island cd, it was fun to hear Ariel sing it.
   If your little girl enjoys the princesses, this will be great to add to your collection.



4. I consider myself a pretty hardcore Disney fan. As an adult with no children I usually buy this sort of thing for myself and I enjoy it tremendously.
   
   I'll be honest here, while I do purchase almost all of the music I own, I will sample music via "shared" MP3s online from time to time. Especially with Disney now a days, the Princess franchise hits all kinds of highs and lows. There is no guarantee anymore that Disney automatically equals quality. I found a webpage online that enabled me to sample the first 8 tracks of this album in their entirety. I dodged a bullet here. Obviously some of the original princess voices actors are no longer living, and that's not to beheld against this album. In past sequel films they've made some decent replacement choices. However I didn't think they did a good job here.
   
   
   Snow White's singing is horribly grating and Cinderella's isn't much better. In many songs they try and include all the background characters, like the 7 dwarfs and Cinderella's mice but they aren't the original voices either. I don't see why they chose to put in sub-par replacements of secondary characters when they didn't really have to. You might not notice Snow White isn't the original, and that won't detract from the album, but you're going to notice the 7 dwarfs are way off the mark once they join in. Etc. This album would have been MUCH better if they had just gone with a more classical one character approach, rather then try and cram handfuls of what is unnecessary poor voice work into each song.
   
   
   
   They couldn't even get some of the living princess voice actors to sign on which I feel says something about the product. Paige O'Hara, who was the voice of Belle in the original Disney film, is ~not~ on this album. She was replaced by Susan Egan who played the original Belle on Broadway. Egan does have an excellent voice and makes an excellent Belle anyway, but she is not the original. (Coincidentally Susan Egan was the voice of "Meg" in Disney's original animated film Hercules and it may further confuse the kiddies about which princess is actually singing in my opinion)
   
   
   
   A few tracks with Broadway's "Belle" and "Pocahontas" are really quite good by themselves, but I'm not willing to pay $10 for ~a few tracks~. From my point of view not many adult Disney fans will find this up to par, and not many parents are going to want to be subjected to Snow White's voice via the listening habits of a toddler who might think this is just great and listen to it over and over.
   
   
   
   As far as the celebrities....I seriously doubt a toddler knows or cares who Wayne Brady & Jim Brick man are.
   
   
   
   I think you're better off mixing Disney movies and old Christmas favorites like The Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer, or the Grins soundtrack if you're in a Disney/Christmas mood. Or hey, ...break out Mickey's Christmas carol. If you're hell bent on dipping into the Princess franchise pick up one of those "Greatest Hits" Cds Disney has which has a mix of all the popular princess songs from the original films. If you're feeling really frisky many of the voice actors of the contemporary princesses have made their own non-Disney solo albums covering all sorts of kid friendly songs.

5 comments about Christmas Island.

1. I had lost this CD and could not live another Christmas without it.



2. As most Parrotheads probably know, Jimmy Buffett was born on Christmas. So, it was probably natural that he would eventually record a Christmas album. He performs seven classic Christmas songs and three originals. He does the classics in his trademark style, and they turned out well. The originals are good, too. There is an unlisted bonus track, which is Jimmy reading "The Night Before Christmas". This is a fun Christmas album. Parrotheads, feel free to add an extra star.



3. It is a very good - not superb - Buffett CD. It definitely has some non-traditional Christmas songs to jam to - these give you a nice break from standard Christmas tunes and are really what makes Buffett, Buffett. The standard fare (e.g. Jingle Bells could have been left off IMO). Ho Ho Ho & a bottle of rum is a fun track and is where the CD shines. Is great to use as background music for parties, dinners, etc... The CD is defintely worth the cost! Enjoy



4. I bought this for my daughter who loved it! She wished that I had given it to her much earlier that Christmas Day.



5. My very most favorite Christmas CD. Very upbeat and lots of fun. Great for any Jimmy Buffett fan!

5 comments about The Roger Whittaker Christmas Album.

1. My mom bought this album in the 1970's. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without hearing it at least 8 times (much to my mother's aggravation), especially Darcy the Dragon and The Governor's Dream!
   A.A. Riley
   Author of The Key of Aramath



2. I have such fond memories of my father whistling. So, when my children were little in the sixties, Roger was part of the family. We all knew every word of every song. When we gathered this Christmas they were pleasantly surprised to hear this wonderful compendium of non-traditional Christmas songs. Highly recommended.



3. My dad played this album every Christmas for as long as I remember. It was always on when we put up our decorations. I love all the songs. They're original and put you in the Spirit. "Tiny Angels" is a song I will always hold dear to me. I now share it with my own tiny angels every season. It's what it's all about. Enjoy.



4. I grew up with this LP (I think I just dated myself). It was great then and even better now in the CD format! - Natasha



5. I bought this as a cassette many years ago. The CD I bought for my daughter because she was wearing the cassette out. And now her children are enjoying his music as well.

5 comments about Greatest Cowboy Songs Ever.

1. By far, the best instrumental of Western songs I have heard. Very well done! Truely does make you feel you are back in the Old West spiritually!



2. i really like the CD. it has nice instrumentals of many classic cowboy songs. the quality is very good too. the only downfall is that the CD is only about 30 minutes long so it is quite short. but other than that, i recommend it for anyone wanting to hear these nice classic songs.



3. a very pleasant and somewhat haunting cd, easy listening at it's best for western songs,cd only has 10 songs on it but they are all very good and easily worth the price.This cd would be good to play for background music also.I would like to see more of these cd's.



4. I didn't realize that when I bought this that it was just instrumental. However my husband loves it wordless and all. If your looking for background music or relax music this is definitely the cd for you.



5. It has a great variety of songs. They are well orchestrated and fun to listen, too.

5 comments about Christmas with Mario Lanza.

1. I love Mario Lanza. He is in my top favs. I have wanted this album for ages and it is just as great as I knew it would be. I'll be back to buy more of Mario Lanza.



2. Mario Lanza infuses his characteristic beautiful vocal intensity into this collection of carols and Christmas songs.
   The result is an outstanding album which will bring a lump to your throat and tears to your eye.
   The recordings are old, but the Lanza magic makes this album a must-buy



3. Old, but very, very good. I've been listening in the car since I got the CD.
   Religious, not pop music for the season.



4. I cannot imagine Christmas without Mario Lanza music. I absolutely love his singing and this CD is one of the best I have heard. I am so glad I found it because my old cassette tape had worn out and it sounds so much better on the CD.



5. the cd was great, also the custmer service sending the cd out right of way.

5 comments about Pure.

1. Seriously, before you all think that I'm just another guy who thinks she's beautiful, some of her songs make my heart beat really fast and I get breathless. The good looks are just a bonus! ;0)
   
   I have the single CD version that has 13 songs. This is confusing to me because the UPC code for mine is the same as this, but the songs aren't even in the same order. So, forgive my inability to properly review every song listed with this item. Here are the songs on my disc:
   
   1. Pokarekare Ana
   2. Never Say Goodbye
   3. Who Painted The Moon Black
   4. River Of Dreams
   5. Beat Of Your Heart
   6. Amazing Grace
   7. Benedictus
   8. Hine E Hine
   9. Across The Universe Of Time
   10. Dark Waltz
   11. In Trutina
   12. Heaven
   13. Wuthering Heights
   
   My favorites are Who Painted The Moon Black, River Of Dreams, Beat Of Your Heart, and Wuthering Heights. The voice is crystal pure and just downright breathtaking.
   
   While I stumbled across this CD and bought it on a whim, I have now become enthralled with the gorgeous singing of Miss Westenra. The style is similar to Celtic Woman, and Hayley has already participated in their music. This CD is a perfect addition to any collection of such music.
   
   I think my favorite song is "Wuthering Heights." The musical movements are absolutely stunning and almost unbelievable. While the words are somewhat hard to understand, reading the words in the insert while listening will just make the song even that much more profound.
   
   This voice is truly hard to believe. I know there might be more profound voices out there, but this music is fun to listen to. Id rather listen to Hayley Westenra than opera music any day (minute, hour, week, etc.)



2. This George Martin produced album is one of Hayley's best and is a showcase of her vocal capabilities. Her soaring, perfect pitch voice is ethereal and it is obvious that she is passionate about her singing perfection. Every one of these well selected and beautifully orchestrated songs is touching and memorable. This CD is highly recommended and will leave you eagerly awaiting Hayley's next effort.



3. Hayley reaches adulthood on this biggest selling classical recording in UK's history. From "Po Kare kare ana",to that genius Brazlian composer's Masterpiece. An absolute must to WOW your Guests
   Arohanui (Love) from Aotearoa/New Zealand



4. Listening to Haley sing just has to be what Heaven sounds like! Can't get enough, especially when she sings in the Maori language with a chorus accompaniment.



5. Haley Westenra is a real joy to listen to. Every track on this collection hits a soft spot (with the exception of "Wuthering Heights" that gets a bit shrill). I especially enjoy "Pokarekare Ana" and "Benedictus." This was my first purchase of one of Haley's albums - I've since bought them all and look forward to more.

5 comments about Merry Christmas With Love.

1. As a Clay Aiken fan I adore anything he sings! But when he sings his Christmas songs he is just breathtaking! Nobody in the music world today touches me the way Clay does! All anyone would have to do is listen to him and if they were honest they would have to admit, he is the greatest!



2. Clay should have won American Idol, but this is also the only good album he's made yet. He does the classics well. It's your standard Christmas album, take the songs as is, use the Clay voice, and it's a hit. The originals on the album stink, which is why his other stuff is no good, he has bad original songs. But his covers are very good. "O Holy Night", "Mary Did You Know", "Winter Wonderland", are among the highlights.
   
   Overall, if you're looking for an original album, look elsewhere. These are just Christmas songs with the Clay voice. That said, he has a great voice. So if you're looking for the Christmas standards, look here, looking for something more original? Grab Relient K's Christmas album.



3. 
   My whole family voted hundreds (probably thousands) of times for Clay when he was on American Idol. We joined his fan club and keep in touch with what he is doing through "claymation" PLUS we have all read his book. Guess we are REAL fans (oops.. we also have one of his larger posters on our kitchen door so he joins us for dinner each day (really... we're NOT crazy). . We recently heard he was gfoing to be in a play on on Broadway called SPAMALOT... Anyway... our review is we love anything Clay does! Wish we could tell him directly how proud we are of him. Sincerely, Sharon The Paul Hudson, Peterson families.



4. Beautiful music from Clay. I bought it especially for "Mary did you Know" and was not disapointed. Rest of the songs are very lovely too.



5. It's always Christmas in my heart and for 2 months a year I get to drag out the Christmas music. And who has a more angelic voice? I love this album. I had to buy 3 more to give as gifts to foreign exchange students who had never heard of him before and fell in love.

5 comments about Personal Christmas Collection.

1. 22 Personal Favorites with a voice and singing style that is sheer magic! Doris Day weaves a Christmas web of enchantment as she sings some truly beautiful holiday classics. Great renditions of "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Ol' Saint Nicholas" have a 1940's nostalgic charm. The soothing sound of the slow Christmas ballad, "Snowfall" is simply flawless, you can visually see the snowflakes drifting dreamily down, as Doris casts her wintry spell. I highly recommend this cd for endless listening pleasure during the Holidays and also the Dean Martin Christmas cd, "A Winter Romance." These Christmas cds will cheer up your Holidays with great entertainment that is truly one of a kind!



2. Just like Perry Como..Doris Day does the same her Christmas songs take me back in time..
   And I searched for this Album on the internet the best price was Amazon
   Thank you again



3. I received my item in perfect condition. I ordered this because it is music that my mother played when i was a little girl. I Loved the CD, it took me right back to that place.



4. The only disappointment is that there aren't more of these holiday gems!



5. I was searching for a replacement for an old 8-track that I had recorded onto cassette. This was not the same album, and it was not quite as mellow. Still, its Doris, and she is quality always.

5 comments about Christmas Portrait.

1. A good holiday CD, had all types of Christmas songs, hymns, pop, instrumental. Great for the season.



2. This is a classic Christmas Album! Great renditions of old standards and new material. With 40 songs, including 3 medleys, it's a great value.



3. I was very pleased with the product as well as the service. I am so glad it comes in CD as I only had the cassette tape & it is my very favorite.



4. Not only was the product shipped to the wrong address, the charge for the purchase was my paypal account, that for some reason charged to an expired credit card that was for some reason still in the system. I have been contacted by a collection agency to collect the $14 for the product plus a $45 returned payment fee!!! Ouch!!! You guys are really slipping.



5. This has been a favorite of mine for 20-30 yrs and her voice and her brothers arrangements on these Christmas classics are amazing to me and very traditional as how I like to see and hear the Christmas season.