2 comments about Merry Christmas: Big Band Memories.

1. Tried to find who was playing before buying, but it was not listed on information about cd, so I bought blind. Nothing wrong with the bands playing, just not great arrangements, kind of an unexciting style.



2. This CD is fantastic. I plan to give it as gifts next year. It's just fun.

5 comments about You Sleigh Me: Alternative Christmas Hits.

1. "Merry Christmas from the Family" is hilarious! I think everyone has someone or something in their family that can identify with some part of this song. I happened to hear it on the radio and I had to have it. Everything on the CD is great, but this one really stands out.



2. This is my favorite Christmas album of all time and that includes "Alligator Stomp, Vol. 4 - Cajun Christmas". The whole CD crackles with wit, warmth and holiday tradition; at the same time it ruffles the hair of convention.

   Most of the tunes are tasty, a generous mix of old chestnuts and new tunes. Everything but the Girl's "25TH December" is a slow and poignant beauty; Donna Lewis' "Christmas Lights" is a synchopated wonder, reminiscent of her now outdated "Always and Forever". The talented Tori Amos breathes new life into the bloated corpse of "The Little Drummer Boy".

   If you're feeling a little wacky this Christmas, give it a try. If nothing else, you'll at least have a bright, shiny new coaster.




3. This is a rather uneven Christmas album. The standout track is the great, funny "Merry Christmas From the Family" by Jill Sobule. There are some other good performances here, but nothing great. The lowlight is the seemingly endless 8 minute long jazz saxophone version of "White Christmas" by James Carter. This CD is almost worth getting just for the Jill Sobule song.



4. Admittedly, this is not a proper review, but I just wanted to convey a quick "thank you" to the person who felt her voice was important enough to meddle with the one recorded version the world has of Tori's Little Drummer Boy.
   
   More from http://thedent.com/sleigh.html#littledrummerboy ...
   
   The Little Drummer Boy was recorded live on November 12, 1992 at a club in Dundalk, Maryland called Steel Town. Tori asked the crowd for silence, saying that the song would be recorded for a children's charity benefit. Of course, there was a woman who had to shout "play it, Tori" in response to the "shall I play for you" line. The bouncers quickly took care of her but, in a way, she had ruined the mood -- at least for some of those in her immediate surroundings...



5. I really like the idea of this album, however it could have had a few bigger names and better songs. Overall though it's a good listen. After the Rudolph opener, Collective Soul does a nice job, the Tori Amos cover is wonderful as expected, and the Juliana Hatfield song is a big plus too. Also worth a mention are the tracks from Victoria Williams and Everything But The Girl, both quite pleasing. The rest is good at the least, and the Jill Sobule song is a great addition. A nice disc for those wanting a cooler Christmas. I also suggest "The Edge Of Christmas" and "A Very Special Christmas 3".

1 comments about Christmas Bells.

1. One of the first CDs released by the famous Westminster Concert Bell Choir, this is a pleasing collection of well-known Christmas carols arranged for handbells. Westminster is home to one of the earliest and best-known university handbell ensembles in the country, started by Don Allured in the early '70s. This recording suffers from poor sound quality (the high bells have a crashing sound) and relatively stale readings. It is buoyed, however, by excellent arrangements by Betty Garee and Mr. Allured. Also, at this time Westminster played on the widest range of handbells in the world: over 7 octaves of bronze handbells. This CD is an essential for the collector and student of handbell ringing, as Mr. Allured and the Westminster Concert Bell Choir have had a dramatic impact on the modern art of handbell ringing all over the world.

3 comments about Christmas Dancing.

1. I loved this LP that I bought in Canada in the 70's...I wore the it out!! I was so delighted to find it here on Amazon in CD form..the same delightful, joyful, James Last Dance record that I will now play constantly through the Holiday Season...I love James Last's music..The German Gentleman!!



2. This CD is a re-issue of the vinyl 33-1/3rpm album, which I came across a few years ago. While I lifted some of the tracks for inclusion in a Christmas compilation of favorites, inspite of audio editing software, there were minor flaws. So finding this album on a CD... was an absolute delight! It includes two extra tracks not on the vinyl sibling. ALL the "medleys" are superb, but Medleys (tracks) 1, 6, 8 & 10 are the best... James Last knows his music and his Christmas arrangements are enhanced with his "chior." You can do no wrong in obtaining this CD. James Last, the James Last sound and the music of James Last- ARE some of the best-kept secrets in the U.S. I have been enjoying his music (except for the "Non-stop Last" compilations) since 1962. One last note... his last name IS pronounced as "LOST."



3. I'm a James Last fan anyway, but this is a CD I will play a lot during the Christmas season. I have many Christmas CDs but this will be one of my favorites.
   
   I have listened to German Christmas songs for many years and this well-done CD brings back many good memories. The sound reproduction is very clear. There isn't a track on this CD I don't like!! Its very well done.

2 comments about Golden Christmas.

1. Even thou this only has 10 tracks this is a must have in your Christmas Music Library.All 10 of these songs by Roger Williams are with full Orchestra done by The Romantic Strings and Roger Williams playing the piano.Every song is laden with heavy lush strings.This is the Christmas Music that use to get played on beautiful music stations.I enjoy this cd every year during the holiday season.I also recommend other music artist like Percy Faith,Mantovani,The Living Strings,Jackie Gleason,The 101 Strings,James Last and others.All of these ez artist also have Christmas albums.



2. In 1964 Ronnie Aldrich released in London Phase 4 Stereo his Christmas album, in a spectacular arragments, sound and interpretation of 12 beautiful themes.
   I like the music of R. Williams, but this is a copy (bad copy) from that beautiful LP of R. Aldrich. The sound in this CD is bad (as in mostly CD of R. Williams, with only exception of "His greatest perfomences").

4 comments about Happy Christmas (War Is Over) (En.

1. This CD is perfect to keep around for a Christmas morning with three punchy tunes to start the day. You get the Imagine instrumental only if you load the disc into your PC and take a look at the picture gallery, but that is a nice addition to a small group of songs each with a simple message. I also couldn't help but note that the CD starts with Yoko wishing Kyoko and John wishing Julian a Happy Christmas. Think of it as a warm bit of music to help get you through the winter.



2. This would make for a poignant holiday musical card. Cd cover always one of my favorite Lennon/Ono and group photos. The message and music remain as relevant today as yesterday. There's nothing one can write here that is new, just that this is a nice re-packaging of Lennon's music. Like the other reviewer said, nice music to play on Christmas morning, which I did since buying this cd (I often times would play 'Imagine' on Christmas morning before going to my family's house for Christmas long before this collection was released).
   
   
   Why four stars? Because there are two more songs that I would have placed on this disc. First, and most obvious, 'Give Peace A Chance'. It would have been a perfect fit with the concept of this cd. And second, I would have included 'The Luck Of The Irish' from 'Sometime In New York City'. Why? Well, like 'Instant Karma' it digs a little deeper in a different way. Not as idealistic and peacenick (I use this word in a positive way) as 'Happy Xmas' and 'Imagine' and would bring a necessary dimension (especially since it would be so unexpected, and I think a pleasant surprise to those who hadn't heard it or appreciated it before), with its obvious political digs, it had an edge, again, like 'Instant Karma' brings in its directness and rawness. Also, I think 'Sometime In New York City' both a relevant and an important album/cd today.
   
   
   'Luck Of The Irish' is perhaps the 'truest' duet that Lennon and Ono did. Lennon's lines are cutting while Ono's are quite poetic, a great coupling. Ono's 'We're All Water' and 'Born In A Prison' are as good as anything Dylan or Lennon wrote. Perhaps 'We're All Water' is of the same caliber as Dylan's 'Blowin' In The Wind'.
   
   
   Anyhow, this is about this cd not 'Sometime In N. Y. C' and I'll only say it's a good collection to have. If nothing else, for just having it in the house and playing it on Christmas morning.



3. This CD contains three of John Lennon's best and most inspirational songs. The song 'Happy Christmas (War is over)' is amazing a should be on everyones X-mas play list.



4. Not only did this product take a long time to get to me, but the cd only had 3 songs on it. What a rip off. I like the song "Happy Christmas", but not that well. I feel like I should get a refund due to misrepresentation of this product.

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.

No comments about American Christmas.

2 comments about Christmas with Kiri Te Kanawa.

1. Christmas songs are at its best when done in classically trained voices, espectially the soaring majesty of the lyric soprano. Why...no other performers are quite truly blessed with this category of voice; Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is no exception. She is a performer of elegance and prominence; she does not cheapens her art, but rather makes it more breath-taking and magically astounding. This brilliant recording of tradtitional Christmas Carols are remarkable examplaries of Dame Kiri's superbly performed soprano magic delight.

   Okay, I am one of her greatest fans...have you seen the pictures of Dame Kiri in the CD booklet, "Maori Songs"? At fifty-six years of age, Dame Kiri looks marvelous and yet she still radiates like a thirty-year old soprano!

   Buy this CD for Christmas and the other "Christmas With Kiri" CD for they're both grandiose artistically...you'll not regret buying them for what you'll get is immensely high-standard artistry performed by the classically trained voice, the elegant lyric soprano!




2. I found this CD to be a great addition to a collection of quality Christmas music to be enjoyed during the holiday season. The lovely clear voice of Kiri Te Kanawa with the great back up of the fine choral music from the choirs recorded at Coventry Cathedral was what I expected. I was a bit surprised at the heaviness of Michael George's voice which I thought was really a bass, not a baritone. Overall--great!

No comments about Children's Christmas Classics.