No comments about And the Angels Sing.

3 comments about Christmas With the Lennon Sisters.

1. My grandmother had an old record player and a few albums and this was one of them. It wasn't Christmas unless I lay on the floor listening to the Lennon Sisters sneaking down the stairs to have a peek. I checked other on-line stores, but I could not find this CD anywhere until now. There voices were always perfect, their hair was always in place, and their smiles were always just for me. Christmas with the Lennon Sisters is a wonderful CD, bringing back many wonderful, wonderful memories. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to travel back to a childhood of goodness and wonder and magic.



2. In the late 60's and throughout the 70's my parents had several Christmas albums that were played almost non-stop each December. There were a select few that we're packed every Christmas Eve and taken to my grandparents house for our big family Christmas in the country and Christmas With The Lennon Sisters was one of them. I finally purchased this classic and now my kids like it to.



3. ... but I wish I had.
   
   Let's be frank: there was a lot of, well, bad Xmas albums recorded in the 60's. This is not one of them. All of the tracks are at least good, with several being truly outstanding (excepting the painfully cheezy closing track, "Christmas Island", which some music exec almost certainly must have insisted they record in hopes of cashing in on Bing's famous Hawaiian number).
   
   As Amazon doesn't have the tracklist posted, here it is, along with my "out of 5 stars" ratings:
   
   ***** 01 - The Little Drummer Boy
   **** 02 - Silent Night
   *** 03 - White Christmas
   *** 04 - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
   **** 05 - I'll Be Home for Christmas
   *** 06 - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
   ***** 07 - Adeste Fideles
   *** 08 - O Little Town of Bethlehem
   *** 09 - Away in a Manger
   **** 10 - Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
   *** 11 - Joy to the World
   *** 12 - Jingle Bells
   **** 13 - Winter Wonderland
   ** 14 - Christmas Island
   
   Overall: 3.5/5

5 comments about Our Favorite Things - Christmas in Vienna / Tony Bennett, Vanessa Williams, Placido Domingo, Charlotte Church.

1. Placido Domingo has done several holiday concert special for PBS over the years. The ones I've seen usually pair him with Jose Carreras on the classical end and maybe one pop diva like Dionne Warwick or Diana Ross. That makes for a mixed bag, and maybe a few awkward moments when the vocal styles don't quite mesh. But with the visuals, the glitz and glamour of the stars usually make these spectacles enjoyable enough.
   
   I've never seen the DVD version of this concert, which also aired of PBS, as I understand it. But I'll wager it works better with the visuals. As a pure listening experience, OUR FAVORITE THINGS comes up short. Domingo is really the only singer who is in top form for the occasion, and his Spanish language carols (probably unfamiliar to most American listeners) are a real treat. Tony Bennett, who has been fine in other recent broadcasts and recordings, sounds a bit hoarse here. He improves as the concert progresses, but he relies more on phrasing than chops and is at a disadvantage when duetting with Domingo. (On the other hand, Domingo's noticeable discomfort with idiomatic American English weakens his performance on tracks like "My Favorite Things" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas").
   
   On the distaff side we have Charlotte Church and Vanessa Williams, whose work I am less familiar with. Church sounds a little nervous and out of her depth when duetting with Domingo. She has a pleasant enough voice, which I hope she does not subject to too much strain before reaching her potential. I am not an expert in these matters, but I have been told by classical singers that too much too soon can be disastrous for a developing voice.
   
   Williams is less distinctive a pop singer than, say, Dionne Warwick or Diana Ross, who could at least begin to hold their own against the classical singers in those previous holiday concerts. She has her moments, but even her duet with Tony Bennett on "White Christmas" seems a bit strained.
   
   Fans of the individual singers featured here may well want to purchase this CD, but (even without having seen it), I'm betting that the DVD would be a wiser purchase. With the visuals of Vienna, the concert hall, the gowns and the glitter, I'm guessing it holds up a bit better. Strictly on a musical level, though, this is none of the stars' shining hour.



2. ONE AT A TIME IF YOU PLEASE!!!!
   
   This disc includes four of the best voices of our day, BUT they simply do not belong together in one program!!!!Somehow hearing 'O Holy Night' by two classical sounding singers following 'The Christmas Song' sung by a jazz-pop singer doesn't 'light my fire'. Now if you offered me a complete album of anyone of these singers, I probably would take it and enjoy it. Obviously, this is a money-making venture of the extreme sort; after all(say the great commercial powers) if you don't like Tony Bennett, then you have Placido Domingo etc. etc. etc. As I recall the same type disc was recorded 2 years ago (1998) with four diverse singers, Domingo again included.
   
   Oh well, the individual contributions are, for the most part enjoyable, but you will notice I did say: for the most part.



3. Maybe you had to be at the performance to appreciate it. Perhaps the concert itself, with the presence of these four performers, had some sort of flow and dazzle.
   
   But this CD is merely a strange assortment of singers, songs, and stylings, in no particular order. For instance: Placido Domingo's Jesus de Nazareth (the reason I'm giving this three stars instead of two) - followed by Tony Bennett and Vanessa Williams warbling a swinging "Winter Wonderland." Which detracts from my enjoyment of both those pieces.
   
   And then there are the inexcusable versions of "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Silent Night," in which Tony Bennett's voice is just not up to the music anymore. It should have been obvious during rehearsals, and Bennett removed from the ensemble or given easier solos, or other songs selected. (And I still love him as a singer, just hate to see his aging voice be bested by the wrong music. In public.)
   
   It is an odd little CD, as is suggested by the cover. I found it in a bargain bin and was puzzled by the selection of these four performers, and decided to buy it and find out how well it worked. I'm so glad I didn't pay full price.



4. My favorite holiday music performed by top professionals and the gifted Charlotte Church. The amazing abilities of the featured artists supported by the magnificent orchestra and chorus make this an album that I wait all year to hear.



5. An odd assortment of singers you never thought of putting together, come together to produce a truly delightful Christmas concert. The visuals are beautiful to look at as well.

3 comments about A Renaissance Christmas.

1. I first heard cuts off this CD on the syndicated early music program Harmonia and was enchanted by it. I ordered it the next day and wasn't disappointed after it arrived. The CD comprises various English, French, & Italian carols, dance tunes, noels, and melodies from the 16th century.

   I'm not a trained musician so please forgive my lack of detailed musical critique. The tracks consist mostly of the heavenly vocals of the six members of the New York's Ensemble For Early Music, with a mixture of period instruments thrown in for good measure. Listening to it all, you can easily picture an advent service in a 16th cent. French cathedral. If you're looking for a beatiful peaceful collection of music to add to your holiday collection, this is it.

   Favorite tracks include: Nowell: Tidings true, C'etait a l'heure, Es ist ein' Ros', Conventry Carol, Greensleves, Branle de l'Official.




2. Usually period music is so poorly produced and cliche, but this CD is flawless. The quality of sound is amazing; the beauty of the music transcends time and space. If you buy one Christmas CD, buy this one. It's the perfect elegant moodsetter for the season.



3. In purchasing this CD, I was anticipating music that reflects the excitement that was the Renaissance. Instead, I felt I was listening to middle age dirges. I confess, I've not listened to the CD again.

3 comments about Christmas With Perry Como.

1. This CD has only 10 of Perry Como's songs on it. If you like Perry Como, you should get a bigger collection, or buy this one for no more than $6 brand new. It is a small album, but if you're a big fan you could pay a small price for it and be happy with it.



2. To look at the listing for this CD, you might consider it a sampler collection of Perry Como Christmas Music and that it most certainly is. It is also lacking any liner notes or track listing booklet. It is simply one piece of paper with the CD cover on the front and the track listing on the back!
   
   However, to begin with you may think, I have all these recordings already - but as it happens there are 2 alternate takes of Perry Como Christmas recordings from 1968!
   
   The recordings are 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' and '(The) Little Drummer Boy'. The takes included here are the original 1968 recordings...
   
   Perry and his Team had already recorded on 4 dates in July at Webster Hall, New York City. At some point, because it was such a hot summer (It is recorded that the summer of 1968 was exceptionally hot!) Perry was uncomfortable in the conditions and several female members of the choir fainted! They had already recorded a considerable amount of material for the album. Perry's recording engineers at this session were Ed Begley and Ray Hall. So, some more session dates were arranged for the following month.
   
   On August 1, 1968; it had been arranged for everyone to go to a recording session at a different location in New York City - RCA Victor Studio A, 24th Street. Here, Perry and his team recorded all the songs they had recorded at the July, 1968 sessions - again! Obviously there was a 're-think' of the arrangements. This time however, the recording engineer was Perry's longtime engineer, Bob Simpson who worked with Perry for many years before and after this. It shows how loyal Perry was to go to Bob Simpson! Perry was very much aware of Bob's exceptional Engineering skills.
   
   For Perry's 1968 RCA Victor album - 'The Perry Como Christmas Album' - all of the re-make versions (from August, 1968) were included and the original recordings (from July, 1968) remained originally unreleased.
   
   The unreleased recordings from both sessions have since appeared on several Como Christmas CD's. It is very likely that they didn't intend to release them within these compilations and they were released by mistake! In this case, a mistake brought out a positive result, as the released recordings are very easily available too - so, some of the originally unreleased recordings are readily available on CD!
   
   The other selections on this Como Christmas CD are also all superb! The quality of sources and engineering on this release is of a standard level.
   
   It appears that Release Master Tapes of some form have been used as the source, here. But since there is no identification of the sources used, you can't be too sure! This is a suggestion based on the available information.
   
   This CD release is a definite 'Must' for Como fans of all ages and for those also interested in alternate takes of Como recordings!
   
   Superb Listening!
   
   Matthew Long
   THE PERRY COMO APPRECIATION SOCIETY



3. Item was shipped as promised, this was a gift for my 91 yr old grandmother, she loved it and it brought back great memories. Amazon is great that it can supply things like this.

5 comments about Roomful of Christmas.

1. This is the CD I dust off every year and play as long as I possibly can! Sugar Ray Norcia and band are just fabulous! You'll be wishin' Christmas lasted longer too! Buy it, play it and you'll enjoy the holiday shopping and stress much more! And don't forget the champagne and egg nog! Cozy up by the fireplace with this hot CD and it'll be the best blues Christmas ever!



2. For not being nationally known these guys have sustained for a very long time. You won't hear me complain about their longevity. If you just want to stick this disk in your machine and listen intently, or turn it down and have it as background music, it's just good to hear. When it's Roomful of Blues, you can count on some great sounds.



3. Roomful of Christmas is Roomful of Blues at their best---full of soul, full of horns, full of sound--and the incomparable Sugar Ray Norcia is singing lead!!! How good can it get? Just start with "The Christmas Song", quiet and ever so soulful, the famous horns giving Sugar Ray and his silken vocals all the room they need. Fabulous!! Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run" is given a fresh, new workout, while "Christmas Celebration" features the classic Roomful arrangements and sounds as if it's been taken straight from their classic 1994 release Turn It On! Turn It Up!! Outstanding! "Let It Snow..." finds Sugar Ray and Co. at their most romantic and funloving, while "White Christmas" is given a New Orleans style treatment and a falsetto intro. (The falsetto is unnecessary; I think the song works better without it.) Best of all is Roomful's cover of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," first sung by Judy Garland in the movie Meet Me in St. Louis and featuring Sugar Ray crooning with all his might (and considerable polish, to boot!). Wonderful, simply wonderful!!! So, get Roomful of Christmas quickly before the holidays end, and fill up your rooms with their soulful yuletide sound!!!



4. The previous reviews are certainly better than mine in giving you the various technical & artistic reasons as to why you should purchase or not purchase this CD. IMHO, I recommend purchasing this CD. While I don't give out 5 stars to anything, because I view it as a theorectical limit that can only be approached but never achieved, this CD is, without reservation, a 4.5 star CD.
   
   Hello Marketing People .... read this... downloaded both of the free "Roomful of Blues" Christmas MP3s *and* decided to buy the CD! I was just going to purchase the CD single. But I took the dive and purchased the "Roomful of Christmas" CD, absolutely no regrets. I have been playing it every morning since I received it 2 days ago. I have been playing the free MP3 tracks longer than that.
   
   Just good, solid, & pleasant...just wanted I wanted in a Christmas but not sugar-cuteness. Good music is timeless and worthy to be played and sung by different artists. For whatever reason, I love their spin on "White Christmas".
   
   They are excellent muscians. The vocals are greats and love the brass! Can't wait to share with my son the budding trombone player!
   
   I can't wait to buy another "Roomful of Blues" CD, but which one....
   
   Marketing People Read : Free MP3 downloads work.



5. Room Full of Blues, one the great roadhouse bands, serves up a sampling of Christmas tunes R&B style. While I have enjoyed this album and found it a nice addition to my collection I was a bit disappointed with how safe they played it. Most of the tunes are very close to the originals, which we have all heard too many times. Also, a few of the songs are over sung given it a bot of a lounge act feel. Horns are excellent on the album however. Check out Alligator's great Christimas album instead if you are looking for a blue Christmas with some unique style.

No comments about Merry Christmas.

5 comments about Meowy Christmas.

1. I'm a cat lover, and I've heard about this CD long time ago, but purchased it only recently mostly for my 3 y.o daughter. Oh my, we both laughted so hard! It's hysterical! I purchased 2 more CDs - for my daughter's day care and for my g/f and her kid as a Xmas gift. My g/f's daughter loved it too (she's 2 y.o). I want to buy a VHS now, but unfortunately, this time of the year it's out of stock on all web sites
   :-(



2. I've owned a recording of this cd on tape for years; I finally went out and got the cd for myself. Something about the quality of the recording on the cd drives my cat nuts! Now I get not only the amusement of listening to Christmas songs sung by cats, I also get to enjoy my poor, confused kitty desperatly looking round the house to try and figure out where all these other cats are! If you like cats, you'll enjoy this cd. But if you've got a cat like mine, you'll enjoy your cats reactions even more.



3. Not my all time favorite christmas album but certainly one of the top ten. You can't help but smile when you hear christmas carols being meowed and yowled!! Our cats were a bit freaked at first but have adjusted. Certainly a great gift for any cat lover of any age.



4. This CD is not some cheesey strange sounding production of artificial meows. This is a thought out and well done fun addition to your Christmas CD collection, EVEN IF you are not a "head over heels catpawser" like I am. The producers of this CD have taken real cats "speaking" and a couple of dogs too, and put these real sounds to harmony with classic Christmas tunes. You WILL smile when you hear it and by the second song, you will be meowing too.



5. This is one of the most stunningly bad records I've ever heard, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Silent Night is a particular favorite. I've bought copies of this CD for friends' Christmas presents before, and it never fails to amuse.

No comments about Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show: Who Stole the Cookies?.

3 comments about Unaccompanied Minors.

1. What a funny film and a great album. Great entertainment and a rocking soundtrack-highly recommended



2. Living in the NYC area, I could really believe that this adventure actually took place! It's a must-see for anyone who is planning to send their child on an air trip, alone.



3. Item was received very fast and was exactly what I expected. A very different Christmas sound. I love it!