5 comments about The Christmas Song.

1. I'd rather hear Nat King Cole sing Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (The Christmas Song) than anyone else. And much more to choose from. This collection can't be beat. A Christmas staple.



2. Singing traditional Christmas songs with dignity and feeling, this Nat King Cole holiday album gloriously captures the spirit of the season. Without fireworks, improvisations, catchy rhythms, or unusual variations, Cole gives us songs full of love in his relaxed and unpretentious style. Accompanied by two orchestras and choruses, which are directed by Ralph Carmichael, Cole still manages to keep his style simple and the songs "clean," sometimes slowing the lyrics in order to make them more expressive of the meaning.
   
   "The Christmas Song," written by Mel Torme has always been Cole's biggest Christmas hit, beautifully sung to an accompaniment of piano and strings. "O Holy Night," with a 27-string orchestra, maintains its sense of quiet awe, instead of becoming loudly triumphant (as it is in many other recordings), while "Adeste Fidelis," sung partly in Latin, speaks to the listener on a personal level and invites him/her to "come, let us adore him," instead of demanding it. The jaunty "I Saw Three Ships" and "The First Noel" are sung with an a capella chorus, and two less-recorded songs, "A Cradle in Bethlehem," from England, and "Caroling, Caroling," written in the US by A. E. Burt add new songs to the Christmas repertoire.
   
   The orchestra and choruses here, while large, are used to highlight Nat King Cole's vocal interpretations, instead of making their own statements, and the use of bells, bell lyre, flutes, and harp often add depth to the background while adding emphasis to the lyrics. Traditional and restrained, Cole's album honors the season and its message, an album one could listen to all day without tiring. Mary Whipple



3. "I've been around the entertainment business for about 50 years, so I consider myself a good judge of the arena and the people who inhabit it. I worked for, and with Nat King Cole for many years and it was the most fulfilling time in my adult life. Hardly a day went by when I didn't learn something from him. He was warm; he was loving; he was tender; he was generous; he was respectful; he was gifted; he was disciplined; he was professional; he was real; he was my dear friend; he was Nat King Cole. I'm deeply honored to be a small part of this project. ~ Dick LaPalm, Liner Notes, June 1999 ~
   
   Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" is one of my favorite Christmas CDs from my collection simply because it consists of the greatest and the best-loved traditional Christmas carols of all-time. With his smooth and velvety voice, Nat King Cole sings these carols so sincerely and solemnly. It's always nice to listen to this CD at this time of the year. It gives me a certain touch of nostalgia that brings back my most cherished memories of Christmas time.
   
   "The Christmas Song" is Nat King Cole's signature Christmas carol. From the very first time he recorded this song composed by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells in 1946, he stamped his signature on it and made it his very own. One other version is a "duet" with his equally talented daughter, Natalie Cole. According to Dick LaPalm on Liner Notes, "Capitol furnished the 1961 master tape and Hallmark was able to isolate Nat's vocal and integrate it into another beautiful father and daughter performance." The outcome is really astonishing and one of the highlights of this CD.
   
   "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "O Holy Night" and "Silent Night" are all sung in a sacredly fashion. The chorus makes them sound almost like sacred hymns. There is that old-fashioned feeling that will strike you upon listening to these carols. These are the songs that epitomize Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
   
   I've always loved an old-fashioned celebration of Christmas and truly love traditional Christmas carols to listen to during Christmas holidays. If you're like me, you'll absolutely and merrily enjoy this CD. Keep it playing during your Christmas celebrations.
   
   Fill your Christmas with peace, joy and love and welcome the New Year with a blast and good cheer!
   
   Happy Holidays to one and all!



4. One of the greatest CD's to purchase to bring back memories of what a fabulous Christmas is. Needs to be in every music lovers library. Excellent!



5. There is something very special about this album. It's hard to define or put into words, but this album accomplishes what so many set out to do and fall short: It reaches out and almost literally touches you. No other Christmas music that I have heard captures the feeling and spirit of Christmas like this one. I have bought this album several times over because when i find out someone doesn't have it I feel duty bound as a friend to let them have mine. Sinatra, Bing, Motown? They have nothing on Nat.

No comments about We Call It Christmas.

5 comments about Sounds Of The Season: The NBC Holiday Collection.

1. 1 . 3:49 Norah Jones / Peace
   2. 2:57 Coldplay / Have Yourself A Merry Little Xmas (Live)
   3. 2:31 Liz Phair / Winter Wonderland
   4. 3:58 Stacie Orvico / Christmas Wish
   5. 3:24 Kylie Minogue / Santa Baby
   6. 2:05 Michael Buble / Let It Snow
   7. 4:49 Josh Groban / O Holy Night
   8. 3:00 Sarah Brightman / Ave Maria
   9. 3:40 Dave Koz with Kenny Loggins / December Makes Me Feel This Way
   10. 4:48 Lisa Marie Presley / Silent Night
   11. 4:34 Bonnie Rait and Charles Brown / Merry Christmas, Baby
   12. 3:06 Carly Simon / God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
   13. 2:20 Brian Setzer Orchestra / Jingle Bells



2. An okay cd. Some of the song are worth a look. Particularly Norah Jones, Coldplay and Sarah Brightman. I enjoyed Liz Phair's Winter Wonderland, but most of the songs aren't worth the time it takes to listen.



3. Wow This was really awful!! I would not waste my money. I bought it to hear lisa marie sing Silent Night. That was just terrible!!



4. This is the best Christmas CD I own. I get it out every year when I'm decorating the tree. The Norah Jones and Coldplay tracks are my favorite, but they are all very enjoyable!



5. I bought this cd for one reason - Josh Groban's version of "O Holy Night" (which, disappointingly enough is NOT on his Christmas album "Noel"). That, along with Michael Buble's "Let it Snow" and the Brian Setzer Orchestra's version of "Jingle Bells" are about the only songs I listen to. It was worth it for Groban, but most of the songs are easily skipped over.

2 comments about Spirit of the Season.

1. This is a great CD! We attended a holiday concert a couple of yrs ago where Hiroshima performed the cuts from "Spirit of the Season." Although nothing compares to a live performance, this captures the essence of Hiroshima.



2. Easy on the ears...but with enough spirit to stand out amongst your Holiday CD collection. Gracefully done.

No comments about It's Christmas Once Again.

3 comments about A Very Green Christmas.

1. I found this album to be a welcome departure from the traditionalcommercialized holiday music. A Very Green Christmas will take you to a peaceful environment for all to appreciate and to enhance the holiday spirit.

   As an Advertiser for a major retail store, a lot of pressure is felt throughout the holiday shopping season. The popular holiday music that is heard every hour, every day can become very annoying. After a rough day, I look forward to an opportunity to {listen and} relax to an album filled with peaceful holiday music.

   A Very Green Christmas features a large lineup of world renowned musicians known as "Artists for Earth." They are: Suzanne Ciani, Michael Manring, Paul McCandless, Alex de Grassi, Georgia Kelly, Matt Eakle, James Asher, Spencer Brewer, Ira Stein, Michael Pluznick, Joel Lindheimer, Jeremy Cohen, Teja Bell, Kate Price, Michael Hopp , Tim Wheater, and Roy Eaton.

   Let's imagine that the album is a box of Christmas Cards. The musical arrangement of each song reminds me of a vivid illustration on a Christmas Card (s). Let me share some of my favorite songs with you.

   James Asher's "Stargazer" reminds me of a ride through a large Christmas Light display in Cincinnati called "Festival of Lights." The Ira Stein Group arrangement on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" paints a picture of an Old English Festival. Suzanne Ciani's "Oh Holy Night" fills my mind with flashbacks of Christmas past. Roy Eaton's "A Child's Christmas" express the excitement of Christmas morning from a child in all of us.

   You may want to listen closely to Georgia Kelly's "What Child is This?". Something very unusual happened during her recording. It enhanced the song much better. I have many other favorite songs to share, but it would take too much room on this web page.

   The graphic design and liner notes are very informative and appealing. Producer, Joe Anderson did an outstanding job on gathering a large group of talented, world-class musicians for a special cause.

   Proceeds from this album benefit the Trees Foundation. It provides services for a variety of environmental organizations working to protect and restore the forests and rivers of California's North Coast.




2. I listen to very few Christmas albums since I teach holiday (piano) music from mid-October to the week after Christmas, and am generally ready to kill if I hear "Jingle Bells" one more time! Be that as it may, I love this collection of some of the more spiritual and less-overdone songs of the season! All of the pieces sound fresh and revitalized, and I will probably be listening to this CD through the holidays. Bravo to Suzanne Ciani and Joe Anderson for putting this project together! Along with being an outstanding collection, proceeds of the album will go to The Trees Foundation, an environmental body which provides services to grassroots affiliate organizations working to protect and restore the forests and rivers of California's North Coast region.

   Several members of The Wave, Suzanne Ciani's band, participated in the project, and several appear on each others cuts in supporting roles. Suzanne performs "Adeste Fideles" and "O Holy Night" with her own distinctive touches - both very beautiful and moving. The other artists are Alex deGrassi ("Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella"), Paul McCandless ("In Bethlehem City"), Michael Manring ("A Great and Mighty Wonder"), Michael Pluznick and Joel Lindheimer (a great arrangement of "The Little Drummer Boy"), Matt Eakle (an especially beautiful flute arrangement of Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze") , James Asher (his original "Stargazer"), Georgia Kelly ("Greensleeves" on harp), Spencer Brewer (a wonderful and upbeat arrangement of "Angels We Have Heard on High"), Kate Price (a spectacular version of "Carol of the Bells" on hammered dulcimer), The Ira Stein Group (a rousing "16th-century street-party" playing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"), Teja Bell ("Villancico de Navidad" - wonderfully intimate guitar work), Michael Hoppe and Tim Wheater (possibly the most achingly beautiful arrangement I've ever heard of "Silent Night"), and Roy Eaton (his own "A Child's Christmas" on solo piano). Oddly, the only piece I don't really care for is the last one, Eaton's "A Child's Christmas". It is solo piano, which is my "thing", but it seems oddly out of place here. Everything else about the collection rates a major "WOW!", so I highly recommend it.




3. I purchased this CD last year with several other titles. The previous reviews made it seem promising. However, I was very dissapointed. The music is so "new agey" (almost John Tesh in style - no offense John, that's just not what I expected) that I have a hard time getting through the songs. I don't know how I missed that from the sound samples. I was looking for something fresh and different that still had a strong sentimental feeling that I expect from a Christmas CD. Green Christmas did not fit the bill. Bruce Cockburn's Christmas album is a much better buy for your money if that is what you seek.

1 comments about You Are Emmanuel.

1. Awesome Christmas music! Amazing vocals! Get's you ready for the holidays! A definite must have.

No comments about Christmas.

3 comments about Noel Noel.

1. This CD is magnificent! I love how all of the instruments of the quartet play in harmony. Deck The Halls, which is very upbeat and lively, is in my opinion the best song on the CD. Although this is a CD of Christmas music, I'm going to continue to listen to it year round. If you are in need of a gift idea for Christmas '99, this is the CD for you!



2. I picked up this little gem in an airport over Thanksgiving. One listen and you'll be hooked! Two maintenance men, whom I know well, came to do some repair in our apartment last week. I left them to their work (with Noel Noel playing on the stereo), and went to the fitness room to work out. The next day, both men approached me, "What was that music playing in your apartment yesterday?" one asked, "it was so special and relaxing." The other believed it to be, "the perfect dinner music." They're both right! And they both want a copy. Get it. Get two.



3. This CD was playing at a restaurant and it was so beautiful we just had to ask our waitress what it was. It is my favorite Christmas CD. Makes great background music for holiday parties.

No comments about Kodály: Choral Music Vol.7.