5 comments about Croon & Swoon: The Classic Christmas.

1. When I began looking for Christmas CDs, I wanted a collection of the "classics." This CD, as well as Croon & Swoon 2, fits the bill pretty well. This particular collection contains, among other things, such standards as Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride," Andy Williams "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," Perry Como's "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays," Gene Autry's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The music is soothing and nostalgic--perfect background music for a Christmas gathering or as you run around the house organizing things. The linear notes contain some fun nuggets of information about some of the best-loved holiday songs. I think this CD is definitely worth checking out. The songs and singers are familiar, but there are a few less familiar pairings, so it'll keep your Christmas music selection interesting.



2. this is such a great cd! personal favorites: peggy lee's "christmas waltz," andy williams' "it's the most wonderful time of the year," leroy anderson's "sleigh ride," and angela lansbury et. al.'s "we need a little christmas," but they're all good. you won't regret buying this at all.



3. I really enjoy this album, except for Judy Garland's insufferable vibrato on the song Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (did people back then really think that this sounded good?). Her "singing" is more of a warble. My next major objections are the different lyrics she sings from any version I have ever heard of this song, and I have heard many (instead of "from now on our troubles will be out of sight," she sings "next year all our troubles will be out of sight." Then, at the end, instead of "hang a shining star upon the highest bough," she sings "until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow." I am usually very much of an anti-revisionist, but if these are the original lyrics, now I now why everyone else has changed them. They are awful. (Sorry, I'm not interested in waiting until next year for my troubles to be out of sight, I want to start right now, and I'm certainly not interested in "muddling through somehow.") "A" for the concept of this album and the many great tracks. "D minus" for including this version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, when there are so many other great ones they could have chosen from.



4. It's amazes me to read people in this (and other reviews) lament Judy Garland's "version" of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Her version is the definitive and original version from the classic film "Meet Me in St. Louis." The POINT of the song is sad and is about being separated from loved ones during the Christmas season. It is yes, about trying to "muddle through somehow." If that offends your sunny sensibilities, then you might not like this version. But sometimes Christmas is merry, sometimes not. Just like life. Other artists wanting to put a more positive spin on the song- changed the lyrics. I love her "version." I think it is poignant and moving. Great album overall.



5. This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas CD's that I own. If you love the Christmas classics sung by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, etc.....then this is the CD for you!!! I kept this one on repeat on my CD player and never tired of listening to it. It's a GREAT buy!

No comments about An American Christmas.

5 comments about Happy Christmas, Vol. 4.

1. Tooth and Nail's Volume 4 release, "Happy Christmas" filled with expressive covers of old favorites and some amazing originals. Kudos to all the bands that contributed to this Cd.
   
   A must buy.. even a great idea for stocking stuffer!



2. I was disappointed with this CD. I love many of the bands, but... why such a style change to fit the Christmas songs? The CD seems very slow and down beat. I was looking forward to the screamo bands rocking out, not withdrawing their scream. Over all this CD will put me to sleep by the fire side like every other Christmas CD. I was really looking forward to a CD that made Christmas songs come a live again... oh well. At least it beats what you hear in Wal-Mart all year long



3. It's an interesting album. The music is a fresh perspective on some old Christmas songs (with several new tracks included).
   
   The artists add their own unique flavor to each of the songs. The songs aren't quite as high of caliber as those produced on the artist's own albums, but if you just can't get away from your Mae and Anberlin long enough to listen to Christmas music... this is the album for you.
   
   Looking forward to their next release.



4. I don't see how anyone can say this was a bad album. Each band brings their own flavor to each song, and the original by Aaron from Underoath is, to put it simply, amazing. This album so superior to "Taste of Christmas" which actually includes some of the same bands, so if your deciding between the two I would choose this one without a second thought. Best Christmas CD I know of.



5. This album had some really solid alternative Christian Christmas music. The onlylet down was the absence of some of my favorite Tooth and Nail bands such as Thousand Foot Krutch and mewithoutyou but the songs by Hawk Nelson, Emery, and Underoath(well the singer from Underoath) were really good and added some variety to the generally bland assortment of Christmas music.

1 comments about We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

1. 1. Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis/Percy Faith & His Orchestra
   2. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Julie Andrews
   3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Percy Faith & His Orchestra
   4. Silver Bells - Ray Conniff Singers
   5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Charlie Rich
   6. Go Tell It On The Mountain - Mahalia Jackson
   7. We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Andre Kostelanetz & His Orchestra
   8. My Favorite Things - Tony Bennett
   9. Hallelujah Chorus - Philadelphia Orchestra
   10. What Child Is This? - Vikki Carr
   11. Winter Wonderland - Mitch Miller & Gang
   12. First Noel, The - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
   13. O Holy Night - Peter Nero
   14. Do You Hear What I Hear - Andy Williams
   15. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - John Davidson
   16. Twelve Days Of Christmas, The - Dinah Shore
   17. Christmas Bells - Patti Page
   18. Home For The Holidays - Robert Goulet
   19. Christmas Eve In My Home Town - Jim Nabors
   20. Silent Night, Holy Night - Philadelphia Brass Ensemble

No comments about Cumbiazos Para Fin de Año.

1 comments about Ultimate Christmas Hits 1: Greatest Christmas.

1. is a must have, especially when it is his first released christmas song !! Cant wait to get mine !!!

   mcgrawfan67

2 comments about Christmas Wishes From Kenny Rogers.

1. I have been a fan of Kenny Rogers for many years, and I consider him to be especially good at singing Christmas songs. This is his first Christmas album (released on LP in 1981) - and definitely his best! It won't be Christmas without this album!



2. I grew up with my grandparents, and was introduced to the gravel that is the voice of Kenny Rogers at a very early age. One of my aunts gave me a cassette of Christmas Wishes when I was about five years old, and it was the first Christmas tape I had ever owned. My grandfather finally forbid me to play it anymore because not only was it beginning to drive him insane, but I was about to warp the tape. I'm 21 years old now, and I have more than 50 Christmas CDs in my collection, but this album still is the one I go back to. It's the one playing at dinner on Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning when we're all opening our presents. Not to wax poetic, but it's a truly timeless album. I remember laying in bed when I was a kid, singing these songs softly to myself until I'd finally fall asleep. It's one that I'll have so my kids can drive me insane with it in the future.

2 comments about Gregorian Chants Hungary 1: Medieval Christmas.

1. it's splendide performation, really introducing to the atmosphere of Middle Age



2. Been looking for the sound that this choir has both Young and old voices, very athentic to the era.
   Really enjoyed the samples, wish there were more samples to hear.

5 comments about Merry Xmas From the Space-Age Bachelor Pad.

1. This collection of Esquivel's christmas music is NOT a cheap, thrown together affair. Some of the compositions are a little more traditional, but listen to Frosty the Snowman and the track right after it- Pure lounge, quality music.

   I give it two thumbs up.




2. Throwing a Xmas cocktail party and need some tunes to set the mood? Look no further.

   The CD begins with a spoken word bit featuring the cheeky Esquivel himself welcoming you into his home and giving you a little "tour" of his pad. What follows is about 30 minutes of weird takes on Xmas favorites, with some of the sounds being pretty out there. Cheesy? Sometimes. Kitschy? Often. Fun? Always.

   My only complaint is that it is so short.




3. All right, so RCA wanted Esquivel to flesh out one side of a Christmas LP. He did it in a hurry and with fewer participants than you usually have on his recordings (the one exception is WHITE CHRISTMAS which was recorded on an earlier date than the rest of the compositions and features the whole orchestra BUT which has been butchered by Bar-None who LEFT OFF THE FIRST SLEIGH BELL NOTE. If you want a much better and complete rendition of this song, see SWINGIN' CHRISTMAS - Rhino 79998). At least Bar-None released this baby, which is NOT available as an import. And it is cool to have the man himself giving an intro and exit to the CD. Your best bet is to find a used copy of this cool Christmas CD.



4. Ahhh, an acclaimed maestro of the bachelor pad space-age sterophonic revolution, whom recorded these YULEtunes during that genre's golden age between 1959 and 1962. Some preparative participatory preliminaries to add some zu-zu-zoom to your shared seansonal celebrations ; First get this disc spin'n ; Second fix a couple rounds worth of a complex libation to liberalise those libidos ; Third flix off all lighting but those a'twinkling ; Fourth snuggle down under the mistletoe with that special someone and let the sensations soar toward the stratosphere... bonk bonk , love those boots ~~~Merrily Mix~ 1%, 2$, 3#1\2, 4#1\2, 5#, 6$, 7#1\2, 8$1\2, 9$, 10$, 11$1\2, and 12% ~~~ Post Script: Hey let's not quibble about this artist's other projects and just compare this crafting with the mountainous monochroic merry mirth merchandized throughout this past millennium , even if your in the kNOw, I suspect you whould acknowledge this album as a pioneering YULEtide accomplishment and should cherish and share it's play often. If still a Seeker, welcome aboard this National YULEtide Treasure ride, it was different coming out of the 5o's, nowdays they don't bother to beat around the bush and lyrics have the liberty to be lewd. ***buyit*saveit*shareit*talkit*giveit*donateit to the local library*** YULEridGEMality Factor = 5



5. Esquivel is known today as "The King of Space Age Bachelor Pad Music". After years of obscurity, he experienced a revival of his eccentric brand of adult pop instrumentals in the 1990s (which were originally recorded in the '50s and '60s). In 1959, he recorded half the songs on an album called The Merriest of Christmas Pops (the other half were by Ray Martin, who faded into obscurity and has not experienced a revival). The six songs by Esquivel are good, although a few of them rely too much on a vocal chorus, instead of being in his familiar instrumental style. "White Christmas" and "Frosty the Snowman", however, are marvelous. Of course, six songs insn't enough for an album, so other songs had to be added. The winter themed "Snowfall" and "Sun Valley Ski Run" are a natural fit, and "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" fits in with the Christmas toy thing. "I Feel Merely Marvelous" doesn't really fit in at all, but at least it's rare. Two new tracks were recorded for the CD by admirers of Esquivel, to which the Mexican Maestro added voice overs. These two new tracks serve as the intro and outro of the CD. Overall, this CD is quite enjoyable. Adios!

1 comments about Silent Nights: A Christmas Jazz Album.

1. Have you ever wanted to play a seasonal recording that was mature and pleasant? This is just that recording!
   
   Chet Baker created a quality recording that is wonderful to audition.
   
   The material is produced to highlight Baker's unique musical spin. This CD is the perfect to play when having guests for Christmas brunch. It's ambient music with a jazz flair that sparkles with musical refinement.
   
   The tracks on this CD easily set the mood. The arrangements are instantly seductive and not overly commercial. If you enjoy listening to jazz oriented Christmas releases from such artists as Nancy Wilson, Chris Botti and Dave Koz then make yourself the gift of purchasing this CD.
   
   You are bound to flip your holiday ornaments over this product.
   It's timeless, relaxed and one of the best holiday recordings for a sophisticated audience!