3 comments about Christmas Time's a Comin'.

1. I originally bought Sammy Kershaw's Christmas Time's A Comin' when it was first released. I loved it so much that when Christmas was over I kept it in my car and listened to it regularly. Unfortunately, for me, I had bought the cassette and I wore the tape out until it broke. I am proud to say that I just ordered it again. Only this time, I got a CD, so hopefully it will last forever. The music on this release is wonderful. There is something for everyone in the family, from children to older adults. I had never listened to a Christmas album that I fully enjoyed until this. Sammy sure knows how to make a person proud of what they own. I currently have all of his releases and can't wait for the next. I'll be the first in line to buy it. If you want a Christmas album that will lift your spirits and make you smile, you have to own this one. It's the best.



2. I am an big fan of Christmas and have an extensive collection of Christmas music. This is by far my favorite Christmas album ever. It has some fun favorites for my son like Rudolph and Frosty. Sammy Kershaw's versions of some classics like We Three Kings and Winter Wonderland are great. My personal favorite on this album is Daddy Stuff.



3. This is simply a great Christmas album with a great mixture of classic and fun music. I particularly like Sammy's version of We Three Kings and Winter Wonderland and as soon as I play Christmas Time's A Comin I just want to get up and dance. This is my second purchase of the cd as my first appears to have vanished and I found I really missed not listening to Sammy over the Christmas period. This is definately an album to get you in the Christmas spirit. There is not one track which I do not like; well worth buying again.

No comments about 50 Christmas Favorites.

3 comments about Best of Christmas in the Northwest.

1. Beautiful music for a beautiful place. The "best of" is true... this one is great!



2. Can't go wrong on the earlier Christmas in the Norhtwest music. Great fund raiser as well for the Children's Hospital.



3. This is one of the better Christmas CD's out there. My Mom found it at Ernst (when it was still in business) and we've had it ever since. I lost mine in a move and I finally was able to replace it. It's a great mix of songs that you don't hear everyday and original songs. If you buy one Christmas CD this should be the one.

2 comments about Christmas Serenade in the Glenn Miller Style.

1. If you enjoy holiday hits of the Big Bands; this is a must-have for your collection. These songs were recorded by Glenn Miller's original vocalists-Tex Beneke; Ray Eberle & of course The Modernaires featuring Paula Kelly. Every song is a true gem and you'll find yourself humming or singing along. Definitely fun to listen to while trimming your tree and it will have you in fine holiday spirits in no time. Also makes great background music at Christmas parties, whether at home or at the office. At this price, you can't go wrong so go ahead, add this to your shopping cart & buy it. Very highly recommended.



2. This was supposed to be The Christmas Album Glenn Miller Would Have Made, and it really does have a lot going for it - the original Miller singers, including the Modernaires with Paula Kelly, Ray Eberle, Tex Beneke not just singing but conducting and blowing his sax, and a group of arrangements featuring both the original Miller scores and other charts updated by Alan Copeland.

   Several of the tracks are keepers: "Snowfall" is an homage to the famous Claude Thornhill theme, here featuring the Miller reed blend and Beneke's liquid sax; "Sleigh Ride" is a jumpin' piece with some more hot notes from Tex; and for my money the Henry Mancini-inspired performance of "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") is worth the price of the album alone.

   However, what should have been a happy return to the Miller tradition is made sad by Ray Eberle's vocals. The recordings were done at an especially low point in his life and he was clearly in no condition to be in front of a band. I also have the original LP version of the CD and Eberle's picture on the cover is that of a man perhaps two decades beyond his actual mid-40's age. It's painful to listen to him straining and slurring his words - "I'm dreamin' of a white Chrishmushhh", for example. Fortunately he turned himself around and did some fine work in the last few years of his life, but his talent was not on display here.

   My advice? Buy the album in spite of its faults, listen to the good parts, and remember the genius of Glenn Miller and the legacy that Tex Beneke carried.

5 comments about In the Christmas Mood.

1. The only thing missing on this collection is the late, great Glenn Miller. Despite that, this is a very authentic sounding effort from original members of the Glenn Miller band. "Sleigh Ride" opens this collection. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is reminiscent of "Pennsylvania 6-5000" as "Aud Lang Syne" is reminiscent of "American Patrol". The Yuletide melodies are fun to listen to and there's an original composition "In the Christmas Mood". Then of course, there are selections from Tchaikowsky's "The Nutcracker". These are unpretentious and though improvised, respect the original spirit. Considering that most single CD's go for a higher price than this gem, this is a bargain!



2. Whatever I paid for this group of three stereo CDs by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, it wasn't enough.

   They were produced by LaserLight Digital but, having been arranged and recorded more than twenty years after Glenn Miller gave his life as an Army major during World War II, they were recorded in stereo with modern techniques.

   Any one of the the three discs can stand alone as a great "Big Band" (no, correction, "Glenn Miller Band") album, but you will want to put all three of them in your CD changer for hours of continuous entertainment.




3. Happy Holidays

   I tend to like more Perry Como, Burl Ives, and of course Bing Crosby. I have been listen to Big band for just about a year and this was my first Christmas CD. As I listen to it I enjoy it more every time. Laser Light is a great company for Budget Music and would recomend the label highly. I orinally gave this only 3 stars but changed it to 4.




4. I've run a Big Band/Swing webcast station for over three years now, and have heard just about every song Glenn Miller played. This CD (and the present day band that plays the tunes) just doesn't have the spark that the originals did. First off, yes, this is the present-day reconstituted Glenn Miller Orchestra, run by his heirs. This isn't recordings of the original band from the 40s. While the selections are technically sound, the band is really just another band playing the tunes, lacking the fire of the great band that was at the forefront of music in the Swing Era. Their delivery is more post-swing, post lounge, play it safe, "middle of the road" modern. While a nice CD, I guess, I was expecting much more.



5. I bought this boxed set as a three-cassette package about 10 years ago, and a couple of weeks later when I saw the CD boxed set, I bought that, too.

   Every year at Christmas, I play these CDs at home and on my cassette player in my old car. They really make the holiday season for me, reminding me of days long ago when, as a boy, we listened to music like this on the radio on cold December evenings.

   No, these recordings were not made by the original Glenn Miller Orchestra but by recording studio bands comprised of members and vocalists from the Glenn Miller Orchestra about a dozen years ago.

   If you have heard Larry O'Brien and The Glenn Miller Orchestra anytime during the past two decades he has been leading it, you know that this Glenn Miller Orchestra is first-rate. And that is who you hear on these three CDs.

   As someone who has been collecting Glenn Miller's music for the past half century, I strongly recommend this boxed set of Christmas music in the Miller Mood. Order it today!

   George Spink
   Tuxedo Junction -- http://www.tuxjunction.net
   The Swing Era -- http://swingera.net

1 comments about Christmas with the Norman Luboff Choir.

1. Arrived almost immediately! In excellent condition! Took me back to the 60's and 70's and family Christmas time

5 comments about Christmas in Black & White.

1. I love Christmas albums. The day after Thanksgiving I pull out my Christmas CD collection to start out the season right. When I saw this particular album advertised, I just knew I had to add it to my collection. Nicole has a wonderful voice and she has a way of making you feel that you're right there with her and her family. I have two of her other albums and this one is just as fabulous!



2. "I wish Christmas could last 365 days a year" sings Nicole..which may be why she's come up with a CD you'll want to listen to any time of the year.
   Not your usual cheesy cash in album by any means...Nicole only ever disppoints if you expect her to be predictable.
   If you loved her first two albums you'll love this one...even if you're reading this review in july!



3. I had never heard Nicole sing before, but was driving my car in an area where I did not know any of the radio stations, and was immediately captured by her version of Emmanuel. I listened to the radio station for 30 minutes waiting to hear a phone number, and when I did I called them to find out who the artist was. I am not typically an emotional person, but her voice was so beautiful I started crying during the song. I can't wait to hear the entire CD.



4. Nicole C. Mullen is one of my favorite female vocalists. Allow me, then, to state this is neither my favorite Mullen album nor my favorite Christmas album. That being said, this is still a good album and one I would recommend.
   For me, the high point would be a pop/R&B Christmas album, and this is very good in that area. The low point is that it contains a lot of songs I'm not as familiar with.
   There are some wonderful secular holiday songs, such as "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire). For me, though, I am a Christian seeking a Christmas item from a Christian artist, and I personally would have preferred an exclusively Christian collection. This is nit-picking, and just my opinion.
   If you are looking for a Christmas album for a gift, and that person is into R&B, I believe they would really enjoy the album, maybe more than I do. Forgive me if this review sounds negative: Nicole Mullen had set a high bar, and failed to meet that bar on this project.



5. Love it. Nicole always does an incredible job on her music. Nice twist to a few "old" traditionals plus some new ones.

No comments about Every Christmas.

4 comments about Motown Christmas 2.

1. This CD delivers what it boasts - fantastic Christmas recordings that are scattered about on other discs or impossible to find and compiled into one nice Motown Christmas gift. Varity is the theme of this CD; Motown from the early 60's to the 80's.

   Although all of the recordings are 5-star quality, the fact that there are only 14 recordings (volume 1 contains 24), one can't help feeling a little cheated.

   Highlights of this CD are:
   
   Marvin Gaye - PURPLE SNOWFLAKES and THE CHRISTMAS SONG.
   The Supremes - OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM and OH HOLY NIGHT. OH HOLY NIGHT features Florance Ballard as lead.
   The Temptations - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY. Not new but always great to hear.
   Kim Weston - WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS.

   Happy Holidays to all!




2. let me just express my sheer joy of finding another rare song that the beloved late,great flo'ballard is singing lead up front.she sings just like an angel.i wish miss ross,as supreme as she is or whoever at motown had her sing more lead songs, silent night&oh holy night ,i feel should be mentioned in the highest esteem!!as well, the late, great marvin gaye,the temptin' temptations,ms.kim weston the funk brothers;winter wonderland ;on&on!!soul power!!...



3. I bought this CD and it is wonderful. Motown really knew what they were doing when they recorded these songs. Flo Ballard commands centre stage with her rendition of "Oh Holy Night." I highly recommend this CD. It would be a wonderful collection to add to the Christmas trimmings. Kim Weston, Temptations and many of the singers of the CD were great. Funk Brothers really know how to get down with their music. Overall Great CD.



4. Decent selection, but nowhere near the album that Motown Christmas 1 was. I probably would not recommend this album.

No comments about It's Christmas (Let's Have Sex).