4 comments about Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (ballet suite)/Swan Lake (excerpts)/Sleeping Beauty Waltz/ Bernstein, NY Philharmonic.

1. This is the best composed music I've heard in my life. It is relaxing and enchanting. Everyone should listen to it, at least once in their lives.



2. Crisp and lively! This CD offered all my favorites from the Nutcracker Suite, Swan Lake along with Sleeping Beauty. What more could I ask? Sound quality is supurb!



3. I purchased this CD for my six year old grandaughter who was dancing in the local production of The Nutcracker for the second year, and she loved it. It contains the best pieces of the three ballets without being so long as to cause little listeners to lose interest, and is a good quality production as well. We enjoyed it throughout the Christmas season.



4. First let me say, I am a huge fan of Leonard Bernstein. I have some outstanding recordings of his that match no other. He has contributed greatly to keeping classical music alive and to my personal library as well. But I have to say that I have better recordings than these of the Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Overall, if you listen to this CD it's fine with some impressive sound that you get from a large tight orchestra such as the NYP (after all, Bernstein was the one who directed them to be as closely knit as they are). The overall interpretation is big and loud with swift movement through the pieces. I personally like the music to sound a bit more expressive and intimate. That's not to say that these lack any emotion. But they are slightly off in tempi and expression to my liking.
   
   For the Nutcracker, Karajan puts more depth into it and the orchestra is just as large. As for the Swan Lake, the interpretation by Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orch. (EMI) is richer and brighter than this Bernstein recording. It also happens to be the complete work and not just the highlights which, now that I have heard it in its entirety, there is no reason to have highlighted excerpts which take away from this phenomenal work by Tchaikovsky. It happens to be a low budget CD which is just an added bonus. So if you really want the highlights version, burn the same pieces from the Bernstein excerpts and there you go! Sorry Lenny.

5 comments about Christmas, Love and You.

1. I didn't buy this for me but I knew my mother would like it. She loves good R&B music like Luther Vandross and anything on the smooth jazz stations. It was perfect for her tastes. She put it on in her car and was happy.
   
   The brother's voice is so smooth and mellow. I have his "Moods" CD and, oh, yes! Will = smooth. His voice reminds me of warm chocolate. Smooth, rich and dark. You know what I'm talking about.



2. I thoroughly enjoyed Will Downing's Christmas CD entitled, "Christmas, Love and You." It was a very romantic CD and it certainly lived up to my expectations of what a Christmas CD should be. It also lived up to the sultry soul sound for which Will Downing is well-known. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who wants to get into the Christmas holiday spirit, especially with their sweetheart!



3. Being a true fan for a long time, I am not surprised that he delivered his "A Game" with this CD. He provides a variety of tracks designed for couples sharing the holiday together and understanding the reason for the season. The perfect gentleman and perfect CD for the perfect holiday- it cannot get any better! The only thing missing is Denzel Washington! (joke)



4. While i have to admit that i haven't been a long time Will Downing fan, i can say that he is smooth with his music and this CD is no different. I just sampled it on Amazon and it was outstanding to say the least. My favorite song is Christmas, Love and You, but they all sound good to me. I was justlooking online for some new Christmas music for this year and i recommend it to any and everyone cause i am gonna buy it for sure!



5. Will Downing is so sexy and, Christmas is no different. I love his personality, stage presence, and most of all his sexy voice! This is a good one!

5 comments about New Wave Christmas - Just Can't Get Enough.

1. I had high hopes for this CD but was somewhat disappointed. To me, the spirit of "new wave" was fun and pop -- the bright side of punk.

   But this CD tends to be cynical and downbeat - more like what I'd expect from punk.

   But, if you have a programmable CD player or MP3 player, there are a few songs that deserve to be in a custom mix.




2. This is one of my favorite Christmas CDs! I play it over and over every year. Some of the rock n roll Christmas CDs seem to have the same songs, but this one has quite a few I haven't heard anywhere else. Christmas Day by Squeeze is probably my favorite, but I also love Santa's Beard by They Might be Giants, Santa Claus by Throwing Muses, Careless Santa by Mono Puff, and Mary XMess by Sun 60. And thrown in to round it out are some perennial favs like Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, the great Fairytale of New York by the Pogues with the sadly deceased Kirsty MacColl, and 2000 Miles by the Pretenders. If you're looking for an alternative to tradition but only want to buy one or two CDs, this should definitely be one of them!



3. This is a good compilation of somewhat rare Christmas songs. It says "New Wave" in the title, but that's stretching it. I certainly wouldn't call Los Lobos, David Bowie or They Might Be Giants "New Wave". But there probably aren't enough Christmas songs by actual New Wave performers to fill a CD, so they had to stretch the definition a bit. Regardless of all that, this is an enjoyable Christmas CD. Any CD that features the great "Fairytale of New York" (my sister's favorite Christmas song) is worth purchasing. There are also great contributions by XTC, the Pretenders, Captain Sensible, They Might Be Giants and others. But not everything is great, alas. "Xmas at K-Mart" is pretty bad, in my opinion. But the good songs far outway the bad songs, so this is a worthwhile Christmas album.



4. This is a good compilation of somewhat rare Christmas songs. It says "New Wave" in the title, but that's stretching it. I certainly wouldn't call Los Lobos, David Bowie or They Might Be Giants "New Wave". But there probably aren't enough Christmas songs by actual New Wave performers to fill a CD, so they had to stretch the definition a bit. Regardless of all that, this is an enjoyable Christmas CD. Any CD that features the great "Fairytale of New York" (my sister's favorite Christmas song) is worth purchasing. There are also great contributions by XTC, the Pretenders, Captain Sensible, They Might Be Giants and others. But not everything is great, alas. "Xmas at K-Mart" is pretty bad, in my opinion. But the good songs far outway the bad songs, so this is a worthwhile Christmas album. Here is the track listing:
   
   1. Thanks for Christmas - The Three Wise Men [aka XTC]
   2. Christmas Day - Squeeze
   3. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues featuring Kristy MacColl
   4. Rudolph the Manic Reindeer - Los Lobos
   5. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders
   6. Santa Claus - Throwing Muses
   7. Little Drummer Boy - Miracle Legion
   8. Xmas at K-Mart - Root Boy Slim & the Sex Change Band
   9. Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie and Bing Crosby
   10. One Christmas Catalogue - Captain Sensible
   11. All I Want for Christmas - Timbuk 3
   12. Shouldn't Have Given Him a Gun for Christmas - Wall of Voodoo
   13. Santa's Beard - They Might Be Giants
   14. Christmas - Buzz of Delight
   15. Christmas Time - Chris Stamey Group
   16. Mary Xmess - Sun 60
   17. Careless Santa - Mono Puff



5. I really do love this CD but I do agree with the other reviewers who said that some of the artists on this CD are NOT New Wave groups. Specifically They Might Be Giants, The Buzz Of Delight, Chris Stamey Group and Mono Puff.
   If these artists were replaced with the following:
   
   Pet Shop Boys - It Doesn't Snow Often On Christmas
   Erasure - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
   Depeche Mode - Christmas Island
   Max Headroom - Merry Christmas, Santa Claus (You're A Lovely Guy)
   
   I, Pat, would be a great deal happier. Anyhoo, that's all I have to say for now. I might be back to edit this review later; but until then... Have a Happy Christmas and a... Merry New Year... is that right?

5 comments about Celtic Christmas, Vol. 2 [Windham Hill].

1. This cd is very relaxing. The bagpipes are great I recomend this cd to everyone!



2. Beautiful listening but badly named. The only seasonal piece on the album was James Galway's arrangement of the Wexford Carol. There are songs about fish, unrequited love, the Great Famine, defeat in battle... heaps of Celtic stuff well worth listening to, but not if you want holiday music. For midwinter celebration you'd do well to give this album a miss and try Celtic Christmas III instead.



3. I love this music--it is so relaxing--I listen to it all year



4. This 56 minute CD contains beautiful Celtic music. It is not your typical hodge podge of "various artists". This CD flows nicely from song to song. One especially nice feature of this CD is the 8 page booklet with liner notes. This includes the lyrics (and English translations, if needed). The liner notes also list musicians and other credits. I especially enjoyed Muladach Mi Is Mi Air M'Aineol by Capercaillie. Recommended to anyone who enjoys Celtic music.



5. Volume 2 of the Celtic Christmas Series is awesome. If you have any or all of the other albums in this series, you have to get this one. Like all the others, the moods of the album range from mellow to exuberant, from wanting to sit & meditate to wanting to get up & dance. Yet this album in itself is as unique as the rest. It has familiar tunes like the 'Star of County Down' & new haunting melodies like 'The Dove's Return'. It completes the set of wonderous Celtic music found in the series. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Christmas: What's It Gonna Be Santa.

1. I am not going to write a bunch of text here. I love the reviews, and I LOVE THIS CD. Chicago's present line-up is 5-star, across the board. I do not take part in the Scheff v. Cetera, Imboden v. Seraphine, and Howland v. Kath debate - but today's Chicago plays as a unified team, more than any other in its history. You always had the sense that Dacus, Pinnick, and Bailey were not true believers; deOliveira was there for the Caribou Sound. And with each passing album, Peter Cetera sounded more and more like he didn't want to be there.
   
   THIS Chicago is awesome, so much so that I would not replace any of them with any other prior Chicago member. Who knows - Terry Kath might have pulled a Bailey and bailed if he didn't like the direction? It's all speculation. All I know is THIS sound works, and every album since Night and Day is a joy.
   
   Keith Howland's a keeper.
   
   OK, I'm starting to write a lot.
   
   Buy this album. Enjoy . . . and Merry Christmas!



2. This edition, featuring 6 new songs at the time of issue, was previously issued as Chicago 25 in 1998. It wasn't a huge seller but gained steam year after year as certain tracks gained radio airplay and through word of mouth sales. In 2003, this version came out and now it's spreading holiday cheer even more than before! You will still find the original version on Amazon, but the 6 new tracks make it worth it to get this one.
   I support just about every song from the original album, and you should get this record just based on how good those songs are. Here are some new thoughts:
   
   The Good: The first Christmas album in `98 started out with Little Drummer Boy; this time that song comes in on track #4. This song set the tone the entire album before, and is the best song on the whole CD. What a great version! This time, the opener is the first of the six new songs, "Winter Wonderland." Not a bad move and not a bad version by the boys! "This Christmas" led by Jason Scheff is done very well, with a crisp sound. "Bethlehem" is an excellent song, very pretty with a great melody. Great vocals by multiple members, keeping a Chicago trademark going. "Sleigh Ride" and "Rudolph" are amazing. `Jolly Old St. Nicolas' is an original by the group; it's not bad but has a little too much guitar neat the end - this focus on guitar will probably satisfy many folks at the holiday parties who are gobbling the goodies while sipping the egg nog and having coffee chasers.
   
   The BAD: The two tracks with the kids singing have (gladly) been pushed to the back of the track listing (Numbers 18 & 19, out of 20 songs) for this new release. Sorry kids, but these tracks have a wonderful 100% success rate of falling victim to the "next track" button on the CD player. Besides these two tracks and a slightly sub par Jolly Old St. Nicolas, this album is a wonderful holiday treat that captures the Chicago sound and warm spirit.
   
   Overall, this is a great Christmas album. There are excellent and comprehensive liner notes, with the story behind the album and breakdowns of each song. Check out the neat retro Christmas gift tags on the inside, on the right side. The guys still have a great sense of humor after all these years.



3. Next to my Elvis Christmas CD, this is my favorite Christmas CD. A great band performing great songs. It seems the traditional songs were written just for Chicago.



4. I have many Xmas albums and they are all starting to sound the same. This is Xmas music with a Chicago flavor. I just got it and find myself going back to this album over and over again.



5. I like it a lot but I like Chicago 25 better. A must for Your rock and roll Chirstmas.

5 comments about Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas.

1. I know that I am swimming against the tide on this one, but I was sort of dissapointed by this album. I am a huge Ella Fitzgerald fan. I think she is the greatest female American singer of the Twentieth Century.
   
   When she sings the standard Christmas songs in the generally accepted manner, her performances are simply superb. What's unfortunate is that the producers of this album wanted to give it a "swing" touch. Her swing take on some of the standard Christmas songs unfortunately end up sounding gimmicky. The single most dissapointing track on this album is the alternative take of Frosty the Snowman. Ella does it with an annoying kid's voice and it is absolutely atrocious. I was so surprised. This is the only time in my opinion, where Ella has absolutely blown a song. It goes to prove that even a genius can make musical mistakes.
   
   Some of the individual songs are real classics. My suggestion is to purchase the classic songs from I-Tunes and avoid purchasing the whole album.



2. I listened to this CD all during the holiday's this past year... Ella Fitzgerald is certainly the Lady of Song... she has such a unique voice; and everything she sings is just so classy; and takes you back in time... I love this CD and wholeheartedly recommend it!



3. This was a very jazzy album and just seemed to try too hard. I know singers must get tired of singing the same type of songs, but I didn't enjoy this one at all and gave it away. Didn't even want to keep it for my Christmas collection.



4. Ella has one of the best voices I have ever heard and this CD is the best collection of Christmas songs I have ever purchased. I love to collect Christmas CDs but this is the best by far. I actually bought two, one for the house and one for my car.



5. Without doubt, Ella's better with the jazz standards than she is on these Christmas standards.
   
   Still, this is a nice, upbeat, jazzy presentation that lets Ella swing things a little. It's definitely worth a spin or two each December.
   
   But note before you buy - a more recent release adds six additional tunes. See Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas [Remastered]
   
   Eric Alan Isaacson

5 comments about Kirk Franklin and the Family Christmas.

1. This is my favorite Christmas CD by far. I've had to buy it on 3 different occasions because it's enjoyed by so many in my family that it seems to always come up missing at the end of the holidays. The fact that I've been willing to buy it again and again is a testament to the power that radiates from the songs on this CD. The arrangement is imepeccable with mix of down home gospel as well as up tempo contemporary songs of praise, all the while keeping with the messages of the true meaning of Christmas. I will buy it again and again if I have to. Thank You Kirk Franklin and the Family for putting out a masterful, classic piece of work.



2. Form the first time I heard this CD. And heard many church choir doing "The Lamb of God". I knew that this CD would be a special one.
   This CD is one that you should have in your collection. All of the songs on this CD, is worth having. From "Silent Night" to the last song "Silver & Gold - Remix" can be played each and every day. That is why I say, "These songs can make everyday Christmas" Give it a listen, and You'll see what I mean.



3. Kirk does it right on this and will always be one of the great Christmas albums no matter what type of music you listen to.



4. I have quite a few gospel Christmas CD's and this is my all time favorite. I have now purchased this CD about 5 times. Every year someone wants to do a song from it and I mistakenly let them have my original never to return again. Best gospel Christmas CD ever recorded. I love it!!!



5. This is one of the best gospel Christmas albums of all time. It is on my "must play" list for the holiday season.
   
   As mentioned in other reviews, this version of silent night is one of the best I have heard. Sound nothng like the original tune but is still superb. Other standouts are: The night that Christ was born, Go tell it on the mountain and the very touching "Love Song".
   
   But the best song on the album is hands down - Now Behold The Lamb. This song will give you goosebumps. It speaks of Jesus's sacrifice when he became the lamb of God to die for our sins. The vocals of Dalon Collins will blow your mind. He is truly gifted.
   
   This is a must have for anyone's Christmas collection.

5 comments about A Statlers Christmas Present.

1. Had an old recording of this, and liked it, and this is nice too.



2. Can't complain when the Statlers sing...humor, harmony, and the holidays. It doesn't get any better than that.



3. I gave this as a present, and the recipient seemed pleased. If you're a Statler Brothers fan, you'll probably like it!



4. Was very happy with the speed of delivery. Love the Staters and the cd were in perfect condition



5. This is a great addition to my Christmas collection. I love the Statlers & never missed their show on TNN when they had it. This brought back many memories of those shows. Thank you.

5 comments about Holiday Harmony.

1. this album combines two things i have loved for a very long time: Christmas music and the incredible voices of "America!" if you are an "America" fan, you should consider adding this to your holiday music collection.



2. Remember the seventies, when the charts were filled with classic songs such as Horse with no name? Now we have a Christmas album from the duo who had that international hit (though they were then a trio) featuring ten familiar Christmas songs and three new songs. With Andrew Gold (another name from the seventies) as producer and multi-instrumentalist, fans of seventies pop music will enjoy this. The set opens with Winter wonderland, which even reminds us of their biggest hit with its arrangement. Other tracks here also provide reminders of their seventies hits.
   
   The group sticks to the festive side of Christmas for the first eleven tracks then rounds off the album with Silent night and First Noel. All the other oldies have been recorded countless times except one (It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas) that is under-exposed. Of the original songs, my favorite is A Christmas to remember but the others (Christmas in California, Winter holidays) are also worth a listen.
   
   If you enjoy America's seventies classic hits as I do, you will love this album.



3. Well...
   These guys are just so darn talented it is hard for me to express in words. They not only do justice to the standards BUT add three NEW songs of their own. All three AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! Very visual songs...Makes me want to go out and buy a tree in May and get a cup of hot Chocolate and decorate. best album since "The Carpenters" A Christmas Portrait.
   Dewey and Gerry ...just keep writing and recording. And I'll stay happy!!!!!!!



4. America does Christmas classics in style. But what makes this disc special is the three original songs they have added. ALL are instant winners. Tunes you want to listen to over and over again. This CD could put old Ebenezer himself in the Holiday Spirit!



5. I'm a huge America fan since I was a kid. I like the songs, that's why I bought this Christmas album. However, upon opening the package I was disappointed by the CD casing because it is not the usual hard plastic case. Its just a cardboard cover that can easily damage your CD. For the benefit of each customer, I suggest that Amazon must require any seller to inform their respective buyer about what type of casing used. Thanks!

5 comments about Greatest Christmas Songs.

1. Julie is simply "Timeless" A classic for all ages. It just wouldn't be Christmas without her "Joy To The World" filling the house.



2. As a child, Julie Andrews featured in two of my favorite films. So when my mother found this LP in the store (the original version, that is), she snapped it up for me. The combination of Andre Previn's orchestration and Julie Andrew's voice was the perfect combination, and, for me, something new as I was raised with the sounds of the Amercian white south (C&W, southern gospel). All the tracks are beautfully done, but it was the unfamiliar songs that captured my imagination: The Lamb of God, Wexford Carol, and, my favorite, The Bells of Christmas. Sadly that old record did not survive time and has been lost for many years. Now, this music has returned to me and it is just as wonderful today as ever. If you loved the music of "The Sound of Music", you will love this.



3. I've always thought Julie Andrews has a beautiful voice, so I was excited to buy this album. Since I was born in 1970, I wasn't really familiar with her recordings from the 1960's. While her voice is indeed beautiful, I was shocked at the music that sounds like it's recorded by a middle school band. I consider my purchase to have been a mistake. Guess I don't like orchestra music from the 1960's.
   
   There's nothing classic or sophisticated about the music. It's as if the producers are grabbing their audience by the lapels and saying, "Okay, Mr. Dimwit, you are too pedestrian to know anything about good music, so let me show you what good music sounds like." At which point you have a flute playing a grating, elementary solo, or a men's chorus that does ridiculous echoes of Ms. Andrew's lines until you want to yell "Stop!", or a harpsicord that sounds like it was played by somebody using only two fingers, or muted trumpets that sound horrible (but at least the producers made sure to feature muted trumpets for the edification of middle America).
   
   I can just imagine what Andrew's voice would sound like if it were matched with first rate music.



4. This album not only features Julie's angelic voice, but also a big orchestra in the mix. As much as I love the sounds of dozens of instruments supporting a vocalist, I was hoping for a little less noise. Julie's voice could stand alone for an entire album. I guess from a purist point of view, I was looking for more of her crisp, clear, mellow music recorded instead.



5. Although my daughter doesn't know the name Julie Andrews, she does know Maria from the Sound of Music, so she will listen to this music. Andrews truly has an exceptional voice, and she shows it off well in all these traditional English songs (with three movie love songs added on at the end). This is music that will make you feel serene and calm amidst the holiday rush, particularly if you are a soprano. This is not the same serenity you get with New Age instrumentals, you have to appreciate vocals. Imagine you are on mountaintop in Switzerland twirling around under the sun and clouds . . . .