5 comments about Fred Hammond Christmas: Just Remember.

1. Man I used to play holes in my Donald Lawrence Christmas CD. That was until I purchased this CD....MAN! Fred is a bad man! I remember I played this CD everyday after I purchased it. Even after Christmas! I'm talking like 6-7 months after Christmas(although not everyday), especially "He Is The Reason". This CD is sure to bless your soul and remind you of the true reason for the season. "His Name Is Jesus" is a wonderful beginning to this project. It's another song that can be played year round. My favorites are "Go Tell It On The Mountain", "Just Remember", "Christmas Everyday", and "He Is The Reason". I love these songs. These are the best songs on this album. When you listen to this album, you'll know why. Some of these songs sound like he wrote them for Commissioned, especially "We Sing Glory". "God Has Been So Good" is sort of a laid-back groove and it's great traveling music. All the songs on this album are great and when you listen, you'll find yourself continuously hitting the repeat button. If you're looking for some great Christmas music-whether you want to groove or just think about the birth of Jesus- this album will not disappoint. Be Blessed



2. Fred Hammond's Christimas CD is inspiring. "He is the reason" really let's everyone know why we celebrate Christmas. It is a soulfull jubilee that hits the mark. Merry Christmas!



3. I have bought this album 3 times!!! ( it always seems to come up missing) It is fantastic! a blessing to the musical ears that are tired of the same ol' Christmas songs we always hear, these songs have substance, and meaning and of course the are Word based and word laced! I listen to it all year it continually blesses me, but hey what can you expect from fred who I have affectionately titled "THE GREAT ONE" God Bless ten thousand stars!!!!!!!!!!!



4. I truly loved listening to this cd. I'm into praise dancing and listening to the song "A Strange Way To Save The World" just moved me beyond words. I mean my hands and feet took off. May blessings continue for brother Hammond.



5. Fred Hammond has always taken simple Bible text's and put them into beautiful inspiring and spritually uplifting music, which is what I love about his CD's. Once again Fred Hammond has done it with this Christmas CD starting with "Go Gabriel", you can't help but wish you were one of the Angels in Heaven listening to God's command! Then "He is the Reason" puts the season in perspective with a deep stirring awakening in your chest that makes you just want to sing along out loud & just as strong in your car, on the train or walking to work. You can't help but be moved! I highly recommend this one to be added to your collection.
   
   It's January 15th and I'm still listening to it in the car on my 2hr drive to work.
   
   Loren

5 comments about The Best of Aaron Neville - The Christmas Collection: 20th Century Masters.

1. I bought this as a gift and the person who received it, loves it. Great value.



2. Great sounds - played it thru out the holiday season. Can't wait for next year so I can play it again. I have several of Aaron's CDs & love them all.



3. This is the best Christmas CD ever. Aaron Nevelle's beautiful voice makes all the classics seem fresh. Next year, I'm buying these CDs for friends.



4. I love this collection of Christmas songs by Aaron Neville. He is one of my favorite singers and his rendition of Ava Maria is beautiful.



5. What can I say.....two of my alltime favorites, Christmas music and Aaron Neville. His amazing voice and unique arrangements are always a treat. "Please Come Home for Christmas" and "Louisiana Christmas Day" are "Such a Night" are favorites. Rev up your Christmas spirit with Aaron's amazing voice! I'm treating myself to his other Christmas CD next year.....the heck with waiting for Santa!!

4 comments about The Christmas Album.

1. All the other Connie Xmas albums are a track or two short. If you are only going to get one of the Connie Xmas albums then get your hands on this one as it has 15 tracks. All other releases I have seen have got 10,12 or 13 tracks and so you lose out on a few decent pieces of music.



2. Among Connie's original MGM albums you can find a selection of popular Christmas songs ("Connie's Christmas" and its repackage "Christmas in my heart"). The reviewed here compilation by Spectrum Music (a PolyGram company) refers to none of them but, containing 15 tracks, is the most powerful (but still not complete) set of Connie's Christmas songs. "The Christmas album" brings to you international Carols ("Silent night, holy night", "Adeste Fidelis"), folk Christmas songs ("Twelve days of Christmas") and songs not exactly connected with Christmas ("Ave Maria", "The Lord's Prayer"), which can be sung also during other Catholic ceremonies (e.g. weddings and... funerals). Placing them in this set is open to discussion; according to this way of thinking, somebody might claim that Christmas is a proper time to sing "God bless America" (many thanks for not including it here). The bulk of space in this CD is filled with typical Christmas love songs, which in my opinion, fit Connie's voice the best. Among them you can find slow, lyric tunes ("Have yourself a merry little Christmas" or my favorite "I'll be home for Christmas") and very vivid ("I'm gonna be warm this winter", comparable only with "Rockin' around the Christmas tree" by Brenda Lee). It's a pity that none of CD editions contain all Connie's winter/Christmas songs. It would be much more accurate if instead of (or in addition to) "Blue winter" (obligatory track of various so-called "Connie's Greatest Hits"; actually not a Christmas but winter love song; the word "Christmas" does not appear in its lyrics) this set contained "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer" (mentioned in the booklet in unclear context) and "Happy New Year, baby". In Catholic (and also laic) tradition we are used to linking together these two holidays wishing "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". What hereby I also do.
   By the way, nothing beats Polish Christmas Carols (Koledy; particularly if performed by Mazowsze), also available from Amazon.



3. A combination of two earlier Christmas albums into one. These are the originals made early in her career. Good music & great memories!!



4. Although some people might argue that not every song here is truly a Christmas song, every song here is entitled to appear on such an album. And any idea that a song has to mention Christmas in the lyrics in order to be classed as a Christmas song is clearly nonsense as that would rule out Silent night, the most popular Christmas song of all, and a whole hot of other Christmas perennials. I agree that some Christmas albums stretch the boundaries a bit too far, but this isn't one of them.
   
   So to the actual music, which Connie recorded at at a time when her popularity was extremely high. Here, Connie was in top form as usual. Most of the songs are Christmas standards including Winter wonderland, The Christmas song, White Christmas, I'll be home for Christmas, Have yourself a merry little Christmas, Twelve days of Christmas, Ave Maria, Silent night, O little town of Bethlehem, The first Noel and Adeste fidelis (O come all ye faithful). Yes, Ave Maria is a Christmas standard, whether it was intended to be or not. The album closes with The Lord's prayer, which is fair enough. Connie is certainly not the only singer to include this on a Christmas album; among others, Barbra Streisand did so on her first Christmas album. With so many familiar songs, this album was no doubt popular with record buyers when first released and deserves to remain so.
   
   That leaves three other songs, these being Baby's first Christmas (a track that you may have come across on Christmas compilations by various artists), Blue winter (which sounds as though it was inspired by the more famous Blue Christmas) and I'm gonna be warm this winter (perhaps my favorite here, being the one song that I was unfamiliar with at the time of purchase).
   
   This is an excellent Christmas album of its type and is a most welcome addition to my ever-growing collection of Christmas music.

1 comments about Baby Einstein: Baby Santa.

1. I gave it as a gift to a relative who has a 8 month old and it is a big hit...

5 comments about A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 5.

1. This is the best of the Winter's Solstice series thus far. The songs are traditional enough to evoke the season, and the arrangements are unique enough that you can listen to this all year long.



2. Not your ordinary Christmas Music CD. What a nice change to the typical Holiday music selections. The whole collection is very moving. If you want a change of pace try this one!



3. her offertory
   
   by Kerrie Lynn Robinson White
   (Thursday, September 30, 2004)
   
   the utmost gift of self
   shining-forth reception
   for utmost gifts
   true love beseeching
   at last in sight
   brinkmanship on the line
   
   
   
   (Inspired in part by the photograph on this page, artist is to be found and identified, and Jim Brickman's "Joy to the World" from the A Winter's Solstice V compact disc.)
   
   (Note Regarding Brinkmanship and the Cold War: Secretary of state John Foster Dulles distrusted the Soviet Union during the cold war in spite of its softer line at one point. In January 1956, he told the American people that the United States had been on the brink of war several times. "If you are scared to go to the brink, you are lost," Dulles warned. The use of "brinkmanship" had become part of U.S. policy. Source: World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia, 2003 Edition, Version 7.1.1, © 2002 World Book, Inc. and its licensors.)
   
   I pray for peace, in the Name of Jesus.



4. I have the first five of the Winter Solstice CD's by Wyndam Hill artists. They are all beautiful and so peaceful to listen to. A Winter's Solstice, Vol 5 is just as good as the rest. I look forward to purchasing Vol 6 later this year.



5. Don't know cant play it it was a cassette not a CD and I should have read it more carefully. Be cautious and pick slowly.

5 comments about An Irish Christmas.

1. I bought this CD without even previewing it, as I'm a Moya fan. Even still, I was blown away by the beauty of it, the simplicity of the vocal lines, and the intricate way in which the tunes are arranaged. This is not your ordinary 'holiday' clone CD; with one more boring recording of the same dozen or so overdone Christmas carols! All of the tracks offer refreshing new 'advents' into the wonder of the Winter Solstice Season. A haunting, blissful album!



2. I am listening to this CD every single day since i bought it. It is just wonderful. I bought two more to give to friends. Highly recommend this



3. Moya Brennan's Christmas release is beautiful, but to me it is not exceptional. It is one that has beautiful Christmas music, but it does not stand out from others, such as Celtic Woman's Christmas tape, or the collection "One Silent Night" which features Brennan among others.
   
   There are still some great tracks, such as "Carol Of The Bells", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Joy To The World", "What Child Is This?" and "Oiche Chuin (Silent Night)".
   
   It is a mixture of the familiar and the not-as familiar traditional, and it focuses on the real Christmas as opposed to Santa Claus nonsense.



4. I tend to order at the last minute ..... and Piper likes her food ..."right now" .... thanks to your efforts and fast deliveries, she has not gone without. I cannot find Kitty Kaviar locally and it is her favorite thing...so that places you on her "best friend" list. Thanks again.



5. I simply love Irish versions of the carols and the way she sings it is very ethereal! Love it!

3 comments about Bill and Gloria Gaither: Homecoming Christmas.

1. This is one of the better videos. I love the footage about the kids in South Africa. I would recommend this video for any Gospel Music Nut.



2. This was a joy to watch. The music and the scenes of the aid to the South African orphans was very touching. The program was put together very well .



3. These dvds have been such an encouragement and vehicle for JOY in my family's lives!!!!!

5 comments about Christmas Prayer.

1. Christmas Prayer by Aaron Neville was bought by me to give to my husband. He was delighted with the wonderful music within. Neville's voice is a surprise if you haven't heard it before. It is somewhat hi-pitched and totally falsetto which gives a new twist to familiar Christmas classics. Our favorite piece is not even mentioned on the cover of the CD. The last song and again, our favorite, is a great version of Amazing Grace.



2. This was a great transaction. The delivery was quick and the item arrived as advertized.



3. ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T LIKE THE NEVILLE BROTHERS, BUT MY UNCLE LIKED THEIR RENDITION OF ONE ON THE CHRISTMAS CAROLS.



4. Everything from "Aaron Neville" is wonderful. His voice is definitely a Blessing from God. Another plus is that he is a great guy and a devoted friend. Pick any of his albums and you will not be disappointed, including this Christmas one, just beautiful.



5. Yes, it's getting close to that time of year again. I admit it, I spent most of school in choir and this is about the time we started practicing for the Christmas pageants, so I'm ready for Christmas music in September.
   
   Well, and you might as well stock up on some of the good music. Maybe you'd like something different this season.
   
   "Christmas Prayer" is one of my favorite Christmas CDs. Aaron Neville's got a beautiful voice and the orchestration is nothing but superlative.
   
   The title cut is my wish for the world, too. Just a beautiful sentiment. My other favorites:
   
   Go Tell it On the Mountain
   Christmas Everyday (Nice reggae beat)
   Amazing Grace
   
   The last favorite I mentioned, "Amazing Grace" is just plain beautiful any time of the year. Neville does the most soulful rendition of this song I have ever heard. The whole CD is well worth listening to. Might as well start with the good wishes!
   
   Rebecca Kyle, September 2008

5 comments about In the Nutcracker Mood.

1. This is the final cd in the Glenn Miller Christmas collection and the one that takes the biggest risks. Hearing the Nutcracker in a big band style is quite jarring (especially for a dancer like myslef), but after I got over the initial shock, I was able appreciate the work. My only problem is that music from the Nutcracker only takes up about half the cd! After the (shotened) Nutcracker Suite, we're treated to swing renditions of classic Christmas carols and even Auld Lang Syne. All the music is good, but the cd is called "In The Nutcracker Mood" not In The Nutcracker and Christmas mood. Still, I enjoy this cd and the Nutcracker segments are always a topic of conversation at parties. Just wish ther was more Nutcracker on this Nutcracker cd.



2. I have to agree with the previous reviewer, while Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite on Side A sounds really good, it would have been great if it were alot longer. It does help that it has the arrangements by the original band members-many of whom have gotten together from all across the country to gather in NYC to record these holiday albums. Side B makes up for everything, though-from the opening cut Jolly Old Saint Nicholas-hearing it makes you think you really are hearing the band plus the Modernaires from back in the 1940s-to the final cut What Are You Doing New Year's Eve. All in all, a bargain at the price listed here.



3. I first became enamored with the Glenn Miller Orchestra's IN THE CHRISTMAS MOOD albums with the second of the three. I've since collected them all, this being the most recent.

   I love the purely instrumental big band tracks on all three of the albums. These guys-original members of the Glenn Miller Orchestra who've gotten together to create these holiday recordings-are OBVIOUSLY the real thing. They interpret traditional holiday songs with an impeccable and immensely fun big band swing.

   My bone to pick-and a major one, unfortunately-is with the "Moonlight Seranaders," who sing on (thankfully only) four of the sixteen tracks on this album. Although my experience of authentic big band recordings from the 1940s is slim, I do have a couple of albums, including a two-disc set of original Glenn Miller recordings. On NONE of these albums do the singers sound as disgustingly saccharin as these vocalists.

   The sound of the "Moonlight Seranaders" is definitely that of the sappy Lawrence Welk singers of the 1960s and '70s. It's truly terrifying and, sadly, interferes greatly with the otherwise fantastic tracks on this album and the others in the series. Personally, I'd much rather have had a single, talented, emotive vocalist on several of the tracks rather than the sickly-sweet chorus, which completely ruins songs like "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" on this album and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" on one of the other two.

   Nevertheless, for the usually ridiculoulsly low price of these albums, you really can't go wrong. The twelve great tracks on IN THE NUTCRACKER MOOD is well worth its cost-with or without the "Moonlight Seranaders." Buy it and re-live those fantastic days of big band music right in your own home this holiday season.




4. Another fantastic Christmas album from the Glen Miller Orchestra. As others have pointed out, it might not be quite up to the same standard that the other In the Christmas Mood CDs have, but then again, they're a bloody high standard! The Nutcracker suite is remarkably (surprisingly?) cool as a big band arrangement (although, again as others have said, longer would have been cooler - it takes up less than half the CD). The rest of the music is great jazz arrangements of Christmas favourites, and in the wonderful style of the previous albums.
   
   All in all, a fantastic album! An excellent buy, particularly as part of the 3 box set (under "In the Christmas Mood")!



5. If you really want a jazz version of the Nutcracker Suite, get the Duke Ellington version which is available on the "Three Suites" CD. Nothing against the GMO rendition but the Ellington version just swings so much harder. It is a little short but in my opinion it is vastly superior.

5 comments about Christmas With The Rat Pack.

1. Even better than expected!!! A great collection of Christmas tunes done only the way these guys can........SMOOTH! Quickly became one of our favorite holiday CD's.



2. This is a wonderful sounding CD. The only thing that would make it better is if the track for "Baby Its Cold Outside" by Dean Martin would have been the original. However, with so many great songs to choose from, it isn't worth complaining about.



3. The music was enjoyable. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the Ratpack or Christmas music.



4. I bought this for my husband for Christmas and he really enjoyed it! He put the CD in his car and played it every time he was driving. Glad I purchased it.



5. I bought this cd as a Christmas gift for my Dad. He absolutely LOVES it and listens to it constantly!
   If you're a fan of the rat pack, you can't go wrong with this cd.