5 comments about Christmas with the Rat Pack.

1. I have alway loved the Rat Pack and this CD was just what I needed to remember why I love Christmas. Thanks



2. a must have. perfect listening while putting up the tree and sipping on some spiked nog!!!



3. When this came out in 2002 I grabbed a copy from a fast-diminishing pile at my local record store. And I now regard it as one of my all-time seasonal favourites.
   
   The opening lines from the insert tells it all: "Forget about ho-ho-ho and bells that jingle. This Christmas will be strictly ... Ring-A-Ding Ding. Yep, Frank, Dean & Sammy are serving a heaping helping of yuletide cheer featuring classic versions of holiday standards, rare first-time CD performances and hitherto unreleased bonus tracks."
   
   This is followed by two pages of brief anecdotes from each of the stars, some of it related to the origins of the nickname The Rat Pack, as well as a note from Frank's long-time pianist Bill Miller relating their appearance in Las vegas while filming Ocean's Eleven.
   
   A picture spread in the middle shows the three in action on stage, followed by three pages showing the contents and when the song first appeared on record. The earliest [track 11] dates to 1954 and the Capitol LP Merry Christmas To You while most of the remainder are culled from albums originally reeased in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Track 20 is from Dean's TV special on December 21, 1967 and track 21 is from his December 31, 1970 show. The only one previously unreleased is track 3, Christmas Time All Over The World by Sammy, and when you hear it you'll wonder why it was held back at the time.
   
   Thank you Capitol for what is now surely an essential addition to any Christmas collection.



4. Just like "Christmas Story" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", this compilation of Rat Pack classics has become an absolute favorite and a Christmas ritual. This was the frist Christmas CD my wife and I bought when we got married and with hours of holiday driving to see our families, we have never regretted it. While there are other albums from these artists, it's tough to get such a great collection on a single CD. It would be nice to have a little more from Sammy Davis Jr, but as a whole, this is a fantastic mix, and you won't be disappointed.



5. I have had to buy at least ONE new copy every year--someone always talks me out of my copy! Absolutely the greatest holiday music for kids (and grown-ups) of all ages!

3 comments about Christmas Gumbo.

1. This is one of the best Christmas album I've ever heard.
   The songs are in a variety of New Orleans and Louisiana styles of Blues, Cajun, Funk, Jazz and Alt. Rock that are performed by some of the most acclaimed Louisiana artists like Aaron Neville, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Marva Wright, Art Neville, the Subdudes and many more.
   This album will add spice to any Christmas and it also has serious ballads that will warm your heart.
   I could listen to these songs all year long.
   Enjoy!



2. There is not a bad song on this collection, and that is rare! Even on the best cd's, there are usually songs that are a bit weaker than others. But every number here is a powerhouse of talent and originality. And on the point of originality, none of the songs are covers of the same carols you may have 20 times over by other artists in your music library. Each is a new holiday-themed song. I have had the great pleasure of seeing many of these performers live at the Western MD Blues Fest - and these tunes capture that energy and presence wonderfully. This is the best cajun collection of its kind...you will be thrilled.



3. the CD is a little dull. I would have liked some more upbeat cajun tunes.

2 comments about Christmas Comedy 1.

1. After listening to this album a couple times, it's still a pretty good collection of parodies. Most of the short skits mixed in are also funny even if they do interrupt the music. Most of the songs would be safe around kids, but a few tracks might need to be removed due to sexual content.



2. I was under the impression that this was an ADULT CD. There was NOTHING offencive on this! This is a kid's CD!

5 comments about Horny Holidays!.

1. I have had this CD for years and it is our absolute favorite! We never get tired of it. Fun, Upbeat, and Sly. It's Mojo at his best!



2. When I first heard this cd it was Christmas Eve, the Family and I were gathered around they tree opening our presents. Ever since then it has been a family tradition on Christmas Eve to listen to these rousing renditions of our holiday favorites.



3. Whatever it is that brought you to read this review, take it as a sign. You should buy this CD! Maybe even buy two, because you are likely to spill eggnog on one of them. If you are a Mojo fan, this is arguably his best CD. If you are looking for something different in your holiday music, here it is. This recording sounds like Mojo and the Toadliquors got together for a few (too many) drinks to rehearse, and just ended up recording that. It's a great mix of R&B, traditional, and a few original songs. The singing and playing may be a little sloppy, and Mojo doesn't quite cut it singing "Everyday Will Be Like a Holiday", but the inspired piano playing by Wet Dawg more than makes up any musical short-comings.

   Some highlights:
   *The opening song, an irreverent-yet-sincere "Happy Birthday" to Jesus [].
   *The rave-up of "Good King Wenceslas" (I forgot the words - let's just sing La La La).
   *Every juvenile delinquent's favorite version of "Jingle Bells" (that's right, Batman smells).
   *"We Three Kings" is reworked as a tale of drunken revelry. It turns out that "We Three Kings of Orient Are" nicely rhymes with both "drinking whiskey in a bar" and "throwing up in our dad's car". This song also includes a great Tom Waits impression.

   If your line of good taste has not been crossed by the end of the disc, it probably will be on the final cut, "Twas the Night Before Christmas", when Mojo sings of committing unnatural acts with Blitzen. Do not play this for your mom.




4. as a long time mojo fan i was bummed-this is a stinker
   adolescent renditions of christmas standards-nothing original nothing offensive-just NOTHING-one original song, more or less
   what a drag-listen to the album before you buy it-more than a few seconds of each cut-



5. This is Mojo Nixon's Christmas album. He got together with his band, The Toadliquors, and recorded some Christmas songs. Unfortunately, he didn't bother to learn the lyrics to any of the songs, just relying on his rather poor memory. He often forget the words and just sings whatever dirty words pop into his head. The whole album is very sloppily played. But that's Mojo for ya.

2 comments about Christmas With Kiri Te Kanawa - Kiri Te Kanawa, Michael George,.

1. I was delighted with this DVD. Te Kanawa's voice is radiant, and she is beautiful and dressed elegantly for the season. The DVD has a great deal of variety featuring a singer with a marvelous bass voice, superb orchestra, and a boys' and men' chorus that are all well-trained. I plan to watch and listen to this wonderful DVD for many years to come. I love to hear the standard and familiar Christmas carols, as well as some more unfamiliar ones that are included. Thumbs up on this one.



2. I first experienced this concert six years ago in a television adaptation, where each carol was introduced by David Frost with an astonishing amount of misinformation. Even with that intrusion, Kiri te Kanawa's performance of such carols as "There is no Rose of Such Virtue" and "Of the Father's Heart Begotten" was superlative, and on this DVD, Christmas with Dame Kiri can be savored without commentary. She is well supported by the choirs of Coventry and Lichfield Cathedrals, by the BBC Philharmonic, and by the trumpet of Jouko Harjanne. She is perfectly complemented by bass-baritone Michael George, who deserves more acknowledgement in the packaging of the DVD. Kultur International is furthermore quite Scrooge-like in failing to provide any information about the versions of carols performed here, but that's my final "humbug" for this item. Kiri te Kanawa and Michael George perform with sincerity and art, the recording is good, and the camerawork and editing are satisfying, with panoramas of the cathedral juxtaposed with Graham Sutherland's Christ the King, and candle flames that resonate like the music itself.

5 comments about Home for Christmas.

1. This CD does everything well - the big orchestral arrangements that are fun and swingy, the hauntingly beautiful religious songs she wrote, the softer acoustic numbers. She doesn't make any bad choices here and there's maximum style with minimal schmaltz. I'd never purchased any of her music before but consider this in my top 10 of Christmas CD's, which is saying a lot because I've collected a ton of Christmas music over the years.



2. Listen to any radio station that plays continuous Christmas music around the holiday season, and you're bound to hear a song by Amy Grant at least once during the broadcast day. To be expected, since she's now released three Christmas albums. But on this, her second Christmas effort, released in 1992 on the heels of the multi-platinum pop breakthrough HEART IN MOTION, she pulls it off especially well. It's completely devoid of the "fluffy" pop stuff for which she's been reviled. The album features plenty of the usual burnt-to-a-crisp Christmas standards, including "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Winter Wonderland" and "O Come All Ye Faithful," but Amy puts her stamp on each of these to make them special. "Winter Wonderland" features a nice, jazzy arrangement, and "O Come..." is highlighted by a strong vocal performance from Amy and a boy's choir in the background. Amy also covers David Foster and Natalie Cole's "Grown-Up Christmas List," which has since been recorded by everyone and his mother, and her version remains my favorite (there was also an accompanying video). (Sorry, Kelly Clarkson; this song is best handled by a non-"diva" singer.) There are also faithful remakes of Andy Williams' "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" and Carly Simon's "The Night Before Christmas" (which, being a Carly fan also, I definitely enjoyed). The real standouts on "Home For Christmas," though, are the originals. "Emmanuel, God With Us" is haunting. Of course, "Breath Of Heaven (Mary's Song)" is the real classic. It's an account of how the Virgin Mary must have felt knowing that she was about to give birth to the Savior of the world. To this day, I can't listen to it without getting misty. It has deservedly since become a standard and has been recorded by several other artists, including Broadway star Barbara Cook and most recently by (oh, puh-leeeze) Jessica Simpson. That song alone is worth the price of this album. If you're looking for a Christmas album with an even mix of the secular and the spiritual and without the glitz, flash and vocal acrobatics of Mariah, Celine and the like, this album is for you. No surprise to me that it's still an airplay favorite at Christmas time these days.



3. This is a great collection of tunes but its Amy Grant's voice and her
   musical varitey that carry this Christmas classic way past most
   of the current top 40 Christmas offerings that come out each
   new year. Most new artists get a hit record, the next thing they seem to do is record
   a Christmas album?? This one, along with Vince Gill's classic "Let there be
   peace on earth" and many from his second Christmas collection as well, should
   be in your collection. Its kinda funny how the two have gotten together and married and now create their own special
   Christmas shows, like minds. Whether you enjoy the religious
   side or the spiritual side to this it has just a right mix
   , its alittle old fashion here and there, especially for us
   over 40 crowd who remember what Christmas use to mean, before
   the commerical crazy took off, I find this Amy Grant Christmas collection, HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
   my favorite of the 3 she's put out but you can pick out many cuts
   off of each to make a really outstanding CD burn. Home for Christmas can be played start to finish, its that good.



4. ...and I noticed a trend here. The overwhelming majority of people writing reviews of this album think it's fabulous, and they are not wrong. The choice of songs, the production, and Amy's performance are all flawless.



5. This is a rather good album. It is fun and light and merry, although it is not my most favorite, I do definitely like it! I must mention the note-worthy "Breath Of Heaven", which is a beautiful song, both in lyric and melody. Overall, a very good Christmas CD. The only thing I really do not like about it is the two instrumental tracks. I want to hear Amy Grant sing, not her instrumentalists playing!

3 comments about Timeless Christmas.

1. I do not give many reviews because I hate to write, but after listening to DMHO in their Timeless Christmas CD, I feel overwhelmed to spread the Joy you will feel after listening, tapping your feet, and snapping your fingers to this new upbeat renditions of Christmas music. All 13 tracks are excellent and done in their own DMHO style. Here the traditional Jingle Bells, Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, Little Drummer Boy, Sleigh Ride, and Joy To The World done in pleasing new versions you never heard before. Little Drummer Boy is more than rum a bum dum, it swings. Like something blusey? Frosty The Bluesman is a horn blowing blue style that gives you feeling good. My favorite track is Jesus Child which starts out on the first note to get you dancing and hand waving and doing the Charleston. Its a little bit Dixie with six minutes of banjo and horns. If you want to hear joyous Christmas music, you will definitely love Timeless Christmas.



2. DMHO is quickly becoming my favorite group. This album has big band/jazzy versions of Christmas standards as well as a few DMHO originals ("Frosty the Bluesman" is a scream). If you ever get to see this group live, it is a fun show. Amazing talent from a young group of guys. Every time I start to play this CD, my 3 year old son dances all over the kitchen. This is not my first Denver CD and it won't be my last!



3. I first saw this group on the Gospel Channel and immediately went to my computer to order the CD - I only wish there was a DVD of the concert. As a 31 year band and choir director and a professional musician for even longer I really appreciate the quality of the arrangements, the performance and the obvious "chemistry" between the band members. You don't find that very often. I'll definitely be watching for more performances.

5 comments about Winter Song.

1. While there are other CDs by John Tesh that I thoroughly enjoy, this CD is definitely my favorite. The music is very relaxing, soothing, peaceful, and makes for excellent study music. The CD is a mix of classical tunes and original modern tunes by Tesh. The CD includes classical guitar, grand piano, and full orchestration. Every song has it's own life and there is a nice texture and range to the music. The CD includes songs from Bach, Corelli, Bisharat, Puccini, and more. It also contains 2 original songs by Tesh; "Dear Unknown," and "Goodnight Marie." If you are wanting a CD that contains peaceful classical type music which also has a slight Christmas or winter atmosphere to it, then this is the best CD out there that I am aware of. Just sample some of the songs for yourself.



2. This is great music to fall asleep to, read a book to, or snuggle up by a cozy fire. It is warm and pleasant. Brings out nostalgic feelings. I recommend this to any fan of good music.



3. This compilation of music is so amazing. I can fall asleep listening to this music at night, and I usually wake up in the middle of the night and turn it on again so I sleep better. It is so relaxing to listen to, and you can do ANYTHING while you are listening to it. Studying, homework, papers...even cleaning your house; it is great!



4. This is the most beautiful CD I have ever listened to and have purchased it for many friends, at thier request.It suits any occasion and it can be the most important sound in the room or it can mellow into the group that you dont even realize it is on until you realize you are humming along.Don't risk not being able to get this wonderful compelation. Truthfully Tesh's best work!



5. this would be the one I would choose. John Tesh does in incredibly haunting rendition of these classical masterpieces! It is simply a stunningly beautiful piece of music.
   
   Inevitably people ask about this cd each time I play it.
   
   This is a must have!
   
   This is John Tesh at his best. It doesn't get any better!

5 comments about The 25th Day of December.

1. A wonderful Christmas album. Darin sang the definitive version of "Auld Lang Syne." Great phrasing, mellow voice. A beautiful collection of eclectic Yuletide songs. Bobby was one of the all-time greats. With all due respect, Frank and Tony lucked out on December 23, 1973.



2. After playing the sheet music to "Child of God", I was thrilled to finally hear the song. The music is upbeat even by today's standards and many of the songs are original or have been given the Darrin touch. Truly wish I had found this album 40 years ago but then it wouldn't have been digitally remastered on CD which is certainly a plus!



3. A wonderful Christmas present to any Bobby fan. Kept playing it over and over.



4. I love and miss Bobby Darin, and Christmas is my favorite time of year. it was wonderful to hear him sing not only old standards, but songs I had not heard in a long time. Merry Christmas!



5. This Christmas album by Hall of Famer Bobby Darin was released in 1960. Bobby eschewed contemporary Christmas songs in favor of traditional hymms and Negro spirituals. No songs about Santa here, only songs about the birth of Jesus. Bobby sings them very well, with help from the Bobby Scott Chorale. The CD includes one bonus track, "Christmas Auld Lang Syne", which was released as a single the same year the album came out. It probably wasn't included on the album because it isn't about the birth of Jesus. This is a very good Christmas album.

5 comments about 22 Merry Christmas Favorites.

1. I don't know what the first reviewer was expecting, but this is indeed Lawrence Welk and his ochestra and singers. My parents had the album set from which these were taken and they sound just as good now as they did when I was a child.
   
   For anyone who likes the old time Christmas songs, this CD is a must.



2. The person who gave this CD 1 star is mistaken. This CD is perfectly legitimate Lawrence Welk, with all of the recordings coming from the 4-record set put out by Reader's Digest in 1969/1970, with the exception of "Christmas in Los Angeles". That's Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts on "Silver Bells", Ralna English on "What Child is This", and so on. When I first got this CD, my principal regret was that it didn't include Jo Ann Castle's fabulous honky-tonk piano version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". Happily, that cut is included in the newly (re-?) released "Christmas Memories". Buy this CD, buy that CD, and buy "Jingle Bells", which includes a few more of the songs from the box LP set plus some different (though perfectly legitimate) versions of others, such as the Lennon Sisters' recording of "Merry Christmas from Our House to Your House". Don't bother with the 10-song CD "Merry Christmas from Our House to Your House", as it doesn't contain any songs/versions that aren't already covered on the other three. Sadly, there are still some songs from the box LP set that are conspicuously absent on any CD, and we can only hope that those will be included in a future release, or that the box LP set itself will be released in its entirety on CD. Some of the missing classics: "Twas the Night Before Christmas", "Christmas Dreaming", "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", "High on a Housetop", "Ho Ho Ho", "Here Comes Santa Claus", and "Let's Have an Old Fashioned Christmas" among others. Still, though I don't pretend to know how Ranwood went about selecting songs for these compilations (even "Jingle Bells" doesn't exactly match the LP - from the 50s? - by the same title), if you like Lawrence Welk (and I dare say even if you DON'T like his non-holiday stuff), you simply can't go wrong here. Light a fire, fix yourself a glass of eggnog, and listen to this wonderful CD as you watch the snow falling outside your window. Merry Christmas.



3. This is a premier Christmas CD!! It is absolutely inspiring with Lawrence Welk orchestrations and vocals that are so moving that I defy "Scrooge" to not like them. This is a true Christmas offering. As to the reviewer to said this was a "fraud", I'm sorry to say, she is sadly mistaken. She must have been listening to something else. This is pure "Lawrence Welk from the vintage years!!
   
   We have Ralna English singing "What Child is This", Tanya Welk-Roberts singing "Do You Hear What I Hear", Clay Hart and Steve Smith (from the 1960s Blender's group both with beautiful voices, Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts singing "Silver Bells" and to my delight and surprise, Sandi and Salli singing "I Wanna Do More than Whistle", a nice bouncy happy tune!! THe rest are pure standards with beautiful orchestrations.
   
   This is the perfect Christmas CD and I will play it for many seasons to come. This is Christmas Music the way it was meant to be!! I also have Lawrence Welk's "Christmas Memories" which is equally fine as well which includes more cuts and work by more Lawrence Welk artists such as JoAnn Castle and Joe Feeney.
   
   Trust me, any Lawrence Welk fan will not be disappointed with this!!



4. I bought the 4 record set over 35 years ago and have played this 'wunnerful' music each year as we decorate our Christmas tree. I made cassette copies when my daughter moved away------even to England; she has kept up the tradition even to this day. Our concern was the longevity of the cassetts, so I searched the internet to find possible CD's. I was SO thrilled to find this and another CD available and immediately order her and me a set. Now we are assured of ALWAYS being able to enjoy Lawrence Welk's Christmas music forever. Thank you for making this available.



5. This compilation from LAWRENCE WELK, HIS ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS, is a christmas gem of christmas music. It is without any doubt, one of the best christmas cd's ever released. This release, 22 MERRY CHRISTMAS FAVORITES FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE, finds itself in my cd player very often over the christmas months of november and december. Christmas wouldn't be the same without it.
   
   The songs all sound as if they were recorded in the same session rather than scattered years. It sounds as if it was a single recorded christmas album from perhaps 1960 or so. I didn't even know it was a compilation until after I read that it was. That's how much I thought it was it's own early 1960's record. This is a plus because all the songs mix into each other really well.
   
   You will get some fabulous orchestra music, some wonderful chorus singing, and some superb solo or duet singing. In fact, it's one of the great christmas releases where every song is really dynamite. I'm pretty certain you won't be skipping any songs to get to the next great one and you'll play it straight through time after time. And with that in mind, this cd would be a perfect cd to play as background christmas music for when you have company (like family and friends) over during the christmas season (and also just for your own listening enjoyment over the holidays).
   
   Very powerful chorus singing is found in such songs as MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE and the timeless WHITE CHRISTMAS. A beautiful orchestra sound is heard in O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM and SILENT NIGHT among others. Great solo singing is heard in THANKS FOR CHRISTMAS and CHRISTMAS COMES BUT ONCE A YEAR. A superb duet is found in SILVER BELLS. And a very powerful and beautiful orchestra and chorus is heard in the songs HARK THE HEARALD ANGELS SING (my all-time favorite version), DECK THE HALLS (also my all-time favorite version), CAROL OF THE BELLS (first or second all-time favorite version), AWAY IN A MANGER, and several others.
   
   In many of the religious songs (the only exception being CAROL OF THE BELLS), the chorus doesn't sing words but rather become a type of instrument of the orchestra (kinda humming along) but this style is used in a very unique way in some of the songs and it is ever so beautiful.
   
   This cd really has a style all it's own so it will be pleasant and fresh from other christmas cd's, but at the same time, still being at least around as great (if not greater) and in the general 'easy listening christmas' style (or category) of other great orchestra and chorus christmas albums by the LIVING STRINGS AND LIVING VOICES - WHITE CHRISTMAS (1968), PERCY FAITH AND HIS ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS - CHRISTMAS IS (1966) and HENRY MANCINI AND HIS ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS - A MERRY MANCINI CHRISTMAS (1966).
   
   This cd is a most reccomended cd that has many timeless favorites with fresh original approaches to many of them unlike versions you have probably heard before and also several new songs you may not have heard (such as the very upbeat and amazing RING THOSE CHRISTMAS BELLS) which makes this cd a very unique and most beautiful christmas offering that I'm certain will become one of your favorites if not your favorite christmas cd.