5 comments about A Very Special Christmas.

1. I actually wanted this CD when I was in junior high, when it was released. I never did get it, but this year was adding to my Christmas CD collection and thought it was about time!
   
   You will recognize at least half of the songs from what you hear on the radio during Christmas. Great songs by Bon Jovi, John Cougar Melloncamp, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, The Pointer Sisters etc. I think this is a great addition to any Christmas CD collection!



2. This CD had alot of my favorite Christmas songs on it. I love it!!!



3. I really enjoyed this CD over the Christmas Holidays. It features all the original artists. I especially enjoyed Santa Baby by Madonna. I have heard other versions that I don't like as well. When I ordered it I didn't expect it so soon. It came within a week. Great Service.



4. I REALLY PURCHASED THIS CD SPECIFICALLY FOR STEVIE NICKS RENDITION OF SILENT NIGHT WHICH I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL OTHERWISE, THE REMAINDER OF THE CD IS QUITE NICE



5. The original "A Very Special Christmas". I remember buying the LP when it first came out and loved it so much that I decided to get the CD recently. Still a classic. Great Album.

5 comments about Dr. Demento Presents: Greatest Christmas Novelty CD.

1. Dr Dementos Greatest Christmas Novelty CD was entertainingly funny for my whole family. Its fun to have a little non-traditonal Christmas music at the holiday season. Pure fun, fun, fun.



2. Great novelty CD. Had this one for a long time and lost it, so I had to get a replacement.



3. Good product for a child in Elem School. It arrived promptly and was what I expected.



4. product suited the need and reason for purchase. pleasantly surprised by some of the other novelty songs on cd.



5. I honestly bought this CD for one song and that was "all I want for x-mas is a hippotamus". I love that song and Alvin and the Chipmunks. For me the rest of the songs sucked and they arent worth anything to me. But I couldnt find the song I wanted as a single at the time. Just make sure that you read the songs included list before you buy.

3 comments about The King's Singers Greatest Hits.

1. Everything from madrigals to the Beatles with a little Christmas music for color. Even if you're not a big fan of madrigals or folk songs, the King's have a way of making them thoroughly enjoyable and very easy to listen to. The track "You Are the New Day" will bring tears to your eyes - it's that beautiful. Can't say enough good words about the work of this group, from their beginnings to the present day, all reflected in this CD.



2. Kings Singers was a happy surprise to me when I bought "Beatles Connection", then I did not stop buying these extraordinary group and I fully recommend this double disc album, because it is a collection of the best of each album.



3. King's Singers Greatest Hits was disappointing. The contemporary music included did not have the smooth feel that one expects, and the classical pieces were all right but not spectacular. I did not feel that some of these pieces were greatest hits. I will probably go back to listening to older collections of their music.

5 comments about Home Alone: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

1. If you enjoyed Home Alone 1 and 2 like I did, you'll enjoy this soundtrackt, epecially the original music by John Williams; a must for every collector who enjoys Christmas music!



2. This makes for wonderful background music if you are making your own home movies with family and friends for Christmas. A must for any music lovers collection.



3. This CD is FANTASTIC, just what I was wanting. It follows the sequence of the movie perfectly, and it great.



4. this is a great cd to listen when doing almost anything. i had bought it for my sister for Christmas and she has been listening to it 24-7 when studying for her college midterms. great cd i would recommend it



5. Home Alone has a great score and the music is original. The use of the different variety of bells really captures a christmas spirit. However, a lot of the themes are repeated over, and over ,and over again. Especially "somewhere in my memory". Don't get me wrong, I love this piece, but i don't need to hear it in almost every single score track of the soundtrack. "Holiday flight" is very good. It captures exactly what it feels like to be rushing and sets a hectic mood.
   
   The choir versions of "star of bethlehem" , "carol of the bells", and "O holy night" are very good. It is also nice to have a few of the vocal tracks like "White christmas" are nice too.
   
   Overall, this is a good soundtrack to have in your collection, just don't look for a lot of different unique tracks.

5 comments about The Bells of Dublin.

1. Since 1963, the Chieftains have been the world's most famous performers of traditional Irish music. On this album, they play Christmas music. Most of the songs are traditional, but there are a few new ones. On some of the songs, they are assisted by friends and admirers; like Elvis Costello, Burgess Meredith, Marianne Faithfull and Jackson Browne. This is very enjoyable, unique Christmas album.



2. If you like ethnic folk music or "World Music" as it is now called; you will probably like this CD, especially if you have a liking for the sound of Irish or Celtic music. Unlike most Christmas CDs where the same songs and same arrangements are done over and over again, this CD seems to stand out. I am not an expert on Irish music, but I found the songs to be very catchy and sometimes also very moving. Old favorites are given a nice Irish treatment with what appears to be some very unusual but authentic Irish instruments. There are also many guest stars like Elvis Costello, Burgess Meredith and Marainne Faithful. Sometimes, that sort of thing, becomes a distraction, but everything on this CD seems to fuse nicely.
   
   It's one of my favorite Christmas CDs.



3. The Bells of Dublin is one of the best Christmas CD's ever made. It truly captures the spirit of Christmas for all ages and times. This CD is the first Christmas CD I listen to each year as the Christmas season begins. I turn this CD on when I am decorating and making ready my home for the Christmas celebration. If you are looking for a CD to lighten your spirit and lift your heart, The Bells of Dublin is an absolute must have. The Chieftains are a truly wonderful gift to us all.



4. I love this CD...let me make that perfectly clear. "The Wren, The Wren", "The St. Stephen's Day Murders", "The Rebel Jesus"...EVERYTHING on this CD is great I think, EXCEPT! the hideous, utterly painful rendition of perhaps my favorite carol, "O, Holy Night" by Rickie Lee Jones. It is totally unlistenable...a complete destruction of a magnificent song. I skip it every time it comes on. If it weren't for that atrocity, my review would be 5 stars. Other than that though, "The Bells of Dublin" is a wonderful Christmas CD.



5. The Bells of Dublin by the Chieftains, is a collection of traditional music along with some updated selections. If you are a Chieftains fan or are new to Irish music, this is a good addition to your CD library. You will find that you will play it over and over, and enjoy it more each time you do. It won't be long before they have you singing along too!

5 comments about Time-Life Music: Treasury of Christmas - Holiday Memories.

1. I am a music lover and to me and my family the Christmas season is a time that the joyful and heartfelt music of the time should be heard from near and far, this collection fits the bill to do just that. In it you will find so many songs that you grew-up with and hearing them will touch a cord in your heart and bring to memory the joy of the season. I highly recommend this collection and hope you will be as enriched with it as my family is. Merry Christmas!



2. I purchased this item from the television ad the year it was released directly from Time-Life. As a result of getting divorced, I needed to repurchase this great set I had bought from Time-Life years ago. After seeing the price for the bundle and recognizing the album covers, I was elated to finally get a new set for myself. Upon receipt, I immediately discovered that it is not "As Seen on TV" at all. the song selection is a fraction of the original, with a different discograpghy, but still the same album covers.
   The songs are indeed great classics, however, if you have experienced the original "As Seen on TV" set that was released in 2001 you, too, will be as disappointed and left feeling rather robbed.



3. I enjoy Méhdi"Christmas Treasures",Charlie Brown Christmas ,Mannheim Steamroller etc.and this a magnificent production that I also enjoy just as much. Time-Life Treasury of Christmas: Holiday Memories collects 24 classic tracks of the holiday genre spread out over two discs, including "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" by Nat King Cole, "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt, "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms, "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Greg Lake, and "Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy" by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Many of these artists will appeal to a broad range of ages, making it perfect for family gatherings.



4. The CD - Treasury, from Time-Life was not the one I wanted. I wanted the first Time Life Christmas collection.



5. This CD has a good selection of traditional Christmas songs from the original artists that I remember from my childhood. You know, when it was still OK to say "Merry Christmas" to someone on the street. I played this CD and the other Time-Life Christmas CD all December long. I want my kids to have these songs as their Christmas memories as I do.

5 comments about A Christmas Festival.

1. Arthur Fieldler takes you to "A Christmas Festival" where he will lead you on a "Sleigh Ride" to a "Winter Wonderland" to celebrate an absolutely beautiful "White Christmas" with the Boston Pops Orchestra and Chorus.
   
   Make it a "Silent Night" and listen to some of the classic Christmas carols of all-time - "The Nutcracker: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy," "What Child Is This?" and a host of heavenly chorus singing a "Christmas Medley" of "Here We Come A-Caroling," "O Christmas Tree" and "I Saw Three Ships."
   
   This is one my favorite Christmas music of all-time. The music of Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra has been a part of our very musical household when I was growing up. Likewise, this recording takes me back to my cherished memories of Christmases in the past. This is Christmas music at its best. The arrangements are perfectly done, the orchestration is superb, the choice of material is truly impeccable, and the chorus is outstanding.
   
   Merrily recommended for your Holiday listen and let your ears capture its magic.



2. I'm a Christmas music junkie and I absolutely love the Boston Pops! My favorite on the CD is Sleigh Ride. This would be great background music for a Christmas party or gathering. I recommend it!



3. As far as I'm concerned this is a "must have" for any Christmas music collection. I also own two other Boston Pops Christmas CD's conducted by John Williams and Keith Lockart which are newer and also great but this one from Artur Fiedler is the "Master". Over an hour of pure classic holiday pleasure. Christmas music like fine wine only improves with age.



4. 
   Our whole family enjoyed this CD very much. It was the first CD we played on the 1st of December as the family tradition has been to play the first Christmas CD in the early hours before sunrise. I especially liked the range of music from tradiitonal favourites to more contemporary sounds.Each piece was unique. Truly a musical feast!



5. I like Christmas music that I can play and replay without getting tired of it. This certainly fits that criteria. I listened to it frequently during the season and enjoyed it every time.

5 comments about Merry Christmas With Love.

1. As a Clay Aiken fan I adore anything he sings! But when he sings his Christmas songs he is just breathtaking! Nobody in the music world today touches me the way Clay does! All anyone would have to do is listen to him and if they were honest they would have to admit, he is the greatest!



2. Clay should have won American Idol, but this is also the only good album he's made yet. He does the classics well. It's your standard Christmas album, take the songs as is, use the Clay voice, and it's a hit. The originals on the album stink, which is why his other stuff is no good, he has bad original songs. But his covers are very good. "O Holy Night", "Mary Did You Know", "Winter Wonderland", are among the highlights.
   
   Overall, if you're looking for an original album, look elsewhere. These are just Christmas songs with the Clay voice. That said, he has a great voice. So if you're looking for the Christmas standards, look here, looking for something more original? Grab Relient K's Christmas album.



3. 
   My whole family voted hundreds (probably thousands) of times for Clay when he was on American Idol. We joined his fan club and keep in touch with what he is doing through "claymation" PLUS we have all read his book. Guess we are REAL fans (oops.. we also have one of his larger posters on our kitchen door so he joins us for dinner each day (really... we're NOT crazy). . We recently heard he was gfoing to be in a play on on Broadway called SPAMALOT... Anyway... our review is we love anything Clay does! Wish we could tell him directly how proud we are of him. Sincerely, Sharon The Paul Hudson, Peterson families.



4. Beautiful music from Clay. I bought it especially for "Mary did you Know" and was not disapointed. Rest of the songs are very lovely too.



5. It's always Christmas in my heart and for 2 months a year I get to drag out the Christmas music. And who has a more angelic voice? I love this album. I had to buy 3 more to give as gifts to foreign exchange students who had never heard of him before and fell in love.

5 comments about This Is Tom Jones Christmas.

1. I just finished watching "This is Tom Jones Christmas" and it took me back to my youth! What fun. I like it that has two complete Christmas shows; one from 1969 and one from 1970. It's a great historical snapshot of 1969 and 1970's fashions and attitudes. But, above all of that, it showcases Tom Jones and his awsome talent. The man can sing! I especially loved his reading of "A Child's Christmas in Wales" and listening to the angelic voices of the Welsh Choir. The video quality is good with only a couple of ragged patches. I give it a whole-hearted five stars and will be purchasing this DVD as gifts for Christmas!



2. I have waited more than 35 years for this! I could never forget Tom's breathtaking rendition of Scarlet Ribbons and his marvelous reading of A Child's Christmas in Wales (Richard Burton could not have done it better!)! It is a tremendous thrill to finally have it! There's never been a voice that touches his or that moves me so deeply. Check out the stunning version of Brother Can you spare a dime! and enjoy this Christmas treat! My only complaint is that there is not enough of Tom-how could there ever be?- and I could sure do without the Ace Trucking Company! I wish ALL Through the Night was on there with Tom singing, because I remember him doing that one with that great choir.BUt I am very happy! VERY!
   Mrs. Connors



3. ... but unfortunately I didn't. I clearly recall the '60's and the '70's and I also remember far better Christmas shows than the two included on this disc. Both episodes, one from 1969 and one from 1970, contained too much "variety" to be considered Christmas shows and too much Christmas to be just regular episodes of Tom Jones variety show. While I certainly expected these programs to be dated I was totally shocked at how dated they really were. I've watched black and white episodes of Ed Sullivan and the Hollywood Palace as well as the color Sonny & Cher Christmas collection that were better representative of the period. The budget for these two shows must have been almost nonexistent as the sets were terrible and the "boat" shown during one of Ella Fitzgerald's songs was so cheap looking as to distract from my enjoyment of the song. I know there is better material out there both representative of the holiday season and of the talent of Tom Jones. Unless you are a dyed in the wool fan of Mr. Jones I really think you'd do better with other material. If you've just got to have this disc I would suggest purchasing as good used copy at the lowest possible price. Disc reproduction quality is in my estimate only good as there is some color bleeding and less than sharp picture. I really wanted to like this DVD as I collect holiday programming from the 1950's through the 1980's but I can't imagine ever putting this disc in my player again.



4. Tom does his best, as always, with some lovely Christmas songs. His voice is truly amazing and so heartfelt. A lovely treat for us all!!



5. How can you go wrong with the winning combination of Tom Jones's vocals covering your favorite Christmas songs? Not to mention getting to see him doing it live on his very own television show with some popular vocalists of that time period. Wonderful gift for the Tom Jones fan any day of the year, but especially nice to find underneath your Christmas tree. It will certainly put you into the spirit of the season!

5 comments about Circus Clown Calliope.

1. Good CD, has most of the best stuff on it.



2. The sound is authentic, the recording has fidelity, and the cadence is perky.
   
   But this album is not the match for some of my older calliope collections on vinyl (I know: I'm a dinosaur, but I'm trying to evaluate the music, not the recording technology).
   
   While trying to collect some newer calliope CDs, I purchased this. But all the tunes seem to be played in a single octave, with a few notes below that.
   
   Alternate recommendations are welcome. Most reviewers seem to like this CD, recorded 1973+, so don't take me too seriously. It's just food for thought.



3. my daughter loved calliope music at the fair so i got this, she likes it and it's nice gentle happy background music for our daily playtime or whatever...some nice recognizable tunes too...



4. I cant wait to listen to this cd while driving around with the windows down this summer. Awesome tunes



5. this tape was exactly what I needed for my Halloween Clown theme.. great calliope music.. set the circus theme perfectly.