4 comments about Christmas with Boots Randolph.

1. This is a complete departure from the classic Boots Randolph sound and playing style! This is Christmas jazz played by the best! I mean, Boots is joined here by Hollywood TV recording elete! Notwithstanding the fact that Boots is the greatest sax player that's ever been! This album is just a terrific FUN departure! You just have GOT to get this CD to understand what I mean herein! Such wonderful completely new ways of visiting our Christmas holiday musical classics!



2. This is a complete departure from the classic Boots Randolph sound and playing style! This is Christmas jazz played by the best! I mean, Boots is joined here by Hollywood TV recording elete! Notwithstanding the fact that Boots is the greatest sax player that's ever been! This album is just a terrific up-beat FUN departure! You just have GOT to get this CD to understand what I mean herein! Such wonderful completely new ways of visiting our Christmas holiday musical classics!



3. I just want to alert others that this is not "easy listening." Jazzy, yes, but also a little grating if you're expecting the smooth, golden tones that Boots can produce. It arrived with a different CD cover than is pictured here--again, jazzier. It is recorded with the Tommy Newsom Jazztet.



4. I had forgotten how much I missed this guy. He was mighty in the 60's. Enjoy his uptempo and man, could he play that sax.

5 comments about Christmas with Ronnie Milsap.

1. Ronnie Milsap plays piano beautifully and his rich, vibrant voice adds charm to classic Christmas songs like I'll Be Home For Christmas, Silver Bells, and O Holy Night. The original production of "Only One Night Of The Year" will cheer the child in all of us as we remember waiting for Jolly Old Saint Nick when we were young. The last song on the album reminds us of the important things in life. If you are not familiar with Ronnie Milsap, this album shows why this man has been recording for nearly four decades and has produced so many blockbuster Country hits. This is a man and an album you will love and play through out the holidays year after year.



2. It's hard to believe this 1986 album is already 20 years old. As you would expect from the greatest vocalist in country music, Ronnie Milsap delivers the goods here in a Christmas album that simply blows away any holiday CD being released by today's twang-infested country stars. Anyone expecting to hear a typical "country Christmas" album full of fiddles, steel guitars, or twangy singing will not find it here. Ronnie Milsap's music often sounds more pop than country, and this is definitely a Christmas album dominated by vibrant pop arrangements with several songs featuring top-notch choir and orchestra backing.
   
   Milsap's warm and soothing voice makes him one of the few country singers who can deliver a Christmas song nearly as well as Andy Williams, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and other legendary Christmas crooners. Ronnie balances modern Christmas material with beautifully arranged traditional classics here, and the result is a fine effort that is a welcome addition to anyone's holiday music collection.
   
   "It's just not Christmas", "Only one night of the year", and "It's Christmas" are the modern songs which are all good, but the familiar traditional tunes are the ones where Milsap shines the most. "I'll be home for Christmas" is given a sparkling arrangement here and spotlights Ronnie's smooth crooning. It ranks with Glen Campbell's recording as one of the best. "Silver Bells" is also as good as most versions by other artists.
   
   The two highlights of the album feature superb musical arrangements by Ronnie himself. "Oh Holy Night" is a magnificent tour de force that ranks among the best recordings of this Christmas classic ever made as Ronnie gives what is probably his greatest vocal performance ever. Very few country singers are capable of hitting the notes Ronnie hits in this song, and this is clearly a performance only the best vocalists in pop music could equal. Hearing his great voice soar with operatic range and power during the song's climax is stunning evidence that Ronnie Milsap remains one of the most underrated vocalists in America!
   
   Milsap's "Christmas Medley" is the album's other highlight featuring an excellent choir backing Ronnie as he combines "O Come Emmanuel", "Silent Night", and "Joy to the World" to glorious effect. Ronnie also wrote a touching poem for the album titled "Christmas Thoughts" that reminds us what the holidays are all about. "We're here to love" is an earlier Milsap recording from 1983 that closes the album. Although it is hardly a Christmas song, the lyrics are well suited to the holiday season.
   
   If it doesn't quite reach the superb standards of classic Christmas albums by Nat King Cole or Andy Williams, "Christmas with Ronnie Milsap" is still a more impressive effort than many contemporary Christmas albums on the market today, and possibly the best Christmas album ever made by a country artist. If you prefer the smooth, pop style of Christmas music, you won't be disappointed with this one!



3. This has to be one of the finest Christmas albums we have ever owned. It contains some of the most beautiful, original, Christmas songs we have ever heard.
   
   We owned the cassette tape of this album back in the early eighties and my kids loved it. Over the years it was lost or destroyed. We were so excited to find the CD for sale at [...]. It was like a homecoming for a long-lost friend the CD arrived.
   
   I highly recommend this album to everyone!



4. We've been listening to this Christmas album since it was first released in the 80's...on a cassette! Needless to say our cassette needs to be replaced this year and I'm so glad to be able to replace it. How many Christmas albums can you say that about?
   
   Ronnie's Oh Holy Night alone is worth getting this album, whether you are a fan of country music or not. His vocal is fabulous and the instrumental is just as worthy.
   
   It's Just Not Christmas without Ronnie Milsap's Christmas Album!



5. Here's an gem of an alumb on cd and that's Ronnie Milsap Christmas cd he's only christmas cd ever i wish he would do another one.
   
   Rondall Banks

5 comments about Choral Moods.

1. Even as an avid fan of classical music with very picky tastes, there was just so much good music packed on these two (cheap!) discs for me to take in at once!
   The perfectly balanced and locked chords can really give you chills.

   I gave this CD as a present to a good friend of mine who was not so familiar with the genre, with tremendous results. I think this would make a great gift to anyone with the slightest inclination towards classical music.




2. I am a semi-professional singer with a BA in Music, and I bought this CD with some trepidation because it looked like one of those dreadful "pop classical" compilations that are everywhere lately. But it had lots of great repertoire all in on place, so I decided to risk it, and I was not disappointed! In fact, this is now one of my favorite choral CDs.

   As usual, the Choir of Trinity College delivers stunning performances, and the music itself is just gorgeous. Lots of "church" favorites from a wide range of musical periods. The mood of the CD is definitely on the mellow side, but it's perfect for those quiet moods. I love this CD -- highly recommended!




3. I keep finding new things to love on this CD, including the fact that it has the first recording I found of Gabriel Faure's beautiful Soprano (or Soprano/Alto) duet Ave Maria., Opus 93. The same recording appears on another CD where the singers are named. The above description of this selection unaccountably adds a baritone. Incidentally, Faure also composed a shorter SATB Ave Maria, which John Rutter has recorded.

   I only wish the recording included the complete text of Psalm 50/51 from Gregorio Allegri's Miserere Mei Deus. This might come from John Rutter's recently edited score, published by Oxford Press, if I'm not mistaken. I, for one, do not find this selection (or indeed the entire recording) too long and I believe that the embellishments at the end (mentioned in another review) are probably correct when considering performance conventions of the time of its composition.




4. This was the first choral CD I've ever purchased when I started becomming involved with choir during my senior year of high school five years ago. My director was telling the choir that he had finally found his copy at a music store and referred to it as the "Holy Grail" of choral recordings. So, I went out to find my own copy and I'm still blown away by it today. I've even given copies as gifts. The music is certainly relaxing and such, but what I most value from it is the spiritual magic. The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge (then and now my favorite choir in the world) brings every composition to life in such a way that's pure, elegant, and deep. Listening to this music and enjoying this choir has allowed me to set my own standard of singing and compositional excellence.



5. This is the most uplifting music I have encountered. The angelic sounds of this choral group help me stay sane on California highways!

5 comments about Kidz Bop Christmas.

1. To the person writing the review "repugnant trash for mentally retarded 3 year olds," shame on you! That's a terrible thing to say. Retardation is nothing to joke about or to use as an insult.
   
   To anyone interested in buying this cd: My kids--all under the age of 5, really enjoy it...mostly because it has lively tunes...as opposed to Children Sing for Children which is full of slow and boring traditionals. The music on this cd is very jazzy and certainly not for everyone, but surely a mature grown-up can tolerate the tunes for 30 minutes at a time.



2. yes, it's true. I would rather listen to a collection of all the rejects from American Idol, even the rejects from the auditions, than this crap. The two front teeth song is supposed to be sung by a five-year-old. Since all their other crap is sung by five-year-olds, you think they could manage that. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!they pull in teenagers! geez, they need to learn exactly what talent is. Free voice lessons to all the suckers who sing this!!!!!!!



3. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALLS!!! :-D :-D We used to celebrate festivus in my daycare in Pennsylvania (!!!) but I would start with the airing of greevencees, and we would all end up in tears. :-( BUT THAT'S OKAYYYYEEE!!! :-D :-D WHY?? BECAUSE WE CELEBRATE THIS CHRISTMAS THING NOW, AND I JUST GOT... oh... :-D... KIDZ BOP CHRITMAS FOR DE KIDDIES!!! :-D :-D :-D YAYYY!!!!!!
   
   I dunno how you peeples can listen to those loud unhearable Soundgardens :-O when we have KID'S BOP!! :-D The xmas carols beeing played shouldn't be the versions by those old guys, Bing Cosby and Jean Autry! They should be a thousand little screaming kiddies!!!! I LOVE HEARING JINGLE BELLS SUNG BY DE LITTLE TYKES!!! :-D My mean neighbor, Roy, keeps yelling at me to "TURN DAT MUSIC OFF!! IT'S GRATING MY EARS!!!!!" <:-( But I tell him "But ROY!! <:-D IT'S CHRISTMASTIME!!!" The other day, tho, he trew a brick at me. :-( The doc sayed I might have something called "dain bramage" BUT THAT'S OK!!! :-D :-D BECAUSE KIDS BOP!!
   
   I'd give it a higher rating, but that brick really hurt. :-( But THAT'S ONLY A MINOR COMPLAINT AND/OR GRIEVANCE!!! :-D BUY KIDZ BOP CHRITTMITT!!!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
   
   FROM YOUR PAL MERVIE!!!!!!!!!!



4. Come on, folks. If you're going to put out a CD, how hard is it to get the words to the songs correct? For example, every piece of sheet music and every recording I've ever hear has Rudolph starting off, "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen". That would be the same order they are in Clement C. Moore's Night Before Christmas. But not on this CD. It mixes them all up. Maybe they just wrote them down in the order they could remember them. There are also other songs where words are incorrect; replaced by words that sound similar. Kind of like the person who wrote down the words for this one did so by listening to carols on an AM radio and couldn't quite understand some of them. An example from We Need a Little Christmas: It should be "carols by the spinnet" (a type of piano), NOT "carols and the spirit". I can't put this one on for my toddler because I don't want him to learn the wrong words. And I can't listen to it myself because it grates on my nerves to hear carols done WRONG.



5. Children love to hear other children sing, all the more reason my 4 year old LOVES this cd. She is in pre-k, and lot of these songs are very familiar to her. So when I popped this in for the first time in the car, she was thrilled...plus I get the pleasure of hearing her sing along with all of her "favorites"!!

5 comments about A Winter Solstice Reunion.

1. This is the best of the Winter solstice albums. I'm not one for a real new age sound. I like classic, celtic, instruments. This CD shines... contemporary with olde sounds. The second track is by far the best track to me.. it has a holiday flavor, but I don't just listen to this during the holidays. In fact, all of the Solstice albums are like this really. Its not Christmassy.. its beautiful, serene, music. My other favorites are I, II, and VI.



2. I have been a fan of the Windham Hill label for many years...almost since its beginning. I prefer some collections to others, but,the Winter's Solstice series continues as a favorite. For sentimental reasons, I've always been fond of the original realase in the set and when I saw this one I thought that perhaps through some miracle or some heavy lifting on the label's part, it would be comprised of new pieces from the artists on AWS. But after a quick look I have to ask, In what way is this a "reunion?" OK, Liz Story and label founder Will Ackerman are present, but where's the rest of the class? Granted, one would be hard pressed to hear new material from Shadowfax, whose offering for AWS came from their work while on another label(pre-WH), but certainly others beside Story and Ackerman survive to this day. Not to worry, the material that is here is enjoyable as always, but, if you were nostalgic for the artists of the first release, a reunion this is not.



3. Probably 4.5 stars; A SUPERB release, and an attempt to get back to as many of the original groundbreaking artists which made the Winter's Solstice series so endearing. Highlights: As ALWAYS, I look forward most to Ackerman and especially, Barbara Higbee's contributions to any of the Winter's Solstice CDs. Higbee in particular, always has the most surprising arrangments or original compositions, and this release is a perfect example. "Snowfall Lullaby" is one of the most touching lullaby melodies. (though it is by no means sleepy; simply comforting in a sort of "neo-celtic" way). There are Harps, violin & piano; you simply must hear it to know how fine it is, and to experience what I'm trying to describe in words. Ackermann normally tries to write something original, or which is not a traditionally well-known Christmas song, which was the overall attempt in the groundbreaking first two Winter's Solstice releases. Here he does a pensive remake of one of his classics "Impending Death Of The Virgin Spirit". Perhaps one might see it as a deep-reflection on Mary's depth of charcter and her impending suffering which will one day lead to the loss of her child. Darol Anger's "I saw Three Ships" is an quite original, if more familiar melody. It's an arrangement that is peaceful & lilting & not the usual "jig" we hear so often. There are so many others: "What are the Signs" by Winston is a perfect "10", "Year's End" by Manring, Paul McCandless's "20 Degrees Below" and Liz Story's "Babe Is Born/Enter The Stable Gently". While there are a couple uneven spots, by some less familiar artists, this is one of the essential releases of the series. My final recommendation is to buy the SECOND Winter's Solstice release first, which to me, has always been the pinnacle of originality & creative spirit, even exceeding the fine first release, and then also buy this release to see how original these collections can be, before venturing into some of the later ones, most of which are good, but which often feature traditional Christmas melodies rather than the more obscure carols & original compositions featured here. Overall, nearly a perfect release!



4. This is very much in the genre of the "Winter Solstice" series. It is still very enjoyable, however, if you long for a more meditative offering. Perfect Holiday music choice.



5. Having not heard the "Soltice"s' in years, my husband loved this CD.

No comments about Celtic Women: Christmas Time.

2 comments about To Drive the Cold Winter Away.

1. More gentle, clear-voiced beauty from vocalist/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Loreena McKennitt--this time a collection of rarely heard seasonal songs from England, Ireland and Scotland with a few original compositions thrown in for good measure. As with her prior album, "Elemental," McKennitt's arrangements here are filled with a spare but striking magic--in this case, reminiscent of the quiet stillness of a snowfall as it blankets the world in soft, crystaline white. The music was recorded in Annaghmakerrig, Ireland; Glenstal Abbey, England; and the Church of our Lady, Guelph (in Canada). In the album's liner notes, McKennitt writes, "as a child, my most vivid impression of music for the winter season came from songs and carols recorded in churches or great halls, rich with their own unique ambience and tradtition. In that spirit I have ventured into several similar locations that I have come to cherish in my travels ... The arrangements are sparse but somehow I felt that reflected the dynamics of the fall and winter seasons, and that their can be much beauty in such simplicity." I can't say it any better. Some of the songs are performed by McKennitt alone as harp-embellished vocals. Others feature understated harmonies and accompaniments by guest artists Shannon Purvis-Smith (viols) and Cedric Smith (vocals). If track #5, "Snow," sounds familiar, that might be because it also appears on one of McKennitt's later albums, "A Winter Garden." Loreena McKennitt's next album is "Parallel Dreams." Compare her work with that of rich-voiced singer Susan McKeown in "Lowlands" and the haunting a cappella ballads of Niamh Parsons in such albums as "Loosely Connected."



2. Wow! Loreena McKennitt has such a beautiful voice paired with the harp that makes this a must have holiday album for those fully stocked on run of the mill Christmas music. Includes some traditional British carols not so familiar in the US and some winter-themed songs she wrote that are quite mesmerizing.
   
   You do have to get past the fact that these aren't songs that Americans necessarily associate with Christmas to actually enjoy it as a "Christmas album," but it's worth buying if not just to pull out for a few weeks every year and enjoy the sheer beauty of the music.

5 comments about Winter in Scotland: A Highland Christmas.

1. THIS CD HAS SUCH A CHRISTMAS FEELING TO IT. IT HAS JUST ENOUGH CELTIC BACKGROUND INSTRUMENTS TO BRING THE INCREDIBLE VOICES OF STEVE MACDONALD AND HOLLIE SMITH TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE ALBUM. STEVE'S ORIGINAL SONG "CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN" WILL BE A CLASSIC WITH MY FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE HOLLIE'S INCREDIBLE VERSION OF "O HOLY NIGHT" AND JOHN LENNON'S "HAPPY CHRISTMAS". TO CLOSE OUT THE CD IS THE BEST VERSION OF "AULD LANG SYNE" I HAVE EVER HEARD. BUY IT YOU WON'T BE SORRY.



2. Nothing matches the feeling you get from holding a cup of Hot Cider in hand, sitting by a warm fire on a Cold Winter's Night and listening to beautiful renditions of Christmas Songs you've known since you can remember...

   Steven McDonald brings his passion for the Scottish Highlands, in blissful pipes & drums, to such classic Christmas carols as "Angels We Have Heard On High," "The Little Drummer Boy," and "O Come All Ye Faithful." His voice blends perfectly harmonious with Holly Smith's soulful, soothing vocals.

   Sixteen-year-old Holly Smith is an absolutely wonderful discovery - her smooth and lovely voice with its ageless depth, can indeed only be a gift from Heaven! My favorite songs from this collection are her solo of "O Holy Night" and a duet with McDonald of "Silent Night." These songs conjure exquisite feelings of peace, tranquility, and glowing warmth.

   My only reason for giving this CD 4 stars instead of 5 is a personal one, and therefore may or may not be an actual criticism of the album itself. I felt that two of the songs didn't quite belong here: "Amazing Grace," which, although a wonderful song, didn't quite fit in so well with this particular collection of holiday music, and "Happy Christmas," which, though beautifully rendered seemed too modern to flow very eloquently with the otherwise timeless Christmas classics.

   Yet, all wrapped up, I hold this album dear to my heart. I listen to it often, and it warms my Spirit to the Season.




3. I just reviewed "A Highland Christmas" by Eric Rigler, and saw this and hoped it would be what I expected of the other one; so I screened it. It's the same schlock as the other one. That keyboard is really cheesey and permeates the CD. I have heard that the old Scotland is all but dead, but when I see the pipers at Bethlehem Pennsylvania's Celtic Festival, it is hard to believe. But this music tells me to call the coroner. Some-one please produce a Christmas CD with either solo piper, or pipe and drum corps. Throw in indigenous instruments as needed, and lose that keyboard. You may have to get the Scottish artists from the land of Ellis Island.



4. I have owned this CD for several years. I find myself singing along constantly, especially in the car, on several tracks. The originality of the arrangements of some classic pieces makes you really listen and appreciate them all over again. Auld Lang Syne is one of those, as is Silent Night, with a haunting descant. "It's Christmastime" is a new song for me and it rings in my head all through December. This is one of my favorite Christmas CD's and I gave several as early gifts this year. Both friends feel the same way as I do about this little known treasure. You won't go wrong in purchasing it.



5. What a refreshingly different Christmas Holiday edition!!! I had reservations about purchasing another Holiday CD - but these selections (some familiar and some new) are really done in a great Celtic manner!!!
   
   If you like the Celtic sound, you will love this CD.

5 comments about Christmas Classics for Guitar.

1. This cd is great to listen to throughout the Christmas season. The guitar gives a nice variation on the classics.



2. I have listen to this tape for 11 years. Now buying it on CD.
   the playing is crisp and the selection perfect every Christmas season



3. I have had the cassete tape for years and it's always my favorite during the holidays. Stevan Pasero has to be one of the greatest classical guitarist ever and his performance on this tape one of the best. I'm so excited to finally be able to purchase a CD of this Christmas Classic.



4. I've had this CD for 5 years (bought it here on CDNOW). If you like classical guitar you'll love this CD. Pasero makes 1 or 2 guitars sound like a symphony. I actually listen to it year round. I have about 500 CDs and about 40 guitar CDs and play multiple instruments if that is any validation.



5. One of the Christmas traditions at our house is that I get my wife a Christmas music CD for her stocking. Over the years I have tried to make them as varied as possible. One Christmas, a store had this playing overhead with the CD for sale at the register. I had probably heard less than a few bars, but I could already tell that it was something special. I bought it on the spot and was not disappointed.
   
   If you are a fan of acoustic guitar or of Christmas music generally, you will be blown away by the complexity and clarity of sound the Stevan Pasero produces. We have had the CD for almost 10 years now, and I still look forward to the first time it gets played with the new season. It's only 5 stars 'cause I can't give it 6.
   
   Merry Christmas!

4 comments about Elmo Saves Christmas.

1. Nothing like this album, based on the great video, to add the holiday spirit to any playroom or early childhood classroom. During our visit from Santa, Rosita teaching Elmo "Feliz Navidad" really added an upswing to the party for my multiply handicapped kids. And "It's Christmas Again" is a great song to learn to talk/sing with.



2. Elmo is probably the most creatively consistent of the Sesame Street gang, however, this particular collection was a bit of a letdown following his brilliant string of hit records. I even went several months without listening to this before a friend of mine talked me into giving it another shot. He claimed it was an underrated classic on par with the famous John Denver/Muppets collaboration. I do not find this to be so, but it is still a good release. There was a rumor in the late-80s that Elmo had converted to Judaism, but this Christmas release seems to say otherwise, unless he is simply cashing in on his celebrity and selling out his religion, in which case I would be very disappointed.



3. My children, ages 3 1/2 & 2 LOVE this Christmas cd. They get very excited when they recognize the monster singing the song. It is great for singing and dancing, and is just awesome holiday fun!



4. We actually are enjoying this music as we speak! My son loves the "Rockin Around the Xmas Tree" song. I'm not a fan of the Count singing "Let it Snow" but outside of that it is a really great CD of classics that little ones are sure to love. I even catch myself walking around singing "Elmo wants a hippo for xmas". Great CD. Well worth the money.