3 comments about Country Superstar Christmas 4.

1. I loved it...it was the best Christmas mix I've heard in a long time!



2. This volume of country Christmas songs draws exclusively on songs previously available - no new recordings here - but it's still a great collection, with not many old chestnuts.

   The version of Two step round the Christmas tree included here is actually a duet, although Suzy Bogguss is not credited on the album - it originally appeared on Michael's first Christmas album (one of my all-time favorite Christmas albums).

   John Berry is in fine voice on Christmas morning, and I also particularly enjoyed Up on the housetop. Dolly's Hard candy Christmas isn't really a Christmas song, but by having the word Christmas in it's title, it will always be a candidate for inclusion in these compilations.

   Overall, this is a great collection, well up to the standard I've come to expect from this series.




3. There's little argument here...this is a true country collection and a quite welcome one. George Strait's "I Know What I Want For Christmas" is a good kick-off, and Toby Keith's playful "Blame It On the Mistletoe" is another welcome cut.

   As has been pointed out, Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas" from "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" doesn't quite fit here, but it's okay. And the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band sounds good on the mainstream standard, "Silver Bells", giving it a satisfactory Nashville flavor.

   The placing of Steve Wariner's "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" before Vince Gill's "It Won't Be The Same This Year" is quite effective...the standard "happy" song followed by a heart felt tribute to the brother who won't be here this year. Travis Tritt's singing of a familiar Christmas Carol rather fits in too, giving a cohesiveness to the three cuts...a happy one, a sentimental one, and a traditional carol sung often by families together.

   Michael Martin Murphey's "Two Step 'Round The Christmas Tree" and Dwight Yoakum's "Come On Christmas" provide a light touch before Kathy Mattea's performance of what has become a country standard to this season, "There's A new Kid In Town". And then Sammy Kershaw's "Up On The Housetop" brings the set to a peppy and satisfying close.

   My one feeling of lack about this CD is the preponderant 10 male singers to 2 female singers ratio. All in all, though, if you are a country fan, chances are you'll want this collection.

5 comments about Merry from Lena.

1. I first heard this album playing in a K-Mart store over the music system doing the 60's. I thought--"a sexy Roudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?"--and I was right. I searched for the album for many years thereafter and was not able to find it. I would catch songs from it every now and then during the xmas season on store music system but no one had the entire record. Then came Amazon.com and I found it. The best xmas album ever made--during the season I listen to it constantly.



2. If I could only keep one Christmas album - this would be the one. So sexy you will never forget it after just listening once. A sexy Rudolph? It's here. Each and every song is fantastic. This has to be Lena at her best. Like another reviewer I didn't get all the songs listed. Mine only has eleven songs. I got this at Christmas time and two months later I am still listening to it. You'll never regret it - go for it!!!...



3. If you're into the vocal stylings of Lena Horne this is a CD well worth seeking out (It's Out Of Print for some unknwn reason). It's flows from the start to finish!!!



4. I already owned this album when it was released on another label a few years ago, but ordered this new release anyway. This is one of Lena Horne's best albums and one of the best Christmas albums out there. I'm glad it has been reissued, because years ago it was very hard to get. Listening to this Christmas cd, I am transported back to when life was more enjoyable in the world. It reminds me of my favorite Christmas's as a child. The sound quality is crystal clear. Although in the linear notes, I don't understand why the writer felt the need to trash Andy Williams. Not that I'm a fan, but I felf an unnecessary comment was made for a cd release. Anyway, I hope this album stays in print for years to come, this time.



5. It is Lean Horne - What a voice - mellow and sharp at the same time - If you like Lena like I do - you'll enjoy it!!

5 comments about An Irish Christmas.

1. Growing up, my father always played a variety of Irish music, especially on Christmas. Once I was married and had a home of my own, I really missed listening to Irish music on Christmas. This CD isn't the same music that Dad always played, but it evokes the same atmosphere of joy and celebration in a typically rollicking Irish manner. I'm so glad I bought it! Christmas feels more homey to me now.



2. I love Christmas albums and this is one of my favorite albums. Songs included:
   
   1. Bells Over Belfast - one one the best songs on the album. You'll find yourself humming it to yourself during the day.
   2. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
   2. Christmas Caroling
   4. Silent Night
   5. Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake - another one of my favorite songs on this album. Very funny song.
   6. Angles We have Heard on High
   7. The Christmas Traveller
   8. Away in a Manger
   9. The Holly Bears The Crown
   10. Christmas in Killarnay - yet another one of my favorite songs
   11. What Child is This?
   12. We Three Kings
   13. Good King Wencestas
   14. All Through the Night
   15. Down Among the Bushes of Jerusalem
   16. Grandms Got Run Over by a Reindeer
   17. It's Christmas Time Again
   18. We Wish You a Merry Christmas



3. The Irish Rovers are a fun Irish band, they make you want to sing along and have a good time. This album is a great change of pace to the traditional Christmas carols presented at that time of year.



4. When I was a kid, I used to sing along to 'The Unicorn' also by the Irish Rovers so with the advent of the internet and Amazon, I went searching for it and found the Irish Rovers Greatest Hits which naturally contained the Unicorn song and many other excellent ones that quickly became added to my list of favorites.
   
   Now I finally have received their Christmas album (listening to it now as I type) and find it to be another great collection of hits with the Irish lilt added. As an aficionado of all Christmas music (I have about 70 albums) I was delighted to find that the Rovers had put out a great album like this. My favorites are Christmas in Killarney and the lovely Bells Over Belfast.
   
   You don't have to like Irish music to enjoy the fine singing of the Rovers. I guarantee you'll enjoy this album. 5 hearty stars!



5. One of the family's favourite CDs to trot out at Christmas, this 2002 release produced by band member George Millar cannot be found by searching in Amazon under album title. You'll get all kinds of hits with An Irish Christmas - but not this gem. They may wish to correct that if they want to boost sales.
   
   As for the album itself, if you like the music in general of this Irish-Canadian band which took their name from the song The Irish Rover way back in 1963, you'll love the 18 tracks presented here which include their interpretation of familiar traditional carols/songs (tracks 2, 4, 6, 8, 11 to 13 and 18). and covers of a couple of novelty pop hits led by a rousing Christmas In Killarney, first a hit for both Percy Faith & His Orchestra and Dennis Day back in 1950, and Grandma Got Run Over By A reindeer, first introduced by Elmo 'N' Patsy in 1983.
   
   But what really attracted my interest were the unfamiliar songs, aptly described in the liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo this way: "many traditional Christmas favorites are lovingly revisited here, but one of the more intriguing aspects of this collection is the inclusion of several worthy songs that are seldom encountered on holiday anthologies ..."
   
   Band member George Millar's compositions Bells Over Belfast and It's Christmas Time Again, two toe-tapping originals sure to get you in the mood, are augmented by other rousing tunes like the Irish oldies Christmas Caroling, with new lyrics by George, Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake, arranged and adapted by George, Wilcil McDowell and Wallace Hood, and The Holly Bears The Crown, along with The Christmas Traveller.
   
   Sure to liven up any Christmas gathering ... and don't you know that Santa Claus is one of the boys from home?

No comments about The Sights and Sounds of Christmas.

No comments about Halloween Cocktail Party.

2 comments about Christmas in Santa Fe.

1. A great CD to listen to over the holiday season. Great guitar and violin!



2. The Romero borthers are New mexico's finest flamenco guitarists. But their versatility does not end with Flamenco. The duo appears equally talented at both Norteno and traditional old Nueva Mexico music.
   
   In 'Christmas in Santa Fe'the Romeros tackle another genre--American Christmas music. They suceed and in this album, their song choices are well-suited to guitar.
   
   The style is a gentle blend of US-traditional and Spanish guitar and the production values are sound--if not spectacular. This is a wonderful fireside CD. The Romeros' 'Christmas at the Mission' is a good companion album.
   
   As an aside, we were disappointed with 'Adobe Christmas' which tried to do The Nutcracker on Flamenco Guitar. Quite egregious.

5 comments about Holiday Inn.

1. If you don't have it, GET IT! This is the soundtrack to the delightful
   1942 musical "Holiday Inn", a Bing and Fred team-up
   triumph. This is the film that introduced "White Christmas",
   Bing's signature song.

   Obstensively a Christmas movie, this one can
   be enjoyed at any time of year, as Christmas serves as the
   "book-ends" for a year's worth of Berlin tunes (except
   Halloween... they left that one out of the movie for some
   reason).

   The songs are intoxicating and contageous! You'll find
   yourself humming some of these cuts long after you've put the CD on
   the shelf.

   "Holiday Inn" is not to be missed, but it is
   sure to be cherished once you have a look, and a listen.




2. ...Does not have the spirit of the film...Marjorie Reynolds is no great singer but without her on WHITE CHRISTMAS, no delight.



3. It grieves me to give a Bing Crosby selection a paltry two stars, but the quality of this CD is abysmal. I am convinced that someone merely stuck a cheap tape recorder in front of a TV playing this classic movie and then marketed this pale imitation of the original soundtrack.

   The scratches, skipped notes and hideous tonal quality are reminiscent of a beat up old 78 record. What a disappointment considering this disc contains some hard-to-locate Bing songs like "I'll Capture her Heart" and "I've Got Plenty to be Thankful For." You might as well buy the VHS version of Holiday Inn and make your own recording from the film. This CD's quality is the nadir of listening experiences!




4. After listening to this CD, I must confess to being puzzled by an earlier reviewer's negative reaction to the sound quality of the recording. All of the music here was recorded in 1942, and by the standards of that time, the sound isn't bad at all. According to a producer's blurb on the CD insert, Holiday Inn was released in 1962 as one of 15 albums (I'm guessing they all appeared on Decca) in a series known as Bing's Hollywood, each featuring songs from one of his movies. The blurb further states that the songs were collected from commercial recordings made by Crosby around the time the movies appeared in the theaters, so technically speaking, they can't be considered original soundtrack recordings. Again, the quality of the recording sounds fine to my ears. While it's true a few of the tracks exhibit some surface noise (as though they had been transferred from records), there's nothing here which ought to detract from enjoyment of the music.
   
   As for the music, there are 12 songs written by the great Irving Berlin, expertly sung by either Bing or Fred Astaire and Margaret Lenhart on a few tracks. Backing is provided by longtime Crosby collaborator John Scott Trotter on about half of the selections, and Bing's brother Bob Crosby and His Orchestra on the others. Some of the Crosby tracks in particular provide excellent swinging arrangements which inspire Bing's jazzier approach to singing. Aside from "White Christmas," "Easter Parade," and "Be Careful It's My Heart," most of the songs are lesser known examples of Berlin's music; it's nice to discover a song like "Lazy" with its clever lyrics (". . . with a great big valise full of books to read where it's peaceful."). Most of the selections on hand here have been released on one of a series of 2 CD sets on the Jasmine label devoted to Bing's movie songs, but at the price this version of Holiday Inn is being offered for, it's easily worth the money.



5. Yes, The sound is not up to todays standards. Get Real!
   It would have to mean there were no improvements in 60 years!
   Now, they could have doctored it a little, but would
   that have improved it? Not necessarily. I remember some pretty
   creepy sounding "Electronic Stereo" albums in the '60s.
   If you want better sound you could rip the CD and run your own
   favorite sound hacking program.
   But emough of that.
   The performances on this CD are exactly what was on my mother's 78 RPM Album
   (A real album not a record) which she played over and over. The joy is in the nostalgia.
   4 stars plus 1 just for being available

3 comments about Late Night Christmas Eve.

1. I like instrumental Christmas music, as well as vocal, and this is sure to be one of my favorites over the years! Mellow sax playing of some of the great standards for the holidays, will be great for nights in front of the fire, or as background for a holiday gathering. Definitely a bargain at this price! Enjoy!



2. The perfect Christmas musical background for the Holiday Season---Concord Jazz presents Scott Hamilton, with the unmistakably warm-smooth-tones of Hamilton's tenor saxophone, mixed with romantic strings, the result is a rich lush sound---"LATE NIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE", is the ultimate romantic album for this Holiday Season.

   Why not dim the lights, spin this CD, and let "HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS"---"I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS"---"CHRISTMAS WALTZ"---"BELL CAROL BLUES" and "CHRISTMAS LOVE SONGS", put the magic of romance into your holiday!

   Total Time: 58:56 on 11 Tracks ~ Concord Jazz CCD-4922 ~ (2000)




3. Same CD, different title and publication date. The music is OK (3+ out of 5 stars), but I didn't need two copies of the CD.

2 comments about Percy Grainger Plays Grainger.

1. Percy Grainger was a man of spectacular gifts. He was one of the most original composer/arrangers in the early part of this century. He was also a spectacular pianist in an age of spectacular pianists. This amazing CD documents Grainger's formidible gifts. It cannot be over-praised. Both the music and the performances are well worthy of any piano lover's attention. Don't miss this one!



2. His music was original, while taking bits and pieces from traditional tunes. He really does not get the credit he deserves! I never imagined he meant for some of his songs to be played the way he played them.

1 comments about Ho: A Dan Band Christmas.

1. This is a quite humorous Christmas album. I think the Dan Band really excels and is better appreciated in live performances or at least video clips. The albums, where enjoyable soon lose their appeal. For example, when I first saw some Dan Band clips and bought this and the other album from Amazon, I probably would have rated this disc between 4 and 5 stars. A month later it is down to three. Does it get any worse? No, but it doesn't have the longevity one would hope for.