1 comments about Judy Garland Christmas Album.

1. Judy is Judy. I am glad now I have some Christmas holiday music of hers to play. What can I say? It is a bonus to my Judy collection and it will be worth every penny to add it to yours. Go ahead and buy it. You won't be sorry you did. You will wish you had more to buy.

5 comments about Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas.

1. Our Heart's Desire, masterfully and lovingly sung by the great all-male group, Chanticleer, is the one Christmas album I wouldn't want to be without. The content, covering a broad range of styles spanning several centuries, includes some music to make almost anyone happier at Christmas. The blend is superb, the arrangements are innovative but true to the music, the intonation is nearly perfect, and Chanticleer sings as though the music means something to them. An hour spent listening to this album will unwind you from the crinkiest pre-Christmas blues and tensions. Don't be without it!



2. I first owned a tape of this in 1993, and went out of my way to purchase the CD last summer. I never get tired of this CD. Of course, there is nothing more healing than the Biebl Ave Maria, which grows more and more beautiful everytime I listen to it. Chanticleer introduced this beautiful piece to me, I've had the good fortune of having it sung at my wedding, and being able to sing it last year in the Cathedrals, Abbeys and Basilicas of France! The rest of the CD is just as superb, and yes, those really are men singing those most amazing Soprano sections in Go Tell It On the Mountain. Other favorites are the Mouton that opens the CD, There Is No Rose, and O Come Emmanuel. A wonderful addition to anyone's Christmas CD collection, and one that you can play year round!



3. The all male, A Capella choir Chanticleer includes songs of many styles on this recording, but one in particular has always shined the brightest for me. The "Ave Maria," written by Biebel, includes introductory passages of traditional Gregorian chant, which lead into lush choral passages of neo-classical style, richly colored by impressionism. The sound is sonorous, fluid, and radiant, and communicates a deep sense of spiritual fulfilment. The "Ave Maria" text has been set numerous times in history, but this rendition seems best to capture the delicate longing and pleading for intercession between humans and the Virgin Mary. It is a quiet comment on the human condition, as we turn to the heavens to find order both in our lives, and in the world around us. If there is a heaven, it must sound like this.



4. This is lovely music, which I bought because the completely performed E La Don Don and Riu Riu Chiu are so difficult to find , but I just didn't think the rest of the CD justified the enormous price. A lot of the songs are too alike for me to be able to distinguish. Beautifully performed, but too expensive for what it is.



5. After listening to samples of Chanicleer's new Christmas album, "Let it Snow," I realized how far the group's standards have fallen over the years. It's sad. Given the reception of "Let it Snow," it's puzzling why they even released it, rather than re-release "Our Heart's Joy." In other words, by this CD if you can get ahold of it; it's a recording of fantastic, deeply spiritual music that shows Chanticleer at its best. From the first track to the last, "Our Heart's Joy" gives you sublime Christmas music to enjoy this holiday season. My personal favorites are "Riu Riu Chiu," a rollicking Spanish carol, and Franz Biebel's august "Ave Maria." On a personal note, I had the opportunity to sing both of these songs in high school, and felt it an honor to sing the songs that I had heard Chanticleer perform so beautifully. So if you're looking for beautiful music, exquisitely performed, buy "Our Heart's Joy." You won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Willie Kalikimaka.

1. Willie K is one of the greatest musicians in Hawaii. This Christmas album is truly unique and for those of us who live in Hawaii - it tells the story of Christmas the way we live it.



2. I bought this purely on impulse last year at Kilohana in Redondo Beach...and it beat the pants off every other Xmas CD I've heard...Willie K's enthusiasm and delight in the holiday spirit are contagious. This year it's definitely going to be our company's holiday hold music ;-)



3. Excellent source for powerfully performed Hawaiian Christmas music.
   
   Especially O Holy Night



4. I first heard Willie K's version of "O Holy Night" four years ago when visiting family in Hawaii and immediately fell in love with it. It has always been my favorite Christmas song. I also enjoy Willie's regular Hawaiian music and to have the two combined was a joy. His version of this song gave me chills (or as the Hawaiians say "chicken skin") and brought tears to my eyes. I loved this whole CD, but I would have bought it just to have "O Holy Night".



5. This is the best Christmas album ever. Willie K has the most amazing voice since Elvis.

No comments about Boots and Stockings.

1 comments about Soulful Sounds of Christmas.

1. This compilation features R&B Christmas songs recorded between 1985 and 2000. Contemporary R&B isn't really my bag, but this isn't bad. Run-D.M.C.'s "Christmas in Hollis" is a classic, of course. Dru Hill does a very good version of "This Christmas". Whitney Houston's version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" is quite good. And Take 6 does a great a cappella rendition of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem". The other songs are ok, but the ones I mentioned are my favorites. If you enjoy modern R&B, you will probably like this CD a lot.

2 comments about Dr. Goodsound's Halloween: Twisted Circus of Horror Sounds.

1. My only question: Who is Dr. Goodsounds?? No, wait. . I don't want to know (I think). I originally got this cd advertised as Twisted Circus double volumed cd collection with this one labeled "The Amazing Fright Night Funhouse", and the other as "Creepshow" which is also good.
   There is no story or binding tale to string the various tracks, but they all stand on their own scary organ play.
   There is a fun narrator to get both shows on the road, but after that you are free to listen to swell effects, spooky musical backgrounds at your halloween fright night leisure. The effects are pretty cool, and tracks last 5 to 8 minutes long, so there are no unwanted short track effects.
   Music is used when needed, but the main attraction are the screaming sounds, bouncing chains, demon laughter, and victims of horror.
   Amazon also has another Dr. Goodsounds halloween cd called "Halloween Haunt-O-Tron."



2. This cd is ok for just scary sounds, however if you are looking for scary circus MUSIC you wil be disappointed.

2 comments about It Won't Be Christmas Without You.

1. Ronnie Dunn is a brilliant singer while Kix Brooks is merely a good singer, but Kix has an outgoing personality that more than compensates for any vocal imperfections. These characteristics are demonstrated clearly in this excellent collection of Christmas songs old and new. Ronnie's style is more suited to the laid-back songs while Kix really lets rip on the up-tempo material. Although Ronnie normally sings lead on the majority of the duo's songs, this album is different. Ronnie sings lead on It won't be Christmas without you, Blue Christmas, The Christmas song and I'll be home for Christmas, all of them ballads and all superbly performed.
   
   On all the other songs, Kix sings lead and his enthusiasm shines through. If Rocking little Christmas doesn't get those toes tapping, nothing else will. For absolute perfection, it might have better if Ronnie had sung lead on White Christmas, but Kix does a fair version of the song and I cannot fault him elsewhere on the album.
   
   The five original songs are all of a high quality while the six covers are all well known classics. This is a hugely entertaining album that can be used as background music but will also appeal to anybody who wants to give it undivided attention.



2. I love Brooks & Dunn and their Christmas CD is an awesome addition to my Christmas music collection.

No comments about Halloween Cocktail Party.

4 comments about Merry Christmas from the Trailer Park.

1. Once again, Antsy McClain has created another great CD with his release of "Merry Christmas from the Trailer Park". This is not your typical holiday music, but then again, Antsy McClain is far from the typical singer songwriter of today. McClain brings his unique perspective on life to each cut on this CD. From the rather wacky "Frank the Christmas Turkey" to the serious "Mary Lou's Christmas List", McClain takes the listener on everything from a fun filled romp to a somber "gee, I never looked at it that way" trip though the holiday season. Never far from his roots, with "She's Underneath the Mistletoe Again" McClain shows us that there is a little trailer park in all of us. This CD is not to be missed.



2. Antsy McClain can write a song about anything. But he has out done himself this time. This is a wonderful christmas album, worthy of anyone's collection.



3. I've bought several Christmas albums over the last few years, but none as wonderful as this one. I laughed, I cried, I was touched - and that's no joke. This album has everything from crazy songs like "She's Underneath the Mistletoe Again" to the most beautiful rendition of "I Heard the Bells" that I've ever had the privilege to listen to. Antsy McClain is known for his comic genius but he's also a brilliant vocalist with a voice so pure and perfect it brings tears to your eyes during some of these songs. "Auld Lang Syne Revisited" is the last track on the album and is definitely worth the wait - my new favorite. What a privilege to have found this album and this singer!!



4. As the Christmas season goes by, I get more and more tired of the seventeen versions of Jingle Bells I own. Ansty and the Troubadors did themselves proud with this album. A few new things and few that make me laugh out loud, and a couple of traditional carols thrown in for good measure. I can't wait for their next album!

2 comments about The Best of Freddy Fender.

1. This is a great album. All my pld favorites are on it.



2. 
   The label company indicates (on the front cover) that the songs were remastered of re-recorded "Studio" songs from the original singer (i.e., Freddy Fender). Therefore, you know that you are not dealing with the original songs and we will be hoping that the songs were recorded at the studio as indicated by the label company. Unfortunately, the songs are live remakes and not studio remakes as stated. The sound is not great but it is not bad either for a "Live" performance, however you cannot compare it to the original studio recorded from the MCA label.
   
   I recommend the "20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Freddy Fender by the MCA label or "The Best of Freddy Fender" by MCA label again.