No comments about Laid Back Lounging.

3 comments about Christmas.

1. I wanted something low-keyed and beautiful for my family's Christmas gathering. I knew the usual clutch of Christmas "schmaltz" would show up -- you know, everything from "It's An N'Sync Christmas" to "Bing Crosby's White Christmas" -- and I knew I'd need some relief. Well, this Aaberg CD was it! Absolutely gentle yet provocative music. If you love the piano this will suit your sensibilities any time of the year, whenever you want to set a contemplative or relaxed mood. The Christmas theme comes through subtly in a few places, but on the whole this CD is not one to be played only in December.



2. I was surprised to learn that pianist Philip Aaberg was doing a Christmas album. He was one of the regulars on Windham Hill's "Winter Solstice" tours and albums, but his artistic integrity never allows him to do anything overtly commercial, as Christmas albums so often are. I never should have given this a thought, as "Christmas" is "Aaberg the Artist" through and through. A consummate pianist, Aaberg's signature style with lots of open spaces shines in this collection of five original pieces and six arrangements of traditional carols. On his website, Aaberg says, "This isn't a party album. Play this after your guests have gone home, all the presents have been opened, and you want to get `straight to the actual' as poet Richard Hugo says." Deeply introspective, but full of emotional warmth, this collection will appeal to the more musically experienced who aren't looking for a sing-along album of holiday tunes. Aaberg's own "Montana Sleighride" is the liveliest of the pieces, depicting the fun and excitement of a ride in the snow at night as well as the cool brilliance of snow reflecting the light of the moon and stars. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is given a decidedly untraditional treatment that is full of Aaberg's personal touches, making it his own. "What Child Is This?" is given a loving, gentle lullaby-feel, as is "Away In a Manger". Aaberg's "The Gift" has been a favorite of mine since it appeared in his book of piano solos several years ago, so it's great to have the recording now, too!
   
   Philip Aaberg has been one of my favorite artists for many years, and this CD continues his tradition of excellence and artistry at the piano. Highly recommended!



3. Firstly, a caveat. I hate Christmas music. I love Christmas, I am a Christian, but I hate Christmas music. I made a promise to myself to never ever purchase a holiday album; I love to sing carols and play them in church, but other than that, the commercial people can keep their schmaltz. However, I know what Phillip Aaberg is capable of, and when I saw this album, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
   
   I am so glad that I did. He re-interprets the old carols, and writes some wonderful new ones, they are so vibrant and full of life that you will see Christmas in a new light. This album can be played at any time of the year, and I know of no other holiday album that can do that. If you love good music and hate Xmas music, this CD is for you. Trust me.

5 comments about A Star in the East: Medieval Hungarian Christmas Music.

1. The history of the destruction of much of the Hungarian Christian repetoire gives interesting insights into why this variant of plainsong is essential unknown. Because of the limited survival of polyphonic pieces, this performance is less varied than On Yoolis Night. There is one, and only one, motet.

   The notes describe the identifying characteristics of Hungarian chant as "wide intervallic leaps, pentatonic tendencies and extended cadences". I'll take their word for the technical description.

   If you like plainsong or polyphony, you will enjoy this cd. The chant is just enough different to add variety to your listening and just similar enough to not require new listening skills.

   As usual, the Anonymous 4 have done us the favor of bringing unfamilar music to our attention and performing it excellently so that we can come to share their enthusiasm for it.




2. The music from Hungary shows a great deal of cross-pollination from other Christian sources - when the Hungarians became Christian during the reign of Charlemagne, they began sending their clerics to France and other places in Europe for schooling until the Hungarians built up their own scholastic traditions; later, being on the front-lines of the East/West split meant that they also had issues dealing with maintaining their own traditions. Thus, sources of polyphony and other music are rare. According to Susan Hellauer, 'A very large proportion of the surviving polyphonic works are for the Christmas season, and considering the rare and special nature of polyphony in medieval Hungary, this could only have meant that Christmas was especially reverenced there.' In our Western culture, it is hard to imagine, but Christmas has not always been a major holiday in every historical period and place in Christendom.
   
   Thus, this is a Christmas album with a difference. 'A Star in the East' obviously refers to the star leading the Magi, and the rest of the music here taps into the gospel stories and legends that surround the Christmas tale.
   
   The Anonymous 4 once again have put together a marvelous piece, with a musical tone shining as brightly as any star that might lead a wise man. The qualities of the Hungarian music show both similarities with the broader Christian culture as well as unique aspects that draw on the longer tradition of Hungarian music in worship, which pre-dates the arrival of Christianity by centuries.
   
   -- Liner Notes --
   This text accompaniment to this disc is very full, so much so that the booklet is not contained within the jewel case, but rather within a slipcover in which both the CD/jewel case and the booklet reside. The liner notes include a description of the work, a brief piece about the quartet, and the lyrics of the songs both in original language and in translation. The cover art is from an altar piece of Nemetlipsce, from the Magyar Nemzeti Galeria of Budapest. There is also a reproduction of a page of music from the Codex in the notes, as well as other images from Hungarian altar pieces.
   
   -- Anonymous 4 --
   Contrary to the implication of their name, the Anonymous 4 are not anonymous. This is a vocal quartet made up of Ruth Cunningham, Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, and Johanna Rose at the time of this recording (Ruth Cunningham will later go on to a solo career early, and another member will join - Jacqueline Horner). They came together as a formal group in 1986, and have been ensemble-in-residence at St. Michael's Church in New York City, giving concert series in New York as well as throughout North America. They have been featured a number of times on national media in North America as well as Germany. They then went on to yet more success, eventually performing more that 1000 concerts worldwide.
   
   Their specialty is working with chant, monophonic and polyphonic music, and working with medieval texts. According to one source, 'The group takes its name from an anonymous music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school, Léonin and Pérotin.'
   
   The group ended a touring career of nearly two decades in 2004.



3. 'Legends of St. Nicholas' and 'A Star in the East' are both collections of medieval Christmas music. Both are based heavily on Latin chants. The first has some old English lyrics and the second is based on both original Hungarian material and material imported into Hungary from Greece and other centers of Eastern Christianity.
   
   If you are considering one or the other, I find the 'Legends of St. Nicholas' to be the more diverse of the two, as it has chant, polyphony, and even some solo voices. The Hungarian selection seems just a bit too much like all the other material done by Anonymous 4.
   
   To be sure, both are done with a typically exceptional high quality voice and recording technique, so you will not go wrong with either recording.
   
   Both are highly recommended!



4. I don't know much about the band, or this style of music, all I know is that all the songs are beautiful. I always play it around Christmas, or just when I need to relax.



5. Anyone who knows Anonymous 4 know what great voices they have. This CD is a rarity as it brings out the Hungarian Catholic Culture to light with its rich expression and words. A star in the east is a must have for any serious collector of early music. If you're religiously inclined and practice the Catholic faith in particular it is a great aid in meditation. Close your eyes and it transports you to the great medieval cathedrals of Europe! If you're of Hungarian descent, then you can value the sublimity of these compositions and appreciate the Hungarian soul!

5 comments about Christmas with the Chipmunks, Vol. 1.

1. This CD version of an original 1963 vinyl LP (the original cover is shown on the reverse) came out at the dawn of the CD age and, at the time, was eagerly grabbed up by fans of David Seville (born Ross Bagdasarian on January 27, 1919 in Fresno, California.
   
   He had been cutting records since the mid-1950s, scoring in early 1956 with The Trouble With Harry (# 44 Billboard Pop Top 100) under the billing Alfi And Harry, and inspired by the Hitchcock film of the same name. Then, from late 1956 to 1959 he registered six more hits under the billing The Music Of David Seville, the most successful of which was 1958's The Witch Doctor which hit # 1 on both the Pop and R&B charts.
   
   But after he came in time for Christmas 1958 with The Chipmunk Song, billed to David Seville And The Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon and Theodore - named after Liberty Records execs Alvin Bennett, Simon Waronker and Teodore Keep) a whole new industru was born. Numerous hits would follow, a few more related to Christmas, and so when that first LP was released it was gobbled up by fans.
   
   But this CD version has long since been surpassed by releases with many more tracks and far better sound quality (on this, the voice of David on Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, is barely legible). Also, there are no liner notes at all.



2. I got a vinyl record that has volume 2 on it. It has some of the songs from this CD, as well as some that are not listed on the volume 2 CD. Curious, eh?



3. Please note to get instead the new great sounding Capitol 2007 release which has ALL 24 songs (includes both Volumes 1 & 2) plus one bonus and is very reasonably priced. This is the disappointing 10 song abbreviated version. The 2006 version has a recording flaw. This is a classic Christmas album that should be FULLY enjoyed and the 2007 is the best version out there!



4. Everything was wonderful with this product.The product is excellent and the shipping time span was good....Very nice to deal with this type of seller!!!



5. I remember this from when I was little----and now my 4 yr old loves it, too!---even with the new movie out this Christmas!

5 comments about Peace.

1. Jim Brickman's second holiday CD, not just an incredible work worthy of a Grammy nomination, will also carry with it his patriotic efforts, as fans remember his farewell shows for the USO and CD distribution to the departing troops. Kristy Starling, who sings "Sending You a Little Christmas" and Jeff Timmons (of 98 Degrees) joined Jim for several farewell shows for deploying troops during the holidays. The USO named that song as its theme, CDs were distributed to the troops, and many soldiers and their families seemed pleased with the sendoff.

   Jim's beautiful renditions of traditional favorites like "We Three Kings", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "Away In a Manger", "O Holy Night", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Rejoice" lend such beauty to the season. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" with Tracy Scott Silverman's electric violin and Anne Cochrane's lovely voice ... if you've ever seen them perform this live in concert, well, it's a very special treat."

   The title track, "Peace ... Where the Heart Is" is superbly performed by Colin Raye, who vocalized on "The Gift" with Susan Ashton on Jim's previous holiday CD. The Blind Boys of Alabama do a nice job of "Let It Snow"

   Having seen Jim's live performances (and some are available on DVD: My Romance, and Love Songs and Lullabies), the CD is a wonderful way to close your eyes and re-live that show.

   "Early Snowfall" was a favorite of mine ... original and accoustically descriptive, as Jim's native Ohio background sparks his creativity. "Blessings" was exactly my feeling about this collection ... each song was a blessing to enjoy from "America's Newest Romantic Piano Sensation"




2. This is an all-time great Christmas album! It is almost perfect. The best song is "Rejoice" - probably the most ethereal, beautiful 4 minutes of music you can find! Jim Brickman has a real knack for making classic songs sound new and fresh but without going over the top. Perfection!!



3. Wonderful music. Simple joy just listening to it. This man knows how to play piano. Loved it.



4. Decided to "surf" for CD that I wanted to purchase. Went to Amazon for the first time since I was told by friends that it was an easy site to use. WOW! Were they ever right!!! Finding what I wanted & purchasing it were easy & quite refreshing after having stood in many a line at Xmas for other purchases. I will certainly be using your site in the future!



5. These are not really the traditional arrangements you may be expecting. I have really enjoyed this album over the last couple of Christmas seasons. It is a great CD to have playing in the background while you are entertaining guests or enjoying other holiday activities. It's a great stand alone album for when you want to get lost in the music but also works well for ambiance when you don't want the music to be the main point of focus. This has some old favorites, some new spins on old favorites and some new surprises.

2 comments about I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing/Merry Christmas from the Hillside Singers.

1. When this first came out on LP, I was in my 20s and very much in to folk music. I just happened to buy this and played it to death. When I was depressed, the music made me feel good. The words had a message but didn't hit you over the head with it.
   My LP player wore out so I started to look for the Hillside singers on tape. No luck and I felt like I had lost friends because I could no longer hear the music.
   Over the years, I would search in stores and then the internet. I did find an old LP but I already had that but no way to play it.
   I couple of months ago, I Googled "Hillside Singers" and nearly broke into tears when I found the LP was now a CD.
   Oh happy day when the CD arrived. I am tempted to buy another as a backup.
   I am much older now. I still like folk music and the Hillside singers still make me feel GOOD.
   What more can I ask!



2. THIS CD IS WORTH EVERY CENT...BUT IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY THERE IS A MINOR BLIP UNDER THE FIRST WORD OF "I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING". IT'S MINOR SO BUY THIS CD ANYWAY.

   JUST GOOD MUSIC DONE WELL.

3 comments about Party Tyme Karaoke: Christmas Sing-A-Long.

1. This was the worst item I have ever purchased from Amazon. The music doesn't even sound like the songs should, and no one could tell what the songs were. Don't waste your money - this collection is by far the worst karaoke CD out there!



2. This is a nice CD for real singers. The accompaniments don't spoon feed you, so you really have to know the songs. I'd recommend it for a soprano or tenor. It is a bit high for most radio-sing-along voices.



3. As another reviewer said, this CD will not "spoon-feed" you the tune, but if you are a singer this is a great karaoke CDG. We just got it in the mail today and spent the past two hours singing to it. The other CDG I ordered was horrible in comparison. The musical arrangements on this are contemporary and the graphics are crisp and well-cued. You'll feel like a star! This is my first Party Tyme Karaoke CDG and I enjoyed it so much I'm off to look at the rest of their titles. I highly recommend this.

5 comments about Classical Kids Christmas.

1. Classical Kids' Christmas is one of the most reverent experiences it has ever been my pleasure to hear.It is not just for kids, but for everyone who cherishes the essentially intimate, family-oriented and community-based nature of the Christmas celebration. Noble in concept, deceptively artless and understated in its expert execution, it recaptures the magic and wonder of those earliest Christmases we all recall when we compare what we did then with what we do these days. Classical Kids Christmas should become a part of every child's fondly remembered Christmas traditions.



2. This is, by far, my favorite Christmas CD. In fact, I listen to it all year round.The music is so wonderful, you really have to experience it for yourself. This would make a wonderful gift for any child or adult, especially for a sick or hospitalized patient. At $14 is not cheap, but it's so worth it...



3. A CLASSICAL KIDS CHRISTMAS is a Symphony of Stories for all ages. This truly beautiful interweaving of traditional yuletide songs with stories and legends from around the world which illustrate each song is a CD that will become your family favorite for December for many years. The music, performed by some of the best artists in the world, is magnificent, and each voice chosen to tell one of the stories and legends is perfect for the spirit of that story. The CD is a magnificent treasure. Be sure to order many for your friends and family.



4. I like this CD just fine but it was not what I expected or really what I wanted. I was looking for an all instrumental Christmas CD for my Autistic son. He does not particularly like the Christmas narration or the singing. I will make sure to read the description more closely next time.



5. Story line is interspersed with a nice variety of classic christmas songs and poems in a setting that enhances the meaning and understanding of the words!!! It addresses both the Santa and Christ of christmas and keeps the focus of the holiday giving to others rather than self gain. Nicely balanced in topic, theme, style, and well done! Truly a classic tradition for all to enjoy from young to old!!! A MUST for every home for the holidays as this is not just for kids!!!

5 comments about Tales From the Crypt: Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas.

1. Let me start off by saying that this album is NOT for everyone -- especially those who have no sense of humor about the holidays. If you find lyrics like "Stockings stuffed with ears and fingers (fa la la la la la la la la) Chopped from all those carolling singers (fa la la la la la la la la)" offensive, don't even bother.

   If that tidbit made you laugh, this album is for you.

   The Cryptkeeper delivers his pun-laced humor, mixed with not-horrible singing, incredibly hilarious lyrics, and that trademarked cackle that sends a chill right down my spine every time I hear it. I can't help but make this my first holiday CD each year. Who could resist that "Saint Nick Rap"?? (That reminds me... anyone know where I can reach the Dallas Cowgirls? My friend Jack wanted some special cheer.) Oh, my sides are aching just thinking about this horrifyingly humorous holiday hoot.

   Again, not for everyone -- but if you're looking for an atypical holiday album with deliciously twisted lyrics... then look no further.




2. This is my favorite Christmas cd and I drag it out every year. Don't get me wrong, I like Bing Crosby as much as the next person, but this is just fun. I love "juggle bills" because it is a great parody, and it also lets me know that it isn't just me who feels flooded by bills around the holidays. And, "Deck the halls with parts of Charlie" just needed to be done. The whole cd has an almost cute quality about it but it is just good plain fun. I will pass this on to my own kids some day as Bing was passed to me.



3. Well, boils and ghouls, it's Christmas in July! Light the candles and bake the Tollhouse cookies, for the Cryptkeeper (John Kassir) is coming to your doorstep! The 1994 album "Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas" is chockfull of chestnuts, holly, mistletoe, roasted venison, blood & guts, amputated limbs, exploding missles, decaying zombies and, best of all, your delightful Host with the Most. Graciously supported by the spectacular orchestrations of the Salvation Army, CK croons, cackles and belts out 11 unique carols generously laced with wicked wits and putrid puns. What other album features St. Nick filing for bankruptcy (Juggle Bills), a salute to horror movie icons (Christmas Rap) or a New Year's eve party attended by deceased celebrities? (Should Old Cadavers Be Forgot) Or how about a Douglas Fir tree decorated with spleens and kidneys (Deck the Halls) or a mortician who embalms a family a LITTLE too early? (Moe Teitlebaum) But that's not all, folks. As a bonus, the CD's booklet contains a brilliantly colored reprint of "And All Through the House," a horridly classic tale from the 1952 "Vault of Horror" comic book (and eventually a favorite Tales from the Crypt episode). Last but not least, kiddies, this recording includes the most shocking incident of all, something only the Cryptkeeper would have the audacity to do: HE TAUNTS SANTA CLAUS!! YOU'LL LAUGH! YOU'LL SCREAM! YOU'LL BE CHILLED TO THE BONE! GUARANTEED FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! :D



4. This Christmas CD features The Crypt Keeper(John Kassir) singing parodies of Christmas songs. The songs are done with the same type of "ghoulish" puns that were used on the TV show. If you enjoyed the Crypt Keeper's sense of humor on his TV show, you should enjoy this CD.



5. i have loved this cd since i got it in highschool. its halarious.

5 comments about Romantic Christmas.

1. I play this CD every Christmas as I wrap presents. When my nerves are shot from Christmas over-activity, this music soothes the soul. Very beautiful.



2. I am not a huge John Tesh fan, but I do love this CD. In fact, this would be the second time that I have bought this particular collection of music. The first time was when the CD first came out, and you could only buy it on cassette tape! A decade later I have finally replaced it to CD and am delighted that I have. The whole CD is one that you can put in the player, curl up on your couch with some spiked eggnog and watch the fire burn down. It is an inspiring as it is relaxing, brings back memories of a quieter, and somehow nicer world than the one we all currently live in. It is not a piano pounding John Tesh, but the musical arrangements do have his mark on some of them. And this CD has my favorite rendition of Ava Maria. A mixture of classical, contemporary, choral and instrumental, I believe this is "THE" Christmas CD to own.



3. We had lost this CD and were able to repurchase it through Amazon. Item was received in excellent condition and was pleased with the prompt service.



4. I love music, and I love Christmas. This is one of my two favorite Christmas CD's. I recently bought a second copy to give my Mom (she loves music... and Christmas) as well. Simply wonderful.



5. I had lost my original copy and am so glad to replace it ... my Christmas music isn't the same with this selection.