1 comments about Sing Shalom: Songs for the Jewish Holidays.

1. I have never really enjoyed listening to "Jewish" music until this recording! What a fun romp through the holidays, simply the best sounding and most playable music I've heard in years. These people can really play, and the lyrics are easy and memorable. But it is the catchy tunes I find myself humming, and my kids always want to hear Sing Shalom, all the year through! I highly recommend this CD, especially for interfaith or sorta-faith families. Makes us want more from the Allards!

No comments about The Swingle Singers ...Unwrapped.

3 comments about Jessye Norman - Sacred Songs ~ Ave Maria, Amazing Grace, etc...

1. I was listening to the local public radio station when they played the Sanctus and I literally had to drive off the road to listen it was so powerfyl and moving. Jessye Norman is a national treasure.



2. The Sanctus, and the Holy City will send chills down your spine! Absolutey Breathtaking.



3. Heaven must be missing an angel because she's here with us-singing on this disc. This is arguably one of the most beautiful recordings of sacred music ever made. Ms. Norman brings a lifetime of experience to this genre-she joined her church choir at 4! The warm acoustics make you feel like you are sitting in your favorite pew-albeit with a magnificent vocalist in the choirloft. Jessye has conquered the world's opera houses in the most demanding roles-one of which garnered her a fifty-five minute standing ovation (Salzberg). But she is most resplendent in the music of her youth. The majestic voice soars over the orchestra and chorus to deliver the full beauty of the music. Ms. Norman also performs selections with organ accompaniment-appropiate since her voice has often been compared to the king of instruments-"with all the stops pulled out"! You will hear why she is one of the most acclaimed recitalists of our time. Her expansive vocal range encompasses every nuance of the music heard here. We are taken on a journey through the entire spectrum of the category starting with a classical Mass, moving through an American spiritual and finishing with a Christmas carol that will keep you in a festive mood year 'round. Amoung the gems on this disc is an Ave Maria sung in German and arguably the most powerful solo recorded performance of "The Holy City" ever. If you want to hear what the heavenly choir sounds like before entering the pearly gates-listen to this disc. Brava Jessye!

2 comments about The Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album 2.

1. The music was just as the title stated relaxing. The songs were not just a recording of an existing song.



2. This ablum is a masterpiece.
   
   Awesome work of art!!!
   
   You will Love!!

No comments about The Water is Wide and Other Lute Songs.

5 comments about Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album.

1. Frank Sinatra once remarked that for his money, there was no singer he'd rather hear than Tony Bennett.
   
   As one of the last surviving crooners of his generation, Tony has become a swingin' elder statesman of the music world, and has even enjoyed the unlikely honor of a buzz clip on MTV in the 90's. When it comes to tunes with a holiday flavor, you will not be disappointed by his velvety vocals, and Snowfall certainly delivers quality material.
   
   It is decidedly commonplace to repackage gifts for the holidays, and Snowfall neatly fits that idea. Many of these tracks are original recordings from around '64, during Tony's peak, and showcase his pleasant, smooth warbling. This album was originally released to CD in 1994, and comes back to the forefront again in 2004 with the added bonus of a previously unavailable performance of "I'll Be Home for Christmas".
   
   The new track (recorded live on the Jon Stewart Show) is worth the re-release, and easily this reviewer's favorite for its up-tempo swinging bounce. Fans who own either of the previous two versions of this album may be a little skeptical on purchasing it again for one new song, glorious CD packaging notwithstanding.
   
   The body of this album has some really nice pieces, including Bennett's elegant, fast-waltz interpretation of "My Favorite Things" and a moving, emotive "The Christmas Song" that would make Nat "King" Cole proud. There's a great well-arranged medley of "I Love the Winter Weather" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" that does something fresh for both songs, particularly when you consider how often they get recorded.
   
   "Snowfall" and "White Christmas" both serve the purpose off stimulating reflection by way of Tony's clear, intoxicating vocals. "Christmasland", "Winter Wonderland" and a medley packed with traditional standards like "Silent Night" and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" create a sense of nostalgia for classics-and that's no surprise, Tony Bennett is a classic himself.



2. During the most recent heat wave, I actually thought it might help to drag out a few of my favorite Christmas recordings and, at least, chill out mentally. It was worth a try, I suppose--not that it actually worked. In fact, all it really did for me was load Christmas anxiety on top of my already burdensome heat exhaustion.
   
   But then I figured, hey, before you know it, the clime will have shifted and we'll be hankering for chestnusts roasted on an open fire--instead of feeling like WE'RE being roasted on an open fire. And since, I never think to post reviews of actual Christmas product until, I dunno, maybe Christmas Eve, at least this year, I get a jump on the gun and maybe even garner a couple of "helpful" votes by Thanksgiving weekend.
   
   Tony Bennett's SNOWFALL is arguably as much a "winter" record as a purely holiday one. It's always seemed something of a shame to me that all the joyful Christmas music gets put away well before winter has really set in. (At least the Russians are smart enough to celebrate it in January, which can help forestall the winter doldrums for a short while at least.) The fact that the title song on this seasonal album is "Snowfall" and not "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" at least gives you some kind of excuse to play it well into January, heck, maybe even February. Or as in my little experiment, in July.
   
   And, of course, "Winter Wonderland" and "I've Got Our Love to Keep Me Warm" are good for the whole calendar season too. "My Favorite Things," is a canny choice for an opener too. It's seasonal the way its source film THE SOUND OF MUSIC is seasonal: it evokes familial warmth and good times, even if the packages are in brown paper and "tied up with string" rather than ribbons.
   
   And then there's the almost bizarre medley of actual Christmas songs that concludes with a conventional romantic ballad ("Where Is Love?"). Musically, it fits just fine, but thematically, it's a bit strange--almost as if Tony's saying, "Hey, I'm down with the holiday stuff, but THIS is what I really do..."
   
   As an interpretive singer, Bennett has the unique ability to be warm and a little breezy at the same time. When I read somewhere recently that "I'll Be Home For Christmas" was actually a WWII song, and meant to be sung with at least a hint of melancholy, I thought of the live version included here(from a JON STEWART SHOW broadcast), which is certainly more breezy than reverential. But, of course, by this point in that song's history, it has lost much of its sombreness, and, hey, it really does lend itself nicely to a little jazz pizzazz.
   
   That track, by the way, is the album's closer, and it is really the only new entry on this collection, most of which is culled from material released in Bennett's 60s heyday. It's certainly interesting to hear how his voiced has changed and how he's learned to compensate in warmth and wit for what he may have lost in vocal technique.
   
   Bennett was and is a singer for all seasons.



3. Each year, I pick up a new Christmas CD or two to add to my very diverse Christmas music collection and make my own compilation CDs of favorites to listen to in the car and around the house. I always search for something that stands out above the other music I usually hear. This year, I've heard this CD's version of "I'll be home for Christmas" many times on a local radio station that's playing all Christmas and Holiday music throughout the season. It really has a great swing to it and it stands out among many great versions of this song. Tony's voice has a really cool warmth and slight edge to it in these recent years and it really adds a lot to this performance, which is making this CD a definite need for my collection. The other songs sound good in the audio samples too, although I prefer his upbeat stuff with the voice of recent years best.



4. If you enjoy the cool and uptown Christmas sounds from Tony Bennett, then I know you will enjoy this C.D. from the artist Frank Sinatra enjoyed listening to. There are some great tracks including "Snowfall", "Winter Wonderland" and the track that appeared on an MTV program, "I'll Be Home For Christmas". It's great to listen to!



5. From Rodgers and Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things" down to a previously unreleased track, "I'll Be Home For Christmas," this stellar album offers an array of Christmas songs that you'll greatly enjoy and will add a glow to your holidays. It boasts of some of the greatest musical moments of the bright career of Tony Bennett, who believes that his key to success is "making music that lasts." He is backed by an orchestra and a choir conducted by none other than a fine arranger/orchestrator, Robert Farnon, whose body of work has greatly influenced Johnny Mandel, Henry Mancini, Quincy Jones, John Williams and André Previn. In this album, he brings a wealth of experience in the field of creative chart arrangements and gleaming orchestrations to Tony Bennett's unique vocal artistry and timeless style.
   
   Some of my favorites are the spectacular tracks that were recorded in London - "The Christmas Song," "White Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town." The medley of "I Love The Winter Weather/I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" is an absolute beauty! His takes on "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "Winter Wonderland" and the title track, "Snowfall" are such delights and so remarkable. The inclusion of "Where Is Love," an achingly beautiful theme song from the musical "Oliver" is such a surprise, but it blended harmoniously with the rest of the Christmas carols from the medley. A previously unreleased track "I'll Be Home For Christmas" was sung in a jazzy fashion and this was taken from "The Jon Stewart Show."
   
   "Christmasland" composed by Brian Farnon and Dennis Farnon is a sentimental Christmas song that brings to mind fond memories of childhood. It is so melodious and Tony Bennett gives a heartfelt reading of the lyric making it one of the highlights from this collection.
   
   With Tony Bennett and Robert Farnon teaming-up artistically in this album, I guarantee there's not a single dull moment and there's nothing to whine about. This is Christmas music that can warm your hearts even on the coldest winter day. So give it your welcoming ears and enjoy it with your Christmas celebrations.
   
   Have the Merriest Christmas ever and Good Cheers for the New Year!

4 comments about Johnny Cash Christmas 1976.

1. By the mid-1970s, Johnny Cash was a veteran TV performer, and new how to keep a show humming. This seasonal special recalls the roasts and variety shows that were so popular at the time, packed with guests, gags and corny, prepackaged humor... But there's also the obvious sincerity that Johnny and June Carter Cash brought to their holiday cheer...
   
   Filmed in their spacious ranch home, the show is conceived of as a big Christmas party, with their friends coming over for dinner and for a folksy, round-robin "guitar pull," where each guest taking a turn pickin', singing or telling a story. The performers include "Hee Haw" star Roy Clark and pop crooner Tony Orlando, who harmonize with Cash on a long medley of Stephen Foster classics, as well as Johnny's brother Tommy, superpicker Merle Travis (who picks a mean version of "The Cannonball Rag") and Johnny's pastor, Billy Graham, who closes the show with a grim Christmas parable about a rough-and-tumble mining camp that gets civilized through Jesus, but only after all kinds of violent, bloody behavior. (Yikes. What a buzzkill!)
   
   The biggest surprise, though, comes from countrypolitan queen Barbara Mandrell, then at the height of her fame, who Cash remembers as a little girl who played steel guitar when he first met her... And sure enough, she sits down at the pedal steel and plays an impressive version of "Steel Guitar Rag." Who knew?? Although the pacing of the show is clunky, it was in keeping with the standards of live TV at the time, and it's a marvelous time capsule in many ways (especially the fashion: dig those cowboy duds on Tony Orlando!) Cash fans will definitely want to check this one out... students of the 'Seventies as well! (DJ Joe Sixpack - Slipcue)



2. I enjoyed both of the Johnny Cash Christmas shows: 1976 & 1977. They were great. June Nelson



3. It's not quite what I was imagining. It's just one episode from his show, the "Christmas Special". Short, not really worth the money.



4. I am so very pleased with the Johnny Cash Christmas '76. Since Johnny is no longer with us, this is an album to treasure. I am happy that I bought it.

5 comments about Christmas Unleashed.

1. Though this seems to be strictly seasonal-christmas rock, it is the ONLY music group I can find that is done strictly by dogs. You see, I am a HUGE music-lover, but my dog Morris just doesn't seem to be able to relate to any of my music. This is really disappointing to me, and sometimes really frustrating. I can't imagine how someone could not react in ANY way towards some of my favorite artists and albums. He is kind of letting me down because I have a little idea to record a demo song with me on harmonica while Morris barks the melody. I get a little upset with him sometimes when we try to play it, even though it's probably not his fault. Dogs just aren't very smart.
   
   So basically I did some research for music that had dogs in the band, or music where the dog may be used as an instrument of some sort. This Jingle Dogs cd really caught my eye! I listened to some of the samples of the songs, and lo and behold, Morris reacted immediately! He wasn't smart enough to actually sing (or rather bark) along, but with time anything is plausible. I looked around, and as far as I can tell, The Jingle Dogs only seem to play christmas songs. This is a bit of a disappointment as well, because it's a little too seasonal for my tastes. Hopefully Morris can overlook this aspect of it and just enjoy it, seeing as so far, it is the only dog-rock I have beeen able to find for him, and he does seem to have a strange affinity for Christmas.
   
   In conclusion, this will have to do for now until I can find something less seasonal, yet still made by a dog-group. Although Morris seems like more of a Hard-Rock Dog to ME, he should be lucky that The Jingle Dogs even exist. At the very least he will probably be more inspired to help me with my demo song. Later.
   
   howardtuttleman.com



2. I ordered this for my dog daycare to play at Christmas but I just had to hear it in the heat of July. Everyone who hears it just LOVES it!! I'm a bah-humbug type person but this CD just makes me smile (and my dog "listens" intently too)!



3. This is one funny Cd. It is unique with singing dogs and cats as background singers. My favorite song is Jingle Bells Boogie. I was laughing until I was crying.



4. This CD is definitely high on the humor scale. I purchased this product because I work at a veterinary clinic and we are using it as our hold music this Holiday season. Our clients have gotten a big kick out of it.



5. After producer Mike Spalla had success with two Jingle Cats Christmas albums, it was natural for him to release a third one. But he must have sensed that people might grow tired of Jingle Cats, so for the third album he switched to "Jingle Dogs". It's the same concept, except with dogs barking instead of cats meowing. It is billed as "real doggies sing holiday classics", but of course it's fake. Barking dogs were recorded on a sampler and then played back with a keyboard to "bark" Christmas melodies. By the way, the Jingle Cats appear on most of the songs. The songs include familiar Christmas songs and not-so-familiar ones ("Pat-a-Pan"?). The last song here is an original silly song which includes actual words sung by the "Jingle Elves" (sped up human voices). This album is somewhat amusing for a song or two, but it gets tiresome after a while.

5 comments about Here Comes Santa Claus.

1. Gene Autry was responsible for keeping one of the world's greatest Christmas traditions alive the "Hollywood Christmas Parade", when bad times surfaced and needed some assistance financially...it was Gene who came to the rescue as Johnny Grant (Honary Mayor of Hollywood) did whatever it took to keep the parade the class-A Holiday event from going under...drawing approximatley one million spectators along the parade route each year, Hollywood's biggest single-day event and the kick off for the Holiday Season...this was all from Gene's generous support and giving spirit.

   The year was 1946, on a Thanksgiving weekend and a Gene rode tall in the saddle, and Santa Claus was right around the bend, heard the children excited chants of "HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS"...and a song was born from Gene and co-written by Oakley Haldeman...recorded on August 28th, 1947 and became an instant hit. Then in 1949 songwriter Johnny Marks composed a tune from a poem - "RUDOLOPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER" many artist turned down the chance to record this classic, but Ina Autry, Gene's first wife loved the song and felt the children would love it too...she was right...and the rest my friends, is history.

   By 1969 Gene's version of "RUDOLPH" had sold 6,500,000 copies and was the all-time top selling single for Columbia Records (the 1957 version, recorded for Gene's Challenge label, is included here)..."RUDOLPH" ranks as the second favorite Christmas song right behind Irving Berlin's "White Christmas".

   Varese Sarabande and Gene share with fans old and new these popular Christmas songs recorded in the late '50s and early '60s...hope you enjoy them and they bring you wonderful memories with many happy returns from "America's Favorite Singing Cowboy" - GENE AUTRY!

   Total Time: 45:20 on 16 Tracks...Varese Sarabande VSD-6034...(1999)




2. I was very upset when this CD arrived. I was under the impression that these were the "original recordings" of Mr. Autry's Christmas records. They have been re-recorded and by no means are they bad.......their just NOT THE ORIGINALS! I want the original Columbia recordings. I gave it 2 stars because he does sound great....again just not the originals!



3. A time of innocense, a reminder of growing up with smiles and adventure. Better than meditating!



4. This is a compilation of Christmas songs that Gene Autry recorded for his own record label after he left Columbia Records. Seven of the songs here are re-recordings of songs he previously recorded for Columbia. In most cases, they are not quite as good as the originals, but they are still very good. The arrangements are slightly different, and a few of them have commentaries by Gene before or after the songs. Notable original songs include the novelties "Buon Natale", "Nine Little Reindeer" and "Santa's Coming in a Whirlybird". The latter two feature Mel Blanc as the voice of Rudolph! And then there's the 13 minute long "The Story of the Nativity", which is Gene telling the story of the birth of Jesus to his "nephew". Sure, it's kind of corny, but I found it to be quite moving. While these recordings aren't as essential as Gene's Columbia recordings, they are still quite good and I would recommend this CD.



5. I loved this CD. I bought it because when my brother and I were little kids we always listened to a Gene Autry Christmas record while decorating the Christmas Tree. I just had to find a Gene Autry CD for me and my daughter to listen to while decorating ours.

5 comments about Our Favorite Things.

1. Placido Domingo has done several holiday concert special for PBS over the years. The ones I've seen usually pair him with Jose Carreras on the classical end and maybe one pop diva like Dionne Warwick or Diana Ross. That makes for a mixed bag, and maybe a few awkward moments when the vocal styles don't quite mesh. But with the visuals, the glitz and glamour of the stars usually make these spectacles enjoyable enough.
   
   I've never seen the DVD version of this concert, which also aired of PBS, as I understand it. But I'll wager it works better with the visuals. As a pure listening experience, OUR FAVORITE THINGS comes up short. Domingo is really the only singer who is in top form for the occasion, and his Spanish language carols (probably unfamiliar to most American listeners) are a real treat. Tony Bennett, who has been fine in other recent broadcasts and recordings, sounds a bit hoarse here. He improves as the concert progresses, but he relies more on phrasing than chops and is at a disadvantage when duetting with Domingo. (On the other hand, Domingo's noticeable discomfort with idiomatic American English weakens his performance on tracks like "My Favorite Things" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas").
   
   On the distaff side we have Charlotte Church and Vanessa Williams, whose work I am less familiar with. Church sounds a little nervous and out of her depth when duetting with Domingo. She has a pleasant enough voice, which I hope she does not subject to too much strain before reaching her potential. I am not an expert in these matters, but I have been told by classical singers that too much too soon can be disastrous for a developing voice.
   
   Williams is less distinctive a pop singer than, say, Dionne Warwick or Diana Ross, who could at least begin to hold their own against the classical singers in those previous holiday concerts. She has her moments, but even her duet with Tony Bennett on "White Christmas" seems a bit strained.
   
   Fans of the individual singers featured here may well want to purchase this CD, but (even without having seen it), I'm betting that the DVD would be a wiser purchase. With the visuals of Vienna, the concert hall, the gowns and the glitter, I'm guessing it holds up a bit better. Strictly on a musical level, though, this is none of the stars' shining hour.



2. ONE AT A TIME IF YOU PLEASE!!!!
   
   This disc includes four of the best voices of our day, BUT they simply do not belong together in one program!!!!Somehow hearing 'O Holy Night' by two classical sounding singers following 'The Christmas Song' sung by a jazz-pop singer doesn't 'light my fire'. Now if you offered me a complete album of anyone of these singers, I probably would take it and enjoy it. Obviously, this is a money-making venture of the extreme sort; after all(say the great commercial powers) if you don't like Tony Bennett, then you have Placido Domingo etc. etc. etc. As I recall the same type disc was recorded 2 years ago (1998) with four diverse singers, Domingo again included.
   
   Oh well, the individual contributions are, for the most part enjoyable, but you will notice I did say: for the most part.



3. Maybe you had to be at the performance to appreciate it. Perhaps the concert itself, with the presence of these four performers, had some sort of flow and dazzle.
   
   But this CD is merely a strange assortment of singers, songs, and stylings, in no particular order. For instance: Placido Domingo's Jesus de Nazareth (the reason I'm giving this three stars instead of two) - followed by Tony Bennett and Vanessa Williams warbling a swinging "Winter Wonderland." Which detracts from my enjoyment of both those pieces.
   
   And then there are the inexcusable versions of "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Silent Night," in which Tony Bennett's voice is just not up to the music anymore. It should have been obvious during rehearsals, and Bennett removed from the ensemble or given easier solos, or other songs selected. (And I still love him as a singer, just hate to see his aging voice be bested by the wrong music. In public.)
   
   It is an odd little CD, as is suggested by the cover. I found it in a bargain bin and was puzzled by the selection of these four performers, and decided to buy it and find out how well it worked. I'm so glad I didn't pay full price.



4. My favorite holiday music performed by top professionals and the gifted Charlotte Church. The amazing abilities of the featured artists supported by the magnificent orchestra and chorus make this an album that I wait all year to hear.



5. An odd assortment of singers you never thought of putting together, come together to produce a truly delightful Christmas concert. The visuals are beautiful to look at as well.