CD-Charts Position 141
Average Rating:

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This Is Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Luther Vandross

Release Date October 13, 2008
The journalist Craig Seymour (in his bio on Luther) didn't rate this album, so I bought it with some trepidation.

Well, I don't think Craig coud have been more wrong. Some of Luther's vocals on these tracks are amongst his BEST ever performances. As ever, he sounds incredible, but with a Gospel intensity on the ballads; at times he's truly singing the chandelier right off the ceiling !!

It must have been electrifying in the studio. And his jazz-funk take on My Favourite Things is worth the price of admission alone... All the usual crew are there (Cissy, Cindy, Brenda, Lisa, Kevin, Marcus, Nat et al).

It's an excellent Christmas album that's loaded with soul plus some funny moments; listen out for the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 142
Average Rating:

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Bach: Christmas Oratorio

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: Archiv Produktion

Release Date November 04, 1987
This disc is a bit of an oddity. I can give it a perfectly sincere recommendation, but I think I had better explain myself carefully, and explain exactly what I am recommending.

The spirit of the selection is much what you would expect in a disc entitled `Christmas Treats from JSB' or `Immortal Melodies from The Christmas Oratorio' or something of that sort. Bach's Christmas Oratorio is not an oratorio in the Handelian sense. In the 1730's Bach faithfully turned out a cantata for each Sunday and major feast, but in one particular year he elected to reprocess some of his older music, most of it secular originally, and string the numbers together for the entire festive season under the overall title of `Christmas Oratorio'. Borrowing, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 143
Average Rating:

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A Perry Como Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Perry Como

Release Date November 05, 2001
As all of his fans will know, Perry Como is strongly associated with Christmas, due to his regular Christmas Shows, his warmth and interest in the traditions of Christmas around the World and his beautiful voice and heart which certainly suit the season!

On this album we see Perry Como's Christmas songs from as early as the 1940's to as late as the 1980's! So there is a good scope. We hear everything from Perry's beautiful 1959 narration of 'the story of the First Christmas', to his song from the soundtrack of the 'The Odessa File', 'Christmas Dream', in 1974!

We also get to hear everything from upbeat Christmas tunes, to soothing carols!

Plus, we get some previously ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 144
Average Rating:

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Sinatra Christmas Album

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Frank Sinatra

Release Date September 17, 2007
I bought this album on the basis of favorable reviews on Amazon and a liking for Christmas music of this type, and was extremely disappointed. The entire album is lackluster; the arrangements are dull, the singing lacks conviction, the song selection is thoughtless. My husband, whose musical tastes are very different from my own, also thinks this album is terrible. We have actually thrown it in our plastic recycling bin, as we don't consider it worth giving away. It's the worst Christmas album I've ever owned.

CD-Charts Position 145
Average Rating:

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Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Michael Ball

Release Date December 04, 2000
On this album, Michael has mainly avoided the obvious traditional carols but shows he is well capable of singing those by including Silent night (with Brian Kennedy), Have yourself a merry little Christmas, O holy night and Ave Maria. Several of the other songs may not strictly fit the Christmas theme but I’ve seen all of them on other Christmas albums – these are covers of River (Joni Mitchell), A winter’s tale (David Essex), Happy new year (Abba), From a distance (Nanci Griffith) and Amazing grace. More conventional Christmas fare is offered via covers of When a child is born (a UK #1 hit in the seventies for Johnny Mathis) and the rocking Driving home for Christmas (Chris Rea).

All those covers are excellent but there are two great ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 146
Average Rating:

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We Three Kings

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Roches

Release Date June 01, 1995
The Roches are one of the best vocal acts in the world, and here they take a bunch of hoary old carols and hymns, mix them with a couple of original compositions, and produce the perfect Christmas album. For Unto Us A Child Is Born is a stunning arrangement, the three voices spiralling off in totally different directions but somehow remaining tied to the central theme and each other. Frosty The Snowman is hilarious - the girls affecting exaggerated New Yoik accents and arguing with a bunch of kids along the way. A few of the songs are done straight, and that leavens the mixture beautifully, giving you a chance to get ready for the next surprise. Play this in your house at Yuletide - a wonderful Christmas atmosphere is guaranteed.

CD-Charts Position 147
Average Rating:

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A Very Rosie Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Rosie Thomas

Release Date November 24, 2008
The Roches are one of the best vocal acts in the world, and here they take a bunch of hoary old carols and hymns, mix them with a couple of original compositions, and produce the perfect Christmas album. For Unto Us A Child Is Born is a stunning arrangement, the three voices spiralling off in totally different directions but somehow remaining tied to the central theme and each other. Frosty The Snowman is hilarious - the girls affecting exaggerated New Yoik accents and arguing with a bunch of kids along the way. A few of the songs are done straight, and that leavens the mixture beautifully, giving you a chance to get ready for the next surprise. Play this in your house at Yuletide - a wonderful Christmas atmosphere is guaranteed.

CD-Charts Position 148
Average Rating:

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Live Santa Monica '72

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: David Bowie

Release Date June 30, 2008
I've been waiting for this for so long - happy memories of 1973 onwards with this as the soundtrack. There are some of the original comments missing but most of them are there (including the pliers/strong hand one which one reviewer mentioned was missing). It's a fantastic live gig, far beter than the one from Hammersmith and if you haven't heard it already then get it now! It's great to hear Mick Ronson's spectacularly raw guitar playing which is a perfect complement to David's haunting vocals.Love it, love it, love it and it hasn't been off either my car CD player, Ipod or sound system since I bought it.

CD-Charts Position 149
Average Rating:

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CHRISTMAS A GO GO

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 27, 2008
I've been waiting for this for so long - happy memories of 1973 onwards with this as the soundtrack. There are some of the original comments missing but most of them are there (including the pliers/strong hand one which one reviewer mentioned was missing). It's a fantastic live gig, far beter than the one from Hammersmith and if you haven't heard it already then get it now! It's great to hear Mick Ronson's spectacularly raw guitar playing which is a perfect complement to David's haunting vocals.Love it, love it, love it and it hasn't been off either my car CD player, Ipod or sound system since I bought it.

CD-Charts Position 150
Average Rating:

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Ultimate Country Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Various Artists

Release Date August 27, 2007
I've been waiting for this for so long - happy memories of 1973 onwards with this as the soundtrack. There are some of the original comments missing but most of them are there (including the pliers/strong hand one which one reviewer mentioned was missing). It's a fantastic live gig, far beter than the one from Hammersmith and if you haven't heard it already then get it now! It's great to hear Mick Ronson's spectacularly raw guitar playing which is a perfect complement to David's haunting vocals.Love it, love it, love it and it hasn't been off either my car CD player, Ipod or sound system since I bought it.