CD-Charts Position 51

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Merry Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Nat 'King' Cole

Release Date September 17, 2007

CD-Charts Position 52
Average Rating:

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A Christmas Present From Motown - Volume 2

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 05, 2001
Many Motown stars recorded Christmas albums and tracks from those albums have been the source of many Motown Christmas compilations. This is one of a pair of British budget compilations that are as good as any I've seen, with an excellent mix of famous and obscure songs and all the singers you expect to hear.

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations and Stevie Wonder are each represented by three tracks. The Jackson five get two tracks. The Four Tops also get two, including one featuring guest vocalist Aretha Franklin. Kim Weston and Marvin Gaye have one song each.

For me, the highlights are Everything for Christmas (Temptations), Little bright star (Diana Ross and the Supremes), Warm ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 53
Average Rating:

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Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Low

Release Date November 29, 1999
Christmas again - what better time to review Low's superb festive album which portrays a more common Christmas experience for many than the forced jollity of your Slade or Wizzard mega-hit.

This eight-track CD is a beauty. Four original Low songs show great variety - from the pure pop of `Just Like Christmas' with its sleigh bells ringing to the hauntingly spiritual telling of the Nativity in `Long Way Around the Sea'.

The cover versions of old (roast) chestnuts are simply inspired. `Silent Night' has wonderfully simple acoustic arrangement whilst `Little Drummer Boy' has never sounded like this before. It is drenched in guitar reverb and feedback a la My Bloody Valentine but is incredibly moving.

`Christmas' ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 54
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It's Christmas Time

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Status Quo

Release Date December 08, 2008
Quo should have done this years ago. This works as a Quo song, it works as a christmas song. Echoes of Wizzard which can't be a bad thing. Sits comfortably alongside Slade, Roy Wood, The Wiatresses, et al. Sure to become a radio staple for christmasses to come. Better late than never!

CD-Charts Position 55
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Funky Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: James Brown

Release Date November 05, 2001
James Brown was always a big fan of Christmas - in fact, he recorded several Christmas albums over the course of his career, including a rare Internet-only release just a couple of years before his passing. That aside, 'Funky Christmas' gathers together tracks from each of Brown's festive LP's, so fans can have him on the stereo instead of Cliff Richard (sorry, Cliff)!

This record places more emphasis on his soul work, and there are not as many funky grooves as some might expect. It is also surprisingly serious, even grim in some places, as James sings of Christmas in the ghetto, and trying to get by without a dime in December. It's good music to reflect to, and certainly one of the most original Christmas albums I've heard. However, at Christmas ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 56
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Classic Christmas Carols

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Choir Of Kings College Cambridge

Release Date December 03, 2007
This album is made up of very good quality, and powerful, music. I cannot fault the performances, or the production for that matter.

The problem occurs, that if like me, your cd player is not remote controlled, then throughout the entire album you will be up and down up and down of your seat to ajust the volume (even during the same song, never mind for each one individually).

The above ^ will apply to all of you, unless you have no neighbours whatsoever within a mile or so of you and volume is no consideration.

I have never ever, in 30 years, known a music album with such a massive variance of volume level. Ever ! And that unfortunately, ruins the experience.

CD-Charts Position 57
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John Rutter: Music for Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: Hyperion

Release Date October 01, 2001
This beautiful CD follows a similar trajectory to the treatment of 'Psalm 23' by Howard Goodall (the Vicar Of Dibley theme) and re-invents the tradition of church music. John Rutter is an English genius who can rightly follow in the hallowed footsteps of greats like Ralph Vaughn Williams and John Ireland. These composers know how to make music that is warm, strangely familiar and above all human, without 'arty' pretensions or ideals, this kind music can speak to everyone on a basic level. Old and Young alike.
Peerless performances from the choir and immaculate orchestral arrangements make this one of the most value for money recordings you'll buy, i also guarantee you will not be able to stop playing this music.
Listen to 'What Sweeter Music' 'The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 58
Average Rating:

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The Sticky Kids Christmas Party

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Sticky Kids

Release Date October 13, 2008
This beautiful CD follows a similar trajectory to the treatment of 'Psalm 23' by Howard Goodall (the Vicar Of Dibley theme) and re-invents the tradition of church music. John Rutter is an English genius who can rightly follow in the hallowed footsteps of greats like Ralph Vaughn Williams and John Ireland. These composers know how to make music that is warm, strangely familiar and above all human, without 'arty' pretensions or ideals, this kind music can speak to everyone on a basic level. Old and Young alike.
Peerless performances from the choir and immaculate orchestral arrangements make this one of the most value for money recordings you'll buy, i also guarantee you will not be able to stop playing this music.
Listen to 'What Sweeter Music' 'The ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 59
Average Rating:

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Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
by: Ella Fitzgerald

Release Date October 20, 2008
I bought this after a reccomendation from another reviewer and I have to say I'm not disappointed. I was already expecting alot from this, I mean Ella Fitzgerald could sing the telephone directory and it'd sound great.
This albun contains the usual Christmas standards, the best being Ellas version of "Have yourself a merry little Christmas". There are some other not as well known tracks too, including the excellant "The secret of Christmas". I must highlight Track 14 "(Medley) We 3 kings of Orient are / O Little town of Bethlehem", which in my opinion is worth the price of the CD alone!!

All in all, an excellant Christmas CD. Ideal for background music for a party or for getting comy on the sofa with your nearest and dearest with a glass or two ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 60
Average Rating:

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Vaughan Williams: Fantasia On Christmas Carols, Hodie

CD-Charts > Music > Classical
from: British Composers

Release Date October 02, 2000
I bought this a couple of years ago and return to it regularly - a sure sign of a good recording. I like the music of Vaughan Williams and this is a good example of his music. The Fantasia was a big surprise - its a lovely setting of some well known carols. John Barrow has a superb baritone voice. The Hodie takes a little more getting into but it is worth the effort. Both choirs and orchestra have good sounds. At this price you can't go wrong!