Because It's Xmas

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Anyone who has seen--or even heard--Barry Manilow live should know what to expect from this Christmas release. True to his persona, some of the songs are as kitschy as a roving-eye cat clock: the Andrews Sisters-esque chorus of Manilow's spirited "Jingle Bells" may be a bit much for nonfans. The title track, however, is the singer at his Barry best, a touching, hold-your-honey-closer-type piano ballad that he really knows how to drive home. The standards are here too, including "The First Noel" and "Silent Night, Holy Night." But as his arrangement of "Jingle Bells" makes clear, there's never anything predictable with Barry Manilow, even when he's dealing with tradition. --Steve Gdula

Tracks:

The Christmas Song
Jingle Bells
Silent Night/I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus
The First Noel/When The Meadow Was Bloomin'
Excerpt From Handel's Messiah ('For Unto Us A Child Is Born...')/Because It's Christmas (For All...
Baby, It's Cold Outside
White Christmas
Carol Of The Bells/The Bells Of Christmas
Joy To The World/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
We Wish You A Merry Christmas/It's Just Another New Year's Eve

Customer Reviews:

Mixed bag.......2006-12-21

By this point in his career he had two distinct music personalities: the soft & sappy and the blue & jazzy. His blue & jazzy numbers, particularly "I guess there ain't no Santa Claus" and his rendition of "Baby It's Cold Outside" are untouchable, 5-star classics. The other side, represented by "Christmas is for the children" is cringe-inducing.

Now it's 2006 and I have not heard his last Christmas outing, but I have one question. What the Holy Heck did he do to his face???????????

-Mark

Soft Christmas Songs.......2006-11-25

This is a beautiful Christmas album. You are asking which of the 2 Barry Christmas albums you should buy? Now, you know I'm gonna say BOTH! I LOVE Barry music. The other (Christmas Love) album is more peppy. This one is the softer Christmas music that you might play later at night while you're waiting for Santa to come. These are just beautiful heart-melting versions of Christmas songs, many classics, and rearranged and tweeked by the Manilow master. The versions leave you feeling so very peaceful and full of those special feelings of the season.

Favorites, such as "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts roasting by the open fire.. ..), "Silent Night," "The First Noel" and "White Christmas" are done so beautifully well by Barry. They are just awesome, in my opinion, as is the whole CD. (I keep almost typing the word "record." I guess I'm telling my age again.) There is something about "When the Meadow Was Bloomin'" that I can feel inside my heart. "For Unto Us a Child is Born/Because It's Christmas (For all the Children)," to me, is what the season is all about. My hat goes off to Barry for including it (if I wore a hat, that is.) "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is a cute duet with K.T. Oslin. Oh, I could just go on and on and on and on about these fantastic arrangements.

I had purchased this album earlier this year, listened to it a couple of times, and put it away. When I pulled it out the other day, I got hooked on its beauty all over again. It is not only Barry's singing, but a compilation of the vibration of his beautiful voice and the gorgeous accompanying musical arrangements. He really sings with his heart and it vibrates all the way through to his soul, and back out to his audience.

This CD would be great anytime, but ideal to sit with in front of a fireplace, at 11:30 p.m., on Christmas Eve, with a glass of wine and someone special--then listen into midnight and beyond--into Christmas Day.

And, once again, I am happy to see that an International Star is not afraid to sing the word "Christmas."

As a side note, I did so NOT want to do the NordicTrack last night, but I am on an exercise and diet "mission". So, I plopped this CD in, earphones on, closed my eyes, and walked into heaven. Before I realized it, the album ended and I did almost 45 minutes. Not only that, but I felt so peaceful; I could have taken on just about anything at that point. (Now I ask you, who feels peaceful after 45 minutes on an elliptical walker/bike without a seat?) Then I took a shower and slept like a baby with Barry's music playing in my heart all night long.

Buy this bee-yoo-tee-full CD. You won't be disappointed. Total running time is approximately 42 ½ minutes.

Record! Record! RECORD!!! There! I said it! Does anybody remember what a RECORD was? It was a round black disk that played music--in the old days--Like B.C.-- No, not a frisby!

My Favorite Christmas CD.......2005-12-15

I originally purchased this CD when it was first released in 1990. It was love at first listen and almost immediately become my favorite Christmas CD. It was always the first CD that I played when we decorated our Christmas tree. Imagine my dissapointment last week when I couldn't find it! After going to two stores last Saturday night ( neither had it!) I was lucky enough to find it on Sunday. Christmas was saved!!Great CD that I highly recommend!!

I play this CD EveryYear around this special time of the year.......2005-12-11

"Because its CHRISTmas" is probally my Favorite Christmas CD ever.My second Favorite is The Carpenters.This record is a concept album that never breaks,the music never stops,and its ALL GREAT,From "THe Christmas Song," to "Its just another New Years Eve." If you are now satisfied with this CD,I will buy it back from you.

All Time Favorite Christmas Album.......2005-11-28

This has been my favorite Christmas album for years. The entire album is fabulous -- not a bad song on it. I love the way the each song transitions into the next. The duet of Baby It's Cold Outside is the best version EVER. And the Messiah montage is beautiful. An outstanding effort.

Average customer rating:

Christmas All Over the World

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wintersong

ASIN: B00006L3QH
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

Adeste Fideles - Luciano Pavarotti
O Holy Night - Placido Domingo
Winter Wonderland - Vanessa Williams
I'll Be Home For Christmas - The Three Tenors
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Sissel Kyrkjeb0
Angels From The Realms Of Glory - Placido Domingo
Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle - Luciano Pavarotti
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Ave Maria, Hymne An Die Jungfrau, D 839 - Jose Carreras
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Jingle Bells - The Three Tenors
It's Christmas All Over The World - Placido Domingo
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Patricia Kaas
First Of May - Sarah Brightman
Silent Night - The Three Tenors

Average customer rating:

A Great Christmas Album
My Favorite Christmas CD of All Time
One of the best Christmas albums ever
You have to get this CD for your Christmas collection
A HOLIDAY FILLED WITH STYLE, JAZZ, AND CLASS!

Because It's

Manufacturer: Laserlight
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004X0JY
Release Date: 2002-12-04

Tracks:

The Christmas Song
Jingle Bells
Silent Night/I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus
The First Noel/When The Meadow Was Bloomin'
Excerpt From Handel's Messiah ('For Unto Us A Child Is Born...')/Because It's Christmas (For All...
Baby, It's Cold Outside
White Christmas
Carol Of The Bells/The Bells Of Christmas
Joy To The World/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
We Wish You A Merry Christmas/It's Just Another New Year's Eve

Customer Reviews:

A Great Christmas Album.......2001-12-05

Barry at his finest. A great cd to play year after year at holidy time

My Favorite Christmas CD of All Time.......2000-11-19

I bought this CD in September, 1990, the day it was originally released. Listening to Christmas music in September was a bit odd; but, as Mr. Manilow has said in many interviews, "Good music is good music," any time of the year.

The concept of this cd is a little different, each song blends into the next with lovely original transition pieces. This is a ROMANTIC Christmas album, not really the "sing along with the kids" kind. The title cut, an original song by Manilow is magical. On "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Barry sings 7-part harmony with himself - so well you would swear he was the Osmond Family! "Baby It's Cold Outside" is a playful number dueted with K. T. Oslin. "I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus" is a wryly humorous number, lyrics written by Johnny Mercer & posthumously given to Manilow by Mercer's widow after which Barry put these lyrics to music. The recording ends with Manilow's classic "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" re-recorded and updated; it's more beautiful now than when it was first made popular in the 70's.

This cd is an interesting blend of classic songs & Manilow originals, beautifully produced (with Eddie Arkin).

One of the best Christmas albums ever.......2000-11-13

This is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas albums I've ever heard. Because It's Christmas is a wonderful mix of all the emotional highs and lows that accompany the holiday season.

For the traditionalists, there's "Silent Night", "The First Noel", "Unto Us A Child Is Born", "White Christmas", "Carol Of The Bells", "Joy To The World", and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".

Then there are a couple of new Christmas songs written by Manilow - "Because It's Christmas", "The Bells Of Christmas" - as well as "It's Just Another New Year's Eve", which originally appeared on Barry Manilow Live.

There are also a couple of new songs (well, they were new in 1990, when the album was first released) that feature new music by Manilow put to previously unpublished lyrics by Johnny Mercer - the slightly bitter "I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus" and the wistful "When The Meadow Was Bloomin'".

Of course, there's also "The Christmas Song", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", and, undoubtedly the album's highlight, the Bing Crosby-Andrews Sisters arrangement of "Jingle Bells", with Expose singing the Andrews Sisters parts.

Finally, there's also a tongue-in-cheek reading of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with K.T. Oslin.

Overall, the album is remarkably free of the excesses that have often been present in Manilow's post-70's records, which means that even people who wouldn't otherwise be caught dead with a Barry Manilow record in their collections may enjoy this one.

You have to get this CD for your Christmas collection.......2000-11-01

When you put on this CD,and the first number,"The Christmas Song" comes on,get ready for a wonderfull holiday adventure.All you hear is Barry's voice,but the song keeps building to a fantastic,Key changing masterpiece,then leads right into "Jingle Bells."Every song is overlaped,and there's alot of original music."When the Meadow was Blooming," is one of my favorites,and "The Bells of Christmas" is a wonderfull,romantic number,but I love,"It's just another New Year's Eve." Its sad at first,when you think about all the loved one's you might have lost during the year,but by the end of the song there's hope that next year will be the greatest year of them all.Along with,The Carpenters,Doris Day,and Barbra Streisand's Christmas Albums, "Because its Christmas" is a must buy for your holiday collection.

A HOLIDAY FILLED WITH STYLE, JAZZ, AND CLASS!.......2000-10-04

If anyone ever wanted a Christmas album filled with inspiring new lyrics, classic melodies of the past, and songs as contemporary as wing-tips, this is THE album. Mr. Manilow's voice is top shape for the holiday season. Wheather in your home in Cailfornia, or your condo in Florida, this album gives the feeling of a cold, blustery feeling of New York City at holiday time. Mr.Manilow's cover of bing Crosby's jazzy 'Jingle Bells,' is done with shear top-notch styling. For the true holiday meaning, songs are woven into classic caroles, that convey the beauty, magic, and deepest meaning of Christmas.