The Christmas Album

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
With pleasing vocal holiday trimmings from the popular singing quartet, Manhattan Transfer's The Christmas Album seems designed for fans only. Its decidedly safe arrangements and harmony singing yield few surprises, only "Snowfall," the record's first track, and, oddly enough, John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "Goodnight," the album closer (and the very song that finished the Beatles' "White Album"). "Snowfall" acts as a romantic table setter for the cuddly fare that follows across The Christmas Album. "Goodbye," which always threatened to fall apart under the weight of its own brand of lovable Beatles schmaltziness, adds a bit more Christmas color to the instrumentation while letting the vocals lull and caress until a cute kid explains why they should go to sleep and wake up to get presents. Lovable schmaltz alert. --Martin Keller --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

The Christmas Album, Music, Manhattan Transfer, Adult Contemporary, Bop, Christmas, Christmas / Chanukkah, Christmas Music, Contemporary Jazz, Group, Harmony Vocal Group, Holiday, Mainstream Jazz, Pop, Vocal Jazz, Vocalese
Tommy
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Who Classic Masterpiece AS YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE
  • A Landmark Classic Now Made Even Better.
  • A Milestone of Early Rock!
  • I Love it !
  • The Who's classic rock opera gets a 35th birthday celebration fit for a king!
 Tommy

Manufacturer: Geffen Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000DJZAH
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. It's A Boy
  3. 1921
  4. Amazing Journey
  5. Sparks
  6. Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)
  7. Christmas
  8. Cousin Kevin
  9. The Acid Queen
  10. Underture
  11. Do You Think It's Alright
  12. Fiddle About
  13. Pinball Wizard
  14. There's A Doctor
  15. Go To The Mirror!
  16. Tommy Can You Hear Me?
  17. Smash The Mirror
  18. Sensation
  19. Miracle Cure
  20. Sally Simpson
  21. I'm Free
  22. Welcome
  23. Tommy's Holiday Camp
  24. We're Not Gonna Take It
  25. See Me Feel Me/Listening To You

Tracks:

  1. I Was
  2. Christmas (Out-Take 3)
  3. Cousin Kevin Model Child
  4. Young Man Blues (Version 1)
  5. Tommy Can You Hear Me? (Alternate Version)
  6. Trying To Get Through
  7. Sally Simpson (Out-Takes)
  8. Miss Simpson
  9. Welcome (Take 2)
  10. Tommy's Holiday Camp (Band's Version)
  11. We're Not Gonna Take It (Alternate Version)
  12. Dogs (Part 2)
  13. It's A Boy
  14. Amazing Journey
  15. Christmas
  16. Do You Think It's Alright?
  17. Pinball Wizard

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Who Classic Masterpiece AS YOU NEVER HEARD BEFORE.......2007-06-12

The Album is a masterpiece of all time rock n roll, even if this is "the less Who album" of the Who... but nevermind!
The Sound in both Stereo (from the original master tape discovered in the vault of UMG) and 5.1 (mixed by Pete Townshend himself) is great...
As you put the disc in your player you'll hear the great differences from the 1996 reissue even if you have only a "simple" CD player..
If You're a great Who fan and you a have SACD player buy ABSOLUTELY this album and enjoy it 'til the laser of your player won't work anymore...
The second disc is clearly for fans only but the quality of some track even if are demos or outtakes is very very good!!

5 out of 5 stars A Landmark Classic Now Made Even Better........2006-12-26

One of the most important, groundbreaking amd influential albums in the history of rock and roll, The Who's 1969 magnum opus "Tommy", a rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure plays a mean pinball, is now better than ever thanks to the brilliance of SACD and DSD remastering techniques.

Every song on the cd sounds like it was recorded just yesterday. It is 100 % crystal clear, perfectly remixed and remastered. It gives you a clearer view of the story as well as a more pleasurable than ever listening experience. Pete Townshend and the people involved in this truly put their hearts into making "Tommy" better than ever.

The bonus disc is also worth it. A lot of awesome raritis. The liner notes are an interesting read, and the album itself is of course a masterpiece nobody should be without.

5 out of 5 stars A Milestone of Early Rock!.......2006-09-29

"Tommy" is beyond question one of the big milestones of early rock. Musically the band were at the peak of their creativity.

All band members were obviously extremely talented musicians and both Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend were/are great singers. Apart from few exceptions like "Cousin Kevin" all songs are outstanding; and it's really great to have the whole story on one CD - compared to the old double vinyl album.

Though the storyline may seem a little weird today ( to me it always did ), there is so much great music on this album.

The second bonus CD gives a very interesting insight in the developement of some of the songs. Though the sound quality is exellent CD 2 will mainly be of interest to hard-core Who fans. None of these alternate versions are better than the ones chosen for the album, though a few come close. The studio version of "Young Man Blues" which did not appear on the original album is a nice addition too!

5 out of 5 stars I Love it !.......2006-09-06

I was so blind-sided by this reissue - really. I have looked at this for a few years now, but I never picked it up. My impression of this was that it had some very good music along with some dated sounding tracks, so it wasn't a high priority. I'd been having very good luck buying hybrid SACD's even though I don't own a SACD player; the CD layers benefit greatly from the DSD mastering, making them stand head and shoulders above the latest PCM remasters (there are a few exceptions), so I decided to take the plunge.

The CD layer is stunning. I must have been sitting there with my mouth open after "Overture" began. I experienced emotion that wasn't there on previous listens to this on CD and vinyl. Yes, some of the tracks still sound dated, but most of this album is very good indeed, and this remaster is so incredible. If you own a great stereo rig, I highly recommend buying this - in fact, even if you don't have a great rig, I recommend it!

5 out of 5 stars The Who's classic rock opera gets a 35th birthday celebration fit for a king!.......2006-08-13

The Who's fourth studio(and fifth overall) album Tommy was released in May of 1969.
The Tommy album by The Who was the make or break for the group because if Tommy had failed, The Who would have probably disbanded due to lack of funds despite their concerts selling out based on Pete Townshend's guitar smashing and Keith Moon's drum kit demolishing at the end of each gig.
Guitarist Pete Townshend, under the gun after I Can See For Miles failed as a single in the UK(although it was their biggest ever hit here in the US) came up with a rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind kid named Tommy whom becomes those aforementioned things after witnessing an event as a child that traumatized him(his father killing his step-father whom he considered his father).
Originally considered to be a single length album, the band felt it didn't make sense so they expanded it into a double album and the result is one of rock's Top 10 greatest double studio albums in history(alongside other classic double albums like the then-already released Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland and The Beatles' White album and would help pave the way for more classics like The Rolling Stones' 1972 masterwork Exile on Main Street, The Who's 1973 release Quadrophenia, Elton John's 1973 classic Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Genesis' 1974 masterwork The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Led Zeppelin's 1975 classic Physical Graffiti, Pink Floyd's 1979 masterpiece The Wall and Bruce Springsteen's 1980 classic The River among many others).
Alot of classics appear on this album like the Overture, the classic Top 20 hit Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, the Underture(best instrumental on here which is basically a repeat of the album's other instrumental Sparks), Go to the Mirror, I'm Free, Cousin Kevin(one of bass player John Entwistle's greatest compositions), Fiddle About(about the perverted Uncle Ernie), Tommy's Holiday Camp(another excellent ditty written by drummer Keith Moon whom did an excellent rendition in the film version of Tommy in 1975) and the classic finale We're Not Gonna Take It/See Me Feel Me.
The other tracks on the album It's a Boy, 1921(You Didn't Hear It), Eyesight to the Blind, Christmas, The Acid Queen, Do You Think It's Alright, There's a Doctor I've Found, Tommy Can You Hear Me?, Smash the Mirror, Sensation, Miracle Cure, Sally Simpson and Welcome are all great pieces as well though tend to be overlooked.
The album made The Who legends for good and peaked at #4 on the Billboard chart and was their first Gold seller(eventually Platinum).
In 1996, the album was re-released as a remastered CD but used different masters for the remixed reissue.
In October of 2003(just in time for Tommy's 35th Anniversary), Geffen Records(formerly known as MCA) re-released the album as a 2-disc Hybrid SACD with the original mix on the CD layer and a killer 5.1 mix on the SACD layer and this version uses the very original tapes that were found in Universal's vault after being said that the original tapes were destroyed by Kit Lambert in a fire. As a result of the discovery of the original tapes, the sound quality is amazing on here.
Disc two has great outtakes and demos like I Was, The Who trying to record Sally Simpson with hilarious results and instrumental versions of Tommy Can You Hear Me and Tommy's Holiday Camp among many other rarities plus a cool booklet with rare photos.
Highly recommended.
A Very Special Christmas
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Very special christmas
  • Rock'n Christmas
  • Not worth buying
  • Worst online experience ever
  • Rocking Christmas
 A Very Special Christmas
The Pretenders , and John Cougar Mellencamp
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002GFJ
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - The Pointer Sisters
  2. Winter Wonderland - Eurythmics
  3. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Whitney Houston
  4. Merry Christmas Baby - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
  5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas -The Pretenders
  6. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - John Cougar Mellencamp
  7. Gabriel's Message - Sting
  8. Christmas In Hollis - Run-D.M.C.
  9. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - U2
  10. Santa Baby - Madonna
  11. The Little Drummer Boy - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
  12. Run Rudolph Run - Bryan Adams
  13. I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas-Bon Jovi
  14. The Coventry Carol - Alison Moyet
  15. Silent Night - Stevie Nicks

Amazon.com

When was the last time you heard collard greens being sung about in a Christmas song? Probably never, unless you're a Run DMC fan, or were wise enough to hop on the Very Special Christmas tip. The rappers' contribution to this benefit collection is probably the highlight, although traditional songs covered by now-traditional artists like the Pretenders ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas") provide the majority of the material here. Eurythmics turn in a suitably chilly "Winter Wonderland," Stevie Nicks sings a beautifully haunting "Silent Night," and Whitney Houston proves again that she's every woman with "Do You Hear What I Hear"--that is, every woman with a voice strong enough to do the song justice. "Santa Baby," Madonna's contribution, isn't as sultry as it could be, but there's more fun thanks to hell-on-heels, the Pointer Sisters and Bon Jovi. --Steve Gdula

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Very special christmas.......2007-01-22

Great cd, have the original on record & couldn't find it anywhere in Oz on cd. Not your traditional boring christmas carols - love it!

4 out of 5 stars Rock'n Christmas.......2007-01-19

If you luv Xmas, but you are a little sick of hearing the same old 40's & 50's sounding carols & songs and you wish xmas would ROCK, just a little, then this is the CD for you!!!!
I luv it, I have heard these songs played on the radio and thought
"Where can i get a copy of these tracks!".
Well here they are, in 1 neat little package.
Merry Rockn Xmas Next Year!

1 out of 5 stars Not worth buying.......2007-01-19

I bought the cd for my sister, because it was the only recording I could find of this particular Sting song that she loved. It turned out she already had the cd, and said the ONLY good song on the cd was his song. Therefore I took it back to another store, as I didn't want it either. Too much discordant, and rap type music, she said.

1 out of 5 stars Worst online experience ever.......2007-01-18

Hermanstreet is lame and I would never, even with my life hanging in the balance, order from them again.

I e-mailed several times (3)inquiring about my order and not once received an e-mail back. Worst online experience ever, this coming from someone who does the majority of their shopping and all their bill pay online.

4 out of 5 stars Rocking Christmas.......2007-01-15

This is a good Christmas CD for people who are tired of the usual same-old-same-old. It features Mellencamp and the Eurythmics among others. It's really good and I highly recommend it.
The John Rutter Christmas Album
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Rutter Christmas Album
  • Unique and Beautiful!
  • Johh Rutter Chirstmas Album
  • Liked it enough to go through a lot of trouble to give it a review.
  • John Rutter and Cambridge Singers
 The John Rutter Christmas Album
Cambridge Singers , Rutter , and City of London Sinfon
Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

ClassicalClassical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00006JJ4T
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

  1. Wexford Carol
  2. Jesus Child
  3. There Is a Flower
  4. Donkey Carol
  5. Wild Wood Carol
  6. Angels' Carol
  7. Nativity Carol
  8. Mary's Lullaby
  9. Star Carol
  10. Candlelight Carol
  11. Shepherd's Pipe Carol
  12. Christmas Lullaby
  13. Dormi, Jesu
  14. Love Came Down at Christmas
  15. Sans Day Carol
  16. I Wonder as I Wander
  17. What Sweeter Music
  18. Joy to the World
  19. I Saw Three Ships
  20. Deck the Hall
  21. Very Best Time of Year
  22. We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  23. Silent Night

Album Description

Top of the British Classical Charts for 10 Weeks! Billboard Top Ten Classical Recording - December 2002! This album gathers together most of the carols I have composed over the years, plus a sprinkling of my arrangements of traditional carols, grouped to form a program which narrates, reflects upon, and celebrates the Christmas story. I have always enjoyed carols ever since I first sang them as a member of my school choir, and it was not long before I began to write carols of my own-in fact my first two published compositions were the Nativity Carol and the Shepherd's Pipe Carol. For any musician involved in choral music, Christmas is an especially joyous time, and I am indeed happy that it has played a part in my musical life for so many years- JOHN RUTTER

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Rutter Christmas Album.......2007-05-14

Great selection of music, and well presented. This is however older recordings that do not match the quality of Rutter's latest recordings such as the Te Deum or the Gloria.

5 out of 5 stars Unique and Beautiful!.......2007-03-09

John Rutter, and his beautiful music, is such a gift to the world. This unique Christmas CD is magnificent! Especially touching are two of Rutter's original carols, "Christmas Lullaby" and the joyful "Angels' Carol." The musical selections speak to the soul, helping the listener connect to emotions of joy, peace, faith, hope, and love. This is a worthy addition to your collection of Christmas CDs.

5 out of 5 stars Johh Rutter Chirstmas Album.......2007-02-19

If I were to choose only one Christmas album to ever own, this would be the one. John Rutter is an exceptional composer of religious music, with unusual harmonies. The music is difficult to sing, and because this is his own choir and he is directing it, the performance is flawless. Gives you goosebumps.

5 out of 5 stars Liked it enough to go through a lot of trouble to give it a review........2007-02-07

Great music by John Rutter: Great performance!

5 out of 5 stars John Rutter and Cambridge Singers.......2007-01-18

This is quintessential English cathedral music; beautifully sung. Reminds one of the English Christmas -- warm and serene -- that we've only experienced in our dreams!
December
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful December
  • Lovely but, sadly not the best.
  • Veteran Christmas Rocker
  • Moody Blues Christmas Album - December
  • Loved it.
 December
The Moody Blues
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000DJYOD
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

  1. Don't Need A Reindeer
  2. December Snow
  3. In The Quiet Of Christmas Morning (Bach 147)
  4. On This Christmas Day
  5. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
  6. A Winter's Tale
  7. The Spirit Of Christmas
  8. Yes I Believe
  9. When A Child Is Born
  10. White Christmas
  11. In The Bleak Midwinter

Amazon.com

It was inevitable that The Moody Blues would produce a Christmas record. Why it took this long is the mystery. The group's classical music underpinnings have always been ripe for the Christmas canon and on December they add to it with their own contributions. "Don't Need A Reindeer" is a remarkably sweet little pop song that proves Justin Hayward can still write what sounds like a hit. A fair amount of orchestration shades the rest of the CD, as the band arranges and adds lyrics to a Bach piece (here called "In the Quiet of Christmas Morning") while also taking on "In the Bleak Midwinter," "When A Child Is Born," "White Christmas," and the John Lennon/Yoko Ono classic, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." In the same vein, though less cheerful, John Lodge pens a melancholy meditation on the horrors of the Mideast in 2003. While he's no John Lennon and December is uneven at best, for Moody Blues fans it will be like finding the lost chord.--Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful December.......2007-06-23

I recently got this CD and I must say I am very very happy with it. My dear Moody Blues have still got "it" - in spades. Their lyrics, music and voices are as wonderful as ever. Those fabulous Hayward & Lodge harmonies sound so very good and this CD is just chock full of their blended vocals. 'December' is such a joy to listen to; in fact I am listening to it right now, and it's 90 plus degrees outside on this June day!

I highly recommend this beautiful Moody Blues work. It's great to listen to at Christmas, or at any other time you want to hear these fabulous men make a joyful noise in your ears.

4 out of 5 stars Lovely but, sadly not the best........2007-05-20

If you own all the other Moodies albums then this is a must. However, if your still building your collection, Strange Times blows this one out of the water. With Ray now gone, there's an empty space in the harmonies and writing

December is avery nice album, and grows on you fast if you don't "get it" at first. 4 stars for the original songs, and is a good snap-shot of the Moodies today.

Still awaiting their next...

5 out of 5 stars Veteran Christmas Rocker.......2007-01-23

Recognizable Moody Blues no matter what the song. With touches of classical (Bach) and vintage (Iving Berlin) Christmas music but with the distinctive Hayward and Lodge touch, as well as their own compositions, this cd evokes pleasant memories of Christmas past while holding out the promise of pleasant listening next December as well.

5 out of 5 stars Moody Blues Christmas Album - December.......2007-01-13

Buy it! This great CD has some old favorites but it's the new songs that really get you. Absolutely one of my most favorite holiday CDs ever.

5 out of 5 stars Loved it........2007-01-04

I've had it for a couple of years and just love it. To me, it is soothing and relaxing.
It brings back memories of the old days and all their LP's from the 70's. There's just something about the sound of Moody Blues that you can't quite describe.
Great!
Jethro Tull Christmas Album (Bonus Dvd)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Not a must have - but quality
  • fabulous
  • A Christmans Album for All Seasons
  • Very Enjoyable
  • The Beginning of the End
 Jethro Tull Christmas Album (Bonus Dvd)
Jethro Tull
Manufacturer: Fuel 2000
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002ZMJ5M
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

  1. Birthday Card At Christmas
  2. Holly Herald
  3. A Christmas Song
  4. Another Christmas Song
  5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
  6. Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow
  7. Last Man At The Party
  8. Weathercock
  9. Pavane
  10. First Snow On Brooklyn
  11. Greensleeved
  12. Fire At Midnight
  13. We Five Kings
  14. Ring Out Solstice Bells
  15. Bouree
  16. A Winter Snowscape

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Not a must have - but quality.......2007-06-20

Good quality Tull material, some quite excellent in fact. Great production-one of their best sounding recordings ever.

5 out of 5 stars fabulous.......2007-05-28

ian anderson is a genius. this cd is beautiful. it's been Christmas in April.

5 out of 5 stars A Christmans Album for All Seasons.......2007-05-25

A totally unexpected Christmas Album from Ian Anderson with his virtuoso flute. Great rhythm and melodic variation distinguish this from other Christmas albums on Christmas standards and new originals. Too bad the other musicians are really not up to the task that Anderson's music demands most of the time--the other musicians playing are mediocre, particularly the uninspired drummer who has nowhere near his old man's chops.

4 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable.......2007-05-17

I've been a Tull fan since the early 1970's. During that decade I saw the band in concert 3 times. Although Ian doesn't have the power/range in his vocals anymore - the music is still quite refreshing. I like the spin on the old seasonal standards and wit and charm of his own material.
The pure instumentals are still way up to my Tull standards. There's a lot of music and it's very enjoyable. This one will be on my regular play list during the holidays - or whenever!

4 out of 5 stars The Beginning of the End.......2007-04-27

This album marks the beginning of the end for Jethro Tull. Not because the band is going downhill on its own, but because Ian is driving it that way forcibly.

Here is where Ian starts to replace the top-notch, virtuostic players that have always made Tull the most musical band on the face of the planet, with people like his son, James Duncan Anderson, who, forgive me for being blunt, is a hack percussionist and utterly incapable at the throne.

Now he has replaced just about everyone else (except Martin) with second rate musicians that just can't play at the level which his compositions demand. And why? to save a buck. So Ian Anderson can die a rich man.

Tosh. This album is not bad, there's some really great playing, great fun arrangements of traditional tunes, but, there are a few spots where you wince at James' playing ability... and there will be a lot more of that if this new concert lineup stays. We're going to begin to miss Doane, Andrew and John.
A Christmas Album
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Perennial Favorite That Pointed Grant in Pop/Rock Direction
  • A Christmas present...found!
  • My favorite Christmas CD
  • I LOVE this Christmas Album!
  • A childhood favorite
A Christmas Album
Amy Grant
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002WOJ
Release Date: 1993-08-10

Tracks:

  1. Tennessee Christmas
  2. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
  3. Preiset Dem Konig! (Praise The King)
  4. Emmanuel
  5. Little Town
  6. Christmas Hymn
  7. Love Has Come
  8. Sleigh Ride
  9. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)
  10. Heirlooms
  11. A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard On High

Amazon.com

Amy Grant's first Christmas album is not only one of the best recordings of her career, it's easily one of the best contemporary Christmas collections available. Grant's Christian beliefs have been incorporated into her music for years, and maybe it's the artistic translation of the depth of her faith that makes these songs so inspiring. "Emmanuel" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" have Grant's vocals soaring, especially on the sustained chorus of the latter. Her country roots show nicely in "Tennessee Christmas," while "Sleigh Ride" is as fun as it is romantic. "Heirlooms" is particularly poignant--maybe not to the point of "hand me a tissue," but it's powerful all the same. A must for fans, and a good holiday addition for those looking for a Christmas record that comes without the cobwebs. --Steve Gdula

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Perennial Favorite That Pointed Grant in Pop/Rock Direction.......2007-01-30

In the spring of 1982, around the time that her soon-to-be widely successful album Age to Age was released, Amy Grant was asked whether she would be interested in crossing over from the contemporary Christian music (CCM) market to a more mainstream market. She responded in the affirmative. Her next release was A Christmas Album in the fall of 1983. Grant has said in interviews over the years that she wanted this album to quell the high expectations raised by her considerable recent success. But whatever her intentions might have been, the album actually did the opposite: it increased her fan base and carried her farther down a pop/rock path that would a mere year-and-a-half later culminate in her first dual release (1985's Unguarded) to the secular pop/contemporary Christian market.

For a holiday release, A Christmas Album is a remarkably excellent album. The formula used by Grant and producer Brown Bannister is nothing new: stir in new tunes with the expected traditional favorites and include a few instrumentals. With the holiday classics (both religious and secular), Grant provides renditions respectful of the originals while often adding her own twists to the proceedings. This in itself fit well with the CCM target audience's worship practices of the time. During the 1980s and into the 1990s, it was standard (in larger evangelical churches, at least) to take traditional hymns or songs and embellish them with brassy orchestras, large choirs, and, often, more contemporary vocals and arrangements.

But even in following this trend, Grant's versions are of markedly higher quality than what you'd normally find on a CCM album of the time. She stretches her voice on "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" and towers over the voices of the choir that backs her. She includes a new song from her own pen, "Christmas Hymn," that aims to become a Christmas standard of its own. This "hymn" is the best track on the album and has been picked up by some churches as part of their worship. (A second new Christian song, "Heirlooms," is pleasant enough but not as memorable.)

Grant's versions of secular Christmas songs like "Sleigh Ride" and "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)" not only serve as tributes to the original recordings but also bring a sense of fun to the album. In the same vein, Grant's collaboration with then-husband Gary Chapman, "Tennessee Christmas," is as all-American as the previous tunes. When you factor in the album's cover snow scenes and interior photo of Grant's extended family gathering, it's not that much of a stretch to say that Grant comes across here as all American as the individuals in a Norman Rockwell painting.

If the album had just been composed of Christmas standards and new tunes in the traditional mode, it undoubtedly would have succeeded in Grant's goal of deflating expectations. Bannister and Grant also, though, have planted a few left turns in the album. The most obvious one is Michael W. Smith's "Emmanuel," a song that, despite its name, is not specifically Christmas-oriented. (Smith stole the lyrics from a top-selling poster of the names of Christ.) Sandwiched between traditional hymns, "Emmanuel" begins with heavy synthesizers and quickly expands into a full-blown pop/rock tune. It quickly became a CCM hit single and remained a concert standard for some time after Grant "crossed over" into the secular market. The second pop song, "Love Has Come," is sandwiched between "Christmas Hymn" and "Sleigh Ride." The backing vocals from secular pop/rock band Chicago's Bill Champlin provide a harder edge than had been heard in Grant's songs to date, even though "Love Has Come" is not nearly as hard-driving as "Emmanuel."

In fact, both "Emmanuel" and "Love Has Come" easily could have fit on Grant's next studio album, Straight Ahead (released just a few months later in early 1984). That album features pop/rock tunes at the same musical level as A Christmas Album: far beyond anything on the mostly mellow Age to Age's plate and with hints of Unguarded's full-blown technopop. A Christmas Album, then, contains the first signs of Amy Grant's coming transition from CCM superstar to secular pop artist.

But beyond any considerations of its place in Amy Grant's career, A Christmas Album is an excellent album in its own right. Even more than two decades later, its production quality is excellent, thanks to the sterling work of producer Bannister. (The closest CCM Christmas album to this one in spirit is Steven Curtis Chapman's The Music of Christmas, which was also helmed by Bannister.) Grant has released two additional Christmas albums in the succeeding years, but it's this one that's fondly remembered. Many people put it in rotation every Christmas season and even throughout the year.

5 out of 5 stars A Christmas present...found!.......2007-01-19

I looked all over in stores for this CD. It's my mom's favorite Christmas CD...I remember having the record album when we were little! She needed the CD, but we could never find it. So, I looked on Amazon, and there it was!
Thanks!!

5 out of 5 stars My favorite Christmas CD.......2007-01-19

This is the third time I have bought this CD (actually first 2 were Cassettes) but the music is classic as well as some modern updates of old favorites. It just brings a smile to you as well as reminds us the reason for the Season. I am sure it will be as much of a blessing to you as it has been to me.

5 out of 5 stars I LOVE this Christmas Album!.......2007-01-10

I grew up listening to this album and I never get tired of it year after year. It's always the first one I play when Christmastime rolls around.

5 out of 5 stars A childhood favorite .......2007-01-04

This CD brings back childhood memories. Every year my mother would put it on around Christmas. It's classic.
A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • It was pretty good.
  • Welcome New Additions
  • It's ok.
  • Great (semi)-modern Christmas record...
  • I want a Rickenbacker guitar
 A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2
Various Artists
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. A Very Special Christmas
  2. A Very Special Christmas 3
  3. A Very Special Christmas - Vol. 5
  4. A Very Special Christmas Live!
  5. A Very Special Acoustic Christmas

ASIN: B000002G0M
Release Date: 1992-10-20

Tracks:

  1. Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
  2. Jingle Bell Rock - Randy Travis
  3. The Christmas Song - Luther Vandross
  4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Frank Sinatra/Cyndi Lauper
  5. The Birth Of Christ - Boyz II Men
  6. Please Come Home For Christmas - Jon Bon Jovi
  7. What Christmas Means To Me - Paul Young
  8. O Christmas Tree - Aretha Franklin
  9. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Ronnie Spector/ Darlene Love
  10. White Christmas Tree - Michael Bolton
  11. Christmas Is - Run D.M.C.
  12. Christmas Time Again - Extreme
  13. Merry Christmas Baby - Bonnie Raitt And Charles Brown
  14. O Holy Night - Tevin Campbell
  15. Sleigh Ride - Debbie Gibson
  16. What Child Is This? - Vanessa Williams
  17. Blue Christmas - Ann and Nancy Wilson
  18. Silent Night - Wilson Phillips
  19. I Believe In You - Sinead O' Connor

Amazon.com

The follow up to the original, this collection in many ways surpasses the initial effort. Duets seem to rule here, with Cyndi Lauper and Frank Sinatra double teaming on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," while the irrepressible Ronnie Spector shares the mic with Darlene Love for a resplendent "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," and Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson give "Blue Christmas" a steamy and sizzling once-over. Vanessa Williams stops the disc, though, with her simple yet stunning rendition of "What Child Is This." The then-sign-of-the-times inclusion, Michael Bolton, offers a forgettable "White Christmas," but it's the only real clunker in the bunch. Always just a tad too country to make it as a cross-over artist, Randy Travis still makes "Jingle Bell Rock" his own in his smooth way. --Steve Gdula

Album Details

Second Volume of this Landmark Christmas Collection. Green Cover Art.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars It was pretty good........2007-01-17

The tract 3(Roasting on an open fire), tract 10(The White Christmas-by Michael Boton) and 15 (Sleigh ride- by Debby Gibson) were my favorites. It was pretty ggod, actually.

5 out of 5 stars Welcome New Additions.......2007-01-09

The new songs in this cd are great additions to the long list of popular Christmas songs. These tracks will endure like the rest of the good ones, and it's well worth getting for your Christmas collection!

3 out of 5 stars It's ok........2007-01-03

I thought that I would love this series of music cd's, but I was wrong.
You get one of two great songs, and the rest are no good.

4 out of 5 stars Great (semi)-modern Christmas record..........2006-11-27

Favorite tracks:

1. Tom Petty

12. Extreme

9. Ronnie Spector

There should be something for everyone. Rock to Country to Rap...

4 out of 5 stars I want a Rickenbacker guitar.......2004-12-09

This album is good, but it isn't quite the classic that the first Very Special Christmas is. The highlight is definitely the opening song by Tom Petty. The rest of the album is somewhat uneven. While there are some fine performances by the likes of Sinead O'Conner, Ronnie Spector and Darlene Love, there are also a few lame performances by people like Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Bolton and Extreme. One of the oddities here is a "duet" between Frank Sinatra and Cyndi Lauper. They actually just used an old vocal by Frank from 1947 and added Cyndi's voice to it. In an interesting side note, they originally tried to have Paula Adbul do the duet, but she was unable to hit the right notes. The only artist here that is repeated from the the first Very Special Christmas is Run-D.M.C., but the song they do here is far inferior to the classic "Christmas in Hollis". Overall it's a decent Christmas album, and if you are a fan of the performers featured on it, I would recommend it.
The Ave Maria Album
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • beautiful beautiful
  • Ave Maria
  • Ave Maria - penetrating hymns
  • the Ave Maria Album
  • My Dad used to sing this while shaving
 The Ave Maria Album

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Ave Maria
  2. The Fabulous Danny Boy Album
  3. The Ultimate Sacred Christmas Album ~ Ave Maria
  4. Ave Maria
  5. Sacred Classics - Messiah, Ave Maria, Pie Jesu, Zadok the Priest, L'enfance du Christ

ASIN: B000007QGY
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

  1. Ave Maria - Choir Of Men And Boys Of St. Thomas Episcopal Church
  2. Ave Maria - Helmuth Froschauer
  3. Ave Maria - Munich Radio Orchestra
  4. Ave Maria - George Stoll
  5. Ave Maria - Orchestra
  6. Ave Maria - The Ave Maria Album
  7. Ave Maria
  8. Ave Maria
  9. Ave Maria
  10. Ave Maria
  11. Ave Maria
  12. Ave Maria
  13. Ave Maria
  14. Ave Maria
  15. Ave Maria
  16. Ave Maria

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars beautiful beautiful.......2007-06-27

This CD was a gift for someone who loves the classic Ave Maria, and it delivers an assortment of the most beautiful recordings of the hymn ever made. Just lovely!

3 out of 5 stars Ave Maria.......2007-05-30

Some very good renditions of various versions, but some were rerecordings and not remastered, so were grainy and sounded like old 33.3 RPM recordings. I was disapppointed in those, but most were excellent for my purpose in becoming familiar with the music.

5 out of 5 stars Ave Maria - penetrating hymns.......2006-01-26

Other CD's have various versions of Ave Maria, as does this one. What distinguishes this CD is the quality of the recordings, the reverent tone of the vocalists, and the impressive blending of the singers and orchestras. Some versions inpsire an awesome silence, attracting our focus on these hymns and their solemnity. Ave Maria continually provides a respite from the world--it is so intense. These Ave Maria hymns are captivating enough by their music alone. The meaning adds the intended spiritual dimension. This album comes highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars the Ave Maria Album.......2005-10-03

My husband and I listen to this all the time .. whatever
version is your preference, you can probably find it on this
album. Excellent.

5 out of 5 stars My Dad used to sing this while shaving.......2005-06-11

This beautiful aria is interpreted 16 ways by several renown singers and composers, so I'm sure you'll find your own personal favorites among the different versions. Each rendition has its own descriptor, and I found myself thinking "riveting", "exhilerating", "captivating", "evocative", "inspiring", or even "heartbreaking" for the same compelling music. To me, even the old fashioned, ragged recordings herein had a certain charm, and I don't mind the 'scratchiness' at all. I believe my Dad would sing Franz Schubert's 'Ave Maria' as interpreted by tenor Jerry Hadley -- I swear it literally brought tears to my eyes when I first heard it. As a child, I remember the delight I took in hearing my Dad sing with all the passion and drama of an artiste -- and you know, for a man who didn't even know all the lyrics, he sounded pretty darn good in our old bathroom! Seriously, this is a wonderful collection, even without the reminiscent sentimentality. I highly recommend it.
A Very Special Christmas 3
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins, but Oi to the world and everybody wins!
  • christmas music that has the feeling
  • If you're going to write new christmas stuff, you'd better be good at it or else stick to the classics
  • Third time's a charm.
  • Not the strongest in the series
 A Very Special Christmas 3
Various Artists
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002GOJ
Release Date: 1997-10-07

Tracks:

  1. I Saw Three Ships - Sting
  2. Christmastime - The Smashing Pumpkins
  3. Children Go Where I Send Thee - Natalie Merchant
  4. Santa Baby - Rev Run & The Christmas All Stars
  5. Oi To The World - No Doubt
  6. Blue Christmas - Sheryl Crow
  7. Christmas - Blues Traveler
  8. Oiche Chiun (Silent Night) - Enya
  9. The Christmas Song - Hootie & The Blowfish
  10. Ave Maria - Chris Cornell
  11. Christmas In The City - Mary J. Blige
  12. Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Jonny Lang
  13. Christmas Song - Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
  14. Christmas Is Now Drawing Near At Hand - Steve Winwood
  15. O Holy Night - Tracy Chapman
  16. We Three Kings - Patti Smith

Amazon.com

Part three of a series of records that benefits the Special Olympics, A Very Special Christmas 3 from 1997 is as excitingly eclectic as its predecessors. Though it features the likes of R&B chart toppers and hip-hoppers Mase, Puff Daddy, and Snoop Doggy Dogg and alt-rockers No Doubt, Smashing Pumpkins, , Blues Traveler, and others, the real standout performances belong to Jonny Lang, with his bawdy, barroom version of "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" and Sting, who delivers a proper reading of that old English carol "I Saw Three Ships." The showstopper, though, is Natalie Merchant's "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" in an arrangement so rich and compelling it may top even the many five-star versions of this African-American hymn that have come before it. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Oi to the punks and Oi to the skins, but Oi to the world and everybody wins!.......2006-12-17

This is obviously the third volume in the highly successful Very Special Christmas series. It came out in 1997 and most of the performers here are ones that were popular at that time. Most of the performances are good, with nothing being flat out terrible, which is always a bonus. Which ones you like best will depend on your taste of course. Personally, I think I like the songs by Sting, Natalie Merchant, No Doubt and Chris Cornell the best. But that's just me, you might like some of the others better.

4 out of 5 stars christmas music that has the feeling.......2006-02-22

This cd is very good and should be in anybody collection

4 out of 5 stars If you're going to write new christmas stuff, you'd better be good at it or else stick to the classics.......2005-12-08

The artists who stuck to the classics always come out better on these albums. It is a dangerous thing to write a new one unless you can come up with something really significant. Sadly "Christmas Time" by Smashing Pumpkins is not. It's maudlin (meaning sickly sweet and whingey) and the words are worthless. "Christmas time is fun presents for everyone" Ohhh please. Perhaps Bob Geldof and Bono could teach some wealthy rockstars that not everyone gets presents at Christmas and it ain't always fun for those whose families have difficulties or who are under persecution or war. Better to teach the real meaning of Christmas- that Christ was born to offer a new start to everyone. This makes every difficulty you are under fade and is a much better message than "presents for everyone".
Sorry for the diehard pumpkins fans. I actually like their stuff, but Christmas Time is pumpkin pulp. hohoho

4 out of 5 stars Third time's a charm........2005-10-11

I found many songs I like on the other "Very Special Christmas" albums, but front to back this is easily my favorite. Maybe because it includes alot of "adult-alternative" artists, but probably just because the songs are sooo good. Just look at the tracklist. Sting, Natalie Merchant, and Sheryl Crow all do great covers, and I also love the songs done by Tracy Chapman and Enya. As far as originals go, I was really impressed by the tracks from Smashing Pumpkins and Blues Traveler, both are excellent, and both sound very seasonal. My reason for purchase however was for "Ave Maria". Chris Cornell (Soundgarden/Audioslave) does an amazing job with it, and it's really quite moving. The rest is good at the least. As the holidays approach, I already can't wait to play this. I also suggest "The Edge Of Christmas" and "You Sleigh Me: Alternative Christmas Hits".

5 out of 5 stars Not the strongest in the series.......2005-01-14

I was very impressed by the first two volumes in the series but this volume, while it has some great tracks, does not match those two although I like this set better now than when I first bought it some years ago.

The highlights for me are I saw three ships (Sting), Blue Christmas (Sheryl Crow), Christmas (Blues traveller), a Gallic version of Silent night (Enya), Santa Claus is back in town (Jonny Lang), Christmas is now drawing near at hand (Steve Winwood) and O holy night (Tracy Chapman). Most of the other tracks are OK but the version of Santa baby included here is definitely not my kind of music. I much prefer Madonna's version, to be found on the first volume in the series, or the original Eartha Kitt version from the fifties.

If you are a big fan of nineties pop and rock music, you may enjoy this more than I do, as my taste in pop and rock is rooted in an earlier era. Otherwise, you are likely to feel (as I do) that this is not an essential purchase. You can contribute to the Special Olympics by purchasing the first two volumes (also filled mostly with pop and rock music) or the more recent Very special acoustic Christmas (filled with country and bluegrass music), all of which I reviewed long ago.
A Very Special Christmas - Vol. 5
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • excellant
  • A very Special Christmas -Vol.5
  • BOB JOVI ROCKS!
  • Good Christmas CD
  • intelligent 30 something
 A Very Special Christmas - Vol. 5
Macy Gray , and Wyclef Jean
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005R7TZ
Release Date: 2001-10-30

Tracks:

  1. This Christmas (Hang All the Mistletoe) - Macy Gray
  2. Little Drummer Boy/Hot Hot Hot - Wyclef Jean
  3. Noel! Noel! - Eve 6
  4. Blue Christmas - Jon Bon Jovi
  5. Merry Christmas Baby - Stevie Wonder & Wyclef Jean
  6. O Come All Ye Faithful - City High
  7. Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You - SR-71
  8. Christmas Day - Dido
  9. Run Rudolph Run - Sheryl Crow
  10. Back Door Santa - B.B. King & John Popper
  11. Little Red Rooster - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
  12. Christmas Don't Be Late (Chipmunk Song) - Powder
  13. Silent Night - Stevie Nicks
  14. I Love You More - Stevie Wonder & Kimberly Brewer
  15. White Christmas - Darlene Love

Amazon.com

Five volumes in 14 years would probably qualify these all-star benefit albums (Special Olympics) as a holiday tradition by now, even if all five have been hit-and-miss affairs. Still, the 2001 edition has a few more highlights than a quick glance at its offerings might indicate. Jon Bon Jovi tries to imitate Elvis on "Blue Christmas," and Darlene Love--surely as important a voice in the genre as Bing Crosby--falls short in her attempt to recreate her superior 1963 Phil Spector version of "White Christmas." Genuinely cool, though, are Macy Gray's jazzy "This Christmas," Eve 6's pop-metallic "Noel! Noel!," City High's hip-hop Christmas hybrid, and SR71's goofy take on Billy Squier's already goofy "Time to Say I Love You." Things get downright steamy--and Santa-sized--when John Popper meets up with B.B. King for the bluesy "Back Door Santa." --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars excellant.......2007-01-16

I ordered this at the last minute for a Christmas gift and it came in plenty of time and in great shape! thanks so much!

5 out of 5 stars A very Special Christmas -Vol.5.......2005-12-20

Stevie Nicks singing Silent Night is the best I have every hurd the arrangement was beautiful. Thank you

5 out of 5 stars BOB JOVI ROCKS!.......2005-12-14

Although the entire cd is very enjoyable, Bon Jovi does a great interpretation of Elvis with "Blue Christmas". Very enjoyable cd for all.

4 out of 5 stars Good Christmas CD.......2005-12-05

This, like all of the 'Very Special' Christmas albums, offers a very fun alternative to the typical christmas song. This one definately favors modern rock, so if you're looking for Nat King Cole, break out your 45's and get out of here.

5 out of 5 stars intelligent 30 something.......2005-12-04

No this isn't the greatest CD ever made, but there are many really excellent tracks performed by some of my favorite artists. If you are a fan of Natalie Merchant than this CD is a must have. That track alone is worth buying the whole disc. The rock version of the Chipmunk Song is also very cool. The rest of the CD is fun and enjoyable. I guess you must be young enough to enjoy the newer artists. I have the classic christmas artists versions as well, so it is nice to mix it up a bit. Put all my Christmas CD's in my 200 disc changer on random!

Music:

  1. The Divine Miss M
  2. The Fabulous [Import]
  3. The Girls and Boys on Broadway/The Sweetest Swingin' Sounds of "No Strings" [Import]
  4. The Greatest Hits
  5. The Irish Tenors
  6. The Roulette Story [Box set] [Import]
  7. The Very Best of Michael Feinstein [Import]
  8. This Is Gold [Import]
  9. Torchin//You Are My Love [Original recording remastered]
  10. Totally Easy [Import]

Music

Music