Christmas with Mahalia Jackson

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As someone who grew up singing gospel hymns in her Baptist church and who later brought that music to diverse audiences around the globe (she sang for John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.), Mahalia Jackson served as the Queen of Gospel Music and as an inspiration and influence to future generations. These Christmas songs benefit from her powerful phrasing and unrestrained enthusiasm which easily transform an old English madrigal ("What Child Is This?") into something deeply felt from her own difficult upbringing. A stylist of the highest order, Jackson infused everything she sang with a majestic sweep that made her one of the most important voices of her day. --Rob O'Connor

Tracks:

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
O Holy Night
The First Noel
No Room In The Inn
Silver Bells
Happy Birthday To You, Our Lord
What Child Is This
White Christmas
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming

Amazon.com

As someone who grew up singing gospel hymns in her Baptist church and who later brought that music to diverse audiences around the globe (she sang for John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.), Mahalia Jackson served as the Queen of Gospel Music and as an inspiration and influence to future generations. These Christmas songs benefit from her powerful phrasing and unrestrained enthusiasm which easily transform an old English madrigal ("What Child Is This?") into something deeply felt from her own difficult upbringing. A stylist of the highest order, Jackson infused everything she sang with a majestic sweep that made her one of the most important voices of her day. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

Mahalia Jackson an rare voice,.......2006-07-04

Mahalia Jackson is one of the greatest gospel singers of all time even better than Shirly Ceaser.She has an rare and unique voice which makes her stands out more than anybody.Also she is original and an natural for gospel.My favorie Mahalia Jackson Christmas songs were;Hark The Herald Angels Sing,O Come All Ye faithful,Away in A Manger,Silent Night,Joy to the World and among others.Like I said she can really sing gospel and you dont really hear good music like that in the old days anymore!

Mahalia Jackson an rare voice,.......2006-07-04

Do You Hear What I Hear.......2003-07-08

As already stated, "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming" holds it own. Such a lovely arrangement, and Mahalia 'butters' it up a little.

As a child, there is one song from this particular album that was always played on the Gospel station around Christmas. The song that I'm speaking of is "Happy Birthday To You Our Lord." When I hear this song, it sometimes makes me teary-eyed, because I begin to think of the Christmas' when my grandmother was still living- the times when we would be driving around, and this song would come on. Such good times.

"There's No Room In The Inn" is my absolute favorite on this CD. That song skips so much, b/c I always put it on repeat. As Mahalia sings this song, I can just imagine Mary & Joseph searching for a comfortable place to stay- I can see their faces as they're turned away. I can feel their pain. I just get goosebumps thinking about it.