Holiday Classics [Original recording remastered]

Track Listings

1. O Come All Ye Faithful

2. Angels from the Realms of Glory

3. Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child

4. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

5. Holly and the Ivy

6. First Noel

7. Deck the Halls

8. Jingle Bells

9. Good King Wenceslas

10. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Tracks:

Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo (Early 50's Recording)
Merry Fucking Christmas
O Holy Night
Dead, Dead, Dead
Carol of the Bells
The Lonely Jew On Christmas
I Saw Three Ships
It Happenned In Sun Valley
O Tannenbaum
Christmas Time In Hell
What The Hell Child Is This?
Santa Claus is On His Way
Swiss Colony Beef Log
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel
The Most Offensive Song Ever
We Three Kings
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Amazon.com

Those degenerate cousins of Beavis and Butt-head have issued a predictable hash of 18 X-rated holiday songs for fans only. Rude, crude, outrageous outhouse humor certain to offend anyone who doesn't know South Park from the North Pole, these bellicose brats lambaste Hindus, Shintoists, and those of other faiths for not celebrating Christmas and remind us all that we'll one day be "Dead Dead Dead" (so enjoy each and every Christmas!). In between scattered bits of genuine holiday snippets, there's poop fixations ("Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo"), Jewish obsessions ("The Lonely Jew at Christmas" and "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel"), "The Most Offensive Song Ever" (the Mary and Joseph story told, in part), and the sexual entendres of "What the Hell Child Is This?" Funny stuff? Maybe only if you tune in regularly and know that they frequently kill Kenny. And that's a big maybe. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Hilarious!.......2007-06-10

There is not one bad song on this hilarious CD. If you're a fan of the extremely funny SP antics, you will love this CD. Hysterical!!!!!!!

Classic South Park Christmas.......2007-05-13

Love this CD with much of the Christmas songs from many of the South Park episodes. However, the CD is missing the song featuring Jesus and Santa singing in a nite club. Still a Super CD!

Greatness.......2007-01-24

Listen to this every year and it always makes me laugh. If you're a fan, you will love it.

Wonderfully explicit versions of classic songs........2006-05-03

First, if you've seen the episode, you know what's on here. The songs are incredibly well-parodied. Really, just listen to it to find out if you like it or not.

Second, if you are disappointed by the lack of the Santa & Jesus duet, it's because this CD was originally released before the episode; listen to the commentary on the episode, and you'll notice that Matt & Trey mention that the CD hadn't been getting anywhere in sales, so they figured to just make an extra episode with it, but create the Jesus & Santa bit.

Lastly, regarding the review written by Doug Thompson, aka "laffnstock," I must say that your new-found faith has ruined your sense of humour. If you can't make jokes about your own religion, then you're no better than Jerry Falwell and Fred Phelps.

If you like South Park, you'll love this CD!!!.......2006-02-01

In classic South Park style, these Christmas Carols bring a smile to your face in a way only Kenny, Kyle, Stan, and Cartman can bring......My favorite is "The Most Offensive Christmas Carol Ever" performed by Mr. Hanky and Kenny!!!!! I almost wet myself laughing.....I love this....
However...if you don't enjoy South Park, you may not like this at all!!!!!

Enjoy!

Handel: Messiah (Complete Oratorio); Battle, Quivar, Aler, Ramey, Davis

Average customer rating:

A Superlative Recording
You like it big? Try this!
Superior Recording of the Messiah
My Review
best ever

Handel: Messiah (Complete Oratorio); Battle, Quivar, Aler, Ramey, Davis
George Frideric Handel , Andrew Davis , Kathleen Battle , Florence Quivar , John Aler , Samuel Ramey , and Toronto Symphony Orchestra & Toronto Mendelssohn Choir
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Battle, Kathleen | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
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Handel - Messiah / Ameling · A. Reynolds · Langridge · Howell · Marriner
Handel: Messiah
A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle
Handel: Messiah /Nelson * Kirkby * Watkinson * Elliott * Thomas * AAM * Hogwood
Mendelssohn: Elijah

ASIN: B000002RPL
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Messiah: Sinfonia
Messiah: Comfort ye my people
Messiah: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted
Messiah: And the glory, the glory of the Lord
Messiah: Thus saith the Lord
Messiah: But who may abide
Messiah: And He shall purify
Messiah: Behold a virgin shall conceive
Messiah: O thou that tellest
Messiah: For behold darkness shall cover the earth
Messiah: The people that walked in darkness
Messiah: For unto us a child is born
Messiah: Pastoral Symphony
Messiah: There were shepherds
Messiah: And lo the Angel of the Lord
Messiah: And the angel said unto them
Messiah: And suddenly there was with the angel
Messiah: Glory to God in the highest
Messiah: Rejoice greatly o daughter of Zion
Messiah: Then shall the eyes of the blind
Messiah: He shall feed his flock
Messiah: His yoke is easy
Messiah: Behold the Lamb of God
Messiah: He was despised

Tracks:

Messiah: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Messiah: And With His Stripes We Are Healed
Messiah: All We Like Sheep
Messiah: All They That See Him
Messiah: He Trusted In God
Messiah: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Messiah: Behold And See If There Be Any Sorrow
Messiah: He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land
Messiah: But Thou Didst Not Leave
Messiah: Lift Up Your Heads
Messiah: Unto Which Of The Angels
Messiah: Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him
Messiah: Thou Art Gone Up On High
Messiah: The Lord Gave The Word
Messiah: How Beautiful Are The Feet
Messiah: Their Sound Is Gone Out
Messiah: Why Do The Nations
Messiah: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
Messiah: He That Dwelleth In Heaven
Messiah: Thou Shalt Break Them
Messiah: Hallelujah
Messiah: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Messiah: Since By Man Came Death
Messiah: Behold I Tell You A Mystery
Messiah: The Trumpet Shall Sound
Messiah: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass
Messiah: O Death Where Is Thy Sting
Messiah: But Thanks Be To God
Messiah: If God Be For Us
Messiah: Worty Is The Lamb... Amen

Amazon.com

There are two English Davises, both conductors: Colin and Andrew--no relation. Colin recorded a landmark Messiah which is still available on Philips at budget price. This one is another matter entirely. Andrew Davis certainly knows this music, and he hits the big moments with gusto. But Messiah is more than big moments, and despite an excellent cast of soloists, there's too little involvement with the music (especially from Kathleen Battle) in the arias and more intimate moments to make this a clear recommendation. It's not bad, but the competition is just that much better. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

A Superlative Recording.......2007-03-12

This is a truly superlative recording of the Messiah. The soloists are all first rate. John Aler could not have done a better job as the tenor, and Samuel Ramey is surely the world's best ever coloratura bass. His voice is big and black and incredibly flexible! And the bass has twice as many arias as anyone else, so this is very important when choosing a Messiah recording. Kathleen Battle is in excellent voice and the "talk" about her not being emotionally involved is just nonsense. Florence Quivar is a superb mezzo who is not nearly as famous as she should be. She does an excellent job. The conductor also does a superb job, bringing all the forces in line with just the right tempi and dynamics.
My only complaint about this recording is that I think the chorus is merely OK. Personally, I like my choruses to sound like the chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, where every singer could also be a soloist. You won't find that here--it is more on the line of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Good enough, but not great voices.

You like it big? Try this!.......2007-03-03

What a recording! This is the best of the large scale offerings. A powerhouse! Try it! It'll blow you out of the house!

Superior Recording of the Messiah.......2007-01-20

This recording of Handel's Messiah has always been my favorite.

My Review.......2007-01-11

I am happy with my purchase, as I have been with all my other ones from Amazon. I only had difficulty one time with not being able to complete a purchase on line, due to some kind of computer glitch. I imagine it was something I was doing incorrectly.

best ever.......2007-01-10

This is the best recding of the Messiah I have heard. The balance between the orchestra and the chorus is very good.

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle

Average customer rating:

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle
One of the most beautiful Christmas albums
A Christmas Collection For The Ages
Kathleen Battle, My Madam Christmas
Pure Joy

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Battle , traditional/various , Leonard Slatkin , and Orchestra of St. Luke's with New York Choral Artists & Harlem Boys' Choir
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
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A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert
Angels' Glory
Jessye Norman - Christmastide
The Best of Kathleen Battle
Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall

ASIN: B000002ROL
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

O Come All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
Bring A Torch, Jeannette Isabelle
Fum, Fum, Fum!
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Ave Maria
Gesu Bambino
Medley: I Saw Three Ships; The First Nowell; The Holly And The Ivy
Away In A Manger
Silent Night
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mary's Cradle Song
Zither Carol
I Wonder As I Wander
Mary Had A Baby
Rise Up, Shepherd
What Child Is This?
Ave Maria
Finale and Reprise: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel; It Came Upon A Midnight Clear; O Little Town Of Bethlehem; Silent Night; O Come All Ye Faithful

Customer Reviews:

A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen Battle.......2007-01-19

what can i say about the best of the best? As always, Miss Battle makes me wonder how anyone else would dare to sing this music after her rendition. A beautiful CD

One of the most beautiful Christmas albums .......2005-11-22

I love Kathleen Battle's voice, and to get such a great collection of beautiful sacred music, it was like a dream come true. She sings many traditional carols like Holy Night, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, which is possibly my favorite here, you may think you have heard this song so many times, but Kathleen's voice really shines in it. Her English diction is so incredible, you can understand every word, which is not something many opera singers can achieve. Her singing is always so natural and lovely. Many other songs are oustanding on this album, I love the two version of Ave Maria and the Italian song Gesu Bambino. If you are looking for a really beautiful collection of Christmas music, this album is a great choice.

A Christmas Collection For The Ages.......2005-11-13

If there is one performer I miss hearing on a regular basis, it is Kathleen Battle. Anytime I knew that she'd be in a Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast, I knew it would be a performance to remember and more often than not, I was correct. She has a light voice that reaches the upper reregisters with ease and has as a gorgeous sound. She not a regular at many opera houses these days, and in likelihood, if she still did perform on the world's opera stages, we'd be hearing critics say her voice was not what it once was, but thanks to her recorded legacy, her voice will, always have that youthful, energetic sound.

Overall I believe that Ms. Battle performs better in complete opera recordings than recital albums, but most of her recital recordings are of at least good quality and this Christmas collection is outstanding. She handles all of the works with apparent similar ease, but since the recording is so varied, this is a compliment to her skill as a performer. She begins and ends with "O Come All Ye Faithful" where she does a few vocal acrobatics but it's never overdone. Each time I think of what the bets part of the collection is, my mind changes. She brings her skills from the operatic stage in her renditions of "O Holy Night," "Gesu Bambino" (only Pavarotti sings this better, but it's a very close second), and "The Zither Carol" which sounds so much like something that could come from the mouths of Oscar from UN BALLO or Zurbinetta from ARIADNE AUF NAXOS, two of her signature roles. The music from the African American Spirituals tradition and American background are well done and the accompaniment of the Harlem Boys Choir, used to great advantage here adds so much.

With so many Christmas collections from the world of opera available, choosing one can be difficult, but this is one collection that has proven to be a joy for almost fifteen years and will continue to give holiday pleasure for years to come.

Kathleen Battle, My Madam Christmas.......2004-12-28

I probably have 50 Christmas albums. I love many of them. This is my favorite. Leaves me astounded and breathless every time I enjoy it.

Pure Joy.......2003-12-07

In a world where disturbing things are all too common, Christian scripture guides us to dwell on that which is lovely. Kathleen Battle's blessed voice is most certainly one of those lovely things.

I bought this CD in the early 1990's, and I am here to buy it again because I have worn out the original with scratches, etc. I only listen to it during the Christmas season, but I enjoy it enough to hear it all year.

The 'Christmas Celebration' CD should be enough to convince you to also purchase Kathleen's 'A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert'. Ms. Battle's wonderful soprano voice is joined by that of the mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, and the blending is more than memorable. There are a couple of songs which are on both CD's, but you'll want to hear both. In fact, the video of the PBS special is also available, and I recommend buying all three. You won't regret it.

Some of my favorite selections from 'Christmas Celebration' include 'Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabelle' and 'Fum, Fum, Fum', both of which are from a culture different from my own. I found such glimpses into unfamiliar favorites to enhance my own enjoyment of the Christmas season, as long as all of my traditional American favorites were included. They were. "I Wonder As I Wander" and "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful" are there among the other favorites.

Tracks:

Silent Night
What Child Is This?/Hava Nagila
Dance Of The Reed Flutes
Up On The Housetop
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairies
Jingle Cats Medley
Angels We Have Heard On High
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
Carol Of Teh Bells
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Oh Christmas Tree
Ode To Joy
Deck The Halls
Good King Wenceslas
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Waltz Of The Flowers
Auld Lang Syne

Amazon.com

When George Frederick Handel wrote "Joy to the World," which contains the immortal line "Let heaven and nature sing," he probably didn't mean it literally. But Meowy Christmas takes him at his word as Cheese Puff, Max, Sprocket, Binky, Clara, Cueball, Graymer, Twizzler, Petunia--and the occasional dog--meow and bark and let their animal nature sing 20 (count 'em 20!) holiday favorites. You'll be awestruck, dumbstruck, and struck yet again hearing these felines "sing" and, ah, scat their way through the usual round-up of holiday music, relying on a beat box and different arrangements, including a folkish, harmonica-driven version of the Handel hymn. You're bound to find your own favorites here (while trying to figure out how in the heck mastermind Mike Spalla pulled this off), but you're definitely bound to be roused from your comfort and joy by "What Child Is This/Hava Nagila" that trades kitty meows and doggy barks back and forth in a spirited ecumenical dance of the four-legged. The disc comes with an order form for its own line of Jingle Cats merchandise. --Martin Keller

Album Description

JINGLE CATS 'MEOWY CHRISTMAS CD AND CASSETTE: The world's first album of songs sung by real cats. A phenomenon! This is the album that started it all. Seen on television ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN and in newspapers, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and magazines such as CATS Magazine and People Magazine. The Jingle Cats album brought cat fanciers a roaringly funny album which speaks to humans and cats! Warning: listeners have reported losing control of their cars while listening to this album. The #1 requested Christmas album for radio stations nationwide, the #1 Christmas novelty album and Tower Records #1 selling Christmas CD in 1993, and a ranking in Billboard's Top 10 Holiday Album List for 1994.

Customer Reviews:

Hilariously awful.......2007-05-03

This is one of the most stunningly bad records I've ever heard, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Silent Night is a particular favorite. I've bought copies of this CD for friends' Christmas presents before, and it never fails to amuse.

THIS IS PURRFECTLY FESTIVE.......2007-01-11

This CD is not some cheesey strange sounding production of artificial meows. This is a thought out and well done fun addition to your Christmas CD collection, EVEN IF you are not a "head over heels catpawser" like I am. The producers of this CD have taken real cats "speaking" and a couple of dogs too, and put these real sounds to harmony with classic Christmas tunes. You WILL smile when you hear it and by the second song, you will be meowing too.

Makes ya smile.......2007-01-10

Not my all time favorite christmas album but certainly one of the top ten. You can't help but smile when you hear christmas carols being meowed and yowled!! Our cats were a bit freaked at first but have adjusted. Certainly a great gift for any cat lover of any age.

Great for kids, too!.......2006-12-21

I'm a cat lover, and I've heard about this CD long time ago, but purchased it only recently mostly for my 3 y.o daughter. Oh my, we both laughted so hard! It's hysterical! I purchased 2 more CDs - for my daughter's day care and for my g/f and her kid as a Xmas gift. My g/f's daughter loved it too (she's 2 y.o). I want to buy a VHS now, but unfortunately, this time of the year it's out of stock on all web sites
:-(

You will have a Hair....Ball!.......2006-12-14

Okay, shush, I purchased this CD last year because I am obsessed with cats, that and I am a sucker for anything slighty off the wall. If you arent a cat lover you will immediately hate this CD, but if you have cats like I do, and whenever they "talk" you just smile , you will love it. I had this huge grin on my face while i listened to it in my car, giggling and laughing at the different meows these kitties can make, especially the "browwwr" one. Its not something you would put on at a party unless you want everyone to start looking uncomfortable and head out to thier cars. Its something you put on while decorating your tree, so you could prance around embarassing yourself while your husband looks on wondering if I ate something bad for lunch.

Average customer rating:

Great holiday album.
Kenny G Greatest Holiday Classics
Saccharine and Homey
Boney James' Funky Christmas
Instrumental Holiday Classics for any age

The Greatest Holiday Classics
Kenny G
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Miracles: The Holiday Album
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The Essential Kenny G

ASIN: B000BC8TD2
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Medley: Deck The Halls/The Twelve Days Of Christmas; Deck The Halls\ The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Joy To The World
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Sleigh Ride
Miracles
Jingle Bell Rock
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
My Favorite Things
We Three Kings/Carol Of The Bells
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Ave Maria
The Chanukah Song
Jingle Bells
I'll Be Home For Christmas

Amazon.com

Doing what every good merchandiser does when there's no new real product for the Christmas season, Kenny G repackages his best stuff with a few new tracks. The Greatest Holiday Classics boasts pieces from previous holiday records, Wishes (2002), Faith (1999) and Miracles (1997), with five new cuts for a total of 16. To be sure it's a generous offering from the one guy in popular music who just might be contemporary America's Jazzman. Whether playing his acclaimed alto sax or blowing tenor, Kenny's signature tone is nearly unmistakable from anyone else's, perhaps, for his easily accessible phrasing and the limited improvisation he's willing to put on record. His focus has always been on delivering the song, rather than the possibilities for innovation, exploration and enhanced creativity that more adventurous players readily welcome in the jazz setting with any tune. One of the new pieces, a big band treatment of "Jingle Bell Rock" joyfully swings under Randy Waldman's arrangement and fellow his horn men seem to push G on his solo, while the other new works "My Favorite Things" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" are fairly predictable fare. Even "Jingle Bells" is reduced to a slow tempo, with KG's trademark moody, saccharine strings and piano in the mix. But then, this is exactly the kind of Christmas tea many want against the often-overwhelming din of the holiday rush. Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Great holiday album........2007-01-10

Kenny G is amazing, and it's great to have his greatest holiday classics all on one album.

Kenny G Greatest Holiday Classics.......2006-12-16

For all you idots that said his music was terrible, you definitely do not have an ear for music. I think his music is awesome, and Kenny is laughing all the way to the bank...... :-)

Saccharine and Homey.......2006-11-26

This is the type of album that relaxes you during the hectic holiday season. Sure, Kenny G is definitely not the best jazz musician (heck, I don't think we can even call him a jazz musician) but a Christmas album such as this one does not require such innovative improvisation. This album just draws out some sweet substance and really creates a comforting feeling.
If you are looking for something creative, don't approach this album. If, however, you are looking for soothing Christmas album, then this is a good choice. If you don't have Kenny G's old Christmas albums, then give this a try. It's fair enough.

Boney James' Funky Christmas.......2006-10-02

Before You Buy A Horrible Cd Like This One check out " Boneys' Funky Christmas " cd --- that is a great album !!

Instrumental Holiday Classics for any age.......2006-01-15

The album title says it all. Kenny G and his team did a GREAT job briging us another album with the joyful sounds of the holidays.

A Little Chrismas Music: Kiri Te Kanawa; The King's Singers

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
like all but one track
Heaven is here!
A Very Mixed Bag
Among My Top 10 Christmas Recordings

A Little Chrismas Music: Kiri Te Kanawa; The King's Singers
various/traditional , Dame Kiri Te Kanawa , The King's Singers , London Sinfonia , and Richard Hickox
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000002RRF
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Here We Come A-Wassailing
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
The Little Drummer Boy
I Wonder As I Wander
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen
Ding Dong! Merrily On High
Stille Nacht
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
A Little Christmas Music (Medley A La Mozart)
The Coventry Carol (Lully, Lulla)
The Boar's Head Carol
Gaudete
Joy To The World
Three Spanish Carols: Riu, Riu, Chiu
Three Spanish Carols: El Nino Querido
Three Spanish Carols: Villancico Catalan
Deck The Hall
The Wexford Carol
The Gift (Simple Gifts)
Patapan And Farandole

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-11-29

The King's Singers come to us steeped in the 500 year old English tradition of choral singing; and that's fine with me.!!!There are 6 singers in this group (the personnel change from time to time)namely: Jeremy Jackman and Alastair Hume (countertenors)- Robert Chilcott (tenor)- Bruce Russell and Simon Carrington (baritones) and Stephen Connolly (bass). They are very capably accompanied by the City of London Sinfonia and Brass Quintet conducted by Richard Hickox. An added PLUS is the great Kiri Te Kanawa who sings an arrangement by Daryl Runswick entitled "A Little Christmas Music (Medley a la Mozart)". It's a hodge-podge of Mozart melodies sewn together in a rather haphazard manner, and meant to be humorous. I guess this type of composition does not appeal to me personally, and I'm sorry that Kiri's glorious voice was wasted. However, that's only MY opinion; I am certain others may disagree.
This album is really a mixture of Christmas tunes and that's partly what makes it interesting. And, of course it is masterfully sung by the King's singers;I enjoy all their discs; especially the recording of Gilbert and Sullivan tunes. Some of the arrangements on this disc are somewhat esoteric, and I'm not too fond of the very STRANGE arrangement (again by Daryl Runswick) of the Coventry Carol, but 'to each his own'. Their opening selection:"Here We Come a-wassailing" (arr. Robert Chilcott) is a great opening number and I must say that it's the best arrangement I have ever heard of this selection.
Let's face it:the KING'S SINGERS are perfection. But don't forget our American group:Chanticleer.

like all but one track.......2006-02-02

With the exception of track 11 (The Coventry Carol, Lully lulla) I really like this CD. I personally prefer the traditional renditions of The Coventry Carol. I do not like the "modern" harmonics and arrangement of it on this CD. Otherwise, it is very fine, indeed.

Heaven is here!.......2005-10-26

Xmas carols are always touching, but this cd is beyond all you have already heard. The King's Singers plus Kiri Te Kanawa is a combination of angelical adult voices, yes, adults can also have angelical voices. Buy this cd and check yourself if it is not true!

A Very Mixed Bag.......2003-08-15

I've often admired the King's Singers' performances, and of course they are a famous and accomplished ensemble, noted for the precision of their close-harmony singing, so I was looking forward to this CD. I regret to say that I find it a very mixed bag, on the whole disappointing. Unfortunately the reliable executant skills of the King's Singers are not matched here by their judgment and taste in choosing arrangements--perhaps there was too great a push for mixing it up, adding variety, "something different." The resulting arrangements are wildly uneven, some of them unattractive and tasteless in varying degrees from mild to dreadful. They range from the very good (bands 7 and 18: straightforward a cappella close-harmony, which is what these singers do best), to exotic (band 16), to schmaltzy (band 5), to busy (band 8), to campy (bands 11 and 19), to cutesy (bands 3 and 6), to terminally cutesy-poo (bands 4, 11, and 19). "Deck the halls," for example, is done in by its arch, cutesy-poo arrangement, as is "White Christmas," which even includes a bizarre, wholly gratuitous interpolation of a bit from Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kije, God knows why!

Band 12, "The Coventry Carol," the longest cut on the CD, demands special mention: it is downright awful. The annotator of this CD writes cosily, "And of course there are the old traditional English Christmas songs, all mulled wine and mince pies." Nothing could be less descriptive of what we get here, where the misguided, pretentious, weird, grotesquely ugly, far-out dissonant-modern arrangement does its utmost to pervert and spoil this lovely old English carol, twisting and distorting it into something almost unrecognizable; this cut is a real horror. (Sir David Willcocks, the famed King's College choirmaster under whom the King's Singers trained and sang as youths, would be appalled. The man responsible for this travesty, one Daryl Runswick, also arranged two other selections; his consistently tasteless arrangements comprise three of the four worst on the CD.)

The performing forces vary from the a cappella singers to accompaniments with brass ensemble or orchestra. The variable but undistinguished engineering (EMI's Abbey Road studios, 1989)--over-processed, over-bright, hard-edged, and occasionally canned-sounding--is an additional drawback. If you like traditional Christmas music (as I do) you might want to think twice before buying this CD. At least try to listen to it first. Caveat emptor.

Among My Top 10 Christmas Recordings.......2002-12-26

King's Singers maintains the highest standard for all those who aspire to create spine-tingling a cappella harmony. Somewhat akin to the small number of their peers worldwide, no style seems off limits to their abilities. But certain aspects set the King's Singers apart. Perhaps it is their early and consistent training in the English choral discipline, or the many, years of touring together in one combination or other. Their most remarkable quality is their quintessentially English sound -- the pipe-like tone produced especially in the mid- to upper registers -- that is at once remarkably free of vibrato, but still alive with overtones. If one listens closely to the solo parts, it becomes evident: the sound isn't produced merely by excellent group intervallic intonation, but by individual voices capable of producing overtones. Thus, it's the sound you can't hear that takes your breath away.

Because the recording is so excellent on the whole, one disappointment stands out: I wish that Coventry Carol had been saved for another recording. The dissonances conjure up distressing images at odds with the overall effect they seem to have been trying to accomplish with the recording, and I can certainly imagine that in another context, I might have been interested and emotionally moved, rather than unsettled and annoyed.

Tracks:

The First Noel - Clay Aiken
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Ruben Studdard
O Come, All Ye Faithful - American Idol Ensemble
Silent Night - Tamyra Gray
Silver Bells - Kimberley Locke
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - American Idol Ensemble
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Kimberley Locke
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Justin Guarini
Winter Wonderland - Christina Christian
This Christmas - Ruben Studdard
Oh Holy Night - Kelly Clarkson
My Grown Up Christmas List - Kelly Clarkson

Amazon.com

You've watched them on TV and followed them in the media. Now six of the American Idol winners perform 10 of the season's holiday best. American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics is a bona fide AI songfest for Christmas, featuring Clay Aiken, Rueben Studdard, Tamyra Gray, Kimberly Locke, Justin Guarni and Christina Christian. With two tunes featuring the entire ensemble singing "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," two duets, and a couple of cuts by Kelly Clarkson, including "My Grown Up Christmas List," this is a crowd pleaser arranged and lushly orchestrated for fans of the show and fine mainstream singing. The real stars seem to shine though on Christian's playful and seductive "Winter Wonderland" and Studdard's soulful pipes on "This Christmas." Overall it's a rewarding set that's almost too perfect. It seems to beg for a little levity a la William Hung. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

OK MUSIC.......2007-06-06

I GOT BORED WITH THIS AL THOUGH GOOD , TIRED OF THE SONGS

We love American Idol.......2007-01-15

This was a great CD for any fan of American Idol. I still play it every season for Christmas and then some. Great CD, nice Christmas music

Good Holiday Album........2006-07-19

There is just something about a Christmas song; it puts me in a good mood, no matter where I am. Sure, I have heard better versions of some of these songs, but it's still nice to listen to. My personal favorites on this album are Tamyra Gray's Silent Night (it's very soulful) and the extra disc with Kelly Clarkson's versions of O Holy Night and My Grown-Up Christmas List is just amazing. Another good one is the Group on O Come All Ye Faithful, and Ruben and Tamyra's Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Clay Aiken's The First Noel is OK, although a little on the boring side. Over all, it's a pretty good Holiday album, I would recommend it. :)

Clay Aiken's the only great talent here..........2005-11-28

Aside from Clay Aiken's spectacular vocals for "The First Noel," Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke's "Silver Bells," and the ensemble's "O Come, All Ye Faithful," the other songs are merely mediocre. Tamyra Gray's "Silent Night" would've have been much more beautiful if she hadn't lisped on "Christ the Savior is born". As I've said, the rest were merely mediocre and become tiring after listening to the CD a few times. They could've done much better.

I recommend Clay Aiken's Christmas CD much more over this CD, unless you really love some of the singers on this CD.

I love what American Idol has done for singing!.......2005-08-10

As a professional singer and Voice Teacher, I am so thrilled to see how American Idol has given the art of singing such a jump start in these last few years.

These American Idol CDs and programs are filled with so much varying talents. From Hard rock to Country, America is becoming interested in identifying true talent. As an Opera Singer myself I can still enjoy the gifts of other genres and am sad to hear when others look down upon the show. Also, as a voice teacher of many styles I can't stress enough the need to my own students for them to develop themselves as a "Complete Unique Package". Finding their own true niche and style including: voice type, genre, best repertoire, to the the right audition outfit. American Idol teaches the same theories. Be true to yourself and your voice to get your best shot at this business of singing. I am an advocat for AI and all shows that encourage the high developement of arts in America. We come from a society that watched sports religiously on telievision (which is great) but there are so many talents to support including singing out there amongst us. American Idol gives artists and viewers a fantastic opportunity.

Average customer rating:

Favorite Bing Crosby carols
Bing's Christmas from the 60s and 70s like we remember him
An Essential Christmas Album From The Voice Of Christmas!

Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics
Bing Crosby
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
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ASIN: B000HT36FA
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Tracks:

White Christmas (from The Frank Sinatra Show - 12/20/1957)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Winter Wonderland
What Child Is This? / The Holly And The Ivy
The Little Drummer Boy
O Holy Night
The Littlest Angel
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Frosty The Snowman
Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
I Wish You A Merry Christmas
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Pat-A-Pan / While Shepherds Watched Their Flock
Christmas Dinner Country Style
Peace On Earth / The Little Drummer Boy (Bing Crosby & David Bowie) [From 1977 TV Special "Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas"]

Customer Reviews:

Favorite Bing Crosby carols.......2007-01-09

I searched all over for a recording of Bing and David Bowie's Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth. Not only does this recording have it, it's also packed with lots of other wonderful traditional carols.

Bing's Christmas from the 60s and 70s like we remember him.......2006-11-11

A very nice collection, with almost all the songs in stereo, less the two TV soundtrack selections and Rudolph. To me, the most amazing track is the heartwarming (some call it syrupy) track "The Littlest Angel" - in this song Bing is in fine voice and the recording is crystal clear without a lot of audio processing like you get nowadays. Do You Hear What I Hear? is one of the greatest songs of the 20th century, and Bing had the first and by far the best version of this song, here in all it's glory. Some of the two song carols are poorly arranged and feature too much choir and not enough Bing, but his solo tracks are quite good, in stereo and sound wonderful for a guy in his sixties and seventies. I'm still amazed that no other performer, David Bowie included, has ever recorded the duet "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy" other than Bing & Bowie. It breaks my heart that Bing passed-away shortly after recording this great song, before he and David Bowie could go into a recording studio with an orchestra and make a high-quality stereo recording; but, for a 1977 TV soundtrack, the audio is quite good and captures the moment forever. Bing's baritone - a great part of Christmas. I enjoy this "album" and a release by Polydor/Polygram of Bing's 70's Christmas songs, as my two Crosby Christmas favorites. The only song missing here is a song Bing recorded for United Artists records, "When A Child Is Born". I highly suggest Bing's Christmas Classics if you were a fan of Bing's TV Christmas specials - I think that you'll enjoy it. Merry Christmas everyone.

An Essential Christmas Album From The Voice Of Christmas!.......2006-10-08

Capitol Records has given us an early Christmas present by reissuing and expanding it's 1999 Bing Crosby's Christmas Classics CD compilation. This new version, now titled Bing Crosby Christmas Classics, was released Tuesday September 26th.

Gone is the dark cover photo of a piece of sheet music on a piano with a small b/w photo of Bing circa 1963 (which was first used when Capitol hastily reissued an abridged version of Bing's 1962 Warner Bros. Christmas album I Wish You A Merry Christmas in 1977 following Bing's passing). In it's place on this new CD is the original painting that was used on that 1962 Warner Bros. LP! Many people have asked me over the years if that album has ever been reissued on CD with the original artwork. Apart from a late 1980's Australian Axis label CD release of the album that's now virtually impossible to find, 2006's Capitol compilation marks that well-remembered cover painting's first widespread use in over 40 years!

Inside the booklet are full page photos of Bing, including a 1965 Hollywood Palace publicity photo in color, and a b/w photo of Bing & David Bowie. On the backside of the case is a nice photo in silhouette of Bing in tux and tails standing behind a mike onstage at the Academy Awards in 1955.

The CD contains all of the tracks issued on the 1999 release, with a new opening track...White Christmas from the 1957 Frank Sinatra Christmas TV show. It credits this cut as being a "Nelson Riddle Arrangement", when in reality, this is the arrangement Paul Weston wrote for Bing's A Christmas Sing With Bing annual radio show in 1955. Now Reprise released the full length version of this song, complete with Frank taking the last chorus as a duet with Bing, as part of it's 2004 Frank Sinatra: The Christmas Collection CD compilation, but here Capitol re-edited the track to omit Frank's vocal! It makes for an oddly short track with a chopped ending, clocking at 1:34.

The other new track is a stunningly crisp 24-bit remastered version of Bing's 1950 Decca recording of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, an obvious choice to follow the '62 album cut of Frosty The Snowman with on the disc.

Do You Hear What I Hear and Christmas Dinner, Country Style are also here rounding out the disc with the full length dialogue version of Little Drummer Boy / Peace On Earth with David Bowie (recorded 9/11/77). Once again, however, as on it's 1999 release Capitol didn't create a separate cue point to the beginning of the music portion of the duet with Bowie. This would've been beneficial, giving the listener the option of cueing past the dialogue portion if they wished.

However, it's nice to see Capitol keeping this album in print and taking the time and effort to improve upon it.

Average customer rating:

1+1=3
A wonderful combination

Places Between: Live in Dublin

Manufacturer: Sony Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Paul Galbraith: French Impressions
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El Diablo Suelto - Guitar Music of Venezuela
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The Magic Box

ASIN: B000ICLTNM
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

Introduction by Paul Herriot
Extra Time - Part 1
Extra Time - Part 2
Extra Time - Part 3
Strange Comforts
Sangara
Slow Dub
God Bless The Child
La Ultima Cancion
El Totumo
Triangular Situations
Malinke Guitars
Places Between
Peace, Love and Guitars - Part 1
Peace, Love and Guitars - Part 2
Peace, Love and Guitars - Part 3
Djandjon
Mitopa

Customer Reviews:

1+1=3.......2007-06-12

Two very talented individual guitarists; one classically trained and very clean the other from progressive rock roots combine to produce a virtuoso performance

A wonderful combination.......2007-02-07

This CD is a splendid (and long - about 1 hr) way to spend some time listening to one great classical and one modern guitarist. Neither repetitive nor too esoteric, nor ego driven. Top class music.

Average customer rating:

Perhaps best compilation so far
Actually comes close to being the best

Best of New Year's Concert

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000E4N55
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Tracks:

The Blue Danube Op. 314 (Waltz)
Thunder And Lightning Op. 324
Morning Papers Op. 279
Bandits' Galop Op. 378
Emperor Waltz Op. 437
Hunting Op. 373
Viennese Bonbons Op. 307
Beloved Anna Polka Op. 137
Accelerations Op. 234
Burning Love Op. 129
The Dragonfly Op. 210
Overture

Tracks:

Vienna Blood Op. 354
Celebration March For The Recovery Of Emperor Franz Joseph I Op. 126
Light Of Heart Op. 319 - Hans Knappertsbusch
Without Brake Op. 238
Music Of The Spheres Op. 235
Pizzicato-Polka Op. 449
Watercolours Op. 258
On The Wing Op. 230
Voices Of Spring Op. 410 - Johann Strauss II
Egyptian March Op. 335
Anna Polka Op. 117
Tales From The Vienna Woods Op. 325 - Karl Swoboda
On Holiday Op. 133
Carefree Op. 271
Radetzky March Op. 228

Customer Reviews:

Perhaps best compilation so far.......2006-06-07

For many years I have rejected the "lesser" music of Strauss family. But since New Year's concert is an institution in Classical music I have to admit that sometime I was to buy something. And since tradition is what matters most, far more important than the particular conducting or programme of every year, why not having a look at a sample of this history line of performances? I usually hate samples of works or concerts, but in this case I make an exception: here the whole is far greater than its parts. Here you have many conductors from Krauss to Ozawa (lacking Mehta and the more recent Harnoncourt and Janssons)plus Knapperstbusch (?) who was closely associated with WP albeit without conducting a NY concert. In all of them the orchestra plays splendidly. If I have to single out a conductor, it is Karajan but I should listen to all his recording to make a judgement. What is important here is that you have a sample of what tradition truly is, far outweighting a particular programme or conductor. And the reperoire: almost all favourite pieces are here. Almost: I think it is a valse,very well known, I think, featuring in other CD under Maazel, that is absent here. But the vast majority of famous walzes and polkas are here, and adding track durations it makes clear that they need 2 cds. Given that it is very probable not to have all of them in a single concert, so I commend you not to let pass this oportunity and grab this compilation, unless you want a complete concert in particular. There is another more recent but less complete, I think. 4 of 27 tracks are not taken in a NY concert, but in Sofiensalle, in another time, but all are alive, with the WP. The local edition of the CD has a brief but appropiate history of the concert series by the President of WP, Clemens Hellsberg. Besides, the double CD ends with Radevsky(?) March, with public clapping, as it should. In summary, a must.

Actually comes close to being the best.......2005-10-28

Over the years DG has recorded more of the traditional New Year's concerts from Vienna than any other company, and they've mined their stock fairly often. Here is one of the very best collections, not a haphazard potpourri but a select cross-section of the best conducting from 1957 (Josef Krips) to 2002 (Seiji Ozawa). As it happens those are two conductors I wouldn't necessarily turn to for Strauss waltzes, but their contributions are buoyant and lovely. The same is true for eveyr cut on both CDs--one really gets into the spirit of a live concert and a festive occasion. Very nice.

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. O Come All Ye Faithful
2. Angels from the Realms of Glory
3. Jesus, Oh What a Wonderful Child
4. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night
5. Holly and the Ivy
6. First Noel
7. Deck the Halls
8. Jingle Bells
9. Good King Wenceslas
10. We Wish You a Merry Christmas