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Displaying 1-11 of 11 items.
Andrews Sisters and Bing Crosby : A Merry ChristmasReview: As Christmas time nears you will undoubtedly begin hearing once again the familiar sounds of Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. It was back in the 40's and 50's when Bing and the sisters got together and recorded 6 Christmas songs for Decca records, which historically have become some of the most celebrated holiday recordings of all time. Most of the songs will ring a familiar bell, but there are some very cute recordings that didn't quite receive the recognition deserved. This 20 track release includes; "Happy Holidays", "Twelve Days Of Christmas", "I'd Like To Hitch A Ride With Santa Claus", "You're All I Want For Christmas", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "Winter Wonderland", "Mele Kalikimaka", and "Here Comes Santa Claus". Like a cracklin fire, this is great music to bring warmth to your home this Christmas season. Songlist: Happy Holiday, Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling, Twelve Days Of Christmas, The First Snowfall, I'd Like to Hitch A Ride With Santa Claus, Poppa Santa Claus, You're All I Want For Christmas, The Christmas Tree Angel, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, O Fir Tree Dark, Christmas Candles, Jingle Bells, Christmas In Killarney, Winter Wonderland, Here Comes Santa Claus, Looks Like A Cold, Cold Winter, Merry Christmas Polka, Mele Kalikimaka, Is Christmas Only A Tree, Christmas Island 
Drifters : Winter WonderlandReview: We have always loved recordings by the Drifters, and have enjoyed their live performances even more. "Winter Wonderland" is an all-accompanied collection of 10 soulful Doo-Wop Christmas tunes: "Christmas Just Ain't Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," The Beach Boys' wonderful "Little Saint Nick," "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Please Come Home for Christmas," "The Christmas Song," "Silent Night," "O Holy Night" and "Auld Lang Syne." No frills, no extensive liner notes, just some great fun, romantic tunes to dance to, enjoy and brighten up your holiday season! Songlist: Christmas Just Ain't Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Little Saint Nick, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Please Come Home for Christmas, The Christmas Song, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Auld LangSyne
Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians : 'Twas The Night Before ChristmasReview: For many years Waring and his Pennsylvanians entertained America with radio and tv broadcasts, as well as stage shows and a multitude of recordings. Culled from the Waring archives, the spontaneity and energy of these live recordings comes through from the first cut. Featured are famous Pennsylvanian soloists and the incomparable Waring Glee Club on these 21 wonderful (all big band accompanied) songs of Christmas. We can't really pick favorites here. The jazzy "Jingle Bells" perhaps, or the Teen Trio's solo on "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" that segues into manic sound-effect silliness." Certainly the "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow Medley," Frank Davis' soulful solo on "One for the Little Bitty Baby," and Jack Best and Gordon Goodman on "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Oh, and we have to include Jane Wilson's solos on "Away In A Manger" and "Cantique De Noel" (Oh Holy Night). The bottom line is, this is great, classic entertainment by, in our opinion, the premier choral organization of all time. Christmas music just doesn't get any better than this! Songlist: Opening: I Hear Music, Jingle Bells, Christmas Was Meant For Children, Santa Claus is Comin' To Town, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, One For The Little Bitty Baby, Medley (Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, The Sleigh, Winter Wonderland), White Christmas, The Christmas Song, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, Medley (Adeste Fidelis, The First Noel, Carol Of The Bells), Beautiful Savior, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, Rise Up Shepard And Foller, Oh Gathering Clouds, Behold That Star, Medley Of English Carols (Suzzani, Coventry Carol, Gloucestershire Wassail), Away In A Manger, Cantique De Noel (Oh Holy Night), Silent Night/Come Unto Him, Closing Sleep
Review: Legendary, Grammy-winning arranger/conductor Johnny Mann and his prolific Singers apply their bright, smooth, spirited Sixties sound to this excellent Christmas collection. Traditional carols like "As Lately We Watched," "Lo How a Rose," "Deck the Halls," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "O Christmas Tree," "The First Noel," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" of course are here, wonderful and sincere; but we especially liked lesser known tunes like "Johnny Bring The Pine Tree In," "Sleep, Sleep Jesus, Sleep" and the lovely "Susan Belle." The kind of Christmas album they just don't make any more, and the kind that will be enjoyed again, year after year! Some light accompaniment, but mostly a cappella. Songlist: Johnny Bring The Pine Tree In, Sleep, Sweet Jesus, Sleep, As Lately Watched, Susan Belle, Lo How A Rose, Jingle Bells, Deck The Halls, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Go Tell It On A Mountain, O Christmas Tree, The First Noel, We Wish You A Merry Christmas
King Family : Christmas With The King Family  Review: The King Family's Christmas specials were an annual family television event, and their Christmas album was repackaged a staggering 8 times-nevertheless, Christmas with the King Family has been out of print since 1977! It's simply a classic of the genre, and we've added 11 mostly unreleased tracks pulled from various specials and TV appearances to the original album's 12 tracks to form a holiday album that we suspect will be a Christmas evergreen. Songlist: Caroling Caroling/Come Dear Children, White Christmas, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Joy to the World, The Holiday of Love, Silent Night, Hear the Sledges with the Bells, The Little Drummer Boy, The Star Carol/O Little Town of Bethlehem, What Child is This?, Some Children See Him, Jolly Old LoveSt. Nicholas/Jingle Bells, The First Noel, Auld Lang Syne, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Sleigh Ride, The Holiday of Love, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas/Santa Clause is Comin' to Town, The Christmas Song/The Christmas Waltz, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Do You Hear What I Hear?, Carol of the Bells, We'll Dress the House, Some Children See Him, A Soalin'/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Sleigh Ride, Children Go Where I Send Thee, Do You Hear What I Hear, and more
Review: In our misspent youth, we happened to be lucky enough to live within radio shot of WORJ (AM) in Detroit, home of Berry Gordy's Motown Records, which was the home of The Miracles. A stream of Miracles hits graced our car radio from 1959 to 1966, such as "Shop Around," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "The Tracks of My Tears" and "Going to a Go Go;" and "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage," "I Second That Emotion" and "The Tears of a Clown" with Smokey Robinson singing lead. Now, with "Jingle Bells," we are given 10 all-accompanied Christmas hits by one of the most influential and popular soul/pop groups of all time! Wonderfully arranged covers of "We Three Kings," "The Little Drummer Boy," "O Holy Night," "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," "Feliz Navidad," "My Favorite Time of Year," "Silent Night," "Frosty the Snowman," "Finally Christmas" and the title tune. This is a beautifully-recorded album of fun, funky, soulful and danceable Christmas music that will surprise and delight you this Christmas and for many more! Songlist: We Three Kings, The Little Drummer Boy, O Holy Night, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Feliz Navidad, My Favorite Time of the Year, Silent Night, Frosty the Snowman, Finally Christmas, Jingle Bells
Platters : Christmas CollectionReview: This holiday collection, which clocks in at just less than 30 minutes in length, was originally released in this same sequence in 1963 as Christmas With the Platters, and has been reissued several times since in slightly different configurations and under varying titles. If you bear in mind that the Platters only did one Christmas session, then it probably doesn't matter which of these you pick up, although the sound on this 2004 edition is superb. The upbeat numbers fare best, with an energized version of "Jingle Bells Jingle," an organ-led "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," and a spunky rendition of "Jingle Bell Rock" being the obvious highlights. The group's manager, Buck Ram (who also produced the original album), has a couple of his own songs included here, "Come Home for Christmas" and "Christmas Time," and both are competent but hardly memorable compositions. The arrangements on the album are interesting and frequently inventive, and the Platters, as always, sing wonderfully. Songlist: Jingle Bells Jingle, White Christmas, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Christmas Time, Blue Christmas, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer, Come Home For Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, Winter Wonderland, Silent Night, For Auld Lang Syne
Review: Doo-Wop legends The Platters treat us to 10 sweet, soulful, all-accompanied Christmas hit covers on "Silver Bells." There's a nice mix here of carols, "Away in a Manger," "Deck The Halls," a jazzy "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night;" and popular Christmas songs, Elvis's "Blue Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Silver Bells," "The Christmas Song" and Bing Crosby's trademark "White Christmas." There's some very cool new arrangements here of our old favorites, and The Platters still have some of the best leads and harmonies in the business! Great, romantic, danceable stuff that's sure to help you have happy holidays for years to come! Songlist: Away In A Manger, Blue Christmas, Deck the Halls, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, I'll Be Home For Christmas, Joy to the World, Silent Night, Silver Bells, The Christmas Song, White Christmas
Review: Another fine selection of traditional Christmas carols sung in the Inimitable Ray Conniff style. Songlist: White Christmas, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells, Frosty The Snowman, Silent Night, Holy Night, Silver Bells, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, O Tennenbaum, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Joy To The World, Here Comes Santa Claus, Sleigh Ride, The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You), The Twelve Days Of Christmas, Medley: The First Noel, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Come, All Ye Faithful, We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Ray Conniff Singers : Christmas with ConniffReview: "Ray Conniff," we were thinking as we opened "Christmas With," "elevator music." Then we played the CD, and found ourselves flooded with memories of what Christmas was like for us, growing up in the 50's and 60's. The smell of hot roasted nuts and fresh chocolates at the bustling five and dime as we stepped into the warmth out of a snowstorm, and what was playing in the background was Conniff's "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer." There are 12 delightful songs here, each lightly (and jazzily) accompanied, and each arranged by Mr. Conniff in his inimitable manner, using the voices as the main focus of the orchestral fabric, and gaining special inspiration from the cheery character that most of the songs have. Of course there are ballads like the classic "Silver Bells," the romantic "Christmas Song," "Greensleeves" and "White Christmas," but most of the songs, "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Winter Wonderland," "Frosty The Snowman," "Sleigh Ride" and "Christmas Bride," are as bright, innocent and jolly as befits a Christmas dancing party. We loved every cut and bet you will too! Songlist: Jingle Bells, Silver Bells, Frosty the Snowman, White Christmas, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, The Christmas Song, Here Comes Santa Claus, Winter Wonderland, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Christmas Bride, Sleigh Ride, Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)
Ray Conniff Singers : Here We Come A-CarolingReview: Previously released as a Columbia LP that was probably pulled out and played to distraction every Christmas thereafter, this reissue captures the joyous innocence and cheer of Christmas in the 50's and 60's like the tiny flakes in a snow globe. Each of these 12, all lightly accompanied songs has "Arr: R. Conniff" under them, and it's physically impossible to feel sad while listening to a Conniff arrangement. The title tune, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Joy To The World," "Go Tell It On The Mountain," "O Tannenbaum" and "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" are given upbeat, jazzy-pop tempos, while "Silent Night," "Away In A Manger," "Adoremus Te," "The Real Meaning of Christmas," "What Child Is This" and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" are slower ballads. The Singers' sound is bright, sweet and sincere-exactly how we like it! Songlist: Here We Come A-Caroling, Silent Night, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Away in a Manger, Joy to the World, Adoramus Te, The Real Meaning of Christmas, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, What Child Is This?, O Tannenbaum, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, O Little Town of Bethlehem |
