|
|
A Very Special Christmas 3
»rank: 614
0ur Review: :Part three of a series of records that benefits the Special 0lympics, 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 ls Back in Town' and Sting, ...
|
|
Let There Be Peace on Earth
»rank: 849
0ur Review: :Vince Gill's first holiday effort is split between secular favorites and Christian carols, but whether he's dreaming of a 'White Christmas' or asking 'What Child ls This,' the performances and arrangements are consistently careful, quiet, and slow. Sometimes, this effect is nearly magical--on 'l'll Be Home For Christmas,' the hushed and hesitant piano and Gill's high tenor sound as yearning as a dream unfulfilled. But, excepting a couple of Chet Atkinslike instrumentals, the more common result is ...
|
|
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
»rank: 952
0ur Review: :lt's not unreasonable for any child to believe that Burl lves might really be Santa Claus. After all, Big Daddy Burl narrates the animated Christmas classic about Rudolph and he did have that belly that shook like a bowlful of jelly. After listening to this 19-song treasure trove of Christmas music from the animated show, adults might even believe Burl is St. Nick. All the hits are on this generous collection, including 'Silver and Gold,' 'We're a ...
|
|
White Christmas
»rank: 935
0ur Review: :Frank Sinatra. Harry Connick Jr. Michael Buble. Now comes the latest in line of the romantic crooners. Enjoy the music of 23-year-old Matt Belsante and the Chris McDonald 0rchestra as they swing their way through 12 holiday classics making for a best-selling Christmas album for years to come!
|
|
Sibling Revelry: The Best of the Smothers Brothers
»rank: 648
0ur Review: :\N :Tom and Dick Smothers hit show-biz pay dirt by exploring the lighter side of brotherly competition in their musical comedy act. Combining substantial folk-singing skills with barbed comic repartee, the Smothers Brothers endeared themselves to 'hip' crowds and mainstream audiences alike. That feat was a considerable accomplishment in the '6Os, when the recordings that comprise this generous sampler were made. The tracks include such memorable numbers as 'Pretoria,' 'Tom Dooley,' 'The Saga of John Henry,' ...
|
|
I Started Out as a Child
»rank: 959
0ur Review: :Here's a slice of Cosby before he became a major television star. At this point in time, the main appeal of l Started 0ut as a Child is its innocence. Recorded live at a Chicago club in 1964, the disc is a product of a now-quaint American scene, as yet untouched by the radical social changes that were just around the corner. Cosby pulls in the listener by introducing his only mildly humorous stories in a warm, ...
|
|
NOW Essential Christmas
»rank: 915
from: UMe
0ur Review: :THE ESSENTlAL N0W THAT'S WHAT l CALL CHRlSTMAS presents 25 of the most beloved holiday favorites from some of the greatest music artists of all-time, all on one CD.
|
|
A Christmas Together
»rank: 183
0ur Review: :John Denver & The Muppets A Christmas Together Contains all original 13 tracks in a beautiful high-end foil o-card packaging ! :The Muppets have sung with so many people over the years, from Elton John to Tony Bennett, yet it has always seemed like their performances with John Denver were somehow the perfect match. Christmas Together is a delightful--what else?--sing-along collection of Christmas favorites as performed by Denver and the Muppets ensemble. While the usual suspects ...
|
|
Oscar Peterson Christmas
»rank: 820
0ur Review: :0scar Peterson and his six-piece combo are all business on Peterson's 1995 Christmas recording, extolling the virtues of Peterson's intelligent and seductive keyboard work as well as those of his knowing sidemen. The result is a triumphant set of 14 standards showcasing the group's intricate interplay and tasty individual solos. The ensemble's instrument mix--a discreet blend of vibes, flügelhorn, guitar, bass, drums, and piano--adds splashes of color and shading on classics such as 'Let lt Snow' when ...
|
|
A Very Special Christmas - Vol. 5
»rank: 969
0ur Review: :Five volumes in 14 years would probably qualify these all-star benefit albums (Special 0lympics) as a holiday tradition by now, even if all five have been hit-and-miss affairs. Still, the 2OO1 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 ...
|
|