... is really just a digital sound recording of some excellent Christmas songs by Mathis
934420
This is really just a digital sound recording of some excellent Christmas songs by Mathis. It is not a live performance. Video part is just your choice of three holiday scenes. The fireplace and the snowy cabin are nice to look at, but you won't see Mathis perform.
951251
You can easily figure out for yourself if this book will suit your taste and piano skills before buying it. Dave has recorded all these songs and you can listen to samples here.  Just click on this link&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/A-Dave-Brubeck-Christmas/dp/B00150IA7E/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">A Dave Brubeck Christmas</a>&nbsp;and hear for yourself what they'll sound like and approximately how easy or difficult it'll be for you to play them. As you'll note, this book contains nine "selections" of scores from that 14-song album. The five songs that are on the recording but not in the book are: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town; O Little Town of Bethlehem; Run, Run to Bethlehem; "Farewell" Jingle Bells and The Christmas Song.
635756
COMPLETE TRACK LISTING:

1. Ben Stein - "Introduction"
2. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - "Christmastime with Kevin and Bean"
3. Blink-182 - "I Won't Be Home For Christmas" *
4. Jerry Springer - "Jerry Christmas"
5. Save Ferris - "Christmas Wrapping" *
6. Royal Crown Revue - "Hey Santa"
7. Trey Parker & Matt Stone - "Mr. Hankey Holiday Cheer"
8. Barenaked Ladies - "Xmas Time (Oh Yeah)"
9. Ralph Garman - "Christmas When You're Dead" *
10. Mark Davis with Kevin & Bean - "Some Quality Time with Comedy Legend Bob Hope"
11. Cherry Poppin' Daddies - "Butch the Gay Santa Claus"
12. Andy Dick and the Bitches of the Century - "Santa's Yule Log" *
13. Tyra Banks & Bean - "Holiday Message"
14. Brian Setzer Orchestra - "Jingle Bells"
15. Home Grown - "Christmas Crush" *
16. Jon Stewart - "A Very Hanson Christmas" *
17. MxPx - "Christmas Day" *
18. Squirrel Nut Zippers - "Carolina Christmas" *
19. 1000 Clowns - "I Hate Fruitcake"
20. Ben Stiller - "Holiday Message"
21. Kids of Widney High - "Christmas is the Time (To Show Your Love)"
22. Harvey Danger - "Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)" *
23. Everlast - "Blues for X-mas" *
24. Kevin & Bean Show - "Family Greetings"

Most of the content on this particular collection is filler at best and crapola at worst.  There are some gems on here though, thus the 3 star rating.  To make it easy for you, I have put a star (*) after the tracks that are worth listening to.  That way, it can help you determine whether it is worth purchasing for you.  Really, the best songs on here that you can't get elsewhere are "Santa's Yule Log" by Andy Dick, and "Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas" by Harvey Danger.  The other songs that are absolutely great might be rare, but are not necessarily exclusive to here.  And if the list of songs are up now for this release on Amazon, don't be a jerk and click not useful for my listing, because when this was written, there was no track list, and the list you see is a result of me first putting this up here.  Have a good Christmas.
2086916
Classic recordings of Christmas Songs from the 60s and 70s.
3557281
At the time of this writing the "big Christmas box" is an unbelievably low ninety nine cents. Consider that there's two hundred and eighty songs in this collection and you're looking at a third of a cent per song - well, .35 percent of a cent per song if you're being pedantic. For me the cost was worth it simply for the choral version of O Come Emmanuel that is included early on. There are some tracks that weren't quite to my liking -in over thirteen hours of music that was fairly inevitable - but the good for me far outweighs the bad. The Jurassic box tracks were grating to me, but this collection includes everything from truly traditional Christmas tunes (as in medieval traditional) to the entirety of the nutcracker and all.of Handel's Messiah. This is well, well worth the purchase.
447140
Amira has a wonderful voice and I love listening to all the Christmas songs recorded on this CD.  The accompaniment orchestra is a little bit under-par, but it is not Amira's fault (Amira's singing and the orchestra's playing were recorded separately and then technically put/recorded together?)  It seems that Amira has been short changed that her recording was not provided with a "Full" Orchestra.  Several songs should have accompanied with a choir too.  It was probably a "low budget" recording, not enough funding to hire the full orchestra and choir for this recording arrangement.  Amira has a voice of an angel, she deserve the 5 stars.
4492356
I wish these guys all the best. After hearing their song on Youtube last month I was pleased to see they released a whole album.

Their music, now professionally recorded is beautiful. I am glad I got this album for the holidays this year. Included is a remastered version of the 12 days of Christmas that gave them their fame.

From Santa Clause is coming to town to Auld Lang Syne their acapella instrument free sound is tight and very enjoyable. I highly recommend this recording for your Christmas collection.

If you are unsure if you would like them, Amazon has the ability to listen to a few seconds of each song. Try it out!

Thank you for reading my review.
3627153
Note that this is a straight re-issue of their first Christmas album (Christmas card).

The Statler brothers had two trademarks - great harmonies and great original songs, both of which are in evidence on this, the first and best Christmas album they recorded.

Like many others, they decided to include some Christmas classics here. Jingle bells is slowed down, but not too much, and it works brilliantly as a change from the standard speed, but I wouldn't want everybody to do it like this. They also do great versions of other classics, some of which are cleverly strung together in A Christmas medley.

The six Statler originals are very much what you would expect from them if you are familiar with their other music - and they are all great songs. I don't know of any covers of these songs, but that's just another reason to buy this CD.

This album will appeal particularly to fans of traditional country music, but the Statlers have a very easy on the ears style and should appeal to anybody who likes geat harmony singing.
2499426
If you like Christmas music then you will love this
3498923
This is a really great christmas cd by EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW and if you like DIANA KRALL and similar female jazz vocalists, you'll probably really enjoy this.

The recording does add some orchestral style backing in some songs or some parts of songs such as lush strings like violins and violas. And this only helps make this recording even better rather than just a straight jazz cd (which I also really like) because it brings in that old 'crooner' sound that accompanied many christmas recordings back in the 1950's/1960's which I like so much. And luckily, it's all the instruments are done by actual people rather than the cheap 'synch' backing (fake orchestral sounds). But make no mistake, this is a 'jazz' christmas cd overall. And everbody can play their instruments very weel, from the jazz musicians to the string ensemble.

EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW can really sing and every song demonstrates this. She can really sing staright and beautiful like JULIE LONDON or very jazzy, like ANNIE ROSS (from LAMBERT, HENDRICKS, and ROSS - old jazz vocal trio from decades ago).

If you're looking for a jazz christmas cd and wouldn't mind some of that lush orchestral (or strings) backing, then this cd is very much for you. My 100% recommendation.
4622479
Johnny Mathis is one of the best singers ever. This Christmas album is second to none. It always was a family favorite. His voice and Percy Faith can't be beat. Excellent Christmas album!!
2786029
Christmas isn't Christmas without having Johnny Mathis singing the favorites. No one does it better and these duets on this cd offer a nice change of pace to familiar songs.
4686605
I was a bit skeptical about this recording, as I'm an enormous fan of Mathis' years where he wasn't simply doing popular covers of songs (i.e., recordings such as "I'm Coming Home" and the inexplicably unreleased on CD or MP3, "Mathis Is....", both produced by the king of Philly sound, Thom Bell, as well as the dynamic "The Best Years Of My Life" (not the least of which is the unparalleled duet with Mathis' most perfect duet partner, Jane Olivor)) but Mathis (at what, 74 years old recording this) is as silken and smooth as ever.  If the astonishing long notes Mathis is so famous for aren't here, no matter -- it's just a direct, heartfelt, effortless, and elegant recording (backed in part by the luminous Alison Krauss on the title track), and I believe Vince Gill is in the mix at times as well.  I believe this recording was done live in Nashwille with the musicians, rather than Johnny piping it in from Los Angeles (and the Mathis self-multi-tracked harmonies at certain points are wonderful, wonderful indeed).

To sum it up, all you have to do is go right to go right to the track, "Shenandoah".  Personally, I had tears running down my face when I first heard this, and it's one of the most beautiful, elegiac (as is much of this recording) recordings by Mathis or anyone else, ever.

Johnny, please come to New York City (as in Manhattan, not New Jersey or the outside boroughs) -- I wasn't living here yet, but I flew in for your Carnegie Hall debut, and you'll always hold the deepest place in my heart.  (oh, Sony Legacy =- please get on the ball and release the Mathis Chic-produced great lost recording, "I Love My Lady" -- what's the point of keeping it in the vaults?)
2111337
While browsing amazon for Christmas guitar music, I came accross this CD and decided to take a chance with a recording I was not at all familiar with. I am glad that I did. This is some of the best classical chritmas music for guitar and voice that I think I have ever heard! All arias on this CD are of the sacred nature. In other words, real Christmas music about the birth of Christ!

Christopher Parkening and Kathleen Battle work so well together; flawless guitar accompanyment for a beautiful operatic voice. I can see that I will add more of their music to my collection. This is such a refrershing break form all the other noise that attempts to pass itself off for Christmas music.

I did find one tech issue with this recording. It is a little low on gain. It will require some boost in an IPOD. Over all, this is a great musical purchase.
1796260
I gave this 4 stars because though the CD is intended for Christmas and some of the recordings are at a slower pace, she has 2 or 3 songs which are her typical, more upbeat style of music. So sometimes it appears as if the songs do not flow into one another. Overall though, it's a nice recording and I especially like her "Oh Santa" and the remake of her original hit from the first Merry Christmas album.
1882974
Every year in late summer, I start anxiously looking to see who is releasing new Christmas music this fall.  I was thrilled to see that Brandon Heath was releasing one this year, and I rushed out to buy it.  Sadly, Christmas Is Here didn't live up to my expectations.

I own enough Christmas music that I look for the original songs to make or break a disc for me.  And this is where the disc falls flat.  Two of the songs are more Bah Humbug than Christmas cheer.

First up is "The Day After Thanksgiving."  And I know many people agree with the sentiment in the song - wait until Black Friday to start playing Christmas music and selling stuff in the stores.  It's a catchy tune and a good mid-tempo song.  I have a feeling he was trying to go for funny, but it just comes across as grumpy.

Then there's the irony that I am complaining about this song in October on a disc that has been out for two weeks already.

Then there's "Momma Wouldn't Lie to Me."  Written from the point of view of a kid who still believes in Santa, I do think it makes a good point about what can happen to kids from being lied to about Santa.  But first, if parents aren't aware, the song could spill the beans.  And again, it feels more like a grumpy song that a song full of Christmas cheer.  That is despite the very upbeat, jazzy music.

Then there's "Just a Girl."  I'm still trying to figure out what Brandon was trying to say with this song written from the point of view of the innkeeper.

Fortunately, the rest of the tracks are great.  In fact, they more than make up for these three songs.  Brandon tried to capture the sound of the crooners of old on these tracks, so many of them feel very familiar to me already, and I love it.  For example the instruments on "The Christmas Song" sound so much like Nat King Cole's classic version I have to remind myself that he did rerecord them.  He channels Bing Crosby on "Silent Night."  And while the medley of "O Come All Ye Faithful/Angels We Have Heard on High" is new, it too sounds like the old crooners at work.

Among these tracks, my favorite is "Go Tell It on the Mountain."  I'm not usually a fan of this song, and Brandon's bluegrass version might have worked against it.  However, somehow it fits the song, and I love the way that he sings too verses together before going back to the chorus.  This might become my favorite version of the song.

The bluegrass band also appears on "In the Bleak Midwinter."  It doesn't work quite as well here, but it is a good take on a lesser recorded song.

This is a disc to wait to buy until after Christmas.  Even then, buy it for the old standbys because the new songs aren't that great.  Christmas Is Here will get mixed in with my Christmas music on iTunes, but it won't be one I rush to pull out each year.
3328747
Obviously, the PSB's first Christmas release is not a proper Christmas CD.  There's really only one holiday song here - the previously released "It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas."  That song was first made available via a holiday gift to PSB fan club members circa 1997.  I never had a copy of the song before, although I'd heard it on various websites.  The Boys re-recorded the song with Marius de Vries handling the production.  The song is a predictably ironic take on Christmas, with Neil complaining - Christmas is not all it's cracked up to be/ Families fighting around a plastic tree/ Nothing on the TV that you'd want to see.  However, a hint of warmth is allowed - But I'll still have a glow at Christmas/ Because I'll be with you.

The Boys also include a remake of Madness' "My Girl."  Madness' version is a reggae-tinged frat boy plea for greater understanding - 'Cause everything I say/ She doesn't understand/ She doesn't realize/ She takes it all the wrong way.  PSB add enough gloom and darkness to their version to take it to an entirely different place.  In this version, the narrator clearly seems to be hiding something from his girl.  The irony of the gay duo covering this song are perfectly encapsulated in the lyrics - We argued just the other night/ I thought we'd got it straight/ She says I'm unaware/ And now she says I'm weak.  The maxi-single ends with the boy's self-produced "Our House" remix of "My Girl," which adds a nice catchy synth line to the song along with some weird-sounding special effects that sound like dripping water (!?).

The third song is a re-recorded version of "All Around the World" from the "Yes" CD.  The song has long been one of my favorites from the CD - an opinion shared by many pet-heads.  The rumor is that PSB wanted to release this as a single and agreed to re-record it in order to include it here.  The very danceable song is one of the most stereotypically PSB songs of recent years, reminiscent of their over-the-top songs such as "Left to My Own Devices."  Sampling Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker," the song is upbeat, joyous, and hedonistic in the tradition of other great PSB anthems.  The re-recording included here is fine.  They didn't change very much about the song other than some of the orchestration, which now sounds a bit more Christmas-y.

The fourth song is a medley Coldplay's recent smash "Viva la Vida" and the boy's own "Domino Dancing."  PSB had included this medley in many of their recent concerts, so its first appearance as an official release will undoubtedly make many fans happy.  I think the song is undeniably clever but doesn't work quite as well as some of their earlier medleys.  The song has gradually grown on me, though, and I'm glad that I have a copy of it.

"Christmas" was not a big hit in the U.K., peaking at a meager #40 (PSB singles usually always make the Top 20).  The EP is a bit of a hodge-podge, so I can understand why it was not met enthusiastically.  However, I'm sure PSB fans of all types will love this CD.