A fabulous soundtrack for holiday gatherings and parties !
588717
I just love solo guitar music and this is a delightful example ! Full with Sixteen wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas favorites, this album makes a fabulous soundtrack for holiday gatherings and parties. Gentle, serene, uplifting and joyful, this album is a pleasure to enjoy and relax with anytime of year. Sean Mcgowan plays with graceful eloquence and a lovely sense of phrasing and balance. Bravo and Well Done !
649177
If you're into electronic, low-fi, casio-rock, drum-machines, beats, drones, and Christmas, you'll love this re-invention and re-telling of the holiday classics. Take a transformative ride and experience this fantastical new expression of Christmas cheer. This album takes on some of the most beloved Christmas favorites and you won't believe your ears when you hear them. I loved it.

Recommended to anyone who loves something a bit different for him / her self and friends. (I even gave a few of these CDs away at Secret Santa and stocking swaps a while back and they were a huge hit!)
2334772
This is a must buy for the occasional buyer of Christmas music who wants a good CD for a party.  The songs' vocal and music arrangements are classic, nothing too creative.

The following are great for the kids: "ALL I NEED IS LOVE" with the muppets.  It's upbeat and fun.  "YOU'RE A MEAN ONE, MR. GRINCH" with Straight No Chaser. Fun! "RUN RUDOLPH RUN" is good old fashioned Rock N Roll. It's very well done.

I was disappointed by "BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE" with Christina Aguilera.  The arrangement doesn't suit her strong voice-she seemed muzzled. As a reference, check out Christina's Christmas CD-it's stunningly well-done. That CD is a must buy for Christmas music collectors.

The rest of Cee-Lo's songs are very party-friendly, meaning the CD meets the expectations of most Christmas music listeners who want very traditional arrangements of their favorite Holiday songs.  There's nothing here that will jolt listeners out of their fond memories of Christmas songs.
3491714
This is an excellent deal because you get a CD set. With so many recording artists you know you are getting the best music each one has to offer. Keep these to play once a year. That makes them all the more intriguing. Perhaps more like a tradition. The music is so varied in style. You won't get bored with this selection. There is such a wide range of interpretation. These two CD's will take you through the whole emotive range of Christmas. You will recognize many favorite songs and then be introduced to some unique singing on the second CD. The next song is just magical. This is a must have set!

~The Rebecca Review
589425
If you enjoy the classic Christmas songs, done by the artists most associated with them, this is the 2-CD set for you!
When I'm looking to set the holiday mood in the house, these two discs are the first to be played. From Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" to Gene Autry's "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" you can't help but feel the holiday cheer erase the hectic commotion that can sometimes clutter up this time of year.
3467877
I bought this CD strictly for some old favorite songs of mine growing up, Pepino the Mouse, and The Italian Christmas Donkey. But then I discover so many other songs I had forgotten about are coming back to life with me as the CD goes along. This is easily one of my best CD purchases in years because it really gave me a warming nostalgic feeling the entire time I listened to it, and every time thereafter. I HIGHLY recommend this CD as it's simply fantastic for the holidays, and pretty much every other time of the year.
4094983
While I am not a huge fan of dance music, I have to admit that Tiffany does a great job on this CD of blending pop-music sensibilities with thumping dance-floor beats, tying it all together with soaring melodies and fresh, rarely-predictable arrangments. The CD opens with the terrific "Be With U Tonight," which is probably my favorite song on the album. Other addictive tracks are "Everyone Get Down" and "Artificial Girlfriend."

The music is pretty simple compared to Tiffany's amazing, well-informed "Color of Silence" album, but, hey, it's a party! Tiffany's out to have fun with this new album, and she achieves it. It's refreshing to see a child star really honing her craft as an adult and becoming a truly respectable artist. I look forward to seeing what she will do next!
2107365
If you enjoy Lounge and Chill Out music, as well as holiday music, this CD is a must have. It's consistently good throughout and doesn't disappoint in any of it's tracks. Very similar in feel and groove to "Christmas Chillout" by Crystal Theory, this contemporary take on 13 Christmas classics mixes electronica, accoustic instrumentation and breathy female vocals into very fluid, surprisingly creative arrangements. I thoroughly enjoyed this CD and considering it's available for $10 and under, a good bargain.
2150743
Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, the first disc I reach for out of the dozen or so holiday recordings in my CD collection is the original sound track recording of "A Charlie Brown Christmas".Throughout the next month and a half the Vince Guaraldi Trio's holiday ode to Charlie & his pals is usually played at the very least, every other night. Why the need for this ritual? Two reasons come to mind. One, the music to this television classic has forever been etched into my brain from repeated viewings that go back to the mid 1960's (lets date ourselves!).Two, to put it mildly, this is just darn good West coast influenced jazz! The band is tight and the songs are great. Everything from the piano rendition of "O Tannebaum" to the version of "Greensleeves" at the very end are wonderful. My personal favorites are the two versions of "Christmas Time is Here" (vocal & instrumental)which have gone on to become holiday classics (also I would recommend Diana Krall's version, which can be found on other xmas compilations).And we couldn't end a discussion of this album without mentioning Guaraldi's self penned, "Linus and Lucy". This enthusiastic little jazz tune has gone on to become Charlie Brown's famous theme song. It's one of those tunes that just stays in your head. Even now I can hear that crazy rhythm section pounding away like theres' no tommorow. Finally, for all those folks that put this music down because it's indelibly connected to a little round headed kid drawn with ink...All I can say is UGGHH!!! GOOD Grief!!! Can't you see this is great jazz/holiday CD! Buy it!
2355172
This album contains music made for Christmas that you will just not find anywhere else. And I don't think you'd want to play most of these when your company is above the age of 25, as I'm sure, Mom, Dad, and Grandma wouldn't take these tunes to lightly. Out of 21 songs I would say Graham Parker & Nona Hendryx) - Soul Christmas was the best of the bunch. Even common title songs are done much differntly.

Track 1) The Idea - It's About That Time
Track 2) Chris Stamey & The dB's - Christmas Time
Track 3) Brave Combo - It's Christmas
Track 4) Andrea Perry - Christmas with Fat Aunt Bette
Track 5) Klark Kent - Yo Ho Ho
Track 6) Ed Haynes - Holiday Song
Track 7) NRBQ - Christmas Wish
Track 8) Big Fish Ensemble - Christmas Day
Track 9) Rocky Zharp & The Blues Crackers - Merry Merry Christmas
Track 10) Glowfriends - Joy of Christmas
Track 11) Rick Paul - It Started in a Manger
Track 12) Marina Belica - O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Track 13) astroPuppees - It's Not Christmas
Track 14) 5 Chinese Brothers - And to All a Good Night
Track 15) Mike Daly - Something Bout This Time of Year
Track 16) Jim Babjak's Buzzed Meg - It's Love on Christmas Day
Track 17) The Butties - Joy to the World
Track 18) Flat Duo Jets - Jingle Bells
Track 19) Sonny Columbus & His Del Fuegos - That Punchbowl Full of Joy
Track 20) Wednesday Week -Christmas Here (Could Never Be Like That)
Track 21) Bite The Wax Godhead = (I'll Be Glad When) Christmas Is Done
Track 22) Graham Parker & Nona Hendryx - Soul Christmas

I like to list time with track information but it wasn't listed on my CD

Reading one comment someone wanted more option verse fact data, trust me my option on music is far different then most, so I try to keep that at a minimum.
1707795
I had this album as a kid, after purchasing it from a local record store. I listened to it practically everyday! Some songs are fun, and some are done just so beautifully....  We played it often every holiday season, until it got lost during a move. I truly thought I would never hear of it again. I was so happy when I found it on Amazon!..  I plan on playing it at the family gathering this year so I can see the surprise on everyone's faces when they hear it!!.. I know they'll be as happy to hear it as I was once again. Thanks to Amazon, and anyone else who had a hand in putting it up on Amazon! I hope everyone who buys this record will enjoy it as much as we have!  Happy Holidays to you all!
3007113
This is simply an AMAZING cd, and a must-have for any music lovers collection! If you are like me, buying compilation discs is sometimes a risky thing. Sometimes the music isn't even performed by the original artists, but that isn't the case with this cd. Every piece is GREAT quality sound and what a fantastic compilation!! It is the main stay in our cd player during Halloween season, but we play it year-round too :D
Toccata in D Minor, and Little Fugue in G Minor by JS Bach; Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl; The Nightmare Before Christmas by Elfman; Star Wars by John Williams; Dracula/Swan Lake by Tchaikorsky; Tubular Bells from The Exorcist; Halloween Theme by John Carpentar .... and MORE.
4820838
Superb!  Listening to John Trones' HOLIDAY CD is like opening up a Christmas present and getting everything you wished for.  HOLIDAY is a wonderful collection of romantic and sentimental holiday favorites.  There is something to please everyone's musical tastes with jazz-flavored, traditional religious, and popular Christmas songs.  John's amazing Broadway-style tenor voice creates a feeling of warmth and calmness that will help relieve the stresses of the holiday season.  His music is ideal to have on for family gatherings, but you'll also want to just sit and listen in a quiet moment to appreciate his powerful, yet smooth voice.  The beautiful, yet simple musical accompaniment of piano, saxophone, and flute allow John's voice to shine on every song.
From the beginning, John sets a holiday mood by singing two much loved songs, I'll Be Home For Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, with such heartfelt emotions, to an eloquent and flowing piano melody by Mary Beth Carlson, John's sister.  The piano and saxophone arrangements by Martha and Dana Mathewson on Merry Christmas Past, That's What I Want for Christmas, and What Are You Doing New Year's Eve produce a jazzy feel to these songs.  Joanna Jahn's sultry vocals blend together so well with John's, especially on their duet, That's What I Want for Christmas. You can picture John as Joseph as he sings Joseph's Song.  Mid-Winter is a gentle melody, performed so exquisitely by Mary Beth Carlson on piano and Dana Mathewson on flute.
Adult contemporary romantic pianist and songwriter, Jim Brickman, joins John on five tracks, including two of his original songs, a recent holiday favorite, The Gift, and the amusing and romantic Even Santa Fell in Love.  Hearing John sing these songs so enthusiastically will bring a smile to every Jim Brickman fan.  John has an innate ability to capture and express the emotions of every song he sings, which is so evident when he creates a serene atmosphere on Silent Night.  So breathtakting!  Likewise, you will feel the joy and celebration in his voice on Silver Bells, which also includes backup vocals by Joanna Jahn.  John is absolute perfection on A Grown-Up Christmas List.  The touching sincerity in his voice to the lyrics and the poignant interpretation of the melody by Jim Brickman convey a feeling of hope in a post September 11th world.  This is my favorite song on the CD.  The final song, On This Christmas Night, is a beautiful acappella harmonizing by John and his sisters.
If you enjoy jazz, cabaret, adult contemporary, or just great holiday music, and your musical tastes include Jim Brickman, Michael Feinstein, Harry Connick Jr., or Michael Crawford, you won't want to miss this HOLIDAY CD!  This is one CD you will want to add to your holiday music collection and play often.  Get yourself an early Christmas present and get HOLIDAY today!
2106019
This is a wonderfully put together soundtrack! From the opening "I Put A Spell on You", by the phenomenal Annie Lennox, unfurls a deliciously sexy array of musical talenthonestly, you forget a mega-star artist like Beyonce is even on the album because every track is so good.

I don't care what you think of the movie (saw it and was disappointed) or the books (loved them and don't care who didn't), this soundtrack is a hidden gem of wonderful music and should be added to the collection of anyone who loves to kick back and enjoy a few good tunes.
2873565
I'm a Christmas music lover--soon after Halloween, I'm already listening to it!  It seems that every artist puts out a Christmas album, but very few I actually enjoy.  I don't care for the big-band style Christmas music, or anything that sounds overly "pop".  Sometimes classical Christmas music gets too heavy.  I own and enjoy Christmas albums by Enya, Loreena McKennitt, and George Winston.  Hayley's bright, sweet style that blends a little bit of traditional and a little bit of modern is perfect!  Also, I'm glad that there are a few songs on here that aren't blatantly "Christmas-y" so you can listen to them after New Year's!
1498006
I got this CD a couple of years ago and there are about 6 songs on here that I could not do without during the Holidays. Some mix albums seem to completely wash out the traditional songs. Most of the music on Christmas Remix 2 has the right balance of traditional and hip/funk to please a broad range of listeners.
4602800
My parents used to play this album for us every christmas, and I am very fond of it.  While I am therefore hardly unbiased, I do think this is the perfect holiday cd.  It is festive without being trite, and it's mellow enough to serve as excellent ambient music for holiday parties.