Christmas Music Music

I was actually disappointed with this CD. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is not my favorite show and having the entire CD's music based on it was not my idea of great listening. There were a few of the songs I liked...but it wasn't the Mannheim Steamroller I expected.

This CD by Mannheim Steamroller is a bit different than the others, but I am okay with this. I think artists need to change things up and give a different perspective to their art/music. This CD takes the listener down memory lane of Whoville. I think it is a good one to have in the CD library.

Not the traditional Mannheim Steamroller material. Would not have purchased if I had listened to it first.

I've always loved Mannheim Steamroller. Every one of Chip's albums' is fantastic. Christasville is his one exception. The music is for the most part a rehash of the TV cartoon version of the Dr. Souse's "The Grinch that stole Christmas". This album lacks the originality and creativity of chip's other compositions. The mediocre vocals add nothing to the presentation. Chip should have driven his steamroller right by this project. This music may work in the theme park atmosphere for which it was written but, for a stand alone album, nada!
Buy this recording only if you are a total Rollerhead and must have everything Chip has ever produced or your little crumb crunchers begged you for it and they are sold out Grinch fans.
Avoid this recording at all costs if you truly love the fine compositions Chip has produced in the past and would like to keep your collection untainted by below standard recordings.

This CD is disapppointing to hear. I have heard Steamroller before and the songs would be great, but this album doesn't match them.

The name of the song is "Candy" by Foxy Brown. Now what is the song playing that sounds like Tribe Called Quest right after that one? Anyone, anyone?

There is one song playing exactly when the PARTY is going on and Mini Pimp comes in and introduces some hot sort of black chicks to Ice cube, a song saying something about I taste you some Candy or something like that, Does ANYBODY PLEASE KNOW THE NAME OF THAT DAMN SONG,???????

thanks, gracias

The music is good, but I have the version with the parental advisory warning and some of the content is edited. Tracks 7 and 13 you could play on the radio, (the track listing on the actual CD is different than what's shown on the internet). The rest of the songs, all the cuss words and such are still there, but when they talk about weed, etc. it's edited. The editing is my only complaint though, the songs really are good.

Hey, on the case it says place CD in your CD rom drive to access special features. My CD must be a dud because I put it in and it just plays the music on the CD. Would anybody happen to know what the special features are?

BAD JOB
I thought Friday after next wasn't all that good. Ice Cube wasn't all as good then he was in the first Friday. He was more of a serious character in the movie. Mike Epps on the other hand was funny in both movies. If there weren't any Mike Epps in the movie wouldn't be funny. And the new character to the movie was micro mini pimp. He was a great character. That movie wasn't al up to I thought it would be. But if you want to see Mike Epps in action you would like to watch this movie.

i think the cd sucks cause i bought it and it has the advisory sticker on it but when i play it it beeps the words out if anyone can help me get some tracks that does not beep out and can send it to me thanks

This is worth it just for the titular song, which quickly became my favorite holiday song last year. If you're daring enough to go outside of traditional songs and songs, this is an album you really should check out.

the CD is a little dull. I would have liked some more upbeat cajun tunes.

There is not a bad song on this collection, and that is rare! Even on the best cd's, there are usually songs that are a bit weaker than others. But every number here is a powerhouse of talent and originality. And on the point of originality, none of the songs are covers of the same carols you may have 20 times over by other artists in your music library. Each is a new holiday-themed song. I have had the great pleasure of seeing many of these performers live at the Western MD Blues Fest - and these tunes capture that energy and presence wonderfully. This is the best cajun collection of its kind...you will be thrilled.

This is one of the best Christmas album I've ever heard.
The songs are in a variety of New Orleans and Louisiana styles of Blues, Cajun, Funk, Jazz and Alt. Rock that are performed by some of the most acclaimed Louisiana artists like Aaron Neville, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Marva Wright, Art Neville, the Subdudes and many more.
This album will add spice to any Christmas and it also has serious ballads that will warm your heart.
I could listen to these songs all year long.
Enjoy!

On Tradition, Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman explores the traditional Jewish melodies of his childhood, along with the help of the Israeli Philharmonic under the direction of Dov Seltzer. Timeless gems of the Yiddish theater such as A Yiddishe Mamme (A Jewish Mother), As der Rebbe Elimelech is gevoyrn asoi freylach, Oif'n Pripetchik Brennt A Feier'l (At the Fireplace)(featured on the Schindler's List soundtrack), Rozhinkes Mit Mandelen (Raisins and Almonds), and Viahin Soll Ich Geyn? (Where Shall I Go?) are given lush, cinematic backings worthy of a film score, and Perlman takes his cues from the early recordings and stage performances of the likes of Joseph Rosenblatt, Mordechai Hershman, and Jan Peerce (according to Blair Sanderson's All Music Guide review).

Although it only clocks in at nine songs, Perlman's instrumental interpretations of these songs are at once respectful of tradition, yet bring fresh nuances (such as the playful introduction to the As der Rebbe Elimelech freylach, with its dramatic pauses punctuated by triangle and lightning-fast delivery smoothed by klezmer clarinet and slower double-stops (it's one of the few uptempo songs). The overall theme is definitely a melancholy one as the majority of the songs are slow and in minor keys, particularly of Oif'n Pripetchik Brennt A Feier'l, which I will forever associate with Schindler's List. Tradition is the nostalgically wistful, subdued cousin of Perlman's boisterous klezmer album In the Fiddler's House, but there is much to appreciate of Perlman's passionate violin solos and Seltzer's somber string-drenched backing that gives these songs a weight and dignity beyond their theatrical origins. Tradition is perhaps best appreciated next to Perlman's incomparable performance on John Williams' haunting soundtrack to Schindler's List).

Violinist Itzhak Perlman has used his formidable talent in expressing the pathos and joy of traditional Yiddish tunes and the result brings the listener to both tears of sadness and tears of delight. Mr. Perlman's deep empathy with the Jewish soul is manifested in every note, every nuanced phrase of his performance. A wonderful listening experience for every "ehrlicher yid" - and those who appreciate the history of a people portrayed in sound.

Those music pieces are definitely Jewish and yet they are at the crossroads of bohemian, gypsy and yiddish styles and they make the violin cry in beauty and weep in enthusiasm. The tears of the bow are dancing and sprinkling all over the place and our smiles are enjoying this voice of paradise on earth some spring Sunday afternoon . And yet deep deep under we can hear and feel some vague and yet perfectly distinct menace surging from the night and looming high over the unconscious people who ignore that danger is in the back of every minute and should be at the back of every mind. And suddenly the racing notes accelerate their flight across the air and the sky as if a whole hive of aggressive wasps were arriving and charging. Get lost, get hidden away from the landing of the charging cavalry of danger, any danger : be ready for it, never forget it may come at any time. This music is the voice of the immense cosmic void that fills our minds when we forget life is a struggle against death. It reminds us of our duty to remember that the future cannot be forgotten as if it did not exist. The future is already here, in our back and pushing us to the days to come and the years that will arrive soon, too soon probably for us to be able to change anything. There is a deep sense of fatality in this music : no matter what may happen, we will live it through, and in a way or another survive it. No need to foresee danger it would not help us to face it.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Université Paris Dauphine, Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne

Rutter's settings of traditional Christmas carols give new life to some old favorites. The orchestrations are lovely, and the a capella selections will make you feel like you have the world's best English carolers standing on your doorstep. This CD includes many standard carols, and a few lesser-known ones, like the gorgeous "All My Heart This Night Rejoices," which in my opinion deserves to be revived to familiarity. Also, the Cambridge Singers' performance of "The Christmas Song" is one of my favorite versions of that song...very lush! This CD is always a staple in my music rotation during the holiday season.

I listened to selections that were provided before purchasing this classical Christmas CD. It arrived well before Christmas, and I enjoyed it so much. The Cambridge singers provided magical background for my entire holiday season, and I plan to begin a collection of their works.

How can I say this - if you have absolutely zero Christmas cds and want to build a nice collection, this is the one you should buy first.
From the robust and cheery "Good Christian Men Rejoice" in the opening track til the end this disc is full of wonderful arrangements, a few esoteric picks, and all around good Christmas cheer.
Whether you are sitting at home and want to feel the Christmas spirit and yet want to have more musical substance than the local radio station, or hosting a party that needs a nice soundtrack, this cd will satisfy your needs.

This CD has amazing vocals. My favorite is "I Wonder as I Wonder", but all of the songs are good.

At last, an album of Christmas music that includes nearly all the great old carols, beautifully arranged for choir, organ and orchestra, plus a few less well known but charming tunes. The recording quality is excellent and curling up with the CD in front of the fire during the season evokes wonderful English Christmas images. Only one small caveat: the arrangement of "Joy to the World" attempts to turn the hymn into a chorus from a Handel oratorio. Yes, it's a Handel tune and it probably seemed like an interesting idea on paper, but the high concept overwhelms the piece and spoils it. That's a small complaint in the face of so much lovely music, however. You'll be listening to this one for many Christmases to come.

It's a rare CD with an interview with Diana Krall comments about her work with Klaus Ogermann.
A must have for collectors.

"I Should Care" is a wonderfully soothing remake of Nat King Cole's classic song. Nat King Cole - now there's a legend. But Krall has got a velvet voice of her won. (This song is not to be confused with "Should I Care", from the Clint Eastwood soundtrack for the movie True Crime).

The CD also has a 20-minute interview with Diana Krall, where she talks about her influences, her career, her life, etc.

And, the CD's got two snippets (a snippet is a 15-second sampling of a yet unreleased song).

Krall is a living legend. CD is short but sweet. 5 stars.

I bought this sampler to complete my Diana Krall collection. I believe I've got everything she's done - and heck, for under $5 bucks, you can't beat the price.

Please note: this is "I Should Care" not "Why Should I Care" (I bought the other CD on accident before I found this one, which seems to be exclusive on Amazon). The description above is exactly accurate. The CD is about a half hour long. You get the full song, two snippets, and the NPR interview.

It's really fun for me to listen to her talk about her music, her method, her style, her favorite songs - I'm a huge NPR fan, and love interviews of accomplished artists, especially musical artists. I understand this may not be for everyone, but I really enjoy it.

This is a wonderful album with the rock and roll beat of the 60's. Phil Spector was a true genius in his day.

This Christmas CD of "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector by Phil Spector" is one rare Christmas CD like many that should be on shelves with many other Christmas CDs that are commonly displayed on shelves in every store that sells Christmas CDs during the Christmas/Holliday seasons.

I'm glad that I got my copy of this, just a little after Christmas (2008). Now I have that Christmas CD along with many others that I've bought from all different stores including Wal*Mart, ShopKo, Target, Barnes & Nobel Book Store, and some local downtown pawn shops. There are a few more that I'm looking for, but I've got most of my favorite Christmas songs from different Christmas CDs.

Like I said, this Christmas CD, along with other rare Christmas CDs, should be reprinted onto Compact Disc and/or make available for MP3 Downloads during the upcoming Christmas seasons.

This has always been my favorite Christmas album. Was so glad to get it on CD. I will probably play it all year!

What's not to love about a Christmas album with the Ronettes, the Crystals and Darlene Love? These are the songs you hear in the movies, in the stores, and out and about at Christmastime, but you never know where to get them. But now you do! Every song on here is a classic. This was my favorite Christmas album of 2008, even edging out the traditional Bing Crosby. It'll probably be my favorite of 2009 as well. You cannot go wrong purchasing this album in any format. If you like Christmas, you will love this.

This is by far the most fun Christmas album ever made. It's a blast to hear Phil Spector's famous "wall of sound" production applied to non-secular standards. The arrangements are high-spirited and ebullient, and the stable of stars with whom he recorded so many classic 60's pop hits are all in peak form.

You know them, you love them. Ronnie Spector and the Ronettes sing three songs, Darlene Love performs four, and the Crystals and Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans handle three and two, respectively. There's not a bad track among them. You're sure to recognize these versions from the heavy play they get every holiday season (even 45 years after the album was released) - but it's more fun to hear them all in a row.

There's a couple other ways to buy this. It comprises the entire fourth disc of the Phil Spector 4-disc box set "Back To Mono" (the other 3 discs are an exhaustive overview of Spector productions from 1958 to 1969). His 22 biggest radio hits are on a single-disc compilation called "Phil Spector Wall Of Sound Retrospective", and those same 22 tracks are packaged with the Christmas album on the 2-disc "The Phil Spector Collection". However you get it - it's worth the investment. This is a perennial you'll treasure forever, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Merry Christmas everyone - and Happy New Year!

i ordered this with 2 other Medieaval Baebes CD'S - and yes quite a bit of the music is repeated, but I liked the tracks on this particular one the best. And as mentioned, not really "Christmas" music as such. In Dulce Jublilo and Coventry Carol the only ones that sound familiar as holiday tunes, and Dulce truly sounds as if sung by angels. However, I prefer the original version of Salva Nos to the newer arrangements.

That said - I'd pay money to hear Katherine Blake sing aloud her shopping list...her voice is that hauntingly beautiful.

We played this several times this year on Christmas morning (also the Christmas Revels album of Medieval songs) and it was so pretty and sweet. I'll definitely be listening to it throughout the year.

This CD has many songs from previous albums and a few new songs. It is a great introduction to Mediaeval Baebes music and serves as "best of" type of collection. It is billed as a "holiday" collection but I listen to it year round and quite often. The Mediaeval Baebes have a very unique and wonderful sound.

This is not really a Christmas, or even a seasonal, album, more of a best of the Babes. yYs, they lead off with "The Holly and the Ivy" (and do it beautifully) but do not buy this as a "holiday music album"... or do... you won't regret buying it whatever your reasons!
This was my introduction to this band and I was absolutely floored. It lived in my car CD player for 2 months straight, and still is in the first section of my CD storage unit.... a rare honor for *any* Cd. It is also responsible for causing me to go out and try to buy every other CD the band has out, and I have not been disapointed in any of the ones I have gotten so far.
Speaking as a former music major, religious student, and medieval re-creationist, I know I can be pretty nit picky when it comes to "medieval" music; all too often it is neither medieval, nor (in my opinion) music! This is one of those rare exceptions that can manage to get you out of a chair to dance, while singing at the top of your lungs in Olde Englishe, Latin, or whatever. There isnt a bad voice in the lot (although some of the harmonies can be a bit odd if you arent used to medieval music) and the instrumental backings are pure gold.

I first heard the Mediaeval Baebes on a UK double CD (Best carols in the world ever) featuring three of their trackss (Guadete, Coventry carol, Adam lay ibounden), all of which can also be found on their debut album, but my curiosity only became aroused when that UK double CD was updated and repackaged with a different title (Best Christmas carols ever) and all the Mediaeval Baebes tracks were omitted with other choirs replacing them. My research showed that they have become an established group (albeit with line-up changes) and are now very successful in their chosen style, which some may regard as classical but (since they sing with their natural voices rather than operatic voices) seems more like traditional folk music to me.

This is not a Christmas album in the true sense of the word although there are some recognizable Christmas carols here - rather it is a compilation of music taken from their earlier albums together with a couple of re-recordings and two completely new recordings. I would have liked some liner notes giving some detailed information about the songs but very little information is actually provided. Apparently, much more information can found in the booklets provided with the original album releases. Still, it's the music that counts and, when it comes to choral music, this is as good as it gets.

The set opens with The holly and the ivy, set to the tune that everybody is familiar with. I seem to remember reading somewhere that this tune, although old, is not the original tune written for the song. This is where liner notes would be useful - and as this is one of the new recordings, their original albums won't help. Given that the Mediaeval Baebes aim to re-record very old songs, it would have been nice to hear them sing it to its original tune if it really was different from the current one. I suppose it doesn't matter since they sing the song superbly anyway.

Other Christmas carols that you are likely to recognize are Gaudete (revived most famously by folk-rockers Steeleye Span), In dulce jubilo (a new recording for this album, it was recorded in the seventies by Mike Oldfield, who had a UK hit with his instrumental version) and The Coventry carol. The other songs are unfamiliar to me but the group perform them all brilliantly. The other song of theirs on that UK carols compilation (Adam lay ibounded) is not included, but there's plenty else to make up for that omission.

The instruments used to back the group (mostly played by members of the group) are interesting. They include a zither, a hurdygurdy, a citern, a glockenspiel, an astrowheel and three different types of recorder - not the kind of instruments to be heard regularly on pop and rock albums. I was particularly pleased to find the recorders here. Like many Brits of my generation, I was forced to learn to play the recorder at school (I did so very badly) and so the recorder has never had a great reputation, but when played well and in the right setting (as here), it sounds wonderful.

This is a fine compilation in many ways but it may be that one of the original albums (which apparently have detailed liner notes) will provide an even better introduction to the music of the Mediaeval Baebes. Despite my reservations, this is still (easily) a five-star album and I'll certainly listen to more of their music eventually.

Great cd-arrived in record time and am looking forward to listening to it this christmas

In the early 1980s, I purchased a used, record club LP of Vaughan Williams' nativity play "The First Nowell." I've played the LP several times each Christmas and hoped eventually for a CD version to appear. This new performance under Richard Hickox's direction should bring a similar joy to listeners as I've experienced! The CD also includes the familiar "Fantasia on Christmas Carols" but in a previously unrecorded arrangement for organ and strings. The other premier recording is Vaughan Williams' "On Christmas Night," a lovely masque from 1926 based on Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Sarah Fox and Roderick Williams give fine performances.

This CD includes Vaughan Williams' classic "Fantasia On Christmas Carols", an old favorite which I was familiar with, but here appearing in an exciting alternate arrangement featuring strings and organ. This album also has two pieces that were new to me: one is "On Christmas Night" which is a ballet score based on Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The other which I really enjoyed a whole lot is "The First Nowell", a nativity play for soloists, chorus, and orchestra. This latter piece features some heartbreakingly lovely arrangements of some old English Christmas folk songs. The performances and production are exemplary. And if you are an Anglophile/Vaughan Williams fan like me, there's no better Christmas music. As one critic said, with this composer "one is never quite sure whether one is listening to something very old or very new." This makes for music which is at once vital and timeless. This is one of my new favorite recordings.

One of the family's favourite CDs to trot out at Christmas, this 2002 release produced by band member George Millar cannot be found by searching in Amazon under album title. You'll get all kinds of hits with An Irish Christmas - but not this gem. They may wish to correct that if they want to boost sales.

As for the album itself, if you like the music in general of this Irish-Canadian band which took their name from the song The Irish Rover way back in 1963, you'll love the 18 tracks presented here which include their interpretation of familiar traditional carols/songs (tracks 2, 4, 6, 8, 11 to 13 and 18). and covers of a couple of novelty pop hits led by a rousing Christmas In Killarney, first a hit for both Percy Faith & His Orchestra and Dennis Day back in 1950, and Grandma Got Run Over By A reindeer, first introduced by Elmo 'N' Patsy in 1983.

But what really attracted my interest were the unfamiliar songs, aptly described in the liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo this way: "many traditional Christmas favorites are lovingly revisited here, but one of the more intriguing aspects of this collection is the inclusion of several worthy songs that are seldom encountered on holiday anthologies ..."

Band member George Millar's compositions Bells Over Belfast and It's Christmas Time Again, two toe-tapping originals sure to get you in the mood, are augmented by other rousing tunes like the Irish oldies Christmas Caroling, with new lyrics by George, Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake, arranged and adapted by George, Wilcil McDowell and Wallace Hood, and The Holly Bears The Crown, along with The Christmas Traveller.

Sure to liven up any Christmas gathering ... and don't you know that Santa Claus is one of the boys from home?

When I was a kid, I used to sing along to 'The Unicorn' also by the Irish Rovers so with the advent of the internet and Amazon, I went searching for it and found the Irish Rovers Greatest Hits which naturally contained the Unicorn song and many other excellent ones that quickly became added to my list of favorites.

Now I finally have received their Christmas album (listening to it now as I type) and find it to be another great collection of hits with the Irish lilt added. As an aficionado of all Christmas music (I have about 70 albums) I was delighted to find that the Rovers had put out a great album like this. My favorites are Christmas in Killarney and the lovely Bells Over Belfast.

You don't have to like Irish music to enjoy the fine singing of the Rovers. I guarantee you'll enjoy this album. 5 hearty stars!

The Irish Rovers are a fun Irish band, they make you want to sing along and have a good time. This album is a great change of pace to the traditional Christmas carols presented at that time of year.

Whether it is "Christmas in Killarney," where Santa is "one of the boys," or the remotest corner of the world, anyone who is Irish or loves Irish traditions will celebrate the Christmas season with delight if they have this CD. The Rovers pay homage to the traditional songs of the season--"Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," and "Angels We Have Heard on High"--bringing a "new" sounds to these old favorites by using traditional Irish folk instruments--guitars, pennywhistle, Uilleann pipes, flute, accordion, and even the saw. Their beat is insistent, almost inspiring hand-clapping, and even the serious songs are sung with a spirit that shows how the "good news" informs the lives of the people of the countryside.

It is in their off-beat and original songs that they Rovers really hit their stride, however. "Bells Over Belfast," written by Rover George Millar (with Jimmy Ferguson) in 1963, begins with a traditional carillon, then immediately takes a rollicking turn with accordian and drums as the song takes wing and the toe-tapping starts. "Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake" shows us the Fogarty family home during the holidays, as Miss Fogarty presents her cake, filled with "plums, prunes, cherries," but the cake has a crust that seems nailed on with glue, and those who eat it soon wish they hadn't. In "The Christmas Traveler" a young boy tells good tidings of great joy, singing "Ha-la-la-lay, Halleluia," a joyous "folky" song about the birth of Jesus, told colloquially.

The most interesting song, to me, is "Down Among the Bushes of Jerusalem," a song of revolution in which Jesus is depicted as a "rebel through and through," hiding in the bushes to escape the soldiers of the king who track him because prophets have foretold the overthrow the royal family by a boy. The parallels between this tale and the revolution in Ireland against the British crown are unmistakable.

Subtlety is not a strong suit of the Rovers, but their enthusiasm, their toe-tapping beat, and their upbeat rhythms played on traditional instruments announce the joys of the holiday season in the Irish countryside more effectively than more somber productions. A wonderful celebration of the season, this CD is one of the happiest recordings ever made for some of the season's most spirited and most sacred songs. n Mary Whipple

Songs of Christmas, another Rovers CD
Carol of the Drum: A New Age Christmas, Chieftains CD
Silent Night: A Christmas in Rome, Chieftains, CD
Irish Christmas, various artists
Home for Christmas, Irish Tenors CD

I love Christmas albums and this is one of my favorite albums. Songs included:

1. Bells Over Belfast - one one the best songs on the album. You'll find yourself humming it to yourself during the day.
2. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
2. Christmas Caroling
4. Silent Night
5. Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake - another one of my favorite songs on this album. Very funny song.
6. Angles We have Heard on High
7. The Christmas Traveller
8. Away in a Manger
9. The Holly Bears The Crown
10. Christmas in Killarnay - yet another one of my favorite songs
11. What Child is This?
12. We Three Kings
13. Good King Wencestas
14. All Through the Night
15. Down Among the Bushes of Jerusalem
16. Grandms Got Run Over by a Reindeer
17. It's Christmas Time Again
18. We Wish You a Merry Christmas