Xmas

Track Listings

1. Silent Night

2. Now Behold The Lamb

3. Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

4. Go Tell It On The Mountain

5. They Need To Know

6. There's No Christmas Without You

7. O Come All Ye Faithful

8. The Night That Christ Was Born

9. Thank You For Your Child

10. Love Song

11. Silver And Gold

Christmas,Kirk Franklin,Gospocentric,Christmas / Chanukkah,Christmas Music,Pop,Xmas Vocal

Xmas

Tracks:

O Holy Night
Away In A Manger
Ding Dong Merrily On High
White Christmas
Silent Night
Christmas Pipes
The Christmas Song
Carol Of The Bells
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Panis Angelicus
That Night In Bethlehem
O Come, All Ye Faithful
The Little Drummer Boy
The Wexford Carol
Let It Snow!

Amazon.com

One of the more impressive things about A Christmas Celebration is its glowing immediacy. The record's rich vocals and colorful instrumentals create a concert-like setting, reprising the season's most loved hymns, carols, and pop standards, along with a Gaelic version of "That Night in Bethlehem." Unexpected numbers such as "Christmas Pipes" and "Carol of the Bells" (here led by the spirited fiddling of Mariread Nesbitt) only enhance an already engaging disc that finely weaves between the piety of classical music and the playfulness of pop. Chloe Agnew, Orla Fallon, Lisa Kelly, and Meav Ni Mhaolchatha combine their Celtic voices against orchestral arrangements and sparser settings--spiked with the traditional Irish fare of uilleann pipes, harp, and ancient choral harmony--to deliver an assortment of reverent but lively arrangements that wouldn't be out of place at a church, concert hall, or good Irish celli. --Martin Keller

Amazon.com

Irish producer/arranger David Downes, the creative mastermind behind Celtic Woman's chart breakthrough and burgeoning international success, here conjures up an inviting holiday showcase for his neo-superstar crossover quartet. He pushes the group's crowd-pleasing formula into more expansive arrangements with the Irish Film Orchestra, supplemented by a strong core of featured instrumentalists, including Downes himself. If the ethnic folk influences that gave the group its name are sometimes less pronounced, the result is a collection whose dignified, pop elegance often transcends national boundaries. The vocal performances are expectedly polished, with the quintet breaking off into smaller units and solo showcases such as Lisa Kelly's Broadway-lullaby take on "The Christmas Song," a neo-classical "Panis Angelicus" by Chloe Agnew, and the muscular orchestral/choral setting for Mariead Nesbitt's earthy fiddle on "Carol of the Bells." The quintet (backed only by Nesbitt's spare strings) harmonize richly on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and bring their trademark neo-Celtic charms more fully to bear on intimate translations of "Silent Night" and "The Wexford Carol" as well as a glorious take on the Gaelic traditional "That Night in Bethlehem." Perhaps to remind fans of their true range, the swinging, big-band bonus track "Let It Snow" closes the collection with upbeat flair. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Beautifu music.......2007-07-31

I saw this special on PBS and was pleased when I could have my own copy. Fantastic music my multitalented women. A must for music lover everywhere.

Excellent Music.......2007-07-23

Terrific music. I gave this to my mother for a stocking stuffer....in August. Great CD.

celtic woman.......2007-05-20

Love the CD. Am giving it as a Christmas gift to friends.

One of the best music CD I have ever bought.......2007-05-14

One of the best music CD I have ever bought

Christmas celebration.......2007-05-14

Christmas never sounded so good. Mairead's playing is wonderful as always. Orlagh is the stand out for me with that hauntingly beautiful voice but when they all sing together it is something special.

Average customer rating:

At Her Best
Heart-full sound
Christmas in July
It's always Christmas morning with Sarah
What a great artist

Wintersong
Sarah McLachlan
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

James Taylor at Christmas
Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration
Cool Yule
Duets: An American Classic
Awake

ASIN: B000HBKCDC
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
River
Wintersong
I'll Be Home For Christmas
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
The First Noel/Mary Mary
Silent Night
Song For A Winter's Night
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
In A Bleak Mid-Winter
Christmas Time Is Here

Amazon.com

An album like this could cement Sarah McLachlan as a middle-of-the-road crooner ready for the Andy Williams Christmas Show, but there's more beneath the surface of Wintersong than just Christmas chestnuts, over-roasting on an open fire. Longtime McLachlan producer Pierre Marchand blurs the borders with ambient sound effects, distorted guitars, and subtle echoes. He adds a Mark Isham-esque muted trumpet solo emerging out of reverse echoes on "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as if viewing the song through a distorted mirror. Violins that sound like they're being blown through a Leslie speaker combine unpredictably with a banjo on "O Little Town of Bethlehem." And on the seventh song, McLachlan finally kicks the album into another gear, turning "The First Noël" into a storming entreaty backed by tribal drums and surging low strings. Her voice is like the serene angel amidst the raging storm. I wish McLachlan had taken more chances like this, instead of the subtle framing she employs around melodies that remain true to form. Surprisingly, the more contemporary songs by John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, and Gordon Lightfoot are the least inventive. Her reading of Mitchell's incandescently wistful "River" is overly faithful to the original, and Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" sounds like karaoke, right down to the Spector-esque production and children's choir. But given that Lennon's prayer for peace still remains unanswered, that fidelity could be intentional. Regardless, this is familiar Christmas fare delivered in an intimate and ethereal fashion that will satisfy those who believe in the nostalgic spirit of the season. --John Diliberto

More from Sarah McLachlan

Mirrorball: The Complete Concert

Surfacing

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

Afterglow

VH1 Storytellers: Sarah McLachlan (DVD)

Solace

Customer Reviews:

At Her Best.......2007-07-06

Sarah McLachlan has the voice of an Angel. And this cd proves it. I fell in love with every song. And listened to it so much, I thought I was going to wear it out. She brings to her music, the wonderful feeling of the Christmas Season, as well as some of the greats from the past like Bing Crosby. Her voice is haunting and peaceful at the same time. She draws you into every song and leaves you wanting more. This cd will be a favorite of mine for many many years to come. When I think of Christmas, I'll think of Sarah.

Heart-full sound.......2007-07-05

This music is soulful year round. Even in the summer I listen to the beautiful soul sound of this CD. It's melody at its highest!

Christmas in July.......2007-06-26

Usually about this time every year I'm wishing it was Christmas, and listening to some Christmas music or watching some silly Christmas movie. This year I have Sarah's Wintersong to listen to during my "Christmas blues".

After several listens, I'd have to say that this isn't just another Christmas album. The album has many stand out tracks and is a mix of the traditional and the more modern. My favorites are River (which is Joni Mitchell's song) and Wintersong (a new song Sarah wrote herself).

A worthwhile album and one any fan of Sarah's should add to their collection.

It's always Christmas morning with Sarah.......2007-06-12

I was wondering when Sarah McLachlan was gonna come out with a Christmas album. I was waiting and waiting for it and now here it is and it is everything that all Sarah fans enjoy about her.
Touching and tender and superb in its vocal and sound arrangements. It evokes a Christmas from some other time. Especially haunting is track # 9: Song for a Winter's Night. It's full of pining and it reads like a poem.
Wrapping it all up is a gift fit for Christmas: Diana Krall. Although she doesn't sing, she plays the piano, and you can tell.
Definitely one for those who love XMAS music and for those who love Sarah. You can't go wrong.

What a great artist.......2007-05-16

Sarah McLachlan has really hit the mark with this CD. Her voice is always like a angel and this christmas compilation is no exception. Turn on the christmas lights and crank this up. Peace on Earth!

Average customer rating:

Il Divo CD - Superb!
Wonderful listening
ILDIVO CHRISTMAS ALBUM
Il Divo
Great!

The Christmas Collection
Il Divo
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Siempre
Il Divo
Ancora
Il Divo - Encore
Il Divo - Live at the Greek

ASIN: B000B5QWLU
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

O Holy Night
White Christmas
Ave Maria
When A Child Is Born
Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
Over The Rainbow
Panis Angelicus
Rejoice
Silent Night
The Lord's Prayer

Amazon.com

If you thrill to the soaring operatic voices of The Three Tenors (and imagine every Christmas comes with its own orchestral majesty), Il Divo has made this disc for you. The four GQ-handsome male singers were handpicked by American Idol's Simon Cowell for what seems to be their ability to sing opera and classical music with the hint of a pop sensibility. Their Christmas Collection features 10 standards (although the last time Santa looked, he wasn't quite sure "Over the Rainbow" and "The Lord's Prayer" were part of the Christmas canon). Still, it' hard not to imagine these emotionally stirring renditions as part and parcel of the reverential treatment the four finely sculpted voices bring to more exact seasonal fare such as "O Holy Night," "Ave Maria," "Panis Angelicus" and even "White Christmas." Dave Arch's predictable choral and orchestral arrangements are aimed right at the sweet spot where sophisticated church choir music and traditional classical music meet, with few surprises other than the dash of Irish folk music that colors "When A Child Is Born." In the end, for people who have never heard of Cowell and his cohosts (would Paula Abdul really have picked the tenor guy for this group?!), this collection will prove just as rewarding for them as the best-selling Idol records are for fans of the TV stars. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Il Divo CD - Superb!.......2007-08-04

This is a beautiful CD. I love the way Il Divo has recorded all the songs and find it uplifting, as I do all their music.

Wonderful listening.......2007-08-03

It's hard to imagine these songs being sung any finer. A couple of the songs aren't what I would consider traditional Christmas, but still good listening.

ILDIVO CHRISTMAS ALBUM.......2007-05-14

Their voices blend so well, I've bought all their recordings to date, including their DVD's. We've been waiting too long for a group that all ages can enjoy.

Il Divo.......2007-05-10

I love this group, and I really enjoy christmas with them, everybody loves them, this cd is a perfect gift for you or anyone else.

Great!.......2007-05-07

These young men have the voices of angels. I rarely buy music but I have everyone of their albums!

Average customer rating:

Fun & Classical
" I wish I had a River.....that I could skate away on............"
James is at this best!
James Taylor's Christmas Album
James Taylor at Christmas

James Taylor at Christmas
James Taylor
Manufacturer: Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Wintersong
Cool Yule
Duets: An American Classic
Love
Awake

ASIN: B000I0QK74
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

Winter Wonderland featuring Chris Botti
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Jingle Bells
Baby, It's Cold Outside featuring Natalie Cole
River
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) Featuring Toots Theilemans
Some Children See Him
Who Comes This Night
In The Bleak Midwinter
Auld Lang Syne

Amazon.com

Looking for a smart, never-out-of-style singer who turns in a perfectly solid collection of Christmas songs, including a few surprises? J.T. is your man on James Taylor at Christmas, which is nicely balanced between pop and jazz selections, with more stately hymn-like fare and balladry. Always fine in his charmingly understated voice, Taylor and company try out the old gospel standard "Go Tell It on the Mountain" and the memorable "Some Children See Him." He smoothly cuts through "Winter Wonderland" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" with a bit of jazz flavor, and reprises Joni Mitchell's increasingly popular Christmas song (even though it's about getting away from the holiday), "River." One of the album's most satisfying delights is Taylor's funky version of "Jingle Bells," sung in a kind of barroom stomp with the most intriguing phrasing since Barbra Streisand sang it in the '60s. Soulful and bright and moody as well (when Taylor sings "In the Bleak Midwinter," you believe it's indeed rough), there's barely a clinker here. -- Martin Keller

James's Christmas Album

More from James Taylor

The Best of James Taylor
Sweet Baby James
James Taylor

New Moon Shine
JT
James Taylor (Live)

Amazon.com

Combine the most beloved, classic songs of the holiday season with the warm baritone of one of the most recognized voices in popular music, and fans will have reason to celebrate with James Taylor at Christmas. This 12-track collection features traditional and contemporary seasonal songs.

Customer Reviews:

Fun & Classical.......2007-08-05

If you have ever lived in New England the best song on the album is "In the bleak mid-winter"---love the description of snow on snow on snow! Remember beautiful images of the Bershire "Hills" in December 1989. Wonderful classic Christmas songs in James Taylor's richest tradition, can paint images with words, true art!

" I wish I had a River.....that I could skate away on............".......2007-03-25

One song. This one. I bought this, because of it's inclusion. I cannot listen to this, and not have tears. Every lyric is 1974. The love of my life. It wasn't a storybook ending,and did not happen. Nevertheless, I love this cover of Joni's brillance, by JT, whom I have followed since early 1970. Oh, I do listen to the rest,and they are good.The sorrow may be ever present, but the good memories are there. She remains dear to my heart.

James is at this best!.......2007-03-17

My husband is an avid James Taylor fan! He loves this CD and listens to it even though Christmas has long since passed. James' very recognizable voice is at its best!!! A great gift for that J.T. fan on your list.

James Taylor's Christmas Album.......2007-03-09

I love this album! I bought it after reading a review and it is everything the professional reviewer said it was. It makes you want to settle down with a hot cocoa, a warm fire and just let the music relax your mind.

James Taylor at Christmas.......2007-03-09

As always, Mr Smooth! Another classic CD to be played year after year on Christmas and any other time. A mellow sound with soothing songs of love, family and good times.

Average customer rating:

Different, But Still Very High Quality
the Realm of Existentialism
not what I expected
Very Good
Beethoven's Last Night

Beethoven's Last Night
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Manufacturer: Lava
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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The Lost Christmas Eve
The Christmas Attic
Christmas Trilogy
Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost Of Christmas Eve

ASIN: B00004S7LI
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Overture
Midnight
Fate
What Good This Deafness
Mephistopheles
What Is Eternal
The Moment
Vienna
Mozart/Figaro
The Dreams Of Candlelight
Requiem (The Fifth)
I'll Keep Your Secrets
The Dark
Fur Elise
After The Fall
A Last Illusion
This Is Who You Are
Beethoven
Mephistopheles' Return
Misery
Who Is This Child
A Final Dream

Amazon.com

Trans-Siberian Orchestra's first two recordings, a pair of late-'90s Christmas albums, hinted that some day TSO might evolve into a latter-day ELO or even an ELP. Instead, this overwrought concept album shares more common ground with ALW (Andrew Lloyd Webber) or Meat Loaf. TSO, in fact, aims to retrace a path once traveled by producer Jim Steinman, the mastermind behind the theatrical, over-the-top rock opuses that briefly transformed Mr. Loaf and Bonnie Tyler ("Total Eclipse of the Heart") into mass-audience favorites. TSO ringmaster Paul O'Neill (once a guitarist in Broadway productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair) here ditches the holiday themes and instead scores a simple-minded fairy tale (whose text spans a 32-page CD booklet) that involves Beethoven's soul, the devil, and an imaginary Symphony No. 10. Too often, the music is the servant of the project's thin plot, and the rock-classical instrumental bravura that initially attracted public attention to TSO (at times, the group sounds like a symphonic Boston) is obscured by overheated vocal rantings. Meanwhile, the guitar-driven rendering of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony ("Requiem") is mundane. Yet, one vocal track, "After the Fall" with singer Patti Russo, jumps off the record as a Tyler-esque knockout, raging with emotion and melodic luster. It doesn't save the album, but it helps. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Different, But Still Very High Quality.......2007-06-29

Beethoven's Last Night is TSO's first non-Christmas album, and as such, I expected to not like it as much as their other albums. However, it ended up becoming my favorite, tied with Christmas Eve and Other Stories. It's very different from TSO's other albums, but yet it has a magic all its own. The musical quality is just as good, but it has the best vocals in all of their albums. The reason for this is that Beethoven's Last Night tells much more of the story through its songs, and actually has a cast and characters. Some of the voices are very odd, but incredibly fun to hear. Some examples of this are in the songs "What Good This Deafness", "Misery", and "Midnight". The album isn't all vocals, however. It has some great instrumentals too, such as "A Last Illusion" (I know it has some chanting in the background at one point, but I still consider it an instrumental), "Beethoven", and "Mozart/Figaro". One more song worthy of mention all by itself is "Mephistopheles' Return", which contains a simply awing passage at the end where four different verses are sung at the same time. TSO did this before in "A Star To Follow", however it is done even better in "Mephistopheles' Return". In the end, after listening to Beethoven's Last Night, I was left with a feeling that I had experienced something very unique, but at the same time similar to TSO's other albums. It may be the weirdest of all their albums, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best.

the Realm of Existentialism.......2007-06-25

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Beethoven's Last Night

-- Powerful, explosive, highly-addictive. --Katharena Eiermann, 2007, the Realm of Existentialism -- Presidential Hopeful

not what I expected.......2007-04-11

I have some of this music, really liked but this is not the one. It was okay nothing I would tell others to buy.
Mary Lynn

Very Good.......2007-04-10

The CD is not as good as their Christmas CD - but it is nice to listen to Trans-Siberian Orchestra throughout the year.

Beethoven's Last Night.......2007-03-18

Awesome CD! The story is terrific, and the music is everything TSO stands for!

Average customer rating:

Wonderful December
Lovely but, sadly not the best.
Veteran Christmas Rocker
Moody Blues Christmas Album - December
Loved it.

December
The Moody Blues
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

Strange Times
The Present
Journey into Amazing Caves: Soundtrack from the IMAX Theatre Film
Blue Jays
Sur La Mer

ASIN: B0000DJYOD
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

Don't Need A Reindeer
December Snow
In The Quiet Of Christmas Morning (Bach 147)
On This Christmas Day
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
A Winter's Tale
The Spirit Of Christmas
Yes I Believe
When A Child Is Born
White Christmas
In The Bleak Midwinter

Amazon.com

It was inevitable that The Moody Blues would produce a Christmas record. Why it took this long is the mystery. The group's classical music underpinnings have always been ripe for the Christmas canon and on December they add to it with their own contributions. "Don't Need A Reindeer" is a remarkably sweet little pop song that proves Justin Hayward can still write what sounds like a hit. A fair amount of orchestration shades the rest of the CD, as the band arranges and adds lyrics to a Bach piece (here called "In the Quiet of Christmas Morning") while also taking on "In the Bleak Midwinter," "When A Child Is Born," "White Christmas," and the John Lennon/Yoko Ono classic, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." In the same vein, though less cheerful, John Lodge pens a melancholy meditation on the horrors of the Mideast in 2003. While he's no John Lennon and December is uneven at best, for Moody Blues fans it will be like finding the lost chord.--Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful December.......2007-06-23

I recently got this CD and I must say I am very very happy with it. My dear Moody Blues have still got "it" - in spades. Their lyrics, music and voices are as wonderful as ever. Those fabulous Hayward & Lodge harmonies sound so very good and this CD is just chock full of their blended vocals. 'December' is such a joy to listen to; in fact I am listening to it right now, and it's 90 plus degrees outside on this June day!

I highly recommend this beautiful Moody Blues work. It's great to listen to at Christmas, or at any other time you want to hear these fabulous men make a joyful noise in your ears.

Lovely but, sadly not the best........2007-05-20

If you own all the other Moodies albums then this is a must. However, if your still building your collection, Strange Times blows this one out of the water. With Ray now gone, there's an empty space in the harmonies and writing

December is avery nice album, and grows on you fast if you don't "get it" at first. 4 stars for the original songs, and is a good snap-shot of the Moodies today.

Still awaiting their next...

Veteran Christmas Rocker.......2007-01-23

Recognizable Moody Blues no matter what the song. With touches of classical (Bach) and vintage (Iving Berlin) Christmas music but with the distinctive Hayward and Lodge touch, as well as their own compositions, this cd evokes pleasant memories of Christmas past while holding out the promise of pleasant listening next December as well.

Moody Blues Christmas Album - December.......2007-01-13

Buy it! This great CD has some old favorites but it's the new songs that really get you. Absolutely one of my most favorite holiday CDs ever.

Loved it........2007-01-04

I've had it for a couple of years and just love it. To me, it is soothing and relaxing.
It brings back memories of the old days and all their LP's from the 70's. There's just something about the sound of Moody Blues that you can't quite describe.
Great!

Average customer rating:

A Listening Pleasure

Christmas Songs
Anuna
Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Celtic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

New Age | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

Fusion | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

4-for-3 International | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 New Age | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Essential Anuna
Behind the Closed Eye
Cynara
Sensation
Deep Dead Blue

ASIN: B0002VEQ5M
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

AWAY IN A MANGER
THE WEXFORD CAROL
THE FIRST DAY
RIU RIU
SILENT NIGHT
THE COVENTRY CAROL
CODHLAIM GO SUAN
CHRISTMAS DAY IS COME
WINTER, FIRE AND SNOW
PIE JESU
HYMN TO THE VIRGIN
O HOLY NIGHT
THER IS NO ROS

Customer Reviews:

A Listening Pleasure.......2005-12-12

This is a five star album from a five star group. "Away in the Manger" is done in a simple, but exquisite manner. The quality of sound is magnificent. Monica Donlon has a gorgeous voice, well showcased on the Irish "Wexford Carol." "The First Day" adds instrumental interest, a very contemplative piece with voices used as pedal tones. "Riu Riu" is rhythmical and catchy. "Silent Night" is performed at an extremely slow tempo milking the harmonization and classic Anuna sound in a aura of sensual sound. The plaintive melancholy of "The Coventry Carol" aptly suits the text. There are interesting harmonizations and slight tweeks in the melody that separate this arrangement from the average. Four of the next six tracks are original compositions by Michael McGlyn and are a wonderful addition to the Christmas repertoire. The liner notes are ten pages that include the lyrics and brief commentary. Like the album, they are rendered in a classy manner. If you appreciate fine choral music and exceptional Christmas music, this album is a must.

A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Original Sound Track Recording Of The CBS Television Special

Average customer rating:

A Must-Have Classic
You wanna hear some great Jazz music?
GREAT SELLER
Excellent! A must have!
A Charlie Brown Christmas

A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Original Sound Track Recording Of The CBS Television Special
Vince Guaraldi Trio
Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
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Vince Guaraldi - Greatest Hits
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits
A Boy Named Charlie Brown: The Original Sound Track Recording Of The CBS Television Special
White Christmas

ASIN: B000000XDJ
Release Date: 2000-09-19

Tracks:

O Tannenbaum
What Child Is This
My Little Drum
Linus And Lucy
Christmas Time Is Here ( Instrumental)
Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal)
Skating
Hark The Herald Angel Sings
Christmas Is Coming
Fur Elise
The Christmas Song
Greensleeves

Amazon.com

The first time you listen to this disc you will undoubtedly be transported directly back to your childhood. Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters will go toe-tapping and funky-dancing through your mind's eye. Play it a few more times, though (ignoring the dialogue snippets, if you can), and you will begin to truly revel in Guaraldi's wonderful, humorous, deep piano playing. You'll hear why he's such an influence on new age ivory tickler George Winston, but you'll also realize that Winston's holiday music never quite sparkles with the underlying passion, and humor, that twinkles in these grooves. Buy it for the nostalgia--keep it because it will remain one of the most enchanting albums in your holiday collection. --Michael Ruby

Album Description

Original soundtrack recording of the CBS television special recorded in 1965, tracks include 'O Tannenbaum', 'What Child Is This', 'My Little Drum', 'Linus and Lucy', 'Christmas Time Is Here' (instrumental), 'Christmas Time Is Here' (vocal), 'Skating', 'Hark, The Herald Angels Sing', 'Christmas Is Coming', 'Fur Elise', 'The Christmas Song' & 'Greensleeves'. Fantasy Records. 1988.

Customer Reviews:

A Must-Have Classic.......2007-03-09

Great CD!!! It brought back good memories. A must-have for any lover of Christmas music, the Peanuts gang, or jazz.

You wanna hear some great Jazz music?.......2007-03-09

I recently purchased this CD and I was blown away by it. I am a big fan of Vince Guaraldi and his music always makes me feel great. The sound on the CD is great (no distortion at all). I would whole heartily recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys light Jazz!

GREAT SELLER.......2007-02-07

Would recommend this seller to others. Fast shipment and product as described. Thank you much!

Excellent! A must have!.......2007-01-29

This compilation of Peanuts tunes by the Vince Guaraldi Trio is outstanding. Everytime I play this, I can see all the Peanuts characters in my mind. It is fun to listen to at anytime of the year, and really brings back memories of my youth and watching Charlie Brown during the holidays. Guaraldi and company show their expert musicianship skills on these snazzy jazzy tunes.The holiday season isn't complete without this collection!

A Charlie Brown Christmas.......2007-01-27

The perfect background music for the Christmas season. It has a quality that brings back the memory of the joy of Christmas times past. I can play it multiple times and still want to hear it again.

Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet

Average customer rating:

The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet
Crisp Recording
Julia Abakaeva
A rockin' good time!
Don't Let The Word Kirov Fool You!!!

Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet
Valery Gergiev , Kirov Orchestra and Choir , and Tchaikovsky
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (complete ballet); Wolfgang Sawallisch; Philadelphia Orchestra
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty
Messiah (George Frederick Handel) London Philharmonic Orchestra
Swan Lake

ASIN: B00000A1GL
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

The Nutcracker - Overture
The Nutcracker - 1 The Christmas Tree
The Nutcracker - 2 March
The Nutcracker - 3 Galop and Dance of the Parents
The Nutcracker - 4 Dance Scene - The Presents of Drosselmeyer
The Nutcracker - 5 Scene - Grandfather Dance
The Nutcracker - 6 Clara and the Nutcracker
The Nutcracker - 7 The Nutcracker battles against the Army of the Mouse King - He wins and is transformed into Prince Charming
The Nutcracker - 8 In the Christmas tree
The Nutcracker - 9 Scene and Waltz of the Snowflakes
The Nutcracker - 10 The Magic Castle on the Mountain of Sweets
The Nutcracker - 11 Clara and Prince Charming
The Nutcracker - 12a Character Dances (Divertissement): Chocolate (Spanisch Dance)
The Nutcracker - 12b Character Dances (Divertissement): Coffe (Arabian Dance)
The Nutcracker - 12c Character Dances (Divertissement): Tea (Chinese Dance)
The Nutcracker - 12d Character Dances (Divertissement): Trk (Russian Dance)
The Nutcracker - 12e Character Dances (Divertissement): Dance of the Reed Pipes
The Nutcracker - 12f Character Dances (Divertissement): Polichinelle (The Clown)
The Nutcracker - 13 Waltz of the Flowers
The Nutcracker - 14a Pas de deux: Intrada
The Nutcracker - 14b Pas de deux: Variation I (Tarantella)
The Nutcracker - 14c Pas de deux: Variation II (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy)
The Nutcracker - 14d Pas de deux: Coda
The Nutcracker - 15 Closing Waltz - Grand Finale

Amazon.com

Although Gergiev is highly experienced in the theater, and he is leading an opera-ballet orchestra, this is definitely a concert Nutcracker. Tempos are brisk, textures streamlined, and dancers might have a good deal of difficulty keeping up with the music. For us home listeners, though, this is a superb way to hear Tchaikovsky's complete score and to remind ourselves of how much good music isn't included in the familiar suite. Gergiev justifies his reputation as an interpreter and as an orchestra leader, getting amazingly precise playing from the ensemble. Best of all, Philips has somehow crammed more than 81 minutes of superb sound onto this disc, making it a remarkable bargain. Very highly recommended! --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

The Nutcracker - Complete Ballet.......2007-01-20

This was a gift to my Granddaughter. She is in College and she told me it was wonderful. She said she loved it.

Crisp Recording.......2007-01-11

I
love the nutcracker ballet, especially the wizened hearthside warmth of the music. Gergiev has certainly fired up the Mariinsky for this one. Was there an other worldly intuition that inspired him to find and revel in a tight rousing theatre of the absurd that no one else has ever seen before in Pytor's composition, who knows but it is quite a nonsensical wash like this; not at all the pacing that is conducive to entering the atmosphere of enchanting mystery that makes the nutcracker a glorious ballet or any kind of enthralling experience, more like something delightful to put in the car's disc player fifteen minutes before rush hour if one is in a hurry to catch a plane. This is after all very detailed music but forget
about it Val is not letting you in with the whole orchestra in the van
late for another rehearsal or whatever really happens to be the case.

Julia Abakaeva.......2006-12-16

This not The Nutcracker-Complete Ballet!!! It's a recording of 6 pieces of Tchaikovsky's music that have nothing to do with The Nutckracker Ballet. Total number of tracks on the CD is 6 vs 24 promised in the booklet inside the CD.

A rockin' good time!.......2006-11-29

First let me say WOW!!!
This recording is about as good as cd quality will allow and the performance is alive and engaging. It is as near perfect as I imagine it could be. The orchestra plays as tight as a good quartet and thier enthusiasm shows thru in spades.
Even a non classical music fan will love it.

Don't Let The Word Kirov Fool You!!!.......2006-09-29

Anyone who thinks that this recording of "The Nutcracker" is on any level exceptional is out of their mind. There are a zillion recordings of "The Nutcracker", whether complete or of excerpts, and for ballet theatre many of these recordings are useless. Alot of famous symphonic conductors have had a hand at recording ballet music, and at least to ballet dancers (the people they were written for) mostly without success - for example Seiji Ozawa conducting "Swan Lake" is like Adam Sandler performing Shakespeare. What makes one a great conductor of symphonic music does not necessarily make one a good conductor of ballet music, and only a very small percentage of the conductors of any recording of "The Nutcracker" or any other ballet have ever conducted a live ballet . As far as I am concerned only a ballet conductor should conduct ballet music.

As a ballet dancer, historian, and a collector of 19th century ballet music, I must say that this is the most appalling recording I have ever heard of "The Nutcracker". Mind you, it is not because of the quality of performance from the orchestra, but of the way the music is handled by Gergiev when conducting so sacred an orchestra as the Kirov/Mariinsky. I find it interesting that Victor Fedotov, perhaps the greatest conductor of ballet music in modern times (who was still alive when this recording was produced) conductor of nearly every ballet performance at the Mariinsky Theatre for over 30 years, was not the one chosen to conduct this recording. Would it not make sense to have the ballet conductor conduct the ballet orchestra in a recording of the ballet music???

The fact that this ballet was all jam-packed onto one CD should be a dead give away as to how horribly raced through and edited the music. This recording has rushed, mathematically maintained tempi (the usual defect with recorded ballet music in the hands of a symphonic conductor), an over bearing brass section, edited passages (optional repeats) - the potential the music has that usually only a ballet conductor can give it is completely gone, as the music is in no way allowed to breathe.

One reviewer on this page says "Tchaikovsky is said to have written the work originaly in a faster tempo than is usualy performed. However, over the years, dancers complained about the brisk pace at which they were to perform. And so, the tempo is now played slower." This statement is horribly incorrect. "The Nutcracker" was written as all 19th century ballet was written - to order - Tchaikovsky was given instructions on what to write by Marius Petipa, and the original performance score does not specify tempo with words. For example "allegro moderato", etc. is nowhere to be found in the variations, as ballet music of the period was played at the preferred speed of the dancer.

Gergiev's recording of Tchaikovsky's original score for "The Sleeping Beauty" doesn't hold a candle to Victor Fedotov's recording of the Kirov Ballet performance score (with all of the proper modifications one only hears in performance).

Whatever Gergiev's strengths are as a conductor of opera or symphony, they are sorely lacking in his conducting of ballet music (Gergiev rarely conducts ballets at the Mariinsky, and it isnt his favorite thing to do) and this recording of "The Nutcracker", just like Gergiev's recording of "The Sleeping Beauty" shows this.

The best recording of "The Nutcracker" you can get is by Richard Bonynge with the National Philharmonic Orchestra. He conducts exactly as the music would be for the stage, and the recording is well balanced, without one section drowning out another. Also there is Sir Chalres Mackares's recording with the London Symphony for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's movie version of "The Nutcracker". Another is by Eugene Ormandy with the Philedelphia Orchestra, though only excerpts.

Average customer rating:

One of TSO's Best
Music from the Christmas light house
The Lost Christmas Eve CD review
This is the best music ever!
Mannheim Steamroller on steroids...

The Lost Christmas Eve
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Manufacturer: Lava
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Christmas Attic
Christmas Eve and Other Stories
Beethoven's Last Night
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Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration

ASIN: B0002ZDVGS
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Tracks:

Faith Noel
The Lost Christmas Eve
Christmas Dreams
Wizard in Winter
Remember
Anno Domini
Christmas Concerto
Queen of the Winter Night
Christmas NIghts in Blue
Christmas Jazz
Christmas Jam
Siberian Sleigh Ride
What is Christmas?
For the Sake of Our Brother
The Wisdom of Snow
Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness)
Back to a Reason (Part II)
Christmas Bells, Carousels and Time
What Child is This?
O'Come All Ye Faithful
Christmas Canon Rock
Different Wings
Midnight Clear

Amazon.com

If you're looking for something out of the ordinary for the season, The Lost Christmas Eve is for you. This final entry in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's rock opera trilogy is perhaps their most ambitious and complex in the series. Like its predecessors, The Lost Christmas Eve tells the story of heaven's youngest angel called back to earth to continue Jesus' unfinished work. This time he lands in New York City to help redeem not only Christmas, but the soul of humankind itself with a story line that rivals anything Frank Capra ever dreamt up for the big screen. Conceived and composed by Aerosmith and Savatage producer Paul O'Neill, most of the song were penned O'Neill, Robert Kinkle, and Savatage founder and keyboardist Jon Oliva, and features the rest of the seminal Florida metal band on the record. While not as bombastic as Savatage's fourteen rock epics which touch on topics as diverse as the Russian Revolution, the 15th century explorer Ferdinand Magellan's descendants, and Beethoven's last night, the record still has a grandiose, almost over-arching baroque feel, with its prog-rock organ swells and electronic alchemy. The best moments are during the soaring instrumentals, on tracks like the "Wisdom of Snow," "Wish Litz," "Christmas Bells, Carousels & Time," and the majestic rendering of "O Come All Ye Faithful." --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is back with third and final volume of their Christmas trilogy, The Lost Christmas. The long awaited follow up to the double platinum "The Christmas Attic," features their trademark symphonic rock," which fuses elements of hard rock, Broadway, R&B, and classical music into a unique and distinctive blend of original compositions, symphony excerpts and holiday standards.

Customer Reviews:

One of TSO's Best.......2007-06-29

The Lost Christmas Eve is the final installment in TSO's christmas trilogy. It may be the last, but that doesn't mean the sound is getting old. An excellent comeback from the slightly dissapointing Christmas Attic, The Lost Christmas Eve starts off with a bang, and doesn't let up until the final notes of the last song. The vocals on the album are some of TSO's best, second only to the ones on Beethoven's Last Night. They are best heard on such tracks as "The Lost Christmas Eve", "Christmas Dreams", and "What is Christmas?". The instrumentals are definitely the best TSO has ever done, and none feel repetitive like the ones on The Christmas Attic. They are without a doubt the high points of the album, with such songs as "Wizards in Winter", "Queen of the Winter Night", "Christmas Jam", and "Siberian Sleigh Ride" being the best of them all. However, my personal favorite song and instrumental on the album is the amazing "Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness)", which is Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody", but with electric guitars and incredibly fast keyboards. Also of note is "The Wisdom of Snow", a beautiful piano solo coming in at 2:01. Overall, The Lost Christmas Eve, while maybe not being as moving and meaningful as albums like Christmas Eve and Other Stories, is certainly just as powerful, and is definitely the most fun to listen to.

Music from the Christmas light house.......2007-05-27

I bought this CD after seeing the house with the Christmas lights, synchronized to a song on this CD. It was all over You Tube a couple of Christmas' ago. Anyway, great takes on some old Christmas favorites. My wife and I still listen to it from time to time.

The Lost Christmas Eve CD review.......2007-05-20

Thoroughly enjoyed this genre. Had not heard of them before this. As music teacher, really appreciated the musical arrangements of well-known Christmas Carols.
The service was excellent arrived in the mail precisely when advised.

This is the best music ever!.......2007-05-12

Just loved the sound of this, it's my new favorite Christmas music! It rocks!

Mannheim Steamroller on steroids..........2007-05-08

hard rocking Christmas ballads...my wife had seen Trans-Siberian Orchestra on a morning show a few months back and all she wanted for Christmas(but not all she got) was a cd of Trans-Siberia...I was constantly borrowing it and just couldn't get enough of this cd..wonderful music..reverant, different, beautiful..there is a real beauty to this non-traditional Christmas music..

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