2. The Christmas Song
3. River
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
5. O Holy Night
ARTIST SITE
AMAZON MP3
1. It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year 2. The Christmas Song 3. River 4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 5. O Holy Night ARTIST SITE AMAZON MP3 Javier Colon was the winner of the inaugural season of NBC's The Voice and he turns in a fairly traditional set on this digital holiday release. You may have heard Javier's version of "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" on the Rockefeller Tree Lighting broadcast. And Javier shines on "River" and "O Holy Night". Still, I can't help but feel he might have been well served to have a legitimate soul number or two on "A Very Acoustic Christmas". As it is, I think this set will mostly appeal to those who are already fans with nothing breaking through the avalanche of December releases.
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I'll Be Home For Christmas Jingle Bells O Come All Ye Faithful Winter Wonderland Peace On Earth (featuring Jordan Knight) Christmas Don't Be Late (featuring Griffin McIntyre) Do You Hear What I Hear (featuring Carol Gallagher) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Baby It's Cold Outside (featuring Mario Cantone) O Holy Night Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas ARTIST SITE PURCHASE FROM ARTIST iTUNES At 12 years old when he joined the group, Joey McIntyre was the youngest member of New Kids On The Block. Think about that for a second. If it were me, I think that would suck. Not the "most talented", not the "best looking", not even the "bad boy". For the rest of his life, Joey Mac will always be tagged as "the youngest member of NKOTB". For all that, Joey seems remarkably well adjusted. Since NKOTB initially broke up, he's busied himself acting and writing and recording, and putting out records--mostly on his own. This self-issued Christmas album, "Come Home For Christmas", is an excellent portrait of Joey McIntyre all grown up. The songs seem marvelously arranged and meticulously recorded. His voice is strong and clear and confident. We even get a taste of Justin Timberlake like humor on "Baby It's Cold Outside", a duet with Mario Cantone that, done poorly, could've been kind of creepy; here, it just comes off as wonderfully whimsical. Joey is joined on the record by his son, Griffin, his sister Carol Gallagher, and his friend and former NKTOB partner Jordan Knight. There's nothing about this album that rises to the level of "must have" for the obsessive Christmas collector. But, as a pure Christmas album, this is a top notch effort--much better than many albums from bigger names. So far, the hard copy CD is only being offered through Joey Mac's web site (where the postage seems rather high). And it looks as though the download is initially being offered through iTunes. But you can find minute long clips of all the songs on Joey's SoundCloud page so you can decide for yourself if this is something you'll want in your collection. For whatever it's worth, I decided to buy it. What can I say? Joey's rendition of "O Holy Night" sold me.
1.Andrea Bocelli - Santa Claus Is Coming to Town 2.Neil Diamond - Little Drummer Boy 3.Alison Krauss - Shimmy Down the Chimney 4.Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Sugar Rum Cherry 5.Aretha Franklin - Winter Wonderland 6.The Roomettes - Sleigh Ride (typo courtesy Starbucks) 7.Bob Dylan - Must Be Santa 8.Death Cab for Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 9.Fiona Apple - Frosty the Snowman 10.Elvis Presley - White Christmas 11.Rosie Thomas - Let It Snow 12.Dolly Parton - I’ll Be Home for Christmas 13.Brenda Lee - Jingle Bell Rock 14.Bing Crosby - It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas 15.Julie London - I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm 16.Yo-Yo Ma - Silent Night PURCHASE FROM STARBUCKS Whatever you think of their coffee or business model, there is little doubt that some of the folks connected to Starbucks have a good ear for music. Though they've cut well back on the number of CDs they issue themselves, they still manage every year to create a really nice Christmas compilation. I generally buy the Starbucks Christmas CD every year--not so much because of what's on it, but because they sequence the tracks so well. Bouncing between genres and balancing the classics with the newest pop and Indie groups. To be honest, the coffee comps haven't been quite as strong the last couple of years, but they're still pretty darn good. In past years, Starbucks has generally featured a couple of brand spanking new tracks. Looking over the tracklist for "Let It Snow", I only see one track I don't recognize. That would be the Roomettes "Sleigh Ride". And I can find nothing on the Roomettes on line--not even a Facebook page--so its possible that that one's new. In any case, the Starbucks Christmas collections always make for good seasonal soundtracks so odds are pretty good I'll be picking this one up. You can order online, but I always prefer stopping in. I dunno. I kind of dig going to Starbucks and not buying their coffee. (UPDATE: "The Roomettes" have been confirmed to be "Ronettes". So.....never mind.)
1. It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas 2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 3. Jingle Bells [feat the Puppini Sisters] 4. White Christmas [with Shania Twain] 5. All I Want For Christmas Is You 6. Have A Holly Jolly Christmas 7. Santa Buddy (Santa Baby) 8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 9. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 10. Silent Night 11. Blue Christmas 12. Cold December Night 13. I’ll Be Home For Christmas 14. Ave Maria 15. Mis Deseos/Feliz Navidad [with Thalia] Bonus Tracks on Special MB Exclusive version: Winter Wonderland Frosty the Snowman AMAZON Silver Bells [featuring Naturally 7] ARTIST SITE Canadian crooner Michael Buble previously racked up sales and airplay with the EP "Let It Snow". But that always bothered him a bit, because the only thing Buble about it was his voice. Buble was just starting out in 2003 when label execs and producers tossed him in a studio and told him to lay down vocals on a handful of Christmas standards that had already been arranged and recorded for him. It did work, as the EP hit #32 on Billboard's album charts that year and has become a perennial with great staying power in the years since.
But Michael, a great fan of Christmas and the music that has been created about the season, dreamed of the day when he could do a full Christmas record...for realz--an album for which he could pick the tunes, set the arrangements, choose a few special guest stars to share it with--a true Michael Buble Christmas record. That time has come and Michael Buble has created "Christmas"--an album he hopes will be as beloved and lasting as the Bing Crosby Christmas albums he grew up on. There's been a slow motion promotional roll out of details on the set to help build excitement for the release on October 24. But Michael needn't have bothered. People were quite excited about the album already. Afterall, "Let It Snow" was a mere 5 tracks long. Add in a duet with Country star Shania Twain, who has been absent from the holiday genre far too long, and, brother, people are ready for this. "Christmas" features 15 tracks in all, most of them familiar standards. Buble includes a few more recent "standards" as well, Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" from the 60s, a duet with emerging Latin star Thalia on the 70s classic from Jose Feliciano, "Feliz Navidad", and, in a tip to the most popular holiday song of most recent vintage, he covers Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You". In addition to Thalia and Shania Twain (who joins Michael for a Drifters inspired arrangement of "White Christmas"), the Puppini Sisters are along for a joyous "Jingle Bells". And those who purchase the limited edition version, exclusively available at MichaelBuble.com, will also get to hear a cappella's Naturally 7 lending a hand on "Silver Bells". It sounds like Michael Buble had a lot of fun creating "Christmas" and I've always said that's an element that can make all the difference in the world. So the stars, it would seem, are perfectly aligned. "Christmas" promises to be a true delight. Be there or be square. 01. Carol Of The Bells 02. Little Drummer Boy 03. The Christmas Waltz 04. The Christmas Tree 05. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) 06. I Saw Three Ships 07. Medley: Deck The Hall - The First Noel - Joy To The World 08. Medley: Silent Night - O Come All Ye Faithful 09. The Twelve Days Of Christmas 10. Toyland 11. Medley: Christmas Is Coming - Angels We Have Heard On High AMAZON LABEL WEBSITE "The David Rose Christmas Album" was David Rose's second--and best--Christmas album. It is one of the great long lost instrumental Christmas albums of the Golden Age of Beautiful Music. Originally released in 1968, the album was re-released the following year as "The Little Drummer Boy". The album has never before been issued on CD under either title.
For years, collectors of Christmas music have asked and prayed that the album be made available once again. And Gordon Anderson and Gabby Castellana of Real Gone Music have now answered those prayers and requests, complete with the original cover art. Born in London, England, David Rose made his name as an American composer. Though his best know composition is undoubtedly "The Stripper" (a #1 hit in 1962), Rose is widely known for his many compositions and scores for radio and television, and he was awarded four Emmy Awards during his lifetime. "The David Rose Christmas Album" has long been a part of the holiday season for millions, both on Beautiful Music or "Lite" radio stations and as part of the annual Yule Log that has aired for decades on New York City's WPIX and other television stations across the country. Popular favorites from the album include "The Christmas Waltz", "The Christmas Tree", and Rose's "Deck The Halls/The First Noel/Joy To The World" medley. 1. Santa Claus is Coming To Town 2. My Favorite Things 3. Christmas Time is Here 4. Deck the Halls 5. The First Noel (Voice) / Plácido Domingo 6. The Christmas Song 7. Silver Bells 8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 9. O Little Town of Bethlehem 10. I Love the Winter Weather/I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 11. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm/Antonia Bennett 12. Christmas In Herald Square 13. I'll Be Home For Christmas 14. O Come All Ye Faithful 15. What Child is This 16. Winter Wonderland AMAZON 17. Silent Night ARTIST SITE 18. White Christmas Fresh off the release of "Duets II", Sony/Columbia is taking advantage of Tony Bennett's increased visibility by releasing this holiday collection. And, as individual artist Christmas compilations go, this is a pretty nice one; not Collectors Choice-Perry Como nice, but nice nonetheless.
Tony Bennett has recorded 2 full-length Christmas albums in his long and storied career--"Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album" from 1968 and "A Swingin' Christmas" from 2008. Now most any artist would give his eye teeth for just one Christmas album of that caliber, but Tony has been around long enough to have other holiday resources from which to draw. Don't forget the Hallmark "Christmas With Tony Bennett and the London Symphony Orchestra" album from 2002 (from whence I suspect most of the more religious carols were drawn). Then there was the album Tony recorded with Placido Domingo, Charlotte Church and Vanessa Williams (it's easy to pick out the representative track here taken from that set). Tony also recorded a few tracks for the Goodyear "Great Songs Of Christmas" series and I believe at least one of those wasn't included on any of Tony's other Christmas collections (namely "What Child Is This"). And what of "Christmas In Herald Square"? Well, you might be one of the millions who has lived unaware of a little children's album Tony recorded in 1998 (complete with Muppets on a couple of tracks), "The Playground". About the only thing I don't see represented here is Tony's "duet" with The Manhattan Transfer. The Complete Tony Bennett Christmas recordings will come one day. Until then, this is a pretty nice collection of Tony Bennett gems for your holiday listening pleasure. 1. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 2. Silver Bells 3. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? 4. Winter Wonderland 5. White Christmas (with Andy Williams) 6. My Favorite Things 7. Jingle Bell Rock 8. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 9. I'll Be Home For Christmas 10. The Christmas Song AMAZON AMAZON (VINYL 12") iTUNES ARTIST WEB SITE If you've been wishing for a White Christmas...just like the ones you used to know...your prayers have been heard and answered. And in plenty of time for whatever festivities you might be planning.
Deana Martin is the daughter of the master himself, Dean Martin, and she has long carried on his legacy--and built one of her own--singing the songs the Rat Pack made famous in the sound and style we've all loved ever since. For this Christmas set, that means nothing but the Christmas songs you know and love--some with hot swingin' and sexy arrangements and some with that easy, relaxed, and sweet sentimentality (for which I believe her father held the original patent). This is a Christmas album the way they used to make them, with classy and classic big band arrangements and vocals that drip like honey from your speakers, tasting every bit as sweet. If you like your Christmases old school, you'll surely dig "Silver Bells" and "Jingle Bell Rock" featuring the most swinging performances of those tunes ever put to disc. It's nearly impossible not to hear echoes of her father as Deana delivers playful takes on "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow". "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "The Christmas Song" are appropriately cuddle worthy. And no doubt the album's highlight is the duet with Andy Williams on "White Christmas"--instantly unforgettable. Check the samples at Amazon or at Deana's web site and I'm sure you'll agree, "White Christmas" by Deana Martin is the first must-buy holiday album of the season. 1. Send Me Some Snow 2. Someone's Gonna Get Something (For Christmas) 3. I Got A Thing For Jack 4. Christmas Ain't Christmas Without You 5. Naughty Or Nice 6. Dear Santa 7. Mistletoe Moon 8. Christmas In Tinseltown 9. There's No Time Like Christmas Time 10. Through The Holidays AMAZON CHRIS STANDRING'S WEBSITE SWEET TALK RADIO (Kathrin Shorr & Tim Burlingame) Guitarist Chris Standring teams up with songstress Kathrin Shorr to present an old-school-sounding, romantic-flavored album of original vocal compositions, complete with lush string arrangements and sentimental holiday feelings.
This right here is an excellent example of why I'm obsessed with Christmas music. The major artists will always get their play. Michael Buble's Christmas album will not pass by unnoticed. Carole King and Chicago efforts will be warmly received. Ricky Skaggs plans on being on every TV show in America. And who isn't curious to hear what Scott Weiland will do with a full Christmas album? Most of the rest will likely find their audience as well. But what about the song or two or three each year that fall through the cracks and never reach the audience they deserve? Last year's "Share The Gifts" was a collection that got so little pub or play that you couldn't even find it if you were specifically looking for it. Seriously. The collection was a mixed bag--more good than bad, imo--but there was one newly recorded track that absolutely shined. What did I say last year? "The one song previously unreleased, "Send Me Some Snow" by Chris Standring & Kathrin Shorr, was easily the most delightful--a sprightly mid-tempo affair that sounds like it could be the soundtrack for a Target Stores Christmas campaign." OK. Not my best work. But still. "Send Me Some Snow" was one of my very favorite new tracks last year. I mean, listen to the thing. It's a cool little song. And it could've been destined to disappear--like a million other new Christmas songs--with only a vague hope of being resurrected in a few decades by a musicologist seeking out the forgotten gems of the era or an artist looking for a fresh cover for their own holiday set. It could have. You just never know. So I did my little bit to call attention to it, for whatever that's worth. Fortunately, for the world of Christmas music and those who obsessively try to shine a light on the hidden jewels therein, Chris Standring and Kathrin Shorr had no intention of letting their song fade away. They are back, this year, with an entire Christmas album--an album of nothing but new and original holiday music, mind you--not a cover song to be found. And I, for one, could not be happier. I'm very much looking forward to Christmas albums from Carole King, She & Him, Joey + Rory. I can't wait to hear from John Zorn, Colbie Caillat, Trine Rein and Mindy Gledhill. I'm hopeful we'll land holiday albums from Percy Sledge, Jon Lindsay, and Gaga. But "Send Me Some Snow" from Chris Standring and Kathrin Shorr, at this precise moment in time, stands at the top of my "I seriously can not contain my excitement" list. "Send Me Some Snow" is set to be released November 1 and you can pre-order through Amazon. 1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 2. A Winter Romance 3. The Things We Did Last Summer 4. I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 5. June In January 6. Canadian Sunset 7. Winter Wonderland 8. Out In The Cold Again 9. Baby, It’s Cold Outside 10. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer 11. White Christmas 12. It Won’t Cool Off 13. Sleep Warm 14. Hit The Road To Dreamland 15. Dream 16. Cuddle Up A Little Closer 17. Sleepy Time Gal 18. Goodnight Sweetheart 19. All I Do Is Dream Of You AMAZON 20. Let’s Put Out The Lights (And Go To Sleep) 21. Dream A Little Dream Of Me 22. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away) 23. Goodnight My Love 24. Brahms’ Lullaby Enjoying great success in music, film, television, and the stage, Dean Martin was less an entertainer than an icon, the eternal essence of cool. A member of the legendary Rat Pack, he lived and died the high life of booze, broads and bright lights, always projecting a sense of utter detachment and serenity; along with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and the other chosen few who breathed the same rarefied air, Martin — highball and cigarette always firmly in hand — embodied the glorious excess of a world long gone. “A Winter Romance” is perhaps best described as a “seasonal” album rather than a Christmas or holiday release, however it does capture the essence of the season with classics such as “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland”. With “Sleep Warm” Martin finally found a way to construct an album in the style of pal and rival Frank Sinatra’s highly successful concept LPs: Bring Sinatra in as the conductor and centre the album on the concept of sleep. Both albums are presented here in their entirity.
Budget priced 2-fer Import boasting a unique pairing of Dino's consummate holiday set with a complete non-sequitor. And, because it's Dean, it probably sounds tremendous. 1. Baby, It's Cold Outside 2. Silver Bells 3. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow 4. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer 5. The Christmas Blues 6. Winter Wonderland (The Swingin' Yuletide Mix) 7. Silent Night 8. A Marshmallow World 9. I'll Be Home For Christmas (duet with Scarlett Johansson) 10. Jingle Bells 11. Blue Christmas 12. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 13. White Christmas 14. Peace On Earth/Silent Night (Medley) AMAZON OFFICIAL DEAN MARTIN SITE When it comes to feeling nostalgic, sitting by a warm fireplace, or toasting to the spirit of the holidays--with a New Year lingering just around the corner--nobody can create the mood or sing them better than Dean Martin--the man who made it all look easy.
Hands down, there is no more popular Christmas crooner than old Dino, here--or at least that's been my experience. Which makes it even more of a stone cold shame that Dean only recorded roughly two dozen holiday and winter themed tracks in his lifetime, give or take. There's only so much remastering, remixing, and repackaging a record label can do. In 2009, Universal released "My Kind Of Christmas" and it sold well enough that the label is issuing a reprise (no pun intended) in 2011. Near as I can tell from the track list, the only difference between the two editions (other than the cover art--that round goes to the original which was stunning) is track 9, "I'll Be Home For Christmas". For the 2011 version, they've swapped out the original for a duet with Scarlett Johansson. I loves me some Scarlett Johansson, I do. But these digital duets with dead people? I'm dubious. But who knows? Maybe this one will be amazing. It is Dean Martin after all. And pretty much everything Dean ever did was the essence of cool. |
PREviewsI don't know about you, but I want to see that cover art and I want to see that track list before I make my Christmas music purchasing decisions. The earlier the better. That's what we try to do for you here. We'll also try to give you a little background on the artist(s), in case they're new to you. Archives2010 PREviews Categories
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