Christmas Star [Import]

Christmas Star [Import]

ASIN: B0000A59T3

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Jim's holiday radio show from Christmas Day, 1957! Includes some Christmas tunes he never recorded at RCA, like 'Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer', 'A Christmas Star' and a duet with Dolores Watson on 'Silver Bells'. 34 digitally remastered tracks. Voicemas

Tracks:

The Man from Snowy River (Bruce Rowland)
The Winds of War (Bob Cobert)
Blue Velvet (Angelo Badalamenti)
Witness (Maurice Jarre)
Raising Arizona (Carter Burwell)
Pee Wees Big Adventure (Danny Elfman)
Halloween (John Carpenter)
A Nightmare On Elm Street (Charles Bernstein)
The Fly (Howard Shore)
RoboCop (Basil Poledouris)
The Empire Strikes Back (John Williams)
The Right Stuff (Bill Conti)
The Final Conflict (Jerry Goldsmith)
The Abyss (Alan Silvestri)
Brainstorm (James Horner)
Peggy Sue Got Married (John Barry)
My Left Foot (Elmer Bernstein)
The Dead (Alex North)
Stanley & Iris (John Williams)
The Milagro Beanfield War (Dave Grusin)
Driving Miss Daisy (Hans Zimmer)

Tracks:

Steel Magnolias (Georges Delerue)
Unforgiven (Lennie Niehaus and Clint Eastwood)
Raggedy Man (Jerry Goldsmith)
The Grifters (Elmer Bernstein)
Green Card (Hans Zimmer)
City Slickers (Marc Shaiman)
Father Of The Bride (Alan Silvestri)
While You Were Sleeping (Randy Edelman)
Babe (Nigel Westlake)
The Adventures Of The Great Mouse Detective (Henry Mancini)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (Erich Wolfgang Korngold)
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (Laurence Rosenthal)
The Secret Garden (Zbigniew Preisner)
A Little Princess (Patrick Doyle)
Rudy (Jerry Goldsmith)
Iron Will (Joel McNeely)
Memphis Belle (George Fenton)
Eye Of The Needle (Mikl)
Total Recall (Jerry Goldsmith)
Back To The Future Part III (Alan Silvestri)

Tracks:

To Die For (Danny Elfman)
The Player (Thomas Newman)
Black Robe (Georges Delerue)
Medicine Man (Jerry Goldsmith)
2001 (Alex North)
Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire (Joel McNeely)
The Crow (Graeme Revell)
Blade (Mark Isham)
The Omen (Jerry Goldsmith)
Vertigo (Bernard Herrmann)
Scream (Marco Beltrami)
The Sixth Sense (James Newton Howard)
Xena: Warrior Princess (Joseph LoDuca)
Air Force One (Jerry Goldsmith)
Starship Troopers (Basil Poledouris)
The Matrix (Don Davis)
The Iron Giant (Michael Kamen)
Youve Got Mail (George Fenton)
A Little Romance (Georges Delerue)
Pleasantville (Randy Newman)

Tracks:

Sunset Boulevard (Franz Waxman)
L.A. Confidential (Jerry Goldsmith)
Rounders (Christopher Young)
The Score (Howard Shore)
The Replacements (John Debney)
Gone In 60 Seconds (Trevor Rabin)
The Bourne Identity (John Powell)
Rush Hour 2 (Lalo Schifrin)
XXX (Randy Edelman)
Die Hard (Michael Kamen)
The Last of the Mohicans (Trevor Jones)
Moby Dick (Christopher Gordon)
The Mists Of Avalon (Lee Holdridge)
Cleopatra (Alex North)
Life As A House (Mark Isham)
Emma (Rachel Portman)
In The Bedroom (Thomas Newman)
Cast Away (Alan Silvestri)
One True Thing (Cliff Eidelman)
Unfaithful (Jan A.P. Kaczmarek)
Far From Heaven (Elmer Bernstein)
Ice Age (David Newman)
Shrek (Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell)

Customer Reviews:

A good value.......2007-05-17

I wasn't expecting to have 4 discs for this price, and the music is a quality selection of film music, giving a good scope of the genre, and a very listenable transfer.

The Sound Track Since Bernard Hermann.......2006-07-25

This collection is bound to capture your heart and evoke a tin ear on successive tracks. I found much to like and some duds - easy to skip over.
Very good value.

Good mix of film music.......2006-07-02

Good mix of films!
I'm a big fan of this soundtrack music and will be looking for more CD's like this.

A mixed collection of movie music.......2006-02-23

For the price, this CD is a great bargain. The musical selections, as you might expect, are mixed in quality ranging from extraordinary to so so, the balance being worthwhile and interesting. Sonically the CD is excellent.

Uplifts your soul, takes your mind into the heavens.......2006-01-06

I have been listening to great scores for many years and this collection is truly inspirational in so far as the choice of different scores takes you on a journey of listening pleasure matched by only a few collections.The price is incredibly reasonable for hours of listening pleasure. Don't pass this one up

Average customer rating:

Rutter Christmas Album
Unique and Beautiful!
Johh Rutter Chirstmas Album
Liked it enough to go through a lot of trouble to give it a review.
John Rutter and Cambridge Singers

The John Rutter Christmas Album
Cambridge Singers , Rutter , and City of London Sinfon
Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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John Rutter Collection
Cambridge Singers Christmas Album
Christmas Star
Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers
Be Thou My Vision

ASIN: B00006JJ4T
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

Wexford Carol
Jesus Child
There Is a Flower
Donkey Carol
Wild Wood Carol
Angels' Carol
Nativity Carol
Mary's Lullaby
Star Carol
Candlelight Carol
Shepherd's Pipe Carol
Christmas Lullaby
Dormi, Jesu
Love Came Down at Christmas
Sans Day Carol
I Wonder as I Wander
What Sweeter Music
Joy to the World
I Saw Three Ships
Deck the Hall
Very Best Time of Year
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Silent Night

Album Description

Top of the British Classical Charts for 10 Weeks! Billboard Top Ten Classical Recording - December 2002! This album gathers together most of the carols I have composed over the years, plus a sprinkling of my arrangements of traditional carols, grouped to form a program which narrates, reflects upon, and celebrates the Christmas story. I have always enjoyed carols ever since I first sang them as a member of my school choir, and it was not long before I began to write carols of my own-in fact my first two published compositions were the Nativity Carol and the Shepherd's Pipe Carol. For any musician involved in choral music, Christmas is an especially joyous time, and I am indeed happy that it has played a part in my musical life for so many years- JOHN RUTTER

Customer Reviews:

Rutter Christmas Album.......2007-05-14

Great selection of music, and well presented. This is however older recordings that do not match the quality of Rutter's latest recordings such as the Te Deum or the Gloria.

Unique and Beautiful!.......2007-03-09

John Rutter, and his beautiful music, is such a gift to the world. This unique Christmas CD is magnificent! Especially touching are two of Rutter's original carols, "Christmas Lullaby" and the joyful "Angels' Carol." The musical selections speak to the soul, helping the listener connect to emotions of joy, peace, faith, hope, and love. This is a worthy addition to your collection of Christmas CDs.

Johh Rutter Chirstmas Album.......2007-02-19

If I were to choose only one Christmas album to ever own, this would be the one. John Rutter is an exceptional composer of religious music, with unusual harmonies. The music is difficult to sing, and because this is his own choir and he is directing it, the performance is flawless. Gives you goosebumps.

Liked it enough to go through a lot of trouble to give it a review........2007-02-07

Great music by John Rutter: Great performance!

John Rutter and Cambridge Singers.......2007-01-18

This is quintessential English cathedral music; beautifully sung. Reminds one of the English Christmas -- warm and serene -- that we've only experienced in our dreams!

Average customer rating:

Delightful Disney Music
Uncle Walt would be quite honored!
Fabulous CD
sleeping to Disney
this is a treasure

Heigh-Ho! Mozart

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bibbidi Bobbidi Bach: More Favorite Disney Tunes
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O Mickey, Where Art Thou?
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ASIN: B000000709
Release Date: 1995-06-16

Tracks:

Colors of the Wind in the Style Of - English Chamber Orchestra
Heigh-Ho! In the Style Of - Shanghai Quartet
Beauty and the Beast in the Style Of - English Chamber Orchestra
Second Star to the Right in the Style Of - Voices of Ascension
Under the Sea in the Style Of - Millar Brass Ensemble
I Wanna Be Like You in the Style Of - Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Can You Feel the Love Tonight? - English Chamber Orchestra
With a Smile and a Song in the Style Of - Carol Rosenberger
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? [In the Style Of] [In the Style Of... - English Chamber Orchestra
Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes in the Style Of - English Chamber Orchestra
Main Street Electrical Parade [in the Style Of Mozart] [In the Style of - Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Feed the Birds [In the Style Of...] - Shanghai Quartet
Little April Shower in the Style Of - Anthony Newman
Winnie the Pooh in the Style Of - Shanghai Quartet
Prince Ali in the Style Of - Millar Brass Ensemble
When You Wish upon a Star in the Style Of - English Chamber Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Delightful Disney Music.......2007-03-28

These Disney tunes done in the style of classic composers are so much fun. Children and adults alike will enjoy these songs over and over.

Uncle Walt would be quite honored!.......2006-12-20

For many a baby boomer, Walt Disney meant animation. But, besides that, music played an important part in the telling of the story. So interested in music was the animator that he fashioned one of his greatest triumphs ("Fantasia") on the works of the great masters.

Well, Donald Frasier and a bevy of musicians have compiled a wonderful collection of interpretations of familiar Disney tunes, many from Walt's time, along with a few latter day compositions.

Every selection is a winner, destined to make the listener reflect and recall the films from which they came. And if one is familiar with composer whose musical style is "copied" here, the album is a treasure.

Fabulous CD.......2006-10-04

Being a classical music connoisseur, I often listen to my local public classical radio station to hear the works of the great composers of old and of today. One day the station played "Colors of the Wind" and announced it was from this CD. I fell in love with it. I am a huge Disney fan who has over 350 Disney songs on my iPod. Pretty much the only music I listen to is either classical or Disney. And having them combined makes this CD euphoria for the ears.

Each song is in the style of a different classical composer, and usually in the style of one of their more specific songs. One with a trained ear will hear chords and melodies in almost perfect similitude of the original.

I can listen to this CD over and over and never get bored. How could you be bored when you're hearing all of your favorite old Disney songs in a new exciting way?

sleeping to Disney.......2006-07-30

I am really pleased that there is a classical music cd that has only Disney classics so that I can play them for my infant daughter while she sleeps. We are big Disney fans and it's fun to play these instead of the regular classical music. They sound just like the original songs. I would have given 5 stars but I wish they would have had all instrumental music, one of the songs has a choir singing, but it still sound good.

this is a treasure.......2003-05-11

Disney music is always uplifting. Classical music is beautiful. Combine the two - and you get THIS! "Colors of the Wind" is glorious, followed by the enchanting title track. "Beauty and the Beast" is true to the romance of the original. "The Second Star to the Right" is magical. Everything is awesome - and flawless. I initially bought this because I love The Main Street Electrical Parade music, and that is definiely a highlight here - but so are ALL the other songs! This is GOOD STUFF! It is so excellent that it can be a very beneficial introduction to classical music - for kids AND adults.

Christmas with Chanticleer (Featuring Dawn Upshaw)

Average customer rating:

Full of gems.
Not what I expected.
a voice teacher and early music fan
Christmas amoungst the stars!
nice

Christmas with Chanticleer (Featuring Dawn Upshaw)

Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sing We Christmas
How Sweet the Sound: Spirituals & Traditional Gospel Music
Chanticleer: A Portrait
Christmas with Chanticleer - An Orchestra of Voices
Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King

ASIN: B000059QW4
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

This Is The Truth Sent From Above
A Christmas Round
Today The Virgin
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen
Noel Nouvelet
A Lullaby/Away In A Manger
The First Nowell
The Three Kings
Die Stimme Des Kindes
Suo Gan
Spanish Carol
Coventry Carol
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem
Huron Carol
Mary And The Baby Medley: I. Maria Wanders Through The Thorn/II. What Child Is This?
Mary And The Baby Medley: III. Mary And The Baby/IV. Jerusalem In The Morning
Stille Nacht

Customer Reviews:

Full of gems........2007-05-12

If you are a Chanticleer purist and are turned off by the idea of someone else singing with them, I can tell you that you will miss out on a large number of some of Chanticleer's best recorded tracks ever by passing up this CD. The tracks with Dawn Upshaw are in the minority on this disc and do not detract from the majority which are of Chanticleer only. Also, it must be stated that while many may still not be a fan of the concept upon listening, she performs wonderfully with them and even blends well at many points! I urge you to at least give it a chance.

Anyway, on to the music. This recording is literally overflowing with impeccably chosen arrangements and compositions, all of which encompass a wonderfully peaceful holiday ambiance. It is full of tracks which are worth the price of the disc alone. Joe Jennings' gorgeous arrangement of the Huron Carol, the wonderfully different arrangement of Noel Nouvelet, and The First Nowell are among the many highlights. However, Die Stimme des Kindes by the Finnish composer Mantyjarvi, is the crown jewel of this disc. It is a brilliant and extremely haunting piece of music full of gorgeous polychordal harmonies and it is performed with astonishing intensity and accuracy! Also to be found here is one of the very best gospel/spiritual arrangements Chanticleer has ever done - Jerusalem In The Morning will become an instant favorite with anyone.

Not what I expected. .......2007-01-18

I was very disappointed when I listened to this CD. I should have paid more attention to the fact that there was another artist performing with the group before I ordered it. I am sorry I bought it.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-11-29

For nearly 25 years Chanticleer has performed a large and wide variety of music, from Gregorian Chant to the most modern fare. With its seamless blend of 12 male voices,ranging from counter-tenor to bass, the ensemble has earned international renown as "an orchestra of voices". Chanticleer was founded in 1978 by tenor Louis Botto, and was named after the 'clear-singing' rooster in Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'. This CD offers a wide variety of choral gems, some well-known; some traditional;some in French, in German; most in English. But all of them are performed with great skill as well as exquisite tone quality. Dawn Upshaw is an added plus on this disc. Just commenting on a few of them that captured my interest:
"A Christmas Round"/"Today The Virgin". Sir John Tavener joined the Russian Orthodox Church in 1977 which had a tremendous impact on his compositions. The brief text for 'A Christmas Round' is from the Orthodox Liturgy for Christmas Day. 'Today the Virgin' is a strophic setting of a text by Mother Thekla, an Orthodox nun, who has provided him with the libretti for several of his major works. In typical Russian Orthodox style, a drone is employed in the bass, and the upper voices move in parallel fifths and octaves.
"Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" (Lo, How an ever-blooming rose).Hugo Distler combines an extensive use of rediscovered forms and genres,and a very effective use of word-paintings in his music. Based on the famous tune of the same name, his setting resembles a fantasia,finally submerging the theme in rhythmic complexity as the number of voice parts expands from 4 to as many as 8. The text for the soprano that is laid over verse 3 is taken from the 'Magnificat' (Luke I:46-55).
"Die Stimme des Kindes" (The voice of the child) Finnish composer,Jaako Mantyjarvi adopts influences from a number of styles and periods, fusing them into his own idiom. This gently-rocking setting for eight-part men's chorus uses lush tone clusters to impart a late-
Romantic sentiment.
This album is a thinking-man's joy!!!!We all love the familiar carols, but it's so refreshing to hear some new ones. This group is certainly reminiscent of the "King's Singers" who preceded them; both excellent in every way!!!!

Christmas amoungst the stars!.......2004-10-19

This must be what the angels in heaven sound llike when they sing. The voices of Chanticleer blend so beautifully that it seems as if one voice is singing 12 parts. This album is a serious must have for all those who consider music an important part of the holidays.

There is one fly in the ointment though. No disrepect to Dawn Upshaw. Her voice is beautiful but we purists don't like to hear anyone sing with Chanticleer. We even find it difficult to adjust when instrumentation is used. Hearing a piano or flute throws us into a talespin. We just don't want anything to interupt the beauty of the voices. Let's face it, how many great groups are there out there who can sing without music let alone hold a note for more than 10 seconds without wandering off the note into oblivion!

The First Nowell is sung as it was meant to be sung when it is written so long ago. Lovely harmony but not over done or severly complicated. Most of the beauty is in the message it gives. No need to over sing it.

Die Stimmes des Kindes (The Voice of the Child) is gently sung to perfection with an other worldly, etheral quality. A haunting but gentle, sweet, harmony sings the last line here, "Ein schlafend Kind! (A sleeping child), they sing (Almost as wonderous as the child Himself. Almost!) of the Christ child. Countertenors above while the basses support them as they sing a final "o still!" I literally could not move as it ended. In a trance, I somehow found my remote and hit the replay button again and again. How in the world can this music be written by mere humans? Hmmmmmm, not of this earth, you think?

The Three Kings is something I haven't heard before. The music, written by Healy Willan in 1928, includes text from a poet named Laurence Housman (1856-1959). I thought I was going to hear a new rendition of "We Three Kings." WRONG!!! As the kings arrive to the place that the star of Bethlehem lead them, the last line of the song invites the kings to "come in ye kings and kiss the feet of God." The countertenors sing angelic while the lower voices sing the parts of the kings (two three voice choirs SSA and TBB). I dare you to listen to it just once. You'll play it over and over. Sometimes you must do that with Chanticleer because the arrangements are so rich you want to make sure that hear everything that there is to hear. Listening to Chanticleer sometimes requires a sophisticated enough ear to get through all the layers but everyone can enjoy it to the fullest. Some folks might say it's too high brow for them but I strongly urge you to give it a try. Sit your kids down and turn off the hip hop stuff for awhile. It's a music lesson in a bottle!

nice.......2004-06-22

These are a cappella renditions of songs from a variety of sources; Chanticleer's style gives almost all of them a distinctly medieval feel. Beautiful arrangements, but don't expect to understand all the lyrics, even when you speak the featured language. The faked accents (as on "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem," where I guess they were trying for Ozark mountain hillbilly and wound up with my home dialect) can be moderately annoying.

Average customer rating:

God Bless America !

America the Beautiful
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00009EIR8
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

The Star-Spangled Banner - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
God Bless The U.S.A. - Lee Greenwood
Amazing Grace - Tramaine Hawkins
Ragged Old Flag - Johnny Cash
America The Beautiful - Charlie Rich
This Land Is Your Land - Pete Seeger
My Country 'Tis Of Thee - Mahalia Jackson
Semper Fidelis - Leonard Bernstein
Song Of The Patriot - Johnny Cash
Davy Crockett's Speech ('Republic Is One Of Those Words...') - John Wayne
Battle Hymn Of The Republic - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Star & Stripes Forever - Leonard Bernstein
God Bless America - Kate Smith

Customer Reviews:

God Bless America !.......2005-10-27

I bought this for the Kate Smith tune, but soon realized, I had Much more ! Many songs I've heard all My Life at Parades and at Church. In this day and age We live in, this certainly lifts your spirits. I think this would be a very good basic "CD" for everyone to have in their collection, who is America minded !

Average customer rating:

A Few Nuggets
mostly, inspired power pop Christmas
What a disappointment!

Christmas Time Again
The dB's , Big Star , Whiskeytown , Marshall Crenshaw , Alex Chilton , Don Dixon , Chris Stamey , Thad Cockrell , Peter Holsapple , and Roman Candle
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wintersong

ASIN: B000IAZNDG
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Tracks:

Christmas Time-The dB's
Home For The Holidays-The dB's
(It's Going To Be A) Lonely Christmas-Marshal Crenshaw
Jesus Christ-Big Star
Holiday Spirit-The dB's
Christmas Time Is Here-Thad Cockrell & Roman Candle
Houses On The Hill-Whiskeytown
The Only Law That Santa Claus Understood-Ted Lyons
I Saw Three Ships-Don Dixon
Christmas Is The Only Time-Wes Lachot
Christmas Light-Keegan DeWitt & The Sparrows
Santa's Moonlight Sleighride-Ted Lyons
Sha La La-Cathy Harrington
The Christmas Song-Alex Chilton
Christmas Is Saturday-Don Dixon
Felex Navidad-The dB's
Holy Night-Peter Holsapple
You're What I Want For Christmas-Chris Stamey & Cathy Harrington
Silent Nocturne-Brent Lanbert
It's A Wonderful Life-Chris Stamey
Snow Is Falling-Chris Stamey & Mary Mac

Amazon.com

This is the gift that keeps on giving--the Yuletide album that Chris Stamey and the dB's originally released as a vinyl EP in 1986, later expanded into a CD, and have now updated as a 21-cut extravaganza of holiday cheer (and occasionally bittersweet reflection). It's like a family album of a musical clan that keeps extending itself, now encompassing the likes of Marshall Crenshaw (with a soulful "Lonely Christmas"), Don Dixon (with two cuts including a live, finger-snapping "I Saw Three Ships"), and Whiskeytown (a previously unreleased Ryan Adams/Caitlin Cary collaboration, "Houses on the Hill"). Most of the material is original, covering a territory that extends from punk, new wave, and power pop through alt-country, though Peter Holsapple delivers a surprisingly straightforward "O Holy Night" and Alex Chilton does Mel Tormé proud with "The Christmas Song." --Don McLeese

Album Description

There a lot of modern rockers who consider this to be THE great Christmas album of the last 25 years or so, and if your taste runs to the Southern-based "jangle pop" practiced by such folks as Big Star, R.E.M. and the dB's, you're probably one of them. Originally released as a 7-song LP in 1986, and as a 17-song CD in 1993, this Chris Stamey-conceived holiday classic appears here on our Collectors' Choice Music label with six new tracks, including a song by Peter Holsapple, `Home for the Holidays', performed by the dB's; `Christmas Time Is Here'-Thad Cockrell & Roman Candle; `Lonely Christmas'-Marshall Crenshaw; two tunes by R.E.M. producer Don Dixon, `I Saw Three Ships' and' `Christmas Is Saturday', and an unreleased track by Ryan Adams & Whiskeytown, `Houses on the Hill'! And the album's older tracks are pretty darn cool, too: `Jesus Christ'-Big Star; `The Christmas Song'-Alex Chilton; `Christmas Time'; `Holiday Spirit'; `Feliz Navidad'-dB's; `The Only Law That Santa Claus Understood'; `Santa's Moonlit Sleighride'-Ted Lyons; `It's a Wonderful Life'-Chris Stamey; `You're What I Want for Christmas'-Chris Stamey & Cathy Harrington; `Snow Is Falling'-Chris Stamey & Mary Mac; `Sha La La'-Cathy Harrington; `Christmas Is the Only Time'-Wes Lachot; `O Holy Night'-Peter Holsapple; `Silent Nocturne'-Brent Lambert, and `Christmas Light'-Keegan DeWitt & the Sparrows. 21 tracks of Christmas harmony!

Customer Reviews:

A Few Nuggets.......2007-05-20

Chris Stamey Group released "Christmas Time" in 1986. Collectors Choice release "Christmas Time Again" includes many of the tracks from that set and expands with added selections. Marshall Crenshaw works up a sweat on "Lonely Christmas" with a boy scout vocal wringing the most from the track. Big Star's "Jesus Christ" has a good religious sentiment, "With love they did rejoice, fine & pure of voice; & the wrong shall fail & the right prevail." The dB's "Holiday Spirit" satirizes commercialism, "I've got that holiday spirit, gimme, gimme, gimme." Whiskeytown with Ryan Adams on vocals relates a sad story, "I found a bunch of letters, they were written for the fellow who broke your mama's heart." Ted Lyons does a parody of Gene Pitney's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" on "The Only Law that Santa Claus Understood" casting Santa as a gunslinger. Don Dixon provides a jazzy bass-thumping version of "I Saw Three Ships." Musically, Wes Lachot's vocals recall the Beach Boys on a song with a sad message, "Christmas is the only time I think of you." Cathy Harrington's "Sha La La" sounds like the Go-Gos channeling the Crystals, but unfortunately, Harrington's voice is not one you want to hear again & again. With his warbling vocals, Alex Chilton sounds like he's trying to make fun of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire). "Christmas Time Again" is a varied set with a few nuggets & a few clinkers. It fills the spot for those not wanting to hear the same old thing at holiday time. Enjoy!

mostly, inspired power pop Christmas.......2007-01-05

There might be 2 clunkers on this disc but most of it is quite enjoyable. For power-pop fans that might enjoy Christmas tunes. Not necessarily for Christmas fans that might enjoy power-pop. 4.5 stars.

What a disappointment!.......2007-01-03

Based on the reviews for this CD I decided to buy it without having sampled it. Big mistake. I love, among others, Marshall Crenshaw, Don Dixon and Peter Holsapple, but what happened here? This was so not fabulous.

Beautiful Star: The Christmas Collection

Average customer rating:

buy it!
Good Holiday cd. Rhonda sings great
Rhonda has done it again.
This Year's Christmas Pick!
great bluegrass christmas cd!!!

Beautiful Star: The Christmas Collection
Rhonda Vincent
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

All American Bluegrass Girl
A Brad Paisley Christmas
Wintersong
Merry: A Holiday Journey
Ragin' Live

ASIN: B000IFRQLS
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

Christmas Time At Home
The Christmas Song
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem
Christmas Time's A Comin'
Let It Snow
Silent Night
Oh Christmas Tree
Winter Wonderland
Jingle Bells
Away In A Manger
Twelve Days Of Christmas

Amazon.com

Rhonda Vincent isn't just one of the best singers in bluegrass--she can hold her own against any singer in popular music today. Her first Christmas album confirms her crossover potential, with as much laid-back swing and soft acoustic garlands as throw-down bluegrass. Her touring band, on the whole, get the holidays off, as Nashville vets Bryan Sutton and Stuart Duncan as well as brother (and coproducer) Darrin Vincent provide slick support for her impeccably pitched, cozy alto. The song selection is pleasant, if somewhat predictable, and the sole surprise (and sole Vincent original), "Christmas at Home," is little more than a string of Norman Rockwell clichés. "Oh Christmas Tree" finally kicks up some tinsel and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" sashays nimbly, even if it never quite rocks. The hokey, deliberately off-key round of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and the kiddie singalong on "Jingle Bells" are just cloying--hot picking aside, you've heard this shtick before. Still, Vincent sounds soulful on the ballads, especially "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night"; one only wishes she'd played the arrangements less conservatively. In the end, these sessions would have benefited from a little less reverence and a few more stiff swigs of home-brewed holiday punch. --Roy Kasten

Album Description

The first Christmas album from Rhonda Vincent, six-time International Bluegrass Music Association "Female Vocalist of the Year" and two-time GrammyÂ® nominee. Among the songs featured are favorites "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Winter Wonderland," "Oh Christmas Tree," "Jingle Bells," "Twelve Days of Christmas," and many more. Vincent is supported by some of the finest musicians in bluegrass, including Stuart Duncan, Adam Steffey, Carl Jackson, Sharon White Skaggs, Cheryl White, and many more.

Customer Reviews:

buy it!.......2007-01-13

As always, Rhonda Vincent is one of the most consistent bluegrass musician. You do not have to be diehard bluegrass fan to enjoy this CD. It's very traditional. I loved it!

Good Holiday cd. Rhonda sings great.......2007-01-13

Good Holiday cd. Rhonda has a perfect voice for carols.

Rhonda has done it again........2006-12-08

Just got this cd from Amazon. Rhonda has one of the prettiest voices in bluegrass and each song is a gem. This is a must have Christmas cd.

This Year's Christmas Pick!.......2006-11-21

Finally! I was waiting for my yearly bluegrass-christmas CD, and my choice this year surely falls on this album. Rohnda sounds great. It's a great album, with a mixture of traditional bluegrass (Oh Christmas Tree, or Monroe's Christmas Time Is Coming) and swingy-classy-soft acoustic bluegrass (Rockin' Around The Christmas Tre...). Also, Rohnda's voice is spotlighted on "Away In A Manger", and Ralph Stanley's "Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem", which almost moved me...
Make yourself a Xmas Gift, buy BLUEGRASS MUSIC! ;)

great bluegrass christmas cd!!!.......2006-11-05

just bought this cd and i have to say it is a great bluegrass christmas cd! i love it! rhonda sounds so good, i can imagine getting all cozy this christmas by the tree with a warm glass of milk and just having this cd playing softly in the back ground! you have to check this out! if you love bluegrass and christmas music than this will surely be a winner with you!!!!

Average customer rating:

John Rutter: Music for Christmas
"Mr. Choral Christmas's Finest"
At the Top of My Christmas Playing List!

John Rutter: Music for Christmas
Polyphony , Stephen Layton , and City of London Sinfonia
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Christmas Present From Polyphony
The John Rutter Christmas Album
Carols From Clare College
Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity
Christmas Star

ASIN: B00005QIT4
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Tracks:

Shephrd's Pipe Carol
Nativity Carol
There Is a Flower
Sans Day Carol
What Sweeter Music
I Wonder as I Wander [Appalachian Carol]
Jesus Child
Wild Wood Carol
Very Best Time of Year
Away in a Manger
Angel Tidings
Christmas Lullaby
Dormi Jesu
Love Came Down at Christmas
Star Carol
Carol of the Children
Mary's Lullaby
Silent Night
Angels' Carol
Candlelight Carol
Amen
Donkey Carol

Customer Reviews:

John Rutter: Music for Christmas.......2007-01-16

Excellent Christmas CD. I especially liked the "Angles Carol" track!
Would recommend this CD to one and all.

"Mr. Choral Christmas's Finest".......2002-11-21

Anyone who truly loves the choral and carol traditions of Christmas cannot miss Mr. Rutter's work. He is truly possessed of extraordinary talent and this fine recording puts it on proper display. The collection here houses the best of Mr. Rutter's original/edited works for the Christmas season, and one can sense the composer's affinity for the spirit of the holidays of which he has written so prolifically and well.

At the Top of My Christmas Playing List!.......2001-12-07

This is just an outstanding collection of choral, Christian selections. The majority are composed by Rutter, who it turns out was led into this field for which he is so well known and loved when in school, he was motivated by a fellow student who was composing a Christimas carol to do the same. Thanks be to God for that motivation!

Rutter's work simply in this humble reviewer has no other contemporary peer. He is reverent, fresh and excellent theology to boot! This collection has his best, including my favorites: "Shepherd's Pipe Carol, What Sweeter Music, The very best time of year, Angels' Carol."

To his compositions, added is Kirkpatrick's "Away In a Manger" and of course, Gruber's "Silent Night", both skillfully arranged and performed. Bonus selections of traditional pieces such as "I Wonder as I wonder."

The City of London Sinfonia conducted by Stephen Layton provides the orchestra background marvelously for Polyphany, the outstanding choir on this work.

Tracks:

While Sheperds Watched (SHERBURNE)
The Sheperd's Star
A Christmas Carol
Joy to the World!
The Apple Tree
Christmas Hymn: A Virgin Unspotted
Away In The Manger (AFTON WATER)
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
Hark! the herald angels sing (ELTHAM)
En etsi valtaa, loistoa
Still, O Himmel
Susser die Glocken
Weihnachtslied
Still, Still, Still
Gaudete, Christus est natus
Personent hodie
The Yorkshire Wassail Song
Green grow'th the holly
Here we come a-wassailing
The Cherry Tree Carol
In the bleak mid winter
There is no rose
A New Year's Gift (GREENSLEEVES)
A wassail, a wassail throughout this town!

Amazon.com

This is one of the most original and musically satisfying Christmas programs on disc. And it features some of the most characterful and proficient ensemble singing you'll find anywhere. It's not that the music is obscure--in fact, most of the texts and/or tunes are familiar. From early American settings of "While shepherds watched" and "The Apple Tree" to traditional Austrian and English carols such as "Still, still, still," and "Greensleeves" (sung to different-than-usual words), we're treated to outstanding arrangements (by Paul Hillier) and often surprising variations of tunes we thought we knew. In several cases--"While shepherds watched" and "Hark! The herald angels sing," for example--the familiar texts are sung to completely different melodies. Highlights include original carols by Charles Ives and Jean Sibelius, and a starkly beautiful setting of "There is no rose" by Hillier. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Give it 6 stars.......2005-10-27

This is a wonderful collection of Carols from around the world, beautifully performed by the Theater of Voices. I don't know what CD the first reviewer heard, because this one doesn't contain strident voices - the choir is very well blended, and the soloists are outstanding. I highly recommend it.
It is hard to choose best tracks, as they are so varied and well done, but my personal favorites are Gaudete, Personent Hodie and the four german tracks. The women's choir does especially well on Still, O Himmel, authentically capturing the sound of an Austrian choir.

Excellent.......2003-12-10

This is beautifully directed and performed. Some people truly have the gift of music, TOV is on the top of the list.

Dazzling Sound.......2003-10-25

A thrilling collection of carols, mostly new to me, and beautifully sung. Listen to the first sample, Read's "Shepherds," to see what I mean. This has my favorite rendition of "Personent Hodie" (from Piae Cantiones). I now watch for more recordings by Paul Hillier and his ensembles.

Not your generic Christmas album.......2002-12-01

This has become one of my favorite Christmas discs. An unusual selection of carols, lovely arrangements (Shepherd's Star is stunning!), and the human voice the only featured instrument. Well worth the purchase

Bad performances, OK repertoire.......2002-10-21

Most of the reviews of this CD focus on the diverse repertoire performed on this recording. The diversity of repertoire on this CD, unfortunately, does not make up for the absolutely HORRIBLE singing given by the choir.

The choir's sound is often very strident, vowels are sometimes strikingly spread, the sopranos sing the correct pitches sometimes, etc. The first thing I was struck with when I listened to the first CD track was how nasal sounding the choir's tone was and how they were not in tune with each other. The choir's lack of attention to tuning and balance is mostly illustrated in the faster, rhythmic pieces, when the choir barrels through each selection with about as much attention to musicality as a dog might at dinner time. Even the slower pieces, though, are significantly unbalanced, and sung with a shrill timbre.

This is one of the worst choral CDs in my collection...soon to be OUT of my collection.

Christmas with Roger Wagner: To Catch a Christmas Star
Average customer rating:

BEST CHRISTMAS CD IN YEARS

Excellent program and performance

If you only could buy one Christmas CD, this would be it

Christmas with Roger Wagner: To Catch a Christmas Star
Roger Wagner Chorale
Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale

Sing We Now of Christmas

Christmas Carols - Weihnachtslieder - Chants De Noel - Choir of Westminster Abbey Preston

The Many Moods of Christmas (1963 RCA Victor Version) Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra

A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High

ASIN: B0000006WV
Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

Noel, Noel, Bells Are Ringing
Carol of the Bells
Nativity Carol
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Merry Christmas Song
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day [Christmas Carol]
First Nowell
Time for Singing
Manger Carol
No Longer a Baby
Sing We Now of Christmas
He Is Born
Rorro
Coventry Carol
Deck the Halls
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Wassail Song
Hymn of the Virgin
E'en So, Lord Jesus Quickly Come (Revelation 22)
Gift Carol
O Come All Ye Faithful
L'Adieu des Begers a la Sainte Famille (The Shepards Bid Farewell To)
Silent Night

Customer Reviews:

BEST CHRISTMAS CD IN YEARS.......2004-06-06

This CD is marvelous. REALLY good music, not the same old thing.The singing is right on and of course Roger Wagner's selections are perfect. We need a 2nd one of these from his daughter Jeannine Wagner.

Excellent program and performance.......1998-12-22

This group and its conductor definitely deserve their fine reputation. The selections are done beautifully with energy and precision. "No Longer A Baby" has become my favorite "carol" putting the celebration of Christ's birth into its proper perspective. And this version of "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" is right on!

If you only could buy one Christmas CD, this would be it.......1998-12-01

Awesome! The arrangements are fresh and solid and the choral work is breathtaking. I recommend this CD to all my friends. "Sweet Little Jesus Boy," with Steve Amerson, tenor, just about brings tears to your eyes. The rowdy "Wassail song" is superb and "E'en so, Lord Jesus Quickly Come" will melt your heart. This is a must have CD!

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