I was busy organizing my music CDs last week when I found a handful of Christmas albums that had been misshelved (my bad!) and essentially “lost” for over a decade! Diane has over 100 Christmas CDs and they’re shelved separately but somehow these Christmas CDs ended up in the Smooth Jazz section!
Come Rejoice! from 1994 is a conventional Christmas album with plenty of familiar songs. The only unusual song is “Song for Sarajevo” which highlights the conflict that was occurring at that time. Judy Collins’ clear and bright voice delivers plenty of delight with this mix of Christmas songs. GRADE: B+
Renee Fleming’s Christmas in New York is more unconventional with a mix of songs, some familiar, some not. I love Fleming’s version of “Who Knows Where the Time Goes,” not a traditional Christmas song. “Central Park Serenade” is fun as is “The Man With the Bag.”
Traditionalists will love “Winter Wonderland,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” and “Silver Bells.” GRADE: B+
If you want to get into the Christmas Spirit, Judy Collins and Renee Fleming will take you there with these wonderful albums! Are you listening to Christmas music?
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | I’ll Be Home For Christmas | 1:06 | |
| 2 | Away In A Manger | 4:21 | |
| 3 | Joy To The World | 2:32 | |
| 4 | Song For Sarajevo | 4:44 | |
| 5 | Cherry Tree Carol | 4:28 | |
| 6 | Good King Wenceslas | 3:18 | |
| 7 | All On A Wintry Night | 3:28 | |
| 8 | Come Rejoice | 3:32 | |
| 9 | Little Road To Bethlehem | 2:35 | |
| 10 | Silent Night | 4:05 | |
| 11 | A Christmas Carol | 1:31 | |
| 12 | Charlie & The Bells Medley: White Christmas / Happy New Year | 3:40 | |
| 13 | Let It Snow | 3:09 | |
| 14 | Amazing Grace | 3:48 |
TRACK LIST:
| Winter Wonderland | 3:50 | ||
| Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas | 3:35 | ||
| Silver Bells | 3:07 | ||
| Merry Christmas, Darling | 5:36 | ||
| The Christmas Waltz | 3:19 | ||
| Who Knows Where The Time Goes | 4:26 | ||
| Sleigh Ride | 5:17 | ||
| Snowbound | 6:28 | ||
| In The Bleak Midwinter | 3:46 | ||
| Central Park Serenade | 4:12 | ||
| The Man With The Bag | 2:40 | ||
| Love And Hard Times | 4:46 | ||
| Still, Still, Still | 5:16 |
Yes, I’m listening to an assortment of Christmas music—both religious and secular, traditional and newer. And if you’re out in any public or business space these days, you can’t help but hear Christmas music. John made me laugh yesterday when he told me about a meme he saw: “In an alternate universe, this is the time of year when Mariah Carey has to listen to me singing the same song ten thousand times.”
Deb, John made me laugh, too! When Diane and I were walking around Times Square during our Thanksgiving Weekend in NYC, it seemed like every store was playing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”! Over and over!
I once read that Mariah Carey would only employ security guards who did not like her music because she did not want them distracted by her singing while she was performing. So that’s another career option open for me.
Jerry, I can just see you as a Protector of the Queen of “All I Want For Christmas Is You”!
We heard it blasting out of a store here yesterday’s! Of course, Jackie loves the song so there’s that.
Jeff, stores play Christmas music too long and too loud for my tastes!
Those look pretty good as Christmas albums go. I’m fond of Michael Crawford’s 1999 album. Sarajevo, wow. The Bosnia war seems a million years ago.
Fred, hearing Judy Collins sing “Song for Sarajevo” took me back 30 years!
Two great singers performing songs that, in the main, I would listen to.
Jerry, I had forgotten about these two albums so it was great to find them and listen to them again. As you say: two great singers performing great songs!
I am listening to Christmas music, but only when I am a captive audience and can’t avoid it. The one exception is Phil Spector’s Christmas album, featuring “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by the great Darlene Love. Believe it or not, I heard a lame remake of this the other day.
Jeff, I detest lame remakes of classic songs!
Another favorite is “Blue Christmas” by Porky Pig.
Jeff, I suspect Art Scott is fond of “Blue Christmas” by Porky Pig, too!
That isn’t Porky Pig on that song, though he sounds just like him! The credit goes to Seymour Swine and the Squealers! Linda will play Xmas music when she gets the itch! I don’t dislike it but it’s not something I pursue!
Bob, Diane is a big fan of Christmas music so it’s playing almost every day in December!
Phil played Christmas music all the time. But it hasn’t occurred to me despite the fact I am sitting in a room filled with packages to be wrapped. Maybe Megan will want to hear some when she gets here. Love Judy Collins and Joan Baez and Motown Christmas especially.
Patti, Diane has her CD player shuffle five CDs in Random Play while she’s doing Christmas cards or wrapping presents.