The Classic Christmas Album flunks the Deb Test (no “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” here) but Sarah McLachlan’s songs will gladden your Holiday Season. Sarah blends old traditional songs with new modern ones. And, of course, “River” is fabulous! I’m a huge Sarah McLachlan fan (I’ve seen her in concert five times!) so factor that into your assessment of this review. This is a Christmas album you’ll not tire of listening to. GRADE: A
SET LIST:
Wintersong
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)
I’ll Be Home for Christmas
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We three Kings – Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach Children’s Choir and Youth Choir
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – Sarah McLachlan School Choir
Prayer of St. Francis – Sarah McLachlan School Choir
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – Sarah McLachlan School Choir
Space on the Couch for Two – Sarah McLachlan School Choir
Find Your Voice – Sarah McLachlan School Choir
River
Silent Night
The O Little Town of Bethlehem
The First Noel/Mary Mary
Song for a Winter’s Night
In a Bleak Mid Winter – Diana Krall
Christmas Time Is Here – Diana Krall
Touch
I see she does do two of my favorites: I’ll Be Home for Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
I still don’t buy Christmas music.
Jeff, I love Sarah McLachlin singing Joni Mitchell’s “River.” Classic!
This is one of my favorite albums, George.
River, Prayer of St. Francis, and I’ll Be Home for Christmas are especially good.
If this album doesn’t put you in the spirit, you’re the Grinch – or Bob Napier.
Beth, I bet even Bob likes this album!
I like her voice, but like Jeff I don’t buy Xmas albums!
Bob, usually Christmas albums are heavily discounted by this time of year. I pick CDs up for a few bucks.
If you’re going to put the word “classic” in your album title, you’d better have the standards, which this album has some of, but not all of. So, no, not classic. Plus, two songs sung by Diana Krall, so it’s a mix of artists too. Skip. Don’t go overboard with the Deb test, not that many albums have that song.
Rick, I use the word “classic” loosely when I’m talking about Christmas songs.
If I really want to hear Xmas music–and I do about four hours a year–I can hear it on my TV with a picture of a crackling fire playing with it!