Acoustic Christmas

Acoustic Christmas | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2011)
• Original Release Date: November 6, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Columbia
• ASIN: B0000027EZ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #198,376 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #64 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Pop Instrumental & Easy Listening

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an overlooked Christmas classic, November 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Acoustic Christmas (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful, eclectic mix of accoustic interpretations of holiday music. It's become a favorite of my in the last 10 years and is worth owning just for Shawn Colvin's rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and Judy Collins's version of "The Little Road to Bethlehem." Only dull spot is The Hooters doing "Silent Night," which sounds like they gave it all of 5 minutes of thought. Otherwise, a fine disc for holiday listening.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mele Kalikimaka, November 25, 2005

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Acoustic Christmas (Audio CD)

"Acoustic Christmas" is a CD for the Holidays that has a mix of traditional and a few you don't hear on too many other albums. But the real treat of this album is the collection of talent to be found here. The music including the acoustical instruments and the vocals are beautiful. I think I would best describe it as easy listening that includes both spiritual and spirited Holiday tunes.

T Bone Burnett opens with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and Laura Nyro's lovely voice does a medley of two, "Let It Be Me"(which you probably wouldn't even associate with holiday music), and then goes into a beautiful rendition of "The Christmas Song"(Chestnuts Roasting). Harry Connick doesn't sing, but does a delightful piano solo of "Winter Wonderland", taken from the sound track of "When Harry Met Sally".

Adding their talents are Marcus Roberts, another piano solo arranged by Wynton Marsalis, and The Hooters doing "Silent Night" You'll immediately recognize Art Gurfunkel's style on "O Come All Ye Faithful"(2nd version on the album). Judy Collins, Shawn Colvin and Rosanne Cash, sound like the angels are singing to you. There is some wonderful guitar by from Randy Scruggs as well. (see buying info for complete list of tracks)

Two others on the album that are not standards are "Ice", which is the one song on the album, I found a little depressing. Shelleyan Orphan performs, and it is quite a sad song. One that will bring the bring a definite downer to your Holiday spirit.
But the other is lots of fun. It's "Mele Kalikimaka",a Hawaiian Christmas song, performed by Poi Dog Pondering with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.It's a lively tune. You may remember it from "Christmas Vacation", in the scene in which Chevy Chase, is looking out the window and dreaming of what it would be like to have all his loved ones, around the pool he wanted to put in the yard. That song always reminds me of that scene and makes me smile.

The CD is a good sound quality. It was too short though, at only 37 minutes. A little booklet with the names of the songs and the credits is included.

Happy Holidays To Everyone....Laurie

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some unusual songs, November 28, 2003

By 

cyclista (the Midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Acoustic Christmas (Audio CD)

In my opinion, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" sung by T Bone Burnett is worth the price of the CD. After hearing it, I looked for a Christmas CD by him alone. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" was done in a very unique way. I wouldn't want an entire CD of this style of "shout" music, but it was the perfect ending to the CD. Several of the songs were excellent, including the songs by Harry Connick, Wynton Marsalis, and Shelleyan Orphan.

The songs on this CD use many different acoustic intruments: piano, guitar, strings, harmonica, and so on. That is just about the only thing that these songs have in common. This CD is an eclectic collection of jazz, blues, country, folk, and traditional style Christmas carols. Some are upbeat and cheery, some are slow and soothing. The sound quality was acceptable.

If this will be your only Christmas CD, Acoustic Christmas would not be my recommendation. However, if you have several Christmas CD's, and you are looking for something different, several of these songs will fit the bill. I recommend this CD for acoustic music lovers.