All On A Wintry Night: A Judy Collins Christmas

Judy Collins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2007)
• Original Release Date: October 24, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wildflower
• ASIN: B00004Z3RB
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,251 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #18 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Singer-Songwriters
  • #31 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Singer Songwriters
  • #69 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Pop Vocal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Judy Collins studied classical piano as a child before she took up guitar and switched to singing folksongs as a teenager. On her CD of Christmas music, All on a Wintry Night, her stately versions of carols such as "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World" reflect her classical upbringing rather than her days as a Greenwich Village folkie. Even her performances of modern holiday songs such as "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Let It Snow" have a formal feel that recalls her mid-'70s forays into art song. The instrumental accompaniment is spare and the choral backup by the Trinity Boys Choir, the St. Thomas Boys Choir, and the Stephen Hill Singers is designed to subtly frame her lovely voice. Eleven of the 14 songs here originally appeared on her 1994 release, Come Rejoice! The new songs include "The Blizzard," "The Wexford Carol," and "In the Bleak Midwinter," a duet with Tyne Daly. All on a Wintry Night is a sweet collection of musical sugarplums from one of America's most admired singers. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality holiday music, October 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: All On A Wintry Night: A Judy Collins Christmas (Audio CD)

All in all, a superior holiday collection. Judy's lovely voice and beautiful arrangements add to the intelligent choice of tunes, including some Collins compositions and the wonderful, seldom-heard Cherry Tree Carol. This collection was previously released in the mid-90s, minus a couple of the songs, as Come Rejoice: A Judy Collins Christmas. With the new tunes added (including a duet with Tyne Daly) it makes for a nice debut for Judy's own record label. There are a couple of vocal flaws on this one but the album's beauty overwhelms any problems. Also reccomended: Judy's other recent holiday CD and video, Christmas at the Biltmore Estate.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Come Rejoice" Once More!, December 18, 2004

By 

Gregor von Kallahann - See all my reviews

This review is from: All On A Wintry Night: A Judy Collins Christmas (Audio CD)

I would have to agree, to an extent, with the first customer reviewer who posted a review on this CD back in 2000. Caveat emptor: this Christmas CD is essentially a modified re-release of the 1994 album COME REJOICE. Completists may feel the need to own both, but many who have the earlier recording may feel cheated if they order this without first checking the playlist or reading reviews.

I own both but felt I could justify that buying decision in that my copy of COME REJOICE is a cassette. The difference in format made all the difference. I'm glad that I did, the new tracks are lovely additions, although I miss some of the songs left out on the new revised version. (Where's "The Little Road to Bethlehem"?) Still the beautiful duet on "In the Bleak Mid-Winter" with actress Tyne Daly (who knew?) alone could almost justify a re-purchase.

And of course, there's Judy's new classic "The Blizzard." which while not quite a holiday song, is certainly "wintry" enough to merit inclusion here. Along with the somber "Christmas In Sarajevo," which Judy wrote for the '94 release, incorporating quotes from children who actually lived through the horror of that war, this Collins composition adds a certain depth to this release, one often lacking in holiday albums. It's very unlikely, for instance, that either of these tracks will be make the holiday playlists of most commercial radio stations.

I notice that at least one reviewer has commented the difficulty Judy seems to have hitting some of the high notes on this CD. It is true that there are moments that her once near perfect soprano seems to falter, something that happens to nearly all singers as they age, but for the most part it's remarkable how pure and crystalline her voice still is at this point in her career. Probably the best description I've ever heard to describe the quality of Judy Collins' vocals in her prime was that they were "silvery." Precisely. And there's still plenty of silver there today. "Cherry Tree Carol," "Silent Night," and the aformentioned "Blizzard" and "Christmas in Sarajevo" serve as proof that her vocals still shimmer.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars re-hash, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: All On A Wintry Night: A Judy Collins Christmas (Audio CD)

This is a perfectly lovely Xmas CD, and if you are fond of Judy Collins, by all means, purchase it. However, I am rather annoyed that it is largly a rehash of her 1994 "Come Rejoice -- A Judy Collins Chrsitmas" CD. Only a couple of songs are different... and I was all excited when my Amazon alert for Judy collins appeared in my mailbox!