Customer Reviews

The Andy Williams Christmas Album

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4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album is a perfectly crafted collection of songs reflecting the emotions of Christmas, wisely dividing holiday cupcakes like "It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year," and "Happy Holiday," with solemn hymns like "O Holy Night" and "Sweet Little Jesus Boy." It is THE album to listen to while doing your holiday shopping, cleaning, tree trimming; it'll put a nip in the air regardless of your climate.

Andy Williams albums from the 60's and 70's tend to pretty surprising and this one is no exception. While you might expect "traditional" readings of holiday favorites, and Williams sports a conservative image, there is exceptional energy and daring in several of these interpretations and arrangements. My personal favorite is "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells", a breakneck pop/rock variation on a worn-out theme featuring Williams climbing the scales (as he tends to do) and some welcome alternate lyrics. "Happy Holiday/the Holiday Season" is an upbeat anthem that finds Williams sounding particularly bouyant, and "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is perhaps the most celebratory holiday song ever recorded. This is a sincere album featuring a very versatile and talented vocalist.

The Andy Williams Christmas Album, or "the Red Andy" (because of it's album sleeve color) is brought out on Thanksgiving Day and isn't put away until New Year's. Our family gatherings are not complete until we hear Andy singing about the holidays - whether you want to or not, you'll be singing about "the most wonderful time of the year......" and "Oh Holy Night" is a thing of beauty. We've literally been listening to the ALBUM since the 60's - even my kids (ages 9, 11, and 13) sing along with Andy and ask "Who is this guy? Why can't we have the turkey until we hear him? What are these black plastic circles?" So, I've ordered CDs for myself, my mom, and my sister. The bottom line is this - if you like "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" sung by Nat King Cole, then you've simply got to have "the Red Andy" Christmas album because it's a classic too!

I heartily agree with the reviewer from PA. No Christmas music collection would be complete without Andy Williams' wonderful yuletide crooning. Having grown up in the 1960's, watching Andy's annual holiday specials was a real treat. I miss those shows & wish some cable channel would put them on again during the month of December, both Andy's & Perry Como's shows were the tops!

What Christmas would be complete without listening to the classic "The Andy Williams Christmas Album"? This wonderful holiday recording has long been a tradition in our family. I can remember my grandmother playing it over and over throughout the holiday season. Of course, that was many years ago, and unfortunately, those old records are long gone; but, we still enjoy this album today in cd format. It has such a lively, festive sound, that always seems to put everyone in the Christmas spirit. It's great for tree trimming, holiday parties, and my personal favorite - sitting around a cozy fire with a mug of hot cocoa. So sit back, relax, and enjoy a nostalgic listen to "The Andy Williams Christmas Album." You won't be disappointed!

This CD is pure Christmas joy! Andy Williams has so much fun with these arrangements. If the "Happy Holiday" medley doesn't get you in the mood to do some Yuletide celebrating, you've got your ears plugged. "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" practically jumps out of your speakers and dances you around the room. The band really swings on this one. Just listen to that snare drum chattering away back there, softened a bit by the smooth string/flute lines and punctuated by a horn section that's groovin' high! Speaking of groovin', baby, check out the fab '60s arrangement of "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells!" You'll be scramblin' through your closets for your bellbottoms and Nehru jackets, daddy-o! For some reason, just like Johnny Mathis, Andy feels like he has to get "sacred" for the carol portion of the album, and the digital quality of the CD is a bit flawed, but other than that, this is vintage Christmas tuneage!

I was driving home the other day in dismal pre-Christmas winter weather, and I wasn't quite feeling in the Christmas mood yet. Then Andy Williams holiday paen "It's the Most Wonderful Time Of the Year" came on the radio,and it felt like a big warm hug! Suddenly, Christmas came alive for me again, and I ordered this as soon as I got home. I should be getting it any day now, and I'm pre-rating it 5 stars 'cause I know I'm going to love it. Williams' honey vocals combined with these holiday classics will make this one of our best Christmases ever! I grew up watching Andy's Christmas specials and I should have bought this years ago! Now I can share it with my children! Thank You Andy! And Happy Holidays to everyone! :-D

His voice is very charming. He has that charisma that very few men have these days. I remember seeing him on TV when I was young and impressionable. I'm older now, but his voice is still so soothing.....It's tradition with a twist. Enjoy it......Love at first sound....

With all due respect to the late Perry Como, it is Andy Williams who holds the esteemed title, "Mr. Christmas". Along with his famed TV specials (why hasn't Nick at Nite dug these out of a vault yet??), this album established Andy as the sweatered tenor I most associate with Yuletide.

Sinatra set the tone with "The Sinatra Christmas Album" of recording one side of secular and one side of religious favorites, and Andy dutifully follows suit here. Though his classic renditions of "The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" and his own ring-a-ding-ding version of Kay Thompson's "Jingle Bells" have gotten the most play over the years, one is missing something by not giving "Side B" equal wear.

Williams may not have been the most thrilling tenor ever but he may have been the smoothest. He floats effortlessly from his middle to high range without the slightest fluctuation in tone. Smooth as eggnog. When he chooses to be dramatic, he shows great musicality and sensitivity in "O Holy Night" and "Sweet Little Jesus Boy", the latter being a difficult song for one not of African-American heritage to deliver without sounding somehow out of place. Andy gives it just the touch and it is a highlight of the album.

When I was growing up, my parents had only four Christmas albums: this one, the aforementioned Sinatra album, Ray Conniff's "We Wish You A Merry Christmas", and "Christmas with Buck Owens" (well, they had five but it was one of the multitude of Firestone compliation albums that were an odd mix of whatever they could get the rights to). All of these albums are now timeless classics and MUST HAVES despite (or maybe because of) some rather dated arrangements.

For me, Christmas doesn't start until Andy Williams sings.

This is the warmest, most wonderful Christmas Album! It brings to mind the less troubled times of yesteryear, and you can almost feel as if you were out playing in the snow, or sitting by a fireplace, watching your Christmas tree--even if you listen to this album in the middle of July (which I have done, I confess!) Mr. Williams has the smoothest voice, and he provides reverance to the songs that need it. He also provides playfulness, especially in the song: Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells, which has all of the William's Brothers singing along. If you are going to buy only one CD this Christmas, let it be this one!