Customer Reviews

Because It's

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I bought this CD in September, 1990, the day it was originally released. Listening to Christmas music in September was a bit odd; but, as Mr. Manilow has said in many interviews, "Good music is good music," any time of the year.

The concept of this cd is a little different, each song blends into the next with lovely original transition pieces. This is a ROMANTIC Christmas album, not really the "sing along with the kids" kind. The title cut, an original song by Manilow is magical. On "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Barry sings 7-part harmony with himself - so well you would swear he was the Osmond Family! "Baby It's Cold Outside" is a playful number dueted with K. T. Oslin. "I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus" is a wryly humorous number, lyrics written by Johnny Mercer & posthumously given to Manilow by Mercer's widow after which Barry put these lyrics to music. The recording ends with Manilow's classic "It's Just Another New Year's Eve" re-recorded and updated; it's more beautiful now than when it was first made popular in the 70's.

This cd is an interesting blend of classic songs & Manilow originals, beautifully produced (with Eddie Arkin).

This is undoubtedly one of the best Christmas albums I've ever heard. Because It's Christmas is a wonderful mix of all the emotional highs and lows that accompany the holiday season.

For the traditionalists, there's "Silent Night", "The First Noel", "Unto Us A Child Is Born", "White Christmas", "Carol Of The Bells", "Joy To The World", and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas".

Then there are a couple of new Christmas songs written by Manilow - "Because It's Christmas", "The Bells Of Christmas" - as well as "It's Just Another New Year's Eve", which originally appeared on Barry Manilow Live.

There are also a couple of new songs (well, they were new in 1990, when the album was first released) that feature new music by Manilow put to previously unpublished lyrics by Johnny Mercer - the slightly bitter "I Guess There Ain't No Santa Claus" and the wistful "When The Meadow Was Bloomin'".

Of course, there's also "The Christmas Song", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", and, undoubtedly the album's highlight, the Bing Crosby-Andrews Sisters arrangement of "Jingle Bells", with Expose singing the Andrews Sisters parts.

Finally, there's also a tongue-in-cheek reading of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with K.T. Oslin.

Overall, the album is remarkably free of the excesses that have often been present in Manilow's post-70's records, which means that even people who wouldn't otherwise be caught dead with a Barry Manilow record in their collections may enjoy this one.

When you put on this CD,and the first number,"The Christmas Song" comes on,get ready for a wonderfull holiday adventure.All you hear is Barry's voice,but the song keeps building to a fantastic,Key changing masterpiece,then leads right into "Jingle Bells."Every song is overlaped,and there's alot of original music."When the Meadow was Blooming," is one of my favorites,and "The Bells of Christmas" is a wonderfull,romantic number,but I love,"It's just another New Year's Eve." Its sad at first,when you think about all the loved one's you might have lost during the year,but by the end of the song there's hope that next year will be the greatest year of them all.Along with,The Carpenters,Doris Day,and Barbra Streisand's Christmas Albums, "Because its Christmas" is a must buy for your holiday collection.

If anyone ever wanted a Christmas album filled with inspiring new lyrics, classic melodies of the past, and songs as contemporary as wing-tips, this is THE album. Mr. Manilow's voice is top shape for the holiday season. Wheather in your home in Cailfornia, or your condo in Florida, this album gives the feeling of a cold, blustery feeling of New York City at holiday time. Mr.Manilow's cover of bing Crosby's jazzy 'Jingle Bells,' is done with shear top-notch styling. For the true holiday meaning, songs are woven into classic caroles, that convey the beauty, magic, and deepest meaning of Christmas.

Barry at his finest. A great cd to play year after year at holidy time