Customer Reviews

Best Of/20th Century - Christmas

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First off, I'm not one to buy Christmas albums -- in fact, this is the first I've ever purchased -- but I am a big Stevie Wonder fan and have most of his post-1970 albums, even the not so essential ones from the 80's. The latter being true, there was almost no way I was going to be dissappointed with this, especially after hearing a track on the radio this past Christmas and really digging it.

This relatively new compilation (2004) includes 14 remastered tracks, originally recorded by Stevie back when he was "Little Stevie Wonder" and sang mostly non-originals under the direction of Motown executives. Tracks 1-12 were in fact originally issued as 'Someday at Christmas' in 1967 -- this new collection therefore trumps that album (which still shows up in the used bins) by adding two additional tracks. Still, the total playing time remains brief at 42 minutes.

The music itself is a bit dated of course -- Stevie croons in an adolescent voice, is backed by an un-funky orchestra with lush string arrangements and vocal choruses, and most of the tunes, if they ever were popular, are now obscurities. There are a some classic carols -- "Silver Bells," "The Little Drummer Boy," the classical piece "Ave Maria" (which Stevie braves in latin), and a Stevie favorite, Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts roasting on a open fire..."). Most of the tunes are slow ballads, until the end when the tempo picks up with "What Christmas Means to Me," a number more in the trademark Motown tradition with sleighbells serving as the rhthym section, and the two concluding add-on tracks. Some of the songs border on smarmy ("Bedtime for Toys" and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Me" with their spoken interludes), but the opening track "Someday at Christmas," "The Day That Love Began," "The Christmas Song" and "Christmastime" are standouts with Stevie really shining -- the latter two feature a bit of Stevie on harmonica.

I saw Stevie sing a free Christmas concert in Times Square back in the 90's, making me want to hear a modern Christmas album by grown-up Stevie and all his now trademark piano and vocal pyrotechnics, but this album works for me too... as something to put in around Christmastime to break the monotony of well-tread carols on the radio, a conversation piece (peace?), and a good addition to a relatively complete Stevie collection.

I can only say that I was blown away by this album when I first heard it. "The Day that Love Began" is, in my opinion, one of the best numbers Stevie has ever recorded: there's so much love and passion in this song!! "Ave Maria" is another example of how he loves to take risks and turn ordinary into extraordinary. How I wish he would have done "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen"!! If you're tired of listening to regurgitation of the standard elevator Christmas music on the radio, give this album a try.

Stevie at his BEST! I love this cd!! So many great songs on one cd. Ave Maria is my favorite! He adds his harmonica to most of the songs which makes this cd a true classic!! My holidays require this CLASSIC music for Stevie Wonder! You will not regret having this in your holiday music collection! It is truly one of the BEST!

This is another one of those CDs that I owned years ago, but don't know what happened to it. The songs are timeless, and it was fun listening to them again.

Stevie Wonder recorded all these tracks in the sixties. The first twelve tracks here were released as a vinyl LP. A year earlier, Someday at Christmas (which later became the title track of the LP) was released with its B-side The miracles of Christmas (which wasn't featured on the LP, but is a bonus track here). The other bonus track, Everyone's a kid at Christmas time, was never released at the time although it was recorded for the album.

The music demonstrates Stevie's ability to interpret Christmas classics as well as to find great original songs. With several of each, this album, this collection has something for everybody and can work well as background music but will also reward dedicated listening.

All fourteen tracks have appeared elsewhere on CD, including multi-artist compilations, but this collection was the first to collect them together in one release. You may see other releases of Stevie's Christmas music, but they usually omit some of the tracks (most likely the bonus tracks).

My daughters and I thoroughly enjoyed the music! We tried to play that music every day during the CHristmas season! totally two thumbs up!

In the 1980s I purchased the LP "Someday at Christmas" which was an earlier release of the first 12 tracks of this one. I played that record every year until it wore out. I was happy to see this CD which is that album with an extra two tracks. I am not a Stevie fan in general and own no other albums of his but I have to say this is a GREAT Christmas album. The passion in his voice and performance is outstanding. He is at his best here. Great selections of classic and some newer songs especially Someday at Christmas. Highly recommend to anyone looking for great holiday music! Super fast shipping as usual.

I had this cassette for years and always wanted to upgrade to the cd. Thank you for providing this offer. And let's not forget the two bonus tracks on the cd of vintage Stevie that are just as great. I will be shopping more with you Amazon in the future.

I would recommend adding Stevie's CD to your Christmas collection. This is a great recording of his music during his younger years. You can't go wrong with Stevie. Thanks amazon !

THIS CD IS ASTOUNDING , ABSOLUTELY
BRILLIANT ;IT REALLY LIT UP OUR
HOUSE BEFORE,DURING,& AFTER THE
HOLIDAZE."SOMEDAY AT CHRISTMAS",
"THE DAY THAT LOVE BEGAN","EVERYONE'S
A KID AT CHRISTMASTIME" ,"TWINKLE
TWINKLE LITTLE ME",WILL SERIOUSLY
GET YOU IN THE SPIRIT.THERE'S NOT
A BAD SONG ON IT ,TOP TO BOTTOM
THE BEST HOLIDAY MUSIC I EVER
BOUGHT. STEVIE WONDER IS SO
FANTASTIC NO WORDS CAN QUITE
DESCRIBE THE "WONDER" OF THIS CD !
IF YOU DO'NT HAVE A COPY YOU'RE
REALLY MISSING A JEWEL OF AN ALBUM.
RON MILLER SEEMS TO BE THE PRIMARY
SONGWRITER ON IT AND HE AND HIS
CO-WRITERS MADE HISTORY WITH THIS
YOU WILL LOVE IT LIKE I DO !!!!!
THANX STEVIE FOR MAKING MY CHRISTMAS
SO MEMORABLE WITH THIS MASTERPIECE!!!!