Customer Reviews

The Christmas Album

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

 

 

They say when you put out a Christmas Album that is good, you can make your mark on the music industry for years to come. Air Supply had already accomplished much in the music industry, and "The Christmas Album" helps solidify their standing in the industry. As far as Christmas albums go, this is a very good one that offers a modern pop angle on popular Christmas songs. In addition, this album is boosted by two new Christmas songs written by Graham Russell and performed by Air Supply.

There are 10 songs on this album. In addition to the 2 new Air Supply songs, there are 8 traditional Christmas favorites. The 8 songs are "White Chrismas", "The First Noel", "The Little Drummer Boy", "Silent Night", "The Christmas Song", "Sleigh Ride", "Winter Wonderland", and "O'Come All Ye Faithful". This is sort of a mixed blessing on this album. From one standpoint you will get to hear Air Supply perform a Christmas favorite without damaging the integrity of the song. The other standpoint is "not these songs again!". Although Graham Russell and Russell Hitchock do a tremendous job at performing these songs, it is disappointing that they didn't pick some songs that aren't quite as mainstream as these. Regardless, these songs are perfect for Graham and Russell's voices. The other nice thing is that their performances on this album are really suitable for almost any occasion. I wouldn't hesitate to pop this CD on Christmas Eve or even Christmas Morning while opening presents.

The two best songs on the album are "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland". Both songs make use of both Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock's vocals trading off. I always think Air Supply is at its best when both Graham and Russell are doing vocals in a song. In both songs, each contains a nice chorus of background vocals and some nice musical effects to really create a Christmas mood. The duo also performs "White Christmas" and I think that even Bing Crosby would be proud of the job that Russell Hitchcock does on vocals. On "White Christmas" it has a 1940s type of feel to it still. In "The Little Drummer Boy" Graham Russell does a great job at lead vocals for the whole song while Russell Hitchcock take the role of background vocals (it is always good to see Graham Russell on lead vocals).

The two new songs are really good and could easily stand on their own as "Christmas Classics". The "Eyes of a Child" follows a classic Air Supply vocal pattern - Graham Russell starting off on lead vocals, Russell Hitchcock coming in with vocals on the chorus, then a (slight) crescendo toward the end. Russell Hitchcock takes the lead vocals on "Love is All" and really gets a chance to showcase those incredible vocals. "Love is All" has a more classic Air Supply crescendo (larger) toward the end of the song.

The liner notes in the CD are good. Full credits are given to the studio musicians. The lyrics to the new songs are also included. There are a few pictures of Graham and Russell with some children. It is also worth knowing that Graham and Russell are co-producers on this album along with Michael Lloyd and I think the personal touch on the production gives this album a boost.

In a nutshell, this is a good Air Supply album and this is a good Christmas album. You'll only play it during the month of December and you might get tired of it by Christmas eve, but by next December you will want to pop it into your CD player again.

When I first listened to this CD last year, I was inclined to dismiss it as an okay CD with probably boy band appeal. This year though, I've listened with new ears, so to speak, and like what I hear. The two original songs are very good, "The Eyes Of A Child" being especially appealing. The harmony here of the two singers is notable and enhances each familiar song including my personal favorites, "The Little Drummer Boy", "Silent Night" and "The Christmas Song". Really, there aren't any that I call losers here.

This is very good but, in my mind, similar enough to other CDs such as those from 98 Degrees, Lonestar, etc., that it doesn't hit the very top mark. It is however, a most satisfying collection and I recommend it.

The spell binding and romantic vocal harmonies of Air Supply, one of the biggest duets of all time, scores BIG in this rendition of holiday classics. Russell Hitchcock and Graham Rusell perform at the top of their game giving both fans and non-fans of Air Supply a journey through tales of faith (O Come All Ye Faithfull) and love (Love Is All) in this carefully produced album. It also features Christmas Classics such as "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) and "White Christmas" as well as new songs such as "Love Is All" where Russell Hitchcock's performance is brilliant to say the least. If you are going to buy just one Christmas Album this Holiday Season make sure it is Air Supply's The Christmas Album (1987).

Each Christmas I hear the song "Eyes of a child" and can't quite see why it is a christmas song only and not played more on the lite rock radio stations. I am getting married this year and each of us is bringing one child into our new family. I found this song to be perfect for the ceremony as we give gifts to the girls and acknowledge all of us uniting in family. If you know of anyone doing something very special where children are involved, recommend this song.

I liked this album. The music is really relaxing. Also enjoyed the 2 songs written by Graham Russell.

As any Air Supply fan would know, they can really sing a tune! The feeling they put into their music is felt throughout the CD. The songs they wrote for this CD, "The Eyes of a Child" and "Love is All" tell about the true meaning of Christmas. Whenever I hear "The Eyes of a Child", it makes me think back to when I was a kid and everyone would dress up in their very best and go to church to sing and experience the true meaning of Christmas. Then to go to bed hoping to fall asleep faster than ever to get the night over with to run out to the living room to see all the gifts. To me, there is nothing greater than to "see" Christmas as a child sees it: wonderful and amazing! I would definitely recommend this to everyone.

I don't know what it is about this album I don't like. These two guys can certainly sing but I find the album totally boring. A little too smooth maybe?? The material is not bad but a little more gusty would have helped.

I don't use the term "guilty pleasure" (if I like it, I like it and make no apologies), but if I DID, maybe I'd include the old Air Supply tune "Lost In Love" under that rubric. It was a gorgeous little number, even if it wore its calculated commercialism on its proverbial sleeve. Odd thing was--and I really don't mean this in a derogatory way--I imagined the group was a trio AND that in included a female vocalist. Blame on my tinny car radio back in 1980, but that's what I was hearing in my mind's ear.

So anyways, turned out it was a duo--AND it was a couple of guys--high TENOR type guys at that. It also turned out that I didn't really care for much more of their, uh, oeuvre from what I heard over the years. I mean, really, "You're Every Woman In the World To Me"?? (AKA "Gee, It's Getting Crowded in here.") None of the other hits really excited me either. Pleasant enough fare, you could say, but nothing else of theirs grabbed this listener a la "Lost In Love." I'm sure if I went through their entire catalog, there'd be a few more gems to be uncovered. But who's got the time?

I did borrow this Xmas CD from the library recently though. I figured, well, hey they COULD sing and you can't go wrong with "White Christmas," "Silent Night" etc. Problem is, with umpteen classic versions of these chestnuts available already, you really need to come up with something shiny and new too, and they don't. The one or two lesser known songs included here are not all that inspired. "Love Is All" and "The Eyes of A Child" are just not all that memorable--and they're also not exclusively holiday tunes either--not that that matters. Bottom line: no one listening to Air Supply's "White Christmas" is going to forget Bing Crosby.

And, hey, what do Aussies really know from a "white Christmas" anyway? Last I heard, the holidays kick off the SUMMER season down there. I'm sure it's festive and all, but obviously DIFFERENT.

Air Supply's CHRISTMAS ALBUM is every bit the holiday record you'd expect from them. It's not bad--although I do find the orchestration a little much at times. I like a few holiday surprises, though, and didn't find any here. Better than a lump of coal, but not the aural equivalent of a shiny new bike either.

There are not enough Christmas songs on this CD and the ones that are on it are kind of depressing, with a couple of exceptions.

Here's Air Supply's one and only christmas cd this is a must for all great air supply fans.If you want to heaar some great christmas music done the way that only Air Supply can then is cd is just for you.

Rondall