Customer Reviews

Christmas Album

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When you consider the fact that the man who virtually defined pop music culture, as we know it today, worked up a contemporary Christmas album, what you get is an extraordinary blend of traditional sounds with pop flare, mind blowing arrangements, and precise, almost perfect, musical integrity. I offer you : David Foster The Christmas Album.

The Breakdown :

>> Track 1 - Carol Of The Bells (Instrumental) <<
An absolutely amazing rendition. Short, sweet, and oh so powerful. Considering that this piece (with the exception of the horns) is done entirely on keyboards, the Magical Mr. Foster puts his almighty thumbprint on this album and sets the pace for what's to come.

>> Track 2 - Blue Christmas (Vocals: Wynonna) <<
Bluesy rendition with a rich "piano bar" atmosphere. The orchestra makes all the difference.

>> Track 3 - The First Noel (Vocals: BeBe & CeCe Winans) <<
A Two parter. Nice violin work with a soft, angelic, vocal beginning (you can definitely pick up on the "Fosterization" of the music). Magically becomes a light, solid, jazz riff that is Foster all the way.

>> Track 4 - It's the Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Vocals: Johnny Mathis) <<
Upbeat fanfare. Energizing. Very busy orchestration perfectly suited for this happy, happy song. Mathis is the only one that could have done this.....perfect choice!

>> Track 5 - Grown Up Christmas List (Vocals: Natalie Cole) <<
A Foster original. Much better than the Amy Grant version. Foster's bass work in this song makes it.

>> Track 6 - O Holy Night (Vocals: Michael Crawford) <<
Can the "Phantom Of The Opera" sing "Oh Holy Night"? Answer: "Oh YES!!!" Show stopping vocal performance with what is probably the most POWERFUL orchestration and music on the entire album (or any other album for that matter). The backing boys choir will raise the hair on the back of your neck (guaranteed).

>> Track 7 - Go Tell It On The Mountain/Mary Had A Baby (Vocals: Vanessa Williams) <<
The preacher's wife would love this one. Most people can't pat their head and rub their tummy at the same time, and likewise, most people can't sit down and listen to THIS song at the same time. Starts with a nice southern vocal rendition of Mary Had A Baby, the literally explodes into a foot stompin', hand clappin' full blown gospel rich Go Tell It On The Mountain. Excellent piano work!!!

>> Track 8 - Ill be Home For Christmas (Vocals: Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack) <<
Very nice contemporary jazz version of the song (one of my favorites on the album). Boz Scaggs would be proud of this one. The electric bass work by the wonderfully talented Nathan East makes this juicy track worth playing over and over again.

>> Track 9 - Mary's Boy Child (Vocals: Tom Jones)
No Las Vegas Here. Mr. Jones rips a very good and powerful performance on this somewhat obscure and little known Christmas song. But hey, with Foster behind the wheel, you can't go wrong.

>> Track 10 - The Christmas Song (Vocal: Celine Dion) <<
Oh Celine, Celine.....what can I say. Absolutely beautiful. Makes you want to roast chestnuts on an open fire. Again, a swaying, piano bar feel with a composite orchestration thrown in for spice. If this song doesn't put you in the Christmas "mood", nothing will.

>> Track 11 - Away In A Manger (Vocals: Tammy Wynette) <<
After hearing this, you won't think of this song as a mere "children's" tune any more. Tammy's country vocal "twang" mixes beautifully with an angelic orchestration that will leave a pleasant smile on your face and a warm feeling in your soul. The narrative part of the song is mood altering. Excellent.

>> Track 12 - White Christmas (Vocals: All Of The Above)
Music Master Jeremy Lobbock teams with Foster to put the exclamation point on this album. Nice. Jazzy. Total Foster evident here. The transitions are perfect, progressions absolute. Gotta love it.

Hey, buy this album. Put it on. Decorate the tree. Light a fire in the fireplace. Drink Egg-Nog. Have a wonderful Christmas!!

This is one of my favorite Christmas cd's becasue not only is the production and talent top notch, but it's so varried. You get instrumentals, country, gospel, uptempo, ballads, and religious songs all on this one cd! Amazingly, the varried styles don't come off sounding jumbled as one might think, and I suspect that's due to the talent of David Foster who expertly produces each cut. His rendition of 'Carol of the Bells' is to me, the definitive recording of the song. Other's like Natalie Cole's 'Grown-Up Christmas List', Celine Dion's 'The Christmas Song', Vanessa William's 'Go Tell It On The Mountain/Mary Had A Baby' and Michael Crawford's 'Oh Holy Night' are so strong that they wound up on those artists solo Christmas albums. The final track brings together all the featured artsis to preform 'White Christmas'. It's an astounding thing to hear each of these incredible voices take a line or two then sing together. What a beautiful example of the spirit of Christmas.

The vairety of artists and styles makes this a perfect gift for families with multiple musical tastes or new friends you've just met, as well as just anyone who likes classic sounding Christmas carols. It can't be beat.

During 12/93, there aired a Christmas TV special called "David Foster's Christmas Album" which I videotaped and kept in my video archives. One piece, Michael Crawford's `O Holy Night' was absolutely incredible. Around Christmas time, I pull out the videotape and listen (and I do mean listen) to Crawford sing this one song over and over, ad infinitum. I never get sick of it. Each time seems better than the last. Watching Crawford sing this song is an experience in itself - his ribcage inflated like bagpipes in order to prepare for that last `noel' shows his talent. This exact song/rendition is also on "A Christmas Album" by Michael Crawford (Atlantic 83222-2) which Amazon by the way misnamed as "A Christmas Story," which uses childrens' choirs. Which album you choose really depends on whether you want only Michael Crawford + choirs, or want many singers like Celine Dion and Tom Jones. Both albums get an A+.

I also watched the TV special and was moved by it. I only wish I was clever enough to tape it. But I have the CD and every year this is the only thing that puts me in the Holiday spirit! I decorate my tree to it every year. Truly a brilliant masterpiece with a blend of the best talented artists. One cannot listen to it without feeling emotional. I couldn't imagine Christmas without it!

David Foster's Christmas Album is a wonderful collection of favorite songs & artists. I play this CD throughout the year whenever I want to hear David Foster's superb talent. Carol of the Bells is awesome!!

I first saw David Foster's Christmas special when it aired back in the early 90's, simply because I'm a Michael Crawford fan and wanted to see him sing. By the time Michael finished "O Holy Night," I was literally standing in my chair with my fingernails bitten to the quick. This track alone is worth the price of the CD.

The entire CD is as pleasant and warm as a cup of Christmas cider. You get country (Tammy Wynette), R&B (BeBe and CeCe Winans), and thrilling tenor (Michael), all with the wonderful musical arrangement that is David Foster. A must-have for any holiday music fan.

David Foster brings energetic and heart felt performances from the varied talent he brings together on this CD. Michael Crawford's rendition of "Oh Holy Night" brings chills to me every time I listen--and I listen in June! Our collection of Christmas music nearly equals our general collection and this is by far our favorite holiday CD. Every year I give this CD as a gift to my new friends around the country, knowing little of their taste in music. The gift-giver can't lose with this offering.

I own close to 300 Christmas CD's collected over the past 20 years and I can say without hesitation that this CD compilation contains some of the finest arrangements that can be found! I have played it over and over again since it's release in 1995 and have given it many times as a gift to friends. Besides, it is my wife's favorite! David Foster matches the artist to the song with perfection! And, his arrangement of "Carol Of The Bells" is a modern classic! There is no way to overstate the Christmas joy this will bring to the listener for Christmases ad infinitum!

This is, by far, one of the best Christmas Albums I've ever heard. I bought this CD a few years ago, and I am so glad I did. Every year it is the first one I play (I usually start in October because I can't wait to hear it.) All of the songs are so beautiful. My favorite is "O Holy Night" by Michael Crawford. The way he sings this song, with the childrens choir behind him, gives me goose bumps! To anyone who is looking for a wonderful CD to play year after year, this is the one! Buy a few for friends too! You will not be disappointed!

They say David Foster has worked with just about everybody in pop music, so I guess it stands to reason that his Christmas album would feature just about everybody--and his sister. You've got everyone from Wynonna to Celine and from Vanessa (Williams)to Tammy (Wynette). Quite a star studded array, but you know, that's the problem with a record like this. It's a variety show, actually. In fact, if anyone had told me this was the soundtrack to a holiday TV special, I probably would have believed 'em. This is all very bright and cheery and glitzy and flashy, just exactly what you'd expect from a musical holiday special (thirty or forty years ago). Which is not to say it's not fun in spots. The selections alternate between the soulfully jazzed up (BeBe and CeCe's "First Noel" or Peabo and Roberta's "I'll Be Home For Christmas") and the traditionally poppy (Johnny Mathis' "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" say). And you can always count on Celine Dion to cover every possible stylistic base and hit every conceivable note in her interpretations of anything. Her "Christmas Song" starts off fairly trad, but before you can say "Jacques Robinson" she's off to the stratosphere again. Understatement does not abound on this record, but there are some moments. Oddly enough, one of them belongs to Wynonna, not typically known for a subdued approach. Her take on "Blue Christmas" is quite nice. As is, Vanessa Williams medley of "Mary Had a Baby/Go Tell It On the Mountain," relatively speaking. Nothing earth shattering, but entertaining. Which is pretty much what you can say about the whole record. Talent abounds. These are real pros after all. They do their solo bits, and then just like a holiday extravaganza on TV, they all return for the grand finale, "White Christmas" as a stylistic free-for-all. Everybody does his or her thing, and Celine even does a few bars en francais. Joyeux Noel, y'all.