Customer Reviews

Christmas Collection: 20th Century Masters

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

 

 

This collection was originally released on an 18-track CD titled Rockin' around the Christmas tree.

Brenda is one of those singers - just like Bing Crosby - who's most famous song is a Christmas classic, despite a vast catalog of other material. On this collection, Brenda demonstrates her skills on a wide variety of Christmas songs, although there is only one carol (Silent night).

The oldest recordings here (from 1956, when Brenda was only 11) are Christy Christmas and I'm gonna lasso Santa Claus - this song is quite amusing but also has a moral tale, as it points out that Santa is more generous to the rich than the poor. Sadly, that will always be true.

In 1958, Brenda recorded Papa Noel, a cajun-flavored song, and Rockin' around the Christmas tree. Expected to be a massive hit, it missed the charts completely, though Brenda wasn't yet in the big time. Following the multi-million selling I'm sorry in 1960, a decision was taken to try again that Christmas. This time, the song went high in the charts, not just in America, but around the world.

The remainder of these songs, except White Christmas, Jingle bells and Silent night (which were recorded in 1965, but remained unissued outside Japan until the release of the Rockin' around the Christmas tree CD mentioned in the opening paragraph), were first released on Brenda's original Christmas album in 1964, which also included some of the earlier tracks, including (of course) Rockin' around the Christmas tree.

Some of the songs were originally popularized by other singers, including Jingle bell rock (Bobby Helms), White Christmas and Silver bells (both Bing Crosby), This time of the year (Brook Benton) and Blue Christmas (Ernest Tubb, but made even more popular by Elvis), but Brenda's vocal style makes her versions distinctive, even though the arrangements are mostly faithful to the originals. It's a marshmallow world is a brilliant song which had already appeared on the Phil Spector Christmas album, though I don't know it's origin.

What really makes this album, though, are the original songs. Apart from those recorded in 1956 and 1958, there is Christmas will be just another lonely day (a serious song written by Ray Stevens, best known for his comic songs), Strawberry snow and the slightly silly (but brilliant) The angel and the little blue bell.

Has anyone purchased this CD where the only track that is in stereo is "Rockin Around The Christmas Tree?" I have the original Decca LP on vinyl and there's a huge difference. I'm sure the tracks recorded in 64 and 65 should be in stereo.

My husband enjoyed and enjoyed this CD of older songs. The quality of sound was very good. Great buy. We recommend this for any Brenda Lee fans.

I'd say: It's about time I typed a Review on This CD! After All.....We bought this from Amazon in 2005 & it's one of our favorite Christmas Audio Compact Disc's & we have plenty of them.How many times have you saw Eighteen Songs on a 20th Century Masters Compact Disc? Most of you are going to say "None"! Well.....We have Eighteen on this Brenda Lee Christmas CD! This is excellent Christmas Cheer with all of her good Christmas Tunes including the Ever-So-Popular "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" & "Jingle Bell Rock". Ours came in the Standard Jewel Case with some nice info about Brenda & her Christmas Tunes.......When It Comes To Christmas Tunes: Everyone Needs A Good Brenda Lee CD & This Is A Good One !.....Sound Quality is good also.

This is a great CD if you want to get into that "Old Christmas Feeling". Brenda Lee can bring the sound of Christmas out of any Grinch! Enjoy.

You really can be too thin, and you really can have too much money, but you can never have too much Christian Joy!! This album will lift your spirits no matter when you play it.Brenda Lee is the Earth Angel. Listen,and dance to "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree".Brenda Lee is our gift from the Heartland and an American treasure.

ok...Brenda Lee will always get 5 stars from me. this CD is the old fashioned Brenda when she was a kid. the kind of CD your grandma would start dancing around the kitchen to. still I listened to is when nobody was around.heeheehee

This is a wonderful collection of everything that Brenda Lee recorded for Decca having to do with the Christmas holiday season.

The original recording of one of the biggest Christmas hits of all time ROCKIN AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE is here with Brenda's other holiday hits CHRISTMAS WILL BE JUST ANOTHER LONELY DAY and JINGLE BELL ROCK. The complete Decca Christmas album is joined by some early single releases when she was known as 'little Brenda Lee'. This is a great find at a great price.

especially if you like this bopping 60s music, you can't do without this one for Christmas. i think several songs i had never heard before by any artist.

This CD houses a great combination of early, middle, and later Brenda Lee holiday hits. I had forgotten just how many Christmas tunes she has done! An upbeat and forever contemporary collection of Christmas classics.