Christmas: Gift

Collin Raye | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 1, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony Special Product
• ASIN: B00005NNJ6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,162 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Christmas Song

2. I'll Be Home for Christmas

3. It Could Happen Again

4. The First Noel

5. Away in a Manger

6. White Christmas

7. Winter Wonderland

8. Angels We Have Heard on High

9. The Little Drummer Boy

10. Silent Night

11. The First Noel [Instrumental][Version]

12. O Holy Night

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the best Christmas CD's, November 13, 2001

By 

Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christmas: Gift (Audio CD)

There are two CD's in my Christmas collection titled "The Gift", Jim Brickman's and Collin Raye's. And Collin Raye (with Susan Ashton) does sing the Brickman song of the same title on Brickman's recording, but not on this one. Whatever, anyway both of them are deeply spiritual in feeling and highly recommended. Want reasons? Okay:

The collection starts with a pair of secular standards, "The Christmas Song" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas", and then kicks in gear with a real bang. Johnny Cash gives the introduction to the one original song, "It Could Happen Again" based on a well known incident that happened on a Christmas Eve during the First World War. This is followed with one of the most feeling interpretations of the traditional "The First Noel" known to me. No less notable is Collin's duet with his daughter Brittany Wray on "Away in a Manger". After these three outstanding cuts, the fresh and unique delivery of "White Christmas" is a nice change of pace. Remaining briefly in a secular mood, the Beach Boys sing along with Collin for a swinging arrangement of "Winter Wonderland". Good (though in my opinion not quite up to the previous carols) are his versions of "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "Little Drummer Boy", bringing us back into the spiritual mood and preparing us for the experience of the last three cuts. These last cuts are, in my mind, appropriate for listening to in a darkened room, maybe lit by candle light. First of the three is his second duet with daughter Brittany for "Silent Night." The placing of an instrumental reprise of "The First Noel" perfectly sustains the mood and leads nicely into what I think one of the absolutely best arrangements and deliveries of "O Holy Night".

The entire album strikes me as more of a spiritual and, if you will, worshipful event than a festive one, not even remotely a party record, but one for listening to alone or with those closest to you in heart and spirit. If you want a CD which will help you tune in to the deeper spiritual mood of Christmas (as does the afore mentioned Jim Brickman CD of the same name), this is it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars PLEASANT CHRISTMAS GIFT, December 18, 2002

By 

Michael Butts (Berkeley Springs, WV USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Christmas: Gift (Audio CD)

Collin Raye has demonstrated over the years his unique vocal style---a high, high tenor that sometimes seems as if he's not gonna quite hit the note, but somehow he does. This is both a blessing and a curse for Raye. This album shows that trait on several of the cuts. I Sometimes wonder why he doesn't sing in at least a half note or so lower, then it might come across a little cleaner, a little more natural.
In spite of this, however, one can't deny his effectiveness on this collection of standard holidays tunes, with the inclusion of "It Could Happen Again", a song about the truce in WW II where both sides lay down their weapons and shared Christmas together. This cut is the highlight of the album, along with his Beach-Boyish "Winter Wonderland".
Raye exhibits great taste in his arrangements, and also shows that he has a true Christian spirit in both his singing and in the messages he includes in the liner notes.
RECOMMENDED.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great album!, December 14, 2000

By 

Wendresma (Capital Region, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas: Gift (Audio CD)

Anyone who likes Collin Raye,Easy listening or Country music will LOVE this album. Even if Collin is a country artist( I call it "country lite") this album sounds very Adult contemporary. Collin celebrates his faith and family in this album with Christmas hymns and Traditional Christmas favorites with a few surprises. "It Could Happen Again", a song about Christmas Eve during in World War I humbles me everytime I hear it, it's such a beautiful powerful song with a message. "Winter Wonderland" with the Beach Boys is fun too. There is nothing weird on this album, it is very straight forward and traditional. It is a must have in any Christmas album collection.