Customer Reviews

A Christmas Gift Of Love

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

WOW! I just got this CD yesterday and it's simply mesmerizing. I am 16 years old (and a guy) and I am a true Barry fan. Barry's voice gets stronger with his age and this CD is a testiment to that. Some of the most interesting and creative arrangements of traditional Christmas songs are found on this CD. Many of the songs on "A Christmas Gift of Love" really swing! Here are my reviews of each song:
Winter Wonderland- Starts with sleigh bells and Barry's voice comes in. A beautiful acoustic rendition.
Happy Holiday/White Christmas- Possibly my favorite on this new album. The most powerful arrangements I've ever heard of these songs. Stunning.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town- This one really swings. Sounds like a Nelson Riddle arrangement.
(There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays- This song, like many others on the CD, makes you feel good. This one will really brighten the holiday season.
I'll Be Home For Christmas- this one'll make your knees weak!
My Favorite Things- Wait until you hear Barry do this one! That's all I have to say
The Christmas Waltz- This rendition reminds me of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" for some reason. Maybe because it would have been great in the soundtrack.
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm- Wow! This one is arranged so perfectly! The orchestration is brilliant.
River- Perhaps the only song on this CD that isn't joyful. It's beautiful just the same. I think Joni Mitchell will approve of Barry's rendition.

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?- Another feel good song on this CD.
Gift Of Love- Being Barry's only composition on his new album, it is simply beautiful. Short but beautiful. Classic Barry sound. In my opinion, it is the one song on this CD that sounds like typical Barry.
So, there you have it. I hope you will pick up a copy and listen! You won't be disappointed! Barry, you get an A+++++++ on this one.

I have this CD and I am having a hard time NOT listening to it. I absolutely love the way Barry did all these songs. I love the title track "A Gift of Love", it's beautiful. I also love the harmonica on "I'll Be Home for Christmas", nice touch Barry. Yes, I'm a Barry Manilow fan. Barry has breathed new life into this songs, especially "River". I never heard Joni Mitchell's version until after the "Christmas in Aspen" special when Barry sang the song. I love Barry's version much, much better - he gave the song new life and lots of personality. Sorry Joni. Otherwise, the rest of this album is alive with a touch of swing, jazz, pure enjoyment and celebration. It's obvious Barry had a great time recording this album and you can hear it. I highly recommend this album to anyone and everyone who wants to hear something finger-snapping and toe-tapping. Barry, YOU'RE THE BEST!!!!

...You're still gonna love this Christmas CD. His always-strong voice is in exceptionally fine form as he puts a jazzy/Broadway spin on some Christmas favorites.
A particular highlight is his cover of Joni Mitchell's "River", although it seems almost too vibrant for such somber lyrics. It turns out that many other artists have also covered "River". Holly Cole covered it on her CD "Onion Girl", and even Robert Downey Jr. has recorded it (and very well, too) for an "Ally McBeal" soundtrack CD. But Manilow's version is a pleasant surprise.

Manilow may not still have the chart success he had in the Seventies, but he hasn't lost a step. This may be considered a comeback record from an artist who never really went away in the first place. Buy it!!

I love it...I came home from work with my new CD
and made a ham sandwich, and danced around my
kitchen for the entire length of it! I couldn't help it.
It swings like crazy! It seems like much of the credit
for the overall sound of it might go to the Drummer.
He is incredible. And Barry's voice is at it's absolute
best. I think he is at his best when he sings lively
swing music like this. I suppose that the 30 minutes
of music might be a bit short by compsrison, but I
didn't notice it for some reason until I read some of
these other reviews. Buy this gem, and put up your tree
and wrap your presents with it on loud! But don't make
cookies while listening to it, you'll burn em'!!

The Songs on "A Christmas Gift of Love," are FANTASTIC.Manilow NEVER sounded BETTER.Alot of these songs Have that GREAT Big Band Sound of the 40's.My Favorite cuts,Irving Berlin's,"HappyHoliday/WhiteChristmas,(From my all time favorite Christmas movie,"Holiday Inn,)will have you dancing all over the place while your decorating your Christmas Tree."There's No Place like Home for the Holidays,I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,"and "What are you doing New Years Eve?"Will liven up any Holiday Party your having,and my #1 track that I play over and over again,Joni Mitchell's,"River." I love this cut so much I just keep hitting the repeat button on my CD player.Barry Manilow's vocals are flawless.I just wish there was at least ONE TRACK with the TRUE MEANING of CHRISTmas.

It is really incredible to see Barry Manilow bounce back into the charts with one excellent album after the other, especially now that he clearly puts his emphasis on jazz.

"A Christmas Gift of Love" is certainly one of the best Christmas albums ever recorded, and the mix of standards, surprises and newly written material is just perfect. Barry Manilow's version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is probably the best rendition this song ever received. Joni Mitchell's "River" is a perfect addition to the wonderful mood of this CD and the self-penned closing number makes you want to start playing it all over again immediately... which also brings me to the only minor irritation: at a mere 33 minutes this "Gift" could have included a bit more music or at least longer tracks.

His new Christmas CD is excellent! The song titled "River" should be released as a single. It think it would be a big hit for him. That song was written by Joni Mitchell. I consider him to be the Andy Williams of my generation. Enjoy!!!

Barry Manilow's new Christmas CD, A Christmas Gift of Love, is just plain fun. The orchestrations are so lush and full you just can't help but keep time or get up an dance. Barry's voice is so full of joy, you can't help but smile. And speaking of THE voice, Barry just couldn't sound better. Even though Barry wrote only one song on this CD, his special tweaking and arrangements make it pure Manilow. This new CD is a delicious pleasure and should rank high among favorite Christmas CDs. A Christmas Gift of Love is a perfect follow up to Because It's Christmas (1990). I hope Barry doesn't wait twelve years to release another Christmas CD.

I just got this new Barry Manilow Christmas CD "A Christmas Gift Of Love", and I absolutely love it! Barry's voice has never sounded better, and the arrangements and orchestrations are superb. This is an excellent collection of Holiday music, which reminds me of Barbra Streisand's "Christmas Memories". In fact, Jay Landers was one of the Executive Producers on "A Christmas Gift Of Love" and Barbra Streisand's "Christmas Memories". "A Christmas Gift Of Love" is a musical treasure that is sure to brighten your Holidays!

I've never heard Barry sound better. I wanted to listen to it for a couple of weeks before I wrote a review, (I KNOW you've all been waiting for my review) (HA HA) so I could really get a handle on how much I adore this CD. It starts with a bang and runs through a gamut of emotions before it gently brings you back to earth with the gentle/romantic "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" and then the musical hug "A Gift of Love". I especially love when I can do the harmony with Barry and I can do a lot on this one! And oh! My favorite Christmas song of all time, "I'll Be Home for Christmas"! And a new song to love, "The Christmas Waltz".
I don't know how this man can put together what must be the finest musicians on the planet but I am so grateful! They make your heart soar and your feet dance! I never thought much of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" but this is the most fun and jazzy version I have ever heard. I love when Barry belts out "You Know the Great Big Man With the Snow White Beard"! This is TOTAL fun.
I hope Mr Manilow had as much fun making this CD as I did listening to it. It would mean that both of us are VERY happy!