Customer Reviews

Christmas With the New Christy Minstrels: Complete

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The New Christy Minstrels were a great sixties band who had a lot of fun making folk-pop music, but underwent a lot of line-up changes even during their best years. They recorded two Christmas albums, three years apart, with completely different line-ups. All the 1963 members had left by the time the 1966 album was recorded. The staff turnover was so high in 1966 that most of those who recorded the album (in May) had left by the time the album was released in the fall. Among those who joined in 1966 (after the album was recorded) were Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes, but even they could not halt the steady decline of the group.

An earlier reviewer suggested that those who like one of the albums making up this twofer might not like the other. Certainly, they are different from each other in some respects, but I love them both.

The 1963 album (titled Merry Christmas) was recorded when the band was at it's peak, with Green Green (their biggest hit) having it's chart run that year. The line-up was Nick Woods, Art Podell, Barry McGuire (who sang lead on Green Green and became famous for Eve of Destruction after he left the band), Barry Kane, Larry Ramos (who later founded The Association, famous for Cherish and Never my love), Clarence Trent, Doug Brookins and two female singers, Gayle Caldwell (soprano) and Jackie Miller Davidson (alto).

Most of the songs on the 1963 album were written by various members of the band, so even those (like me) who have large collections of Christmas music will find plenty of interest here. The songs are of a remarkably high quality and it is perhaps surprising that none of them have become standards.

The 1966 album (titled Christmas with the Christies) was recorded when the group was already in decline generally, but this is still a fine album - it was probably the last great album recorded by the band, although I haven't heard any of their later music, very little of which is available now and probably for a good reason. The line-up was Bob Buchanan, Bill Teague, Bill Skiles, Pete Henderson, Michael McGinnis, Peter-John Morse and two female singers, Ann White (soprano) and Ede Mae Kellogg (alto). Another fine alto, Karen Gunderson, had joined the group, stayed for two years and left between the two albums so was one of the few Minstrels from the era to miss out on both albums.

The 1966 album is slicker than it's predecessor - more pop, less folk, and consists almost entirely of standards which appear on many other Christmas albums. However, these versions are distinctive, with all the different voices and a variety of lead singers, so I still rate it highly.

The New Christy Minstrels were different from all their contemporaries and there has never been anything like them (regardless of line-up) before or since.

Growing up, The New Christy Minstrel's "Merry Christmas" album was the most played LP during the holidays. I was delighted to find that it had been released on CD. Even though I hadn't heard these tunes in 25 years, I could still remember the songs and lyrics. Great, folk-style group singing. Some of the arangements remind me of songs in the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" style. Roots folk, I guess you'd call it. The original 1963 album is terrific and comprises the first 14 tracks.

The follow-up 1966 LP "Christmas with the Christies," which is the 2nd half of this CD is a different story. We didn't own this LP. The group's style moved from folk to "contemporary" group vocals. It is very stuck in the mid-60's.

So, five stars for the "Merry Christmas" portion. I won't allow the "Christmas with the Christies" portion to lower the score and will stick with the first 14 tracks.

While I'm exceedingly grateful to the folks who made it possible for me to hear the bongo-driven "Do You Hear What I Hear?" once again, I do find it paradoxical that these two albums have been put on a single CD. The only thing they have in common is the "New Christy" name. It's like the old parable about the farmer's axe: if, over the years, he has replaced the head and the handle many times, is it the same axe? Well, the 1966 Christies who recorded "Christmas With the Christies" were a whole new axe.

One look at the two album sleeves (reproduced microscopically on the CD insert) is sufficient to illustrate my point. See the earlier picture, a group of wholesome youths in honest, hand-knit garments. See the second: a bodacious chick with an ornament and electric-light-laced beehive 'do. The music inside is every bit as disparate.

The bottom line is that there are those of us who love the '66 album for its slick glee-club arrangements (more Mitch Miller or Fred Waring than Kingston Trio), while there will be those who prefer the crunchy folksters of the earlier release. To each his own; just buy it!

This was my grandma's and my mom's favorite christmas album, and I have searched high and low for years for it on CD!!! Christmas was never the same after we ditched the record player! I can smell the cookies just hearing it!

I'm eager to add my rave reviews for this collection. I grew up listening to the Minstrels' "Merry Christmas!" album -- every year, it was a welcome part of the tree-trimming tradition, and reinforced the holidays' various moods -- festive, commercial, sentimental, spiritual. Sorry, but I can't agree with reviewers who claim this music is trite or contradictory; it's from an earlier time, to be sure, but one where holiday music was truly creative and sincere -- not the tired covers of Christmas music we find today, accented with a hip-hop beat or country twang. No, this is the real thing. I've lovingly preserved each of these tunes in my memory, and have since made them part of my own family's tradition. Each song in this collection is an ornament on the musical holiday tree that represents Christmas; I only wish everyone could own this CD -- it would make their holidays much merrier!

When I was a young married mother, I owned the album of Merry Christmas by New Christie Minstrels. Every year my husband and I played it all through the holiday season for both our daughters. My 36 year old daughter told me last year that she had found it in cd on Amazon and asked for it as a gift. I bought two, one for her and one for me. We now play it for my 5 year old grandson. The music evokes memories of a kinder, gentler time and youth. It contains some of the merriest Christmas tunes I've heard. The music spells Christmas to me and to my grown daughters.

I grew up with Merry Christmas as my favorite Xmas album of all time and searched for years for the CD version and had given up until I found it together with the later 1966 on Complete! It is wonderful to be able to listen to it now without all the scratches and skips. It is the favorite in my household and now everyone has this CD in my family. I collect Christmas CD's buying several new ones each year, but this is my favorite still. I still favor the 1963 LP although I enjoy the bonus of having the 2nd 1966 Xmas release as well. I too cannot believe this CD doesn't recieve more reknown and airtime play during the holidays. The last bonus track is one of the most hauntingly beautiful melodies I have heard.

The album comes in two parts: The first section is songs specially written for the band by the bandleader, the second part is covers of classic christmas songs.

I find the first part worth the price of the CD, as the songs reflect the band in its best light. The second part, while decent, seems more workmanish and rote.

Most interesting are the liner notes, which trace the various members through the years. One would almost be surprised to find that Kenny Rogers was once a member of this band -- and that he went on to create the psychadelic-country band "Kenny Rogers and The First Edition."

All in all, a good thing to purchase

Ever since 1963, The New Christy Minstrel's "Merry Christmas" album has been a favorite tradition. . . not just at Christmas, but all year long . . .any time of the year! This is an album of the most delightful songs and music. It's spirit is so infectious and uplifting.

From the opening track of "O What A Beautiful City" . . . through the lovely, "One Star" . .. the Christmas Scripture narrative, "Tell Me" .. to the haunting violin strain of "Christmas Trees" . .. this album brings back so many childhood memories of family gatherings and holidays . . .and helps to create new memories for the future.

This cd also contains the tracks of the 1966 New Christy Minstrel line-up and their Christmas album . . . . and though the approach and style is so different . . it is a worthy compliment to the original New Christy Minstrel contribution . . .it is the sound and feel of Christmas. My favorite track of this portion of the album (though i enjoy them all) is "Silver Bells".

If you love Christmas . . .if you love Christmas all year long . .. or if you just love good music all year long, get this cd collection. You will thank yourself . . .and you will thank The New Christy Minstrels!

I actually bought this CD to get one song that I always liked, but never seemed to be played on any stations around here at Christmas time. (Unlike some other horrible selections that they seem to play relentlessly). But I ended up liking the entire batch included. Although there are a couple of traditional carols here and there, the majority of the recordings are more folksy originals that are rare to find. Its a must have for a truly traditional home spun Christmas...