Christmas Story

Point Of Grace

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1999)
• Original Release Date: August 31, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00001R3H8
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #157,420 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Point of Grace has won the competition for bringing fresh inspiration to an old genre. With an enlivening collage of traditional hymns, rambunctious carols, and five new original songs, the beauty of the season is masterfully combined with the significance and majesty of the event that it celebrates. A Christmas Story delivers the pure magic of the season wrapped in a package of classic Yuletide sounds ranging from the bustle of horns and strings to the tranquility of harps and bells. These songs transcend the usual holiday tribute to happiness with a joy that is infectious. The hymns, which can too often be reduced to seasonal anthems, are freshly endowed with an element of spiritual intimacy. Still drawing on the vocal texturing that has put them on tour with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, these four best friends emanate an ethereal quality through their sound. Precisely executed melodies and harmonies give the perception of one voice, while the gentleness of their tone recalls the comfort of holidays past. This is a beautifully crafted and produced album. It is not just Christmas music--the spirit of Christmas itself is imparted throughout the disc. --Israel Button

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Birth of a Classic for the Season of Birth, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

So many of the great Christmas discs, the tried and true Bing's and Nat's were already old by the time I first heard them. This 1999 release may well be the first time I've heard a new Christmas disc that I anticipate playing 30 years from now. It is that good and that distinctive. I write that w/o even being a fan of this group prior to this release. They work in a genre I normally don't listen to, but maybe I should have been. The Medlies of Let it Snow and Sleigh Ride, as well as the coupling of Carol of the Bells with What Child is This are both master works. Santa Claus is Coming... and Jingle Bell Rock may well be the definative recordings of those songs. I collect Oh Holy Night's and put their effort in the all time top 5. Can't compare their Joy to the World to anyone elses b/c the arrangement and vocal work make the song their own. Lastly, the end track Not That Far From Bethleham is the perfect ending for any Holiday Disc in that it leaves the listener with something to ponder in the silence that follows.

An incredible display of artistic talent and insperation.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent Christmas option!, October 4, 1999

By A Customer

Point of Grace has scored another big hit with the release of A Christmas Story. There is something on this album for everyone, as we all have different musical tastes. If you like contemporary music, you'll enjoy "When Love Came Down", "Emmanuel, God With Us", "Light of the World", "One King", and "Not That Far From Bethlehem". If you like symphony style classics, you'll love "Carol of the Bells/What Child is This", "Joy to the World", and "O Holy Night". If you are into a jazzy sound, you will find "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" appealing. If you like celtic or midieval sounds, you'll savor "How Great Our Joy" and "Coventry Carol". If Glen Miller big band 40's style appeals to you, I think you'll like "Let It Snow/Sleigh Ride" and "Jingle Bell Rock" which is plain fun to listen to and sing along. "Angels We Have Heard on High" is a new rendition of an old hymn, and it gives a little spice to the familiar. If you want a new twist to classic songs or if you are hungering for some more gorgeous Point of Grace harmony and interest, A Christmas Story should be included in your Christmas stocking!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Album for the Holidays, December 3, 1999

By	Cape Lover (Plymouth, MA) - See all my reviews

This has become the one Christmas album that I listen to all the time this year. I became familiar with Point of Grace with Steady On, and have been waiting for this ablum for what seems forever. It is a well blended mix of Christmas standards you expect on an album of this type (Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town), and new arrangements. The way their voices blend with the harmonies can take your breath away, and their version of O Holy Night brings tears to my every time I hear it. Michael Tait is exceptional on O Light of the World, and it is a surprise to hear him when you first listen to the album. And Emmanuel God with Us shows the true meaning of the holidays. I haven't stopped playing this album and don't plan to. It's a beautiful addition to any Christmas music collection.