Customer Reviews

A Disney Family Christmas: 18 Favorite Holiday Songs

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In addition to the Disney Characters, the main performers on this CD are LARRY GROCE and the DISNEYLAND CHILDREN'S SING-ALONG CHORUS. The adult chorale performers are the MIKE SAMMES SINGERS who frequently appear on Disney recordings.

Tracks, Songs and Singers:
1. Here Comes Santa Claus - Larry Groce, Mickey, Donald, Goofy & Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Mike Sammes Singers
3. Joy to the World - Larry Groce & Children's Chorus
4. Frosty the Snowman - Larry Groce
5. Sleigh Ride - Larry Groce, Mickey, Donald, Goofy & Children's Chorus
6. Away in a Manger - Larry Groce & Children's Chorus
7. Winter Wonderland - Larry Groce & Children's Chorus
8. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Children's Chorus
9. Jingle Bells - Children's Chorus
10. Twelve Days of Christmas - Larry Groce, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Clarabelle & Children's Chorus
11. Silver Bells - Larry Groce & Children's Chorus
12. First Noel - Molly Ringwald
13. Deck the Halls - Larry Groce & Children's Chorus
14. O Christmas Tree - Larry Groce & Children's Chorus
15. Here We Come A-Caroling - Larry Groce & Children's Chorus
16. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas - Children's Chorus
17. Silent Night - Larry Groce & Children's Chorus
18. From All of Us to All of You - Jiminy Cricket & Mickey Mouse

--Song samples from this CD are available here on Amazon at: Disney Presents a Family Christmas

--9 of these song renditions were taken from the 1979 LP "Disney's 13 All-Time Christmas Favorites" (#s 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17)

--'The First Noel' sung by Molly Ringwald (#12) is the only discordant song on this CD! It is totally out of place here; I'm not sure why it's included. (We just skip over it when we play the CD.)
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There is a UK import "Christmas With Disney", available in 2010, which includes some of this older Disney Christmas music: Christmas with Disney
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Larry Groce and the Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus are the same performers on all 4 of the Disney Children's Favorites CDs (some of which are now available as Amazon MP3 downloads)

DISNEY CHILDREN'S FAVORITES:

CD = Children's Favorites 1 and MP3 download = Children's Favorites, Vol. 1

CD = Children's Favorites 2 and MP3 download = Children's Favorites, Vol. 2

CD = Walt Disney Records : Children's Favorite Songs, Vol. 3 : 23 Classic Tunes and MP3 download = Children's Favorite Songs Volume 3

CD = Walt Disney Records : Children's Favorite Songs, Vol. 4 and MP3 download = Children's Favorite Songs Volume 4


Larry Groce & Disneyland Children's Chorus also appear on Disney's "PARDNERS" CD.

Although I am possibly the greatest fan ever of Disney Children's Favorite Songs (see my reviews for Vol. 1-4), this CD disappointed me. I confess I expected Disney Family Christmas to exhibit the same sterling qualities that were so evident in the four volumes of Disney Children's Favorite Songs; however, in my opinion, it was sadly lacking. The songs are all Christmas classics, and Larry Groce and the Disney Children's Choir also perform this collection. It doesn't have the same high quality of original interpretation that was so appealing in the Disney Children's Favorite Songs collection, and I could not in good conscience give this album the same great reviews I gave the other four. It's Larry Groce, but I don't think he was given carte blanche to create the masterpiece he was capable of. The CD is OK, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it. Such a shame, in view of his other work on his other Disney albums. Altogether, it was rather disappointing.

I bought this album as a present for my wife, who lost her copy several years ago and was disappointed because she could not play it for our children. It is a wonderful album. Both of us remember listening to it over and over again when we were young. This really made the season for her, as she nearly wore out this copy before Christmas day.

The only downside is that this copy seems to have some volume difference between tracks. Those with the Disney characters are very loud, while the others are quiet. Neither of us recall this issue on our original album, so it may be a default with this copy.

I would highly recommend for those who want a Christmas album for the whole family.