Edwin Hawkins Singers - Christmas

The Edwin Hawkins Singers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 9, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Buddah Records
• ASIN: B000009TKC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,416 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Time for ANY Christmas, March 7, 2003

By 

D.V. Lindner "D.V. Lindner" (King George, VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edwin Hawkins Singers - Christmas (Audio CD)

I managed to find myself a mint condition vinyl version of this set in 1997 - lucky me, and wonderful to see it in the indestructible CD form too. If the packaging of this one is as skimpy as the one rendered for the CD of their 'Oh Happy Day,' LP, I've got lots of info for you here.
Three songs are not strictly Christmas tunes. But they bow toward gospel and they blend well: `I Believe,' `Pray For Peace' (Soloist: Francis Williams) and the group's version of Bob Dylan's 'Blowing In The Wind,' which is probably the most optimistic reading of his lyrics this song ever got. If it's possible to 'sing' a reassuring smile, soloist Shirley Miller, via some generous ad-libbing, certainly manages it.
Then we get five wonderful, undisputed Christmas classics, performed superbly.
Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas,' while not a hymn in the strictest sense, lines up nicely with the songs that are, under Hawkins' direction and with a solo by Tramaine Davis. Norma Jean King delivers a fine solo on 'What Child Is This.'
Fittingly, the verses of 'We Three Kings' are sung by a male trio of Walter Hawkins, Reuben Franklin & Ronald Thompson while the whole choir comes thundering in spiritedly for the chorus.
Finally, there are my two favorites here.
Solemnly and reverently 'Oh Holy Night' is delivered with organ notes that will certainly give any sub-woofer a workout and a solo by Ruth Lyons that's every bit an emotional reckoning with her every listener as was her work on 'Joy, Joy.'

The Edwin Hawkins Singers version of 'Silent Night' beggars my command of the English language to describe perfection. Instrumentally, only a sparkling piano (Hawkins himself, no doubt) and deep organ notes stand out but the choir's work would grace any church, any denomination. The male and female parts are added tenderly and distinctively to the left and right channels and, though I've had a copy of this album (always!) since 1971, the soaring soprano of Gayle Smith's solo on this song still goose-bumps my arms when I listen.
I'm convinced I simply couldn't find the Christmas 'spirit' any year now, without this album. I hope I never have to. As much as I've been able to research the Buddah label's LP catalog numbers - this one was Buddah 5054 - record buyers have had this available to them since 1969. You've waited long enough, haven't you?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Edwin Hawkins Singers - Christmas, December 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Edwin Hawkins Singers - Christmas (Audio CD)

Excellent Gospel Christmas Music

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, October 11, 2008

By 

Richard B. Cook "Brother RIchard" (Washington C.H. Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Edwin Hawkins Singers - Christmas (Audio CD)

I love this but isn't missing a song on the album..I do believe that OOH CHILD is supposed to be on this...Please correct me if I'm wrong. Have a God bless day...