Customer Reviews

Gene Autry Christmas

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

 

 

This collection of Christmas songs contains some genuine classics: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (which Autry introduced), as well as "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Santa, Santa, Santa" (both co-written by Autry). (Conspicuously missing is "Santa's Comin' in a Whirlybird," a bouncy children's favorite guaranteed to drill a hole in your head. It's on other Autry Christmas compilations, so its absence from this one is a bit of a mystery.)
Autry's greatest strength as a singer is that he never succumbs to easy cynicism; regardless of his vocal shortcomings (or perhaps because of them), he always sounds sincere. His paeans to Santa Claus are informed by a casual, unforced belief in the spirit of Christmas. The best tracks feature gentle, casually sophisticated Western-swing arrangements that should delight children and parents.
Unfortunately, this particular album has more than its share of duds. By and large, the worst songs on this compliation also have overproduced arrangements. The duets with Rosemary Clooney (except for "The Night Before Christmas Song," which is a little gem) are mostly busts, as are the songs with cutesy, childish lyrics ("Where Did My Snowman Go," "If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas"). To be fair, Autry delivers these songs as well as anyone could, but the question remains: Why did they have to be included here?
Three stars.

This CD was eclipsed in 2004 by Varese Sarabande's "Complete Columbia Christmas Recordings." 27 tracks, well mastered, fully annotated.

I got this CD for $5.00 at a store. It contains most of Gene's signature holiday tunes. Here Comes Santa Claus (which he wrote) and Rudolph are here, of course. Frosty The Snowman is another Autry favorite and I personally like his version of Jingle Bells. It includes the verse "Now the ground is white, go it while you're young . . ." You don't hear that verse too often.

I also like The Night Before Christmas Song where he teams up with a young Rosemary Clooney. But the one song I like that's not included is Up on the Housetop. Gene's version includes all the verses and I think it's one of the best versions of the song ever done.

Gene left us in 1998 at age 91. Ironically, fellow cowboy Roy Rogers also died that same year. Shame that Gene never lived to see his baseball team Angels win the World Series, but we have his music and movies to remember him by.

This is the best Christmas cd by Gene Autry. I would like to find this one for gifts.But I have mine thank goodness.

All of the best Christmas memories come back when I hear these songs again.