Customer Reviews

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I will take this CD over Martina McBride's and I love Martina's CD. This is the best. I rated Martina's my 3rd favorite behind John Denver's and Vince Gill's but I think this moves up to number 1. Yes Two Step is on it and it should be. It's not the version with Michael Murphy. This is the original, re-done but she didn't change anything. Christmas Through Youe Eyes is a great original song and Baby, It's Cold Outside is one of my favorites. You know how everybody always "screams" on that one part of Oh Holy Night, not Suzy. I'd give this 10 stars if I could. The voice of an angel!

If you want plenty of carols, look elsewhere - there is only one here. There are plenty of albums and I've reviewed a few of them myself including (for country music fans) one by the Gatlin brothers. For whatever reason, I am reminded of a different Christmas album in which one reviewer expressed a wish for an album that could be enjoyed by people of all religions and none. Well, this is that album. O holy night is the only carol here but I guess that every Christmas album has to have at least one.

Most of the songs here are often-recorded standards, but Suzy is one of country music's finest singers and she delivers them superbly. The backing is restrained with about six musicians on each track. This may explain why some people feel the album sounds flat - they were expecting the full Nashville treatment with a much fuller sound.

Suzy begins by setting the mood with Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Other standards include Sleigh ride, Do you hear what I hear, Winter wonderland, Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, Baby it's cold outside (with Delbert McClinton), O holy night and Jingle bells. Another oldie, the rarely recorded I heard the bells on Christmas day, makes a welcome appearance here.

Mr Santa is an adaptation of Mr Sandman, utilizing the same tune but with different lyrics. I had not heard this before I found it here but I'm sure it must be a cover version.

The other two songs were co-written by Suzy with Doug Crider. Through your eyes, a lovely ballad, was new to me when I found it here. Two step round the Christmas tree, a song to get those toes tapping, has been recorded by Suzy twice before, once as a duet with Michael Martin Murphey and once solo. The duet with Michael first appeared on his excellent Cowboy Christmas album. Both versions were included on different volumes of A country superstar Christmas, though the duet is listed incorrectly as a Michael solo. While I generally prefer those earlier versions, I was pleased to discover that Suzy had re-recorded it for this album. The song is a classic.

I really enjoyed this Christmas album although I can understand why others may not. It is not traditional enough for die-hard traditional country fans while it does not have a full enough sound for some contemporary country fans. Being somebody with broad musical tastes, it matters not to me what kind of country this is. In any case, I find Suzy's voice and her choice of songs to be irresistible. Who needs a wall of sound with a voice like Suzy?

I have been waiting 2 years for this cd to come out, I had heard a couple of the songs, Mr. Santa and Two step around the Christmas tree, I was not disappointed. Suzy's voice is as strong and sharp as ever. This is a great holiday Cd. All 12 songs are a treasure, If you are a Suzy Boggus fan I highly recommend this cd for your holiday collection.

I've always thought Suzy has the best voice in country music. And that voice is perfect for traditional Christmas songs. Suzy turns in magnificent renditions of "O Holy Night" and "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day." "Through Your Eyes" is a song written by Suzy is about a child's perspective of Christmas. It's one of the few modern Christmas songs that can stand up with the classics. If that's not enough, "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (with Delbert McClinton) is worth the price of the album by itself. This isn't a disposable pop-oriented Christmas album, this is a Christmas album that you'll play every year.

Suzy Bogguss brings her clear soprano voice to tackle all our favorite Christmas songs. She stomps out some Western swing on "Two Step 'Round The Christmas Tree", and easily croons "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". Another great song is "Through Your Eyes"- a touching song about how children see the wonder of Christmas that us adults some times forget. Most impressively are the religious songs- "O Holy Night" and "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day". Suzy puts her own stamps on those, and they become to her what "White Christmas" is to Bing Crosby. Suzy has a very easy on the ears voice and style. And she puts just the right amount of emotion into the song without being overbearing or over singing it. I love this album. Its a must for me to play it at Christmas time (or any time!). Along with Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" album- this is the quentessential Christmas album for fans of well done Christmas music.

Here's a Christmas playlist that's bound to get your toes tappin' and your soul stirring. Suzy's vocals are crisp, clear and note perfect, and the instrumentation is exceptional. This is a beautifully mastered collection. I heard "Mr. Santa," to the old swing beat of "Mr. Sandman" on the radio and went searching for the cd. When I located it on Amazon, what I discovered was a cd treasury of Christmas songs. This is a mood builder for the holiday season. Every song on this cd is a winner.

This is a CD for all adults and children. Suzy plays to the fun and spirit of Christmas with "Rudolph the red nose raindeer" -the sound is contemporary and traditional. Suzy adds her own twist and humour on a lot of the tracks for example - "Rudolph had a very shiney nose", - and the backing vocalists sing "like a light bulb".

I really think that Suzys beautiful crystal clear vocal quality can be exploited on tracks such as Holy Night and Heard the Bells On Christmas Day - these renditions give you goose bumbs. Unlike a lot of singers she sings it how it is. How many other Divas sing and reach for inaudiable notes. Suzy exploits qaulitys of sound that are simply beautiful - similar to those heard on her classic previous songs, Somewhere Between and Night Riders Lament. That girl can certainly hit those notes.

Two Steps around the Christmas Tree is a fun Ho Down and Through Your Eyes is a rich and warm ballad. I feel that this album is not fancy or full of modern beats. It is not overly sentimental or naff. It is a taditional timeless classic that will be played every year. Suzy obviously loves christmas and infects us all with her spirit. There is no other tradional album as good for all occasions.

This is a CD for all adults and children. Suzy plays to the fun and spirit of Christmas with "Rudolph the red nose raindeer" -the sound is contemporary and traditional. Suzy adds her own twist and humour on a lot of the tracks for example - "Rudolph had a very shiney nose", - and the backing vocalists sing "like a light bulb".

I really think that Suzys beautiful crystal clear vocal quality can be exploited on tracks such as Holy Night and Heard the Bells On Christmas Day - these renditions give you goose bumbs. Unlike a lot of singers she sings it how it is. How many other Divas sing and reach for inaudiable notes. Suzy exploits qaulitys of sound that are simply beautiful - similar to those heard on her classic previous songs, Somewhere Between and Night Riders Lament. That girl can certainly hit those notes.

Two Steps around the Christmas Tree is a fun Ho Down and Through Your Eyes is a rich and warm ballad. I feel that this album is not fancy or full of modern beats. It is not overly sentimental or naff. It is a taditional timeless classic that will be played every year. Suzy obviously loves christmas and infects us all with her spirit. There is no other tradional album as good for all occasions.

What a delight to discover this album that isn't afraid to celebrate the Merry aspect of the season. Too many contemporary Christmas albums come off as just plain dull. Suzy reminds us of the joy and merriment this season provides and her enthusiasm is most welcome. I've been waiting for years to hear a full album of holiday favorites, and this release doesn't disappoint. The choice of material is smart and that voice of hers is so identifiable; so appealing! And the album cover is a delight, too! The standout track is clearly her charming redition of 2-step 'Round The Christmas Tree. But I also love her clever reworking of Mr. Santa and the lovely title track. This recording will definately find a home in my holiday collection, right next to other great Christmas records by female vocalists like Karen Carpenter, Peggy Lee, Barbara Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald, and even Petula Clark! It was well worth the wait, Suzy!

This is one of the best Christmas albums I've bought in quite a while. Suzy has such a great voice and it's really shown off in some of these numbers, particularly "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" and "O Holy Night". We get a little swing with "Mr. Santa", a little humor with a playful rendition of "Rudolph", and some western with "Two-Step 'Round the Christmas Tree". A very listenable collection for anyone who enjoys holiday music.