Customer Reviews

Holly & Ivy

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

All of the songs are great on this, but Natalie's gospel like "Joy To The World" is the most rousing and uninhibitedly joyful rendition I've heard. I won't say it's the best, because there are several outstanding recordings of the carol, each of which bring out different perspectives. But this one is guaranteed to lift anybody's spirits.

The CD starts on a joyful note, and on the very first cut, you might find yourself singing "Jingle Bells" right along with her. However, she will touch your heart with her soft rendering of "Silent Night" and "The First Noel" among others. Two of the songs are closely identified, of course, with her father: The sentimental "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot" and "The Christmas Song". Both are very beautifully presented here.

This is an essential Christmas CD.

I'm so impressed with this CD! From the jazzy, 'Jingle Bells' and gospel 'Joy To The World' to the quiet and silmple 'Silent Night', Natalie Cole does an incredible job of interpreting these songs in a way that makes them feel classic and contempory at the same time. It finds that impossible balance of not sounding new or old, but just like it has always been. If you want a classic sounding Christmas CD that's isn't refferential, then you can do no better than THE HOLY & THE IVY! You'll also get to hear lesser heard songs like 'The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot' and 'The Holy and the Ivy' get the star tratment.

With so many Christmas music collections available, some on the cheap, it is still sometimes difficult to find a collection that effectively mixes both sacred and secular music, features great singing and musical accompaniment, and sounds fresh and not hackneyed. Outside of church or the symphony hall, I like my Christmas music on the jazzy side. Well, this collection, which rides on the heels of Ms. Cole's wonderful UNFORGETTABLE album, and which features the same production team, meets all of the above criteria. Ms. Cole possesses a beautiful, round, expressive voice, as well as a stimulating, jazzy feel that's a family legacy, as well as the result of rubbing elbows with some jazz greats in her youth, such as the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. She is also quite capable of rocking out. All of those assets are put to best use here to create, by far one of the best holiday music collections of recent years, and one that should retain a timeless appeal!

MY HIGHLIGHTS:

"Caroling, Caroling"
Not an overly perfomed song; beautifully executed here, and featuring a very good youth chorus. Swinging, joyful feel.

Christmas Medley featuring "Jingle Bell Rock" (a terrific, jazzy/soulful version), "Winter Wonderland" (on which the singer really grooves!), "Little Drummer Boy" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (both lovingly and tenderly performed, with a really original, big band arrangement for "Drummer Boy"). Flows beautifully and dramatically from song to song.

"A Song for Christmas"
Really exudes the warmth and expressiveness that are an innate part of Ms. Cole's singing. "No More Blue Christmases" is in the same vein, and appears to be an original co-written for this set by the contemporary ballad writer, Michael Masser, who's written other tunes recorded by Ms. Cole.

NONE OF MY HOLIDAY SEASONS GO WITHOUT SEVERAL SPINS OF THIS GREAT COLLECTION. MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I half-expected this to be a holiday version of Unforgettable. Not that that would have been a bad thing since Unforgettable was such a good collection. Instead, what Natalie has done is used her beautiful voice and some great arrangements to make standard holiday tunes her very own. Her Joy To The World is so uplifting and spiritual that you just wish it would go on forever. The fact that she did go back and use older holiday standards is great--but they don't sound old and, I doubt, they'll ever sound dated. She has created a classic that can proudly sit next to her father's Christmas collection.

"Thanks to you my Father and my Lord Jesus Christ through whom I can do all things which strengtheneth me. May this music carry a blessing in whatever way He sees fit." ~ Natalie Cole ~

If there's one Christmas song that I enjoy listening to all-year-round, it's the wondrous "A Christmas Song" by Mel Torme and Robert Wells. This beautiful carol was written forty-five years ago and still going on strong. It's timeless and classic. Simply put, it's the epitome of what Christmas is all about. It was the great singer Nat King Cole who first popularized this song. And now his equally talented daughter and chanteuse extraordinaire Natalie Cole sings it so splendidly in this album. This is one of the best recordings of Ms. Cole from my collection.

This is one of the Christmas CDs I would highly recommend. It's a perfect Christmas gift to any music lover. Celebrate the Christmas Season in style and make this CD a constant companion in your car, at work, at home or to any Holiday parties. The choice of material reflects the true essence of Christmas and made more so special with the elegance of Ms. Cole's delivery and renditions as well as the seasoned arrangers headed by Alan Broadbent and the expert musicians who made this recording one of the best Christmas albums of all-time.

You'll enjoy listening to the exuberance of "Jingle Bells," the solemnity of "The First Noel" and "Silent Night," the charms of "Caroling, Caroling" with chorus by the Children's Choir, the majesty of "Joy To The World," the radiance of a Christmas Medley of "Jingle Bell Rock," "Winter Wonderland," "Little Drummer Boy" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and of course the eternal beauty of "A Christmas Song."

"And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to you."

I once worked at a record store and was able to preview a lot of different christmas albums, but Natalie Cole's The Holy and The Ivy is by far the best I have ever heard. The whole album is entertaining, there are never any dull moments. Cole takes you on a fantastic ride from soft vocals such as in the "The Little Boy That Santa Clause Forgot" to the upbeat southern baptist type style "Joy to the World." If you have a great collection of holiday music or are trying to get one started definitly grab this hit.

Natalie has a very soft sounding voice that carries these old time favorites exceptionally. The songs always bring back childhood memories and Natalie brings out the best in them.

I really love this music. Natalie is so good. Such a wonderfully clear voice. I'm glad the holidays are over, too hectic. But, I'll sure be listening again next year.

This is a happy, classic Christmas CD and a must have for your collection. All the songs are very well performed but No More Blue Christmas and A Song for Christmas are quite beautiful.

Natalie's first Christmas album and probably her best--excellent! Great song selections, both new and old. What a classy lady. Be sure to check the companion PBS special "Holly and Ivy"-it's not available on DVD but you can still find it on VHS. You won't be disappointed!