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5.0 out of 5 stars
3 CD Reader's Digest Christmas Music Compilation, January 31, 2009
This review is from: Home for the Holidays Box Set (Audio CD)
This is a nice compilation of 60 popular Christmas songs and music, first copyrighted and released on 3 cassette tapes in 1984. They must have been very popular, because in 2000 Reader's Digest Music re-released the entire compilation on 3 digitally remastered CDs (see the Reader's Digest catalog photo we added to this listing). We had bought the original 3-cassette set around 1987, and loved them so much that we actually wore the tapes out, then happily replaced them 14 years later with the new discs. We thought the CDs were so good that we bought more for Christmas gifts (despite the cost, around $60 at the time). There is just no comparison between the cassettes and the CDs - the Sony discs are rich and brilliant. The song & music selections are great, not just the usual sappy pulp that's always released on Christmas compilations. There's an interesting assortment, ranging from the traditional carols, to pop & a little rock'n'roll, as well a bit of country. Some pieces are exceptional: Mel Torme's performance of his own work "THE CHRISTMAS SONG" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) is outstanding (love Nat King Cole's popular rendition, too, but Torme DEFINED Christmas music in the '50s with this composition!). The Westminster Choir/New York Philharmonic "HALLELUJAH CHORUS" from Handel's Messiah (Disc 3 track 19) is a reforming experience!
*** NOT TO BE MISSED: Ben E. King's very cool rendition of "The First Noel" ***
We have updated the titles & artist(s) list here for all 60 tracks:
DISC 1 "HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS"
1 Christmas Auld Lang Syne - Bobby Darin
2 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Johnny Mathis
3 Christmas As I Knew It - Johnny Cash
4 An Old Christmas Card - Mickey Gilley
5 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Bing Crosby
6 Winter Wonderland - Ted Weems & His Orchestra, Parker Gibbs, vocal
7 Mary, Did You Know - Kenny Rogers & Wynonna Judd
8 Silver Bells - Engelbert Humperdinck
9 Yes, Virginia (There Is A Santa Claus) - Gary Theroux with Andrea Paslick
10 Blue Christmas - Hugo Winterhalter, His Orchestra & Choir
11 (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays - Robert Goulet
12 The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) - Mel Tormé
13 Pretty Paper - Roy Orbison
14 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Doris Day
15 Christmas Is ... - Percy Faith, His Orchestra & Chorus
16 Merry, Merry Christmas - New Kids on the Block
17 We Wish You A Merry Christmas - B.J. Thomas
18 Our Winter Love - Bill Pursell, His Piano & Orchestra
19 Twelve Days Of Christmas - Fred Waring & The Pennsylvanians
20 I'll Be Home For Christmas - Marty Robbins
DISC 2 "HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS"
1 Here Comes Santa Claus - GeneAutry
2 White Christmas - The Drifters
3 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Kate Smith
4 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jimmy Boyd
5 Santa Claus Is Back In Town - Dwight Yoakam
6 Jolly Old St. Nicholas - Maurice Chevalier
7 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
8 A Marshmallow World - Arthur Godfrey with the Chordettes & the Cherry Sisters
9 Frosty The Snowman - Gene Autry with the Cass Country Boys
10 Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer - Elmo & Patsy
11 The Merry Christmas Polka - Dinah Shore
12 'Twas The Night Before Christmas - Art Carney
13 Jingle Bells - The Pied Pipers
14 We Need A Little Christmas - The New Christy Minstrels
15 Bow-Wow Wants A Boy For Christmas - Red Buttons
16 Sleigh Ride - The Fireside Singers
17 Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Sherman
18 Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Gene Autry
19 I Just Can't Wait 'Til Christmas - Lu Ann Simms
20 My Favorite Things - Ray Eberle, Paul Kelly & the Modernaires, Tex Beneke & His Orchestra
DISC 3 "JOY TO THE WORLD"
1 Joy to the World - Mormon Tabernacle Choir; Philadelphia Brass Ensemble & Percussion; Alexander Schreiner, organ
2 Here We Come A-Caroling - The Ray Conniff Singers
3 Do You Hear What I Hear - Glen Campbell
4 O Little Town of Bethlehem - Mark Lindsay
5 We Three Kings of Orient Are - The Fireside Singers
6 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Randy Travis
7 Mary's Little Boy Child - The Caroleers
8 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - Gary Puckett
9 O Holy Night - Bing Crosby
10 Angels We Have Heard - Andy Williams
11 Little Drummer Boy - The Vienna Boys Choir
12 What Child is This - Liona Boyd, guitar & recorder
13 Caroling, Caroling - The Manhatten Transfer
14 Away in a Manger - Anita Bryant
15 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - The Everly Brothers
16 O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) - Pat Boone
17 Deck The Hall with Boughs of Holly - Mitch Miller & His Gang
18 The First Noel - Ben E. King
19 The Hallelujah Chorus - Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic, Westminster Choir
20 Silent Night - Maurice Chevalier
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