Customer Reviews

Lou Rawls Christmas

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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The best of this year's Christmas releases is Lou Rawls Christmas. The last thing the barrel-chested soulman recorded before his death on the feast of the Epiphany this year (January 6), it's the swingiest seasonal album since Ella wished us a Swinging Christmas back in 1960. And the band is even hotter, an eleven piece, four-horn freight train of soul, jazz and brassy power that delivers a bagful of familiar classics in colorfully vibrant wrappings.

You'd never know that Rawls was dying from cancer when he recorded these tracks; in fact, he hadn't told anyone of his diagnosis. He sounds as potent as ever, stamping "The Christmas Song" with his own distinctive vocal mark, driving "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with that carefree nonchalance so familiar from the Garfield specials. The arrangements are well conceived--"Deck the Halls" decked out as a samba, "Winter Wonderland" cool and clean, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" announced with a trumpet fanfare before settling into a gently swingin' groove. Rawls' touching take on "Silent Night" is even more poignant when you realize that it was the last song he ever recorded.


originally published in Port Folio Weekly, 12/12/06
copyright © 2006 Port Folio Weekly. Used by Permission.

Either you're bron with genius talent or you're not. It's really that simple. Mr. Rawls was bron with IT and a lot more. Though he is well known for his classic R&B songs, you'd think Christmas was his greatest love from hearing this album. It's no coincidence that this was his last album ever. It's real;y terrific, both from a vocal point of view and from a production standpoint. The arrangements swing and the production sounds amazing. Though he sings the classics, the sound of this album is very much of today, well, timeless....

Lou Rawls' didn't sound sick on this album at all and truly brought emphasis to Jazz/R&B for the Christmas sound. He really did justice for the majority of the holiday songs on the album and for me personally, it was an extraordinary purchase, one that I don't regret. It's a must have for anyone that wants to add to the Christmas cheer.

but to be truthful I ordered that wrong album and I didnt like this as much as I had thought i would . So Christmas is over and I might get the one I really wanted next year