Customer Reviews

Magic of Christmas

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just wonderful!....nothing more to say...except Cole picks the best of Christmas songs for this CD and the production is Top Notch.

Natalie Cole is a beautiful person and I've long admired her musical work. This Christmas album is no exception. Her silky but strong voice really serves her and us well in songs like "My Grown-Up Christmas List", "Sweet Little Jesus Boy", and "The Christmas Song" which she, thanks to modern technology, sings with her father Nat King Cole. While I don't usually don't care for the jazzed up or modernized versions of traditional Christmas songs I have to admit that Natalie really turned out a nice piece of work with her upbeat version of "Sleigh Ride".

The London Symphony Orchestra really compliments Natalie's voice. Songs like "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Christmas Waltz" are two songs in which the Symphony stands out.

Lastly, Natalie Cole has selected songs that focus on the actual Christmas story and or on the spirit of good well that are part of the birth of Christ. She hasn't tried to reinvent any of these songs or alter the arrangement to the point that they are no longer recognizable. She has used her talent to provide listeners with beautiful vocalizations of these Christmas songs and the London Symphony Orchestra for the beautiful arrangements, music and background vocals.

What can I say? Natalie has produced yet another extraordinary collection of tunes that will be heard for years to come. This is a Christmas CD that is completely different from her Holly and Ivy yet just as good if not better. She shows grace and elegance unsurpassed. You will not regret the choices made with this CD. Natalie takes some old Christmas favorites and makes them her own. Including Sleigh Bells which she does in a style that is Unforgettably Natalie. Grab your copy!

Once again, Ms. Cole displays class and sophistication on her new Christmas album. Nobody can do to a song what this lady does. I have said it before and I will say it again. Natalie is in a class all by herself. Her voice is so clear, so sweet, so strong. What else is there to say. A great voice with great musicians, how can you go wrong.

I enjoyed Ms. Cole's CD. I have always listened to her father's CD during the holidays and now I can listen to hers too. It was quite enjoyable.

I originally bought this item because I love the song "Mary Did You Know?" Natalie Cole's voice only made it that much more enjoyable. The best surprise on the CD was a duet with her father. I really love the sound of their two voices together.

I just want to express how satified I am with this CD. The music was great. I'd recommend to any body who loves Christmas music like I do. Keep up the good work on your excellent service!

Each Christmas season there is a glut of single-artist and multi-artist compilations vying for your attention (and dollars), but if you see this one, which first entered the scene in 1999, and you are thinking about adding to your Christmas music library, my advice would be to grab a copy.

In addition to beautiful renditions of traditional and familiar classic carols like Hark The Herald Angels Sing, O Tannenbaum, and Carol Of The Bells, Natalie and The London Symphony Orchestra outdo themselves on Mel Torme's The Christmas Song, Sammy Cahn & Julie Styne's Christmas Waltz, and Leroy Anderson's immortal Sleigh Ride. My particular favourite, however, is their handling of David Foster and Linda Thompson Jenner's My Grown-Up Christmas List, which became a hit single in 2003 for Kelly Clarkson.

The sound quality is perfect, although the fold-out insert is confined to a re-listing of the tracks showing composers and two brief paragraphs from Natalie in which she acknowledges those who worked with her on the album, PLUS another full-length shot of Natalie in that white gown.

The wonderful father/daughter duet The Christmas Song alone is worth the cost of the CD. But the whole CD is great. Natalie's Grown Up Christmas List is one of the best versions--heartfelt, sincere (get out your box of kleenex, you'll need it). When she sings this song it is a touching plea for peace and increase human kindness. She doesn't just march through the lyrics in this song (or any song she performs, for that matter)--she LIVES them. I challenge you not to cry after the modulation of the song and the choir comes in.

What makes Cole's version of Sleigh Ride so great is the change of tempo. She has fun with the song, and that makes it a fun song to listen to.

Also recommended:

Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography--this book shows that Natalie Cole is not just a great singer, she is an incredible, amazing, and courageous woman--an awesome example of strength.

Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--remember the box of kleenex you got for Natalie's Grown Up Christmas List? Well, save some tissues for this book.

Almost all the cuts focus on Pop-MOR Standards. There is another Oh-Let's-Bring-Back-The-Dead-Duet with her Dad (Nat 'King' Cole) on "The Christmas Song", yes this worked once on "Unforgettable", but to keep doing this it gets to be a little stale or why just simply do a Complete Duet Project with Natalie and her Dad? (Hmmmmmmmm, Something to think about, who knows maybe it could be a Grammy winning project?). Standout cuts are: "Sleigh Ride", "Mary, Did You Know" & "Carol Of The Bells". Now understand, this ain't the type of album to get your Christmas Party started, but for some real nice Office Christmas Party this would work well...Wine, Cheese & Crackers.