Customer Reviews

Miss Patti's Christmas

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you follow Patti Labelle's career, you know she has gone through many different phases. I've read the other reviews of this CD and here are my thoughts...
Patti is 63 now, of course her voice is not what it was 10 0r 20 years ago. Every singer who ages has to adapt their style and the way they approach a song. With that said if you are expecting Patti's powerhouse performances from the 80's and 90's your not going to find them here. A woman's voice is not going to be what it was at age 40 or 50.
However that does not make this CD a bad one by any means. This is definitly a softer side of Patti Labelle that in my opinion compliments Patti's voice today.
Whether or not Patti hits all the notes she used to, she is a true artist in the sense that she takes a song and makes it her own. Her artistic ability is definilty showcased on this CD, it is interesting and shows yet another dimension of this incredible talent. Her voice is still beautiful and she sounds in good form on this CD.
I thought this CD was excellent and a HUGE improvement from "The Gospel According to Patti Labelle." It is well produced, well engineered and i think it has mass appeal. Patti proves you dont have to be loud to be soulful and Patti's voice on this production reminds me of Patti's time with Epic Records on cuts like "Find the Love". This isnt the first time
Patti has shown her softer side and made use of her beautiful "head voice".
This is definitly worth the buy for this christmas season. My favorites at first listen were
"Holidays Mean More To Me" "Its Going to be a Merry Christmas"
"Do you Hear What I Hear" and "Nativity". The best cut on the CD to me is
"Every Year, Every Christmas" there is no question, Patti is singing this one from the heart! My least favorite track was "What do the Lonely Do At Christmas".
Patti Labelle of 2000 may not be the Patti of the 80's and 90's, but to me this CD proves to me Patti is not going anywhere any time soon. She continues to adapt herself as her voice changes and time and time again proves herself as a true artist with many colors.
If you dont have it already, Patti's other Christmas CD "This Christmas" is also a must have.
Enjoy!

This is a must have for all Patti and fair weather fans. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Really hit a home run with the instrumentation and Ms. Patti's voice is off the chart! Phenomenal This is the Patti i've been waiting for!

This CD is absolutely phenomenal. You can play it all year round!!! It has remakes of songs by The Emotions and Luther Vandross, timeless classics with a spin that only Miss Patti could do, and original songs that are sure to be new classics. You'll definitely want 3 copies. One for home, one for the car, and one for work. Happy Listening!!

First, anyone who thinks Patti Labelle isn't delivering her infamous notes on this CD must be DEAF!!! Patti's delivery is (yes) softer but she's also belting out the notes when/where the song calls for it without sounding like she's over doing it. I guess some folks want Patti to yell her guts out from the moment she opens her mouth! This collection of Holiday hits by Miss Labelle are the truth!!! Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are the masters in deed and I only wished they would've wrote and produced Patti's entire "When A Woman Loves" album! Production wise, I haven't been too thrilled with Patti's last few albums. But with this Holiday CD, Jam & Lewis, give you continuity from song to song. "Christmas Jam" & "Do You Hear What I Hear" are AWESOMELY radio friendly and sound very Alexander O'Neal, Cherrelle and Sounds of Blackness-ish. The whole album is a winner people! I'm very surprised that Jam & Lewis haven't done a Xmas CD on Janet yet. Everything on my body that I can cross is crossed that Patti will continue her musical affliation with Jam & Lewis for her next contemporary album especiallly after that masterpiece they produced for Chaka Khan!!! Miss Diana Ross, are you listening??????????

I realize I have to walk on thin ice, but I want to be honest. I love Patti to death. I think the album is decent. A few more faster pace songs would have been nice. But I do prefer the louder side of Patti. For those who say her voice isn't up to parr, must not have been to her concerts this or last year. I saw her last year and have watched video clips from this year's concert. She can still blow. I think she is experimenting with other parts of her range. True singer's do this so they can continue to grow. If she doesn't sound up to parr sometimes, it's because she actually sings, as opposed to these lyp-singers. And no matter how skilled you are, no one sound great all the time, not even when your young. She did say she recorded this album fast, so it does seem rushed in some spots. I'm not suggesting that she should over sing, but she could have wowed us on Do You Hear What I Hear and Away in a Manger and Luther's song. She is STILL capable ot that. She is probably trying to please those who says she screams. I think the album could have been better with better arrangements and a less mellow Patti. But I still think it's a good album. Reviewer's shouldn't bash other reviewers for their opinions. Some people like mellow music, some don't. But when a singer is not normally known for mellow (unlike Regina Belle, who is great), then their core fans will find it hard to adjust too hearing a mellow side. Just becuase one matures's doesn't mean they have to put you to sleep. Keep singing Patti!!!

I really like the production on this christmas CD by Patti Labelle. She always does her best work with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. I hope her next CD consist of a lot of their material. I'ts great that they are working with veteran artist Patti, Chaka Etc. Get this cd.

OLD FRIENDS GET TOGETHER FOR A REUNION. Throw a log on the fire and let this play all night long for your holiday parties.


Jam and Lewis came up with the perfect balance on this holiday project to appeal to all the holiday media outlets. Some may say that this is just a tad bit too Adult Contemporary. Folks may miss the Wailing Diva Patti. Patti is in perfect voice and shows her full powerfull range throughout this project.

Holiday music tends to be in heavy rotation if not exclusive on Adult Contemporary stations from mid november till december 26th. To make a Wailing Diva Patti Holiday Cd would mean R and B airplay and no Adult Contempary support.

This is an excellent Patti release and I would rank it on a top ten list. One of my favorite cuts is "Jesus Oh What a Wonderful Child" Patti is accompanied by the Soul Seekers who also worked on the Gospel According to Patti Labelle. Again as with the Gospel Project it was a collaboration, not a "I am singing background for Miss Patti". I loveeee the balance that was achieved with this cut.

I loved "What do the Lonely do at Christmas". The strong harmonies in this cut remind me of earlier female groups including Labelle and their L. Nero project.

With each new release you never know what Patti is going to throw atcha. Some may say a curve ball but I think this team hit one out of the park.


I started my top ten....

#1 Bette Midlers christmas Cd from Last Year
#2 Miss Patti's Christmas 2007 release
#4 Josh Grobans Noel 2007

buy these 3 and your collection is well on the way.

A must for all dedicated Patti fans.It will be top of my play list at christmas.The only critisism I have is that were no pictures of Miss Patti on the inside of the booklet.

Patti LaBelle has truly become America's Iconic Diva. Ms. Boom-Boom is still receiving standing-ovations at the young age of 63. NOBODY electrifies a crowd, works a stage and a LIVE microphone like Patti. Even Amazon.com's critic stated that Patti is UP there with only a handful of Legends. After 45yrs of recording Patti has earned the right to be called "R&B Royalty" and there's no argument that she fits the bill...


Honestly I have to separate my Love for Patti and my "Prejudiced/Biased/Protective" feelings for her from My honest feelings about the CD..

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis put together a great roster of Songs for Patti to cover. The Music production is wonderful and I like how a few of the tracks have that "Live Band" sound...Patti's vocals are clear and soulful as ever but once you listen to the CD the first-go-around you will notice Jam & Lewis wanted Softer-vocals from Patti on each track..This is probably the fist CD from Patti where she uses her Falsetta-range in abundance.

Even though Patti is FAMOUS for her Strong-Scorching Vocals,endless energy and sustained high notes Jam & Lewis wanted an "Easy Listening" theme from track 1 all the way to track 10. Patti sings each track in what I call "Patti-Fashion" but in her softer range...


"Christmas Jam" & "Nativity" are uptempo tracks that should be sent to radio when December hits.

"Jesus, Oh what a wonderful Child" (Featuring Gospel Greats 'The Soul Seekers') is a stand-out track..Patti allows The Soul Seekers to sing most of the lead which is odd..

"Every Year, Every Christmas"is a decent but not a solid Tribute to the late-great Mr. Luther Vandross who was like a brother to Patti. Jam & Lewis kept the arrangement of this cover the same as Luther's version. Vocal wise I don't think Patti did her best. I must admit the vocals are weak.

"Away in a Manger"..Once again Patti's vocals are weak and somewhat "lazy"..It's as if she recorded the song while she was riding in her Limo...

Like myself, Diehard Patti LaBelle fans will like a few of the tracks and supporting Patti 100% is what Patti's-Butterflies do BEST..I know that Patti's up-coming 2007 holiday TV/Talk-show appearances will have her singing her heart out of the live versions of these songs & she will shine for Patti is the ultimate LIVE performer Hands-down......

The thing I have to do at this point is recommend to the buyer Patti's 1st Christmas CD "Christmas Collection:20th Century masters"...The CD is excellent and R&B radio plays several singles from the CD every holiday season including "What are you doing New years Eve" where Patti gives an awesome rendition of this holiday classic..... Patti gives a wonderful cover of "This Christmas" that she sings with ease..The Diva Queen is soulful & romantic with her delivery of an original christmas song "Twas Love"....

Patti LaBelle's "Christmas Collection:20th Century Masters" can be purchased here at Amazon.com and I PROMISE you its worth the money...

I love holiday music and this CD is by far one of my favorites! Miss Patty has something on this CD for EVERYONE! There is gospel, traditional and some classic favorites done only the way Miss Patty can do. You have to add this to your holiday music collection!