Night Before Christmas

Rabbit Ears (Series), Van Dyke Parks, Mark O'Connor, Meryl Streep | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 7, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Madacy Records
• ASIN: B00001XDSS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #379,181 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #37 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Children's Music

Track Listings

1. The Night Before Christmas - Meryl Streep/Sarah W. Neil

2. Here We Come A-Caroling - Christ Church Cathedral Chor/Stephen Darlington

3. Good King Wenceslas - Christ Church Cathedral Chor/Stephen Darlington

4. Silent Night - Christ Church Cathedral Chor/Stephen Darlington

5. Carol Of The Bells - Mark O'Connor/Glenn Worf/Brent Mason/John Barlow Jarvis/Mark Casstevers

6. The Cherry Tree Carol - Mark O'Connor/Glenn Worf/Brent Mason/John Barlow Jarvis/Mark Casstevers

7. O Christmas Tree - Mark O'Connor/Glenn Worf/Brent Mason/John Barlow Jarvis/Mark Casstevers

8. We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Mark O'Connor/Glenn Worf/Brent Mason/John Barlow Jarvis/Mark Casstevers

9. Emanuel - The Edwin Hawkins Singers

10. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Meryl Streep/Peter Kent/Joel Derouin/Mathew Cooker/John Asededo

11. Away In A Manger - Meryl Streep/Peter Kent/Joel Derouin/Mathew Cooker/John Asededo

12. Go Tell On The Mountain - Edwin Hawkins Singers

13. Joy To The World - Edwin Hawkins Singers

14. The Holly And The Ivy - Peter Kent/Joel Derouin/Mathew Cooker/John Asededo

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Families will love nestling in to hear this beautiful version of Clement C. Moore's classic poem Twas the Night Before Christmas. Followed by carols and original music written and performed by musicians including the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, renowned fiddler Mark O'Connor, and arranger Van Dyke Parks, acclaimed actress Meryl Streep recites Moore's poem with a range of warmth and vocal flexibility. As with her work on The Velveteen Rabbit, Streep makes this classic come alive as one of the coziest story readings on record. Streep's sweet, motherly voice sings lead on "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" and "Away in the Manger." A lovely addition to the Rabbit Ears catalog, The Night Before Christmas, steeped in tradition, balances both spiritual and cultural customs into holiday celebration. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I listen to this every Christmas Eve., May 29, 2006

By 

L. M. Anderson "movie addict" (Peterborough, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Before Christmas (Audio CD)

Tradition in our family (as I am sure in most families)is to read "The Night Before Christmas" every Christmas Eve. A Few years ago I was given this Rabbit Ears production for Christmas on Tape. I was blown away by it. Now instead of reading it we put the tape on and listen to Meryl Streep's beautiful rendition. The music that follows is full of something for everyone. All the songs are classic Christmas carols but some are done modern and some sound more traditional. This is my favorite Christmas Recording and every year I can't wait to listen to it again and again. I have been looking for it for years on CD as my tape is worn out and was so glad to find it on Amazon. I had to buy it from a Market Place Seller but it was the best experience because it arrived in Canada only 7 days after shipping and didn't cost me a fortune either. Thanks Amazon.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars didn't like it -- not even stereo, December 14, 2004

By 

George Hooper (Ardmore, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Before Christmas (Audio CD)

The first track is Meryl Streep reading Clement C. Moore's classic story--not too bad, but, although I think Meryl Streep is one of the best actresses ever, I didn't like her take on the poem--a matter of taste I guess.
The remaining tracks are songs performed alternately by her and other musicians. Meryl is an OK singer, not tremendous. The other tracks are an odd mix of very traditional (Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford--wonderful!) to modern, gospel-jazzy (Edwin Hawkins Singers--I'll pass) and country-classical (Mark O'Connor and others, think "Appalachian Journey"--very nice).
Why did Rabbit Ears/Madacy Kids! go to all trouble to produce this CD, and even point out that the "UV22 Process" was used because it "retains all the detail of the high-resolution source, preserving the soundstage and tonal balance of the original" when it's in mono?
I mainly didn't like the grouping of styles, and the obvious attempt to stretch a five-minute story into a full-length CD. I think there are tons of better Christmas choices out there. But maybe your kids wouldn't be so picky!