Customer Reviews

The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Oaks have recorded several Christmas albums but this was the first, recorded at the peak of their popularity in 1982. What makes this album different from so many others is the composition of the group - four men with very different voices who managed to harmonize well.

The contrasting voices mean that even standards like Silver bells, White Christmas, Silent night and O holy night sound distinctive. However, most of the songs here are either original or covers of obscure songs, like Eddy Raven's Thank God for kids.

The set begins with the infectious Jesus is born today (It is his birthday). This is followed by my favorite track, Christmas is painting the town, an up-tempo fun song featuring a children's chorus. Next comes another upbeat song, Christmas Carol, about a woman who enjoys singing Christmas songs. The tune reminds me of the Kenny Rogers classic, Coward of the county, but that's no bad thing and anyway it's a great song. Santa's song is another up-tempo, fun song. Happy Christmas eve, Thank god for kids, Little one and Mary Christmas are other great songs.

The mood is upbeat throughout and this is a great album for country fans that may also appeal to a wider public.

I understand many people are looking for the original "Christmas" CD. I could not find it anywhere until I went to the Oakridgeboys.com

This is a great album. My wife's family listened to it for years on LP. My wife and her parents each have a cassette, but those are quickly wearing out. Now I'm having a horrible time trying to find it on CD. Everyone seems to have this album confused with Christmas with the Oak Ridge Boys, which has a different playlist. Only one or two online music stores that I've seen even have it listed correctly.

This is a favorite at our house all year round. My son loves "Jesus is born today!" and I will have to constantly play it for him.

The Okaridge Boys have been a part of my family's christmas tradition for as long as I can remember. My mother has this title on record and audio cassette, but with no record player and a cassette that doesnt work well, I think it's about time we replaced it with a CD copy. This is the perfect gift for anyone who likes the sound of country music.

This is the one Christmas album that I play from October through January. When I came back, in early January last year, from a holiday trip to Paris, it was a delight to start up my car and have this album begin playing. This is Christmas music at its VERY best. While some holiday albums tend to be a bit sad and brooding, this one will make you feel invigorated. I especially like "This is His Birthday!" It is an album of celebration with four of the best voices in the business.

I was introduced to this tape at my present job. It is so up lifting and has great toe tapping beats. Every song on this one is excellent. I've been trying to get the CD for a couple of years and don't get a jump on it soon enough. I'm looking of it now, on Christmas in July. Bring on the Music! Christmas is extra special in our house too, because we were married Christmas Eve! I have loved Christmas for A Very Long Time! It's my special time of year, and this CD adds to the spirit of it all!

This CD is wonderful. My Mother had a cassette with these songs on it and she played it and I remember her singing. She is gone now... Passed 6 years ago, but hearing these songs again has me in tears... I forgot how much she loved to sing and how much she loved Christmas. I am not sure if this is helpul or not, but the songs are beautifully sung and are easy for someone with a deeper voice to sing along with.

When I was growing up, my parents played a variety of music, but I always knew when Christmas was here. Mom would pull out the Oak Ridge Boys' Christmas cassette (God, hard to believe how that statement shows my age!), and we would settle back into the couches, watching the lights on the Christmas trees and listening to the joyous strains of "Jesus Is Born Today".

Sometimes when you grow up, you totally leave behind the music of your youth, but the Oak Ridge Boys aren't one of those times. To this day, when November 1st rolls around (hey, at least I wait until after Halloween), I pull out Oak Ridge Boys' Christmas to ring in a new year.

1. Jesus Is Born Today: What a rousing way to start Christmas! This is one of the group's many original songs, and I can't think of a better way to start up the Christmas season. There is so much power and excitement and joy in this song, that it makes me happy from the very moment I hear it. 5/5

2. Christmas Is Paintin' the Town: Another original song, the Oak Ridge Boys are joined by a group of kids to sing about the wonderful signs of Christmas coming. It uses imagery like the famous "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" but does so in a way that is upbeat and fun, like you would sing if you were walking around the mall. It's not my favorite song, but it is so upbeat and joyful, it's hard to be upset when it's on. 4/5

3. Christmas Carol: This is a slower, more introspective story song about a woman who sang Christmas songs for money. When I was younger, I didn't care for this song for personal reasons; but now that I'm older, it can bring a tear to my eye. 4.5/5

4. Silver Bells: A gorgeous version of the classic song. I love how all the men's voices perfectly blend in this song. It may be rendered traditionally, but it is done so well, I consider it one of the best versions of the song. 5/5

5. Santa's Song: This one has more of a country feel, in my opinion. It's another original song from the viewpoint of Santa. Fun, but not my favorite. 3.5/5

6. White Christmas: Like with "Silver Bells", "White Christmas" is a pretty traditional rendition, but again, the Oak Ridge Boys do it so well, their voices meld together so beautifully, it is one of my favorite versions of this song. 4.5/5

7. Happy Christmas Eve: Gosh, this song is so gorgeous! I can't help but sing along to it when it plays. It creates an intimate, beautiful picture of a Christmas evening--one of those that I remember fondly from my childhood. And yes, it is another original song! 4.5/5

8. Thank God for Kids: This is a beautiful ode to the children of the world, for bringing awe and excitement to the boring world of adults. It's touching and sweet and, of course, beautifully sung. 4/5

9. Silent Night: When I was younger, I was sick of this song because of it's simplicity and how much I heard. Now that I'm older, I've really grown more appreciative of this beautiful little carol. The first verse has muted instrumentation, allowing the Boys' voices to ring out, but gradually the instrumentation swells as the verses progress. This version is one of my favorites. 5/5

10. Little One: This song takes the love for children and couples it to the Nativity story to produce a sweet song about the joys of waking up on Christmas to find everything is beautiful and joyful. I find it amazing they could couple a child's excitement for receiving Christmas presents and the birth of Jesus and yet not make it sound stupid or selfish or greedy. 4.5/5

11. Mary Christmas: This one is more edgy and has the most prominent electric guitars of all the songs on the albums. This is more of a love song, a song about getting your long lost love at Christmas (like the well-known "All I Want for Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey). 3.5/5

12. O Holy Night: As a teenager and adult, this has been my favorite Christmas carol. The soaring vocals, the deep, inspirational lyrics, the gorgeous background music. The Oak Ridge Boys' version of this song is good, but (and I know this is odd) I think their version of "Silent Night" is stronger, more powerful, and more poignant than "O Holy Night". It's still a good version, but pales in comparison to "Silent Night", in my opinion. 3.5/5

I find it astonishing that out of the 12 songs on this album, that all but FOUR of them are original Christmas songs--and not ONCE do you feel "out of the Christmas mood". So many Christmas albums are nothing more than the traditional, public domain Christmas songs, a sell-out to make more money (as if there isn't enough commercialization of Christmas already!). This one, I felt, put a lot more heart and a lot more effort into the making and the result was a truly original, truly amazing work of Christmas art. I start my Christmas season with it, and I recommend you give it a go this Christmas too.

Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*

Of Course, this album is no secret to those of us who grew up listening to the lp. Few of us are lucky enough to have the cd! Every song is wonderful and for many or most of you, they bring back special memories of Christmas past. This album is perfectly balanced with spiritual numbers, both soft as well as upbeat, holiday fundamentals, and fun originals as the quartet alternates solo's and blend in beautiful harmony. The Oaks seem to have the formula for creating perfect holiday albums (MCA's 1986 "Christmas Again" and Capitol's 2001 reissue "I'll be Home.." are both exceptional). Each release consists of a wonderful original written by tenor Joe Bonsall. The two MCA releases ('82 and '86)are superior to the Capitol recording but all three are essential. (...) Here's to hoping the Oaks produce a 4th installment to their holiday masterpiece collection.