Customer Reviews

Perry Como Christmas

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As his first full stereo Christmas album "Season's Greetings from Perry Como" was being released in October, 1959, Perry recorded two very special new versions of the "Ave Maria" and "The Lord's Prayer" as a guest of The Robert Shaw Chorale ( Male Voices ) which are two hallmark hymns of his entire recording career. Although these two hymns were released originally on a limited distribution stereo single, all subsequent re-releases were either monaural or fake stereo. The difference in the hearing of these two recordings re-mixed and remastered in REAL Living Stereo is so remarkable that one might consider them to be different versions. Perry's performance, coupled with the Male Voices of the Robert Shaw Chorale, in stereo to the left and to the right, are certain to send a chill up your spine. His singing is both assured and assuring and the sequencing of "Ave Maria" directly following his legendary "Story of the First Christmas", itself over ten minutes in length, is seemingly as it was meant to be. Both of these hymns are being re-released this month within another compilation "Perry Como Sings Songs of Faith and Inspiration" but this Christmas compilation is definitely highlighted by the inclusion of "Ave Maria" at it's closing. Also included within this compilation is a first release of Perry's "The Bells of St. Mary's" which was recorded during the 1962 sessions for one of Perry's hallmark albums "By Request" produced by Hugo and Luigi with Mitchell Ayres' Orchestra and the Ray Charles Singers. A beautiful song long buried within the RCA Victor Archives and now seeing the light of day for the first time ever! This compilation was not intended to be "just another Christmas record" as it's contents will reveal. These recordings are pure Perry Como and represent the songs Perry liked to sing and record during this very special time of year. With more than 75 minutes of music, there's something here for everyone, no matter how one celebrates Christmas, for people of all faiths. The recording quality is excellent.

If you bought this for just 3 songs: 'Christmas Eve', 'All Through the Night' and 'Love In A Home' - you would be happy, as was I. This includes the unreleased 'Bells of St. Mary's'. But, there is something for everyone on this CD - and it is NOT just a Christmas CD, but has tons of songs about family, life, AND holidays. With the recent current events, an album like this is something to really make you think. The songs were personally selected by Perry's biggest historian, Mr. Townsend of Canada. There are several original 78 RPM versions of songs instead of the later stereo recordings; his 1974 song 'Christmas Dream' sounds crisper than ever digitally remastered. A neat and insightfull collection of a talented artist. Something for everyone to enjoy on this over 1-hour-long CD.

This album contains the first re-release of Perry's 1959 "Ave Maria" in more than 40 years. To think that this beautifully recorded hymn sat in the RCA Archives for all those years is absolutely amazing. How many more recordings are there locked up? The companion hymn "The Lord's Prayer" has also been released within the Buddha compilation recently released as well. Bravo BMG! Another real "find" within this compact disc is the previously unreleased "The Bells of St. Mary's" recorded by Perry in 1962 within sessions for his "By Request" album, 40 years ago this year, and it too was locked away all this time! A beautiful collection of songs superbly performed.

This CD is another excellent effort from BMG. It includes a wide selection of Perry Como's Christmas recordings from the 1940's right through to the 1980's. All properly compiled, sequenced and re-mastered to a very good standard. Extensive and engaging liner notes are written by George Townsend.

Appearing for the first time on CD are a number of tracks... in particular "What Love Is Made Of" (an alternate take to the original 1967 45 rpm single - in STEREO; only previously released within the 8-Track Version of Perry's 1970 RCA Victor Album "It's Impossible"). Also, "(The) Bells Of St. Mary's"; recorded during the sessions for Perry's 1962 RCA Victor Album "By Request" but originally unreleased; the recording makes it's debut on this CD. "Love Is Spreading Over The World" also makes it's debut appearance on CD here; released originally as a 45 rpm single in 1970, with the flip-side "Don't Leave Me".

The sources of this CD are Release Master Tapes which have been re-mastered to a very good standard. This, along with tracks that have been carefully compiled and sequenced, make this CD excellent value for money.

I bought this CD because I wanted to hear again the songs that were on my dad's Perry Como Christmas records, and this seemed to have the largest collection. What I didn't realize when I bought it was that the songs I remembered hearing, such as "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays," "O Holy Night," "Here We Come A-Caroling Medley" and "Ave Maria" were all recorded in 1959, whereas the bulk of the other songs on this CD were recorded in 1968 or later (one is even 1982)and these songs have a very different sound and style which I did not enjoy at all. Other people may enjoy these songs; however, if you're just looking for the traditional Christmas songs that helped Perry Como become famous, be aware that many of the songs on this CD are done in a completely different style.

Okay, I admit it: I'm prejudiced. I love Perry Como, and have, ever since I was old enough to know who he was, and what he did. Everyone loves a lover, and everyone should love a singer, if that singer is the fabulous Mr. Como. Part of the joys of Xmas, if you grew up in the 50's, 60's, or 70's, were the Xmas specials with Perry Como or Andy Williams. It's pretty hard to find any DVD's of Perry these days, but there are some very nice CD's available, and this is one of the best. I just got it today, and I have been playing it ever since I pulled it out of the box. Fall in love with life, love, and Christmas. You just can't help it with the mellow, fabulous voice of Perry Como playing in the background of your life. There are some non-Xmas songs on this, but since they include Turn Around, long a favorite of mine, that doesn't bother me one bit. It truly can be Xmas year round if you have this wonderful disc. Love you Perry C!

Another great Perry Como Christmas album. Most of these songs can be found on previously issued CDs, but it still makes an excellent compilation. Some of the songs are not "Christmas" per se, but they still fit in. And the song "What Love is Made of" - issued for the first time ever on CD - is a Como classic. Enjoy!

This Album plays over seventy minutes. The sound quality is excellent. It is not just some compilation of old songs and hits. Great lengths were taken to get original first generation recordings which were remastered to produce a state of the art sound.

This is more than a music album. It is faith, love and devotion. People of all faiths can enjoy the emotions and memories of the song selections. A listner of this offering will contemplate values of a family, responsibilty of being a parent, joys of weddings and the bitter sweet memories of a daughter passing from a child to motherhood. But, yes this is a Christmas album and the message of christmas is never done more beautifully than by Perry Como in song.

Perry Como was a recording star for over fifty years, known for being relaxed. Just listen to his voice! Why worry? This album should become THE CHRISTMAS ALBUM. If you think you have heard every Como Christmas song, you may be in for a pleasant surprise!

While anthology oriented compilations are well and good, all of the tracks on Perry's beloved '68 LP (with Perry's face in the wreath on the cover) were gathered from the same recording sessions, lending to its compilation a certain warmth of continuity. Unfortunately, it's still unavailable to the best of my knowledge. You'll need this and two other CD's; Perry's "Greatest Christmas Songs" and "I Wish it Could Be Christmas Forever" to replicate the '68 LP on CD (except as noted *), then program your CD changer (or record) as follows:

SIDE 1:
a) Christmas Eve.....................................................A Perry Como Christmas (track 7)
b) Do You Hear What I Hear....................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 6)
c) Christ is Born......................................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 5)
d) The Little Drummer Boy *...................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 20)
e) There is No Christmas Like a Home Christmas.......Greatest Christmas Songs (track 10)
f) O Holy Night.......................................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 13)

SIDE 2:
a) Carol Medley.......................................................A Perry Como Christmas (track 1)
b) Silver Bells..........................................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 7)
c) Some Children See Him *................................... Greatest Christmas Songs (track 15)
d) Toyland..............................................................I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever (track 2)
e) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 1)
f) Ave Maria...........................................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 21)

* Please note that there are only two noteworthy exceptions to the original LP: a) "Drummer Boy" now has Perry singing the first verse, whereas on the take (or mix) of the original LP
the Ray Charles Singers sang the first verse w/o Perry; b) I took the liberty of including the spiritually charged "Some Children See Him", which (tho it was recorded in the same sessions) was
omitted from the LP. Be sure and look up the lyrics to this (once) lost treasure on George T's Perry Como website, his extensive and loving tribute to this great singer and great human being. Oh,
and you'll be pleasantly surprised how much better the '68 album sounds on CD. Merry Christmas!

I was looking for a Perry Como album after listening to his contributions on the Time-Life Christmas series and wanting to hear more. His voice seems absolutely made for Christmas music, and there is much here to delight you. The 10 minute story of Christmas is very interesting and moving as is his rendition of Ave Maria. He also has several lighter numbers, Santa Claus is Coming to Town in particular is an excellent example of music from a different genre.

I highly recommend this CD, but with one word of caution. There are a number of songs that are not Christmas songs, and it has gotten to the point that I just skip past them (a nice part about CD's!). Some of them are forgivable - Turn Around and Bells of St. Mary's both work just fine, but Father of Girls and a few others just get to the point where you want to shout - why is this here?!!? If you don't mind them - or you are a Perry Como fan who likes all of his music, by all means go for it. If that will bother you, however, look into his Greatest Christmas Songs CD. However, it will not have all of the Christmas songs from this CD. So... a note to all music publishers, combine these albums, scratch the completely non-Christmas numbers and add Perry's Bless This House (the title might be something else - it is hard to find anywhere). Then you would really have an outstanding album!