Customer Reviews

Season's Greetings

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4 star:		(3)
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The most widely distributed Perry Como Christmas album is based on a compilation of Christmas songs titled "Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music" which was first released as a 78 RPM Musical Smart Set in 1946 including 8 songs recorded in August of that year. In 1947, Perry's recording of "White Christmas" was added to this compilation while "O Little Town of Bethlehem" was dropped, and in 1956 the album was expanded to include 8 other tracks recorded in 1953 for another album titled "Around the Christmas Tree". This album was re-released on RCA Camden in 1961 with the loss of one more original 1946 track "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", and the resulting compilation has been distributed throughout the world ever since. However, Perry recorded two other full Christmas albums both of which earned Gold records for him in short order, the first of which was his 1959 Stereo album "Seasons's Greetings from Perry Como" followed by "The Perry Como Christmas Album" in 1968. Both of these albums, like the earlier "Merry Christmas Music" recordings, have become Christmas "classics" even though neither of them are as widely distributed as the earlier compilation. Comments favouring one compilation over another are almost always generational and any attempt to suggest that one version is better than another is an exercise in futility. The Perry Como record which was played at your Christmas is the one you will like best. BMG should release every one of them and let Perry's many fans take their pick. A good number would choose all three with all of the missing tracks and singles added! That BMG hasn't considered a definitive Perry Como Christmas Box set is simply incomprehensible.

This is our family's "Christmas Album". We have played it ever since the 1950s. Pure Christmas joy, with Perry's beautiful voice. I am so glad it is in CD format.

Despite its nondescript title (you never HEAR anyone wished "Season's Greetings," only READ it), this classic Perry Como LP is a model for holiday music. Helped by longtime musical arrangers Mitchell Ayres and mostly tasteful backup by the (not that) Ray Charles Singers, Como is as smooth, relaxed, warm, and unobtrusive a Christmas musical guest as he was a TV variety host during the medium's beloved early days.

Como and Ayres follow the model for most holiday music of the period; playful secular songs on one half, solemn hymns on the other. The highlight is Como's own Christmas standard, "Home For The Holidays," but he and Ayres also have fun jazzing "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (a wilder version was released as a 45 on RCA's Bluebird subsidiary). Como also delivers wistful, straight versions of "The Christmas Song" and "White Christmas" which suffer somewhat from lacking Nat Cole and Bing Crosby's respective jazz phrasing.

The hymns here suffer from Charles Singers overload, but Como still delivers tasteful, stately renditions of "Here We Come A-Caroling," "O Holy Night," and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." But the highlight is a medley joining "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," "We Three Kings," and "Silent Night" into a stirring narrative based on Como's introduction of "the most beautiful, the most exciting story ever heard...the story of the first Christmas." As Como guides you through the Nativity in story and song, you remember not only that holy night but years of Perry Como weekly TV programs and yearly specials.

Like Crosby, Andy Williams, and other traditional pop singers, Perry Como probably sells most of his music as Christmastime and has released several exceptional holiday LPs ("I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever," "Merry Christmas Songs," his live Christmas set in Ireland) . But "Seasons Greetings" captures him at his artistic and commercial peak, and is thus essential to any Perry Como or Christmas music collection

This is one of the best Christmas collection of music and Perry Como is the best (sorry, Bing, I like you too, but not as much as Perry!) I'm 46 years old and this albumn was on of the first ones I remember listening to at Christmas time. The rendition of "Winter Wonderland" is very dear to me, because I remember hearing this a lot in the department stores when I was very young and Christmas shopping with my mom. Perry Como had such a beautiful voice and it is at his best in this collection. Buy it, you won't regret it!

This recording has to have the most Christmas spirit of any recording I have ever heard. It is wonderful! It brings back so many memories and is now a major part of my music-loving three-year- old's Christmas season. The lead cut "Home for the Holidays" is my all time favorite recording. And the Christmas story is so vivid and inspired! Every cut is a classic. Get this one, you'll love it!

Forget Celine, Forget Justin, expel J-LO and forgo Britney...Perry Como at Christmas is like Santa down the chimney! For fans of good music of which there are many, this CD is a musical horn of plenty: Perry swings and sings oh so smoothly, and with those background singers this CD is positively groovy. So when you're setting the mood and you want to do it right, put on Perry Como on a cold winter night. And for those who find criticizing my review so easy, please be informed that I'm being intentionally cheesy!

You cannot put together a collection of Christmas music without including this one by Perry Como! Whether singing traditional holiday classics like White Christmas or God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen, his version of the true story of Christmas is priceless and should be listened to by adults and children alike! A major collection of Christmas music that should be put on your stereo as soon as your family and guests arrive.

Great traditional Christmas Album. I grew up listening to this every Christmas on my parent's scratchy LP. Great story of the first Christmas. He really brings alive the true meaning of Christmas for children. I can't wait to share it with my children. I have been searching for it for years in record stores without any luck. Thank you, amazon.com!

One of the best Christmas records ever recorded. They truly don't make them like this any more. The arrangements of the classic Christmas songs and carols on here stand alone. Do yourself a favor and get this for yourself and your family, especially if you have kids. The photographic memories didn't stop after finally hearing this album for the first time in it's entirety since I was a kid. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and the classic Home For The Holidays all wonderful arrangements reminiscent of a time when things were a lot simpler.

This is an album I grew up with and I was so excited to find it on Amazon. I still have the album, but it is so old and scratchy. I am thrilled to be able to replace it. Each and every song is very special to me. It reminds me of my childhood and spending time with my family. My favorite track is the telling of the Christmas story. Should you decide to purchase this you will be as pleased as I am, I'm sure of it!