Sings Christmas Carols

Mario Lanza (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000007OMS
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,715 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. First Noel

2. O Come All Ye Faithful

3. Away in a Manger

4. We Three Kings of Orient Are

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem

6. Silent Night

7. Deck the Halls

8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

10. Joy to the World

11. O Christmas Tree

12. I Saw Three Ships

13. Guardian Angels

Editorial Reviews

Available for the first time on compact disc, this classic Living Stereo album was recorded in 1959. Mario Lanza, the "American Caruso," sings a selection of carols, including "The First Noel," "Away In a Manger," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear."
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: LANZA,MARIO
Title: LANZA SINGS CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Street Release Date: 10/01/1999
Domestic
Genre: XMAS CLASSICAL VOCAL

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Contractual obligation spoken here, May 8, 2004

By 

Janelle M. Masters "kitandkaboodle" (Hastings, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sings Christmas Carols (Audio CD)

Mario Lanza was truly one of the greatest tenors of all time. No one before him or since has intrepreted Christmas music with the same religious fervor, the same passion, or the same touch that he brought to the most beloved hymns and carols. So why this poor excuse of a CD - recorded just months before his death- would ever be released when so many of his better recordings - made earlier in his career - are available, is a mystery. Those looking for the best Christmas offerings by Lanza need look no further than "Christmas Hymns and Carols," or the later, more available release, "Christmas with Mario Lanza," which contains all the same recordings plus a few other offerings as well (including "Deck the Halls" and "I'll Walk With God). The problem with "Lanza Sings Christmas Carols" is that, like another reviewer here notes, there is little passion in these recordings. It sounds like a collection of one-takers recorded in a single session. For example, in the recording of "God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen," Lanza forgets the meter on the line "and unto certain she-e-perds.." and instead sings it "unto certain shep-errrds." It sounds clumsy. Later in the song, his emphasis on "how that in Bethlehem wazzzzz born" is misplaced and almost comical. I think he did add a few verses to some of the recordings (it's been a long while since I heard this CD), but for the most part, they're just re-hacked remakes that don't even come close to replicating the versions recorded before them. The worst ommision on this CD is Lanza's immortal recording of "Oh Holy Night," which, to my knowledge, has only one version available. My guess is that Mario knew he couldn't improve on perfection, so he opted to pass on an attempt to re-record what to many has become his signature song. I realize that even a bad Lanza is better-than-average by most people's standards. Even so, if you like this CD, you'll be pleased to know that there are better offerings out there to hear.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Why oh why?, September 12, 2001

By 

DJ McGovern "Derek McGovern" (Busan, South Korea) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sings Christmas Carols (Audio CD)

BMG's decision to release this album is unfathomable. With the exception of the disastrous Lanza on Broadway LP (mercifully unavailable - at present - on CD), this was the tenor's worst album. Recorded around the time of his first heart attack, Lanza was in very poor spirits indeed when he recorded this, and it shows. Unlike the Broadway album, his singing is not downright bad; it's simply devoid of the tenor's trademark warmth and vitality. O Christmas Tree is, perhaps, the only exception on this otherwise gloomy offering.

For an infinitely more sparkling alternative, check out the singer's beautiful Christmas with Mario Lanza CD. It's available through Amazon, and reviewed on these pages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Stereo alone can't make a great album, November 6, 2007

By 

Peter W. Many (New Orleans, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sings Christmas Carols (Audio CD)

What many people may not know is that Lanza recorded the Lanza Sings Christmas Carols LP twice: A mono version in 1956 (RCA # LM-2029), recorded in America, and a stereo version in 1958 (RCA #LSC-2333), recorded in Italy. Unfortunately, Lanza's performance isn't nearly as good the second time around. The first album offers Lanza at his very best, putting his entire heart and soul into every note; on the second album he sounds like he's singing in his sleep. However, substandard Lanza is still miles ahead of the competition, and both albums are now available on CD for fans to compare for themselves: The second album is available under its original title, and the earlier album has been reissued (with several bonus tracks) as Christmas With Mario Lanza (RCA # 6427-2-RG, with the cover showing a smiling Lanza against a red backround).