Spirit of Christmas

Ray Charles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B000003432
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,701 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. What Child Is This?

2. The Little Drummer Boy

3. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

4. This Time of the Year

5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

6. That Spirit of Christmas

7. All I Want for Christmas

8. Christmas in My Heart

9. Winter Wonderland

10. Christmas Time

11. Baby, It's Cold Outside [*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The cover of this holiday classic pictures Ray Charles with a sleigh-full of gifts. That's an appropriate image, since he's so generous with the soulful sounds contained inside. Ray's gravelly growl may turn sweet on such merry romps as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," but he doesn't fully hit his groove until he delves into the set's more grown-up material. He gives "Winter Wonderland" a soul transfusion the likes of which you won't see on many televised Christmas specials, and really lights a fire under "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Now that's the spirit! --David Sprague

Product Description

The Spirit of Christmas features The Genius' very own inimitable spins on classic hymns, carols and other seasonal material. This digitally remastered version of Ray Charles' only Christmas album features the bonus track "Baby It's Cold Outside." --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have!, November 18, 2000

By 

"thehamanns" (Bel Air, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirit of Christmas (Audio CD)

Ray Charles is one of the greatest artists of any time and this cd should be in your collection if you truly want the best Christmas collection ever. While "Christmas Time" shows up on many compilation cd's, the best secret here is the song "That Spirit of Christmas" which can be heard in th movie Christmas Vacation. This one song alone is worth the price.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bring Ray home for Christmas, April 21, 2004

By 

James D. Isherwood (Randolph, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spirit of Christmas (Audio CD)

I searched high and low for the song that accompanied Clark Griswold's watching of his old family movies during my favorite movie "Christmas Vacation"...Well...I found it on this album. Not only did I get the song I was looking for, but also a bunch of other songs that were equally as enjoyable. You can't go wrong with Ray charles, he is truly a master. And to have him over for Christmas is a true blessing! Don't miss this one! You won't be sorry! A true Chrismas Classic

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Genius of Christmas, December 5, 2004

By 

Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spirit of Christmas (Audio CD)

This album by Ray Charles was recorded in 1985. It's odd that he hadn't recorded a Christmas album before then. The songs here are given jazzy arrangements, with most songs being four or five minutes long. Of course, Ray's singing is great, as it always is. The bonus track here, which is a terrific duet with jazz singer Betty Carter, was recorded over 20 years earlier than the rest of the CD. It's a shame that Ray is no longer with us, but at least we have albums like this to remember him by.