Customer Reviews

Spirit of Christmas

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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

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.

Some of the classic Christmas songs put to an upbeat Jazzy mix that only Ray Charles can do. This album is a little known secret that will be a great addition to your Christmas CD collection!

Please make no mistake; this is one of the greatest Christmas sets ever compiled. If you like anything by Ray Charles, or if you even "kind of like" rhythm and blues or jazz, make this the one Christmas disc you buy this year. The album is noteworthy for many reasons - the excellent mix between standards and more obscure cuts, the originality of the arrangements (especially on the standard tracks), and the overall passion evident in the playing and the singing (by everyone). Ray Charles has a history of inspired performances, and this set is no exception. I found this disc in a cut-out bin in the late 1980s, and was very skeptical about it. I loved it on the first play and have loved it more with each additional listen. I have many, many Christmas CDs, and this is in the top five.

This is one of the top 10 Christmas albums to own. A great variety of tunes and my 5 year old daughter loves it too, especially Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Buy this CD now and enjoy it during the Holiday season.

This album is beautiful. It's pretty much what you'd expect; classic Christmas songs done in Ray's ever-soulful style. It's a nice change from the typical Christmas albums, and it's one everyone can always seem to agree on (the traditionalists get to hear the songs they like, but the anti-traditionalists get a jazzy twist on them). Wonderful!

I have had this set for some time&it is one of those Albums that you play during the Holidays&you can play at any time because Brother Ray brings the Soul on this Set as He always does.

Surprisingly, this 1985 album is Ray Charles' only Christmas album. Recorded with a sizzling band and guests that include trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, saxophonist Rudy Johnson, guitarist Jeff Pevar, and the Raeletts, this is (despite the wintery cover photo) a warm and soulful album of Christmas and holiday songs. Charles and his co-arrangers (James Polk, Larry Muhoberac and Bill McElhiney) stretch out across soul balladry, jazz, horn-lined swing, choral harmony, and blue country. There's a lot of style packed into this album's ten tracks. Concord's reissue (the first in twelve years) adds the Ray Charles/Betty Carter duet "Baby it's Cold Outside" to the original album, extending the running time to 47 minutes. This is a solid shot of rhythm and soul for your holiday party. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

Ray Charles always did things right; and he certainly didn't miss a beat on this album! He's in excellent form here and the songs we get are very high quality control music to say the least. There's not a dud in the bunch; and that's grand. The remastering job produces crystal clear sound and I like that artwork. My only disappointment is that the running time is a bit short at just about 46 minutes.

"What Child Is This" features Ray handling complex tempo and key changes like the pro he always was and will remain! Ray's voice sounds great and he sings this with all his heart and soul--and how's about that musical arrangement? "Little Drummer Boy" has a nice backup chorus--not that ray ever really needed any backup; but they do sound good anyway. The melody is very creative and it makes "Little Drummer Boy" a highlight of this CD. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" has Ray swinging brightly to make this number shine; and it all holds its own very well.

"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is another classic tune that gets a creative treatment from Ray and the others; I really like this rendition of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." "All I Want for Christmas" sparkles when Ray Charles sing this with great sensitivity; this is one awesome song and only Ray could deliver it this well! The music fits in perfectly with Ray's vocals, too. "Christmas in My Heart" is quite memorable; Ray delivers this without letting go of a single superfluous note; it warms my heart every time I hear this song!

"Winter Wonderland" has Ray swinging gently with a really fine, soulful musical arrangement that works wonders for this song; and this all makes "Winter Wonderland" another highlight of this album. "Christmas Time" is very pretty and the album ends nicely with Ray Charles and Betty Carter doing a sublime duet on "Baby, it's Cold Outside."

Ray Charles may not have made a lot of holiday albums in his time, but please rest assured that this CD is a stunner all the way through. I would highly recommend this for anyone's holiday music collection.