Customer Reviews

That Holiday Feeling

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4 star:		(1)
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When I was kid in NY in the early 60s, my dad brought home a Christmas album (we played records then)called CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK. It featured conductor Arthur Fiedler, a wonderful opera singer whose name I cannot recall,and Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. If I'm not mistaken Steve & Eydie had 3 songs on the record, my favorite being HURRY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. To me, Steve & Eydie's rendition of this cheerful holiday song represented to me (a kid at the time)the "modern", swinging Christmas music that was becoming prevalent in the late 50s/early 60s.I played that song every Christmas but eventually misplaced the album but never gave up searching for it throughout the years. To have found it again and on this sensational cd with so many other great Christmas songs and great swingin' arrangements by 2 of the best singers in the business has been a joy. My wife and I play it constantly. If you like the Sinatra, Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee take on holiday music, this is the cd for you. It's the best!

I, too, grew up listening to this album in the '70's. I had forgotten how great it was. In fact, I had sort of forgotten Steve and Eydie altogether, until a co-worker received another one of their CD's for a joke birthday gift. To make a long story short, I was reminded of this holiday collection (which, incidentally, you can get for $20 at www.steveandeydie.com), which I promptly purchased and am enjoying very much while I write this review.

Steve and Eydie rock! Their martini-lounge arrangements are truly timeless, and just the antidote to what ails us in 2004. Every song is a delight and a pleasure. And the CD even has two bonus tracks! Buy it, play it, love it, and share it. I personally don't see how I ever spent so many Christmases without it. Ho-ho-ho!!!

Growing up in the 70's this album was my favorite holiday album. its fun, a little dated, but Great. Eydie sings in voice that ranges from giggling teenager to mature songsmith. Steve remains firm and enjoyable. This is not only a "Must Have" but is a replacement for that lost album of yesteryear.

I have enjoyed this for over 30 years. Up until now I had to listen to the vinyl version. It's great they finally made this available on CD and give you 2 bonus tracks too. This is Christmas Music at it's best. I just hope the radio stations add this to their playlist.

Growing up in the 60s and 70s, this was my family's favorite Christmas album. Even with the durable vinyl that Columbia Records used, I believe we went through three or possibly four copies.

With the advent of CDs in the early 80s, I gave up my turntable and sold off most of my LPs -- and of course soon missed this recording, since it wasn't to be found on CD. After dozens and dozens and dozens of listenings over the years, I could "hear" this album in my head, but of course it wasn't the same.

So I was overjoyed to find this recording finally remastered onto CD last year. Having become a musician in the intervening years, when I played the CD I experienced not only nostalgia from my childhood but also found that my now-trained musical ear immediately recognized these instrumental arrangements as being top-notch. Steve and Eydie were of course in exceptional vocal form when they made this recording [and the digital transfer is terrific], but since they are noted for being dedicated to having the right orchestral sound, they certainly chose an excellent crew [headed by the great Don Costa] when they made this recording. The musicians and the orchestrations are a perfect match for the vocalists.

The "big band" sound on some of the tracks is terrific, but the softer selections feature some really shimmering and subtle orchestral work. I won't do a track-by-track review, but here's a prime example: Anyone doing "White Christmas" always has Bing Crosby in their memory, since that song-and-artist are one of the classic partnerships. There have been a LOT of covers over the years, but they've all been lame attempts at being cheery and warm. However, the arrangement here for Eydie Gorme takes a decidedly different tack, starting with a decidedly bittersweet intro and going on to include some rapturous yet very subdued backing vocals. And Miss Gorme's vocals are passionate and full-bodied. The result is a version that is so unique and beautifully artistic that it more than holds its own if anyone insists on comparing it with Crosby's. No easy task, that.

Mr. Lawrence is of course terrific as well. His creamy baritone fits his solos very well -- a smooth sound, and a knack for lyric interpretation. Well, the same can be said for Miss Gorme, for both these artists have a true talent for really dedicating themselves to the song at hand [as opposed to the multitude of performers whose prime concern has been to make the song merely a tool to show off their voices]. On the numerous duets, they both make the fun palpable and engaging.

Given the plethora of pop music Christmas albums that have been produced over the decades, this really is one of the few that really feels like a holiday album. Other artists think merely warbling their way through holiday songs is sufficient, but Lawrence and Gorme are never anything less than a joy -- their infectious fun and heartfelt singing make this sound like a live performance rather than a studio recording. Even the use of sleighbells on one number, usually a very hackneyed, trite, and pedantic orchestral trick, actually contributes to the fun and doesn't sound remotely corny.

So if you like singers with exquisite taste and solid vocal technique, if you like Christmas albums that aren't hokey and workmanlike, and if you appreciate truly artistic and vibrant orchestrations, you will quickly come to love this fine recording.

Forget Amazon's limit of five stars for ratings -- this one gets ten stars from me.

Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme literally made beautiful music together; and any of their CDs prove it. This is one fine album of holiday songs by Steve and Eydie; they never falter as they do these songs to perfection--and beyond! The quality of the sound is excellent, too.

The CD starts with the title track, "That Holiday Feeling." "That Holiday Feeling" is upbeat, catchy and delivered wonderfully by Steve and Eydie. This cute number is easy on the ears and they sing without ever missing a note! I'm very impressed. In addition, Eydie Gorme's rendition of "White Christmas" charms me with its beauty; she delivers this with passion. Eydie truly sings her heart out as she always did. The strings and the percussion in particular make the music so sweet; but wisely the musicians never even try to steal the spotlight away from Eydie--she remains squarely front and center which is exactly where she should be! "Winter Wonderland" features a lovely duet; Steve and Eydie perform this with panache and it's very sweet and pretty.

Steve Lawrence sings "The Christmas Song" with all his heart and soul; Nat "King" Cole would surely have approved of Steve's wonderful rendition of this tune! "Baby, its Cold Outside" is a fun song that Steve and Eydie deliver faultlessly; they show just how polished they are as they sing this number! "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" comes from the MGM musical entitled "Meet Me in Saint Louis;" Eydie does great justice to this ballad and she pulls it off without a hitch--great! Judy Garland would have surely loved Eydie's rendition of this sweet song. In addition, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is a classic that has uses some good brass and the strings in the musical arrangement as Steve and Eydie do this one just perfect!

"Sleigh Ride" is another classic that Steve and Eydie ace as effortlessly as if it were mere breathing--but we know it really wasn't all that easy. Steve and Eydie's talents always carried them through; and that's special. Moreover, "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" gets the royal treatment from Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme; and they handle complex tempo and key changes effortlessly.

"What Are You Doing New Years Eve" was always one of my very favorite holiday songs; Eydie does this beautifully and I could never tire of hearing her sing this so very well. The album ends really well with "Happy Holiday;" this final song lacks nothing--this music is all THAT good! What a fine team Steve and Eydie were!

Steve and Eydie fans should get this for their collections. In addition, anyone who wants a sublime album of Christmastime songs would do well to get this, too. I highly recommend this CD; it's so sweet you just may find yourself popping it into your CD player from time to time all throughout the year as you push the "play" button yet again!
You won't be disappointed with this CD. Every so often Steve still performs live--catch him in concert if you can.

Again, I am sentimental. I miss the innocence an simplicity of my childhood and the holidays. This is one of my favorite Christmas albums ever. This album is a bit cheesy and a blast from the past in terms of the 60's lounge music arrangement but enjoyable. I love it. I highly recommend it.

In 1964, STEVE LAWRENCE and EYDIE GORME recorded a christmas album called THAT HOLIDAY FEELING. It was arranged and conducted by DON COSTA, a well known arranger/conductor who was in high demand in those years because he was so good at what he did. This album, now released on cd, has become a christmas masterpiece and classic and is so good that it is a contender for the "greatest 'crooner' christmas album of all-time." Not just that but it is also one of the greatest christmas albums, regardless of 'crooner' or not, that has ever been released. I would say that out of over 200 christmas albums I own, this is probably in the top 10 and maybe, just maybe, the top 5.

Along with the fabulous duet singing of STEVE LAWRENCE (who sounds so much like FRANK SINATRA on this release, but a more cheerful SINATRA if you can imagine that) and EYDIE GORME (what a sweet voice she has), both STEVE and EYDIE take solo turns on some songs as well. Their singing, whether as a duet or solo, is pretty much as great as the greatest vocal singers of the 1950's/1960's era. Add to that a wonderful chorus that pops in sometimes and of course, the more than wonderful orchestra music from DON COSTA and the orchestra that often goes into the very lush mode, you know you have the making of a great to perfect christmas album.

It's style is a take on the traditional 'crooner' approach but magnified a time or two over. It goes over the walls of the norm of 'crooner' christmas music and becomes something magical and at times, dreamy. It has it's deep, emotional but lush (including very lush strings) and sometimes magical and dreamy moments in songs like THE CHRISTMAS SONG sung by STEVE LAWRENCE or HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS or WHITE CHRISTMAS sung by EYDIE. There is even a bit (or influence) of lounge music here and there in these songs and some others by the orchestra.

However, it's often style is that of happiness, with such songs as THAT HOLIDAY FEELING, WINTER WONDERLAND, SLEIGHRIDE, HAPPY HOLIDAY, SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, HURRY HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, and so many more. All of these are sung by STEVE and EYDIE together in their fabulous and flawless duet style.

And speaking of their duet style, that's one of the things that helps make this album so special from most/all the other 'crooner' christmas albums out there, is their duet style. No other that I can think of takes this approach so you get something very fresh, new, and original with this, THAT HOLIDAY FEELING album and so you can have something different and unique from the usual christmas 'crooner' standards yet just as, or more beautiful and great than these normal christmas 'crooner' standards.

In many of the songs, you will be able to tell that STEVE and EYDIE really are enjoying themselves and had alot of fun recording this album and many of these songs will really give the listener that 'fun' feeling.

There are also 2 bonus songs on this cd reissue but they are of the same style as the actual album from 1964, so everything fits together perfectly to where I can say that every single song on this cd is a christmas gem. No weak song anywhere throughout. That's one of the reasons why this is a christmas masterpiece.

I would compare this album, if I can, mostly to KATE SMITH - THE KATE SMITH CHRISTMAS ALBUM (1966). If you own this KATE SMITH ALBUM, you get alot of that same singing power and music power here on this THAT HOLIDAY FEELING album. Other comparisons are PERRY COMO - SEASONS GREETINGS (1959), and FRANK SINATRA - A JOLLY CHRISTMAS WITH FRANK SINATRA (1957). But this, THAT HOLIDAY FEELING album has it's own overall flavor and let me tell you, you wil be getting something really unique and powerful here. As mentioned at the top of this review, it may be the #1 christmas 'crooner' album ever and is battling for that position against a few others including the KATE SMITH and PERRY COMO albums mentioned above.

If you want the best in christmas music for your holiday season, then this is a definite one to get.

Memories of this couple started playing in my mind and I remembered two songs that I heard as a child: "Hurry Home for Christmas" and "That Holiday Feeling!". I didn't order the CD a year ago as intended so I have already ordered (and played) this CD prior to Christmas this year. Steve & Eydie's voices are melodic and crisp. "That Holiday Feeling", without the benefit of television, provides an audio playfulness between the couple as the duet flirt their way through the song. "Hurry Home for Christmas" is a short but creative song that should be a Christmas standard. This album does not include any traditional sacred hymns for Christmas; rather, it is all either holiday or winter season songs. This cute and talented couple put their own spin on the remaining songs of the CD...a spin that turns the mediocre and often-heard into new-and-shiny. Upbeat, sometimes playful, sophisticated and always top-notch entertainment coupled with magnificent orchestration. This is an excellent CD to play in the background as you host your next Christmas cocktail party. Why not feel good this season? Get "That Holiday Feeling!".

I purchased this CD in an attempt to preserve my classic vinyl copy of "Happy Holidays" on the old Columbia Harmony label. I originally purchased it in the 70's to replace a copy of the original Steve & Eydie Christmas LP my folks had. NOTHING brings the Holiday Spirit to your home better than any of the incarnations of the Holiday album by Steve & Eydie.

This CD version of "That Holiday Feeling" has enough of the original vinyl versions and, sadly one or two are missing but, the titles escape me at the moment, so they must not be missed that badly! Of course, the original line up of songs is changed on the CD and then a couple of new ones are added to pick up the slack, you get and keep that Holiday Spirit from begining to end!

Steve and Eydie's versions of "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow", "Happy Holiday", & "Winter Wonderland" are among the best, but, their version of "Sleigh Ride" is by far the best version of the song ever recorded! You get the feeling you're in the sled with them!

Their solo efforts included on here are among the best versions ever put to vinyl, tape or disc. Steve's "What Are You Doing New Years Eve?" and Eydie's version of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" outshines even the originals recorded by other artists.

Between their incredible voices, the fabulous arrangements, the quality of studio musicians used on these songs as well as the high quality production values make this probably one of the finest Holiday Albums EVER RECORDED. You definately must hear it to appreciate it. You'll soon find it will be in your Holiday CD rotation on a regular basis. Unlike other holiday albums, this one doesn't have a bad track and there aren't any boring filler tracks or ones you'd rather not listen to like many other holiday LP's.

What is included is sure to get you into and keep you in the Holiday Spirit. This CD is a classic and a MUST for EVERY HOLIDAY MUSIC COLLECTION. It is my favorite and my entire family's favorite in the CD rotation during the holiday season! Great arrangements, incredible instrumentation and of course the classic sounds and blending of Steve and Eydie's voices. It's bright, happy, infectious and absolute Holiday PERFECTION!!!

I do keep looking every year to see if I can't find a NEW compilations of ALL of Steve and Eydie's Holiday Music for the avid collector that I am! I keep hoping...till then, I'll keep "That Holiday Feeling" with this wonderful CD.

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