The Spirit of Christmas [Extra tracks]

Ray Charles | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B000003432
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,827 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. What Child Is This

2. The Little Drummer Boy

3. Santa Claus Is Comin' 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

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful

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

By "thehamanns"

Format: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.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

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

By James D. Isherwood

Format: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

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

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

By Johnny Heering

Format: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.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great mix of Jazz and Ray Charles' style for the season December 13, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

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!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this album December 19, 2000

By Curmema

Format:Audio CD

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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! November 1, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

I bought this CD in Los Angeles in 1992 and loved it every year (never got old). Moved to Georgia adn LOST it. Spent another 12 bucks to get this album again. I cannot say enough good things about this one. A great mix of traditional songs done as ONLY RC can do...with a couple of songs I had never heard before (now they are traditional favs). Sitting on the dock in front of my house overlooking Lake Oconee with a light snow falling...priceless.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Christmas album should be. December 7, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ray Charles singing Christmas songs? What's not to like? December 2, 2005

By Megan Romer

Format:Audio CD

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!