This Christmas

Aretha Franklin (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 13, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino Records
• ASIN: B001HBIOZY
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,650 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2008 holiday release from the Queen Of Soul. 'Tis the season for some soulful renditions of Christmas favorites, and there's nobody more qualified to add class and spice to this festive time of year than Aretha herself. Warner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Po' 'Retha....., November 19, 2008

By 

Raider Jack "Jackie D Gray-Romeyn" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Aretha Franklin/This Christmas (Audio CD)

I have been (and always will be) a diehard 'Retha Fan. She has made classic recordings from day one that have undoubtedly stood the test of time. I have followed her since her Columbia days all the way up to now when she appears to become truly bitter and twisted at the mere SUGGESTION that someone other than she deserves the accolade "Queen of Soul." (get over it, 'Retha...it's time for you to go sit down somewhere and be very quiet..)

Notwithstanding, I have to agree with a previous reviewer - this is REAL beat up. I was not well for this at ALL!. Forget the magnificent runs, 'Retha and just sing the song, okay? She's all over the place and melody seems to be an alien concept to her. Indeed, some things do NOT get better with age. Or more pointedly, the fact that you are indeed a musical legend who has made an indelible impact on American music is still no excuse to release a clearly inferior product and expect even your diehard fans to simply accept it. Of course, no one ALWAYS hits the mark but quite frankly, love, you have been submitting similarly spotty work far too frequently lately. (sigh...it is indeed difficult to have to tell a loved one to clean it up!..)

This is (hopefully) just a mere stumbling block and she will release a much more decent project next year {belch}.

('Retha, I'm real mad at this because I KNOW you can do better....much, much, better.)

If you are a diehard Retha fan, you may want to get this but for the life of me I cannot bring myself to purchase it......yet

DEC 6, 2008 - maybe it was the holiday season...or perhaps it was it was my sister's birthday and I missed her....whatever it was that hit me, I broke down and bought it anyway....all I need say is always trust your first instincts....they are usually INIFNITELY better than that ti'ed ol' second thought!!!...well, it's still 'Retha....(sigh)

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Much to like in spite of the effects of time, December 31, 2008

By 

Peace Brotha (Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Christmas (Audio CD)

The reviewer by the name of Katchy hit the nail RIGHT on the head.

It is only natural for us to expect singers (especially those that are famous) to sound the same over the years, even if logic and common sense tell us that people don't age the same way for the same reasons.

Aretha is my favorite vocal artist, male or female, living or not, any genre. I love many of her albums. This is not one that I love even after many spins. But there is much that I like about it.

First off, let's talk about The Voice. Aretha's subtle nuances are still one of a kind and cannot be duplicated by anyone. As with much of Aretha's art, these nuances may not be obvious on the first listen but are very clear on the "dry-down."

Even on the controversial opener with the questionable and sometimes scary interpretation of the chorus, 'Angels We Have Heard On High', we can hear these not-so-obvious moments. Aretha is at her best now when she can take her time. "And the mountains ... in reply" is a beautifully phrased line, with the caramel of her voice coming through. The last line before the final chorus is also beautiful in its vocal and phrasing - "while our hearts, with love we praise." In that one line she takes it from sounding like a young innocent schoolgirl to a seasoned woman that can teach the young 'uns. The subtle melisma on the word "praise" is like the vocal equivalent to watching cake batter fold on itself as it's poured in the bowl.

That gorgeous billowy quality, first noticed on Aretha 1980, is not something I have ever heard in anyone else's voice. Time and possibly personal lifestyle choices may have cut down the number of times we hear that from Aretha, but that quality - among with many other good ones - are still there, in spite of some admittedly missed vocal opportunities with this set.

Production values and the background vocals and arrangements on this CD are classy, polished and tasteful. It's light on the elusive "soul" factor, but this is a work that is very contemporary yet will stand the test of time. Producer Tena Clark should be proud.

My recommendation is to take This Christmas Aretha in its proper context: a living legend who has been pushing her voice to the extreme for decades is still with us and sharing what she has left. Take these performances for what they are. Don't give in to the easy temptation to unfairly compare 2008 with 1968 and expect Aretha to holler and carry on like some of the younger ladies do.

You just may realize that this set - on its OWN merits - is far from perfect, but still asserts in more than a few ways that the Queen Of Soul is entitled to her crown.

Long Live Queen Ree.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soulful Christmas - Mellifluous Liquid Notes!, December 10, 2008

By 

Lynn M. Schuette (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Christmas (Audio CD)

I was hopeful this album would complement my large collection of more traditional Christmas albums. Every year I look forward to the time between Thanksgiving and the week after New Years, when I indulge in the songs of the season. I've been a huge fan of all kinds of Christmas songs -- from Handel's Messiah to Burl Ives, Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. This album does not disappoint. From beginning to end, Aretha puts her own soulful touch on such standards as Ave Maria and Silent Night with such mellifluous notes you'd swear you could drink them up. Especially for those of us who dive deep into the songs of the season, this is a welcome new addition. Thanks, Aretha!