Customer Reviews

This Is Christmas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"This Is Christmas" is a recording of tracks old and new brought together for the first time on this CD. Petula Clark is a classic singer with her big hits "Downtown," "I Know A Place" & "Don't Sleep in the Subway" replayed wherever the best classic tracks are welcome. The opening three tracks, "This Is Christmas," "Silent Night" & "The Happiest Christmas" were recorded in 1969. I love the fourth track, a previously unreleased French recording "Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant (He Is Born the Divine Child)." It's not a common carol, but one which was played by my mother frequently as I was growing up. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "The Little Drummer Boy" were recorded in 1996 for Readers Digest. Rod McKuen wrote the two-sided single issued in 2006 with lush and lovely "Simple Gifts" & "Thank You for Christmas." "There's a secret part of you, hiding in the heart of you, now it's time to set it free, Petula sings on "Butterfly in the Snow," which shines with a lovely melody and lyric. "Another Christmas Without You" strikes a chord for anyone missing a loved one during the holidays. Both tracks are new songs written and recorded by Petula. "Away in a Manger" blending British and American versions and Peggy Lee's "Christmas Lullaby" are both newly recorded. "Mother of Us All" was recorded in 1972. There is a hidden 14th track that is a French recording of "The Little Drummer Boy." Although these recordings span five decades, there is a remarkable consistency throughout the disc. This is a classy holiday recording that makes bright the holiday season. Enjoy!

The most wonderful Christmas cd! Petula Clark is still an amazing singer and under rated treasure.
Her rendition of Silent Night is the best and the new songs are terrific. This cd will put you in the Christmas spirit.

The songs on this holiday CD run the spectrum of emotions from sacred to joyous and everything in between. The collection will not disappoint and is exactly what one would expect from Petula Clark. The only thing that is odd is that it claims to be Petula's first holiday CD...there was an earlier Christmas CD released in the UK on sequel records several years back that had contained other material (and duplicates of some of the tracks on this one), but half of that collection concerned her yuletide French material. This CD contains mostly English material. It also ends with a nice surprise.... an unlisted bonus track, Little Drummer Boy in French, which is not listd on the label. I really enjoyed the CD.

It's been some time since a collection of Christmas songs by Petula was available so twelve years later it's a real treat to have this second compilation of seasonal fare. The songs have never been issued in the States but taken from various sources, many have previously surfaced in the UK and Europe. These include the 1969 recorded THIS IS CHRISTMAS, SILENT NIGHT, THE HAPPIEST CHRISTMAS and the French-language HE IS BORN-THE DIVINE CHILD (IL EST NE LE DIVIN ENFANT) which headed the track-listing of that UK released 1997 album as they do here but are welcome as they match the mood and simple ambiance of the other selections. The Rod McKuen composed SIMPLE GIFTS and THANK YOU FOR CHRISTMAS formed a 2006 single whilst brand new recordings of BUTTERFLY IN THE SNOW and ANOTHER CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU written by Pet join CHRISTMAS LULLABY (Peggy Lee/Cy Coleman) and a lovely harmonised AWAY IN A MANGER which artfully intertwines the traditional US and European versions and is quite outstanding. Equally stunning are the rare I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS and THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY recorded in 1996 for Reader's Digest, leaving a French version of the latter recorded at the same session as bonus track.

Pet is in excellent voice with her sincerity shining through and it's refreshing to have such a diverse collection which does not include the usual old chestnuts that usually find their way onto Christmas collections. Full marks are therefore awarded Pet, her producers and collaborators for bringing something new to the season's song celebrations.

Petula Clark remains a masterful chanteuse who can sing out a song alongside the best of them; her sense of timing, her sophisticated phrasing and her excellent diction all combine to make everything she sings a wonderful experience for the listener. This album of Christmas themed songs showcases Petula's talent nicely; and it is a must-have for her fans. In addition, the quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is nicely done.

The title track, "This Is Christmas," makes an auspicious beginning for this album; Petula sings this faultlessly and I love every minute of it! The percussion as well as the rest of the musical arrangement fits in perfectly with Petula's singing; but wisely the musicians never even try to steal the spotlight; Petula is squarely front and center which is right where she belongs! In addition, there's another gem in Petula's gorgeous rendition of the very classic "Silent Night;" this is easily a major highlight of this CD. I also really like "The Happiest Christmas;" "He Is Born, The Divine Child" which Petula sings so beautifully in French with fine use of the woodwind and strings; "I'll Be Home for Christmas," which is certainly my favorite Christmas tune--it really tugs at my heartstrings every time I hear it and Petula's treatment of this number shines bright in her more than capable hands!

"The Little Drummer Boy" couldn't sound any better than when Petula Clark sings it with all her heart and soul; and other great songs include "Simple Gifts" with that fine piano arrangement; "Thank You for Christmas" and "Butterfly in the Snow;" these are all brilliantly done.

"Another Christmas without You" is very poignant; and listen for Petula to do a terrific job on "Away in a Manger." "Christmas Lullaby" charms me with its beauty and "Mother of Us All" gets a very special treatment by Petula who sings this to perfection and beyond! There's also an unlisted bonus track which Petula sings in French; "The Little Drummer Boy" is very well done.

Petula Clark fans will be thrilled with this release; if they don't have this they should get this CD and add it to their collections! People who enjoy high quality control Christmastime music will not be disappointed either.

If you're a Petula Clark fan, this would be a welcome addition to your Christmas music library. The vocal performances are consistently stellar, from a vocalist who, in the US, has become something of a forgotten 1960s icon.

Whether this rates five stars depends on what you want from a Christmas album. If you want an album filled with traditional songs of the season, carols, old chestnuts about chestnuts on an open fire, this record will be a bit of a disappointment. Pet does a great "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Her take on "Away In A Manager" is very sweet. And her "Silent Night" is quite powerful. (She also performs the over-done "Little Drummer Boy," which I've never understood. Playing a drum for a newborn baby? Makes no sense to me. And what the heck was a little kid with a drum doing wandering the streets of Bethlehem? Busking? I don't get it.)

Most of the tracks, however, are Christmas-themed songs, as opposed to traditional Christmastime songs. For some of us, that is a bit of disappointment. For some, that's a plus. I would rather have heard more traditional songs. And given that she has performed in French and German, a selection of traditional songs in those languages would have been awesome.

I've loved Petula Clark's music for years and have seen her perform live, not too long ago. However, her voice was not up to par in this CD and the arrangements were pretty awful. Since these are mostly familiar Christmas songs, one can't help but compare it to other versions.

This is an album of mostly uplifting Christmas songs of joy and love sung by the greatest
pop singer to hail from England - Petula Clark.

The opening song is a richly orchestrated "This is Christmas" that is full of beauty and wonder
with a nice mid-tempo. "The Happiest Christmas" is JUST THAT - again with a vibrant string section -
plus her "Simple Gifts" (a Rod McKuen piece) is touching highlight, also with full orchestra.

Her cover of Peggy Lee's "Christmas Lullaby" is sweet and emotional while Petula's own
composition "Butterfly In The Show" is a celebration of life and individuality that really hits
the heart.

The arrangement of "Silent Night" is very unusual but quite affecting and special. For the one
reviewer who felt it made the album "depressing," I suggest they give another listen. The creative
arrangement is by the legendary French musician Michel Colombier.

This album of lovely carols and contemporary pop songs of the season is sure to bring
holiday happiness to those who appreciate the world-class singing of the one and only Petula Clark.

I was so excited to see a release of the 1969 Goodyear versions. Songs # 2 and # 3 give me goosebumps hearing them once more, as they immediately bring back images from my childhood Christmases, more than 30 years ago. I waited all year to hear Petula's unique versions of these staid classics once more. The hopefulness of Silent Night and The Happiest Christmas are (oddly but beautifully) accompanied by arrangements of haunting minor chords of piano and strings. I lack the words to describe what makes them special. I'm not so much a fan of the rest. I only wish the album/CD was available for MP3 download.

Petula never ceases to amaze! This Christmas collection merges old and new, with a few self-penned Christmas soon-to-be favorites. Pick up this CD. You won't be disappointed.