Customer Reviews

Ultimate Christmas Album 6: Wcbs FM 101.1

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You'd think that WCBS could only go to the well so many times but
they have scored again with this latest edition of what now has almost become a Christmas institution. What makes this collection
unique is that most of the songs are not the big hits of the season (if you want that go volumes 1 to 4). Instead you get a collection that has a very consistent sound and mix so that you won't find yourself skipping tracks. Plus you get Wham's Last
Christmas and Greg Lake's alternate version of I believe in father Christmas. What more could you ask for? Volume seven perhaps?

Yet another great compilation of Christmas songs old & new, thanks to Joe McCoy, WCBS-FM New York's Programming Director. I hope these albums continue to come out at this time every year-an annual tradition that shouldn't stop here. This album begins with Wham's big yuletide hit Last Christmas; and continues with such goodies as Frosty The Snowman as done by The Jackson Five, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by America, Doo Wop Christmas by Kenny Vance & The Planotones(a favorite cut of mine), the golden chestnut Kissin' By The Mistletoe by Aretha(hard to believe she recorded it about 40 yrs. ago); among many others. Oh, before I forget-I can't leave out the inclusion of Morning Mayor-DJ Harry Harrison's traditional May You Always-Harry has been playing this on his program for many years now & by popular demand it was included on this album; it is appropriate that it is the 25th(and final)cut on this collection. A must-have if you collect these Ultimate Christmas Albums every year-and even if you don't, you are sure to enjoy this for many Christmases to come. Very highly recommended.

Once again, WBCS FM programmer Joe McCoy has assembled a good selection of well known and rare holiday tracks. Among the selections, my favorites are:

Doo Wop Christmas - K Vance & The Planotones
I Believe in Father Xmas - Greg Lake
A Night to Remember - Englebert Humperdinck
Kissing By the Mistletoe - Aretha Franklin
Frosty The Snowman - Jimmy Durante
Santa Claus is Coming To Town - Perry Como
May You Always - Harry Harrison

One song that you must listen to is Come on a Sleigh Ride With Me by Brian Hyland, Johnny Tillotson and Freddie Cannon. There's also some doubling up on this CD. Aretha has two songs, Winter Wonderland and the rare gem Kissing By the Mistletoe. Two songs are heard twice by different artists. Frosty the Snowman is done by the Jackson Five and Jimmy Durante, and White Christmas is done by Tony Bennett and Connie Francis. I would prefer to hear different songs. I know Connie released a Christmas album in 1959. She does O Little Town of Bethlehem and Ave Maria on it. They could have picked one of those songs.

Other than that nitpicking, the disc is good for a spin. Harry Harrison's May You Always closes this disc, appropriately. For those outside the NYC area, Harry was a legend on radio for over 40 years, known as the "Morning Mayor." This sixth in the series of Ultimate discs makes a total of 150 songs and six plus hours of music.