We Three Kings

The Roches | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B0000009PE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,263 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #33 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk

Track Listings

1. Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

2. For Unto Us a Child Is Born

3. Angels We Have Heard on High

4. Deck the Halls

5. Christmas Passing Through

6. Sleigh Ride

7. Away in a Manger

8. Here We Come A-Caroling

9. The Little Drummer Boy

10. The Holly and the Ivy

11. Frosty the Snowman

12. Do You Hear What I Hear?

13. We Three Kings

14. Star of Wonder

15. Winter Wonderland

16. Joy to the World

17. O Little Town of Bethlehem

18. Good King Wenceslas

19. Jingle Bells

20. The First Noel

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's been the Roches' tradition to carol in New York City every year to raise money for charity. The outgrowth of that project is this generous 24-track collection that emphasizes--as usual--the three sisters' quirky, telepathic vocal stylings and bizarre sense of humor. The songs here certainly diverge from the usual holiday greeting and become something much more elaborate. Always a tad too eccentric for many tastes, the material dictates that some semblance of order remain and the sisters do fend off many of their precious quirks. But then with the endless Christmas music choices available, anyone choosing to spend their holidays with these gals must be looking for something unusual. --Rob O'Connor

Product Description

We Three Kings by The Roches

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Tisn't Quite the Season, But..., March 23, 2003

By 

Gregor von Kallahann - See all my reviews

This review is from: We Three Kings (Audio CD)

Every once in a while, you come across a Christmas album that stays with you long after the holiday season is over. The Roches WE THREE KINGS is definitely in that category for me. Somehow it remained close to my CD player long after the other holiday CDs were tucked away for another year and helped see me through the unusually bitter winter of '02-'03. What differentiates this from the thousands of other holiday records available? Well, the Roches have carved out their own special turf over the years. They can always be counted on for tight harmonies, intriguing arrangements, and a touch of whimsical humor.

Some people I know never did care much for the whimsy--and I guess it wouldn't be too unfair to say that there have been times in the group's career when they crossed the line into preciousness. But that's hardly the case with this recording. The album consists mostly of the usual holiday classics, but with strikingly unique arrangements and inventive harmonies. Get irritated when everyone is singing "Jingle Bells" and some jerk keeps inserting "I like a sleigh ride" between every line? Well, you won't find anything that hackneyed here. What you will find is a fresh approach to almost all the standards.

There are two original Roche compositions on the record, and they are both stunners. Suzzy's "Christmas Passing Through" and Terre's "Star of Wonder" are two of the album's highlights, along with an uptempo version of "We Three Kings" that sounds like it was arranged by Mark Knopfler (I checked the credits to verify, but no...). For those whose taste leans toward the classical, check out the gorgeous versions of "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" and "Break Forth, O Beautious Heavenly Light." Some will doubtless find their versions of "Frosty" and "Winter Wonderland" (replete with Brooklyn accents) a bit on the cutesy side, but what's a Christmas record without a little cuteness? Again, is it whimsy or preciousness?--you be the judge. One additional confusion, the album seems to be available in two different versions (different covers and different sequencing of the tracks). I wouldn't purchase both, but it's hard to see how you could lose with either.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb Christmas album PACKED with two dozen songs!, September 21, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: We Three Kings (Audio CD)

Not only is the Roches' "We Three Kings" a superb Christmas album, it is jam-packed with a full TWO DOZEN songs--talk about getting a lot of bang for your buck! I have seen the Roches in concert a couple of times, and always loved to hear them do Handel's "For Unot Us a Child is Born" from "Messiah." In concert, they often do it wearing jeans, black leather jackets, and nonchalantly examining their fingernails while they carol--juxtaposing the ethereality of the song with the visual effect that they're street toughs. The effect is intentionally silly and lots of fun. When they do it here, however, you see that their tightly woven harmonies are just amazing and you really appreciate the song for its own pure beauty.

There's a lot more here than Handel. Bach makes an appearance in the very first song--"Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light," on which the Roches are accompanied by an organ--and there are scads of traditional Christmas hymns too ("Angels We Have Heard on High," "Away in a Manger," "We Three Kings," and more). Everything here is superb in terms of musicality and their amazing sisterly braiding of harmonies. Particular stand-outs, however, include a snappy and energetic rendition of "Sleigh Ride," which they perform a cappella (as they do much of the other work here); "The Holly and the Ivy," which has a weaving, dreamy quality to it; "Frosty the Snowman," on which the sisters use thick New Joisey accents and a boisterous chorus of little kids to dust this chestnut with new life; "Winter Wonderland," on which they use the same New Joisey accents to great effect again, while never abandoning their crystalline harmonies; and "Adeste Fideles," on which they carol in both English and Latin. There are also a couple of new songs here, both of which were written by the Roches. "Christmas Passing Through" is a meditative look at the holiday, and "Star of Wonder" is a shimmering, awe-filled a cappella piece which will absolutely send shivers down your spine with its beauty.

The only song on here that really falls flat is "The Little Drummer Boy." Never a personal favorite of mine anyway, I found myself nearly rolling my eyes at the plodding slowness with which they perform it here. Still, this one minor disappointment is nothing compared to the chockablock treasures you'll find in every other song. This CD is a must-have modern classic for any lover of either the Roches or Christmas music.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Vocal Arrangements & Excellent Song Selection, December 17, 2001

By 

J. Collins "Paradise Bar & Grill" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: We Three Kings (Audio CD)

Unlike the average Christmas CD from a Pop vocalist or vocalists, "We Three Kings" gives substance to (often) over-familiar material. I ask you, does anyone really NEED thirty versions of "Jingle Bells" or "Silent Night"? Especially when the only difference between those thirty versions are superficial music arrangements and vocal affectation. As Christmas albums go, the Roches have left their competition in the ditch with Grandma.

This album blends a sublime mix of traditional (religious) and popular tunes, all rendered in those unique Roches harmonies. Though some selections in their back catalog could be described as "inacessible" to the average Britney fan, the Roches' obvious love for this music shines through, and just about every tune has appeal. Portions of this disc are haunting a capella: "Star Of Wonder" and "Angels We Have Heard" are prominent vocal highlights. Stylistically, this collection covers a lot of bases: there are synth-Pop arrangements, organ-backed hymns, Rock-Pop flavorings, and Folky accoustic moments. And with the exception of one track (the awful Brooklynese take on "Frosty The Snowman"), "We Three Kings" is a seamlessly pleasant listen from start to finish.

It would be easy to single out a half dozen exceptional tracks in this album, but I think most listeners will find at least that many songs on their own. "We Three Kings" really is head and shoulders above the average Christmas album, and I can recommend it without reservation to fans of holiday vocal music. Fans of Terre, Maggie and Suzze should already have a copy of this disc...it's essential listening simply for the vocal arrangements.

J