Customer Reviews

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, is the outstanding new holiday companion to 1991's: HE IS CHRISTMAS. With the great arrangements of the latter, there were a few complaints that the Christmas standards were "unrecognizable." Refreshing in my opinion. This new effort should please most everyone. Unique, is what you have to call Take 6. Always taking even the familiar to another level.

Opening the set with Track #1 "We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Carol Of The Bells," I already had reason enough to buy it(Carol Of The Bells)being my all time favorite. Of course, I'd buy just about anything with Take 6 on it, they're that good. Tracks #2 and 3 then relaxe you with the guys polished pipes, and some great accompaniment from the Whalum brothers. #5: "Go Tell It On The Mountain," finds three of the wives almost stealing the show.

Not many versions of "The Christmas Song" are worth hearing after you've heard the master, Nat King Cole. But I think you will agree, Track #5 ain't too shabby. And for the best doo-wop since the 1950s, it's #6: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Paul Jackson Jr's acoustic guitar intro on #7: "What Child Is This?" perfectly sets the mood for some of the sweetest sounds-this side of Heaven. #8: "Silver Bells," was the only low point for me. The vocals are there, it just dragged a little too much for my taste.

#'s 9, 10 and 11, wrap you up in the true Spirit of the season; especially "Joy To The World." This is the "Take 6 sound" at its best.

Can Take 6 produce anything not worthy of the highest praise? I don't think so. This new album, full of Christmas classics that the guys have taken and made there own is again a masterpiece. Sending out the message of Christ and the meaning of Christmas. Whilst in my estimation not as enjoyable as their previous Christmas offering, my enjoyment was only marginally less. Notable songs on this album amongst others are Go Tell It On The Mountain featuring the wives of three of the guys and Joy To The World - an arrangement that has left a number of my musical peers and myself speechless! The guys have done it again. This is a must buy for all fans and non-fans alike. If it's harmony you want, there is no better group than Take 6. Highly recommended.

The singing and arrangements on this CD are some of their best. I've heard a lot of Christmas music lately (Dec 18, today) and this is by far my favorite. Although all the songs are standard Christmas songs rather than originals, each one has been rendered in a fresh, original, and wonderful way. Unlike some Christmas albums, the arrangements aren't weird or contrived; they fit the spirit of the songs beautifully, within the unique style and talent of Take 6. One of my favorites is "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", which is rendered with sort of a doo-wap groove. It's hard to describe, but it just works. I guess you can listen to the samples.

Honestly, I'm perplexed at why some other reviewers don't like it. This is one of 8 Take 6 albums in my collection, and I'd rank it at least in the top half. It is on the jazzy size of their work, as opposed to some of their religious albums. But, it's really nice to listen to. I listen over and over and never get tired of it.

Highly recommended.

This stuff isn't light by any stretch, my fellow reviewer; the songs are lighter in text only. Which Ave Maria do you think you would suggest? The Hallelujah Chorus has a simple motif and one major stylistic change. The layers of complexity to every song on this CD make this the Christmas pick of the season. I get chills with this CD that I liken to the chills when I first heard this group live in 86.

What makes this CD work is that unlike their first Christmas CD, the harmonies work for them rather than against. Although I loved their first Holiday project, I couldn't get an average non-musical friend to buy into it, because he or she couldn't understand the beauty of the harmonies. All these songs, however, are secular and sacred classics. I can now share TAKE 6 with friends through this "outreach" vehicle!

Not sure what happened to all the other reviews for this album, but let me take the time to tell you that this album is absoulutely, without a doubt, beautiful. For anyone who is familiar with T6, you know that beautiful harmonies abound on this album. For anyone that is new to t6, prepare for a christmas treat that will give you chills. For T6 purists, all of the songs are standard, but that doesn't take from the album at all. In fact, hearing their renditions on songs that we are all familiar with only adds to the specialness of this album. My only complaint is that the album is too short. They should have done at least 6 more songs. At anyrate, this is one christmas album that any christmas music aficionado must add to their collection. Trust me, you will love it!!!!!

How can these guys continue to to make each recording better? This Christmas CD has some of the most uplifting arrangements of well known Christmas favorites you'll ever come across. It's worth buying if you only listen to two songs- "Go Tell it on the Mountain" and "What Child is This?". For the faithful, these will renew your faith. For non-believers, the group's vocal mastery, already "legendary", is well demonstrated on these two cuts. The really fine guitar work of Paul Jackson Jr. on "What Child is This" is worth noting. Definite buy!

What happens when the world's best singing group record a christmas album? Then you get one of the best christmas albums ever recorded. The harmony of Take 6 is at its best, as always. The christmas tunes really make good singing for this fnatastic group. Every track is a great one. Hope to hear more works from Take 6.

When I first heard Take 6's first Christmas album He is Christmas, I instantly fell in love with it. Recently I found out that they had done another Christmas album - We Wish You a Merry Christmas. As far as Christmas albums go - it's a wonderful album to put on for the holiday season. But I found it lacking somewhat when compared to earlier efforts. He is Christmas was joyful, celebratory, bursting with praise and the spirit of the season. We Wish You a Merry Christmas, while still wonderful, takes this down a notch. Partially it may be because this Gospel-Jazz-A Capella group has moved further away from the religious carols of the season towards more secular fair. It just doesn't grab me the way their first one did. Their strength has always been the ability to work with religious and secular music, but they most often shine when working on the religious. Some of the songs, like Go Tell It On The Mountain seem muted, as if they wanted to hold back, which of course a group like Take 6 should never need to, especially for the holidays.

All in all it's an album that will get heavy rotation for the season, just not as often as He is Christmas.

This one uses more secular tunes to showcase Take 6's unique blend of jazz do-hop. Their delivery is rich and both warmly familiar and innovatively progressive (as usual) and I recommend the album highly. However, I missed some of the achingly beautiful (Little Drummer Boy's "then He smiled at me...", all of Sweet little Jesus Boy) and sacredly ecstatic (O Come all Ye Faithful, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) moments of their first Christmas album. I've been hoping Take 6 would do another Christmas recording ever since "He is Christmas", but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. I'm starting early now hoping for a third holiday disc which could show these masters at their gut-wrenching, spirit- lifting best. How about some big league songs for these heavy hitters; Ave Maria, the Hallelujah Chorus, O Holy Night,or Angels We Have Heard on High (maybe this one could be coupled with A Mighty Fortress is Our God ala Amy Grant's version)? Hey Take 6, are you reading this? buzzherbert@hotmail.com

The Take 6 christmas cd is a capella, jazz, and vocal at its best by six inspiring christian men. Especially, the title go tell it on the mountain and let it snow. . This CD is sure to inspire everyone to be at their best these holidays and capture the true wonderful, joy of christmas. Your holiday collection is not complete without this fabulous collection of fine a capella vocal jazz.