Customer Reviews

White Christmas

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Alright, so she doesn't sound like she did 45 years ago-what singer still performing today does?! I had the pleasure of seeing Rosemary Clooney perform Live at various times over the years and she always gives her all with each performance, even now. I purchased this album a few years back and can't understand why I am just now getting around to reviewing it. Anyway, if you are a major fan of Rosie, then you really should get this collection of Christmas classics. You can tell she had a blast recording it; the cuts that include her brother Nick and good friend Michael Feinstein are a joy to listen to. This makes a fine companion cd for Rosie's collection of tinsel tunes that she recorded in her prime, back in the 1950s. We should all be thankful that this woman gave us so many years of beautiful music and continues to do so. If you get a chance to see her perform then you are in for a treat, Rosie is not only a true legend but one of the most down to earth performers on the planet. Very highly recommended.

Concord Jazz is proud to present Rosie's very first official Christmas album - "White Christmas", as she always wanted to record one, but was never asked. Well, this has been long over due, uniquely arranged Christmas melodies with Rosie's warmth and charm shining through.

Rosemary, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye starred in the film - "White Christmas" (1954) this Holiday film has become a big favorite with old and new fans alike at Christmas-Time. This film was originally considered Bing's film, but if you see this film today you'll agree, it is very much Rosie's film too.

This collection of twenty-one Christmas songs with guest vocalists - Nick Clooney and Michael Feinstein, featuring the Peter Matz Orchestra and the Earl Brown Singers...Rosie's performance is warm, tender and a multi-layered celebration of your favorite-time of the year a - WHITE CHRISTMAS!

Total Time: 55:12 on 21 Tracks...Concord Jazz CCD-4719...(1996)

"Rosemary is truly one of the greatest interpreters of modern song. She has the ability to capture the spirit of a song and to communicate it like no other. With this record, she uses her ability to tell us, in her own way, about the spirit of Christmas. She will always be a part of the legendary film. But this record is all hers. This is Rosemary Clooney's "White Christmas." ~ Glen Barros, President - Concord Records, 1996 ~

"Here's a multi-layered celebration of the holiday we can't get enough of from a singer who can transport us a few ever could - to a place where a newborn can help us believe again that all things are possible. Where hope is a renewable resource. Where " ... through the years we all can be together..." If that's not worth celebrating, what is?" ~ Nick Clooney ~

I agree with Rosemary Clooney's brother, Nick Clooney, on what he said about hope, about believing and about its possibilities.

This Christmas album was recorded in 1996 when Rosemary Clooney's vocal artistry was not at its prime, but she still renders these Christmas songs so beautifully with such affection and respect to the real essence of each and every song. The arrangements are beautifully and superbly done. There are twenty-one great performances from one of the greatest singers of all-time. She is backed by an orchestra conducted by Peter Matz, and some of the skilled musicians Gary Foster, Dan Higgins, Warren Luening, John Oddo and Chuck Berghofer, to mention a few. She starts off with a glowing rendition of "The Christmas Song," which features saxophonists Gary Foster (alto) and Dan Higgins (tenor).

The Earl Brown Singers sung shortened versions of the best-loved traditional Christmas carols of all-time, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Joy To The World," "Silent Night" "The First Noel" and "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer."

One of my highlights is a wonderful medley of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and "Hey Kris Kringle." She is joined by another great singer, Michael Feinstein, who's a very close friend of Ms. Clooney. You'll hear that fascinating accordion from soloist Frank Morocco on the intro and all throughout this song, and George Robert's nice trombone playing as well.

She sings with such grace in "Winter Wonderland" with soloists Gary Foster and Warren Luening on sax and trumpet, respectively. There's that special glow in her voice as she sings Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne's "The Christmas Waltz" and "Let It Snow" with that beautiful piano solo by John Oddo. "I'll Be Home For Christmas," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and "Christmas Memories," a composition by Don Costa and Alan & Marilyn Bergman are all elegantly performed.

Two of the highlights are Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings" and "White Christmas" from the movie of the same title, which stars Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, who sings this carol with warmth and love. And as "she dreams of a White Christmas, she wishes everyone's Christmas to be white."

Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year and it really brings out the child in me. I simply love Christmas! And true to the lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman, "Christmas memories are the sweetest ones I know." The songs in this CD will transport you back in time with your fondest memories of Christmas.

"There'll be much mistletoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When loved ones are near
It's the most wonderful time of the year."

I merrily recommend this superb CD and as you listen to it during Christmas Holidays, may the true spirit of Christmas reign in your hearts.

One can make a case for the various stages of Sinatra's career. And no one could realistically argue that the the Sinatra of the 40s sounds anything like the Sinatra of the 60s. But most would agree that each has its value and the true Sinatra fan would not give up a one of them (okay, perhaps "Duets"). Similarly Clooney's voice on this album is that of a mature singer who's lived a life. The song selections and arrangements make that clear. Some of these songs (at least as arranged) would simply sound inappropriate in the voice of a younger singer. This is the kind of album you can put on and listen to while sipping a brown beverage by the fire. As a side note, the thing that struck me the first time I heard it is how remarkably similar Liza Minnelli's voice has grown to sound like Clooney's did when this album was made.

This CD has become a family favorite. Rosemary's voice never sounded better. Brings back many fond memories of cherished family gatherings. A must have for any holiday collection. Rosemary lives on.

You won't go wrong if you like jazz. This is great music by a classy singer.

I love Rosemary Clooney. She was among the very best singers this country ever produced, and was "class" with a capital C. Rosemary had a special way with a song: perfect enunciation, an incredible sense of rhythm, and a style that showcased both simplicity and deep emotion--a rare combination. It was so sad in the last years of her life that her voice let her down. Rosemary's voice had been a little rough for years, but her sheer musicianship and emotional connection with lyrics enabled her to rise above this problem--especialy on up-tempo numbers--however "White Christmas" marked the beginning of her greatest decline.

Over the years I have tried repeatedly to like this album, but I cannot. Poor Rosemary sounds so tired, maybe even sad. I own practically every album she made for Concord Jazz up to this point and enjoyed them all, but after this point her voice only got worse and worse. It was painful to listen to the decline of such a great singer, so I stopped buying her CDs. I would like to give this album a better rating because it contains two of my favorite things--Rosemary Clooney and Christmas songs--but I can't. If she had only recorded this album a few years earlier, we might have had a classic Christmas album for the ages.

Rosemary Clooney had a voice full of emotion and clarity. She puts it to good use in White Christmas and it is a lovely CD for the entire holiday season

I am a fan of Rosemary Clooney's work but this cd was disappointing. The song selection looked promising but the execution was flat. We stopped enjoying after a few minutes, turned our attention elswhere halfway through and were a little irritated by the end. It was not up to the usually high standards of her other works.

It doesn't get much better than Rosemary Clooney singing Christmas songs. The album is very well sung and arranged. I picked this over her other Christmas albums because there are more songs and a better variety. I'd recommend this to be added to anyone's collection of Christmas songs.