Customer Reviews

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Perry Como's calm, steady and laid back approach to singing meshes well with the Christmas genre. He effortlessly conveys the spirit of the Holidays and infuses all of his songs with a gentle, yet beautiful, manner. Perry Como is seriously under-appreciated today and that's a shame, because he used his voice simply and effectively for sixty years. If you have a stressful job and need to relax when you come home, Perry Como will help you and this album is perfect for daydreaming and relaxing.

Como's version of "Ave Maria" here is superior to his attempt in the 1950's. His voice has deepened slightly here and he uses is with telling effect. But the outstanding song is undoubtedly "Christmas Dream," a little known classic. This was used over the opening credits of Jon Voight's 1974 film, "The Odessa File." I spent years looking for this song on vinyl and finally have found it here. I urge you to listen to this beautiful song, one of Perry's absolute classics.

This compact disc release, a replication of the original 1982 vinyl album, is the equivalent of what might be called an LP or CD single. It features two of Perry's more recent single RCA Victor Christmas recordings, one titled "Christmas Dream", an Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice composition, which he recorded in 1974 for the soundtrack of "The Odessa File" and the title track which was composed by Nick Perito, Perry's long time conductor and arranger following in the shoes of Mitchell Ayres. Nick Perito's composition may well be Perry's most definitive popular Christmas recording since his 1959 re-recording of "Home for the Holidays" and almost autobiographical in nature. The other recordings in this compilation are drawn from Perry's two Christmas stereo albums "Seasons Greetings from Perry Como" ( 1959 ) and "The Perry Como Christmas Album" ( 1968 ) with one hymn "Bless This House" ( monaural ) recorded in 1950 and featured within his well known 1956 RCA Victor album "I Believe". Most fans will own both of these Christmas albums but the two singles featured herein are well worth the price of admission.

Growing up, Perry Como was always synonymous with Christmas in our house. (Well, Perry and Bing and Johnny Mathis!) We always spun one of his old holiday albums -- I don't think it ever came out on CD, but the cover had Perry's face inside a Christmas wreath. I wish I could find that one! But it was wonderful to find THIS one, and especially great to find the terrific, bouncy polka-like tune, "Christmas Dream," which I had loved ever since hearing it in the movie "The Odessa File." When "Odessa File" recently played on TV, I heard that song again and knew I had to find it. Fortunately I came here and found out it was on this Como album -- believe me, this song alone is worth the price of the CD! But you also get Perry's classic "Toyland," his graceful and reverent "Ave Maria" and so much more. Light up the Christmas tree, turn on the CD player and snuggle up to enjoy this very entertaining album, and let the relaxed voice of Mr. C take you back to a simpler time.

Excellent. Have waited so long to get a CD with "Christmas Dream" on. All the other tracks are great too. Great value for money.

Once a year, during the christmas season, some ghosts frm Christmas past come to life on radio: Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Nat "King" Cole, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Perry Como. Most of their other (once) popular songs get little or no air time these days, but despite a ton of newer (and living) artists making Christmas CDs; the public seems to want to hear the old masters around Christmas time.

Perry Como, of course, was synonimous with Christmas. He did a television special every year and released more Christmas albums than probably any other artist. His version of "Ave Maria" was well-loved by almost every Italian-American grandmother. He styles his smooth, rich, baritone voice in a way that sounds effortless.

Frankly, I don't see how any Christmas CD collection is complete without Perry Como. Even though this collection has only about a dozen songs, they are all quite nice. I especially like "Christmas Dream" from the "Oddessa File", it's the only version I've ever heard and the only time I think I've ever heard Perry Como try to sing in German. It's got a polka feel with some sad, but optomistic lyrics.

Perry Como did not come to my mind when I thought of Christmas music. If he has a signature Christmas song, I don't know what it is, (although someone told me it was "Home for the Holidays.)" I don't recall how I acquired this CD, but I am glad I did. It seems that I can't play it enough for company, and everyone asks to see the CD cover, a sure sign that people like the music.

If Christmas music is supposed to put you in the Christmas spirit, this will give you a Christmas glow. I enjoy his "White Christmas" much more than Bing Crosby's. "Toyland" is exceptional, and "Here we come a-caroling" is light and festive, as is "Home for the Holidays." A surprise was "Christmas Dream." I remembered him singing this many years earlier as the opening song to the movie, "The Odessa File." I never knew the name of it, but never forgot the melody, and I wanted to buy it. Well, here it is. He even sings part of it in German, where he sounds Bavarian, to be kind, and American, to be un. The Vienna Boys Choir add to the rest of the song.

If you are not a Perry Como fan, or are Como indifferent, this is the equivalent of a sneak preview that turns out to be a blockbuster, and this is the real PC that anybody could love. (Well, almost anyone.) This will give you the Christmas spirit.

It's pure gemuetlichkeit.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

While anthology oriented compilations are well and good, all of the tracks on Perry's beloved '68 LP (with Perry's face in the wreath on the cover) were gathered from the same recording sessions, lending to its compilation a certain warmth of continuity. Unfortunately, it's still unavailable to the best of my knowledge. You'll need this and two other CD's; Perry's "Greatest Christmas Songs" and "A Perry Como Christmas" to replicate the '68 LP on CD (except as noted *), then program your CD changer (or record) as follows:

SIDE 1:
a) Christmas Eve.....................................................A Perry Como Christmas (track 7)
b) Do You Hear What I Hear....................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 6)
c) Christ is Born......................................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 5)
d) The Little Drummer Boy *...................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 20)
e) There is No Christmas Like a Home Christmas.......Greatest Christmas Songs (track 10)
f) O Holy Night.......................................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 13)

SIDE 2:
a) Carol Medley.......................................................A Perry Como Christmas (track 1)
b) Silver Bells..........................................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 7)
c) Some Children See Him *................................... Greatest Christmas Songs (track 15)
d) Toyland..............................................................I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever (track 2)
e) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 1)
f) Ave Maria...........................................................Greatest Christmas Songs (track 21)

* Please note that there are only two noteworthy exceptions to the original LP: a) "Drummer Boy" now has Perry singing the first verse, whereas on the take (or mix) of the original LP
the Ray Charles Singers sang the first verse w/o Perry; b) I took the liberty of including the spiritually charged "Some Children See Him", which (tho it was recorded in the same sessions) was
omitted from the LP. Be sure and look up the lyrics to this (once) lost treasure on George T's Perry Como website, his extensive and loving tribute to this great singer and great human being. Oh,
and you'll be pleasantly surprised how much better the '68 album sounds on CD. Merry Christmas!

Like many of the others, I too was looking for "Christmas Dream". I hadn't heard it since 1974. I had the other "classic" Christmas CD's (ie: Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Bing) but did not have one by Perry. And what is Christmas without Perry Como. This is one CD I'm glad I have and not only because of "Christmas Dream" but because this has an assortment of songs recorded between 1950 and 1981. It just isn't from one or two sessions but represents the best of Perry Como's Christmas songs from his long career. And most of these songs are unique and were not recorded a lot even though there are a few standards included here that are on almost every Christmas album. The result is that this CD fits in nicely to any collection even if you own a ton of Christmas music.

If you like Perry and if you like Christmas you will love this CD. This is the first CD out of the Christmas box when we are decorating our tree. There are several of the classics but my favorites are the title song "I wish it could be Christmas forever" and "Christmas Dream." This is good stuff!!

Perry at his best. Wouldn't be Christmas without it. Had it for many years, but misplaced it. I was so excited to find it on Amazon. Don't let this go by. Song choices are magnificent, with some upbeat tunes.