Christmas Here with You

The Four Tops

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 9, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca Special Products
• ASIN: B000001AAD
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,751 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Christmas Here with You is an unusually bombastic affair that even a diehard Tops fan will have trouble tuning into. Entirely overproduced and disappointedly uninspired through almost 12 cuts, the disc is rich in cliché but poor in imagination. Even select cameos from Aretha Franklin, who rises to the occasion only to oversing her parts, can't rescue the effort. Although the string-driven arrangement of "Silent Night" proves engaging and things do pick up a bit halfway through, most folks will wonder what happened to the Motown magic that gave us all those good times. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To Top It Off, February 3, 2000

By	Jeff Sherman (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

I believe this is one of the finest Four Tops album that the group ever put out, not to mention one of my favorite Christmas albums. Levi Stubbs is alive to this very day, February 03, 2000. I saw him in concert three months ago. All the originals are still alive except the groups leader(not lead singer but leader) Lawrence Payton, who passed in 1997 due to stomach cancer. Paytons vocal arrangements and the groups harmony make this album a plus. Sometimes the four sound as if they were a choir of 20 their voices are so strong. The only aspect of the album I do not like was Aretha Franklin. Yes, the Queen of Soul is a great singer. However, her style of singing on some of the songs conflicted with the Tops style. Definetly listen to Track 1 and Little Drummer Boy. And don't eject it till you hear Obie Benson's two songs he wrote and sung on here. All the Tops have at least one lead on the album. BUY IT.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rountree's Reviews, December 16, 1999

By	George Rountree Jr. (Detroit, Mi) - See all my reviews

I love the old standards.I particularly enjoy Christmas standards. Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Sinatra,et al had that flair that made you appreciate the writings of the Lowes, Porters, Mercers etc.It certainly made quite an impression upon four men who knows what it's like to spread some cheer to people all over the globe. So when I was asked to collaborate with them to arrange their favorite Christmas songs, I jumped at the chance.Musically, this was my best piece of work. Lawrence,(what more can I say about him that hasn't been said?) Levi, Duke, and Obie were equally easy to "gel" with.Other notables that made this project successful were the engineers, the Ridgeway Sisters, doing wonderful background vocals, my rhythm section,(Pieces of the Puzzle) and of course, Sista 'Ree (Aretha Franklin) rounded out the album's charm. Also special thanks to the families that sang and supported our endeavors.One should be able to ear witness the variations of styles and personalites of each individual; connected by one common thread-- me.After listening to these tracks, I think you will find it fresh and will listen to this album for just as many years as that other "tempting" group of guys that shared the same spotlight and stage.Enjoy!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holiday Hi light !!, December 4, 2006

By	Sharon Bembery "bemsa's best" (Phila., PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I LOVE this CD. After, Charlie Brown, it's the first CD I reach for to get my holiday hum on. The rendition of Little Drummer Boy , alone, is worth the price of the CD. It is a nice up tempo rendition with a fabulous ending ( the horns are outstanding ! ).I put it on blast, every time I play it. The Night Before Christmas, Christmas Delight and Christmas Here wih You are also very nicely done. I've just purchased 6 more copies for holiday giving.