This Is the Time: The Christmas Album [ENHANCED]

Michael Bolton

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 1996)
• Original Release Date: October 1, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002BK6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #12,333 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Silent Night

2. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

4. Joy to the World

5. Ava Maria - Michael Bolton, Plácido Domingo

6. Christmas Song

7. O Holy Night

8. White Christmas

9. This Is the Time - Michael Bolton, Wynonna Judd

10. Love Is the Power

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful music for the Season, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

I love this Christmas album. It combines two of my favotrite things: Christmas music and Michael Bolton. What a great combination! I feel that Michael Bolton's voice adds to the emotion of some classic Christmas music.

The version of Ave Maria that he sings with Placido Domingo is by far the best I have heard. There are no words that can describe how I feel when he sings Joy to the World. When the first words are sung, I am filled with, well, absolute joy! This is the Time is a wonderfully done song and his duet is great. This song really describes the feelings that surround the Christmas season.

Michael Bolton's albums have never disappointed me, and this one is certainly not and exception. Everyone who loves Christmas and Michael Bolton as much as I do should definitely own a copy of this CD!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars for a select audience, December 18, 2005

By	Sidney A. Meyer "treighnor" (Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Michael Bolton has a pleasant enough voice. Certainly this album will be a big hit with his fan base. It is a pretty good "Top 40" type of album. "Silent Night" starts out as a lovely, melodious ballad, but then Michael starts with vocal theatrics, a la Whitney Houston. It detracts from the carol. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is lively. "Have Yourself a merry Little Christmas suits Michael's voice perfectly. This is a good match. "Joy to the World" is not. Michael does this gospel-style and wails in the beginning. Then it goes into a rock and roll/gospel version. This does not work with such a traditional carol. It is rather disconcerting. It is interesting that he should attempt a duet with Placido Domingo on "Ave Maria." He actually does a commendable job. While the blend is not perfect, it is acceptable and you actually hear some depth and power in Bolton's voice that he rarely uses. "The Christmas Song" is another tune well suited for Michael's voice. The drums in "O Holy Night" absolutely ruin the piece. If you didn't know the melody or lyrics you would think you were listening to slow dance music. It certainly does not sound "holy." He actually makes "White Christmas" sound more reverential. This seems rather odd. "White christmas" is another tune suited for Michael's voice, proving once again, that he does best on pop tunes. His versions of more sacred songs range from poor to almost terrible, with the exception of the "Ave Maria." I suspect that Placido Domingo would refuse to do a terrible version of that piece. The last two tracks are typical Bolton, but end the album well, as they are well-suited for him.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Att. Michael Bolton lovers!!!!!!!, December 24, 1998

By A Customer

Michael has done a wonderful job of putting together this album. His duets with Wynonna and Placido Domingo are great. The version of "Ave Maria" is beautiful if you love opera or not. He show's his vocal power to do arias. This is a great CD to own if you like Micheal Bolton.