Let It Be Christmas

Alan Jackson

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 5, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B00006JO4R
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,069 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Unlike 1993's classic Honky Tonk Christmas, which was almost entirely original tunes, 10 of these 11 tracks are well-known holiday favorites. But one of the highlights of that 1993 release was Jackson's cover of Burl Ives's very familiar "Holly Jolly Christmas," which he subsequently made his own. Jackson's warm, soothing voice also works wonders here, with the arrangements doing their part to transform this into yet another yuletide classic. In fact, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is one of the most touching versions ever recorded. Be it a semi-jazzy "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," the honky-tonk piano on a rousing "Jingle Bells," a gorgeous acoustic-based "Silent Night," or "The Christmas Song" delivered with a pleasant twang, these tracks deserve perennial play. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Country's All-Time Best Christmas Album, November 7, 2002

By A Customer

Up until now, there have been only two perfect Christmas albums: Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song," and Johnny Mathis' "Merry Christmas." By perfect, I mean you can't find a song on those albums that is less than first rate.

Country music has never produced a Christmas album that could stand alongside those two classics. Collin Raye, John Berry, Vince Gill, Ricky Van Shelton, and Patty Loveless have come close. But Alan Jackson, with his "Let It Be Christmas," has turned the trick. This album is every bit as good as those all-time pop albums by Cole and Mathis.

Unlike his first Christmas album, which is very good in its own right, Jackson has put it all together here. The song selections (all classics -- except for the one penned by Jackson), the arrangements, and the production are flawless.

You won't find a single song that will disappoint you ... in fact, there is not a single selection that is less than outstanding.

You may be surprised to hear quite a bit of orchestral accompanyment in this album, but it works. LeAnn Womack also integrates lots of non-traditional country instruments in her Christmas album, but it doesn't work nearly as well as it does here.

"The Christmas Song," "Silent Night," and "Away in a Manger," are all challenging songs for a vocalist to pull off. Sing those well, and you can probably handle the other, less-demanding Christmas songs. Jackson produces wonderful versions of all three songs, and throws in equally pleasing versions of standards like "Jingle Bells," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and "O Come All Ye Faithful."

You can buy any number of Christmas albums. But only three are all-time classics. This is one of them.

Postscript: I wrote the above review in October 2002. Three years later (October 2005), this CD remains one of only three 'perfect' Christmas albums ever recorded. I just listened to each song again, and I'm still blown away by how good this is. My 7 year-old daughter, Katie, feels the same way.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious!, November 6, 2002

By	James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

After his rowdy 1994 Christmas effort Honky Tonk Christmas, Alan Jackson takes a more subdued approach on Let It Be Christmas, with plenty of mellow modern chestnuts ("Christmas Song," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas") and hymns ("O Come All Ye Faithful," "Away In A Manger"). Even buoyant favorites like "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bells" go down easy with uncluttered arrangements. Throughout, Jackson has never sounded better, particularly on the hymns. The title track - a new Jackson composition - neatly sums up the album. It's a simple message of hope that is gloriously delivered.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite modern Christmas CD.......by far, December 29, 2003

By	V. Messner (PA, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First off, I'm not a big fan of country music. I happened to be on the treadmill, flipping channels, on a cold November day, and I noticed the Alan Jackson Christmas special (which I think aired originally in 2002) on CMT. I was going to continue flipping, but I love the Christmas season, so I figured I'd watch. Turns out that I really enjoyed the special. It was very traditional and family oriented, and the songs were also traditional Christmas favorites. After a couple of days, I just couldn't get the excellently arranged songs out of my head, so I went out and bought the cd. I've listened to it dozens of times over the last month, and its the best musical purchase I've made in a long while. I know this cd will now be among my few continuously played Christmas favorites, every holiday season, no question about it. The cd features a great mixture of slow and fast Christmas classics, along with one original song - the cd's title track, "Let It Be Christmas." I'm generally not a fan of original Christmas songs, but this song is worth the entire price of the disc. The music, the lyrics, and everything else about this song is just perfect, and it will bring forth peaceful feelings and fond memories in all but the most scroogish of listeners. I can't do this album justice with words, all I can do is recommend it with my highest praise.