SOUNDTRACK: STARS OF CHRISTMAS (2008).
I believe that I bought this collection because it was cheap–a new disc of interesting mixes for Christmas Well, given the artists on the cover (my cover is actually different, but similar), I had no idea that I was in for a largely classic/formal collection of songs. True I probably should have looked at the list, but for a cheapie Christmas CD it seemed safe.
The first several tracks are done is very operatic style. Many other tracks are done in an almost church-like atmosphere. Nothing inherently wrong with these versions, indeed, many of them are quite lovely but they’re not what I like in Christmas songs and, frankly there’s too much of it on this disc (it’s nearly an hour long).
MARIO LANZA-“I Saw Three Ships” and SERGIO FRANCHI-“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” Operatic and JOHN DAVIDSON-“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” are all very formal and operatic. ED AMES-“Joy to the World” is also operatic and it adds a backing vocal chorus.
Somewhat less operatic but still formal are PERRY COMO-“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and ANDY WILLIAMS-“Angels We Have Heard on High.” This all makes sense as these are religious Christmas songs. Even the CAROL LAWRENCE and ROBERT GOULET version of “Carol of the Bells” features Goulet’s ponderous voice. (It’s a nice version, but Lawrence can’t quite match him).
After these, the mood lightens somewhat. DANNY KAYE-“Deck the Halls” is a bit more fun (as Danny Kaye would be). And then comes the big WTF moment–AIR SUPPLY? doing “The First Noel.” Their version is fine and doesn’t sound too out of place here.
Changing the tone somewhat, JULIE ANDREWS-“Patapan” I don’t really know this song very well. Andrews does a lovely version of it. It’s strange that there are two Christmas songs about drums. And THE LENNON SISTERS, who I quite like, do “Silent Night.” Their version is sweet and relaxing and reminds me of the singers from O Brother Where Art Thou? JOSE FELICIANO-“The Cherry Tree Carol” is another song I don’t know. This version is weird here since it’s on acoustic guitar with Feliciano’s delicate voice.
The best song on the disc is ARTHUR FIEDLER-“Sleigh Ride”. This is the classic instrumental with strings and sleigh bells. I’m surprised by the instrumental version of “Jingle Bells” by CHET ATKINS. It’s guitar based and slightly countryish, but there’s no way to guess it’s from him. EDDY ARNOLD-“Jolly Old St. Nicholas” is a song I vaguely know. It also has country tinges. It’s an unusual song what with asking Santa what he;s going to give you.
JIM REEVES-“O Come All Ye Faithful” changes the tone again. This song is done on pipe organ. It sounds like it was recorded in a church (which makes sense). LORRIE MORGAN-“O Holy Night” I dislike this version quite a lot. It feels rather pretentious and she does some weird melodies at times. BURL IVES-“O Little Town of Bethlehem” I like Ives, but not on this song. It’s too slow or something.
The final two songs are just awful to me (which I know people will yet at me for saying) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS-“Away in a Manger” and ARETHA FRANKLIN-“Ave Maria.” I’m not a big fan of Knight as it is, although I do usually like Aretha. But man this version of “Ave Maria” is dreadful. She starts wailing, horrible trills that are way out of place on this song. And it’s nearly 7 minutes long. Gah, what a dreadful way to end the album
So, there’s a few good songs here. There’s a couple of nice version that might fit on a mix and then there’s some horrors. Probably worth the $1.99 I paid for it.
[READ: December 10, 2014] The Cricket on the Hearth
I was unfamiliar with thsi story before reading it. The author of the introduction to the book (Eleanor Farjeon) says she likes it better than “A Christmas Carol.” I can see some reason for liking it more, but it’s not quite as impactful.
It’s a strange story with hidden identities, true love, fake love and crickets.
The story begins at John Peerybingle’s house. He is a carrier, basically a mailman. He is married to Dot and they have a new baby boy. Their nanny, Tilly Slowboy (Dickens is none to subtle about names, eh?), is a simple girl who seems to have a knack for either smashing the baby’s head on things or just barely missing his head when she turns around. When the story starts, John has just returned from his latest travel, and he is happy to be home.
Dot talks about the cricket that is chirping so loudly at the hearth (there’s a question from the narrator as to whether the cricket or the kettle made the noise first, and he maintains that it was the cricket). Dot thinks fondly of the cricket, especially when John is away. She imagines that the cricket is looking over them every time it chirps. (more…)
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Just like two years ago when we saw A Christmas Carol, a few days later I listened to the audio book. This year, I found a different reading of it by Neil Gaiman. This one comes from the New York Public Library podcast, and is available on Soundcloud and iTunes.
I Just Read About That... 