 | Best Christmas Album Ever
rating: 5
One of the best Christmas records ever recorded. They truly don't make them like this any more. The arrangements of the classic Christmas songs and carols on here stand alone. Do yourself a favor and get this for yourself and your family, especially if you have kids. The photographic memories didn't stop after finally hearing this album for the first time in it's entirety since I was a kid. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town and the classic Home For The Holidays all wonderful arrangements reminiscent of a time when things were a lot simpler.
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Absolutely thrilled!!
rating: 5
This is an album I grew up with and I was so excited to find it on Amazon. I still have the album, but it is so old and scratchy. I am thrilled to be able to replace it. Each and every song is very special to me. It reminds me of my childhood and spending time with my family. My favorite track is the telling of the Christmas story. Should you decide to purchase this you will be as pleased as I am, I'm sure of it!
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The #1 Essential Christmas Album
rating: 5
This could be the best christmas album of all time (well, next to THE LIVING STRINGS 1963 album, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS and maybe, just maybe, a few others).
But this Perry Como christmas album is the #1 essential christmas album to get for this reason: When you think of the old christmas music from back in the 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's, people like Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and Nat King Cole come to mind. You know, that old crooner sound that defines christmas music for so many of us (because we grew up with it). That is the christmas sound that many of us like to capture during the christmas season and the best recording to do that, in my opinion, is this one, the 1959 album, PERRY COMO - SEASON'S GREETINGS. The voice, the backing orchestra, the backing chrous, the production, the complete sound, all this combined makes this the ultimate trip to christmas of yesteryear, to the christmas we grew up with. This album defines the 'christmas crooner sound.'
As another reviewer recently commented, Perry's version of THE CHRISTMAS SONG could be the best version of the song ever recorded. The style is relaxed and beautiful. Perry's voice is in top form. Nice 'strings' solo instrumental part towards the middle. Give it an honest chance and you'll see what we mean. It really is 'christmas.'
I will also go as far as saying that Perry's version of WHITE CHRISTMAS is one of the best versions ever recorded also. After a mellow but nice start, it really kicks into full gear and of special note is the Ray Charles Singers singing backup who really, really shine in this song, especially their solo somewhere towards the middle or just past.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN is easily the best version of the song ever recorded and was a hit for Perry.
WINTER WONDERLAND and RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER are also superbly done, very mellow and relaxed, but very beautiful.
But, all that said, the best song is still the first song and Perry's most famous christmas song which was his biggest christmas hit (and one of his biggest hits, period), (THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE) HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Perry's singing, the orchestra, and The Ray Charles Singers make this song one of the greatest christmas songs ever recorded. I'm sure most to all who have this album (cd) would agree with me here. Christmas songs just don't get much than this christmas song.
And to add, every other song (including the religious such as O HOLY NIGHT and the religious medley at the end) are top notch. Not one single weak song where you have to skip one to get to the next.
The only 'crooner' (both male and female) styled christmas albums that have ever approached this album are JOHNNY MATHIS - MERRY CHRISTMAS (1958), CONNIE FRANCIS - CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART (1959), KATE SMITH - THE KATE SMITH CHRISTMAS ALBUM (1966), and JACK JONES - THE JACK JONES CHRISTMAS ALBUM (1964). It's hard to choose a best one as all are recommended and just so good. As mentioned at the top, though, this PERRY COMO is the essential one if you want that complete and perfect old 'crooner' sound.
This album clearly has Perry at his singing best, his style of 'relaxed' is evident throughout, and there is so much power to his voice that he just could be the best singer there is. And the orchestra, chorus, and production (sound) is as great as it could be. Even the song selection is quite possibly perfect. That's why, as I said a few times, this is one of the best christmas albums ever recorded and is the essential one for that old crooner sound. This cd is also perfect to play as background music when you have family and/or friends over for the christmas holidays.
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Best Christmas Album Ever ...50 years later
rating: 5
I first heard this album at my favorite aunt's house almost 50 years ago.
It instantly became for me the gold standard for every christmas album since. In my opinion
it is the single best Christmas album ever recorded, and I have and enjoy dozens.
Perry Como's "The Christmas Song" leaves all other versions in the dust.
The beauty of his voice throughout the entire album, and the superb production and
engineering make it seem as if it had been recorded yesterday.
This one is a must for every Christmas collection.
Merry Christmas!
P.S. Even as a child I wondered how the heck "The Ray Charles Singers" sounded so
different on this recording. It took four decades until I found out that they were not
the singers of the late Ray Charles but of a totally different Ray Charles! They still sound
great.
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The CD release of Perry's First Christmas Album Recorded in Living Stereo!
rating: 5
This CD is superb! It is a CD release of Perry's First Christmas album recorded in Living Stereo from 1959. (Perry recorded many other Christmas Songs before this time, but they were all recorded in the Mono era.)
This collection was another of the many big hits of Perry's outstanding legacy. This album, recorded during the long period when Perry was at the height of his Television Fame (He was on TV every week!) is a fine example in a very traditional setting.
You could just imagine this album as a Perry Como Christmas Show. It is like a Christmas follow up to 'Saturday Night with Mr. C' - another Como album, from the previous year, 1958.
The album starts with a Como signature song '(There's no place like) Home for the Holidays' - a new version of a song Perry had recorded earlier in the 1950's in Mono, which was released as a single. The original single is available on 'Greatest Christmas Songs' - another superb Como Christmas CD, of the many!
Throughout this collection we have many other bright, breezy and soothing selections including classics such as 'Winter Wonderland, 'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire)' and 'Santa Claus is comin' to town'.
We also have a classic caroling medley 'Here we come a-caroling; We wish you a Merry Christmas'. Plus, in true Como style, a couple of more faith and inspirational Christmas offerings are included - 'God rest ye merry gentlemen' and 'O Holy Night (Cantique De Noel)'.
The album closes with Perry's wonderful telling of the World's most exciting, beautiful and wonderful story - 'The Story of the First Christmas'. Perry sings songs and take Listeners on a magical journey of the First Christmas!
This album highlights mainly Christmas songs that Perry had previously recorded, but this time in Stereo, instead of Mono. The new editions are 'Here we come a-caroling; We wish you a Merry Christmas' and 'O Holy Night (Cantique De Noel)' - the latter song of which Perry would re-record for his 1968 Christmas Album.
It is very interesting to compare Perry's different renditions of the same song, in some cases the different recordings are very similar such as 'The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)' and some are completely different sounding like 'Winter Wonderland'!
This CD is a joy to listen to, like all of Perry Como's Recordings! This CD is a must for anyone who loves superb Christmas music.
The CD has been honestly produced and comes complete with the original liner notes, track listings and of course recordings Digitally remastered to a high standard from Release Master Tapes.
This album is nearly 50 years old now (2006) - it will be 50 years old in 2009. Like all of Perry Como's material, it has certainly stood the test of time and is definitely here to stay - FOREVER!
Superb Listening!
Matthew Long
(An enormous Perry Como Fan of a much younger generation!)
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