Hello, Darlings! Well, I thought I would impart my own opinion (imagine that) on the best holiday tunes out there right now. Please note that anything by Bing, Frank, Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney are all GIVENS! Here are Rox's pics for a cool yule, and I hope you are moved by the spirit. As always, judge away, Sweeties! In no particular order:
Barry Manilow -- A Christmas Gift of Love
*Now quit laughing -- the guy still has it!! The entire CD is great with standouts including "Happy Holidays" and a fantastic version of Joni Mitchell's "River"
Bette Midler -- Cool Yule
*Yes, yet another Jew doing Christmas classics; Barry actually arranged this album for the Divine who recorded a new version of "From A Distance (Christmas Version)" which had the makings of disaster but it is absolutely gorgeous; she also sings Winter Wonderland with Johnny Matthis and a beautiful rendition of "White Christmas." And if you want to swing a little then there is the fab "Cool Yule"
Amy Grant -- A Christmas Album
*Fantastic classics as well as one of my fave "new" classics "Heirlooms" -- this is Amy at her best with a touch of acoustic production and a little country thrown in.
Amy Grant -- Home for Christmas
*This is the CD she released on the heels of her 5-million selling "crossover" Heart in Motion; it has a lot more production value than her first holiday offering but, along with loads of classics, has two of my favorite (all time favorite) newer classics "Grown Up Christmas List" and "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" -- the latter actually has become its own holiday classic with numerous multi-platinum artists recording it since then (and Amy wrote it, baby baby!!)
David Foster -- The Christmas Album
*Foster is one of the most successful producers of modern day and years ago he brought together a Holiday Cast Made in Heaven! It's all of your favorite classics with new, fresh arrangements and performances by everyone from Celine, Vanessa Williams, Wynona and Johnny Matthis to Tammy Wynette, Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack and, yes, even Tom Jones!
MercyMe -- The Christmas Sessions
*This band is one of the hottest Contemporary Christians groups out there -- they are all rock and pop/rock 'n roll. The arrangements on this album are amazing, bringing new life, emotion and energy to classics including "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Silent Night."
Linda Eder -- Christmas Stays The Same
*This Broadway diva is alll about over-the-top; check it out, especially her renditions of "Little Drummer Boy" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" -- if you're not raising your hands to the Heavens on that one then you are dead inside.
Mariah Carey -- Merry Christmas
*Yes, Rox's girl has one of the best selling holiday albums by a female artist of all time and rightfully so; there are raise-the-roof classics such as "Joy to the World" (with a fantastic "sampling" of another "Joy to the World") and her personally penned hits "All I Want For Christmas (Is You)" and "Miss You Most At Christmas Time." Ah, getting butterflies just writing about her!!
I hope this music has brought as much cheer and reflection as it has to Rox.
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