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 Now That's What I Call Christmas! offers a little bit of something for every musical tastes. The two disk set runs the gamut from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald to Shaggy and Britney Spears. The set offers classic Christmas songs like the all-time standard "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song", Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", Gene Autrey's "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" and "Let It Snow" by Dean Martin. Other well known songs include Bruce Springsteen's classic take on "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", the song that started the benefit song trend in the 80's, Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas" which is still a powerful and beautiful song, the odd pairing of Bing Crosby and David Bowie on the beautiful "Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth", John Lennon's "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)", The Beach Boys' rollicking "Little St. Nick" and Paul McCartney's bright and cheery "Wonderful Christmas". Some lesser known songs standout like Diana Krall's sultry "Jungle Bells" and The Isley Brothers' "Special Gift". You can skip over such weak songs like the overplayed and inane "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer", Gloria Estefan's "Love On Layaway" and Michael Bolton's "Love Is A Holiday". As far as Christmas collections go, this one ranks right up near the top.
To clarify my above statement, many artist/musicians have released Christmas albums, but no one has ever heard as many of them on one CD..."NOW" gives you this and more...36 artists from 36 different genres such as Country, R&B, Alternative Rock, New Age, Folk, Jazz, Comedy, Reggae, Easy Listening and of course "Classic Christmas" standards. Must make mention of the stand outs ~ "MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING"(Carpenters)..."LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/PEACE ON EARTH"(Bing Crosby/David Bowie)..."HAPPY CHRISTMAS(WAR IS OVER)"(John&Yoko)..."IT MUST HAVE BEEN OL' SANTA CLAUS"(Harry Connick Jr.)..."JINGLE BELLS"(Diana Krall)...and my personal favorite "AWAY IN THE MANAGER"(Mannheim Steamroller), you'll never come up with a better compilation for this time of the year. Entire album will make your Holiday's a time to cherish...excellent opportunity to introduce the youngsters to some of the standard Christmas classics, and never a better time to familarize the older generation with the NOW generation! Total 2-CD-Set ~ Universal Music 314-585-620-2 ~ (2001)
This 2-cd set is chock full of holiday classics that has a little something on it for everyone. Bruce Springsteen's version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is a rockin'-good tune that will have you tapping your feet in no time. Other standout singles include Brittany Spears' excellent rendition of "My Only Wish," "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" by Celine Dion, Joe's "This Christmas," and the amazing version of "Silent Night" by Boyz II Men. For those of you craving your more typical nostalgic holiday tunes, listen to Manheim Steamroller's "Away in a Manger," Elvis Presley's rocking "Blue Christmas," Ella Fitzgerald's "Sleigh Ride," or Perry Como's beautiful "Home For the Holidays." This 2-cd set has it all. NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CHRISTMAS is one of the most complete holiday collections that I have ever seen, and it definately follows true to the highly successful NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC series. This is an excellent holiday compilation album and sure to bring happiness and joy to your home this holiday season.
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