December

december

Track Listings
1. Sabres
2. Stranded In Greenland
3. Svengali
4. They Said
5. The Effect
6. December
7. The Last Laugh
8. Paperwhites
9. Clandestine High Holy
10. Autocrat [Multimedia Track]
11. Echelons [Multimedia Track]

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
FOR AGAINST has released a series of brooding pop records layered with surging wall of sound guitars and melodic basslines since their inception in 1984 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The original lineup comprised Jeffrey Runnings (bass & vocals), Harry Dingman (guitars), and Greg Hill (percussion). After the release of the Autocrat / It's a Lie 7" in 1985, the group launched a long-time association with the legendary INDEPENDENT PROJECT RECORDS. Both of these songs appeared on 1987's acclaimed ‘Echelons' LP, beloved for it's unique brand of JOY DIVISION-influenced post-punk. ECHELONS was celebrated with a Grammy nomination for its remarkable cover design by BRUCE LICHER.

Founded in Lincoln, Nebraska in the early 1980s, the original lineup comprised Jeffrey Runnings (bass & vocals), Harry Dingman (guitars), and Greg Hill (percussion). After the release of the Autocrat / It's a Lie 7" in 1985, the group launched a long-time association with the legendary INDEPENDENT PROJECT RECORDS. Both of these songs appeared on 1987's acclaimed ‘Echelons' LP, beloved for it's unique brand of JOY DIVISION-influenced post-punk. ECHELONS was celebrated with a Grammy nomination for its remarkable cover design by BRUCE LICHER.

In 1988, the trio released the equally distinguished nine-song album, DECEMBER. The album is a fan favorite, and DECEMBER is now largely considered by critics to be a forerunner of the dream pop scene popularized in England just a year or two later.

While Dingman and Hill left to form The Millions, in 1990 IPR released In the Marshes, a six-song 10" that was recorded by FOR AGAINST in the mid-1980s. These songs are decidedly darker, and infused with considerable electronics.

All five songs culled from two 7" singles were collected along with six other songs to construct 1993's APERTURE. Runnings was joined by Steven Hinrichs on guitar and drummer Paul Engelhard. The new trio's songwriting was more immediate, but perhaps the biggest change was the skeletal, less atmospheric production. APERTURE yielded some of the band's finest moments — such as "Breathless," "Don't Do Me Any Favors," and "Breathless."

In 1995, FOR AGAINST released MASON'S CALIFORNIA LUNCHROOM on New York's RAINBOW QUARTZ. The sound is somewhat bigger than that of Aperture, with a fuller, rounder, and less trebled guitar presence. The brilliant "Tagalong" includes perhaps the best hooks of any FOR AGAINST song.

On 1997's SHELF LIFE FOR AGAINST offers ten more songs, including several songs with a gentle, serene temperament. The album also included two rare excursions by FOR AGAINST into covering other artists' material: "Times Square Go Go Boy," was originally written by EAST RIVER PIPE, and "Seascape," was composed by Tracey Thorn of EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL.

After five years between albums, COALESCED (WORDS ON MUSIC, 2002) was FOR AGAINST's triumphant return to the independent music scene. COALESCED was named "Album Of The Year" by Jack Rabid, editor of The Big Takeover, heralded by Skyscraper as "one of their best recordings," and Pop Culture Press ennobled Jeffrey Runnings as making "a serious case for himself as one of the past decade's most underrated tunesmiths."

After recording COALESCED, Hinrichs moved from Nebraska to Virginia. In August 2004 the band reformed with original guitarist Harry Dingman. FOR AGAINST is currently writing new material as well as rehearsing the old songs and are playing live shows once again.

Product Description
FOR AGAINST has released a series of brooding pop records layered with surging wall of sound guitars and melodic basslines since their inception in 1984 in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1988 FOR AGAINST recorded the distinguished DECEMBER album for INDEPENDENT PROJECT RECORDS. DECEMBER is a fan favorite and is unparalleled in the annals of post-punk for its unique blend of aggressive, atmospheric, and melodic songwriting. The album is also now largely considered to be a forerunner of the dream pop scene popularized in England just a few years later (PALE SAINTS, KITCHENS OF DISTINCTION). The WORDS ON MUSIC re-release of DECEMBER is issued in a six-panel digipak design by two-time Grammy nominee BRUCE LICHER and includes two rare, recently recovered FOR AGAINST videos shot in 1987, never before commercially available. A ferocious rhythm section launches December with "Sabres" as drummer Greg Hill finds room for fills in spaces upon which most drummers would not even dare! to encroach. Singer Jeffrey Runnings continues to intrigue by conveying his dark (and at times obscure) lyrics in a deceptively boyish delivery. Runnings' punctuated bass lines propel "Stranded in Greenland," while guitarist Harry Dingman's melodies weave ever more pronounced circles around the rhythms within. "Svengali" recalls the best of Chronic Town-era R.E.M. with Hill's quick tom-tom fills and Dingman's nimble, repetitive picking intervals in the spotlight. On "They Said," Runnings' vocals and Dingman's melodies gracefully dip in and out of the chorus and a coda replete with orchestral-sounding 12-string sweeps escorts the song to its melancholic end. Brooding elements from FOR AGAINST's debut album Echelons remain, most evident in the prominent basslines of the 6/8-metered "The Effect." Echoed guitar work and repetitive JOY DIVISION-esque basslines create a dark structure onto which Runnings' chilling vocals are on prominent display. A crushing two-note guitar melody! lingers during the sparse passages of the album's measured title track. Improbable harmonics add sparkling touches to "The Last Laugh" and "Paperwhites." The album closes with "Clandestine High Holy" on which Dingman's guitar teeters on the edge of feedback while Runnings pounds out fierce basslines that would make GANG OF FOUR blush. Ending the album in spectacular fashion, Dingman propels the band through a minute-plus coda with cascading chord progressions that simply bring chills to the spine.

December,For Against,Words On Music,Alternative Pop/Rock,Dream Pop,Indie Pop,Pop,Post-Punk,Rock,Rock/Pop

December
My December
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Love it
  • Kudos to Kelly for Standing her Ground...
  • Best Album in Years
  • Give it a chance!
  • disappointed
 My December
Kelly Clarkson
Manufacturer: RCA Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000QFAJ7S
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

  1. Never Again
  2. One Minute
  3. Hole
  4. Sober
  5. Don't Waste Your Time
  6. Judas
  7. Haunted
  8. Be Still
  9. Maybe
  10. How I Feel
  11. Yeah
  12. Can I Have A Kiss
  13. Irvine

Amazon.com

Judging by the themes of anger and betrayal that dominate Kelly Clarkson's third disc, My December, perhaps 'Jagged Little Idol' would have been a more telling title. According to interviews, the massively successful artist wanted more creative control with her music going forward; as a result, unlike her previous CDs, Clarkson contributes as a songwriter on every track. The final product is not nearly as catchy as Breakaway, but is far more introspective and honest. My December's overall sound brings a harder musical style than fans might expect, with acerbic lyrics to match; the disc's first single "Never Again"--a dark rock song slamming her ex-boyfriend--is certainly a tip-off. The compelling chorus of "Hole" finds Clarkson singing "There's a hole/inside of me/it's so damn cold/slowly killing me" over a melody that is far more Tool than top-40. "Haunted" and "Judas" are wrought-over tracks that veer into Evanescence territory, while the wonderfully sparse "Maybe" is a highlight within which Clarkson's pleading voice is perfectly showcased. My December's final listed track, "Irvine" (prior to the hidden bluesy acoustic ballad "Chivas") sounds far more Cat Power-meets-Corinne Bailey Rae than Clarkson, but it is certainly one of the most captivating songs on the disc, and serves as yet another reminder of just how versatile her voice is. Fans of her previous radio-friendly releases may well be divided on her new direction, but it appears to be the path Clarkson is likely to continue to travel. --Denise Sheppard

More from Kelly Clarkson


Breakaway


Thankful


Since U Been Gone

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Love it.......2007-07-13

Dear Kelly:

More like this, please.

Thanks,

Me

2 out of 5 stars Kudos to Kelly for Standing her Ground..........2007-07-13

I believe that much of what is being put in the reviews for My December here and on other sites represent blogging-like attempts to either defend or crush Kelly on the new album. They do not seem to be true attempts at conveying the feel of the album as a whole to a prospective buyer.

If you are after the latest KC album because you support Kelly fully and wish to show her that support as she stretches to find her place, then this album is definitely for you.

However, if you are after singable, 'hear it three times and find yourself humming along' songs that will stay with you years from now... well, it is just not there to be found. If you buy it in this scenario, you will later regret it.

The verdict will be handed over in time by the Radio world, and that verdict is not going to be a positive one for Kelly. For the record, I am a huge fan of Breakaway, and Kelly had to really earn that purchase from me before entering my music collection. Now that I am a fan I was looking forward to what she had in store this time, and on a personal level I am disappointed. But I continue to give kudos to Kelly for what she is trying to do. If she will weather the storm the failure of this album will bring - and it WILL lack success - then we will have even more to be excited about the NEXT time around.

As for whether to buy the album or not? Just decide which type of fan you are based on my previous statements. And if you don't have BREAKAWAY yet, buy it now instead. You will not be disappointed in the slightest.

5 out of 5 stars Best Album in Years.......2007-07-12

Kelly's songwriting is amazing. Very catchy and meaningful songs on here. A MUST buy !!

5 out of 5 stars Give it a chance!.......2007-07-11

I didn't know what to expect from this album due to all the bad press surrounding the release, but I was very pleased when I listened to it. It probably won't appeal to the younger fans of Idol and the 'Breakaway' album because the lyrics are definately more mature, but don't write it off until you listen to it.

Kelly's voice shines on this album as well; there's a lot of emotion coming through her voice, which I assume is because she actually wrote these songs.

Some of the best tracks on the album are How I Feel, Chivas, Can I Have a Kiss, Be Still and Sober.

1 out of 5 stars disappointed.......2007-07-11

I bought Kelly Clarkson cd My December thinking it would be a good cd.
I was so disappointed in this one. I bought the cd Breakaway before
I thought that was good. My December did not rank up there with Breakaway.
I would not recommend this one to buy it would be a waste of money.
December's Children (And Everybody's)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • December's Children has too much filler
  • Their best early release in the US
  • Not an SACD
  • Not the Best, but pretty important
  • Stupendously Fantastic
 December's Children (And Everybody's)
The Rolling Stones , and Rolling Stones
Manufacturer: Abkco
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006AW2R
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Tracks:

  1. She Said Yeah
  2. Talking About You
  3. You Better Move On
  4. Look What You've Done
  5. The Singer Not the Song
  6. Route 66
  7. Get off of My Cloud
  8. I'm Free
  9. As Tears Go By
  10. Gotta Get Away
  11. Blue Turns to Grey
  12. I'm Movin' On

Amazon.com essential recording

Before this 1965 blues-rock masterpiece, the Stones were the best of the many British bands living out their Muddy Waters dress-up fantasies. They continue giving new life to old songs, such as Arthur Alexander's soul tearjerker "You Better Move On" and the Nat King Cole standard "Route 66," but there are several exciting new developments. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger discover their songwriting talents, coming up with the enduring "Get Off My Cloud" and "As Tears Go By" as well as the underappreciated "I'm Free." And drummer Charlie Watts focuses the swing-jazz fills that have defined the Stones as much as the writing, voices, and guitars. --Steve Knopper

Amazon.com

Dig how even a tossed-together cash-in by the Stones' U.S. label--the group's third American album of 1965--ends up smoking like all but their very best. They invent thrash with the opener, "She Said Yeah" (a Specialty Records obscurity penned, under a pseudonym, by Sonny Bono!) before laying down a leering "Talkin' 'Bout You," a frenetic "I'm Movin' On" and their most consistent, varied list of originals yet. Dig, too, how even "As Tears Go By" sounds like a sneer in the midst of "Get Off of My Cloud," "Gotta Get Away," "I'm Free" and the dourly off-key "Blue Turns to Grey." --Rickey Wright

Album Description

This Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) recording offers high-resolution sound and is playable on both standard CD players and SACD-compatible devices.

Album Description

Full Title - December's Children (& Everybody's). Remastered reissue of 1965 album, suitable for standard & 'Super Audio' CD players. Digipak. Abkco. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars December's Children has too much filler.......2007-03-16

This is perhaps the weakest album in the Rolling Stones 60's catalog. But don't blame the band, this is the record companies fault. Sure there are some great tunes here like She Said Yeah, Get off of My Cloud, As Tears Go By and some decent tunes like You Better Move On and I'm Free. But there's just too much weak material, songs like Talking About You, Look What You've Done, The Singer Not the Song, Gotta Get Away and Blue Turns to Grey feel flat. Then the live renditions of Route 66 and I'm Movin' On are alright, but feel like fun filler.


December's Children (And Everybody's) ~ The Rolling Stones: 2 1/2 stars

5 out of 5 stars Their best early release in the US.......2007-02-02

Even though it's a US compilation of British leftovers that weren't on the previous US albums. No matter, this record plays as the Stones best and strongest pre-aftermath album.

2 out of 5 stars Not an SACD.......2007-01-31

I bought this because it is listed as an SACD.
What I was sent is a DSD disc. It does not register as an SACD on my player. It sounds miserable.
What gives, has the SACD been replaced by this other format?
It's one of my favorite Stones albums. I am not pleased.

3 out of 5 stars Not the Best, but pretty important.......2007-01-16

December's Children comes off as a rather uneven document of the Stones' song-writing prowess and a scattershotrock record in its own right. Nonetheless, their identity as a band distinct from the British invasion clones really emerges on these tracks.

5 out of 5 stars Stupendously Fantastic.......2006-06-13

This is an absolute stunner of a record. The bad boys of Rock and Roll really go to town with Chuck Berry's "Talkin' About You," and Bobby Troup's "Route 66." The latter being one of the two live songs on the record. The timeless "As Tears Go By," written by Mick and Keith along with group manage Andrew Oldham," has got to be one of the signature songs of a generation. According to my folks, it was the Boomer's big make out song. Hey, I've made out to it too, the song really is timeless. The other Mick and Keith songs that I really like are "Blue Turns to Grey" and "Get off My Cloud." Brian's slide guitar on the live version of "I'm Moving On" is stupendous, in fact the whole record is stupendously fantastic.
December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Twenty Years later... Still Excellent!
  • a must have for a musical library
  • George Winston's December
  • Love this CD
  • Multi-mood music
 December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition
George Winston
Manufacturer: RCA Victor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005NNDO
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Tracks:

  1. Thanksgiving
  2. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
  3. Joy
  4. Prelude
  5. Carol Of The Bells
  6. Night-Part One: Snow
  7. Night-Part Two: Midnight
  8. Night-Part Three: Minstrels
  9. Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel
  10. The Holly And The Ivy
  11. Some Children See Him
  12. Peace
  13. A Christmas Song
  14. Sleep Baby Mine

Amazon.com essential recording

December holds the distinction of single-handedly putting Windham Hill on the map and being the new age album most likely to find its way into music collections of all ilk. In spite of being relentlessly overplayed during the holidays, the solo piano recording has aged quite well. Winston shapes holiday war-horses and original compositions into a captivating contemporary statement. His spare, understated style captures the feel of the dark season, employing ample resonance to evoke a reflective spaciousness. The album's straightforward simplicity conveys both the celebration and quietude that characterize the best of the Yuletide spirit. --Richard Price

Amazon.com

A quintessential example of George Winston's "folk piano" style, December speaks to the spirit of the season. Mixing traditional carols, a couple of classical works, and his own originals, Winston drops notes with icy clarity into a winter silence, rippling through "Carol of Bells" and coaxing dark, introspective moods from his own suite, "Night." The pianist's liner notes are also a trip as he cites the numerous sources for his music. Who would've thought that the gentle melodies of "Peace" were inspired by the soundtrack to TV's The Outer Limits? This 20th anniversary edition, which includes two bonus tracks, is a vast sonic improvement over previous releases. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Twenty Years later... Still Excellent!.......2007-05-28

December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition, by George Winston is about as close to perfect as you can get. Winston phenomenal interpretations and originals form a masterpeice. Classified as a Holiday album, I agree with many of the other reviewers that this is an album to enjoy all through the year. Although each selection here is very good, Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel is simply a wonderful piece. I did have the pleasure of seeing George Winston in concert and I would receommend that any fan try to experience the music live with introductions by the pianist.

An outstanding 5 star CD.

5 out of 5 stars a must have for a musical library.......2007-03-26

this cd album is extremely moving and has value because of the evocative power of some of the pieces it contains.

5 out of 5 stars George Winston's December.......2007-03-09

I have a copy of the vinyl since it was released. Though I love the quality of the vinyl, I want to bring December with me wherever I go. The two additional cuts in the anniversary issue are lovely, but I would have been equally happy with the original.

5 out of 5 stars Love this CD.......2007-03-08

Perfect for the holidays (but I listen to it all year)! Anything by George Winston is fabulous.

5 out of 5 stars Multi-mood music.......2007-01-29

I love this CD! The best part about this music is that I can listen to it regardles of what mood I'm in and the music fits perfectly. The Sheet music for "Variations of the Kanon by Pachelbel" is a great bonus.
Late December
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • It's all led up to this
  • Too Good For Corporate American Radio
  • Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee Saves Rock N Roll
  • Maria does it again...and again...and again...and again
  • A Sheer Sonic Delight
 Late December
Maria McKee
Manufacturer: Cooking Vinyl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000MRA88A
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

  1. Late December
  2. No Other Way To Love You
  3. A Good Heart
  4. Power On, Little Star
  5. Too Many Heroes
  6. Destine
  7. My First Night Without You
  8. Scene Of The Affair
  9. Cat In The Wall
  10. One Eye On The Sky (One ON The Grave)
  11. Bannow
  12. Straving Pretty

Amazon.com

Even in the early days of her solo career, Maria McKee had a penchant for penning dramatic melodies that seemed more conducive to Broadway than to contemporary radio. In fact, the former Lone Justice frontwoman makes reference to criticisms of that theatrical style in between songs on her "Live Acoustic Tour" CD. Pandering to no one, McKee continues to distance herself from her country roots on her sixth studio release, Late December, writing what might be best described as 'pop-ras,' miniature contemporary pseudo-operas sung in open-throated vibrato. "Destine" is a prime example, echoing Queen's "A Night at the Opera" with it's dramatic vocals and grandiose guitar solo. "Scene of the Affair" evokes a similar sensibility, as McKee mournfully sings "Four walls and a bed/best to let the dead rest with the dead." Those who prefer the old Maria will find a handful of songs to satiate their thirsty musical pallet. "My First Night Without You" has a soul/country cross that allows McKee to vocally shine; other notable moments include the gospel-infused ending to the title track and the infectious '60s Motown styling of "No Other Way to Love You." The one song that will likely please fans of both musical camps is McKee's inclusion of "A Good Heart," a track that she wrote at 18 years of age which became a worldwide hit for an Irish artist named Feargal Sharkey. --Denise Sheppard

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars It's all led up to this.......2007-07-13

If you saw Lone Justice back in the day, you're a Maria Mckee fan. But thought she was always one of the great live performers, and an enormously talented songwriter, the recordings (both LJ and her own) were, by almost all accounts, an eclectic and mixed bag.

But here she is, part Edith Piaf, part Freddie Mercury, blasting through an outrageous set of operatic pop-rock that is about the most startlingly bold CD in recently memory. Hearing it is like when you first heard Jeff Buckley's "Grace": ohmygodohmygod, this person is out of his/her mind, shooting for the stars, and talented enough to pull it off. Wow.

This is the one we've been waiting for. And it's thrilling that in her forties, she is doing, without a doubt, absolutely her barking best work.

The gorgeous space of the opener, "Late December," sets you up. Then she rollicks along with the almost Motownish "No Other Way to Love You" (though the Rob Halford screeches mark it as a song only Mckee could sing). We're all glad to finally have her own studio recording of the classic "A Good Heart." And the next three only get better, with McKee out-Queening Queen on "Destine."

I could go on... every song is excellent, and the flow is dramatic and compelling.

If you're looking for a safe listen in a particular style you like to be able to ignore while you do something else, take a pass. But if you appreciate what can happen when a great songwriter, performer, and student of pop goes completely for broke, check it out.

5 out of 5 stars Too Good For Corporate American Radio.......2007-06-17

Continuing her penchant of putting out great albums (this being her third studio album since returning in 2003 after a seven-year studio hiatus) that are too good for corporate radio, Maria McKee's LATE DECEMBER is another stunning work from one of the finest and most painfully underappreciated (at least by the public) vocalists of the last thirty-plus years.

In contrast with 2005's PEDDLIN' DREAMS (a rustic acoustic folk/country/rock affair that sort of harkened back to her Lone Justice days), LATE DECEMBER harkens back to the power-pop/rock eclecticism of her 2003 comeback HIGH DIVE. Her voice soars on all twelve tracks, written either by her alone or in collaboration with her producer husband Jim Akin, in such a way as to make her perfect for Broadway. But there's the R&B influences as well, on the title track and "No Other Way To Love You." And there is also the kind of cautionary note on "One Eye On The Sky (One On The Grave)", which is faintly reminiscent of HIGH DIVE's "From Our TV Teens To The Tomb."

What this album, and all of those in Maria's canon, dating all the way back to Lone Justice, shows is that she has always had the goods in every facet and has always had a hugely eclectic musical pallet--and, unfortunately, has also been far too good to be accepted on corporate radio in America. This is why it is best to pick up this CD and experience this tremendously gifted and youthful lady who still packs a vocal punch in her early 40s.

5 out of 5 stars Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee Saves Rock N Roll.......2007-05-09

Holy Glam Rock! Maria McKee saves Rock N Roll single handedly with this glam rock explosion! What an amazing power-pop record. The second song, No Other Way To Love You sums up what Rock has been missing. Life is sweet, indeeed! This album has restored my faith in Rock!

5 out of 5 stars Maria does it again...and again...and again...and again.......2007-04-28

Ahhhhh Maria. Still not doing what everyone expects of you. Why doesn't she play this? Why doesn't she record that? Why doesn't each new record sound like the last one? How do we solve a problem like Maria?

You little diva indeed.

In my opinion, the new album is flippin' brilliant. My favourite so far, I think. Truly. Amazing. No Other Way to Love You may be the most gorgeously perfect pop song she's ever recorded. I am 3 months sober and Power On, Little Star leaves me shaking and in tears. I LOVE Destine - killer hook in it. Would love to see her play it live. And Starving Pretty is rich and full and melodic and...again...Maria breaks my heart. Did I mention Late December? Uhhh, goosebumps. The end of a relationship? The end of a career? The end of a life? But still, the hope of starting over. Maria sees the bleakness but holds onto hope.

This woman is a genius. I cannot believe we have been blessed with five (count 'em, five) Maria albums since 2003. Around year 2000, I seriously wondered if we would ever hear from her again. I believe that LD is a more accomplished, cohesive album than High Dive. The production is stellar and exciting and Maria seems to understand now that, no matter what, her voice needs to stay front and center in the mix. She and Jim have done a remarkable job with this one.

Thank you, Maria, for a lifetime of music and passion and hope.

Life is sweet.

Caution: Rant ahead:
Why? Why? Why does every song/album that Maria records HAVE to be compared to some other sound/singer/genre, blah, blah, blah? Has the world not figured out yet that she is her very own universe, guided by her own insane muse? It's obvious. It's been obvious for a long time. She's not interested in doing the same thing twice. Ever. Let's all get over it. She's never doing an album of Bob Dylan covers. Ain't gonna happen! Record critics are truly out-to-lunch. Thank God for Thom Jurek!

5 out of 5 stars A Sheer Sonic Delight.......2007-04-27

As my wife can attest, I am a mark for all things Maria - and have been since buying that first Lone Justice album back in 1985. Yes, of course, through the years she's evolved, exploring different musical terrains and challenging us fans - as all artists should. As far as this album: it's a sheer sonic delight that echoes the likes of David Bowie, the Drifters, Laura Nyro, Queen, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen and many others. Yet, as with all of her albums, the end result is 100-percent Maria: eccentric, heartfelt, theatrical and ... just plain addictive.

The finger-snapping title cut, about love on its last legs - or maybe just the fear of such ("baby, when can we start over?") - conjures NYC in winter with its bed of Nyro-like vocal flourishes and "Walk on the Wild Side"-esque spoken-word interludes. Another favorite: "No Other Way to Love You," which builds from its "On Broadway"-like intro to become ... well, I already used the word "addictive," but I'll use it again. It's a sweeping, hypnotic song about giving one's self over to love in total: "Want to talk about your wild horses/and the strength of 100 men/Attila and all his forces/couldn't keep me away from him ...." You'll feel Maria's sweat flying from the speakers, guaranteed. (Check out the guitar work on it, too.)

Other highlights: her cover of her own "A Good Heart," originally a hit for Feargal Sharkey way back when; the aching "My First Night without You"; the utterly poetic, operatic rocker "One Eye on the Sky (One Eye on the Grave)," in which she demonstrates why she's sometimes called "a punk Edith Piaf"; and the closing "Starving Pretty," in which she sings a song for starving artists everywhere: "lean on me, baby/we're going to make it/we're paperthin/we're gonna win...." The most challenging song, I suppose, is the oddball "Cat in the Wall" - but (as often is the case with Maria) there's a metaphor at play there. In a way, it's a bit like having a cat knead you - it's wonderful even though the tips of its claws dig a bit into the skin.

Of course, having singled out those seven songs, I feel compelled to single out the other five. I won't but, suffice it to say, "Late December" is an album that demands repeated plays; and, as all great albums, gets better with each listen.
December
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Soothing, moving, delightful!
  • Great sound!!
  • A Welcoming Journey Through the Holiday Season
  • A Jazzy Christmas Album
  • Smooth Jazz
 December
Chris Botti
Manufacturer: Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000I0QKD8
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

  1. The Christmas Song
  2. Ave Maria
  3. Winter Wonderland
  4. The First Noel
  5. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
  6. Hallelujah
  7. I Really Don't Want Much For Christmas
  8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
  9. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
  10. Silent Night
  11. Little Drummer Boy
  12. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
  13. I'll Be Home For Christmas

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Soothing, moving, delightful!.......2007-06-26

I am not the trumpet enthusiast my husband is, so when I requested this CD to please his palate, I was dubious about how much I would enjoy adding it to the holiday CD rotation. It is fabulous! It feels both fresh and familiar at the same time, soothing, yet festive. Particularly impressive is the beautiful arrangement of Ave Maria. A wonderful, (for the most part) instrumental holiday collection I would recommend to all - no jazz experience required!

5 out of 5 stars Great sound!!.......2007-01-12

This cd is a must if you like holiday music and Chris Botti's sound. Have seen Mr. Botti a couple of times in concert. His music live and on cd are both wonderful. Encourage anyone who enjoys jazz to purchase this cd and others from Mr. Botti. You will be glad you did.

5 out of 5 stars A Welcoming Journey Through the Holiday Season.......2007-01-11

Chris Botti's music for the holiday season delivers with the essence of peace, love and a level of spirituality so welcome at a time when, try as we might, chaos seems to reign in our lives. It's the middle of January and I am still listening to this inspiring CD. BRAVO.

4 out of 5 stars A Jazzy Christmas Album.......2007-01-10

Finally a Christmas album that doesn't make me sick with the syrupy sweet, tired lyrics. I've heard it said that as entertainers achieve fame, they are compelled to do a Christmas album. Please make them stop! Chris Botti has a winner here and is a nice, jazzy take on the standards that is best enjoyed with a nice glass of Shiraz.

5 out of 5 stars Smooth Jazz.......2007-01-03

Botti phrases like an accomplished singer. The melodies are mellow and sound effortless. Relaxing, romantic and beautiful. I've listened to it over and over.
December
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent CD
  • Good for any age
  • Absolutely Gorgeous! The Best Piano Solo Album Of All-Time.
  • It's Christmas in July
  • Catkin's reveiw
 December
George Winston
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. All The Seasons Of George Winston: Piano Solos

ASIN: B000000NFI
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Thanksgiving
  2. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
  3. Joy
  4. Prelude
  5. Carol of the Bells
  6. Night: Part One: Snow
  7. Night: Part Two: Midnight
  8. Night: Part Three: Minstrels
  9. Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel
  10. The Holly And The Ivy
  11. Some Children See Him
  12. Peace

Amazon.com essential recording

December holds the distinction of single-handedly putting Windham Hill on the map and being the new age album most likely to find its way into music collections of all ilk. In spite of being relentlessly overplayed during the holidays, the solo piano recording has aged quite well. Winston shapes holiday war-horses and original compositions into a captivating contemporary statement. His spare, understated style captures the feel of the dark season, employing ample resonance to evoke a reflective spaciousness. The album's straightforward simplicity conveys both the celebration and quietude that characterize the best of the Yuletide spirit. --Richard Price

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent CD.......2007-06-11

December by George Winston is about as close to perfect as you can get. Winston's phenomenal interpretations and originals form a masterpeice. Classified as a Holiday album, this is an album to enjoy all through the year. Although each selection here is very good, Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel is simply a wonderful piece. I did have the pleasure of seeing George Winston in concert and I would receommend that any fan try to experience the music live with introductions by the pianist. I would also recommend December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition which is an updated version of this excellent CD.

An outstanding 5 star CD.

5 out of 5 stars Good for any age.......2007-04-09

There is something in this music which has been with ever since I listened to it first time back in 1987. Soundtrack of my life...

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Gorgeous! The Best Piano Solo Album Of All-Time........2005-12-30

I honestly don't feel it is even the slightest of exaggerations to label this recording as the Greatest Piano Solo Album Of All-Time. Even at nearly a quarter of a century old, it has only become better with age. I was first introduced to "December" at the mature age of 10, and I fell in love with it immediately. My mother would play it at Christmas, time and time again, and oddly enough I never tired of the haunting melodies. In the nearly twenty years since, I've found that while much of the music has a holiday theme, I enjoy listening to the tracks year-round. And in all that time I've found nothing that even comes close to matching the beauty, feeling or power of this exquisite creation. Winston pours such depth and feeling into each compilation that, if you're not careful, you find yourself begin to sway with the melody, much the same fashion as a teenager headbanging to a punk-rock band. But of course this is much more subtle and sophisticated. Truth be told, I credit Winston (and to some degree Chip Davis) with my desire to learn the piano. Fortunately my wife had the foresight this year to do what I could not bring myself to do, and presented me with piano lessons for Christmas. My one desire is to someday be good enough to eek out an intelligible semblance of this timeless album for family and friends at the holidays... but I won't hold my breath. Winston is a Master, and I don't believe I have either the time, nor the talent, to hold even the dimmest of candles to his "bright as noon-day" masterpiece. Enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars It's Christmas in July.......2004-07-27

I am not really big on instrumental music. A lot of it reminds me of that cheeseball Yanni. My favorite instrumentalist is George Winston. I absolutely love his album "December". I have always loved this particular album for as long as I can remember. I remember borrowing my mom's cassette copy of this album several years ago and I still have it to this very day. It is truly one of my personal favorite albums in my entire (almost) 30 years of life. No matter what time of year it is, I can always throw it in and chill to the music. The music is so enchanting. I especially love "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head". It is one of my personal favorite songs on the album. It truly moves me emotionally. George's piano playing is flawless. It flows like a running stream. I love the simplicity of the music which is just George's piano playing. I think having other instruments would have convoluted the music. I also adore the variations on Pachelbel's "Canon", my personal favorite baroque movement. George does a lovely job with his unique interpretation of the song. After eight hours at the office and listening to my goth/industrial/ebm/techno cds, it is nice to listen to more soothing music to relax too.

5 out of 5 stars Catkin's reveiw.......2003-03-14

i think dat is a very good cd, especially for christmas and we put it on whenever we hav a family time.
Thank-you george!
December
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Wonderful December
  • Lovely but, sadly not the best.
  • Veteran Christmas Rocker
  • Moody Blues Christmas Album - December
  • Loved it.
 December
The Moody Blues
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000DJYOD
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Tracks:

  1. Don't Need A Reindeer
  2. December Snow
  3. In The Quiet Of Christmas Morning (Bach 147)
  4. On This Christmas Day
  5. Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
  6. A Winter's Tale
  7. The Spirit Of Christmas
  8. Yes I Believe
  9. When A Child Is Born
  10. White Christmas
  11. In The Bleak Midwinter

Amazon.com

It was inevitable that The Moody Blues would produce a Christmas record. Why it took this long is the mystery. The group's classical music underpinnings have always been ripe for the Christmas canon and on December they add to it with their own contributions. "Don't Need A Reindeer" is a remarkably sweet little pop song that proves Justin Hayward can still write what sounds like a hit. A fair amount of orchestration shades the rest of the CD, as the band arranges and adds lyrics to a Bach piece (here called "In the Quiet of Christmas Morning") while also taking on "In the Bleak Midwinter," "When A Child Is Born," "White Christmas," and the John Lennon/Yoko Ono classic, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." In the same vein, though less cheerful, John Lodge pens a melancholy meditation on the horrors of the Mideast in 2003. While he's no John Lennon and December is uneven at best, for Moody Blues fans it will be like finding the lost chord.--Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful December.......2007-06-23

I recently got this CD and I must say I am very very happy with it. My dear Moody Blues have still got "it" - in spades. Their lyrics, music and voices are as wonderful as ever. Those fabulous Hayward & Lodge harmonies sound so very good and this CD is just chock full of their blended vocals. 'December' is such a joy to listen to; in fact I am listening to it right now, and it's 90 plus degrees outside on this June day!

I highly recommend this beautiful Moody Blues work. It's great to listen to at Christmas, or at any other time you want to hear these fabulous men make a joyful noise in your ears.

4 out of 5 stars Lovely but, sadly not the best........2007-05-20

If you own all the other Moodies albums then this is a must. However, if your still building your collection, Strange Times blows this one out of the water. With Ray now gone, there's an empty space in the harmonies and writing

December is avery nice album, and grows on you fast if you don't "get it" at first. 4 stars for the original songs, and is a good snap-shot of the Moodies today.

Still awaiting their next...

5 out of 5 stars Veteran Christmas Rocker.......2007-01-23

Recognizable Moody Blues no matter what the song. With touches of classical (Bach) and vintage (Iving Berlin) Christmas music but with the distinctive Hayward and Lodge touch, as well as their own compositions, this cd evokes pleasant memories of Christmas past while holding out the promise of pleasant listening next December as well.

5 out of 5 stars Moody Blues Christmas Album - December.......2007-01-13

Buy it! This great CD has some old favorites but it's the new songs that really get you. Absolutely one of my most favorite holiday CDs ever.

5 out of 5 stars Loved it........2007-01-04

I've had it for a couple of years and just love it. To me, it is soothing and relaxing.
It brings back memories of the old days and all their LP's from the 70's. There's just something about the sound of Moody Blues that you can't quite describe.
Great!
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4; The Seasons ("July"-"December") [SACD ]
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The best of the best.
 Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4; The Seasons ("July"-"December") [SACD ]

Manufacturer: Ondine
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by TchaikovskyAll Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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  5. Albert Roussel: Symphonies Nos. 1 "Le Poème de la forêt" & 4

ASIN: B000O77SG8
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

  1. I. Andante Sostenuto-Moderato Con Anima-Moderato Assai, Quasi Andante-Allegro Vivo
  2. II. Andantino In Modo Di Canzone
  3. III. Scherzo. Pizzicato Ostinato-Allegro
  4. IV. Finale. Allegro Con Fuoco
  5. VII. July: Reaper's Song
  6. VIII. August: Harvest
  7. IX. September: Hunting
  8. X. October: Autumn Song
  9. XI. November: Troika
  10. XII. December: Christmas-Tide

Amazon.com

The famously rich Philadelphia strings continue to sound terrific in Tchaikovsky, while the expert winds and brass shine on this disc. The opening fanfare, in which Eschenbach takes a more leisurely and less doom-laden approach than we hear from most Russian conductors, tells us his interpretation will emphasize structural balance over shorter-term thrills. Not that excitement is lacking, but this is a cooler, less overtly emotional approach that some may find a good complement to more-emotional versions in the catalogue. Eschenbach's reading also displays more-relaxed tempos than are usually heard, while bringing out myriad welcome details that might otherwise be lost. Still, despite comparable timings, Bernstein's New York Philharmonic performance has more rhythmic snap and excitement, while Mravinsky's classic Leningrad version remains in a class by itself. Eschenbach is at the piano for the final six months of The Seasons, reminding us that he was a world-class pianist before he turned to conducting. He displays keyboard command of Tchaikovsky's charming vignettes of the months, much as he did in his traversal of the first six of the set when coupled with his recording of the Tchaikovsky Fifth. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The best of the best........2007-07-03

I have all of the current SACD Multichannel hybrids of this Symphony and have been waiting for the right one. I have been disappointed in all of the current SACD's and have been waiting for Telarc to record a new SACD of this.
They have apparently been restricted with budget for new classical recordings
and we'll have to wait. This Ondine recording is very good and better than all of the current offerings. The technical recording aspects and the performance are very good. It is done with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
It will probably be the best availble until Telarc finally get it to the top of their recording list.
The Maury Yeston Songbook
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • What!? How is this possible?
  • Beauty and grace, charm and wit - Maury's got it all
  • A perfect marriage of music and lyrics
  • The Maury Yeston Songbook
  • One of the best broadway/composer compilations ever made!
 The Maury Yeston Songbook
Maury Yeston , Christine Andreas , Brent Barrett , Betty Buckley , Liz Callaway , Alice Ripley , Sutton Foster , Brian d'Arcy James , and Philip Chaffin
Manufacturer: P.S. Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00008H2LJ
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

  1. Please Let's Not Even Say Hello - Alice Ripley
  2. Only with You - Brent Barrett
  3. I Want to Go to Hollywood - Sutton Foster
  4. Danglin' - Johnny Rodgers
  5. I Had a Dream About You - Betty Buckley
  6. My True Love - Philip Chaffin
  7. A Call from the Vatican - Alice Ripley
  8. Now and Then - Laura Benanti
  9. You're There Too - Christopher Fitzgerald
  10. Is Someone Out There? - Eden Espinosa
  11. New Words - Brent Barrett
  12. My Grandmother's Love Letters - Christine Ebersole
  13. By the River - Christine Andreas
  14. I Am Longing - Philip Chaffin
  15. Home - Laura Benanti & Robert Cuccioli
  16. Another Day in the Modern World - Michael Holland
  17. Simple - Liz Callaway
  18. Unusual Way - Brian d'Arcy James
  19. Be On Your Own - Betty Buckley
  20. No Moon - Howard McGillin

Amazon.com

Despite racking up Tony nominations and/or box-office success with Nine, Grand Hotel, and Titanic, Maury Yeston remains a relatively unknown Broadway auteur. And yet, what a fabulous songwriter he is. Listen to "Home," for instance: This excerpt from Phantom (the other adaptation of Phantom of the Opera) has great melodic hooks, along with natural sweep and unrestrained emotion. Like every song on this CD, it also has such dramatic drive that it easily stands on its own outside of its regular narrative frame. This collection of new recordings provides an excellent overview of Yeston's talent, juxtaposing numbers from his three best-known scores (though there's only one from Titanic) with rarities and a generous selection from his 1991 song cycle December Songs. Christine Ebersole, Liz Callaway, and Betty Buckley turn in expectedly strong performances, but watch also for Laura Benanti (the star of the 2003 revival of Nine), Christine Andreas, and Foster Sutton, who completely make the material theirs. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Description

The Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist -- who's given us the smash hit musicals Titanic, Phantom and Grand Hotel, and whose first stage show, Nine, is currently being revived in New York with Antonio Banderas -- is celebrated in song by the best stars o

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars What!? How is this possible?.......2007-01-20

How could one put together a Maury Yeston Songbook cd without a track from Andrea Marcovicci? He wrote a song cycle for her. Granted there are some great singers here but a grave oversight to not include Ms Marcovicci.

5 out of 5 stars Beauty and grace, charm and wit - Maury's got it all.......2006-11-14

Maury Yeston may be musical theatre's unsung genius to the public at large, but I've heard his praises sung many times. A friend convinced me to buy the original Broadway cast of "Nine", and while there were some fantastic songs and an undeniable melodic gift throughout, it left me lukewarm. The same with "Grand Hotel". And I couldn't stand "Titanic" - too big, too self-important, too reliant on booming low brass and bombastic orchestral swells.

"Phantom" was the only one of his scores that touched something other than distanced admiration in me. It was everything Sir Lloyd Webber's popera travesty could never quite aspire to - epic yet human, beautiful and touching, with songs that showed actual details and emotions. So it was with that in mind that I purchased this, figuring that maybe Maury could prove me wrong, shorn from the restrictions of a book musical format.

And by God, did he prove me right and then some.

Maybe it's the singers. Maybe it's the perfect orchestrations. Maybe it's just the absence of a plot to follow. More than likely, it's all three, but this is one of the most gorgeous, enjoyable, heartbreaking albums I've ever purchased. Yeston has assembled an impressive cast to give voice to his music - such heavy Broadway hitters as Alice Ripley, Brent Barrett, Betty Buckley, Christine Ebersole and Howard McGillin mix with up-and-comers like Eden Espinosa, Sutton Foster, and Brian d'Arcy James. But the most impressive turns are given by people I'd never heard of before - Johnny Rodgers (who?) has a voice spun from gold, and he's absolutely perfect in "Danglin'", a simple and powerful song despite some odd lyric choices by Yeston. Likewise Philip Chaffin in "My True Love" and "I Am Longing", and Michael Holland displays a warm and untrained performance of "Another Day in the Modern World". These three men, who I'd never heard of before, absolutely stole the show. It doesn't hurt that they're given some of the best songs from the album.

Of course, the rest of the ensemble uniformly turns in worthwhile performances. The professionalism of Broadway is gloriously evident here, each singer making their song uniquely theirs. Brent Barrett made me hear "Only With You" as if for the first time. Betty Buckley is surprisingly vulnerable in "I Had A Dream About You". Alice Ripley is her usual bundle of raw emotion in "Please Let's Not Even Say Hello", and turns in a rare comic performance in "Call From The Vatican" to great effect (listen to that surprise high note near the end! Wow, Alice!). Christine Ebersole is heartbroken, elated, vulnerable, and tough all in the course of "Grandmother's Love Letters"' 4 minutes.

There are some weak spots - Eden Espinosa is mostly one-note during her song, and while it's certainly a high note, it's nothing you haven't heard her do better elsewhere. Laura Benanti's "Now and Then" goes by without much notice, which is a shame for this talented actress. And Betty Buckley goes back to her usual high-volume stridence in "Be On Your Own", which despite its chilling music deserves a more nuanced performance than Buckley gives here. But these songs would be standouts on any other album, and it's only the company they keep that prevent them from being excellent.

Oh, and "Unusual Way", possibly Yeston's best-known song, is so beautifully performed here by Brian d'Arcy James and a three-piece band that I nearly cried hearing it. And that's quite a feat for a song that I swore never to listen to again after the seventeenth girl in a day auditioned with it (badly). But the gender swap works perfectly, and d'Arcy James' golden Irish tenor swings through the music effortlessly.

As for the band - there are no missteps here. Each song is given exactly what it needs, from the Romantic-with-a-capital-R string section on "Home", to the jazzy saxophone on "Letter From the Vatican", to "Be On Your Own", which is given a Herrmann-esque string section. Some particular touches stand out - that lovely acoustic guitar on "Danglin'", the simple piano line on "Modern World", and the sublime cello/piano outro in "Unusual Way" really stuck with me after the album stopped playing. And the recording is without fault - crisp, encompassing, personable and expansive as the mood requires. The whole album sounds fantastic.

There is such a wide range of style and substance here that each song would deserve purchasing individually. As a collection? It's bliss. If you're a fan of theater music, appreciate great vocals, or just need something to keep you company on long nights, this is required purchase.

5 out of 5 stars A perfect marriage of music and lyrics.......2006-09-07

I think Yeston must be the most underrated talent in music theatre. And not just music theatre ... for as far as I know, "Danglin'" is not from a show - a jewel of a song ... and a disarmingly honest rendition from Johnny Rogers (what a beautiful voice! Why hasn't he made more CD's?) Some other favourites are "New Words" (not enough parent-child love songs out there ... and I can't imagine it could be sung any better than this), "You're there too" (with a charming and unexpected twist), "Simple" (Callaway is superb), "Only With You" (loveable rogue!) ... to name but a few. Inspired music theatre writing. A must for any musical buff, composer or singer seeking repertoire that will help them stand out from the crowd.

3 out of 5 stars The Maury Yeston Songbook.......2006-08-30

A good album sung by good singers. I have been an admirer of Maury Yeston for a number of years . I am a great fan of "Nine"
which I consider his best work.(If possible try to listen to the
Australian Cast Recording with John Diedrich) I enjoy listening to artists like Alice Ripley, Brent Barrett, Sutton Foster,and my very favourite singer Liz Callaway. All in all a great CD to just sit back ,relax and enjoy Les Breen

5 out of 5 stars One of the best broadway/composer compilations ever made!.......2006-06-29

There are so many brilliant performances on this CD that I don't even know where to begin. From start to finish, this CD sweeps you away on a rollercoaster of emotions. Now, this CD isn't perfect by any means; a few of the artists are performing songs that aren't really suited to their abilities, but the heart is there and that's really all that matters in the end.

If you love Broadway, if you love GOOD music in general, and you want to be moved by songs rather than merely entertained, you must get this CD.
A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Mormon Tabernacle Christmas CD
  • Is this the best Christmas album ever recorded?
  • A Perfect Traditional Christmas Album
  • Stunningly beautiful
  • Beautiful...Intriguing...This is Christmas
 A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas
George Frideric Handel , Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych , John Jacob Niles , Christmas Traditional , Barlow Bradford , Felix Mendelssohn , Franz Xaver Gruber , Craig D. Jessop , John Longhurst , Robert Breault , Mormon Tabernacle Choir , and Orchestra at Temple Square
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004WKD2
Release Date: 2001-09-25

Tracks:

  1. Joy To The World
  2. Carol Of The Bells
  3. I Wonder As I Wander
  4. Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance?
  5. Masters In This Hall
  6. The First Noel
  7. How Far Is It To Bethlehem?
  8. Pat-A-pan
  9. What Shall We Give To The Babe In The Manger?
  10. One December Bright And Clear
  11. Fantasy On 'What Child Is This?'
  12. Hark! The Herald Angel Sing
  13. Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
  14. Angels From The Realms Of Glory
  15. Silent Night

Amazon.com

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has made more than 20 seasonal recordings since its first one (for broadcast to U.S. servicemen in Europe and the Pacific on Christmas Day, 1945), but none finer than this one, led by the group's newly appointed music director, Craig Jessop. Featuring lush arrangements by Mack Wilberg and Barlow Bradford, it emphasizes the gentler, more rapturous moods of the holiday, especially in such beautiful settings as Wilberg's of "Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance?" and "How Far Is It to Bethlehem?" and Bradford's fantasy on "What Child Is This?" Balancing these are several selections in which the choir's blazing, full-voiced splendor shines forth, including Wilberg's festive arrangements of "Joy to the World" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," as well as Bradford's colorful take on "Pat-a-pan." The choir's singing is magnificent. Listen to the way the men lead off "The First Noel" and to how the full chorus builds the piece to a gorgeous climax, or to the virtuosic job the singers do in the "Carol of the Bells" (with its echoes of Rachmaninoff's The Bells). Impressively backed by the Orchestra at Temple Square, this is a disc to treasure, and a tribute to the admirable work being done in Salt Lake City by maestro Jessop--who now seems poised to inherit the mantle of Robert Shaw. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy or a worthier musician. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Mormon Tabernacle Christmas CD.......2007-01-19

CD arrived in perfect condition; however, the front of the jewel case was cracked.

5 out of 5 stars Is this the best Christmas album ever recorded?.......2005-12-29

There have been so many Christmas albums over the years, when I saw this I thought 'Oh no, not another one?' Then I looked at the track titles and saw that this was something different. Among the traditional carols there were many unfamiliar titles (I say this as a foreigner - some may be better known in the USA than in Australia). I decided to buy the SACD version of this release. What a revelation! Where do I start?
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is famous for producing very enjoyable choral recordings, usually with a religious theme, but frankly, on an international scale, they do not rate with the best (compare them with some of the better UK symphonic choirs, which is how the Tabernacle choir must be categorized, to see what I mean). But on this album, they have placed themselves well and truly in the international arena. Every aspect of their singing is, to me, perfect - diction, phrasing, musical expression, ensemble, and of greatest importance, a total involvement with and perfect expression of the words and the music. They don't sing about Santa Claus; they sing about the true meaning of Christmas, and mean it. And you really hear how well they sing in the few 'a capella' sections - musical moments that are unsurpassed.
Then there are the arrangements. These express everything from the implicit grandeur of God coming down to earth, through to the greatest tenderness of the simplicity of his birth as Jesus. All the orchestrations and choral arrangements are completely fresh and unhackneyed, ranging from the most exquisite harmonies through to extraordinarily bold key changes - the people who did these arrangements are amongst the best in the business.
Then there is the program. This ranges from fresh arrangements of old favourites (sample the fantasy on 'What Child is This?'), to an exploration of the most beautiful unfamiliar songs and carols you will ever hear.
Finally the engineering. Telarc are famous for the audiophile standards of their recordings, and this is one of their best. The SACD fully utilizes the multiple channels, without resorting to gimmickry. If ever there was a 'you-are-there' recording, this is it.
In summation: no matter how many Christmas CDs you own; buy this one too. The CD version works well (and remember, if you buy the SACD version - Telarc SACD-60552 - it will play on an ordinary CD player as well), but if you have the equipment to play the multi-channel SACD, you will get an even more rewarding experience.
All the above may sound over the top, but, as you may have gathered, this release has had a massive impact on me at every level. It is a prize in my collection. The greatest Christmas album ever? Quite possibly.

5 out of 5 stars A Perfect Traditional Christmas Album.......2005-12-28

What Shall We Give to the Babe in the Manger. What an incredible piece, and how well- conducted it is. The music brings tears to my eyes, to be sure. The album is a classic example of how holiday choral music should be performed. This is done with spirit and tenderness.

If only other orchestras, choirs, and arrangements could be performed as well. Some are, but how often do we purchase an album just to find it not what we like? Fortunately, one can listen to clips of each of the pieces, before purchasing.

"What Shall We Bring" is becoming now my fondest Christmas song. The performance by the Mormon Choir and orchestra is incredible, to me. I've found other versions of the song, but this version is the finest, by far.

For those interested about my favorite piece: It is from a traditional Catalonian Carol, translated from Spanish, called, "The Son of Mary."

5 out of 5 stars Stunningly beautiful.......2005-12-14

I have heard and enjoyed many recordings from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir over the years. Then, it happened. I heard Joy to the World from this album on the radio and it sent chills up my spine. That never happened. A thrilling arrangement. The other music equally excellent as described. If you have never been big fan of Christmas music, get this album and surprise yourself.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful...Intriguing...This is Christmas.......2004-12-09

The Mormon Tabernacle choir is already known for their beautiful voices of praise. When you add the orchestra of temple square and the spirit of christmas, you receive even more. This CD portrays the birth of Christ. It is beautiful!

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