Amy Grant - The Christmas Collection
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Free Music Notes for The Christmas Collection
Free Music Review: Essential Amy
Hit: 5 Stars
Yes, "The Christmas Collection" is a greatest hits album, culling favorites from her three studio Christmas albums. Amy is refreshingly candid in the liner notes asking: How much Christmas music should any singer release? (Apart from side projects and a single contribution to Christmas albums here and there, she has released three Christmas albums, in 1983, 1992 and 1999.)
What must be noted: 1) Amy invented the modern Christmas album in the guise as a worshipful, sincere Christmas celebration, while including a handful of secular favorites. (She was the sincere, Christ-based answer to the Nat King Coles, Bing Crosbys and Barbra Streisands...she honored those American songbook classics, but put her charismatic stamp on her albums...
2) Amy's three Christmas albums contain approximately 1/3 to 1/2 original material. No other artist does this. No other artist has undertaken large Christmas shows with the Nashville symphony (and other local symphonies)for the benefit of the idea of local symphonic music. Amy's Christmas shows in Nashville have famously taken the Nashville symphony from the red to the black.
3) Speaking of that original material, Amy's "Tennessee Christmas" has been covered countless times; "Breath of Heaven" has been covered by virtually every female singer releasing a Christmas album in the last few years...Donna Summer, Jessica Simpson, Roberta Flack, Point of Grace, a couple of Broadway dames etc. There are more I can't remember.
4) Finally, the four "new" track on "The Christmas Collection" are absolutely essential: "Jingle Bells" is Amy at her gutsiest; "I Need a Silent Night" may become Amy's next "Breath of Heaven"...gorgeous, resonant and unforgettable. The jazzy composition "Baby It's Christmas" with hubby Vince I could take or leave. But I adore the gorgeous orchestration and vocal of "Count Your Blessings" from the Bing Crosby movie "White Christmas."
In short, Amy amusedly admitted in the liner notes of this newest collection that her abundance of Christmas music "haunts" her children in restaurants and shopping malls across America during the Christmas season.
If any artist has the right, the invitation, the obligation, the expectation to continue making unforgettable Christmas music, it's our girl Amy.
"The Christmas Collection" gathers the best (minus some quibbles) of her three, stellar Christmas collections. The four new songs are worth the price of admission for the old fan. The new fan is in store for Christmas music that will make one an Amy Christmas fan for life...Amy Christmas Music is like no other...She sings each song, light or serious, with the impact of a believer.
Amy Grant is the Queen of Christmas...six million albums and counting.
Free Music Review: Christmas ballads that twinkle and shine--BRAVO, AMY GRANT !!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Amy Grant does her Christmas album up in a big, beautiful way and it is practically an instant classic for the holiday season! Amy's voice never sounded better and it's a joy to hear her sing these wonderful songs. The quality of the sound is superlative and there's very little lacking on this fine album. Yes, these are many of her best hits from her previous Christmas CDs; but still it's well worth the price of admission!
"Jingle Bells" starts the CD with Amy singing very well and she handles the tempo changes like a pro! The musical accompaniment is very lush and this impresses me greatly. Amy's voice, clear as a bell, never falters and it's truly a finely tuned instrument to be relished. In addition, there's Amy giving her all on "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year;" this gets a more traditional arrangement that "Jingle Bells" and this works rather well for this number. The backup singers harmonize well and I like that a lot. Only Amy could infuse this song with so much heartfelt energy; it's pretty awesome.
"Baby, It's Christmas" charms me with its beauty and I predict you'll enjoy this fantastic number. The piano works very well in the arrangement and Amy delivers this with great poise and a certain sentimental flavor that's great. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is yet another huge success for Amy; she delivers this with panache and the overall arrangement is flawless and stunning at once. Similarly, "Silent Night" gets the best treatment any chanteuse could ever give it and I really enjoy this number very much.
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" gets so much regal treatment that Brenda Lee would turn green with envy! "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" is a major highlight of this CD and the country flavor to this number embellishes it all the more. "Tennessee Christmas" is also impressive and I think you'll enjoy this tender ballad.
"O Come All Ye Faithful" features Amy Grant doing her all to deliver this with true passion and it works very well--she really conveys the spirit of the song! The CD also ends nicely with Amy Grant performing "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas;" this tune was originally sung by Judy Garland in the movie Meet Me In Saint Louis. Surely Judy would approve and smile if she were to hear Amy sing this song with all her heart and soul.
Overall, this Christmas album by Amy Grant, simply entitled The Christmas Collection, stands out as one of the superior CDs for this holiday season. It's certainly not too early to get this for your holiday season--it puts you in the holiday mood instantly. I highly recommend this exceptional CD by Amy Grant; it's a treasure to be enjoyed over and over again!
Free Music Review: Amy For the Holidays!
Hit: 5 Stars
It isn't the first snowflake drifting from the heavens or the smell of evergreen which signals the approach of Christmastime for most of us, but the first Amy Grant song we hear playing. Perhaps no artist is more associated with snow and holly and the Holiday Season than Amy Grant. It seems almost everyone has Amy playing in their homes at some point during November and December. This new release is by far the most encompassing collection yet of Amy's wonderful Christmas gifts to fans. There are even a few new songs included here.
Everything about this new collection is perfect. Pretty paper and pretty ribbons adorn the cover with a very pretty Amy, appropriately covered in snowflakes. Elegance and fun blend seamlessly for the perfect Christmas album. Even if like most people, including myself, you own all Amy's Christmas releases, including My Best Christmas, another collection worth owning, this one is worth purchasing. In difficult times, it is always the little things to which we hold fast, and this year is no exception.
There's something comforting about the jingle of bells outside a department store, people braving the chilly air all bundled up to find the perfect gift, and friends and families gathered around a kitchen table while Christmas music plays. Perhaps no more comforting sound than Amy's lush or bouncy Christmas songs is heard around this time of year. It is a wonderful reminder that certain things will always remain, even during trying times.
Sleigh rides and frosty window panes, red holly berries and the smell of evergreen, popcorn balls and children rushing down stairways on Christmas morning, and the glow from a romantic firelight are nostalgic feelings captured by Amy in these eighteen wonderful Christmas snowflakes.
JINGLE BELLS - IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR - I NEED A SILENT NIGHT - WINTER WONDERLAND - BABY, IT'S CHRISTMAS - SLEIGH RIDE - COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS INSTEAD OF SHEEP - HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING - SILENT NIGHT - BREATH OF HEAVEN (MARY'S SONG) - JOY TO THE WORLD/FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN (MEDLEY) - GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST - ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE - TENNESSEE CHRISTMAS - A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER - O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL - A MIGHTY FORTRESS/ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH (MEDLEY) - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Those who love Amy Grant's music, especially her Christmas offerings, will surely be excited about this one. I highly recommend it in conjunction with My Best Christmas. Both are a must for the most wonderful time of the year.
Free Music Review: It's Not All Amy's Best Christmas Music, But It's Great Stuff
Hit: 5 Stars
My first thought when I heard Amy Grant was releasing a best of Christmas CD was "Why?" But I quickly thought about the artists who release best of's after three regular releases. And Amy's oldest Christmas release was in 1983, so my question became "Why not?" And, suddenly, I found myself first in line to buy it the day it came out.
Now keep in mind that I love Amy's first two Christmas releases and enjoy the third. There was no way I was seriously going to miss this.
The CD is made up of 18 tracks, four of which are new. The disc opens with "Jingle Bells." Now this isn't your normal version but the version made famous by Barbra Streisand on her first Christmas album 40 years ago. People seem to fall into either the love it or hate it camp, and I love it. It's fast and so much fun. I'm glad to have another copy. From there we get two original songs. "I Need a Silent Night" finds Amy longing for a little peace and quiet to reflect on the meaning of Christmas during the hectic season. It's a fun, pop track and I love it. I'm not as big a fan of "Baby, It's Christmas," a jazzy love song. Rounding out the new tracks is a cover of Bing Crosby's "Count Your Blessings." I like the song, but I kinda wonder why it is a Christmas song (other than it originating in the film White Christmas.) On the whole, however, these are some of my favorite tracks that Amy has recorded in the past decade. I hope this is a sign of things to come if she ever releases a completely new CD. (Hint, hint.)
The other 14 tracks are Amy's favorites from her first three Christmas releases. Her first release gets 4 tracks including the classic "Tennessee Christmas." Her newest only gets two tracks, "Silent Night" and the title track. Which means that Home for Christmas gets the remaining 8 tracks. Since it's my favorite, I'm not complaining about the number.
There are plenty of the traditional songs that everybody does. And that's probably my only disappointment. While I love her versions of "Winter Wonderland" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," I would have preferred to see some of her other original songs show up. "Love Has Come," Christmas Hymn," and "Emmanuel (God With Us)" immediately come to mind as songs that I would have included if I were choosing.
So this disc will never replace Amy's original works. But the four new tracks will be a must buy for any fan of her Christmas music. And anyone who hasn't discovered the wonder and magic she brings to the season will do well to jump in here.
Free Music Review: Joy to the World-Another Amy Grant Christmas Album!
Hit: 5 Stars
What can I say about Amy Grant Christmas music? Honestly, I believe she is my favorite singer of Christmas music. Her voice always sounds sincere (probably because she is)and her arrangements are both beautiful, and are something most can sing along with, which, in my opinion is what makes a good holiday album. Furthermore, she always gives one a good mix of secular songs (Sleigh Ride, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Winter Wonderland) and spiritual songs (Silent Night, Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, my favorite arrangement of this song is by Amy!). Finally, her original Christmas music, Tennessee Christmas, Grown Up Christmas List, and Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song), are the best Christmas songs written in recent memory. They are joyful, touching, and inspiring. All of this refers to all of Amy's past Christmas recordings and is the reason why she is one who truly deserves to make a greatest Christmas hits. However, this album also has four new tracks as well. I myself only own one of her Christmas albums (although I've always loved what I have heard from the others, I just don't buy many Christmas albums). However, even if you have her other three, these songs make it worth while. First of all, "Jingle Bells." She does her take on the Barbara Streisand arrangement of this song. I'll admit, I've never liked Barbara's Jingle Bells, and at first I was disappointed when I heard that was the version she chose to do, but as I listened to it I realized that I liked her singing it. Her voice is so much more wistful and fun than Barbara's (whose singing is amazing, but more suited to the seriously hard stuff) and when she sings it it sounds like so much fun! Next, "I Need a Silent Night." This song alone is worth the money for the album. Anyone who has ever been frustrated by the Christmas rush can relate to this. And Amy's delivery is so sincere and moving that the song makes me cry. "Baby, It's Christmas," is soulful, playful, romantic, and even kinda sexy. Finally, "Count Your Blessings" I've always loved this song (from the movie White Christmas) and always wanted to have it on a CD. Amy does a wonderful rendition and the sentiment is beautiful. I love this album, and it is so great to have all of Amy's best on one album! So worth the buy! A++++