Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, Pt. 3
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Free Music Notes for Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, Pt. 3
Free Music Review: An example of why the music industry is in trouble today...
Hit: 2 Stars
The first two "Christmas Cocktails" CDs were absolute classics--a wide variety of music--some familiar, some esoteric--and a great value. Volume 3? Well, it's got some wonderful tracks on it, but for the most part, it's a very ordinary song selection.
Perhaps most troubling--and why the music industry is in such dire straits today--it the fact that they give you less and less for your dollar. The first two volumes in this series were 72 and 64 minutes, with 21 and 20 tracks, respectively. Volume 3 is under 40 minutes with just 15 tracks. Plus they eliminated the liner notes booklet, and now only have a one sheet insert. And all for the same price as volumes 1 & 2.
If Capitol wants consumers to buy their "physical" product, give them some reason to do so--provide something they don't get via a download (legal or not). And don't cut back so much on the content itself--value "added" gets more buyers, not value "subtracted".
Free Music Review: good numbers--but check your collection before buying !!!
Hit: 4 Stars
Ultra-Lounge Christmas Cocktails, part three continues the hits that made the first two volumes a huge success. Unfortunately, however, this last segment of the three part CD series seems to have been done hastily--and on the cheap. Just as other reviewers note, there are practically no liner notes and there are fifteen tracks instead of twenty or more.
Some highlights of this CD immediately come to mind; it's not without its good points. I especially enjoyed "Baby It's Cold Outside" by the incomparable Carmen McRae and Sammy Davis, Jr. Bing Crosby's "Frosty The Snowman" is also very well done. Bing never sounded better! Moreover, listen for Wayne Newtown's "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" Wayne's excellent diction bolsters his fine performance. The strings and brass make "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" a really good number.
Peggy Lee's "White Christmas" is really very good; and the slight echo of her voice on this track is a great special effect. Love it! Lou Rawls's "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" features Lou's vocals squarely in the spotlight; and the musical accompaniment adds an extra jazzy touch so that Lou can put his own stamp on this classic holiday number.
Julie London's "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" is romantic and Julie conveys all the romantic nuances that any man would love; and the CD ends strong with June Christy singing "Sorry To See You Go." Love that brass on "Sorry To See You Go" as June sings this out with panache.
As I mentioned before, the "liner notes" are a real letdown after the great booklets we get with the first two volumes in this series. Other reviews also note--quite correctly--that this third CD in the three part series has much more material that can easily be found elsewhere on other CDs. Sigh. Gotta take off a star for that!
Overall, the quality of the songs is still pretty good but there's less material and what we do get features some rehashed material instead of more numbers lovingly picked from the vaults. If you like lounge music and you don't have too many of these holiday time classics then you should get this CD. People who are diehard fans of Christmastime music will already have a lot of this material and these people should look elsewhere if they want to buy an extra CD of Christmas music.
Four stars.
Free Music Review: Same Old
Hit: 2 Stars
Virtually every song on this CD appears on other CD's. The order of the tracks is poor, transitions too much, to make it a good party background cd. The only worthwhile thing about the cd is that it's all from the same wide genre, lounge. So, if you don't have any christmas cd's, and you like lounge, this is the cd for you.Free Music Review: YAY! A THIRD!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Love this kind of music - can't get enough - have most all of the CDs. Excellent New Jersey-based company with excellent foresight and retro-understanding for the best party and jazz combos. Excellent choice for any kind of day or evening, party or relaxation time.Free Music Review: For collectors
Hit: 3 Stars
If you are into the Ultra Lounge series as I am, then you will want this album in your collection. I have the previous two Christmas albums which I think are better than this 3rd addition, but still worth having if you are a fan of this stuff.