CHRISTMAS Albums Review – ELVIS – WIGGLES – CAREY – FARNHAM + many more
Review by Geoff Jenke
Its that time of year the shops are full of Christmas decorations, people are ordering the ham and the music shops have racks of the latest Christmas CD’s. To help you out we are trawling through the latest 2017 Christmas releases and giving our recommendations. It’s a long trek so grab a coffee (or something stronger) and sit back and read…
John Farnham & Olivia Newton John – Friends for Christmas. (Sony)
Both John and Olivia have released Christmas albums in the past, with John releasing one as far back as 1970 with the Christmas Is album. This album has previously been released but has been updated to a “deluxe” version with a few new songs. All the classic songs are here, Silent Night, The First Noel, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and a great version of Little Drummer Boy. Production on the album was by Chong Lee who has worked with the likes of Delta, Kylie and Tina, so you know it is going to sound great.
Play it – on Christmas Eve. Grannie will love it. Rating 8/10
The Wiggles – Wiggly Wiggly Christmas (Universal)
Wiggly Wiggly Christmas is sure to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Who can resist the Wiggles? A selection of classic Christmas tunes such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Away in the Manger and Jingle Bells as well as some Wiggle songs in Wiggly Wiggly Christmas, It’s a Christmas Party, on the Goodship Feathersworld, and Dorothy’s Special Christmas Cake. There is even a mega mix of Christmas Carols. Also available on DVD.
Play it – in the car with the kids on the way to Christmas lunch. Rating 9/10
Elvis Presley – Christmas (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) (Sony)
Yes Virginia, Elvis is still releasing “new” Christmas albums. He released his first Christmas album back in 1957. This time he joins up with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra singing the songs he sang on the 1957 album, Elvis’ Christmas Album and the 1971 album, Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas. The songs range from serious carols like Silent Night and Oh Little Town of Bethlehem to more fun songs including Here Comes Santa Claus and Santa Bring My Baby Back. The orchestra adds a more sombre note to the traditional carols.
Play it – its Elvis, anytime… Rating 9/10
MARIAH CAREY – All I Want for Christmas Is You (Sony)
Be slightly aware this is not totally a Mariah Carey album but rather the soundtrack to a Christmas animated movie of the same name which was based on a book by the same name. It features a new Carey Christmas song Lil Snowman as well as three timeless classic, Christmas Time is in the Air Again, Miss You Most and All I Want for Christmas Is You. Also includes songs by Isaac Ryan Brown and others.
Play it – anytime but buy the DVD. Bound to be a hit on Christmas Day. Rating 8/10
Boney M – World Music for Christmas (Sony)
This is not the first Christmas album Boney M has released but it is a different take on the usual Christmas album in that it takes in World Music Christmas tunes. They also use the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (they have been busy of late) to bring a lush sound to the songs. Not sure how Hallelujah (Michael Row Your Boar Ashore) fits in as a Christmas song but it is an outstanding song. The album also includes Boney M’s Christmas Medleys from 1981 and 1983, both remastered 2017. A lovely album.
Play It – Christmas Day to confuse everyone. Rating 8/10
Soundtrack – A Bad Moms Christmas
The sequel movie to the 2016 smash movie Bad Moms, Bad Moms 2 is set over Christmas, hence this sort of rates as a Christmas album. Artist who feature on the album include Lil Mix, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani and even the Moscow Symphony Orchestra (The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra must have had the day off). The album is a lot of fun with some new songs alongside some ol’ faithfuls. Kelly Clarkson’s Run Rudolph Run is a happy go lucky romp and a bit of rap never goes astray at Christmas with Greenlight by Pitbull featuring Flo Rida & Lunchmoney Lewis. There are three brand new orchestral numbers at the end with rude titles (Your Mom Saw My Boner for example) which does spoil the album for Christmas Day.
Play it – Pre-Christmas party Rating 7/10
Sam Morgan – Santa’s Coming (Sony)
Sam Morgan is ex yellow Wiggle (2007 -11) and host to the children’s television pre-school series Play Along with Sam on Nick Jnr. Usual collection of Christmas songs aimed at the pre-schoolies. Its fun and bright and knows it’s audience. Not only do you get 14 songs, but also an Activity Book included as well.
Play it – when the kids are home Rating 7/10
Peter Froundjian – Christmas Piano Music
Peter Froundjian make a living taking little known piano pieces and recording them. On this album he collects Christmas songs that you will not know, such as Snoflinger (Snowflakes) by Finnish composer Selim Palmgren. It’s no use mentioning others as you will have never heard of them and if you have, you will already own this album. It is a contemplative and solemn album with generally short pieces. Third of the 33 songs are under 3 minutes and many even under a minute. Quiet relaxing and completely different to any Christmas album you have heard.
Play it – late Christmas Eve (or any other night of the year) after the kids have gone to bed and you are relaxing with your partner with a glass of wine. Rating 8/10
The Piano Boys – Christmas Together (Sony)
Another piano based Christmas album but this time it includes other instruments and vocals. Apparently, The Piano Brothers have over five million subscribers and had over a billion YouTube views. They must be good and yes, they are. They bring along some help in the form of Placido Domingo (Silent Night), The King’s Singers (O Little Sweet One) and even The Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Angels from the Realms). Nice! I’m off to the Tube to check them out and to make it one billion and one views.
Play it – Christmas Day on shuffle with John & Olivia’s album. Rating 9/10
The Star Soundtrack – Various (Sony)
The Star is a funny but faithful turn on the nativity story and the movie will be released at the end of November 2017 in Australian cinema’s. The soundtrack assembles new music from a variety of modern stars including Mariah Carey who performs the film’s theme song, The Star. We also get Kirk Franklin (We Three Kings), Zara Larsson (Mary Did You Know) and Jake Owens (What Child is This). If you get the digital version you get a bonus song of Carol of the Bells by Pentatonix.
Play it – after the kids have nagged you to take them to the pictures to see it. Rating 7/10
Placido Domingo & Friends – Celebrate Christmas in Vienna (Sony)
Placido Domingo & Friends Celebrate Christmas in Vienna is a collection of songs from the annual Christmas in Vienna concerts from 1993 to 1999. A mixed bag of songs from the usual Christmas carols (White Christmas, The Twelve Days of Christmas etc) to some unknown (well to me) songs. Guests include Diana Ross, Charles Aznavour, Tony Bennett and Vanessa Williams so you know by the names what you will get. Diana Ross and Jose Carreras duet beautifully on Carol of the Drum (Little Drummer Boy).
Play it – buy it for great grandma. She’ll love you for it. Rating 8/10
Pentatonix – A Pentatonix Christmas Deluxe (Sony)
Pentatonix has re-released a deluxe edition of their platinum 2016 Christmas album. The mainly classic, Christmas songs feature smooth cappella singing and even has guests The Manhattan Transfer on Irving Berlin’s masterpiece White Christmas. In what is becoming a norm for these Christmas album, it also includes a version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah featuring a magnificent male/female duet. With over a million copies of the original 2016 version already sold, this release will only add to that total.
Play it – Christmas morning while unwrapping the presents. Rating 9/10
Amber Lawrence – Aussie Aussie Christmas (Universal)
Country music star Amber Lawrence releases an album full of original Christmas songs for the kids to sing and dance to. The album is definitely “Aussie” with songs about The Animal Christmas Do, Swimming Pool, Real Live Puppy, and My Aunty is the Fun One on Christmas Day. Aimed at kids, the eleven short songs (nothing reaches the three-minute mark) have a feel-good Christmas vibe that will end up having everyone singing along.
Play it – Christmas afternoon Rating 7/10
So, there you have it. Your all up to date with Christmas albums. Now you just have to decide which ones to buy. They all have something to offer for Christmas so maybe just buy the lot and put them all on shuffle from now till bed time Christmas Day.
Hope Santa is nice to you all this Christmas.
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