Search - Various Artists :: Best Christmas Ever

Familiar songs and artists in new holiday combinations

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 12/15/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

""The Best Christmas Ever" is an interesting collection of holiday songs because for the most part you will recognize the songs and remember the artists, but probably not in these combinations. The exception that proves the rule would be the first track, Dean Martin's "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" That is a recognizable classic holiday song, but the rest are pretty unfamiliar. That being said, here are the new treats for your holiday listening pleasure: Earth Kitt singing "Santa Baby" (just saying that should have you anticipating the sultry singing of this song), Aaron Neville's "O Little Town of Bethlehem," Ella Fitzgerald's "The Christmas Song," Nat King Cole's "O Holy Night," and "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" sung by Lena Horne. I have never thought of Louie Armstrong's "Baby, It's Cold Outside" as being a holiday song, but you have to be open to the experience when it is Satchmo. The only problem is that a lot of the rest is not up to this standard, so you end up with a mixed bag: when you have those big names on a CD it is just strange to throw in Hadda Brooks twice. You will definitely find at least a half-dozen tracks well worth the having, but you are also going to want to be programming your CD player to omit some of the songs you just do not need to live again."

Probably the best Xmas compilation out there...

Brian Moore | California | 11/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent collection of older and newer holiday recordings from artists of generally unimpechable quality. You won't run into any Amy Grant or Kenny G or some Nashville Hat du jour here, leaving your holiday mood blisfully unsullied. As it should be. Offerings from Solomon Burke and Nat King Cole stand out (the former gives an impassioned treatment to "Silent Night" which is among the best I've heard), and the version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is the best version available. Ultimately, if you want a good Christmas record, you need this."