I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

In article , B&D
wrote:

I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

Isaak really seems to pay attention to sound quality. I saw him and his
band on Austin City Limits and they got a very nice sound.

"B&D" wrote in message
...
I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording
quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

LP's only:

"Jingle Bell Jazz", compiled by Teo Maceo for Columbia Records in the early
sixties. Modern jazz versions of Christmas music by many different jazz
groups -- sounds hokey but didn't turn out that way -- he had each group he
recorded over a two year span do one or two Christmas songs...their choice.
Excellent sound, interestingly different music. Never have seen it on CD.

"Joy to the World" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" by the Roger Wagner
Chorale, two Capital albums of the late 50's / early '60's that are the best
choral recordings of Christmas Music by far that I have heard...exceptional
sound and exceptional singing. Later the latter was issued as a
now-out-of-print CD that lacked the holographic quality of the LP.

And if you were a child of the 50's, don't diss Johnny Mathis himself...his
classic Merry Christmas album sounds great, and has recently been remastered
on CD and some selections made available on SACD. The sound quality is
great, and many of these songs are "owned" by Mathis, at least in my
nostalgic memory.

B&D wrote:

I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

For the holiday season? Nothing matches George Winston's December for me.

The Metropolitan Opera and Dallas Symphony produce house-brand Christmas
recordings and these are worth collecting -- in particular "A New Met
Christmas".

"B&D" wrote in message
...
I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording
quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

On 6 Dec 2004 04:27:02 GMT, B&D wrote:

I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

Yes, I have just brought out Victor Hely-Hutchinson, A Carol
Symphony, from its box in the attic(*). I won't have a christmas
without it! But that was perhaps not what you meant by Christmas
recordings? At any rate, it is damn excellent!

On Naxos:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...064716-8962833

Per.

*) My friend, the Scotsman, tells me it it should be played at
Christmas time only. Duh.

Nousaine wrote:
B&D wrote:

I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

For the holiday season? Nothing matches George Winston's December for me.

hmm...isn't that a famous 'New Age' disc? I was recently informed here
that that stuff is so lacking in harmonic, melodic, and
timbral content that playing it on a hi-fidelity system is
all but pointless.


--
-S
Your a boring little troll. How does it feel? Go blow your bad breath elsewhere.

"B&D" wrote in message
...
I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording
quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

All the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums, most especially the very
first one. I played Deck the Halls for kids (5 and 10 years old) and they
loved it.

The Telarc and Narada versions of the Nutcracker.

Steven Sullivan wrote:



Nousaine wrote:
B&D wrote:

I picked up Chris Isaak's Christmase CD and it was a bit retro
Elvis-meets-Johnny-Mathis but fun - what struck me was the recording
quality
was pretty good, unlike a lot of Christmas recordings.

Does anyone have any favorites recordings that sound good?

For the holiday season? Nothing matches George Winston's December for me.

hmm...isn't that a famous 'New Age' disc? I was recently informed here
that that stuff is so lacking in harmonic, melodic, and
timbral content that playing it on a hi-fidelity system is
all but pointless.


--
-S

Hey, why bother me with this stuff? Just leave me alone to make up my own mind
about this :-)

But really, new age or othewise this is my favorite Holiday season cd. Nicely
produced, well performed seasonal music all wrapped in a nice background style
that allows it tobe used for background OR fill-attention listening enjoyment.