Search - Blind Boys of Alabama :: Go Tell on the Mountain

One of the best Xmas CDs out there - unless you don't like g

ChillYoda | SouthEast, PA | 12/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is heartfelt and unique, with great instrumentation and good production and has a nice sampling of guest artists. But overall the Blind Boys voices are what makes it shine. They really make the songs thier own - even the ones you've heard a thousand times before - and THIER versions will stick in your head all season long.

The GREAT majority of reviewers give this CD 5 stars and many others give it 4 stars. But there are 3 or 4 people bringing the overall rating down by giving the CD 1 or 2 stars. Please ignore those reviews. One of those reviewers said the CD was overproduced and too polished, yet another reviewer said they must have used the first take on every track implying the recordings are sloppy? Contradictory and unfounded. Just click on the track samples right here on Amazon and listen - is it what you expected?

Folks, if you love the Blind Boys and/or love Christmas music with an original R&B twist (R&B in the true old-school sense of the word, not the way the phrase "R&B" is used today), then this CD is for you. If you have any idea what you're buying before you purchase (and these days it's hard not to), then buy it and enjoy."

This one's going to be a classic

R. Kyle | USA | 12/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me add my voice to the praise for this album. I've heard numerous versions of most of these songs and "Blind Boys" have just reset my ultimate covers for both "Go Tell it on the Mountain" and "In the Bleak Midwinter" just to name a few. Admittedly, this review is posted too late for you to get this CD for this Christmas, but trust me you will very much be enjoying the songs on this album throughout the year."

A bluesy gospel Christmas album with special guests

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 11/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had not heard any music by this group prior to borrowing a copy of this album - however, this is an excellent Christmas album. As you would expect from a gospel group, they focus almost exclusively on the religious aspect of the festival, the sole exception being White Christmas. There is a different guest singer on each track except the opening and closing tracks, which are without guests.



With any album featuring a variety of guests, one's favorites depend to some extent on one's opion of the various guests. For example, my favorite guest is Shelby Lynne, who does a fine duet of The Christmas song - however, it's not quite my absolute favorite track. That distinction goes to Chrissie Hynde singing In the bleak midwinter, almost as a solo track with the group providing backup harmony. It is one of my favorite carols and I get the impression that it is more popular in Britain than in America, where it turns up occasionally on Christmas albums (this one included) but is by no means common. Other favorites include I pray on Christmas (a cover of a Harry Connick Jr song featuring Solomon Burke), Born in Bethlehem (with Mavis Staples), Little drummer boy (with Michael Franti) and Joy to the world (with Aaron Neville).



This is an album with plenty of variety - they put plenty of energy into Last month of the year (no guests) and Go tell it on the mountain (with Tom Waits), which provide plenty of contrast with the slower songs.



If you are looking for a bluesy gospel Christmas album, this is certainly a good one to choose."