Search - Joni James :: Merry Christmas From Joni / Give Us This Day

Truly inspirational

Jim Andrews | Chicago, Illinois USA | 12/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Joni's Christmas album has always been hard to find. It's a real Christmas tree ornament, shiny and bright and sentimental and includes her legendary Christmas single of "Nina Non" and "Christmas and You." The album which followed it for Easter, "Give Us This Day," is a truly beautiful collection of thoughtful songs. All 24 selections are gorgeously arranged by David Terry and Lew Douglas."

This is one of my favorite Christmas albums.

Jim Andrews | 12/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Merry Christmas from Joni" is a traditional Christmas album, with beautiful orchestrations and a choir accompanying Ms. James' sweet and sincere vocals. The highlights are "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "White Christmas," "The First Noel," "Nina-Non," "Christmas and You," and a rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" that ranks with Judy Garland's version. These selections are my favorites on this album, but I like them all. "Merry Christmas from Joni" is a must for year-end holiday listening. "Give Us This Day" is an inspirational album that is good for listening throughout the year, and has a similar orchestral style to the Christmas album. I am especially fond of the songs "Give Us This Day," "Bless This House," "I Believe," "Count Your Blessings," and "Ave Maria.""

A Candle Glows

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 05/18/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Joni James has a classic girl-next-door voice that never ceases to warm the hearts of her listeners. This CD is one that was in my dad's collection and now is with me. No dates are given for the first release of these albums, but the liner notes do cite that at the time of the Christmas release, she had only 5 albums to her credit and that the inspirational album was released after a small combo release; so my best guess is that "Merry Christmas from Joni" came out at Christmas 1956 and "Give Us This Day" followed at Easter 1957. The first set is Joni's Christmas record & includes her two Christmas singles "Nina-Non," a sweet melody about a child at holiday time and "Christmas & You," a lush harp-filled ballad about being with the one you love during the holidays. "O Holy Night" became one of the most popular tunes from this album with the crystal clear timbre of Joni's voice reverberating with reverence as she sings "O night divine when Christ was born." "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" is one of my favorites with Joni's studied take on this lovely melody. "Give Us This Day," an inspirational album, was a bit of a stretch at the era when rock & roll was just coming on the scene, but went on to be a great success. The title track became a million seller and is a beautiful melody of thanks to the Creator. "Look for the Silver Lining" is a lovely song with Joni's trademark lush orchestration underlining her uplifting message. "I believe that for every drop of rain that falls, a flower grows, I believe that somewhere in the darkest night, a candle glows," is the lyric to the lovely melody of hope that Joni performs on "I Believe." On the classic "Ave Maria," Joni performs with moving confidence on this loveliest of melodies. These two sets are well worth remembering or discovering. Enjoy!"