Natalie Cole - Holly Ivy (12 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Classic Christmas

Bruce Aguilar | Hollywood, CA | 11/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm so impressed with this CD! From the jazzy, 'Jingle Bells' and gospel 'Joy To The World' to the quiet and silmple 'Silent Night', Natalie Cole does an incredible job of interpreting these songs in a way that makes them feel classic and contempory at the same time. It finds that impossible balance of not sounding new or old, but just like it has always been. If you want a classic sounding Christmas CD that's isn't refferential, then you can do no better than THE HOLY & THE IVY! You'll also get to hear lesser heard songs like 'The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot' and 'The Holy and the Ivy' get the star tratment."

JOY TO THE WORLD!!!

Neal C. Reynolds | Indianapolis, Indiana | 12/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All of the songs are great on this, but Natalie's gospel like "Joy To The World" is the most rousing and uninhibitedly joyful rendition I've heard. I won't say it's the best, because there are several outstanding recordings of the carol, each of which bring out different perspectives. But this one is guaranteed to lift anybody's spirits. The CD starts on a joyful note, and on the very first cut, you might find yourself singing "Jingle Bells" right along with her. However, she will touch your heart with her soft rendering of "Silent Night" and "The First Noel" among others. Two of the songs are closely identified, of course, with her father: The sentimental "The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot" and "The Christmas Song". Both are very beautifully presented here.This is an essential Christmas CD."

A must-have for your Holiday collection

VINCENT P TARSITANO | 12/21/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I half-expected this to be a holiday version of Unforgettable. Not that that would have been a bad thing since Unforgettable was such a good collection. Instead, what Natalie has done is used her beautiful voice and some great arrangements to make standard holiday tunes her very own. Her Joy To The World is so uplifting and spiritual that you just wish it would go on forever. The fact that she did go back and use older holiday standards is great--but they don't sound old and, I doubt, they'll ever sound dated. She has created a classic that can proudly sit next to her father's Christmas collection."

This is the best Christmas Album I have ever heard!

chamo80 | Dedham, MA | 11/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I once worked at a record store and was able to preview a lot of different christmas albums, but Natalie Cole's The Holy and The Ivy is by far the best I have ever heard. The whole album is entertaining, there are never any dull moments. Cole takes you on a fantastic ride from soft vocals such as in the "The Little Boy That Santa Clause Forgot" to the upbeat southern baptist type style "Joy to the World." If you have a great collection of holiday music or are trying to get one started definitly grab this hit."

ESSENTIAL HOLIDAY COLLECTION FEATURING STUNNING PERFORMANCES

VINCENT P TARSITANO | PORT ORANGE, FL USA | 10/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With so many Christmas music collections available, some on the cheap, it is still sometimes difficult to find a collection that effectively mixes both sacred and secular music, features great singing and musical accompaniment, and sounds fresh and not hackneyed. Outside of church or the symphony hall, I like my Christmas music on the jazzy side. Well, this collection, which rides on the heels of Ms. Cole's wonderful UNFORGETTABLE album, and which features the same production team, meets all of the above criteria. Ms. Cole possesses a beautiful, round, expressive voice, as well as a stimulating, jazzy feel that's a family legacy, as well as the result of rubbing elbows with some jazz greats in her youth, such as the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. She is also quite capable of rocking out. All of those assets are put to best use here to create, by far one of the best holiday music collections of recent years, and one that should retain a timeless appeal!

MY HIGHLIGHTS:

"Caroling, Caroling"

Not an overly perfomed song; beautifully executed here, and featuring a very good youth chorus. Swinging, joyful feel.

Christmas Medley featuring "Jingle Bell Rock" (a terrific, jazzy/soulful version), "Winter Wonderland" (on which the singer really grooves!), "Little Drummer Boy" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (both lovingly and tenderly performed, with a really original, big band arrangement for "Drummer Boy"). Flows beautifully and dramatically from song to song.

"A Song for Christmas"

Really exudes the warmth and expressiveness that are an innate part of Ms. Cole's singing. "No More Blue Christmases" is in the same vein, and appears to be an original co-written for this set by the contemporary ballad writer, Michael Masser, who's written other tunes recorded by Ms. Cole.

NONE OF MY HOLIDAY SEASONS GO WITHOUT SEVERAL SPINS OF THIS GREAT COLLECTION. MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"

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