Search - The Glad Singers :: Really Swell Xmas

"Christmas cheese" means just what it says.

David Kenner | Fort Worth, Texas United States | 11/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The songs on this very short CD are cheesy. This doesn't mean they're gonna be filled with deep Lou Rawls-styled soul grooves or swing like Ellington or Kenton, so don't expect that. The tracks were selected for their cheesiness and they rise to the occasion. But just because they're cheesy doesn't mean they're not fun. The tracks by The Glad Singers, Art Carney and John Davidson are all worth the price of this CD!

The Percy Faith track is from his CHRISTMAS IS album (which is one of THE all time great Christmas albums) and is mastered better here than on the Columbia CD.

The Rod McKuen track is the most bizarre. It comes from an album of romantic poetry called IN SEARCH OF EROS. In this one minute epic, Rod briefly expouses on why holidays meant little to him when he was young and then thanks his love for, among other things, "jam from the delicatessen".

The tracks on this disc are the kind that inspire people to make goofy audio Christmas cards for friends. You should only buy this disc if you are willing to listen to it in the spirit in which it was compiled."

Christmas Con Carney

Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 12/06/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The subtitle of this compilation is "100% pure Christmas Cheese", and boy, does it ever live up to the billing. These are some of the lamest Christmas recordings ever. The only song here that is actually good is "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", which actually manages to swing with a latin flavor. The rest of the album is just plain bad. Since the album description here doesn't list who performs the songs, I'll tell you who does, and also give my thoughts on each track.1. "Deck the Halls" by the Glad Singers. Boy, they really do sound glad. A little TOO glad, if you know what I mean.
2. "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" by the Joe Loco Quintet. Like I said, this one is actually pretty good.
3. "Happy Holidays" by Percy Faith. Strings and a female chorus. Boring!
4. "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Liberace. The gayest version of this poem ever.
5. "Jingle Bells" by the Ray Ellis Orchestra. Crummy instrumental version done as a march.
6. "Blue Christmas" by Frankie Yakovic. Polka time!
7. "Winter Wonderland" by the Harmonicats. Played entirely on harmonicas. Excruciating.
8. "Santa and the Doodle-Li-Boop" by Art Carney. Probably the dumbest Christmas novelty song ever. R.I.P., Art.
9. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by John Davidson. This guy makes Pat Boone sound soulful.
10. "Santa's Laughing Song" by Santa Claus and his Helpers. Oh wait, THIS is the dumbest Christmas novelty song ever.
11. "Christmas" by Rod McKuen. Rod recites a brief poem that I didn't understand at all. I guess that means it's "deep".
12. "The Christmas Song" by George Maharis. A lame supper club version, recorded live.Well, there you have it. Buy it if you want to, but don't say I didn't warn you."

A Selective Review

Moose | Indianapolis, IN USA | 12/06/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Really Swell Christmas



I purchased this product because it includes "Santa and the Doodle-li-boop" by Art Carney, a record I had as a kid. It's fun; it consists of Carney's vocals backed only by drums. Carney is having fun. At one point he seems on the verge of breaking out in laughter. Kids might like it, little ones, especially if there names is Tommy. The rest of the collection is bland and harmless. I wish I could say it was so bad it was good, but the singers and musicians are better than that. If you're looking for something to put on the box to nod off to mid-Christmas day, this might work.



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