Orlando fan
11/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The selection in this CD is just superb. I bought the original release of this CD (1999) and was about to pounce on this one too but a side-by-side comparison of this item with the old one shows that it's EXACTLY the same as the other one, save for ONE single, solitary song. The other double CD is under ($). Save yourself some money and buy the 1999 version."
Strong claim to its title
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 10/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Every few years, they change the track listing and the artwork. This is the third edition of this collection, which is as strong a collection of Christmas songs as you'll find anywhere. Some big hits have been dropped from the second edition (it has a bright red frame to the front picture of Santa), which I slightly prefer, but other big hits have replaced them so the overall strength is the same.Cliff Richard had three Christmas number one hits in the UK - Millennium prayer, Saviour's day and Mistletoe and wine - and they are all here together with a fourth big UK hit, Little town. I love Cliff's music but some people have a different opinion and will not like his strong representation here.Many classic UK hits are here (and one or two non-hits that should have been), including Happy Xmas (John Lennon), Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney), I wish it could be Christmas every day (Wizzard), Merry Christmas everybody (Slade), Do they know its Christmas (Band aid), I believe in Father Christmas (Greg Lake), A spaceman came travelling (Chris De Burgh), The power of love (Frankie goes to Hollywood), Step into Christmas (Elton John), Little Saint Nick (Beach boys), Santa Claus is coming to town (Jackson 5), In dulci Jubilo (Mike Oldfield), Stop the cavalry (Jona Lewie), Christmas wrapping (Waitresses), White Christmas (Bing Crosby), The Christmas song (Nat King Cole), Walking in the air (Aled Jones), Rocking around the Christmas tree (Mel and Kim), Lonely this Christmas (Mud) and Gaudete (Steeleye Span). All these songs are regulars on UK Christmas compilations, though Brenda Lee's version of Rocking around the Christmas tree is sometimes used instead of the Mel and Kim version - both were UK hits at different times. Whatever you think of these songs and the Cliff Richard songs, they, together with the traditional songs, are the mainstay of British Christmas pop/rock compilations.It is good to see Lonely pup in a Christmas shop (Adam Faith) included. This was a UK top five hit but is rarely seen on Christmas compilations. It is also great to have Ring out solstice bells (Jethro Tull) and the Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews version of Baby it's cold outside.The remainder of the collection is mainly made up of covers but there's a great selection by great singers including Dean Martin, Matt Monro, Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald. Note that the Spinners who sing Twelve days of Christmas are the British folk group, not the Detroit soul group - they are always listed as the Detroit Spinners in UK releases.If you only buy one Christmas pop/rock album, you cannot go wrong with the Best Christmas album in the world ever, whether you buy this edition or the second edition."
Track Listings (44) - Disc #1