Do You Hear What I Hear? - Vince Gill, Baker, Gloria Shayn
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Vince Gill, Blane, Ralph
One Bright Star (This Christmas Night) - Vince Gill, Jarvis, John Barlow
What Child Is This? - Vince Gill, Dix, William Chatte
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Vince Gill, Coots, J. Fred
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Vince Gill, Gannon, Kim
Let There Be Peace on Earth - Vince Gill, Jackson, Jill [1]
White Christmas - Vince Gill, Berlin, Irving
Til the Season Comes Around Again - Vince Gill, Goodrum, Randy
It Won't Be the Same This Year - Vince Gill, Gill, Vince
Vince Gill's first holiday effort is split between secular favorites and Christian carols, but whether he's dreaming of a "White Christmas" or asking "What Child Is This," the performances and arrangements are consistently... more » careful, quiet, and slow. Sometimes, this effect is nearly magical--on "I'll Be Home For Christmas," the hushed and hesitant piano and Gill's high tenor sound as yearning as a dream unfulfilled. But, excepting a couple of Chet Atkinslike instrumentals, the more common result is that what should sound peaceful and humble comes off merely solemn and emotionally detached. The closing "It Won't Be the Same This Year," however, makes up for these disappointments when the formerly restrained Gill cuts loose, for once, and cries sweetly in memory of a departed older brother. --David Cantwell« less
Vince Gill's first holiday effort is split between secular favorites and Christian carols, but whether he's dreaming of a "White Christmas" or asking "What Child Is This," the performances and arrangements are consistently careful, quiet, and slow. Sometimes, this effect is nearly magical--on "I'll Be Home For Christmas," the hushed and hesitant piano and Gill's high tenor sound as yearning as a dream unfulfilled. But, excepting a couple of Chet Atkinslike instrumentals, the more common result is that what should sound peaceful and humble comes off merely solemn and emotionally detached. The closing "It Won't Be the Same This Year," however, makes up for these disappointments when the formerly restrained Gill cuts loose, for once, and cries sweetly in memory of a departed older brother. --David Cantwell
"As a Deaf person who can only listen to music in the confines of my car at this point in my life, and still know that I am missing some tones...I tend to pick my music carefully. I've had this particular album by Vince Gill for the last three Christmases. This is one of my favorite albums, because he has a strong clear voice that I can easily understand. Unlike some singers whose voices are drowned by the band, or whose voices are so high pitched (Michael Crawford, the Church girl from Wales) that I cannot tell where their voices begin, Gill is still one that I can enjoy. With Christmas music I know most of the words, and so what my hearing cannot make out, my memories fill in. The first time I heard Gill and his daughter sing "Let There Be Peace on Earth" it thrilled me. It continues to do so. I will probably wear out the tape and have to buy another one soon. It is well worth the money. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh"
The Vince Gill holiday CD to get...
John O'Neill | Alpharetta, GA | 12/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"On Gill's 2nd holiday release, "Breath of Heaven", he sounds sadly out of his element, surrounded by pop arrangements, as though he is just walking through the exercise, and his unique tenor is lost in the mix. Just compare it to this 1993 release where his voice is very much up front and center. Here from even the first number, "Do You Hear What I Hear?", Gill provides sensitive, heart felt vocal performances. Indeed there is a certain melancholy to the entire outing. It's present in numbers such as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "I'll Be Home for Christmas", "Till the Season Comes Round Again", and especially the Gill-penned "It Won't Be the Same This Year", a tribute to his brother who had passed away shortly before the album's release. Even on "White Christmas", one of the two tracks where Gill exhibits his formidable guitar skills, the guitar almost seems to sigh. The other guitar instrumental comes in the form of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" which is the only upbeat number on the CD and brings Chet Atkins. But even on this track the guitar doesn't so much "rock" as gently "swing". Definitely a CD for quiet holiday evenings before the fire."
Excellent--worth buying for the first cut alone.
Greg | Alpena, MI | 12/24/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a nice collection of mostly traditional Christmas songs. Gill's voice is perfect for these, and his arrangement of Do You Hear What I Hear? (my favorite Christmas song) is gorgeous. Also excellent are Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, I'll Be Home For Christmas, and his own song, the sadly beautiful It Won't Be The Same This Year. Unfortunately, his second Christmas album, Breath of Heaven, I would probably give only two stars. Let There Be Peace On Earth is top-notch, however, and should be enjoyed for many Christmas seasons to come."
Vince and Christmas - Two of the most wonderful things
sweetvince | Missouri | 12/16/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What do I have to say, other than it is Vince. If you have been a fan or are just becoming a fan of Vince Gill this is a must have, especially when the Christmas season rolls around.This isn't the type of Christmas album your mother had with all boys choirs and ladies who sing too high, and it is not contemporary in the sense that the classics are ruined. There is a guitar solo of Vince playing Here Comes Santa Clause, a Christmas song I have never heard of before (the title of the cd) which he sings with his daughter, and even some original Songs about Christmas and the lose of his brother. Songs that make you want to embrace the Christmas spirit and memories of the past and never let go.An absolute must have."
It makes the Holidays
Candice pierce | pittsburgh, pa | 12/08/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My mom loves Vince Gill and one year for Christmas I bought her this album. Not only did she fall in love with it but my family did as well. It means so much to us because he wrote a song about his brother and Christmas not being the same with out him, that was the same year we lost my gram. I would tell anyone if your looking for the perfect holiday album this is the one. My favorite song is "Peace On Earth" the words mean so much and it nice he is singing with his daughter."