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The smooth sound of Perry Como and familiar Christmas songs just goes together and makes the season even more special
This CD is worth purchasing for these five songs alone, never mind almost two dozen. Perry Como has topped my list of Christmas music for more than four decades. I look forward to listening to this CD over and over again every time the Christmas season approaches. The very-talented Ray Charles Singers perfectly back up many of the songs. An extraordinarily gifted singer, his silky smoothness is almost unmatchable. This album contains my favorite versions (by Como or anyone else) of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", "Silver Bells", "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas", "Home For The Holidays", and especially the included version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" with its magical intro.
Note: "The Little Drummer Boy" is a different mix, but I don't think you'll be disappointed, since Perry can be heard on one more verse. May I suggest recreating the '68 album as closely as possible by programming the songs in the order they originally appeared (with one addition): Side 1: Christmas Eve, Do You Hear What I Hear, Christ Is Born, The Little Drummer Boy, There Is No Christmas Like A Home Christmas, O Holy Night. Side 2: Carol Medley, Silver Bells, Some Children See Him (omitted from the original release), Toyland, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Ave Maria. This CD contains eight of the eleven songs from the 1968 recording sessions that so long ago adorned our phonographs and hearts with Perry's warm traditional touch. Merry Christmas. The remaining three songs can be found on two other CD's currently available at Amazon; "A Perry Como Christmas" contains "Christmas Eve" and "Carol Medley" (both must-haves); And "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever", containing "Toyland". I'm speaking of the LP with the photo of Perry Como's face surrounded by a wreath on the cover, currently unavailable on CD (as far as I know). Not discounting the value of the other classic selections on these three CD's, all of the tracks on the '68 LP came from the same sessions, lending to its compilation a certain warmth of continuity that anthology oriented collections simply cannot convey.
I was almost in the mood to wrap presents and start decorating. I'll still be doing those kinds of things on December 24th, as my family well knows. I never expected to be playing Christmas music in September, but when I received Perry Como's "Greatest Christmas Songs" CD I couldn't resist. But---no fear. This was the very first item I've ever purchased from Amazon.com and I must say that I was totally satisfied with the service. It is packed with some of Perry's most beautiful Christmas songs and, surprisingly, there were a few I didn't know. This CD is highly recommended.
very nice package of 3 discs wich give you a complete atmosper of Xmas holidays
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