TWENTY-FIVE CDs OF CHRISTMAS
I have never listened to a single Christmas CD on my main system. This realization started me
thinking that it might be interesting to see just how some of my Christmas CDs sound from an
audiophile perspective.
I have always listened to Christmas CDs on whatever comprised my living room system. The two
reasons for this are simple: my reference system has always been in a basement listening room
and the Christmas tree has always been upstairs in the living room. My living room systems over
the years have not been bad systems (or great either) but none of them have ever been set up for
maximum sound quality, a fact that continues to this day. If we could just do without some of the
furniture in the living room, I could accomplish something audio-wise. Oddly enough, this is a view
that no one else in my family shares.
Anyway, I have been listening from an audio-perspective to a selection of CDs that I have always
enjoyed from a Christmas perspective. How is that sound stage? What about that low-level
detail? Is there anything palpably present? Happily, it has been an enjoyable experience, even a
surprising one. There are some audiophile gems among this group. There were also some total
lumps of coal. I just left those out. Picking on the sound quality of a Christmas CD just seems
wrong somehow.
My methodology, in theory, was to listen to enough of each album to get some idea of its sonic
quality and move on. That did not happen. I found myself listening to just about every album all the
way through and to several a second time to confirm my first judgments. Some albums vary
enough track-to-track that an overall rating required hearing everything. The other factor that I did
not foresee is that many of these albums just are not very long; they ended while I was still getting
organized. I have applied a 1-10 scale just to give some indication of what I heard. To suggest that
such a scale does not suffer from emotional coloration would be disingenuous at best.
In no particular order, here is a list of CDs that will get you from the first of December to Christmas
Day.
On Yoolis Night, Anonymous 4, Harmonia Mundi, HMU 907099.
I anticipated that this CD would be of audiophile quality just like every other Anonymous 4 album
and it is. This one was easy, a 10.
An American Christmas, Joel Cohen and the Boston Camerata, Erato D104964.
I also expected this to be great sounding and I was not disappointed. Each song is lovely and
enough different from the others on the album to keep the overall experience interesting while the
Camerata offers the listener insights into what was sung at Christmas 150 years ago. I particularly
like, “Jesus, the Light of the World.” This is an album that definitely benefits from a system that
knows its sound staging. Again, a 10.
A Medieval Christmas, Joel Cohen and the Boston Camerata, Elektra Nonesuch 9 71315-2.
The sound of this album is actually slightly better than An American Christmas so it gets an 11.
This is reference quality sound, the sort of album you want to use to demo your system. It’s a pity
that Christmas music is enjoyed for such a short time of the year. This CD deserves to be heard
much more frequently.
A Guitar for Christmas, Liona Boyd, CBS, MK 37248.
This is the first Christmas CD I ever bought. It came out in 1981! It has no appreciable sound
stage depth but nice sound stage width. Overall, it is a very enjoyable CD. I give it an 8.0.
Whatever happened to Liona Boyd? I had some vinyl albums of hers and I remember her being
very popular around the early 1980s.
Sinatra Christmas Album, Frank Sinatra, Capitol D 133873, Monophonic.
The fact that this album is mono was never particularly apparent on the living room equipment. It’s
obvious over the main system but that does not detract at all from enjoying this music. This
recording is quiet, fills the space between the speakers very satisfactorily, and individual voices in
the chorus behind Frank are easily discernible. Frank’s voice is wonderful. This CD contains, I
believe, the first recording of “Mistletoe and Holly,” on which Sinatra is credited as a co-writer. One
of my favorite albums; I can’t really judge it unemotionally. If I could own only one Christmas CD, I
think this would have to be it. I give it a 9 for the Voice and a 7 overall.
Christmas Time with the Judds, The Judds, RCA 6422-2-R.
Lovely voices and simple arrangements highlight the fact that this album is way too short at only
twenty-nine minutes. The fine accompanying instrumental work is far more apparent through the
main system. It’s a solid 9.
Merry Christmas from Harmony Ranch, Riders in the Sky, Columbia CK 52778.
I do not know of a badly recorded Riders in the Sky album and this is no exception. A real sound
stage (with somewhat limited depth), exceptional harmonies, deep, well-defined bass, and
yodeling place you right there in the bunkhouse with the Riders. Ranger Doug wrote the very fine
song, “Riding Home on Christmas Eve.” It is one of several original songs including the ever-
popular “Sidemeat’s Christmas Goose,” which is my daughter’s favorite. (It really needs to be
heard to be appreciated.) The Riders also cover several tunes made famous or written by Gene
Autry as well as traditional Christmas songs. It just does not get any better than this. A 10.
Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music, Perry Como, RCA Camden CAD1-660 and
Christmas with Perry Como, Perry Como, BMG 44553-2. Both monophonic.
I lumped these two CDs together since they both sound essentially the same, are short, and don’t
overlap except for the song, “Jingle Bells.” The sound quality is pretty poor. There is a lot of noise,
tape hiss, and ticks, which make me wonder if some of these songs were transcribed from vinyl.
The quality track to track also varies. Not audiophile sound but that really does not matter. For
someone of my age, Perry’s voice brings back memories of Christmas just about as effectively as
the smell of a Christmas tree. Even though they are emotional 10s, sound-wise I can only give
them each a 5.
Christmas Songs, Mel Torme with the Cincinnati Sinfonietta, Keith Lockhart conducting, Telarc Jazz,
CD 83315.
Telarc CDs have all of the audiophile bells and whistles. The sound quality of this CD is definitely
to a high standard even if the recording track to track varies somewhat. Mel sings with both the
Sinfonietta as well as a three-piece combo. The small combo tracks are somewhat better
sounding. The CD offers a wide sound stage with decent depth. Some of the jazz arrangements of
traditional Christmas songs don’t do a lot for me but an exception is “Christmas Time is Here” from
A Charlie Brown Christmas. I don’t believe I have ever heard this song in its entirety except for the
version on this CD. It’s a lovely song with beautiful lyrics. With a little judicious track skipping, this
can be a very enjoyable CD. Sound quality varies from 8.5 to 9.0.
Christmas Carols, Choir of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston, Deutsche Grammophone 413 590-
2.
This is a perfect example of the sort of choir album that the English do so well. This is beautiful
singing by twenty-four boys and twelve men with an excellent sound stage. The sound is fuller and
more robust than some of the other choir CDs I have listed here and it provides a very good sense
of the recording acoustic. There is high level of intelligibility, which is aided by having the complete
lyrics included. Bless you DG. There is organ accompaniment on some tracks that provides some
real, visceral bass output, which is really welcome, as most choir CDs just don’t have that sort of
impact. This garage sale CD is a real find. Absolutely a 10.
Let There Be Peace on Earth, Vince Gill, MCA, MACD-10877.
Some tracks have a little too much reverb and sibilance to be considered audiophile but Vince’s
voice is wonderful. The sound quality varies somewhat track to track. Vince’s versions of “Have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I’ll be home for Christmas, and Let There be Peace on Earth” are
worth the price of the album. Another CD that is on the short side time-wise, though. Overall an 8.5.
Songs of Angels—Christmas Hymns and Carols, Robert Shaw, Telarc CD 80377.
Absolutely lovely vocal singing but for a choir of forty-nine singers, it lacks impact. It sounds thin, as
if it were a much smaller group, which is not aided by its somewhat distant perspective and non-
existent dynamics. Frankly, I found it disappointing considering its audiophile credentials. I can
only give it a 7.5.
A Dave Brubeck Christmas, Dave Brubeck, Telarc Jazz CD 83410.
Of the three Telarc albums I have included in this list, this is definitely the best. Evidently, recording
a solo piano doesn’t present some of the same problems that a large choir does. I like most of
this album a lot; a few tracks I could live without. If you like jazz piano stylings, this is definitely
worth checking out. I give it an 8.5.
The Glorious Sound of Christmas, Eugene Ormandy, the Philadelphia Orchestra with Temple
University Concert Choir, CBS MK 6369.
The highs can go a little shrill in spots on this CD remastering of a 1962 recording but the sound is
full and robust. There is very little tape noise; I only noticed it as each track faded out. There is
good soundstage width and depth. The dynamics are very good. A lovely, wonderful album that
truly is glorious. An 8.0.
Jazz to the World, Blue Note CDP 7243 8 32127 9.
This is a compilation album that includes some of the biggest names in jazz. Included on the
album are songs by Holly Cole, Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson, the Brecker Brothers, Herbie
Hancock, Anita Baker, and others. An excellent recording overall with good dynamics and some
real bass. Sales of this album benefit the Special Olympics. A definite 10.
Snowfall, the Christmas Album, Tony Bennett, Columbia CK 66459.
Previously released tracks pretty much seamlessly joined into a great sounding dynamic album. A
classic, classy Christmas CD. Easily a 9.5.
Pretty Paper, Willie Nelson, Columbia CK 36189.
Traditional songs featuring the unique song-stylings of Mr. Nelson. The sound is spacious,
country-tinged, and features spare instrumental backing. Willie’s voice gets the job done. The
downside is that it is short, less than thirty minutes. Still, I give it an 8.5. I also listened to
Christmas with Willie Nelson, Regency V20037, which consists primarily of popular hymns (Silent
Night, Away in a Manger, etc.). The two albums complement each other fairly well, although I did
not feel that Christmas was quite as good sounding. Christmas with Willie Nelson may be more
available, however. I would rate it an 8.0
December, George Winston, 20th Anniversary Edition, Windam Hill 01934-11611-2.
I have always liked this album. More winter than actually Christmas, this album conveys to me the
sense of gray midwestern afternoons descending into darkness earlier each night as Christmas
approaches. The simple beauty of this album continues to amaze me. I really didn’t pay much
attention to the sound quality except that it’s very high. A 9.5.
The Holly and the Ivy, The Choir and Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge, John Rutter, London
D-125048.
One of my favorite albums. Listening on the main system made for a noticeable increase in
intelligibility. On the living room system, I pick up only the occasional phrase. On the main system,
I would guess around fifty to sixty percent of the vocals are intelligible. No notes are provided as to
the lyrics or size of the choir. It doesn’t matter. I have always enjoyed this album for the sheer
loveliness of the singing, intelligible or not. There is nice soundstage width and depth. I rate it an
8.
The Christmas Cowboy, Gene Autry, Laserlight 15 460, Monophonic.
As you might expect. The sound quality here varies quite a bit. There is no information as to the
age or source of these tracks; it is noticeably less noisy than the Perry Como CDs, however. There
are a few really odd songs here but overall, it’s classic Christmas music. For me, it’s a straight
shot back to my childhood. Avoid the track, “Santa’s Coming in a Whirlybird” by all means. Sound
varies from 6.5 to 7.5.
A Christmas Album, James Taylor, Hallmark PR 3129.
I am including this 2004 album because it is the only Christmas album James Taylor has
recorded, at least according to my research. How is that possible? While it is no longer available
from the Hallmark website, plenty of copies are available on eBay. Produced by Dave Grusin and
joined by some big name artists, James’ warm voice is in excellent form. The soundstage width is
good; the sound, though, is slightly “too large” to provide a good sense of depth. Again there is
some real bass, something I wouldn’t bother mentioning except for the fact that so many of these
Christmas albums make it noticeable by its absence. The only clunker on this album, to my ear, is
“Jingle Bells.” I don’t care at all for the way it is sung. My plan is to burn a copy of this album, leave
off “Jingle Bells,” and replace it with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from October Road. A
wonderful album that makes you wish it were just a hair better. A 9.0.
We Three Kings, the Roches, MCA Records, MCAD 10020.
Hearing this on the main system was the pleasantest surprise of this whole survey. The
soundstage consists of one sister in each speaker, the third in the middle. While this might sound
like a limitation, it doesn’t prove to be one. The sound is spacious and fills up the entire
soundstage whether they are singing a cappella or with accompaniment. The ambience, the
harmonizing, the variety of ways in which these songs are presented are absolutely wonderful.
This is a demo quality disc in my opinion. And it’s fun. I give it a 10.
Christmas Harmony, Inner Voices, Rhino R2 70714.
Four female voices fill the soundstage from left to right. As with both Anonymous 4 and the
Roches, voices enter and leave during the course of each song adding variety and making for an
interesting soundstage. Mostly a cappella singing (some tracks do have instrumental
accompaniment), there is a good sense of the acoustic space. I never cared much for the sound of
this CD on the living room system but it just blossoms in the main system. The fact that it was
mastered by Bernie Grundman might be relevant. Another pleasant discovery that rates a 10.
The Bells of Dublin, the Chieftains, BMG Classics 09026-60824-2.
Many guest artists make this album special. Among them are Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, the
McGarrigle sisters, and Ricky Lee Jones. The overall sound is excellent with very good soundstage
width and depth; there are some minor variations track-to-track. Again, some noticeably good
bass; there are very realistic foot stomps on “A Dance Duet.” The organ on “O Come All Ye Faithful”
provides a noticeably visceral sensation when it goes deep. This CD is a singing, dancing
Christmas celebration both sacred and secular. It’s a wonderful album and gets a 10.
And finally,
White Christmas, Bing Crosby, MCA, MCAD 31143, Monophonic.
I purchased this album for this survey. It’s available for $5.99 or less just about everywhere. Like
the Perry Como and Gene Autry albums, the sound varies from fairly awful to pretty good. Again
there are pops and ticks that make you wonder if worn records were the source of some of these
tracks. The rationale for this album, “White Christmas”, falls somewhere in the middle in terms of
its sound quality. As many times as Bing sang this song, there ought to be a lot of recordings of it
out there. There must be one of them that is of fairly high quality. Of all the tracks, this should be
the one that stands out. But it doesn’t. In sound quality terms, this album rates a 4.5 to a 7.0.
But, of course, the sound quality isn’t the reason we listen to or purchase any of these albums.
These songs take us on a trip straight back in time. Lives of constant change can be made to
stand still for a few minutes when we listen to this music. And that is why we do it.
I wish everyone reading this the happiest of holidays and the best of all memories.
Kent Johnson
November 28, 2005
I have never listened to a single Christmas CD on my main system. This realization started me
thinking that it might be interesting to see just how some of my Christmas CDs sound from an
audiophile perspective.
I have always listened to Christmas CDs on whatever comprised my living room system. The two
reasons for this are simple: my reference system has always been in a basement listening room
and the Christmas tree has always been upstairs in the living room. My living room systems over
the years have not been bad systems (or great either) but none of them have ever been set up for
maximum sound quality, a fact that continues to this day. If we could just do without some of the
furniture in the living room, I could accomplish something audio-wise. Oddly enough, this is a view
that no one else in my family shares.
Anyway, I have been listening from an audio-perspective to a selection of CDs that I have always
enjoyed from a Christmas perspective. How is that sound stage? What about that low-level
detail? Is there anything palpably present? Happily, it has been an enjoyable experience, even a
surprising one. There are some audiophile gems among this group. There were also some total
lumps of coal. I just left those out. Picking on the sound quality of a Christmas CD just seems
wrong somehow.
My methodology, in theory, was to listen to enough of each album to get some idea of its sonic
quality and move on. That did not happen. I found myself listening to just about every album all the
way through and to several a second time to confirm my first judgments. Some albums vary
enough track-to-track that an overall rating required hearing everything. The other factor that I did
not foresee is that many of these albums just are not very long; they ended while I was still getting
organized. I have applied a 1-10 scale just to give some indication of what I heard. To suggest that
such a scale does not suffer from emotional coloration would be disingenuous at best.
In no particular order, here is a list of CDs that will get you from the first of December to Christmas
Day.
On Yoolis Night, Anonymous 4, Harmonia Mundi, HMU 907099.
I anticipated that this CD would be of audiophile quality just like every other Anonymous 4 album
and it is. This one was easy, a 10.
An American Christmas, Joel Cohen and the Boston Camerata, Erato D104964.
I also expected this to be great sounding and I was not disappointed. Each song is lovely and
enough different from the others on the album to keep the overall experience interesting while the
Camerata offers the listener insights into what was sung at Christmas 150 years ago. I particularly
like, “Jesus, the Light of the World.” This is an album that definitely benefits from a system that
knows its sound staging. Again, a 10.
A Medieval Christmas, Joel Cohen and the Boston Camerata, Elektra Nonesuch 9 71315-2.
The sound of this album is actually slightly better than An American Christmas so it gets an 11.
This is reference quality sound, the sort of album you want to use to demo your system. It’s a pity
that Christmas music is enjoyed for such a short time of the year. This CD deserves to be heard
much more frequently.
A Guitar for Christmas, Liona Boyd, CBS, MK 37248.
This is the first Christmas CD I ever bought. It came out in 1981! It has no appreciable sound
stage depth but nice sound stage width. Overall, it is a very enjoyable CD. I give it an 8.0.
Whatever happened to Liona Boyd? I had some vinyl albums of hers and I remember her being
very popular around the early 1980s.
Sinatra Christmas Album, Frank Sinatra, Capitol D 133873, Monophonic.
The fact that this album is mono was never particularly apparent on the living room equipment. It’s
obvious over the main system but that does not detract at all from enjoying this music. This
recording is quiet, fills the space between the speakers very satisfactorily, and individual voices in
the chorus behind Frank are easily discernible. Frank’s voice is wonderful. This CD contains, I
believe, the first recording of “Mistletoe and Holly,” on which Sinatra is credited as a co-writer. One
of my favorite albums; I can’t really judge it unemotionally. If I could own only one Christmas CD, I
think this would have to be it. I give it a 9 for the Voice and a 7 overall.
Christmas Time with the Judds, The Judds, RCA 6422-2-R.
Lovely voices and simple arrangements highlight the fact that this album is way too short at only
twenty-nine minutes. The fine accompanying instrumental work is far more apparent through the
main system. It’s a solid 9.
Merry Christmas from Harmony Ranch, Riders in the Sky, Columbia CK 52778.
I do not know of a badly recorded Riders in the Sky album and this is no exception. A real sound
stage (with somewhat limited depth), exceptional harmonies, deep, well-defined bass, and
yodeling place you right there in the bunkhouse with the Riders. Ranger Doug wrote the very fine
song, “Riding Home on Christmas Eve.” It is one of several original songs including the ever-
popular “Sidemeat’s Christmas Goose,” which is my daughter’s favorite. (It really needs to be
heard to be appreciated.) The Riders also cover several tunes made famous or written by Gene
Autry as well as traditional Christmas songs. It just does not get any better than this. A 10.
Perry Como Sings Merry Christmas Music, Perry Como, RCA Camden CAD1-660 and
Christmas with Perry Como, Perry Como, BMG 44553-2. Both monophonic.
I lumped these two CDs together since they both sound essentially the same, are short, and don’t
overlap except for the song, “Jingle Bells.” The sound quality is pretty poor. There is a lot of noise,
tape hiss, and ticks, which make me wonder if some of these songs were transcribed from vinyl.
The quality track to track also varies. Not audiophile sound but that really does not matter. For
someone of my age, Perry’s voice brings back memories of Christmas just about as effectively as
the smell of a Christmas tree. Even though they are emotional 10s, sound-wise I can only give
them each a 5.
Christmas Songs, Mel Torme with the Cincinnati Sinfonietta, Keith Lockhart conducting, Telarc Jazz,
CD 83315.
Telarc CDs have all of the audiophile bells and whistles. The sound quality of this CD is definitely
to a high standard even if the recording track to track varies somewhat. Mel sings with both the
Sinfonietta as well as a three-piece combo. The small combo tracks are somewhat better
sounding. The CD offers a wide sound stage with decent depth. Some of the jazz arrangements of
traditional Christmas songs don’t do a lot for me but an exception is “Christmas Time is Here” from
A Charlie Brown Christmas. I don’t believe I have ever heard this song in its entirety except for the
version on this CD. It’s a lovely song with beautiful lyrics. With a little judicious track skipping, this
can be a very enjoyable CD. Sound quality varies from 8.5 to 9.0.
Christmas Carols, Choir of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston, Deutsche Grammophone 413 590-
2.
This is a perfect example of the sort of choir album that the English do so well. This is beautiful
singing by twenty-four boys and twelve men with an excellent sound stage. The sound is fuller and
more robust than some of the other choir CDs I have listed here and it provides a very good sense
of the recording acoustic. There is high level of intelligibility, which is aided by having the complete
lyrics included. Bless you DG. There is organ accompaniment on some tracks that provides some
real, visceral bass output, which is really welcome, as most choir CDs just don’t have that sort of
impact. This garage sale CD is a real find. Absolutely a 10.
Let There Be Peace on Earth, Vince Gill, MCA, MACD-10877.
Some tracks have a little too much reverb and sibilance to be considered audiophile but Vince’s
voice is wonderful. The sound quality varies somewhat track to track. Vince’s versions of “Have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I’ll be home for Christmas, and Let There be Peace on Earth” are
worth the price of the album. Another CD that is on the short side time-wise, though. Overall an 8.5.
Songs of Angels—Christmas Hymns and Carols, Robert Shaw, Telarc CD 80377.
Absolutely lovely vocal singing but for a choir of forty-nine singers, it lacks impact. It sounds thin, as
if it were a much smaller group, which is not aided by its somewhat distant perspective and non-
existent dynamics. Frankly, I found it disappointing considering its audiophile credentials. I can
only give it a 7.5.
A Dave Brubeck Christmas, Dave Brubeck, Telarc Jazz CD 83410.
Of the three Telarc albums I have included in this list, this is definitely the best. Evidently, recording
a solo piano doesn’t present some of the same problems that a large choir does. I like most of
this album a lot; a few tracks I could live without. If you like jazz piano stylings, this is definitely
worth checking out. I give it an 8.5.
The Glorious Sound of Christmas, Eugene Ormandy, the Philadelphia Orchestra with Temple
University Concert Choir, CBS MK 6369.
The highs can go a little shrill in spots on this CD remastering of a 1962 recording but the sound is
full and robust. There is very little tape noise; I only noticed it as each track faded out. There is
good soundstage width and depth. The dynamics are very good. A lovely, wonderful album that
truly is glorious. An 8.0.
Jazz to the World, Blue Note CDP 7243 8 32127 9.
This is a compilation album that includes some of the biggest names in jazz. Included on the
album are songs by Holly Cole, Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson, the Brecker Brothers, Herbie
Hancock, Anita Baker, and others. An excellent recording overall with good dynamics and some
real bass. Sales of this album benefit the Special Olympics. A definite 10.
Snowfall, the Christmas Album, Tony Bennett, Columbia CK 66459.
Previously released tracks pretty much seamlessly joined into a great sounding dynamic album. A
classic, classy Christmas CD. Easily a 9.5.
Pretty Paper, Willie Nelson, Columbia CK 36189.
Traditional songs featuring the unique song-stylings of Mr. Nelson. The sound is spacious,
country-tinged, and features spare instrumental backing. Willie’s voice gets the job done. The
downside is that it is short, less than thirty minutes. Still, I give it an 8.5. I also listened to
Christmas with Willie Nelson, Regency V20037, which consists primarily of popular hymns (Silent
Night, Away in a Manger, etc.). The two albums complement each other fairly well, although I did
not feel that Christmas was quite as good sounding. Christmas with Willie Nelson may be more
available, however. I would rate it an 8.0
December, George Winston, 20th Anniversary Edition, Windam Hill 01934-11611-2.
I have always liked this album. More winter than actually Christmas, this album conveys to me the
sense of gray midwestern afternoons descending into darkness earlier each night as Christmas
approaches. The simple beauty of this album continues to amaze me. I really didn’t pay much
attention to the sound quality except that it’s very high. A 9.5.
The Holly and the Ivy, The Choir and Orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge, John Rutter, London
D-125048.
One of my favorite albums. Listening on the main system made for a noticeable increase in
intelligibility. On the living room system, I pick up only the occasional phrase. On the main system,
I would guess around fifty to sixty percent of the vocals are intelligible. No notes are provided as to
the lyrics or size of the choir. It doesn’t matter. I have always enjoyed this album for the sheer
loveliness of the singing, intelligible or not. There is nice soundstage width and depth. I rate it an
8.
The Christmas Cowboy, Gene Autry, Laserlight 15 460, Monophonic.
As you might expect. The sound quality here varies quite a bit. There is no information as to the
age or source of these tracks; it is noticeably less noisy than the Perry Como CDs, however. There
are a few really odd songs here but overall, it’s classic Christmas music. For me, it’s a straight
shot back to my childhood. Avoid the track, “Santa’s Coming in a Whirlybird” by all means. Sound
varies from 6.5 to 7.5.
A Christmas Album, James Taylor, Hallmark PR 3129.
I am including this 2004 album because it is the only Christmas album James Taylor has
recorded, at least according to my research. How is that possible? While it is no longer available
from the Hallmark website, plenty of copies are available on eBay. Produced by Dave Grusin and
joined by some big name artists, James’ warm voice is in excellent form. The soundstage width is
good; the sound, though, is slightly “too large” to provide a good sense of depth. Again there is
some real bass, something I wouldn’t bother mentioning except for the fact that so many of these
Christmas albums make it noticeable by its absence. The only clunker on this album, to my ear, is
“Jingle Bells.” I don’t care at all for the way it is sung. My plan is to burn a copy of this album, leave
off “Jingle Bells,” and replace it with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” from October Road. A
wonderful album that makes you wish it were just a hair better. A 9.0.
We Three Kings, the Roches, MCA Records, MCAD 10020.
Hearing this on the main system was the pleasantest surprise of this whole survey. The
soundstage consists of one sister in each speaker, the third in the middle. While this might sound
like a limitation, it doesn’t prove to be one. The sound is spacious and fills up the entire
soundstage whether they are singing a cappella or with accompaniment. The ambience, the
harmonizing, the variety of ways in which these songs are presented are absolutely wonderful.
This is a demo quality disc in my opinion. And it’s fun. I give it a 10.
Christmas Harmony, Inner Voices, Rhino R2 70714.
Four female voices fill the soundstage from left to right. As with both Anonymous 4 and the
Roches, voices enter and leave during the course of each song adding variety and making for an
interesting soundstage. Mostly a cappella singing (some tracks do have instrumental
accompaniment), there is a good sense of the acoustic space. I never cared much for the sound of
this CD on the living room system but it just blossoms in the main system. The fact that it was
mastered by Bernie Grundman might be relevant. Another pleasant discovery that rates a 10.
The Bells of Dublin, the Chieftains, BMG Classics 09026-60824-2.
Many guest artists make this album special. Among them are Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, the
McGarrigle sisters, and Ricky Lee Jones. The overall sound is excellent with very good soundstage
width and depth; there are some minor variations track-to-track. Again, some noticeably good
bass; there are very realistic foot stomps on “A Dance Duet.” The organ on “O Come All Ye Faithful”
provides a noticeably visceral sensation when it goes deep. This CD is a singing, dancing
Christmas celebration both sacred and secular. It’s a wonderful album and gets a 10.
And finally,
White Christmas, Bing Crosby, MCA, MCAD 31143, Monophonic.
I purchased this album for this survey. It’s available for $5.99 or less just about everywhere. Like
the Perry Como and Gene Autry albums, the sound varies from fairly awful to pretty good. Again
there are pops and ticks that make you wonder if worn records were the source of some of these
tracks. The rationale for this album, “White Christmas”, falls somewhere in the middle in terms of
its sound quality. As many times as Bing sang this song, there ought to be a lot of recordings of it
out there. There must be one of them that is of fairly high quality. Of all the tracks, this should be
the one that stands out. But it doesn’t. In sound quality terms, this album rates a 4.5 to a 7.0.
But, of course, the sound quality isn’t the reason we listen to or purchase any of these albums.
These songs take us on a trip straight back in time. Lives of constant change can be made to
stand still for a few minutes when we listen to this music. And that is why we do it.
I wish everyone reading this the happiest of holidays and the best of all memories.
Kent Johnson
November 28, 2005
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