Various Artists - Ultimate Christmas

acceptable

good christmas music; very much the holiday season spirit. Lacks that
sparkle we so look forward to these days. August 14, 2008

One of the all-time best Christmas CDs.

This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas CDs...true classics from Nat King Cole/Elvis/Aretha/Luther Vandross...this is the one you play to get you in the holiday spirit.
You can't go wrong with this one.
Brandon January 14, 2008

a golden nugget shining brightly for the season !!!

Ultimate Christmas is an excellent CD of classic Christmastime music. We get so much to enjoy that I would recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys holiday time music.

Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" features Nat singing at his best with a lush musical arrangement. Nat delivers this with all his heart and soul; and the strings bolster the number. Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the superior studio version, not a recording of a radio performance Bing gave. Bing's performance of this melancholy number outshines them all! Moreover, listen for Johnny Mathis in "Sleigh Ride;" Johnny's excellent diction make his singing all the better.

The hits continue. Ella Fitzgerald sings a jazzy rendition of "Frosty The Snowman." Ella swings brightly and the backup vocalists harmonize quite well. Whitney Houston with The Georgia Mass Choir sings a gospel flavored "Joy To The World" and they never miss a note, either.

I really like Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby;" this classic was a huge hit for Eartha and when you hear it you'll instantly know why. The strings help the number move along well.

There are also a few more recent numbers to add a somewhat modern twist to the album. Listen for Boyz II Men doing "Silent Night;" and Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass really belt it out with their interpretation of "Jingle Bells."

The CD ends beautifully with Judy Garland's "Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas." I can't quite figure out why Amazon refers to this song as "tragic" although admittedly this is another melancholy number. Judy sounds beautiful and it's obvious why she was the Queen of the Hollywood musical!

I highly recommend this CD for people everywhere who enjoy Christmastime music. December 5, 2007

an excellent holiday sampler

I enjoy Méhdi"Christmas Treasures",Charlie Brown Christmas ,Mannheim Steamroller etc.and this a magnificent production that I also enjoy just as much. While perhaps not living up to the lofty goals of its title, Ultimate Christmas is an excellent holiday sampler nevertheless, compiling classic performances from artists of all eras and musical backgrounds to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. The many highlights include Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas," Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song," Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and Sarah McLachlan's "Song for a Winter's Night."
November 19, 2007

Great variety songs

love the variety of artist and the sound is great for old and new recordings November 7, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...