Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Jon Bon Jovi, John Popper - A Very Special Christmas Live!

Fans of the Very Special Christmas albums will get few surprises with this in-concert follow-up to the three studio compilations. Only 2 of the 11 songs have never appeared on one of the previous editions; one of those, Eric Clapton's "Christmas Tears," is a fiery performance with Blues Traveler head John Popper guesting, while the other is a collaboration between Clapton and Tracy Chapman on "Give Me One Reason," not exactly a Yuletide standard. That mix of the useful and the puzzling is typical of the whole CD. It's good to hear Mary J. Blige's force encouraging Sheryl Crow to push her vocal limit, even on a tune as lightweight as "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." But why doesn't Blige, the 1990s' preeminent female R&B voice, get to work out on, say, Phil Spector's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"? Mainly because Jon Bon Jovi is instead called upon to lamely replicate Bono's vocal from the first Very Special disc. This too-often calcified offering is hardly this charity series' finest. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

Year 'round compilation album - not just for Christmas!

I bought this CD for the Tracy Chapman/Eric Clapton "Give Me One Reason" rendition. This is a great CD!

Tracy Chapman's "O Holy Night" is beautiful, non traditional but sung like a loving lullaby, just lovely, one of the nicest renditions I've ever heard, and I really like this song. Jon Bon Jovi plays both "Please come home for Christmas" and "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" really nicely, like he was made to play these songs. Everything Clapton and Tracy Chapman offer is wonderful and John Popper, well of course.
I don't have a lot of exposure to some of these musicians because I don't listen to a lot of radio or to the genres they usually represent. I personally don't like a couple of songs, I've never liked "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" so, even though Mary Blige and Sheryl Crow do a nice version, I just can't appreciate it. Vanessa Williams' "What Child is This" I turned off after the first line. I don't think I will ever like Run DMC (hate most rap) and this CD doesn't change that, but it is nice to hear some of the others,and makes me curious to listen to more of what they've done.
This CD is really fun to listen to, it must have been a great concert.
March 26, 2008

shame on the person to use lame and bon jovi in the sentence

Bon Jovi is instead called upon to lamely replicate Bono's vocal ....I dont think so.... December 22, 2004

My Favorite

This is absolutely my favorite Christmas CD. Whenever I need a pick-me-up I pop it in and I'm dancing away. My only regret is that it's not available on DVD. I'd love to see the artists performing and President and Hillary Clinton having a great time.
It's the best out of the collection. December 24, 2003

Very upbeat

I enjoyed every song on this 38 minute CD. I have a pretty good collection of various types of Christmas music and I consider this to be a great addition. I didn't realize this was part of a series and plan to purchase at least one more of this series. I'm not a rap fan but I enjoyed the Run DMC rendition of "Christmas in Hollis". "Christmas Tears" sung by Eric Clapton was spectacular. I see that Eric Clapton sings and/or plays guitar on 5 songs.

I see that they have no song listing, so here it is:
1) Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Mary J. Blige and Sheryl Crow)
2) Christmas In Hollis (Run DMC)
3) Please Come Home For Christmas (Jon Bon Jovi)
4) Christmas Blues (John Popper with Eric Clapton)
5) What Child Is This? (Vanessa Williams)
6) Christmas Tears (Eric Clapton)
7) O Holy Night (Tracy Chapman)
8) Give Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman and Eric Clapton)
9) Merry Christmas Baby (Sheryl Crow with Eric Clapton)
10) Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (Jon Bon Jovi)
11) Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (All artists listed above) November 29, 2003

A Very Cool Christmas Album!

The best Christmas album of the season. Cool & rocking yet full of Christmas spirit. All your favorite musicians AND the proceeds go to help physically disabled children--a refreshing reminder of what Christmas is really all about. Everyone should buy a few...it is perfect for Christmas stockings or the office grab bag! November 17, 1999

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