James Taylor - James Taylor at Christmas

a gift

I bought this CD last year and, in the busyness of the season, never really explored it till this afternoon when I brought my Christmas music back out again for the holidays. What a beautiful gift it is. There is a nice variety of styles, and the creative arrangements perfectly compliment Mr. Taylor's velvety voice. What I especially appreciated was the reverence by which the sacred songs were performed, especially "Go Tell it on the Mountain". It is my new favorite Christmas CD! November 21, 2008

I Like James Taylor. . .But not this one

I'm a James Taylor fan, and a Christmas music fan, so I thought this would be a terrific buy. And it just wasn't.

This is first and foremost a James Taylor record. The Christmas part places a distant second, as the arrangements are mostly non-traditional. His voice is clean and clear as ever, but Christmas is a really fun holiday, and there seems to be no fun in his singing.

I've never heard "Baby It's Cold Outside" (where he duets with Natalie Cole) where the couple sounds completely mismatched, as it does here. They both sang their parts well, but it just didn't seem plausible that they were a couple. Natalie sounds bright and cheery, and James sounds like a nerdy goober.

Other songs (Jingle Bells, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Winter Wonderland) are paced so slowly that I just can't wait for them to end. How can you screw up Jingle Bells?!

That said, there are some good tracks on here, too. The Christmas Song, Some Children See Him, Who Comes This Night. . .but it's just not enough.

He just drags down the pace, and kills the excitement of the holiday. November 19, 2008

new favorite

I have loved James Taylor music since my teens. This Christmas cd is wonderful. The song choices are varied and he only gets better with time. October 6, 2008

Quintessential American Christmas

James Taylor's is a classic American voice. The ballads, in particular, in this work, are pared down, clean and the lyrics discernable. Mr. Taylor's rendition of Christina Rossetti's 'In The Bleak Midwinter', alone, is worth the price of it. Just Beautiful! Whatever disappointments may exist regarding the production of this CD, we are fortunate to have it.

For those who love Christmas and Ballads, do check out Frank Sinatra's 'Whatever happened to Christmas?', to be found in ' The Frank Sinatra Christmas Collection'. Poignant lyrics, great orchestration and Sinatra at the top of his 'game'. It deserves to be better known.

One more recommendation for Christmas Ballad fans;
'Christmas With Baby face' his; 'I'll Be Home For Christmas', 'You Were There', 'Christmas Song' and
'White Christmas', are classic. This is a great party album, it maintains the sweetness of Christmas and rocks at the same time: a good balance of upbeat and slow and sure to keep most people pleased. Merry Christmas!

September 21, 2008

perfect mood for Christmas

This CD almost immediately became a Christmas favorite. It's hard to find a Christmas CD that walks that fine line between too modern and too traditional. This one did it. Original interpretations. I usually hate "Baby it's cold outside' but this version with Natalie Cole is actually fun. This CD will please both aficionados of Christmas music and fans of James Taylor. he stays true to his "sound." September 19, 2008

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