Alexia Album: “The Ultimate Christmas Al”

I can not say enough about this "GREAT" album. I own vol 1 and vol 2

1./ HARK THE HERALD - MAHALIA JACKSON

2./ COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (ADESTE FIDELIS) - BING CROSBY

3./ DECK THE HALLS - FRANK SINATRA & BING CROSBY

4./ I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - ENZIO STEWART

5. / JINGLE BELL ROCK - BOBBY SHERMAN

6./ HEY SANTA CLAUS - MOONGLOWS

7./ AWAY IN A MANGER - BING CROSBY

8./ CHRISTMAS MAKES THE TOWN - BROOK BENTON

9./ JINGLE BELLS - ROSEMARY CLOONEY

10./ FROSTY THE SNOWMAN - GENE AUTRY

11./ BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES - BROOK BENTON

12./ THE CHRISTMAS FEELING - FRANK SINATRA/BING CROSBY

13./ SUZY SNOWFLAKE - ROSEMARY CLOONEY

14./ I'M THE LITTLE BOY THAT SANTA CLAUS FORGOT - JOHNNY ADAMS

15./ WHITE CHRISTMAS - LOUIS ARMSTRONG

16./ WHEN A CHILD IS BORN - BROOK BENTON

17./ A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE - CHARLES TAYLOR

18./ ZAT YOU SANTA CLAUS - LOUIS ARMSTRONG

19./ THE SNOWMAN - FRANK SINATRA/BING CROSBY

20./ YOU'RE ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS - BROOK BENTON

21./ COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS - BING CROSBY

22./ WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS - ORIGINAL DRIFTERS

23./ IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR -SINATRA/CROSBY/CLOONEY

24./ MARY'S BOY CHILD - GOSPEL CLEFS

25./ THE CHRISTMAS SONG - ROSEMARY CLOONEY

A nice mix of doo-wop and soul on this one. The Drifters version of "White Christmas" is worth the price itself if you don't have a copy. From the Supremes to Chuck Berry, this set definitely gives you a playlist from your favorite oldies station that would kick in around the holiday season. I could have done without Jimmy Boyd's "I Saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus" which may be the slowest version of this particularly bad song I have ever heard, but overall this is a good collection for lovers of Christmas tunes.

The songs on this CD are great. It takes me back to my childhood. These songs are sung the way Christmas carols should be sung. I have WCBS-FM 2 & 3. These just put you in the Holiday mood. I recommend these, they are all great.

This is the first in many discs of the Ultimate Christmas Album series. I like the fact that still call them albums. 25 songs, mostly well known with a few rarities are on here. My favorite tracks are:

Rockin' Around the Xmas Tree - Brenda Lee

Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms

You're My Xmas Present - Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners

White Christmas - The Drifters

Merry Merry Xmas Baby - Margo Sylvia & The Tune Weavers

Baby's First Christmas - Connie Francis

It's Christmas Once Again - Frankie Lymon

This Time of the Year - Brook Benton

I'll Be Home For Christmas - Fats Domino

Rudolph the Reindeer - The Cadillacs

Christmas Serenade - Johnny Maestro

Xmas Auld Lang Syne - Bobby Darin

In addition to the Cadillacs' version of Rudolph, Gene Autry's is on here too. Jimmy Beaumont also does Another Lonely New Year's Eve in addition to You're My Christmas Present. Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Jimmy Boyd, Chuck Berry, Dion, the Chipmunks, the O'Jays, the Harry Simeone Chorale, the Four Seasons, Donny Hathaway and The Temptations are all heard on this CD. After hearing it in 1994 when it came out, I said "I hope they do more of these." Boy did they ever. Volume 7 was released in 2008. How far we've come. Joe McCoy, former program director of WCBS FM in NYC, wherever you are, THANK YOU for starting this collection of Ultimate Christmas discs.