Disco de Donna Summer: “20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection”

Anyone who ever though Donna was just a Disco Queen, I say buy this CD! This is Summer at her best. Every song here is pretty true to the original classic Christmas Holiday songs. She sings every song with such warmth and heart that it truly makes you feel the spririt of Christmas! My favorites are the original tunes Christmas Spirit & Christmas is Here. White Christmas, I'll Be Home for Christmas and Breath of Heaven are all amazing! Now we have this new issue which is remastered!! You'll be playing this CD every year! Thanks Universal! I say where is Christmas Spirit Vol 2??

In 1994, Donna Summer released the seasonal CD `Christmas Spirit', a stunning collection of Christmas songs comprising seasonal favourites like `The Christmas song', `O holy night' and `White Christmas', along with 3 Summer originals. It was a collection that received high critical acclaim thanks to Summer's brilliant, versatile vocal delivery, and the lush, timeless production; No dance beats or wailing synthesizers anywhere in sight, just lush strings, angelic choirs, and the powerful voice of Summer.

This collection is simply a re-mastered CD with the same tracklist, but sounding much clearer and better.

'O holy night' (my absolute favourite) has never sounded better. Donna gives it a gospel treatment and makes it all hers. It starts out with gentle with just a piano and her vocals, and builds up to an awesome chorale finale with Donna belting out ferociously. Awesome!

Other standouts include 'White christmas' (with spine tingling strings), 'The Christmas song', 'O come all ye faithful' (with a hymnal reading, like she's singing it in church), the stunning 'Christmas medley' (comprising `What child is this', `Do you hear what I hear' and `Joy to the world'), the jolly sounding 'Christmas is here' replete with bells (written by Summer but already sounds like a classic Christmas song), the forlorn sounding 'I'll be home for Christmas', 'Breath of heaven', the anthemic 'Lamb of God' (penned by Summer and featuring a beautiful acoustic intro) and the title track (penned by Summer).

Her singing is in top form, matchless, crisp and clear, and you do feel the 'Christmas spirit'.

If there is only one Christmas CD you should own, look no further.

Back in the days when all my friends were saying bad things about disco (you know the phrase), I'd always respond, "Well, listen to Donna Summer. She can WAIL." Great pipes were not a prereq for dance music then--and still aren't I guess given that thin voiced Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone Ritchie reigns over the realm once ruled by rich voiced LaDonna Andrea Gaines Sommer Sudano.

Of course, there was no convincing diehard disco haters. A few may have been won over by some of the rockier material like "Hot Stuff" and "The Wanderer." But in the ever fragmented world of rock and pop, it was doubtful that Donna was going to expand her base all that much. I doubt that I would have any better luck getting the skeptics to listen to Summer's Christmas record either. But this one certainly presents the case for Summer as a talented vocalist in yet another convincing context. For anyone who cares to listen.

If there's any formula for a Christmas album, it's got to be the old "something old, something new," principle. Donna Summer and her producers wisely choose material that will show off her vocal abilities to good effect--with a special emphasis on religiously themed traditional carols, and a few similarly themed compositions by contemporary artists like Amy Grant--and Summer herself (in collaboration with producer Michael Omartian and husband Bruce Sudano).

And a few secular standards are included too. No one can argue with selections like "The Christmas Song," "White Christmas," and "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Donna is able to add a little something of her own touch to these classics. But her re-imaginings of some of the more traditional numbers are perhaps the album's best moments. A "Christmas Medley," consisting of "What Child Is This?," "Do You What I Hear?," and "Joy to the World" is particularly inventive and very stirring. The singer's gospel roots are on display on this track and on several others (including a rousing "O Holy Night" with a full gospel choir).

Summer's re-embracing of her Christian faith in the 80s lends her interpretation of the religious themed tracks a special fervor. That feeling is contagious, no matter what one's own personal beliefs may be. It's nice hearing a singer tackling material she's committed to. Donna Summer sounds very much at home here. And a cozy home it is too.

This has been one of my favorites for many years. Donna's beautiful voice captures the true meaning of many of these songs. Her version of "Breath Of Heaven" will bring tears to your eyes.

God Bless Donna Summer. You will be missed.

My favorite Holiday CD from a legend. New and classic songs make for the perfect holiday mix. Love Ms Summers version of O Holly Night.