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List Price: $22.98 | | Label: A&M
Salesrank: 190
Released: September 22, 1998 |
| Our Price: $15.93 |
| Used Price: $15.94 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Editorial Review:
Digitally Remastered Double CD Collection featuring 1978's 'christmas Portrait' Backed with 1984's 'an Old Fashioned Christmas'.
Description of Christmas Collection:
Rainy days and Mondays always made Karen Carpenter blue. Maybe she should have played her two Christmas records, Christmas Portrait and An Old Fashioned Christmas. Both are combined in this 31-piece collection, a great value for fans of this brother-sister duo who captured the pop airwaves during the early to mid-'70s. A number of good performances mark the collection, which includes songs from their Christmas TV special, numerous cuts backed by full orchestra that prove the duo could extend their pop sensibilities to timeless holiday fare, and singular works such as "Little Altar Boy," a song that Richard Carpenter feels was among his sister's greatest performances. --Martin Keller
Christmas Collection Reviews:
carpenters cd 
2009-12-23 - The Christmas cd came in a very short time and it was the best surprise gift for my son. He loves the Carpenters.Thank you very much for the cd.
One of the better holiday albums 
2009-12-05 - I remember being somewhat disappointed in "Christmas Portrait" when it originally came out in 1978, mostly due to the prominence of the chorale. It didn't feel like a Carpenters record to me -- it was the Hoop-de-Doo Chorale with Special Guests, the Carpenters. Except for a few tracks, I really didn't play it all that much. Of course, I was only 18 at the time and not ready to appreciate a lot of things, including pleasantly arranged chorale music. However, I DID reasonably expect that I was buying a Carpenters album...after all, it was labeled as such...and there's something to be said for truth in advertising.
When Richard put the second, posthumous collection together, I was of course eager for anything new from Karen, even if that was only the occasional lead surrounded by more Hoop-de-Doo. In some ways I liked it better than the first; why "Little Altar Boy" was left off "Christmas Portrait" is beyond me, as it is without question among Karen's most touching and hauntingly spiritual vocals ever. That only reinforces my original belief that if Richard had kept the focus of "Portrait" on Karen and ditched the Hoop-de-Doos, the result would have been a much superior, and definitively Carpenters, album. The single version of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" also belonged on "Portrait" -- not the chorale version. What was he thinking...?
Putting both complete albums into one collection is a good idea. There were outstanding songs on both. That said, for my money Richard could edit away at least 50% of the Hoop-de-Doo singers, pare this set down to one CD with only those songs that prominently featured his sister, and it would be the album that should have come out in 1978: an all-out masterpiece that truly celebrates the genius of the Carpenters at their finest.
Among the Best
2009-10-14 - I don't know if this is the best Christmas collection ever, but it's surely on the short list along with the Boston Pops, Percy Faith, Johnny Mathis and Bing Crosby. The vocals are excellent (particularly "Little Altar Boy", the "First Snow/Let It Snow!" pairing and "Merry Christmas Darling." The arrangements? Impeccable. The only weak selection: "Ave Maria." It just doesn't work -- but that's four minutes out of almost two hours, and I'll take that any day.
THIS IS THE DEFINITIVE CHRISTMAS ALBUM !!!
2009-10-12 - I have always loved Christmas music and when I was growing up, I excitedly bought a vinyl copy of "Christmas Portrait" since I grew up listening to Carpenters music. The experience listening to this record was pure joy! I kept playing it every Christmas until it got scratchy. Therefore, when it first came out on cd, I immediately purchased a copy which made me appreciate the cd all over again because of remastered sound! It was actually a special edition cd because it combined the best parts of "Christmas Portrait" and "An Old-Fashioned Christmas." I do not see copies of this cd anymore. I am glad that Christmas Collection was finally put out because we finally have two (2) classic cds in one beautiful set. I must say this is the definitive Christmas album because of the wonderful Christmas songs, Karen's angelic voice, Richard's lush arrangements and the over-all effect on you which gives you that warm, Christmas feeling. My only regret is that Karen never got to sing my favorite Christmas song of all time, "O Holy Night." Just imagining how Karen would have sounded had she been able to record this wonderful Christmas song. I also keep thinking if Karen had the chance to sing a duet with Josh Groban. It would have been magical! Two distinct and wonderful voices coming together for a Christmas duet!
Great CD collection 
2009-01-26 - I received the CD collection of the Carpenters Christmas music. It was one I had been wanting for some time, but never sat down to the computer to make the order. I have enjoyed listening to it. as you can see, It is January 26th and I am just now writing this review. Even though the CD's are great, they came so late that I thought I was not gong to get them. it was rather misleading as to how long it would be for delivery. Thank you again for the CD and attempt to make your delivery a bit quicker. Happy New Year and may God bless.
