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List Price: $11.98 | | Label: Concord Records
Salesrank: 569
Released: October 6, 2009 |
| Our Price: $6.15 |
| Used Price: $4.95 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The Spirit of Christmas Track Listing:
1. What Child Is This
2. The Little Drummer Boy
3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
4. This Time Of The Year
5. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
6. That Spirit of Christmas
7. All I Want For Christmas
8. Christmas In My Heart
9. Winter Wonderland
10. Christmas Time
11. Baby It's Cold Outside
Editorial Review:
The Spirit of Christmas features The Genius' very own inimitable spins on classic hymns, carols and other seasonal material. This digitally remastered version of Ray Charles' only Christmas album features the bonus track "Baby It's Cold Outside."
The Spirit of Christmas Reviews:
+ 1/2 star---a timeless Christmas album 
2009-12-02 - Ray Charles always did things right; and he certainly didn't miss a beat on this album! He's in excellent form here and the songs we get are very high quality control music to say the least. There's not a dud in the bunch; and that's grand. The remastering job produces crystal clear sound and I like that artwork. My only disappointment is that the running time is a bit short at just about 46 minutes.
"What Child Is This" features Ray handling complex tempo and key changes like the pro he always was and will remain! Ray's voice sounds great and he sings this with all his heart and soul--and how's about that musical arrangement? "Little Drummer Boy" has a nice backup chorus--not that ray ever really needed any backup; but they do sound good anyway. The melody is very creative and it makes "Little Drummer Boy" a highlight of this CD. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" has Ray swinging brightly to make this number shine; and it all holds its own very well.
"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is another classic tune that gets a creative treatment from Ray and the others; I really like this rendition of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer." "All I Want for Christmas" sparkles when Ray Charles sing this with great sensitivity; this is one awesome song and only Ray could deliver it this well! The music fits in perfectly with Ray's vocals, too. "Christmas in My Heart" is quite memorable; Ray delivers this without letting go of a single superfluous note; it warms my heart every time I hear this song!
"Winter Wonderland" has Ray swinging gently with a really fine, soulful musical arrangement that works wonders for this song; and this all makes "Winter Wonderland" another highlight of this album. "Christmas Time" is very pretty and the album ends nicely with Ray Charles and Betty Carter doing a sublime duet on "Baby, it's Cold Outside."
Ray Charles may not have made a lot of holiday albums in his time, but please rest assured that this CD is a stunner all the way through. I would highly recommend this for anyone's holiday music collection.
Classic Reissued 
2009-12-02 - I apologize if this review seems a little over the top, but this is - not to put this too strongly - one of the best Christmas albums of all time. It ranks with the best Christmas offerings of these guys: Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis. The warm, comfortable sound of Ray Charles makes it the perfect quiet-night-by-the-fire holiday treat - that goes perfect with a goblet of wine, or a snifter of Brandy, or a glass of Bourbon, your significant other, and some popcorn...or maybe a nice Welsh Rarebit, melting invitingly in a cast iron pot* over the hot coals of your fireplace...
Now, excuse me, I've got to throw another log on the fire, top up my glass, and slip into a warm jersey.
Cheers!
*Google Alton Brown's recipe
The genius of soul's Christmas album back in print!
2009-10-28 - Surprisingly, this 1985 album is Ray Charles' only Christmas album. Recorded with a sizzling band and guests that include trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, saxophonist Rudy Johnson, guitarist Jeff Pevar, and the Raeletts, this is (despite the wintery cover photo) a warm and soulful album of Christmas and holiday songs. Charles and his co-arrangers (James Polk, Larry Muhoberac and Bill McElhiney) stretch out across soul balladry, jazz, horn-lined swing, choral harmony, and blue country. There's a lot of style packed into this album's ten tracks. Concord's reissue (the first in twelve years) adds the Ray Charles/Betty Carter duet "Baby it's Cold Outside" to the original album, extending the running time to 47 minutes. This is a solid shot of rhythm and soul for your holiday party. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]
