christmas music that blows

[alocispepraluger102]

chip davis founded a moderately interesting new age classical-pop-electronic-acoustic music group, mannheim steamroller in the 70's. fresh aire was a tolerable, even pretty recording.

he hit on the christmas background gimmick that turned him huge bucks in the early 80's and has milked it to death and then some for decades. if another sincere person tells me how much they love mannheim steamroller christmas music, i will have another drink or two and shout loudly 3 times "BAH, HUMBUG!!"

Edited November 25, 2008 by alocispepraluger102

[Jim Alfredson]

Ugh.

[Free For All]

Ugh.

<gagging sound>

[WorldB3]

How could 7,195,000 people be wrong?

and people wonder what's wrong with the music industry.

Edited November 25, 2008 by WorldB3

[rockefeller center]

Ugh.

User comment:

With respect, Possibly the best band in in the world

i have always loved them

after viewing them live last year my musical outlook has changed incredibly

i am very pleased to see them again in Ottawa dec/4/08

[Dan Gould]

chip davis founded a moderately interesting new age classical-pop-electronic-acoustic music group, mannheim steamroller in the 70's. fresh aire was a tolerable, even pretty recording.

he hit on the christmas background gimmick that turned him huge bucks in the early 80's and has milked it to death and then some for decades. if another sincere person tells me how much they love mannheim steamroller christmas music, i will have another drink or two and shout loudly 3 times "BAH, HUMBUG!!"

I had a boss who told me he and his wife loved jazz and cited Mannheim Steamroller as the kind of "jazz" they enjoy. :bad:

[AndrewHill]

I wouldn't say these blow necessarily, but they left me somewhat cold (pardon the pun ) and I eventually sold:

Christmas with the Gearge Shearing Quintet

A Dave Brubeck Christmas

Like I said, they're not bad albums, but they seemingly lack that holdiay feeling that I get from the the Vince Guaraldi and even the Ramsey Lewis Christmas albums.

Just my opinion

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Why isn't "blow", in this context, the opposite of "suck"?

MG

[Dave James]

I've always kind of liked John Fahey's Christmas album, A New Possibility. Pretty sparse...the antithesis of something like Mannheim Steamroller, steamroller being the operative word. The only jazz based Christmas CD I can actually say I enjoyed was the OJC album. Lockjaw, Don Patterson, Dexter Gordon and more.

Up over and out.

[Teasing the Korean]

Wait'll you guys get a load of the Trans Siberian Orchestra.

http://www.trans-siberian.com/intro.html

[Big Al]

The only jazz based Christmas CD I can actually say I enjoyed was the OJC album. Lockjaw, Don Patterson, Dexter Gordon and more.

What's the name of that one? I'd like to find it!

[Man with the Golden Arm]

Reminds me that it's time to pull out the Big Al Mistletoe Mash Up from a couple years back.

My kids have been listening to the Xmas all the time station here already and if I hear the Beach Boys "Little Saint Nick" one more time I'm gonna blow.

(I was gonna say if I hear The Carpenters one more time I'm gonna puke...)

[Dave James]

Al,

Here's the information you were after on the OJC Christmas Album. It's available from Amazon and, I would imagine, eMusic.

The Christmas Collection (Original Jazz Classics 6011)

1. The Christmas Song, Dexter Gordon

2. Greensleeves, Bill Smith Quartet

3. Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Paul Bley Trio

4. Merry Christmas Baby, Don Patterson

5. The Christmas Song, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

6. The Christmas Song, Gene Ammons

7. White Christmas, Bobby Timmons

8. Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

9. Winter Wonderland, Bobby Timmons

10. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Don Patterson

Up over and out.

[Jim Alfredson]

OMG! One of my good friends just sent this track to me. Now, I love Alison Krauss, and I think she's amazing. But good Lord, what possessed her to do this song?!?!

ARGGHHGAGAHGF! It's terrible... from the production to the cheesy lyrics, it's just plain bad. At first I thought maybe it was something she did in the early 90s, before her career took off (the production sounds like that) but no... it came out on a compilation of country Christmas tunes in 2004!!!

Baby Jesus is crying.

[Hot Ptah]

Doesn't almost all recorded Christmas music blow?

[RDK]

Doesn't almost all recorded Christmas music blow?

Well, even if 95% of it sucked, that leaves 5% of an awfully big pie. And there is some wonderful Christmas/Holiday music out there, jazz and otherwise. But

"great" X-mas music is for another thread.

As for the topic at hand, I hate to generalize, but I'll add: "any holiday music my father listens to."

[Dave James]

The Krauss clip is brutal. Nonetheless, I'm sure it has sold and will sell well each and every holiday season. The more maudlin the tune, the more clueless people it will appeal to. Folks just seem to cotton to schlock whenever Christmas is involved. Maybe she could do an album of favorite Christmas tunes with Robert Plant. That's got million seller written all over it.

Up over and out.

[Big Al]

The Krauss clip is brutal. Nonetheless, I'm sure it has sold and will sell well each and every holiday season. The more maudlin the tune, the more clueless people it will appeal to. Folks just seem to cotton to schlock whenever Christmas is involved. Maybe she could do an album of favorite Christmas tunes with Robert Plant. That's got million seller written all over it.

Up over and out.

Shit, man, don't encourage them!

[Christiern]

There is only one Christmas recording that I truly take seriously as going beyond the emotions this holiday so readily stirs up. (sorry to be so terse)

It is Mahalia Jackson's original (Apollo label) rendition of "Silent Night." No Columbia Records chorus, just Mildred Falls at the organ. It is, IMO, a work of art.

[Jazzmoose]

if another sincere person tells me how much they love mannheim steamroller christmas music, i will have another drink or two and shout loudly 3 times "BAH, HUMBUG!!"

I caught my ex watching the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas thingie on PBS. I won't say it led to our break-up, but it couldn't have helped...

[vajerzy]

Michael Bolton- THE Worst.

[Tom 1960]

Michael Bolton- THE Worst.

Well if that's the worst this is a close second!

Celine Dion - These Are Special Times

[Tom 1960]

Here's a nifty selection you all might run out and purchase.

Faith Hill - Joy To The World

Here's what Amazon says:

The first holiday album from super-star Faith Hill, 'Joy To The World' is a joy to behold, featuring beautiful new versions of ten traditional and modern classics, complete with horns, strings, woodwings, percussion and chorales, much like the big-band orchestras of the 40's and 50's. One of the most popular music stars in America, Faith Hill celebrates the joy-and faith- of the season with 'Joy to the World.'

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Never heard of Faith Hill. Good looking.

MG

[AndrewHill]

Never heard of Faith Hill. Good looking.

MG