SINGS SONGS OF CHRISTMAS - Mahalia Jackson

YEAR: 1995

LABEL: Sony

TRACK LISTING: O Holy Night, What Child Is This?, Silver Bells, No Room at the Inn, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town of Bethlehem, A Star Stood Still (Song of the Nativity), Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, The Holy Babe, Sweet Little Jesus Boy, The First Noel, What Can I Give, Silent Night Holy Night, Go Tell It On the Mountain, Joy To the World, I Wonder As I Wander, Mary's Little Boy Child, White Christmas

IMPRESSIONS: The true "Voice of an Angel" is Mahalia Jackson; not some precocious British bitch who blew her voice out years ago by singing improperly! Ahem. Y'ain't have to be religious to appreciate gospel music; that's like having to be French to eat pizza! That's silly! All you have to do is listen to the beautiful voice of Mahalia Jackson singing both gospel Christmas carols as well as more traditional Christmas songs and your Christmas is complete. As said when discussing the Grant's A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS VOLUME 3, Mahalia's version of "Silver Bells" is my favourite version of the song. Now, I usually don't like to put up recent compilation cds of "greatest hits" etc. but this one features the highlights of Mahalia's past Christmas albums so I erred on the side of inclusion; this cd features a pretty equal mix between less familiar gospel tunes and the usual suspects of Christmas songs.

MY FAVOURITE TRACKS: O Holy Night, Silver Bells, No Room At the Inn, O Come All Ye Faithful, A Star Stood Still (Song of the Nativity), The Holy Babe, The First Noel, What Can I Give, Silent Night Holy Night, Joy To the World, I Wonder As I Wander, Mary's Little Boy Child, White Christmas

FACT SHEET: MAHALIA JACKSON SINGS SONGS OF CHRISTMAS is a compilation album which draws together material from her previous Christmas albums. The cd features recordings from 1955, 1956, 1962 and 1968. "The Holy Babe" is a version of "Go Where I Send Thee" which can be heard on the Kingston Trio's classic "THE LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR" album.