Search - Connie Francis :: Xmas in My Heart

Christmas 'Crooner Styled' Masterpiece

rodney wiltin | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | 05/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm going to start the review like this: if you ever have a chance to get this christmas album from 1959 (released on cd in 1988 but hard to find), CONNIE FRANCIS - CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART, it is a must buy. Here's why:



This is a most beautiful 'crooner styled' christmas album that, like Johnny Mathis's 1958 christmas classic, JOHNNY MATHIS - MERRY CHRISTMAS, goes beyond the walls of just 'crooner' styled christmas music. It's both magical and breathtaking. Connie's voice is the best it has ever been and although I do usually like a few other female voices more, this Connie christmas album is the exception. No other female singer (or even male for that matter) could sing these beautiful songs with their masterful arrangements as great or greater than Connie. In other words, (and perhaps along with the 1966 album, KATE SMITH - THE KATE SMITH CHRISTMAS ALBUM) this is my favorite female christmas album and actually, one of my absolute favorite christmas albums ever. But this is only half the beauty of it.



The other half belongs to a very unknown yet ultra-great conductor and his orchestra, GEOFF LOVE (GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA are my second favorite orchestra next to JOHNNY DOUGLAS and the LIVING STRINGS). I'm not sure who did the arrangements but man, are they awesome. However, GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA play the music at it's most beautiful christmas style ever when backing a lead singer (along with PERCY FAITH who did this as well on that JOHNNY MATHIS christmas album mentioned above). From the releases I have by GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA (all great), he is, like I mentioned with CONNIE'S singing above, at his best here. Everything just works perfectly.



This majectic music from GEOFF LOVE AND HIS ORCHESTRA (similar to the LIVING STRINGS and a bit of PERCY FAITH, but overall, GEOFF'S own) with CONNIE'S perfect voice along with a fabulous chorus (as good as any great chorus) is the recipe for something out of this world in terms of beautiful christmas music. And let me tell you, it is that recipe that you get here.



I mean, every song is great, from one to the next, and this would provide a perfect background for christmas music over the christmas season for yourself and any company you may have over during the holidays.



This cd contains 13 tracks, the 12 track original album and a bonus song for the cd (BABY'S FIRST CHRISTMAS) but luckily, the bonus song remains in the same style (with an added guitar) as the 12 track album so there is nothing weak in this cd release.



As for the songs from the original album itself, I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is my favorite version (along with JOHNNY MATHIS'S version on his MERRY CHRISTMAS album), THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS (my favorite all-time version, wonderful backing chorus), WHITE CHRISTMAS (real dreamy), WINTER WONDERLAND (also real dreamy), THE CHRISTMAS SONG, O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM, and every other song are truly among my favorite versions of each of them.



Four other crooner albums you will want to get if you like this CHRISTMAS IN MY HEART album are both the JOHNNY MATHIS and KATE SMITH mentioned above, PERRY COMO - SEASONS GREETINGS (1959), and JACK JONES - THE JACK JONES CHRISTMAS ALBUM (1964). JOHNNY MATHIS is the closest in style I think, but the three others are about as powerful in their own way and kinda similar too. These are the five essential crooner christmas albums in my opinion but this CONNIE FRANCIS one and the JOHNNY MATHIS one are the most dreamiest and magical. Only the LIVING STRINGS - THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS album from 1963 would be more dreamy and magical and that's out of about 200 or more christmas albums I own. That's it. that's how great CONNIE and JOHNNY are.



So, if you want a very dreamy, magical, and most beautiful and powerful christmas album, then you should really consider this cd. It really is what the title of this review says, a 'christmas 'crooner stlyed' masterpiece.'"

A christmas treasure

G. Temesvari | s. deerfield, ma. | 11/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Connie's Christmas album is a treasure which should be included in every household that appreciates the most beautiful and meaningful songs of the season. Her interpretation of these classics is simply the best and her voice is ever so beautiful. I start Christmas in our house year after year with Connie. Too bad she never recorded a Christmas album in foriegn languages!"