Search - Ray Charles :: Spirit of Christmas

The genius of soul's Christmas album back in print!

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 10/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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]"

Classic Reissued

Chris Chringle | Mid Atlantic USA | 12/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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"