Making Spirits Bright

Track Listings
1. New Baby King    
2. Flexible Flyer    
3. Noel Lullaby    
4. Dancing 'Round the Christmas Tree    
5. Past Three O'Clock    
6. Nutcracker Medley: March/Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies/Russian Dance    
7. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming    
8. Christmas Day/Christmas Eve    
9. Road to Heaven    
10. Medley: At the Hour of Midnight/Pat a Pan/Riu Riu Chiu    
11. Rorro (The Infant)    
12. Sussex Carol    
13. Drive the Cold Winter Away    
14. Est Né le Divin Enfant    
15. Winter Wonderland    
16. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus    

Making Spirits Bright, Music, The Trail Band, Christmas / Chanukkah, Christmas Music, Classical, Xmas Vocal
Making Spirits Bright
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • More Diana Christmas tracks--a perfect complement to "A very Special Season" CD
  • Lovely and Relaxing
 Making Spirits Bright

Manufacturer: Hallmark Cards
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Similar Items:
  1. Very Special Season
  2. It's Christmas
  3. Reflections: The Definitive Performances 1964-1969
  4. Take Me Higher
  5. Diana Ross: Going Back

ASIN: B0002KN61S

Product Description

1 - Sleigh ride/Jingle bells 2 - The twelve days of Christmas 3 - Provencaliana (Based on "March of the Kings") 4 - The first Noel 5 - Precious joy (Based on "Jesu, joy of man's desiring) 6 - It's Christmas time 7 - Go, tell it on the mountain 8 - God rest ye merry gentlemen (England's carol) 9 - O little town of Bethlehem 10 - What child is this? 11 - I heard the bells 12 - We wish you a Merry Christmas

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars More Diana Christmas tracks--a perfect complement to "A very Special Season" CD.......2006-12-16

This CD, originally a Hallmark store special offering, features Diana on 6 tracks: sleigh ride/jingle bells medley, the first noel, it's Christmas time, go tell it on the mountain, o little town of Bethlehem, and I heard the bells. The best part about this is that none of these songs is covered on her own "A Very Special Season" CD. So combine both CDs, and you haveTWENTY Christmas songs recorded by Diana in 1994!

5 out of 5 stars Lovely and Relaxing.......2005-11-22

Diana Ross shines brighter than the Christmas tree on this one. The CD is a combination of Miss Ross' vocals and lush orchestration by The London Symphony Quartet, Modern Jazz Quartet & the Kings Singers. Best track: "It's Christmas Time."
Originally a Hallmark premium, well worth the reissue.
Making Spirits Bright: A Smooth Jazz Christmas
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Christmas Jazz
  • It Certainly is Pleasant Enough
  • Wonderful addition to your music collection!
 Making Spirits Bright: A Smooth Jazz Christmas
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Grp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Smooth Jazz Christmas
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ASIN: B00005NY71
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

  1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Lee Ritenour
  2. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Will Downing
  3. The Christmas Song - Joyce Cooling
  4. This Christmas - Gerald Albright
  5. Silent Night - Al Jarreau
  6. What Child Is This? - Marc Antoine
  7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Richard Elliot
  8. Jingle Bells - Diana Krall
  9. The First Noel - David Benoit
  10. Here Comes Santa Claus - Jeff Golub
  11. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Joe Sample
  12. Suite De Nuestra Navidad: La Anunciacion/La Peregrinacion - Dave Grusin

Amazon.com

The first six tracks of this release could've been subtitled "A Twist of Christmas," for they bear the indelible stamp of guitarist-producer Lee Ritenour and his A Twist of Marley. In fact, his Brazilian take on "Silent Night," with singer Al Jarreau, sounds like an arrangement worked straight out of Ritenour's A Twist of Jobim sessions. Even with guitarists Joyce Cooling and Marc Antoine, his presence is noticeable.

The other half of the album finds most of the artists doing their own thing, the best of which is the funky groove saxophonist Richard Elliot and keyboardist and co-arranger Jeff Lorber lay over "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Like a few of the other tunes however, the production suffers from the frightening trend of producers and/or record companies fading tracks prematurely in an obvious effort to appease smooth-jazz radio. It should be noted that the Diana Krall track was previously released on a holiday EP three years ago. --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Christmas Jazz.......2007-01-14

We have always enjoyed the GRP Christmas recordings and were equally pleased with this work. The contemporary artists featured are able to combined the essence of the music style with the traditional quality of the holiday season.

3 out of 5 stars It Certainly is Pleasant Enough.......2001-12-12

I agree with the editorial that a few of the tracks of this release indeed should be subtitled "A Twist of Christmas," because they are straight out of the Lee Ritenour and his "A Twist of" Series mold. In fact, the cuts "Silent Night," with Al Jarreau, and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" featuring Will Downing (who manages to sound bored out of his mind here) are just a couple of tunes that sound like outtakes from the aforementioned sessions.

Joyce Cooling's rendition of "The Christmas Song" is quite unique however, as are some of the other cuts including Richard Elliot's "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen".

Since this is a "Smooth Jazz" CD, the cuts are short and to the point (read: radio friendly?) although I don't think you'll be hearing the very jazzy Joe Sample version of "I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", David Benoit's "The First Noel" anytime soon or, for that matter, Dave Grusin's out of place "Suite de Nuestra Navidad". Now that I think about it, this disc at times tries too hard to have a Latin flavor.

Overall, this disc leaves you saying "it certainly is pleasant enough", because you realize that you have heard better Jazz Christmas CDs.

Happy Holidays to all....

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful addition to your music collection!.......2001-12-01

I was unaware of this disc until I read about it in the December issue of Ebony magazine. It is so soothing and relaxing and a great way to experience the talents of artists such as: Lee Rittenour, Al Jarreau, Wil Downing and Joe Sample. Great music to bake and trim the tree by.
Making Spirits Bright
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Making Spirits Bright

    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
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    GeneralGeneral | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B00004WZTB
    Release Date: 1997-12-01

    Tracks:

    1. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Pola & Wylie, arr. Ades
    2. The Wassail Song - Traditional
    3. O Come, All Ye Faithful from "Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 1" - Oakly, arr. Shaw/Parker
    4. Go Tell It On the Mountain - arr. Simeone
    5. Johnny Bring the Pine Tree In - Aks, arr. Abbey
    6. Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod
    7. Carol of the Bells - Leontovich, arr. Wilhousky
    8. Ding Dong! Merrily on High - arr. Willcocks/Rutter
    9. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing - Mendelssohn, arr. Willcocks
    10. A Christmas Hymn (Echo Carol) - Traditional
    11. Silent Night - Mohr
    12. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Martin & Blane, arr. Kerr
    13. Jingle Bells - arr. Sterling
    14. We Three Kings - arr. Miller
    15. Take a Closer Look - Martin
    16. Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah & Chanukah, Joyous Feast of Lights - Sargon
    17. A Feast of Lights - Silver
    18. The Twelve Days of Christmas - arr. Rutter

    Album Description

    Ever-popular, light-hearted holiday hits accompanied by the Palo Verde Brass and recorded in the magnificent acoustic of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Phoenix.
    Making Spirits Bright
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Smooth
    • Once again Dean Martin gives us the best!
    • Cool Christmas
    • "I wait for it the whole year 'round..."
    • Tinsel Town Christmas with Dino
    		 Making Spirits Bright
    Dean Martin
    Manufacturer: Capitol
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B000009RV8
    Release Date: 1998-09-22

    Tracks:

    1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
    2. I'll Be Home For Christmas
    3. Silver Bells
    4. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
    5. Winter Wonderland
    6. Baby, It's Cold Outside
    7. Blue Christmas
    8. Jingle Bells
    9. A Winter Romance
    10. A Marshmallow World
    11. The Christmas Blues
    12. Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer
    13. Silent Night
    14. White Christmas
    15. Untitled

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Smooth.......2006-05-17

    If there is one word that describes Dean Martin's singing style, it would be "smooth." This wonderful album contains fifteen Christmas songs, all given that great Dean Martin sound. Most of the tunes are upbeat, such as Let It Snow, Jingle Bells, and A Marshmallow World, but there are some more mellow ones, like Blue Christmas, I'll Be Home For Christmas and The Christmas Blues.

    (The fifteenth track on my CD is Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! But, it is a different version than track one.)

    Overall, I think that this is great Christmas album, one that sounds excellent when the lights are turned off and the Christmas tree provides all of the light. If you want a great Christmas CD, then this is the one to get. I give it my highest recommendations!

    5 out of 5 stars Once again Dean Martin gives us the best!.......2005-12-06

    As a longtime Dean Martin fan, I have had this CD and Seasons' Greetings for a few years and everytime I listen to Making Spirits Bright I get chills. That man could sing with such an ease and charm you do not get today. His witty way of having fun with a tune as in Jingle Bells, his voice in I'll be Home For Christmas and Blue Christmas make me want to cry for Christmases past that were missed. His Rendition of White Christmas is right next Bing Crosby and his Silent Night can make you picture yourself in an old beautiful church decorated for the season listening. It was 10 years ago this Christmas Dean Martin left this earth, but he left us a totally lastly legacy.

    5 out of 5 stars Cool Christmas.......2003-03-06

    Dean may be gone, but he's still the coolest thing around. This is the music of Christmas. Of my 50 or so Christmas albums, this is the one I played over and over and over. Buy it...Dean won't let you down.

    5 out of 5 stars "I wait for it the whole year 'round...".......2003-01-01

    Lovely collection of Christmas music. I especially enjoy the songs we don't hear over and over on typical Christmas albums, such as "Marshmellow World" and "Winter Romance." In my ever-growing collection of holiday music, this is one that gets played over and over again. Pity Christmas comes only once a year.

    5 out of 5 stars Tinsel Town Christmas with Dino.......2002-12-16

    This compendium from Martin's Capitol and Reprise years provides Christmas cheer aplenty. Dean does Elvis proud with his version of I'll Be Home For Christmas, gives Bing plenty of competition on White Christmas and scores on Blue Christmas as well. There are no misses on this cd.

    Dean was given choice material on both his Capitol and Reprise Christmas albums so this cd is not burdened with some of the insipid junk that Dean was forced to perform during his recording career (especially at Capitol).

    Two of Deans least known but best numbers are a treat to hear again. Winter Romance and Christmas Blues. The former will have you imagining yourself sipping eggnog around a roaring fire with that special "someone", while the latter captures the forlorn feeling of a breakup during the holiday season.

    Turn on this cd, start the fire and trim the tree!
    Making Spirits Bright
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Making Spirits Bright
      Trail Band
      Manufacturer: Trails End Prod.
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      ClassicalClassical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      Holiday MusicHoliday Music | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
      General ChristmasGeneral Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
      Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
      Pop VocalPop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
      General ChristmasGeneral Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
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      2. An Old Fashioned Christmas

      ASIN: B00005TNEC
      Release Date: 2001-11-27
      Making Spirits Bright
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Making Spirits Bright

        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD
        ASIN: B000CSAJ24

        Product Description

        Tracks: It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year/island Santa/White Christmas/the Christmas Song/Lullaby/Giving/Snow/Wishbook/You're all I Want for Christmas/I'm Beginning to See the Light/Boogie Woogie Santa Claus/What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?/Song for a Winter's Night/My Buddy/You Go to My Head/My Christmas Song for You.

        Music Review:

        1. Mattia Battistini, Volume II: Il Re Baritoni
        2. Mayr: Mass in C minor; Mozart: Unknown Choral Works
        3. Minnesang: The Golden Age
        4. Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 25
        5. Mozart: Sonates pour le pianoforte, K310-K331
        6. Mussorgsky/Naoumoff: Pictures At An Exhibition
        7. Nikos Skalkottas: Chamber Music
        8. Ninon Vallin: Opera & Mélodie
        9. Novak: Overture/Slovak Suite/Dvorak: Suite In A
        10. Pearls of Russian Romanticism 2

        Music Review

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